Coláiste Chill Mhantáin

CCM STAND-UP WEEK

Last week, 18-22 November, the school hosted Stand-Up Week. The entrance and canteen were colourfully decorated with rainbow flags and the new LGBTQ notice board where students can find information about LGBTQ issues, posters and support groups in their local area.

After school, in Cake Decorating club, students decorated cakes and cupcakes in the rainbow colours and other important LGBTQ flags. They were judged and a winner was found.

On Tuesday, students attended CCM’s LGBTea at lunch time. Hosted in the Home Economics kitchens, students came along to drink tea and enjoy an LGBTQ short film. On Wednesday, Second year Home Economic students created their own rainbows fruit kebabs. With the help of TY students, these fruit kebabs were then given out in the canteen during break time in return for a donation of 50c, with all proceeds going towards BeLonG To Youth Services.

Thursday was the highlight of everyone’s week. Each year group had great fun wearing a different colour of the rainbow and teachers also supported the day by wearing bright colours. Each student donated €2 for BeLonG To Youth services. After lunch the whole school gathered on the basketball courts and assembled into the rainbow formation. Fifth year students recorded and edited a very professional video of the rainbow from a bird’s eye view which can be seen on the Coláiste Chill Mhantáin Facebook page.

Friday capped off the week nicely with an LGBTQ-themed table quiz in the library. With prizes for the winning teams and rainbow-coloured sweets to share, everyone had a great time.

Throughout the week, various LGBT themes and topics were discussed during all SPHE classes. An art competition ran during the week and the winning design by Conor Kelly Petrin, Fifth year, displayed excellent artistic talent. Each morning a Guess-the-Flag competition took place with the winners announced on Friday.

The woodwork students designed and made a giant rainbow to welcome everyone into school each day and act as a reminder that Coláiste Chill Mhantáin is a welcoming, safe and inclusive environment for all its students.

JOHN O’SHEA VISIT

Many thanks to John O’Shea who visited our school to talk to TY students on Tuesday, 19th November, about his work as a social entrepreneur.

Since 1977, sports journalist John O’Shea, has turned his attention to helping the group of people, referred to by Saint Teresa of Calcutta as the “Poorest of the Poor”.

Over 35 years he has helped raise in excess of $1 billion. He believes that it is now time to share his motivational stories with others, in the hope of inspiring another generation to take up the challenge of alleviating the suffering of the forgotten on our

Thank you to the members of the Parents’ Association who met last Thursday evening, November 21st, in the school. As always, their support of all we strive to achieve in the school is much appreciated.

CNC ROUTER CLUB

CNC Router club returned last week. Students who attended are in the process of making a ‘Room Name’ sign. Students are currently machining their sign on the CNC router and they will apply the finishing touches to the sign over the coming week.

GREEN SCHOOLS

Leigh Rasmussen attended the first training day for the Green Schools Water Ambassador Programme in the Radisson Blu in Dublin on Thursday, 14th November.

He collaborated with other students from other schools to devise ideas to create awareness within our school and the wider community on issues such as water conservation, protection and treatment. He took part in water experiments and communication activities to help empower students to take action to conserve and protect water in their daily lives.

TY & COILLTE

Many thanks to Coillte for providing the trees to our TY students to plant here in the school. This tied in nicely with the theme of Science week, Climate Action.

STUDENT COUNCIL

Six members of the Student Council attended the Comhairle na nÓg Youth Summit in the Parkview Hotel on Friday, 15th November, along with other schools from the Wicklow area. Many topics came under the spotlight for discussion from climate change to why the DART should serve Wicklow Town and beyond.

Students engaged in several workshops and were then split into groups to discuss the main issues affecting young people in society today.

The day closed with each group giving a presentation on the issues they would like to see making the newspaper headlines in 2020.

FILM CLUB

The school’s Film Club resumed on Wednesday, November 20th, at 1.30 in the library with a showing of the new X-Men movie, Dark Phoenix. The club is open to all students and is free of charge.

MARINE BIOLOGY TALKS

Eleanor Turner from Sea Synergy in Co Kerry, gave two excellent talks to all TY students in the library on Monday, November 18th, as part of College Awareness Week. As well as informing the students of the type of work that Marine Biologists do, she also informed them of the career choices that are available to them and also what types of courses they can undertake.

