Your Custom Text Here
Congratulations to winners of our Easter Raffle! 1st Prize Chloe Freeman (Seller Sophie Freeman), 2nd prize Eimear Gavigan (Seller Niamh Gavigan), 3rd prize Paulina Zajaczkowska (Seller Alan Hajdrich), 4th prize Claire Beirne (Seller Claire Beirne), 5th prize Sean Walsh.
Sellers' prizes went to Dúileach Ryan and Michael O'Leary.
Thanks to our Sponsors: Tom Rowan, Teresa Ryan, Get Fresh Catering, 9 Arches Restaurant and Antoinette Beirne.
Notes by: Claire Beirne, Dearbhaile Rooney and Evan Chalmers
TY:
All TY students participated in a Safe Driving course last week. The course consisted of a practical session in which they learnt various things ranging from how to change a tyre to the effects of being under the influence of alcohol when driving and did some driving. They also sat a mock theory test. Thanks to “Irish Driving School of excellence” for their work.
On Wednesday 14th March TY 1 and TY4 had a retreat in St. Mels College. This was in conjunction with their Alpha course. Thanks to Ms. Bohan and Mr. Staunton for accompanying the students.
21 TY students involved in Young Social Innovators attended a speak-out in Ballinasloe on Wednesday March 14th. They spoke about their project on self esteem “Photo, Photo on my screen putting down my self esteem” before a panel of judges. Thanks to their mentor Ms. McGovern. They await to hear their results.
Thanks to Mairead Casey who continues teaching sean nós dancing with all the TY’s.
Ciaran Hanley, Dylan Coady and Shane Prior went to the Daycare Centre to help with serving dinners and to chat with the senior citizens.
Sport:
Congratulations to the first year girls’ basketball team and their coach Ms. Carr who beat Dunsaughlin in the regional Basketball semi-final last week. Well done to the 1st year Boys basketball team and their coach who beat play Dé Là Salle in their regional semi-final last Wednesday.
Congratulations to the U14 girls Gaelic football who beat Loreto Mullingar in the first round of the leinster league last week, and they also won their blitz in Newtownfor.bes last Wednesday . Thanks to their coaches Mr. Seery and Ms. McTiernan
Well done to the 1st year boys’ football team and their coaches Mr. Larkin and Mr. Kenny who beat Moyne last week in the Longford league.
Congrats to our 3 U14 girls’ football teams who took part in the Longford blitz last week. Well done to our two teams who played each other in the final
Seachtain ng Gaeilge:
Bhíomar ag ceiliúradh seachtaine na Gaeilge an tseachtain seo chaite. Seo a leanas cuid de na himeachtaí a bhí ar siúl. Bhí Tráth na gceist ar siùl ar an Luain ag fiche chun a haon do na scolàirí ar fad. Bhí pop up Gaeltacht ar an Mháirt. Bhí Lá Glas ar an gCéadaoin. B'é buaicphoinnte an lae sin ná agallamh leis an leas phríomhoide. Bhí comortás an lae ar chlár digiteach na ndaltaī. Bhí seisiún ceoil ag am lóin. Ag deireadh an lae fogríodh buaiteoir an chomórtais postaeir. Is ár dteanga í. Bímis brodúil aisti.
Thought for the week:
A Dhia,
Deonaigh dom an suaimhneas, Glacadh leis na rudaí nach féidir liom athrú, Misneach na rudaí a athrú is féidir liom, Agus an gaois an difríocht a aithint.
God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change. Courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference.
Congratulations to Meghan Finnan TY Student on being shortlisted for the Mental Health Ireland’s Art & Photography Competition.
The National and Provincial winners will be announced at the awards ceremony on: Thursday 15th March from 5pm – 7.30pm in the Atrium in Dublin City Council Office, Wood Quay, Dublin 8. Good Luck Meghan!
Notes by: Tami Dania & Sarah Cox
News:
Over 40 students from Mercy Secondary School Ballymahon were randomly selected to take part in the OECD’S PISA 2018 survey which assesses the skills and knowledge of 15 year old students in reading, literacy, mathematics and science. Approximately 6500 students from 150 schools across Ireland took part in the PISA survey. It’s a computer based test and took place in our school on Tuesday 6th March. The parents of the selected students, school principal and English teachers were also asked to complete a questionnaire. Thanks to Mr. Larkin for coordinating the tests and to all who cooperated and completed the tests.
