StKilian’s Community School

Primary students from Roundwood, Newcastle and Kilcoole visited CCA for the annual Primary School Transition Day on Wednesday, November 21. Our prospective students toured the school and were given an insight into all the subjects and extra-curricular opportunities on offer. Students visited each optional subject classroom on their guided tour, where our students and staff explained and demonstrated the subject’s course outline and project work. The primary students were also entertained during lunch by the CCA music students. Thanks to Mr Farrell and all the staff for this very well run day.

LGBT WEEK

CCA celebrated LGBT week from Monday, November 20, to Friday, November 24, with some fun activities and lunchtime events taking place, including face and nail paining and other fundraising activities. There were some excellent talks organised for students in the Viewing Gallery, as well as a brilliantly designed art display in the GP Area. Thanks to Ms Walsh and the Student Council for all the work that was put into this great event.

SPIRT OF ENTERPRISE

Building on the success of last year’s spirit of enterprise week with ‘Find your light bulb moment’, this year CCA are ‘Sharing the Light’ as the theme for Enterprise Week. There will be a number of activities taking place, with our entrepreneurs from First Year and Transition Year students displaying their products in the GP Area. There will also be interesting talks on entrepreneurship from Niall Mullen from Nikafit studios, and Dr Therese Moylan from IADT will be meeting the Second Year students to do some design thinking challenges.

CCA’s weakest link competition takes place along with the Wicklow Inter-schools’ Business Quiz on Wednesday.

SECOND YEAR PTS MEETING

Second Year Parent, Teacher, Student Meetings will take place on Thursday, November 30, in CCA Classes will end at 3.40 p.m. and the meetings will begin at 4.15 p.m. and end at 6.45 p.m. We are looking forward to discussing your child’s progress with us and to see how we can support your child going forward.

BOYSBASKETBALL

Both the under-16 and the under-19 CCA Boys’ basketball teams were victorious in their games, when they came up against CCM on Thursday, November 22, in the Wicklow Wexford Basketball league.

The under-16s had a convincing ending in a 56-36 win. The stand out players in this game were Third year students Jason Gallagher and Dylan Radzius.

The under-19s won their game 31-18, with Fifth Year students Luke Mascarhenhas and TY student Adam Gallagher putting in notable performances. Mr Craig is delighted with the progression both teams are making.

SCHOOLS FOOTBALL

ST KILIAN’S TITLE DEFENCE OFF TO MIXED START – As the reigning champions of the FAI under-17 Wicklow/Wexford division St Kilian’s Community School felt confident at the start of their 2017/2018 campaign. Despite much of last year’s team moving on to senior level the under-17s have retained the services of key midfield duo Dylan Bermingham and Gary Purcell, as well as utility player James Ryan.

It was Dylan Bermingham, who captained team side going in to their group opener, at home to St David’s Holy Faith Secondary School. Although the Bray side took an early lead it was cancelled out by an avoidable goal before the break; a free header from a corner. With St Kilian’s slightly dejected, leadership and an injection of positivity were needed. The captain delivered in spades in the second half. An unassuming man off the pitch, Bermingham showed his true nature in the closing 45; he was brave, ferocious and showed an astonishing desire to win. His role in leading by example culminated in a second half hat-trick including a couple of stunning strikes.

One would think the captain’s performance would make him the obvious choice for man of the match. New man Adam Byrne had other ideas. Byrne gave a master-class in the role of the number 10. Byrne’s pace, skill and creativity combined with his tireless work-rate make him one to watch for the future. On this occasion his eye for goal gave his team another hat-trick. With St Kilian’s leading 6-1, young striker Eoin Joyce came from the bench, to add the finishing touches to a dazzling team performance, with a dinked shot. Although the 7-1 score-line was cruel to a combative and talented St David’s side, St Kilian’s were off to a dream title defence.

Two weeks later, in their away fixture against Temple Carrig the dream seemed to be continuing. Number nine, Kyle O’Connor, had a great opening half, adding his name to the Kilian’s goalscoring account and helping St Kilian’s to a 2-0 lead at the break. The scoreline was flattering. In the absence of first choice goalkeeper, Sergiu Lupes, was moved from centre back (where he had performed exceptionally in the team’s opener) to tend the net and had made half a dozen top class saves during the first half. Similarly, the backbone of the team, Adam Davidson (moved to centre back from a commanding midfield performance) had been defending heroically to keep Temple Carrig at bay.

