Coláiste Chraobh Abhann

LGBT+ WEEK

CCA celebrated LGBT+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender +) Week from Monday the 19th – Friday, November 23, with some fun activities and lunchtime events taking place across the week to promote CCA as an open, welcoming school where inclusivity and respect prevails.

There were some excellent talks organised for students throughout the week, along with brilliantly designed art work from the LGBT+ committee who decorated the corridors and the GP Area with the message ‘Love is Love’ and ‘You Are Loved.’.

The LGBT+ committee spoke to junior assemblies. The fifth students organised a support group every lunch time in the Meditation room. The Student Council had a stall selling rainbow badges to raise funds for ‘BeLonGTo’ and ‘Shout.

Out’ and there were nail painting and face painting stands available at lunchtime too. Mr Hughes and Mr Rice also performed a surprise lip-sync Spice Girls number in the GP Area on Thursday to the delight of the entire school community.

Head Boy Charley Delaney Byrne and Head Girl Rebecca Hayden spoke eloquently at each morning assembly, promoting the importance of the week and highlighting how CCA is proud to be an inclusive school that respects everyone for who they are. They encouraged everyone to stand up and celebrate the positive inclusive environment nurtured in CCA, where discrimination on account of ones’ sexuality or gender is not tolerated.

Thanks to Ms O’Brien, the LGBT+ committee, the TY students, the Student Council and all the staff and students for the work that was put into making this a very special celebration.

FRENCH TRIP

Twenty one TY and fifth year CCA students thoroughly enjoyed their action packed exchange trip when they visited students from Lycée Thomas Cornelille in Rouen, France from the November 15 to November 19.

This long established exchange programme between Coláste Chraobh Abhann and Lycée Thomas Corneille is an annual event, with a number of CCA students staying with a French family each year, where they have the fantastic opportunity to practise and improve their spoken French over five days.

The CCA students experienced what a day in the life of a French school is like as they accompanied their French exchange students to various classes throughout the school day. They also enjoyed a tour of Rouen, taking in the famous sights of the medieval city, while also managing to squeeze in a spot of shopping too.

The CCA students benefited greatly from this opportunity to improve their spoken French and made many new friends along the way.

Thanks to Languages Connect from whom we have received a €15,000 grant towards the Exchange Programme over the next three years, allowing us to reduce the cost for parents and improve the activities.

Thanks to all the French Department, who helped organise this exchange, and especially to Ms Phillips, who organised and coordinated the exchange. Thanks to Ms Phillips and Ms O’Brien too for accompanying the students on the trip. The return leg of the exchange will take place in the new year.

FASHION SHOW

There was a great turn out for the CCA Fashion Show which took place in Fishers of Newtownmountkennedy on Thursday, November 22, where a number of CCA parents, staff and students took to the catwalk to model some of this season’s finest fashion designs.

The staff models included Ms Crean, Ms Buckley, Mr Staunton, Ms Nolan, Ms Corrigan, Mr Steele and the crowd’s favourite, Mr Eivers. The student models were Colm Flynn, Erika Bellamy, Charley Delaney Byrne and Abbie Dutton, while the parents were represented by Donal Scanlon and Áine Conway. According to one member of the audience there were more shapes thrown on the catwalk than in Mr Maher’s TG class.

Thanks to the CCA parents’ council for organising this fun event and to the staff of Fishers, who sponsored the evening and provided refreshments on the night.

All the funds raised on the night will support our school activities and various events throughout the year. PRIMARYSCHOOL TRANSITION

Fifth Class Primary students from Roundwood, Newtown, 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 a taste of all the subjects and extra-curricular opportunities on offer here in CCA.

Students visited each optional subject classroom on their guided tour, where our students and staff explained and demonstrated the subjects’ course outline and project work.

The primary students were also entertained by the CCA music students during their lunch break, including great solo performances from third year students Saibhe Smith, Bryony Conalty Pullinger and sixth year student Sarah Hayes.

Thanks to all staff who supported this great event and to the TY students who helped with the guided tours. A special thanks to Mr Farrell, who coordinated the event and ensured everything ran smoothly. We hope everyone enjoyed the day.

TY BANK

Last Thursday twenty six CCA TY students were interviewed by Mr Peter Cooney and Ms Mary Fahy from bank of Ireland for roles in this year’s CCA School Bank.

The high standard of candidates made the interviewers’ job of picking the final bank team very difficult, however eventually nine students were chosen to lead this year’s School Bank Team.

The bank will run for the duration of ‘Spirit of Enterprise Week’ which takes place from 26th – November 30.

FIRST YEAR BOYS SOCCER

Well done to the first year boys soccer team who came from behind to draw 3-3 with Woodbrook on Thursday, November 22.

Man of the match was awarded to Callum Davis, who put in an excellent performance according to manager Mr Sweeney, with notable displays from Aaron Smith and Jack Collier respectively.

UNDER-16 GAELIC FOOTBALL

The under-16 boys Gaelic team unfortunately fell at the first outing to a very strong Scoil Chonglais, Baltinglass side on Thursday, November 22. Despite outstanding goalkeeping by Cian Timmons and brave defending from Cole Kelly, Blake Ryan and Matt Nolan, Baltinglass had a healthy lead at half time that proved insurmountable.

Shane Collins scored two goals in the second half and points were added by John Paul Nolan, Jason Gallagher and Sam Bishop.

BOYS TY SOCCER

The Transition Year CCA Boys played against Bagenalstown, Co. Carlow in a competitive game on November 20 down in Carlow and came out winners with the final result being 3-2. Goals from Dylan Fitzsimons, Jamie Murray and man of the match Jordan Brady secured the victory for CCA.

The boys are now through to the Leinster Cup quarterfinal which will be played after Christmas. Manager Mr Hughes is looking forward to some big performances from the team in the new year.