John MacNamara receiving his UCC Scholorship from Dr. Michael Murphy Congratulations PrincipalsWelcome to our Spring AddressNewsletter which helps to inform parents of to John MacNamara development in Douglas Community School. This newsletter also includes the programme for our Annual School Musical – Snow White and the Eleven who received a Dwarfs. Douglas Community School has again lived up to its tradition of academic UCC Scholarship excellence with the achievement of our Leaving Certificate student of 2007 John McNamara in winning a University College Cork Entrance Scholarship. Parents may not realise that our achievements over the years in winning University Scholarships have been remarkable and unmatched by any other school in the Douglas- Rochestown area. We are regular winners of University College Cork Scholarships and have also won scholarships to Trinity College Dublin, Cambridge University and a number of Universities in the United States. In the Irish Times survey of Irish Schools Douglas Community School has a consistent pattern of having 80% of Leaving Certificate students go on to third level – mostly to UCC and CIT. A number of our students also go to UK colleges which are not reflected in this survey. Those that do not go on to third level generally study at Post Leaving Certificate Colleges such as the College of Commerce and St. John’s or enter into vocational training programmes. Parents can be confident that our students are achieving the highest of academic standards. Our academic success is a very significant indicator of school quality but must be matched in other areas before a school can claim to be providing a rounded education for its students. Douglas Community School continues to compete successfully in a wide range of sporting activities including Hurling, Football, Basketball, Soccer, Athletics, Rugby, Badminton, Tennis, Table Tennis, Golf and Pitch and Putt. Our artistic and cultural life was showcased at our Advent Carol Service with our Choir winning many compliments for their superb performance and our first year acting group putting on an excellent short play. Our Annual School musical this year is a pantomime. Those of you who have seen our productions over the past few years will realize that we have a change in style of production each year from modern musical to comedy to Gilbert and Sullivan. This year’s production demonstrates the depth of talent of our students. Most of the performers have never taken part in a show before which makes this production even more remarkable. The development of self-confidence and team building in putting on a show will stand to these students in their later careers. I thank, on behalf of students and parents, the teachers who give so willingly of their time to make the production a success – Alan Gould, Ger O’Connell, Anne Moriarty, Aaron Wolfe, Catherine O’Mahony, Sabrina Mackey, Jerry O’Mahony and Ted O’Sullivan as well as the numerous other teachers who help along the way. Above all these successes – academic, sporting and cultural clearly - show that Douglas Community School continues to develop well educated, rounded and balanced students. Douglas Community School, Clermont Avenue, Douglas, Cork, Ireland Tel: 021 429 4201 Fax: 021 429 2723 Email: [email protected] continued inside.....play of Snow White....... DOUGLAS COMMUNITY SCHOOL NEWSLETTER Mental Health PUBLIC YOUNG SCIENTISTS OF DOUGLAS COMMUNITY CongratulationsSPEAK INGto the studentsCompetition of Douglas Community School who competed in the final of The Cork Mental SCHOOL Health Public Speaking Competition. The students involved This year Cillian Bracken, Ronan Doyle and Gareth Kidney, were Andrew O’ Reilly, Kevin Tobin, Aidan Murphy and all fourth year students, travelled to Dublin to represent Ben Coughlan. They defeated Rochestown Community Douglas Community School in the Young Scientist College and North Monastery in the first round and then competition 2008. Students from the school have been out pointed Presentation Secondary School Mitchelstown very successful in years gone by and this year was to and Ballincolig Community School in the semi-final. follow that familiar pattern with the work of the students Congratulations to all involved, and best of luck in the drawing a lot of attention. Well done to the boys for their final against Boherbue Comprehensive School as well as fine work. Mt Mercy Secondary School, Roscarberry. Cillian Bracken, Gareth Kidney, Ronan Doyle Public Speaking Team of Ms.Mackey, Andrew O Reilly, Aidan Murphy, Kevin Tobin and Ben Coughlan. CAR SAFETY StudentsFOR of Douglas FOURTH Community School YEARS are given the opportunity to undertake a car safety course as part of the fourth year curriculum. The object of the programme The GermanGerman Debating team Debating of David Winning, David is to instill in the young driver an understanding of the Bourke, Ian Falvey and Michael Crowley were successful limitations and frailties of a vehicle and to