KERRY’S EYE 4TH MAY 2017 39 CASTLEISLAND COMMUNITY COLLEGE 30 YEAR ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION Exciting times at Castleisland Community College IT GIVES ME great pleasure to contribute to this wonderful Kerry’s Eye supplement in celebration of Castleisland Community College’s 30 Year Anniver- sary. BY CARMEL KELLY, SCHOOL PRINCIPAL nationally, while more have excelled academically. Stu- Three events have been de- dents regularly achieve 600 veloped to mark the three points in the Leaving Certif- decades of Castleisland icate, and some have repre- Community College. We will sented Ireland internationally access school reports. highlight farm safety and recent- hold the final of these events, at sports. New subjects introduced recent- ly, we achieved a World Record a Celebration Evening in the We have been granted the ly include History, Accountancy, for having ‘The most people to school, on Friday, May 19th, funding for a new Science Physics and Applied Maths. Sig- participate in a Sports Quiz’. We 6pm-9pm. Laboratory that will be built nificantly, we have introduced the invited the other local post prima- The academic achievements this summer. Our reception oral elements of the Junior Cer- ry and primary schools to help us of Castleisland Community area is also being refurbished tificate languages, Gaeilge and achieve this milestone. College are long documented to celebrate our thirtieth year. French, which crucially provides We’re looking forward to our over the decades, with huge The AstroTurf, a joint venture students with the opportunity to Celebration Evening on May 19th achievements in many sub- with the local soccer club, has engage with the oral elements of with music, dance, photographs, ject areas - including in the also moved closer to fruition. the languages to a much greater stories and video links from for- Science and Maths Olympiad We have introduced more degree. mer students around the world. where our students have ex- technology to help with Castleisland Community Col- We live in exciting times here at celled in the areas of Mathe- managing the daily business lege also has a very successful Castleisland Community College, matics and Science. of school life, including an Transition Year programme, as in partnership with Kerry Edu- Past students have achieved online attendance record well as a wealth of co-curricular cation and Training Board, our greatly and are a credit both that also records students’ and extracurricular activities. Board of Management, Parents to their local communities academic progress. We aim to The previous two decades of Association, School Staff and and worldwide. Many have enable parents to access this the school were celebrated by Student’s Council. Follow us on displayed enormous entre- system in the future, to check holding a very successful Trac- Facebook, Twitter or our school Teresa Lonergan, Deputy Principal and preneurial skills locally and on their child’s progress and tor Run on Sunday March 4th to website. Carmel Kelly, Principal, Castleisland Community College PROJECT MATHS SUPPORT JUNIOR CERT PARENTS Magazine STUDENTS captures HAVE BIG PLANS school’s best The many highlights of the year in Castleisland Commu- FOR THEIR TOWN nity College can be seen in the annual school magazine, CASTLEISLAND STUDENTS HAVE big plans to produced by TY students. ensure their town is at its best, including a Students began work on the host of creative and innovative ideas, as part magazine in September and they captured images, gath- of the Architects in Schools initiative with the ered information and collect- help of teacher Aidan Joy and architect Tadgh ed their many highlights and McMullen. memories. Teacher Annette The TY students last year spent four months working on Steinborn says it is a great the project before holding an open evening to showcase experience for the students. their ideas to the public. CASTLEISLAND COMMUNITY COL- their maths homework. past few years,” Teresa said. “The students volunteer for Their practical and simple improvements that could be LEGE doesn’t just support their This year, over twenty parents took part The six-week programme has taken place the editorial team and they implemented to improve the area included a bus shelter, a students - they also ensure that in the Project Maths course at the school in Castleisland Community College for work together from the be- permanent farmers market, an art studio and café, a graffiti parents are best equipped to sup- and coordinator Teresa Lonergan says it is the past few years, and interest in the pro- ginning of the year to collect room and pottery studio and a lighting and cycle path along port their children outside of school a great initiative for all involved. ject has increased every year according items for the magazine,” she the river walk. hours. “This course helps dispel some of the to Teresa. said. Their