Longford College of further Education spoke to sixth year students about post leaving cert courses available at their college on Thursday 8th of March.
TY:
Well done to our Junk Kouture group, comprising of Bláthnaid Mc Donagh, Dearbhaile Rooney and Claire Beirne, who competed at the Western Regional Finals in Helix in Dublin on Wednesday 7th March. 15 out of 82 competitors got through to the next round. We are very proud of our competitors but unfortunately they did not get through. However they are still in with a chance of been selected as a wild card. Thanks to their mentor Ms. Bruton.
Thanks to Brian Casey, Ciara Mulligan, Ellen Shannon, Bryn Peters, Niamh Dempsey and Gordan Farrell for visiting the Day-care centre this week.
TY’s entered the final Module on Monday 12th of March. The four classes rotate Module every 8 weeks. Each Module includes different courses.
Irish dancing classes are continuing to take place every week with Mairead Casey.
On Wednesday 7th March, the 24 hour sign up sign off challenge in aid of Trócaire took place from 12:00 midnight on Tuesday to 12:00 midnight on Wednesday. Students signed out of all their social media platforms for 24 hours to raise money for Trócaire. The event was promoted by the students from TY3. There was also a bake sale held. €327 was raised in aid of Trócaire.
On Thursday 8th March, all TY students went to Belfast for a history trip organised by Ms. Casey and Mr. Tansey. They visited the Titanic Museum, Shankhill and Falls Road. They had a great time.
On Friday 9th of March, Paul from Getwest met all TY students to discuss their outdoor pursuits trip in May.
The following students Edel Clabby, Jenny Kelly, Abbie O’Shea, Danny Hewitt, Mateusz Bednarek, Chloe Molloy have been busy preparing their Y.S.I. project on self-esteem “Photo, photo on my screen putting down my self-esteem”. Thanks to Ms. McGovern for her work in mentoring the students.
Congratulations to TY photographers Abbie O Shea and Meghan Finnan who have been shortlisted to appear in the National Exhibition after been shortlisted in the Mental Health Ireland’s Art & Photography Competition. Their work will appear in the Art & Photography Exhibition which will run from the 12th – 15th March in Dublin City Council Offices on Wood Quay. The National and Provincial winners will be announced at the awards ceremony on Thursday 15th March from 5pm – 7.30pm in the Atrium in Dublin City Council Office, Wood Quay, Dublin 8.
Basketball:
The 2nd year boys’ basketball team, coached by Ms. Flannery, beat Drogheda Grammar School on Wednesday the 7th of March. Well done to the 1st year boys’ basketball team, coached by Mr. Dempsey, who beat Scoil Uí Mhuire, Louth on the same day.
Well done to the 2nd year girls’ basketball team, coached by Ms. Carr and the 1st year girls’ basketball team, coached by Mr. Walsh, who beat Castleblaney away last week.
Thought for the week:
What I have cannot be measured, nor can it be timed. You cannot put a number on it. Willpower and heart are what take me to the next level. (Chase Reynolds).
The annual sleepover in the school gym raised money for Bethany House and St. Martha’s homeless shelter Longford run by St. Vincent De Paul. Thanks to Mr. Broderick, Mr. Kenny, Mr. Burke, Ms. Matthews, Ms. Nevin and Ms. Bohan for supervising.
Pictured are Val Delaney from St. Vincent de Paul with Narnia representants.
Notes by: Katie Gouldsbury and Amy Cox
TY:
All TY students have now completed their training in First Aid with Martin Mulvey. Thanks to Martin for sharing his knowledge with the students. On Wednesday February 21st, TY groups 1, 2 and 4 attended the AXA Safe Driving presentation in the Backstage Theatre in Longford. Thanks to Mrs Bohan and Mr. Walsh for accompanying the students. It was a thought provoking event highlighting the responsibilities of all the car drivers and the tragic consequences of unsafe road use.
Thanks to Dylan Coady, Brian Casey, Bryn Peters, Jack Murtagh, Ciaran Hanley Richard Sweetnam, Matthew Jordan, Keith O’Halleran and Richard Laffan who helped out at the Day-care Centre this week.
All the TY’s are enjoying an Irish dancing workshops with Mairead Casey over the coming weeks.
The TY students involved in the Lighthouse programme are continuing to help prepare the confirmation classes in St. Matthews Primary School. They accompanied the students to St. Mel’s Cathedral and Diocesan Centre on the 22nd February for a day of spiritual preparation for their confirmation. They all had a great time.