TAEKWONDO

Congratulations to Conor Dunlop, Transition year, who recently

Ailbhe Kelly, First year, had a great start to the Secondary Interschools Showjumping on Monday, November 18th, in Killossery Lodge, Swords, Co Dublin. While she didn’t come home with any rosettes she did very well, and got around a much bigger course than she is used to jumping. She did an individual round and then joined up with girls from Dundalk Grammar School and Sacred Heart Drogheda to form a team. They are planning on jumping as a team in the upcoming shows on 24th November, 8th December and 13th January.

CCM TY LEINSTER SOCCER

The CCM TY soccer team faced a huge challenge in the second round of the Leinster Cup on Monday afternoon against Coláiste Chraobh Abhann in Greystones FC Astro.

CCM captain on the day, Shane Marah, alongside Connor Lewins and Noah Sheridan in the midfield, were beginning to dominate after 20 minutes of play. Noah Sheridan and Sam Brown were driving at the CCA defense, but tough physical defending meant little return for CCM. CCM were dealt a cruel blow and a little confusion in the box allowed CCM to strike into the lower left corner. Some fabulous passing between Shane Marah, Connor Lewins and Tom Hodgkinson finally set up Sam Brown who unleashed a thunderbolt into the top right corner from 20 yards out. The game was now poised at 1–1.

With 10 minutes left before halftime, a well taken corner by Noah Sheridan found the head of the on-rushing Connor Lewins, who placed the ball in the back of the net. The second half saw the CCM backline completely dominate and when the final whistle blew a relieved CCM team had come out on top. CCM were deserving winners on the day. Thanks to Alex Higgins, TY, for taking on the job as linesman, his help was most appreciated.

U16 BOYS’ BASKETBALL

The U16s faced St. Tiernan’s of Dundrum in the quarter finals of the shield. Peter Dunne tagged a few scores in the first quarter to keep CCM in the game as St. Tiernan’s led 8-6 at the end of the first quarter.

In the second quarter, Peter Dunne added a few scores with Harri Armstrong excellent on defence. CCM trailed 15-8 at half time.

There was a change in momentum in the 3rd quarter with the introduction of Ethan Power who dominated in defence along while adding a few scores, leaving CCM trailing by 3 points. Adam Byrne then hit a big 3 pointer to level the sides on the scoreboard. By the end of the 3rd quarter the scores read 23-19 in CCM s favour.

In the 4th quarter, CCM powered ahead on the scoreboard, comfortably winning the game with a score line of 42-28. Well done to the team who are now through to the semi-finals.

CCM JUNIOR SOCCER

The Girls’ Soccer team had their first game on Tuesday, 19th November, at home to Gaelcholaiste na Mara. CCM had a good start in the first half with plenty of chances to score but ended up conceding 2. The second half was a tough battle against the wind and rain and we conceded a few more goals to lose out 6:0 in the end. The score did not reflect the girls’ effort and they played very well with a much younger team then their opponents. Well done girls and to our First year students who stepped in last minute to make up the numbers.

U15 SOCCER

The U15 Boys Soccer team traveled to North End United yesterday, for their game against a very strong Wexford side.Callum Clarke and Siddhartha held the back line, blocking many attacking runs from the opposing team. Unfortunately we made an opening for them and they scored two goals in the first quarter. Despite this, the team drove on through the rain, Sam Healy making some excellent passes to the forward line. Joshua Butler made some great plays, gaining possession and laying it off to Aaron Murray who drove it past their keeper. At half time we trailed by two. The lads composed themselves, showing great team work and working on tactics. The second half began and an heroic save from Harri Armstrong left us with more hope than ever. On the rebound, Alex Sinnot found the net, leaving us trailing by one. Unfortunately, the opposing team returned to lead by two but we were awarded a penalty and, yet again, Alex found the net. Spirits were high, the lads pressured the Wexford defence trying to get the equaliser, but after a small break, Wexford CBS found an opportunity and pushed to get their 5th goal.

ATHLETICS

The Wicklow Schools’ Mile Challenge took place on the track in Charlesland, Greystones on Tuesday, 19th November. Highlights of the day was the First Year Boys’ race which was split into two races due to the large number of athletes, the winners being determined by time. Lorcan Byrne was dominant throughout Race One, taking 1st place with Eric Peterson 3rd and Nathan Reynolds 4th. An incredibly fast Race Two saw Charlie Brennan finish in 3rd place. Overall Charlie managed to take 3rd, with Lorcan a close 3 seconds behind for 4th. Adrianna Majchrzak ran superbly to take Bronze in the Third Year Girls’ race and, finally, congratulations to Finn Egan Barron and Arthur Majchrzak who both secured gold medals in their respective 4th and 5th year races. Well done to all to all who took part on the day and completed their mile! a number of the local Primary Schools visited us here in the school and got a flavour of what school life in CCA is all about.