dispel any in round two against Millstreet Community School and feeling of invincibility behind the wheel. This practical we wish them every success in the future rounds of the “hands on” approach is designed to help the students competition. see their responsibilities as drivers. Car safety course for fourth years David Winning, Michael Crowley, Ian Falvey, David Bourke SNOW WHITE This year’s production is Snow White. We are hoping it will be as successful as in previous years. This years drama is similar to the modern fairytale but with a D.C.S twist! Both staff and students have worked hard on this drama. We hope you enjoy this magical experience! SPECIAL THANKS Douglas Community School would like to thank the local primary schools for their help and co-operation in this years school show. SPONSORSHIP We would also like to thank the many local businesses who contributed so generously. In return the names of these premises will be advertised on the nights of the show. Finally a thank you to our own students, Aaron Canty and Alan Smith, for their poster designs. SNOW WHITE ‘THE CAST’ CONSTRUCTION Mark Parkes Evan Lacey Alan Smith Michael Lyons Darren Walsh David Madigan Conor Bowen Elliot McCarthy Peter Coughlan Colin Moloney Mateusz Gorlowski Paul Murphy Chris Moriarty ACTORS, SINGERS Brian Murray Brian O’ Connor & DANCERS Kieran Nevin Cian O’ Connor David Barrett Andrew Neville Gary Perrott Olan Bermingham Stephen Neville Sam Ruane John Bradfield Mullen Brian Nolan Edwin Zak David Broughal Damien Nolan Robert O’ Donovan Cillian Bracken Peter Nolan Dan Buckley Shane Nugent PUBLICITY GROUP Michael Carroll Alan O’ Brien Peter Carroll David O’ Brien Mark Connor Darren O’ Connell Joseph Barry Pablo Corbi Eoghan O’ Connor Aaron Canty Jack Casey Stephen O’ Donovan Kieran Donegan Rodney Daly Keith O’ Donoghue Stephen Dorney Ronan Doyle Eoin O’ Mara Cian Fitzpatrick Adam Duke Greg O’ Riordan Andrew Fitzgerald David Dunlea Eoin O’ Sullivan David Foley Ferdia Dwane Sean O’ Sullivan Dylan Hamilton Ciaran Fleming Gearoid Power Ross Harrington Eoin Freaney David Quirke Zain Haidri Ali Tyrone Gee Michael Quinlan Liam Kenefick Daniel Glavin Damien Randles David Looney Jamie Glavin Stephen Ring Colm Linehan Kieran Gleeson Ronan Sammon Robert Lyons Shane Hamilton Ian Seymour Michael Kenny Tony Healy Marc Tobin Anthony Meaney Joaquin Izquierdo Joan Valles Kevin Melsop Darren Johnston Alan Walsh Jason Murphy Adam Kelleher Andrew Murtagh Ronan Kelly Aaron Noonan Kieran Keogh Conor O’ Brien Garrett Kidney Henry O’ Donovan Luke Kearns Fourth Year Students Involved in Snow White DOUGLAS COMMUNITY SCHOOL NEWSLETTER EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES AT PAST PUPILS OF DOUGLAS DOUGLAS COMMUNITY SCHOOL COMMUNITY SCHOOL MAKE We are calling on all students of Douglas Community School US PROUD to participate in the extra curricular life of the school. While the academic part of school life is the main focus there are Eoin Cadogan Stephen Moylan, Fintan O’Leary, Alan Barry also many opportunities for our students to “let their hair and Thomas O’Connor have represented Cork this year down”. Young people today have many different interests but at U21 level and the school is very proud of their fine the staff of Douglas Community School recognize this fact and achievements. We would also like to take this opportunity this why we offer such interests as Gaelic Football, Hurling, to congratulate Eoin as he was an integral part of the Soccer, Basketball, Rugby, Tennis, Table Tennis, Badminton, senior football squad that competed in the All-Ireland Chess, Choir, School Band, Musicals in fourth year, Debating, final in September. Public Speaking, Golf and Athletics. Some students may be a Aaron O’Callaghan is earning a fine reputation as a golfer little apprehensive about trying out something different but of considerable talent on the college circuit in the United they could look upon the sports day next May as the ideal States and we have no doubt he time to take part in something new. will continue to make us proud. Colin Doyle earned his first full international cap and continues to ply his trade for Birmingham SUCCESS ON THE City F.C. Colin was kind enough to call to the school before the SPORTING FRONT summer and give us a signed jersey that is now proudly displayed in our assembly area Signed jersey from Senior Irish International Colin Doyle. DOUGLAS COMMUNITY SCHOOL ATHLETICS The 2007 year has been a very successful one for Douglas Community School athletes. Many of the teams excelled in numerous competitions and there were also some U16 MUNSTER AND ALL IRELAND WINNERS Congratulations to the D.C.S. U16 soccer squad who won the Munster and then went on to All Ireland success in 2007. This is a fine achievement for the pupils involved. A group of Douglas Community School Athletes Congratulations must also go to the U14 Gaelic football squad who won the county for the school in 2007 .This outstanding individual performances.