Sport:
Hard luck to the U 19 boys’ basketball team and their coach Mr. Dempsey who lost by a point after extra time in their All Ireland semi-final in Tallaght on Friday 9th February. Thanks to all the supporters.
Commiserations to the Senior girls’ football team who lost by a goal to Trim on Friday 16th February in St. Lomans GAA Mullingar with a final score of 4-9 to 5-3. It was a close match with Trim scoring the final goal in injury time. The 2nd year boys’ basketball team lost to Nobber in Kingscourt last week. They have 2 wins out of three games and they await confirmation of whether they qualify out of their group stages or not. Thanks to their coaches Ms. Flannery and Mr. Dempsey
Hard luck to the Concern Debate Team of Emer Tyrell, Arron O’Connor, Denny Hebron and Amy Cox who lost their debate against Davitt Community College in Castlebar on Thursday February 9th. Thanks to their mentors Ms. O’Reilly and Mr. Staunton.
Other:
Congratulations to past pupil Stephen Mulledy who was a recipient of the AIT inaugural “Scholarship of Excellence” programme 2017/18. This scholarship was established to celebrate the achievements of students receiving over 500 points in their Leaving Certificate examination. The school was represented at the event by Stephen’s former Year head Ms. Honeyman.
Congratulations to our Junk Kouture western Regional finalists! - Claire Beirne, Dearbhail Rooney and Blathnaid McDonagh, 3 TY students who are representing Mercy Secondary School Ballymahon in the Bank of Ireland Junk Kouture 2018 Regional Finals, which will be held on March 7th in The Helix Dublin. Thanks to their mentor Ms. Bruton. Make sure to vote through the schools Facebook page or junkkouture.ie. Their piece is titled “Seas The Day”.
Thanks to Mike Shortt and “An Tobar Nua” a Galway retreat team who gave all the 3rd year students their Retreat on Friday the 23rd of February. They all had a very enlightening and enjoyable day.
Thanks to all the parents of our incoming 1st year students who attended an Information evening on February 20th. Presentations were given by principal Ms. Donohue, Guidance Counsellor Ms. O Neill and Wriggle.
Thanks to all of the 1st years’ parents who attended the parent teacher meeting on Thursday 22nd of February.
The LCVP students have been very busy with recorded interviews on Monday 26th February and Tuesday 27th February.
Congratulations to all the students who did their JC in 2017 and received their official Junior Certificates of completion (the JCPAs) recently. The Department of Education now rewards students for their non-academic activities within the school during their Junior Cycle.
Thought for the week:
Never let the things you want make you forget the things you have.
The Regional Final Vote, 19th - 23rd February: this vote is for all regional finalists.
TO VOTE ONLINE:
Step 1:
Voting will only take place on this app.
Step 2:
Register
Registered voters is the only way we can make sure the same person doesn’t vote repeatedly so that we can keep voting fair. You can vote daily.
Step 3:
Notes by: Katie Devlin and Sarah Murtagh
Sport:
Congratulations to the 2nd year girls Basket Ball team who beat Dunshaughlin Community College and to their coach Ms. Carr last Tuesday. Also congratulations to the first year girls’ basketball and their coach Mr. Walsh who beat the same opposition. Both teams have won their first two group games
Good luck to the u19 boys’ basketball team and their coach Mr. Dempsey who are playing the all-Ireland semi-final this Friday in Tallaght Co. Dublin.
News:
5th year LCVP students visited Abbeyshrule Airport on Thursday as part of their LCVP Enterprise course. They now have to prepare an Action Plan and a Summary Report. Thanks to their teachers Ms. Bohan and Ms. Keegan for organising the trip.
Transition year students have completed their second and last week of work experience now. Thanks to all the employers who afforded our students this valuable part of education.
Safer Internet week has been celebrated in Mercy Secondary School Ballymahon under the theme "Be in Ctrl". Safer Internet Day was on Feb 6th and Ms. O Neill completed a workshop with all year groups on internet safety. Elements of student wellbeing, encompassing our school mission statement, respect, anti-bullying, friendship, resilience, connection and responsibility were covered in the workshop. Three follow up lesson plans will be delivered in their Junior Cycle SPHE and Senior Cycle TY Religion/SPHE classes.