innovative ideas were displayed to a large crowd The school gives parents the chance to fears that parents have in relation to Pro- “This proved to be a huge success with “It is a really great experience including local TDs, councillors, the local community, par- take part in Project Maths which pro- ject Maths,” she said. large numbers opting for the course. for them - they get to experi- ents and members of Castleisland Chamber Alliance - and vides support for parents of Junior Cycle “It covers the basics with parents and will “The parents who have taken part in the ence the whole process right it is hoped that some of their creative and practical ideas students. The course helps parents gain introduce them to the language of Project past have found it so helpful and they up to the final stages, and confidence to support their children with Maths and we have gotten great feedback all receive certificates at the end of the they have been working so may be implemented in the near future. from parents who have taken part over the course,” she added. hard recently.” Congratulations to Castleisland Community School from Congratulations to Castleisland Community CASTLEISLAND School Celebrating 30 years Putting from Fairtrade Pat Kearney Services first Castleisland Community Col- lege provided the thought of Domestic the day this year for Kerry Ra- dio as part of Fairtrade fort- night last March. Working together to support Appliance Repair Castleisland Communi- ty College is a Fair Trade local communities school, which means that it only buys Fairtrade tea and Bank of Ireland is regulated by the 087 2565569 Central Bank of Ireland coffee. It was awarded the Fairtrade certificate in 2015. All the local supermarkets in Continued success to Castleisland Congratulations to Castleisland Community School from Community School from town supply Fairtrade tea and coffee. Fairtrade doesn’t cost Tim Dineen the consumer any more mon- OLYMATH ey, it just means the money P S paid for the item is more fairly Cleaning distributed. 1/2 Courthouse Lane, Tralee. Simple everyday activities like Carpets - Upholstery doing our shopping can have - Wooden Floors - Tiles Tel: 066 712 5035 a profound effect on the lives - Powerwashing Houses, Fax: 066 712 8148 of people thousands of miles Paths & Driveways away. Look out for the Fair Tel: 066 71 47170/066 71 23245 Email: [email protected] trade logo the next time you Mob: shop for tea, coffee, bananas, 087 2620824 IT Support for Education Web: www.polymathbookshop.com chocolate and even cotton Scartaglen, Co Kerry. clothing. 40 KERRY’S EYE 4TH MAY 2017 CASTLEISLAND COMMUNITY COLLEGE Best wishes to Castleisland Community College on celebrating their 30th Anniversary from Students’ wellbeing Lawrence Curtin comes first Painter & IN OUR INCREASINGLY fast paced lifestyles and in the midst of more challenging times it is becoming Decorator more important to take stock of our wellbeing. Castleisland Community ferent element of wellness CASTLEISLAND College is very aware that followed up with a lunch- schools play a critical role time activity, guest speakers in the promotion of positive in the classroom and ending mental health for young the day with a five-minute people and with the moti- meditation. tel vation and initiative of the A leading expert in men- 087 2244831 Fifty Year Enterprise class tal health and wellbeing a very successful Think addressed third years and Wellness Week took place fifth years. last October. Art therapy, healthy food, This provided students the physical activity also fea- opportunity to reflect on tured in the event. Continued success to their individual wellbeing, As students learned, ‘Life the cultivation of resilience is 10% what happens to us Castleisland Community and friendship awareness. and 90% how we respond.” Each day began with a dif- School from Labhaoise Walmsley, Marie Fleming, Jason Browne, and Jack O’Connor in the Daisy Room mental health corner GLOBAL PASSPORT AWARD Big celebration planned for 30th anniversary IT IS A very special year for Castleisland Com- munity College as the school marks thirty years since it first opened in Tonbwee - and the school has lined up a special celebratory event to mark their milestone occasion. The celebration evening Past pupils who are now will take place in the school living in various parts of on Friday, May 19th from the world will also be part Castleisland Community College was awarded a Diplomatic 6pm to 9pm which will of the celebrations on May Passport in recognition for its work in the area of development education. see current pupils and staff 19th as they will link in with Castleisland Irish Aid, a branch of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, join with past pupils, for- the school via video link to Christian Steinborn honoured the school with this award in Thomond Park, Limerick mer teachers and members share their fondest memo- in April 2016.