Beat the Covid blues with CBS
It has been a long year for all in dealing with the restrictions imposed due to the pandemic, but with the vaccine light on the horizon and the promise of better days to come, CBS Secondary Parents’ Council is launching a massive fundraising draw and giving you the opportunity to beat the Covid blues in style.
The draw, launching this week, has a prize fund valued at almost €5,000. Top prize is a mouth-watering staycation option for any family – a one week holiday in Centre Parcs Longford to the value of €2,500 (very kindly sponsored by Hodgins Foods, Mitchelstown).
All funds raised will be used for the establishment of a new Science lab in CBS Secondary. The Sciences are hugely popular subjects in the school. All juniors take Science, while at Leaving Cert the school offers Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Agricultural Science to all students. Indeed, CBS hosts Physics at senior level for both the boys in CBS and the girls from the neighbouring Presentation Secondary School. In addition, Transition Year students take modules in the four practical sciences, while LCA students take Agriculture/Horticulture as one of their specialisms. This combination creates a huge demand for lab space, and the development of a third lab has been a dream for a few years now.
The school aims to focus on the fixed equipment, mechanical and engineering aspects of the project this summer. This will include putting in safety flooring; workstations for students with associated storage; installation of required plumbing, gas and electrics to each workstation and the teacher’s desk.
ATTRACTIVE PRIZES
A week-long staycation option in Centre Parcs in Ballymahon, Co. Longford is first prize. A forest resort, it includes 466 self-catering lodges and 30 apartments and features a jaw-dropping array of activities for all ages and tastes. The range of indoor activities includes anything from American Pool to Zumba, indoor sports, arts and crafts, cookery, health and fitness, dancing, pottery and challenges such as ‘Locked in a room’. The 92 outdoor activities include archery, Aqua Park, aerial adventures, cycle paths, falconry, golf, kayaking, ropes challenge, laser combat, nature walks, boating, sailing, soccer and tennis. Centre Parcs also boasts a brand new Aqua Sana Spa and a subtropical swimming paradise.
Second prize is a concert ticket bundle, comprising of tickets for 6 concerts for 2 people, kindly sponsored by past-pupil and concert promoter, Shane Dunne. The lucky winner will be able to discuss concert choices with Shane. Third prize is a smart TV, valued at €350, sponsored by Stalwart Security.
Other prizes include vouchers for fabulous locations such as Inchydoney Island Hotel and Spa, Carton House, Lyrath Estate in Kilkenny, a fine dining package for two people comprising Dromoland Castle, The Old Convent in Clogheen and Chez Hanz (Cashel) or dinner B&B at the highly rated MacNean House, owned by renowned chef Neven Maguire. Summertime staycation treats on offer include a session with the Atlantic Flight Training Academy, the Spike Island experience, and a trip for two people on the Aran Island ferries.
OSKARS EVENT
The raffle was planned initially to be part of the fundraising drive of the CBS OsKaRs event, originally scheduled for April 18th 2020 but which unfortunately had to be postponed due to the Covid pandemic. The committee is determined, however, that once conditions improve the OsKaRs dream will return. At the time of the first lockdown in March 2020 the various casts were well into their rehearsal schedules and the filming weekends were planned. The March 13th shutdown meant all was put on ice – temporarily.
The hope is that Spring 2022 will see the staging of the event and a night to remember for all. We look forward to the return of Mary Poppins, to Fr. Ted, Fr. Dougal and Fr. Jack up to no good, William Wallace seeking freedom for Scotland, Andy DuFreyne seeking freedom for himself, Sister Act running through the streets and the Young Offenders Mitchelstown-style.
In the meantime, however, the parents’ council is determined to help the school improve the Science facilities in the short-term and to the benefit of the current and incoming students. This is the first time in a number of years that the CBS Secondary Parents’ Council has taken on a fundraiser of this magnitude and one which seeks to involve the support of many across the community. After a long hard year of restrictions and given the array of fantastic prizes on offer, it has been a worthwhile wait.
Tickets are priced at just €5 each and are available online through the school website www.cbsmitchelstown.ie, through the Parents’ Council (e-mail pc_secretary@cbsmitchelstown.ie), from any member of the parents’ council or through the school (025-24104). Tickets may be purchased immediately and the draw will take place in the school on June 8th. Get on board to beat the Covid Blues! Be in it to win it!