Thanks to Ms. O Reilly , Ms. Ryan, Ms. O Neill, Ms. Donohue, Mr. Kenny and Mr. Larkin together with TY students Ali O Connor, Oisín Brogan, Zoe Guinane, Sophie Hogan, Meghan Finnan and Caitlin Farrell who looked after the incoming 1st year who sat their assessment tests on Saturday Feb 3rd.
Just to remind parents of first year students that a parent teacher meeting will take place on Thursday the 22nd of February from 4.15pm to 6.45pm. This is the last parent teacher meeting of 2017-2018 school year.
Well done to all the third and sixth year students who have completed their mock exams over the last two weeks. Thanks to Ms. Keegan and Ms. McManus who coordinated the exams.
Thought for the week:
“Life is not a competition; life is about helping and inspiring others so we can reach our potential” (Kim Chase)
Congrats to our senior debating team, Emer Tyrrell, Aaron O'Connor, Denny Hebron and Amy Cox who reached the knock out stages of the All Ireland Concern Debating competition. They gave an outstanding performance last night against a great team from Davitt College Castlebar. It was extremely close and the result did not go our way. Thanks to their mentors Ms. O'Reilly and Mr. Staunton for all their guidance and support. Thanks to the great supporters who travelled to the event.
Congratulations to our western regional finalists!! - Claire Beirne, Dearbhail Rooney and Blathnaid McDonagh, Ty students who are representing Mercy Secondary School Ballymahon in theBank of Ireland Junk Kouture 2018 Regional Finalists, which will be held on March 7th in The Helix Dublin.
To vote online:
TICKETS
Please note that Junk Kouture has no control over ticket sales, they are sold independently by the venues.
Tickets have sold out in previous years within 3 hours of going on sale, so be fast!
Tickets go on sale for this years regional finals from each of the venues at 9:00am on the 19th of February.
Website: http://thehelix.ie/
Contact No: (01) 700 7000
Email: info@thehelix.dcu.ie
RECYCLED FASHION DESIGN ENTRY 2018
MERCY SECONDARY SCHOOL BALLYMAHON
“SEAS THE DAY”
Bláthnaid McDonagh – TY student
Dearbháile Rooney – TY Student
Claire Beirne – Ty Student
"SEAS THE DAY"
Designed from plastic and aluminium packaging used to store food, clothes and household goods which are used in excessive amounts daily. The dress consists of chocolate wrappers, fruit packaging, coal bags and baling twine -alongside digital materials.
DESIGN CONCEPT:
Appalled that the sea is fast becoming the world's biggest dumping ground with 1 billion pounds of refuse entering the ocean each year, we wanted to convey this alarming fact to the public through our design . The frame of our dress is sharp and obtrusive towards the top but visually softens towards the bottom- representing all three states of water. The dress is comprised of mainly plastic materials which is the most common element found and number one source of pollution in the sea. Water pollution is aesthetically unpleasing and humans misuse of rubbish cause chaos to marine life. The wings represent this chaos and the variety of materials that wash up on our beaches each year. We hope to inspire people to " Seas the Day " before it is too late and to reverse the damage we've caused. The skirt and shoes symbolises the purity of nature that we aspire for in our environment.
Our design changed throughout the course of the year. We had originally planned for a single skirt however after receiving advice from a friend we decided to add an under skirt which would also add dimension. It was made detachable to add variety and drama.
The style of the dress is inspired from Haute Couture with the addition of the wings to represent a Phoenix as our title encourages people to rise up from the ashes of pollution and create a purer world. We also learned how to work as a team and developed great trust in each other.
Notes by: Tami Dania and Sarah Cox
Extra-curricular
Hard luck to the U16 girls’ basketball team who were unlucky in the All-Ireland Div. ‘A’ playoffs held in Loreto Kilkenny on Saturday 13th January. They lost to Crescent Comprehensive Limerick, beat Carrigaline Community School by a point and were beaten by Loreto, Kilkenny. Thanks to their coach Ms. Carr.
Hard luck also to the U16 boys’ basketball team, trained by Mr. Walsh and Mr. Dempsey, who won one out of two games at the All-Ireland play offs, on Sunday 14th which were held in our school gym. They beat Bray but unfortunately lost to St. Pats Armagh
Well done to Rachel Lyons who competed in the Regional final of the Soroptimist public speaking competition on Saturday 13th in the Bloomfield House hotel Mullingar. She did herself and Mercy Ballymahon proud in what was a very strong competition. Thanks to her mentor Ms. Gaffney for all her guidance in preparing for the competition.
