Avondale Community College
TRANSITION YEAR NEWS
All Transition Year students were out on the second phase of their work experience before midterm learning valuable skills relevant to the world of work. The variety and range of placements was very broad. Students such as Alex Rowley even took to the mic in the Classic Hits FM studio speaking on the Niall Boylan Show about the issues facing young people today. Avondale Community College would like to thank all involved for facilitating and supporting our students during their work experience and generously affording them some fantastic opportunities.
Transition Year students loved their last Home Economics class of the module where they made pancakes for a late Pancake Tuesday treat.
WORLD BOOK WEEK
World Book Week celebrations kicked off earlier this year with Transition Year and Second year students participating in art workshops with comic artist Kev F Sutherland. Having previously contributed to Marvel Comics and the Beano, Kev. enthusiastically guided students in the creation of their own comics strips and the development of their own characters and story-lines. At the end of the day students were furnished with a class comic combining everybody’s pieces.
BASKETBALL
Congratulations to the First year boys basketball team who defeated St Mary’s Rathmines in the playoffs last Thursday. Our First year girls basketball team topped the group in the Wicklow League and have now qualified for the South East quarter finals. They defeated St Mary’s Arklow. Well done, girls.
SCIENCE SUCCESS
Past pupil Seán Byrne was recently brought to Zambia as part of his prize from last year’s BT Young Scientist Exhibition. His winning project entitled ‘Eggshell Filtration System’ focused on removing heavy metal pollutants from water. Seán spent the week travelling to farms and schools with Self Help Africa to explore how his project could be used at local level in the Global South and potentially save lives. In addition,
Seán gave an impressive presentation about his project to a packed lecture hall in the University Of Lusaka and was also invited to dinner at the Irish Embassy in the region. It was a really exciting opportunity for Seán, and Avondale Community College are extremely proud to have such a talented alumnus.
SPONSORED WALK
Avondale Community College will be hosting their annual Sponsored Walk in aid of the Sports and Cultural Fund this week. Thank you to all students and sponsors for supporting this important event.
On Thursday, February 27, a group of six students from CCM spent an activity-packed training day at ETSS Wicklow for their upcoming Model United Nations event on Friday, March 27. Representing France, First year students Daniel Jameson Cleary, Jason Doyle, Eric Hrofman, Luke Seery Freir, Peter Quinn and Lachlan Hart were given an opportunity to practice writing their opening statements and resolutions in the company of peers from several other schools around Ireland.
The afternoon session encouraged student delegates to hone their debating skills in a mock General Assembly in which our CCM pupils were prominent and active participants. We wish them well as they continue to prepare for the main event.
SENIOR RUGBY
CCM 29 – Scoil Chonglais 5. The senior team booked their place in the McMullen Shield Final after a hard fought win with Scoil Chonglais. On attack we stretched them at every opportunity but, unfortunately, we allowed Baltinglass control possession and field position.
Three second half tries allowed us a comfortable last 10 minutes with strong performances from sixth years, Cormac Fenton, Malachy Stone, Aaron Canterbury and, in particular, Oisin Timmons, key to the win. Well done to Joe and the team for their commitment to a long, disjointed season and their positive attendance at trainings.
Congratulations to all the First and Second year students who participated in this year’s CCA Scifest on Wednesday, February 16. The event ran for the entire day with some very impressive projects on display for students and staff to discuss and learn from. Results as follows.
FIRST YEAR: first Place – ’Girls in Sport’ – Sadhbh Fitzmaurice, Chloe Vickers and Karla Walsh. Second Place – ’How energy efficient is our school?’ – Amber
Scully and Aoibheann Keating.
SECOND YEAR: first Place – ’Which painkiller works the fastest?’ – Nina Wolohan and Eva Doyle. Second Place – ’Hydroponics’ – Conor Mulvey
INNOVATOR AWARD: ’Light bulbs’ – Ciarán Cummins (first year)
FOREST AWARD: ’What types of trees will prevent the expansion of forest fires?’ – Ava Smith, Grace Cullen and Aisling Doyle (second year)
Thanks to the judges who gave their time and to staff who helped make CCA Sci.
Fest such a great success this year.
GLOBAL ISSUES WEEK
CCA celebrated Global Issues Week all last week with numerous events taking place to raise awareness on sustainable living and striving for sustainable development goals (SDGs).
The TY Global Issues group held walking debates with First and Second year groups to raise awareness about the SDGs and climate change and also how to go about developing a sustainable bee friendly garden at home.
They ran classes on planting pollinator friendly flowers and each student was provided with seeds to plant at home.
TY students organised a stand over lunchtime to raise awareness about Fairtrade, climate change and sustainability and spoke to assemblies each day.
Thanks to Mr Healy and all the students who were involved in this important event and inspired us to look at how we can live more sustainable lives. This event was sponsored by the Worldwise Global Schools.
WHEELCHAIR CHALLENGE
The student council ran the CCA wheelchair challenge on Tuesday, February 24, where staff and students used a wheelchair for part of the school day, to raise awareness about the challenges faced everyday by wheelchair users. Thanks to Mr Rice, Mr McGuinness, Mr Brophy and Mr Byrne, who all volunteered to take part, and to all the students who took part. Thanks also to Michelle and all the staff from the Irish Wheelchair Association in Arklow, who supported this event.
20X20 CCA CELEBRATION
Women’s Weeks was organised by a number of senior students who were involved in the PE.
Xpo competition for their project on women in sport.
As part of their project, they organised guest speakers, just dance, quizzes and much more. The Student Council Non-Uniform day was also connected to this event. Well done to all the girls involved in this great project.
JUNIOR CERT PRESENTATION
Our TY and Fifth year students who were presented with their Junior Certificates this month by Ms Smith. Congratulations to all our students on their successful results.
TEXACO ART COMPETITION
Leaving Cert Art student Ruth Ireland was awarded a Certificate of Commendation for her entry in the 2019 Texaco Children’s Art Competition. Well done to Ruth on this excellent recognition of her work.
NON-UNIFORM DAY
The Student Council held a non-uniform day on Tuesday, February 25, to celebrate Women’s Week which was part of the 20x20 activities promoting girls and ladies’ sports.
Thanks to all students and staff who contributed, and who wore an item of pink clothing on the day.
TY WORKSHOP
Soar facilitated a character development workshop with our TY students on Thursday, February 27.
Soar is a collective movement who create and deliver early intervention, character development workshops for young people aged 13 to 18 years from all backgrounds. Soar was founded in 2012 by Tony Griffin and Karl Swan. They were inspired by the work of Jim Stynes and the Reach Foundation in Melbourne Australia having seen the documentary ‘Every Heart Beats True: The Jim Stynes Story’.
Thanks to the facilitators for working with our students.
FIRST YEAR PTS MEETINGS
Thanks to all the parents and students who attended the First year Parent Teacher Student Meetings on Thursday, February 27. It was great to have the opportunity to sit down and discuss your child’s academic and social development in this important school year.