Coláiste Chill Mhantáin
OPENING YEAR CEREMONY
Many thanks to all involved, especially Fr Donal Roche, in the arrangements for the Opening Year Ceremony which was a lovely event for both staff and students. As always this ceremony provided us all with an opportunity to reflect on the coming year and to strive to achieve our best in all areas of our lives.
ROTARY YOUTH LEADERSHIP
Congratulations to Jessica Finnigan, 5th year, who represented CCM in Round Two of the Rotary Youth Leadership Competition on Tuesday, 6th November. The interviews took place in The Grand Hotel and Jessica was interviewed by three local Rotarians who discussed the many challenges facing Ireland today including Brexit. She was competing against representatives from three local Wicklow schools.
Jessica is delighted to have been chosen to progress to Round Three which will take place in Dun Laoghaire on November 22nd 2018 and we wish her the best of luck for the final round.
SCIENCE OLYMPIAD
Well done to Mark Britchfield, 5th Year, who was invited to participate in the IrEUSO (Irish European Union Science Olympiad) in DCU last weekend. He competed in the chemistry exam and won the silver medal. He will now participate in Practical Training with the other seven medalists and the top six students will be selected to represent Ireland at the EUSO 2019 in Almada, Portugal.
Last year Mark represented Ireland at the International Junior Science Olympiad (IJSO) which took place in The Netherlands. We wish him all the best in the next round of the competition.
NO PHONE CHALLENGE
We are very pleased to announce that after partaking in the Enable Ireland “No-Phone Challenge”, the school has raised €240. We would like to thank everyone who took part in the challenge and also all the people who generously donated. All the money raised will go towards improving technology to help people with disabilities in the local area. A special word of thanks goes to the Transition Year students who coordinated this event.
LITERACY WEEK
On Friday, 26th October, all 1st Year students and mentors dressed up as their favourite character from their favourite book for Dress Up and Read as part of Literacy week. There were many amazing costumes but ultimately Matthew Porter of 1 Foyle won the overall prize with Nan Mary O’Brien and Erin Jade Thompson as runners-up. Adam Henry was the winner for the Mentors. Well done to all who participated in the Drop Everything and Read and Dress Up and Read throughout the week.
ARTS WEEK
Last week, 5th -9th November, Arts Week was celebrated in the school with a number of different events. An exhibition of Student Art, accompanied by a performance by the school choir took place in the canteen during lunchtime on Tuesday, 6th November. On Tuesday and Thursday students had the opportunity during lunchtime to take part in print and clay workshops where they were able to make a hand-printed card and a Christmas tree decoration.
During Arts Week the Art Department ran a whole-school competition, the brief was to create a poster/painting inspired by the theme ‘The creative world we live in’.
All entries were on display in the canteen on Friday at lunchtime and music played while spectators enjoyed the art work.
Congratulations and very well done to Emer Kennedy, 2nd Year, who was awarded first prize in the competition for her landscape painting and to Connor Kelly Petrin, Transition Year, who was awarded second place with his intricate illustration. Runner-up was awarded to Adam Goucher in 1st Year. Well done to all who participated and to the Art Department who facilitated a wonderful week.
AN TRIAIL THEATRE TRIP
On Tuesday, November 6th, the 6th Year Higher level Irish students travelled to the Axis Theatre in Ballymun to see ‘An Triail’. They have recently studied the play in class as part of the Leaving Certificate course. The opportunity to see the characters brought to life on stage has helped their understanding of the plot. This Fibín production makes use of puppets and masks which, along with the actors, made it an enjoyable production with plenty of laughs.
UNIVERSITY OF LIMERICK
On Thursday, 8th of November, Professor Stephen Ryan from the University of Limerick made a presentation to the 6th year students at Coláiste Chill Mhantáin regarding the various courses that are offered by the university. He also presented information about the excellent sporting facilities that are available to all students at the college, and he covered information pertaining to the different scholarships and access routes that the university offers to eligible students.
He highlighted the Erasmus opportunities that the university has developed with other universities internationally. He also informed the students about the different clubs and societies in the university and explained how being a member of such college societies affords students with a wide range of experiences and opportunities. Professor Ryan encouraged the students to visit the college during its next Open Day in January 2019, and informed the students to make contact with the relevant departments within the college if they require further information about any of the courses that the university offers. War poets in class and then writing his own poem on the subject.
Well done to Bobby and his English teacher Ms Mongey on this fantastic achievement. The poem can be read on colaisteca. ie and all the winning entries from the various categories, including the Pendle 2018 Selected Poems Anthology can be accessed through pendlewarpoetrycompetition.blogspot.com/
FASHION SHOW
The Coláiste Chraobh Abhann parents’ council in association with Fishers of Newtownmountkeddedy, are delighted to announce the 2018 Fashion Show taking place on Thursday, November 22, in Fishers, the Old School House, Newtown from 7.30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
This promises to be a great night of fun and fashion, with many of the CCA teachers already perfecting their ‘blue steel’ pose for the catwalk. Refreshments and nibbles will be provided on the night along with a chance to enter into a raffle.
Tickets cost €20 and are available to purchase through the CCA school reception, or through the parents’ council.
ENTERPRISE PROJECTS
Spanish Cultural Exchange trip to Ies Arquiecto Rodriguez School in Madrid on October 24. Under the direction of Ms Colgan, this is the first year this Spanish Cultural Exchange between both schools was set up and will now be established as an annual event.
The CCA students enjoyed an action packed trip over the five days, including walking trips exploring the cities of Salamanca and Madrid, along with a fun family day spent with the students’ host families where the students improved their Spanish along with forging lasting friendships.
The return leg of the trip will take place in March next year with the Spanish students visiting Ireland. Thanks to Ms Colgan for organising this great initiative and to Ms Grauer, who also gave up her time to accompany the students on the trip.
BADMINTON
The girls under-19A made history this week by winning the first league match for Coláiste Chraobh Abhann. Well done to the squad of Becky Molloy, Sinéad Brady, Georgina Cowman and Orlagh Quigley.
The under-19 girls will have two more league matches next week and the under-16B Boys’ team will also be competing on Wednesday, November 14, with Jeremiah Scott, Luke Frawley, Daragh Flynn, Ben Walsh involved in that game.
Best of luck to coach Mr Steele and all the members of the badminton squads.