The U19 boys’ soccer team, trained by Mr. Burke and Mr. Tansey, were beaten by Oaklands College, Edenderry in the North Leinster final on Monday 15th January.
Congrats to our Senior Boys’ Football team trained by Mr. McCormack and Mr. O Gara who beat St. Olivers Oldcastle by a scoreline of 1-15-1-9. They are now through to the North Leinster final.
Transition Year:
Two groups of Transition Year students have completed their First Aid class with Martin Mulvey where they were taught CPR and how to use an AED.
Transition Year students also went to Kairos Communications in Maynooth and took part in a media studies course. TY3 went on Wednesday 17th January and TY4 went on Thursday 18th January. Thanks to Ms. Quinn and Ms. Flannery for accompanying the students.
Thanks to Shane Prior, Eoghan Bannon, Ciarán Hanley, Jack Murtagh, Niall McGarry and Richard Laffan who volunteered at the Day Care centre this week.
News:
As part of their action project, a 3rd year CSPE class held a bake sale on Wednesday 17th January to raise funds for Bóthar. Thanks to Ms. Flannery for mentoring the students.
The 6th year physics class accompanied by Mr. Griffin went on a revision Leaving Cert practical workshop to NUI Maynooth on Tuesday.
A speaker from D.I.T. spoke to 6th years on Thursday 11th January about the courses that they offer.
On Monday 15th January, 5th year LCVP students attended a workshop presented by Selina Lindsay form Youth Connect (ICTU) about employees’ rights in the workplace.
All 5th year students have career appointments scheduled with Ms. O Neill and or Mr. Larkin starting from week of 29th January.
Incoming first years for September 2018 are invited to sit their assessment tests in our school on Saturday 3rd of Feb, at 10.00 am.
Thought for the week:
I learned this, at least , by my experiment; that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavours to live the life which he has Imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours. “ (Henry David Thoreau).
Presentation to the joint winners of Highest Leaving Certificate results 2017 to Dearbhaile Madden and Emma Donohoe. Dearbhaile is studying Science in UCD and Emma is studying Medicine in TCD.
Big Thank you to Jakob who demonstrated German biscuits to our TY students and sent us recipe for these lovely Macarons!
Ingredients:
3 times the white of an egg
250g icing sugar
Pinch of salt
Bit of vanilla aroma
250g ground almonds or ground hazelnuts
Whole hazelnuts and almonds for the decoration
First pre-heat the oven. Then beat all the eggs and add first the icing sugar(sieving) and after that the rest carefully into the bowls. Now put little pieces on a baking paper. Don’t put them to close together they will rise! Finally put them for 20 to 30 minutes in the oven at 150 degrees.
Notes by: Katie Gouldsbury and Amy Cox
TY
All TY groups have had their first day of their First Aid course completed by now. They will get their second day after Christmas. Thanks to Martin Mulvey who gives the course.
Thanks to Gordon Farrell, Patrick Smyth and Seadhna Ryan, Edel Clabby, Amy Cox and Liadhan Farrell who visited the Day care centre this week.
The Young Social Innovators team consisting of 21 Transition Year students are currently working on a Self-esteem Awareness video starring students from every year. The title of their project is “Photo, Photo on my screen, putting down my self-esteem”. The aim of their project is to raise awareness of the damaging effects of social media on self-esteem. The video will be posted in the New Year. Follow their journey on @ysi_mss. Thanks to their mentor Ms. McGovern.
Sports:
Commiserations to the u 16 boys’ football team who lost to Edenderry last week. Thanks to their coaches Mr. Dromey and Mr. Farrell.
Other news:
Well done to the fifth and second and first year students who completed their Christmas exams last week. We hope that they all went well. Thanks to Ms. Keegan and Ms. McManus who helped to organise the exams.
Congratulations to Aishling Farrell and her friend Maeve Newton who won this year’s Christmas FM Song contest. They also got through the first two rounds of auditions for the Late Late Toy Show with the song “This Christmas” which they composed and performed. Aishling also performed this song at the annual Carol Service and was supported by the School Choir on Monday the 18th Dec in St. Matthews Church Ballymahon. Thanks to Ms. Malone for all her hard work.
Also well done to Cathal Higgins his brother Thomás, his sisters Katie and Lily who also got through two rounds of auditions for the Late Late Toy Show with the song “Mistletoe” composed by themselves
The sixth years enjoyed an information talk about post Leaving Cert courses available at N.U.I.G. on Thursday last.