The second half saw a huge shift in momentum. Two defensive lapses within minutes saw the home team back on level terms through a needless penalty and a free header yards from goal. Temple Carrig had the wind in their sails and started to dominate the game physically and mentally. Despite a strong performance from debutant Matthew Tyndall and dogged work-rate from Purcell and Bermingham in midfield, St Kilian’s couldn’t recover from their breakdown and Temple Carrig surged to a well deserved 5-3 victory. As always, it’s a game of two halves.

BOXING CONTENDER

Shannon Reilly, one of our sixth year students, is currently in Guwahati in India boxing for Ireland in the Youth Women’s World Championships. She is through to the quarter finals after a very close fight with the English competitor.

Mrs Dodd (her year head) and the sixth years all gathered to watch the fight live in Room 22. The tension and excitement had them all on edge throughout the fight. The technology nearly let them down, but they saw the fight and it was fantastic to cheer her on to victory. When the referee raised Shannon’s hand at the end of the fight, the room erupted with the loudest cheers that must have been heard in India.

Shannon will fight for a bronze medal on Wednesday the 22nd. Shannon has worked so hard for this opportunity and we are all so proud of her wonderful achievement to be representing Ireland at this level in her sport. GO for Gold Shannon.

MACBETH

Mr Kelly and Ms Kavanagh’s fifth year English classes attended a very successful performance of William Shakespeare’s Macbeth last Tuesday, November 21.

The play was skilfully performed by Cyclone Rep in the Civic Theatre in Tallaght. Despite an early start, the students were delighted to have the opportunity to hear lines such as ‘Macduff was from his mother’s womb untimely ripped’ delivered live.

Unlike a traditional production, the play was a workshop, where students, including our own Anna MacAllister, Ciara Kelly, Alex Martland and Andrey Yordanov, had a chance to join the cast on stage. Ciara, in particular, was very convincing as Seyton.

The students found the show both engaging and educational, and are now more than ready for their upcoming winter Exams. Special thanks to SNA Christina Swords for kindly accompanying the group, and particular thanks to both Mr Kelly and Ms Kavanagh for organising.

KING LEAR

On Thursday, October 18, Ms Taffee’s fifth Year English classes attended Shakespeare’s ‘King Lear’ in the Mill Theatre Dundrum. This was a perfect opportunity for students to experience the performative aspects of a play that appears as the single text on their Leaving Certificate Examination. Students were provided with an education pack to accompany the performance. Character analysis, key themes, imagery and symbolism are among the many aspects covered within this education pack. The play itself offered an authentic performance encompassing themes of love, suffering and tenderness.

DUBLIN ZOO

On Thursday, October 18, a group of second Year Students attended a workshop in Dublin Zoo in association with their action project which is to be completed as part of the ‘CSPE’ short course for the new JCSA Wellbeing Programme. The workshop incorporated active methodologies such as ‘walking debates’ and group ‘picture interpretations’ relating to the concept of conservation. The focus of the workshop was the conservation of Elephants. Students visited the elephant enclosure while at the Zoo.

Asian elephant numbers have dropped by at least 50% over the last three generations, and they are still in decline today. With only 40,000-50,000 left in the wild, the species is classified as endangered, where both African and Indian elephants are in danger of extinction due to destruction of their habitat and human behaviour.

The African elephants suffer most from poaching for the ivory trade. By purchasing certified sustainable palm oil, retailers, traders and manufacturers can help limit the conversion of Asian elephant habitat into oil palm plantations. Consumers can help by demanding that products contain only sustainable palm oil.

The students worked extremely hard to come up with ideas as to how to raise awareness of the effects of human behaviour on animal habitats. As part of the action project the students will distribute the information among their peers and teachers through the collaboration of highly effective action groups within their CSPE class.

NATIONAL GALLERY VISIT

On Thursday the ninth of November Ms Ring’s fifth year art class attended the National Gallery where they participated in two guided tours. The first tour concentrated on the Gallery’s newest Sir Frederick Burton exhibition, a Wicklow born Irish painter.

On a second tour, the students then experienced the highlights of the National Gallery’s collection of European Art. Students were given the opportunity to make sketches which will be used as reference points for future learning. Both tours emphasised content in the ‘Art Appreciation’ section of the Art History Leaving Certificate examination, allowing students to take visual and written notes throughout.

Thank you to Ms O’Regan, who accompanied the groups to King Lear, The Zoo and the National Gallery, and who provided the very informative reviews above. Ms O’Regan is a wonderful addition to our staff and is much involved in every aspect of our busy school life.