It was great to see so many students visiting and taking part in all the various class demonstrations on their school tour.

The primary students had a wonderful experience and they left with a great impression of our facilities, staff and students. It was also lovely to see the students leaving with some mementos which they made in some of the practical classes.

Thanks to the CCA students who volunteered on the day and to the music students who performed in the GP Area. Many thanks to all the staff who made this event a great success and especially to Yvonne for all her support in the planning behind the scenes.

FRENCH TRIP

25 CCA French students visited Rouen, France as part of the annual CCA French exchange trip.

This is a long-standing exchange programme with Lycée Thomas Corneille, Rouen, where the CCA students get to experience what French school and home life is like, and where they get the opportunity to practice and improve their French.

On the first day there was a welcome party and several ‘getting to know you’ activities, including an Escape Room.

On the second day, the students visited the old city of Rouen, seeing some of the historical sights and getting some shopping in, before relaxing with a game of bowling.

The third day included trips to the Normandy coast, Mont SaintMichel, and a fun trip to Disney Land. The students were also interviewed by the local French media on the cultural exchange programme.

Thanks to all the host families, the staff of Lycée Thomas Corneille and to Ms O’Brien and Ms Phillips, who facilitated the exchange programme and who accompanied the students on their trip. The return leg of the exchange trip will take place next year.

LGBT+ WEEK

LGBTQ+ week was held last week in CCA. We are a school that respects and celebrates everyone’s individuality and we pride ourselves on being an inclusive school and workplace.

As part of the celebrations this year, students could get their nails and face painted. There were cupcakes and ribbons on sale with the proceeds going to Shout Out, a voluntary educational organisation that gives workshops and talks on important LGBTQ+ issues and who visited the school and spoke to the students on Monday.

Throughout the week sixth year students provided an opportunity for any student to drop in and chat with them in the Meditation Room at lunch time and there was a competition for students to wear the rainbow colors as part of their uniform on Thursday.

On Friday, there was a surprise Lip Sync by Cormac Timmons and a hilarious performance by Mr Rice and Mr Hughes. There was also a beautiful artistic display in the GP Area with the banner reading Be Proud To Fly. Thanks to all the students and staff involved in making this a very enjoyable week.

TY MINI-COMPANIES

On Tuesday, November 19, the TY mini-companies displayed and promoted their products in the GP Area. There was a wonderful standard of products on show with some great ideas for Christmas gifts.

Over the next few weeks students, parents and staff will have an opportunity to purchase or place an order from the companies. The products will also be on sale during the Christmas market in December.

Thanks to the business department for working with the students and supporting them with their products.

CAREERS WEEK

CCA celebrated Careers Week last week. Teachers wore ‘Ask Me’ badges all week to encourage students to talk to them about what college they attended, and what their own experience of college life was like.

Posters and information leaflets were available in the GP Area regarding the choices for different students after their Leaving Cert.

As part of Careers Week, TY students attended IADT Dun Laoghaire for their open day. Thanks to all the staff who were involved in the TY trip and facilitating all the events throughout the week.

ATHLETICS

CCA athletes travelled to the Shoreline track on Tuesday, November 19, to take part in Event three on the Wicklow Athletics calendar. Despite the bad conditions, all our athletes performed very well, with Clara Doyle, Amber Scully, Oscar Durston, Moya Kelly, Charlotte Pelz-Olufafe, Shane Collins, Stevie Stokes, Cian Evans and Callum Phelan all picking up individual medals. Thanks to Mr Duffy for organising this event.

BADMINTON

Well done to the Senior Girls’ badminton team who went undefeated in their group stages of the Dublin League competition, with victories over St Mary’s, Naas, Kishoge CC and Adamstown CC the girls are now the quarter-finals of the league. Well done to the team and their manager Ms Lillis.

HURLING BLITZ

Three CCA Junior teams took part in a hurling blitz against three teams from Coláiste Chill Mhantáin. The games were played in a very good spirit and there was some wonderful skills on show. Thanks to bainisteoir Mr Staunton for working with the teams and facilitating the event.

PSYCHO SPAGHETTI

The CCA TY students attended the ‘Psycho Spaghetti’ comedy show in the Laughter Loungein Dublin on Thursday, November 21.

The one-man show which is written and performed by Ger Carey is a hilarious look into the teenager’s mind. The TY students thoroughly enjoyed the day.