Coláiste Chill Mhantáin
OPEN NIGHT 2019.
The school’s Open Night took place on Thursday, October 17. This provided an opportunity for parents and students to visit our school and gain an insight into school life in Coláiste Chill Mhantáin. Our students and teachers were there to describe the teaching and learning environment in CCM Thank you to our Prefect and mentor teams who welcomed our guests and offered them guided tours of the school. Please visit our Facebook page for extensive coverage of this event.
LITERACY WEEK
Literacy Week runs from the October 21 to October 25.During this time, there is a Drop Everything and Read session every day for all junior students from 10.40 to 11.00 and a Dress Up and Read competition on Friday for first year students and mentors. Students are encouraged to dress up as their favourite character from their favourite book. We also look forward to a Spelling Bee for first year students during Literacy Week. The committee have asked all willing teachers to place the name of a book they are reading on their classroom door which should make for some interesting recommendations.
FUN RUN
The school run will take place on Friday, October 25, weather dependent. The run is a 5km run and students and teachers are encouraged to run, jog or walk the 5km. There will be medals for first, second and third Male and Female in each year group and overall fastest junior and Senior Male and Female. We look forward to what promises to be a fun event, as well as an important fundraiser for the school.
ROTARY LEADERSHIP PROJECT
Thank you to Mr Duncan Duke and Mr Ronan Rose-Roberts, who came in to the school to interview Michael Wright, Keith O’Mahony, Dean Browne and Niall Brohan as part of the Rotary Youth Leadership Competition. They complimented the students on their excellent applications and their level of research in to the Rotary Club and the EU Well done and good luck to Keith O’Mahony, who was chosen as the school winner and who will now progress to the county round on November 11.
COILLTE PROJECT
TY students in CCM were delighted to be invited by Coillte to visit Avondale Forest Park in Rathdrum on Tursday, October 17. Gillian Conroy and Pat Neville had a wonderful programme of events planned, including a very informative talk, a nature walk around the forest and a tour of Charles Stewart Parnell’s house which is situated on the grounds. Many thanks to Gillian and Pat from Coillte for the opportunity and the lovely lunch provided. This day will be part of Coillte’s Awareness and promotion video in the coming weeks.
MATHS WEEK
Once again we enjoyed a highly successful and fun Maths Week in CCM last week. The maths department hosted a range of activities for both teachers and students to engage in to improve their maths skills.
These included classroom/ staffroom activities such as Daily Maths Puzzle for teachers and students, Mangahigh, Find the Joker, Poster Competition, Drop everything and Puzzle and the lunchtime activities, Engineering Challenge and Scavenger Hunt. The week culminated in a Quiz Final for First year students.
Well done to the winners of the Euler’s Number Maths competition; Rian Byrne (winner), Conor Thornber (second Place) and Seán Maguire (third Place). Thank you to the members of the maths department who coordinated and facilitated a challenging but highly enjoyable week for everyone.
NATIONAL GALLERY TRIP
On Thursday, October 10, fifth and sixth year art students travelled to Dublin for their gallery visit as part of the Appreciation of art section of the Art History course. The group was welcomed in the National Gallery of Ireland by a guided tour of the Sorolla-Master of Light exhibition. The students discussed and engaged in questions from the tour guide about a variety of works on display at the exhibition, all working towards answering an essay question on the gallery visit.
The students also had the opportunity to view Bronze Age and Early Christian metalwork in the National Museum of Ireland on Kildare Street. Art students study these works as part of the Irish section of the Art History course. The students really enjoyed seeing these examples first-hand and really appreciated the level of detail in each piece they saw.
The tour guide commended the students on their engagement during the tour. It was a great opportunity for our students to experience an exhibition on loan to the National Gallery of Ireland.
GR8 2 B YNG: DAY 1
On Tuesday, October 15, TY students travelled to the De La Salle Pastoral Centre in Wicklow to participate in Day One of Gr8 two B Yng. Gr8 two B Yng is partnered with the charity Suicide or Survive; together they address issues surrounding mental health. Day one delivered innovative approaches that educated and informed students about how to cultivate good mental health and reduce stigma attached to mental health. Throughout the day, students listened to Robert Carley, the CEO of Suicide or Survive, sharing his inspirational stories and also took part in a drumming workshop which they thoroughly enjoyed.
MOSQUE VISIT
On Wednesday, October 16, all Third year students visited the Islamic Culture Centre of Ireland in Clonskeagh, Dublin. Students learned about Islamic culture, tradition and prayer, as well as the Irish Muslim community. They were given a tour of the Mosque and spent some time in the Prayer Hall. Dr Ali, the tour guide, gave all students a bag-pack to celebrate the 20-year anniversary of the Islamic Cultural Centre. An interesting and informative experience was had by all. Thanks to the RE department for arranging.
DRIVER EDUCATION
Last Monday, October 14, TY two completed their Safe Driving module by participating in a full day Driver Ed workshop. The morning session included a short driving lesson, looking under the bonnet, changing a tyre and experiencing beer goggles. In the afternoon the class went to the computer room and and practiced the Driver Theory test as well as learning about road safety, penalty points, taxing and insuring a car.
COUNTY CHAMPION
Well done to Sixth year student, Cian O’Brien, who was a member of the St Patrick’s team that captured the County Football Final last Sunday week. Congratulations on a fantastic achievement, Cian.
FIRST YEAR FOOTBALL
The First year Boys’ Gaelic blitz for East Wicklow schools took place in Kilcoole GAA grounds last Tuesday, October 15, in ideal conditions and on a very well prepared and dry pitch for this time of year. Four school took part and each team played three 20 minute matches with 10 minutes a half. CCM played CCA, Woodbrook College and Geal Coláiste Na Mara.
CCM inter-play and combinations improved greatly over the three games with players really gaining confidence and taking heart from very close games but, unfortunately, coming second best in all three games. Hopefully, it is good preparation for the boys for the next day out when they play CCA in the first round of the Wicklow First year Schools’ Championship.
U16 BOYS’ BASKETBALL
Coláiste Chill Mhantáin faced EGS in the last league game in what was a must-win for CCM in order to qualify for the quarter final stages of the competition. Unfortunately CCM lost out on a score line of 54-41 to EGS.