Thanks to John Pridmore who provided the annual retreat day for Leaving Cert students last Friday.
Thought for the week:
Don’t wait for the perfect moment, take the moment and make it perfect
Notes by: Sarah Cox and Tami Dania
Transition Year:
Thanks to Bryn Peters, Ellen Shannon, Dylan Coady Eoghan Bannon, Katie Farrell, Chara Mtisi and Rebecca Gill for visiting the Day Care Centre this week.
On Monday 4th December TY 3 and TY 4 went on a day trip to Boda Borg at Lough Key Forest Park as part of their Logic class taught by Mr. Dromey. Thanks to Mr. Walsh and Mr. Tansey for accompanying the students on the trip.
Congratulations to Shane Prior, Sean Kenny, Gerard Brennan and James Murphy who came fourth in the Regional final of Battle of the Wits which was held in Athlone on Wednesday 6th December. Thanks to Ms. Bohan for mentoring the team.
TY students sat their CAT assessment on Thursday 7th December. It was organised by Ms. O’Neill and will help students when selecting their subjects for Leaving Cert.
TY students went to Portlaoise to watch the U16 girls’ football match and then made their way to Dundrum for ice skating and a day of shopping. They were accompanied by Mrs. Bohan, Ms. Duffy, Mr. Staunton and Ms. Nevin.
Sport:
Congratulations to the U 16 boys’ basketball team trained by Mr. Walsh, who beat De La Salle from Dundalk in the regional final with a score line of 53-20. Also congratulations to the U19 boys’ basketball team coached by Mr. Dempsey and Ms. Flannery who beat O’Carolan College, Nobber in the regional u19 final by a score line 36-34 after extra time. Both teams are now through to the All-Ireland playoffs
Basketball U16 and U19 Regional champions
Commiserations to the U 16 girls’ basketball and their coach Ms. Carr who were beaten in their regional final by Castleblaney in Mullagh on Monday 4th December. However the girls have the opportunity to qualify for the all-Ireland play offs as they are the runner up in the regional final.
Hard luck to the U16 girls’ football team, trained by Mr. Bohan and Ms. O’Reilly, who lost their Leinster A semi-final match against Portlaoise on Tuesday 5th December.
Congratulations to the U 19 boys’ soccer team, trained by Mr. Burke, who qualified for the knock out stages of the league after beating Mullingar Community college on Friday 1st December. They lost their second group game to Strokestown.
School Walk:
A sincere thank you to all who supported the annual school walk which raised a total of €3786. Congratulations to Oisin Lane who was the first student to complete the route, Liam Glennon the second, Bradley Gray the first senior boy and Aileen Price the first senior girl. The prize draw winners for the annual school walk were Edel Clabby, Ella Hogan, Áine Dalton and Anthony Flynn.
News:
Our annual Open night was held on Thursday 30th November. Once again a huge crowd attended and the closing date for enrolment for 1st year September 2018 is 4pm 20th December 2017.
Thanks to all who supported the Christmas Shoe Box Appeal organised by Ms. O’Reilly. Over 100 boxes have been sent to Team Hope.
Rehearsals are in place for the annual Carol service which will take place on Monday 18th Dec in St. Matthews Church, Ballymahon at 8pm. Thanks to Ms. Malone for all her hard work.
Thought for the week:
Everything you do now is for your future. Think about that. (Kushandwzdom).
Well done to all our students who took part in Team Hope Christmas Shoebox Appeal this year. Donated boxes will be delivered to children in the communities mainly in Eastern Europe, former Soviet Union and Africa. Thank you to Ms. O'Reilly who organised the collection.
Notes by: Sarah Cox and Cormac Dixon
John Paul II Award:
Congratulations to the students who received their Bronze John Paul II awards from Bishop Francis Duffy at a ceremony in St. Mels Cathedral recently; Feidhlim Maher, Ciara Healy, Zoe Gallagher, Róisín Sheahan, Orla Keane, Maryann Lynch, Aisling McCormack, Ciara Nally, Harry Pendred, Matthew Gunning, Conall McKiernan, Jason Moorhead, Brian Kelly, Clodagh Kiely, Catherine Reilly, Karen Victory, Kevin Lynch, Cian Belton, Caoimhe Lohan, Rachael Lyons, Clodagh Kenny, Eve Corrigan, Claire Shaw, Daniel Lennon, Eoin Mulvihill, Bronagh Gorham and Orla Kenny. Congratulations also to Áine Bannon who received the Silver John Paul II award on the same day.
