StKilian’s Community School

LIBRARY UPDATE

Our Patron of Reading Alan Nolan has been busy in the library all year. A patron of reading is an author who develops a relationship with a school over time to encourage reading for pleasure and engagement with literature. Alan is a local author and illustrator and since September has run a number of workshops for students. Currently he is working with a second year class twice a week to produce their own book ahead of the Make a book exhibition in March. Working with a published author allows students to get a greater insight into the creative process and the polish of professionalism on their final drafts.

In February the library hosted Highrock Productions interactive presentation on ‘The Brain’. Using a series of brainteasers and games, students were shown how our decisions can be influenced, how decisions can be reflexive or considered and how this is of importance in a world swimming in social media and fake news. Third year and Transition year students attended and left with an understanding of some of the strategies that operate in the world, and the importance of stopping to think, question and engage the brain before acting. Thanks to our ‘always innovative’ librarian Chris Stokes for the update.

GIRLS GAELIC FOOTBALL

St Kilian’s Junior Gaelic team lost out to Coláiste Chraobh Abhann in the semi-final of the girls junior football B championship. It was a great achievement getting to the semi-final. Well done to Captain Jamie Curran Carr and the rest of her team for all their efforts throughout the year.

Junior team: Saoirse O’Neill, Tia McMahon, Letitia Coster, Alanna Byrne, Alanna Murphy, Caitlyn Mangan, Jamie Curran Carr, Ava Treacy, Holly Keogh, Jamie Lee Hanlin, Niamh Brady, Eleanor Murtagh Gilroy, Sophie Curran Carr, Tori Leigh Cummins.

The senior girls were very unlucky to miss out on reaching the Senior Championship final this year also. The girls had drawn in the semi-final of the Senior Championship against Coláiste Chraobh Abhann but missed out in the replay. Well done to captain Nicole Ryan and all the senior girls on their achievements throughout the year.

Senior team: Katie Fitzpatrick, Paris Flynn, Kayleigh Howick, Nicole Ryan, Jamie Curran Carr, Tia McMahon, Nicole Keogh, Georgia Browne, Shannen Blessing, Sophie Curran Carr, Alanna Byrne, Amy Howick, Kirsty Kelly, Lauren Carroll, Chloe Gray.

A huge ‘thank you’ to Ms O’Shea for her ongoing dedication to both girls’ teams in all weathers and in all circumstances, and our very best wishes to both teams for the future. Keep your big hearts up girls.

COFFEE MORNING THANKS

A big Thank You to all the parents and friends of St Kilian’s and St Fergal’s who participated and supported our Christmas Crafts coffee morning which took place on Friday, December 15, in Room 33 St Kilian’s CS There was a fabulous display of make and take craftwork, and the room was a buzz with Christmas Carols, mince pies, and busy craft tables. At times the room was chock-a-block with both parents and students enjoying the festivities.

This is a non-profit social event; however, any profit made is donated to a local charity. Our chosen charity this year was the Five Loaves, who support homeless people in Bray. A cheque for €200 was presented in January 2018. The remaining money was used to cover the costs of the morning. Thanks to the generosity of all those who donated gifts for the raffle and everyone who bought tickets.

A big thank you to Ms Garvey for organising these wonderful outreach programmes as she does every year.

MULTI CULTURAL DAY

St Kilian’s Community School hosted its fourth annual Multicultural Day on Friday, January 26, and as always, it was a hugely successful and enjoyable event. The whole school community embraced the celebration of our diverse school community. We counted over 34 different nationalities currently attending St Kilian’s this year.

The centrepiece of the day was a major food fair, with students and their families preparing national dishes and delicacies from both far flung countries and ones nearer to home. Everyone in the school, parents and friends were invited to taste foods from a wide variety of different countries.

Each year we host workshops and hold presentations focusing on cultural aspects of various countries. This year there was a fantastic display of African culture by a member of our teaching staff Ms Aderonke Arrogundade, who is a native of Nigeria. The African workshop theme this year was Friendship, and included traditional clothing, jewelry making, African board games and drumming. Other workshops included one on the Japanese Kimono, led by parent Ms Yumiko Wilde and her Japanese cultural group of dancers. We also had a group of Brazilian Capoeire experts from the Dublin school of Capoeire with an energetic display of acrobatic Capoeire dance.

Other distinguished guests who joined us on the day included Sylvia Katte Gavigan, honorary consul for Uganda, Jude Hughes, who is a tailor in Abbey Street and who does an immense amount of humanitarian work for Zambia, Uganda and Rwanda, and Assumpta Foynes.

The day was brought to an exciting close with an international-themed concert in the canteen at lunchtime facilitated by our music teacher Ms Louise O’Sullivan and TY students.

The school was colourfully decorated with international flags, bunting, and 35 display boards representing all the different countries. A number of International parents volunteered on the day, preparing food stalls with foods from different countries, and also some displays of traditional items or clothing from their countries. There was face painting throughout the day facilitated by our art teacher Ms Rowena Ring and a team of TY students.

Many students and parents arrived on the day wearing colourful traditional dress which added to the multicultural atmosphere in the school. Thanks to the many teachers and the parents, who were involved in and participated in the organisation and running of the day. The day was a fantastic celebration of the diversity that exists both within the school community and, in broader terms, in Irish society in 2018. Well done everyone particularly Ms Garvey and her team who do an amazing job every year organising this wonderful event.