Sport:
Heartiest congratulations to our senior girls, Emily Farrell and Rachael Lyons who participated in the Soroptimist Public Speaking competition this week. The event was held in Athlone Community College on Tuesday night, with several schools from the locality participating. The competition was steep with an excellent display of knowledge, skill and ablilty by all the girls' involved. Rachael Lyons 5th year will go forward to represent the region in the Leinster final in January. We wish her every success in the next round. Thanks also to their mentor Ms. Ruth Gaffney
The Under 19 Boys’ basketball team, coached by Mr. Dempsey and Ms. Flannery, won their match on Friday 17th November against Corolan College. The u 19 and u 16 boys’ basketball teams are now through to the regional playoffs.
Commiserations to the senior Boys footballers who were beaten by Ballymahon Vocational School, in the Longford/Westmeath Final at Pearse Park last week. Thanks to their coaches Mr. McCormack and Mr. O Gara.
Congratulations to Sean Kenny, James Murphy, Gerard Brennan and Shane Prior who won ‘The Battle of the Wits’ table quiz held in Longford Library on Tuesday 21st November. They now go on to represent Longford in the Regional Finals in Athlone on the 6th December.
NARNIA students enjoyed a day out at Laser Tag in Athlone with Ms. Ryan and Helena Brady on Tuesday 21st November.
Well done to Mr. McCormack and Ms. Carr and all the first year students who held a Gymnastics display in the gym on Monday last.
The first year boys are enjoying a lunchtime Pella competition organised by Mr. Larkin and some transition year students.
Transition Year
Thanks to Oisin Brogan, Eva Harkin, Lucy-Anne Myhill, Ciaran Hanly, Eoghan Bannon, Sophie Hogan, Megan Finnan, Katie Gouldsbury and Gordon Farrell, who went to the Day-care centre this week;
TY2 and TY3 students enjoyed a Holy Spirit Day as a part of their Alpha course in St. Mel’s Diocesan Centre on Wednesday 22nd November. Thanks Annette Evans and her team of volunteers Mona, Catherine, Mary, Jim and Gerry for running the course and to Ms. Bohan and Mr Staunton for accompanying the students.
Teresa Dooner from Killashee gave some TY students a demonstration on her Bread Making recipe that reached 2nd place in the ICA All-Ireland Bread making competition in recent years. Thank you Teresa for your time and expertise, your Bread was gorgeous.
Alan Devine completed his workshop with Transition year students on oral presentations.
Art Exhibition
The ‘Imaginations Run Wild’ art exhibition was held on Thursday 23rd November in the Study Hall of the school. It was opened by Longford artist Phil Atkinson. Thanks to TY students Patrick Conlon, Mark Mealia, Sean Mulleady and Cathal Higgins helped organise Ms. Bruton organise the exhibition.
Agricultural Science
Thanks to Mr. Munds and Mr. Walsh who took 5th and 6th year Ag. Science students to a farm talk based on the Irish beef industry in the Ballymahon Mart on Wednesday 22nd November. Guest speakers included Angus Woods, chairman of the Irish beef industry and actor and playwright Seamus O Rourke.
Monthly Weather Report from our school weather reporting team: Francesca Mc Greal and Matthew Jordan October 2017
Temperatures were quite mild with an average of 13 degrees Celsius. Soil temperature fell gradually from a high of 14 degrees Celsius at the beginning of October, to 9 degrees at the end of the month. Wind direction was mostly from a southerly direction which kept our temperatures mild and our precipitation as rainfall. Grass growth was measured for October at 5cm, which is good and undoubtedly related to our mild conditions.
Open Night and Enrolment
Our Open Night is taking place on November 30th at 7pm. 6th class pupils and their parents/guardians are invited to attend. Closing date for enrolment is Wednesday December 20th, 4pm.
Thought for the week:
If you stumble make it part of the dance.
Heartiest congratulations to our senior girls, Emily Farrell and Rachel Lyons who participated in the Soroptimist public speaking competition this week. The event was held in Athlone Community College on Tuesday night, with several schools from the locality participating. The competition was steep with an excellent display of knowledge, skill and ability by all the girls' involved. Rachel Lyons 5th year will go forward to represent the region in the Leinster final in January. We wish her every success in the next round. Thanks also to their mentor Ms.Ruth Gaffney.
