MERCY KILBEGGAN
NEWS AND VIEWS
MERCY SECONDARY SCHOOL KILBEGGAN NEWSLETTER MAY 2020 ISSUE 4
WELCOME WEBSITE Welcome to the May 2020 issue of Mercy Kilbeggan Please consult our school website at “News and Views” which highlights some events and www.mercykilbeggan.ie for weekly event updates, activities that go on, and will go on, in our school both news in co-curricular and extracurricular activities, inside and outside of the classroom. and useful links.
SCHOOL NEWS
COVID-19
In light of this unprecedented circumstance, Mercy Secondary School Kilbeggan has been closed since March 12th as per Government regulations on Covid-19. Our school may have closed, but teaching and learning has continued. We recognise and commend the monumental effort that all our stakeholders have made in response to this gargantuan challenge, to ensure school life can continue to function, albeit quite differently. As a collective we have found ways to adapt and everyone has played their part. For that we thank you. We look forward to welcoming students back through our doors, but for now our wish is that everyone keeps safe and well. Our school remains available to contact.
FIRST YEAR, SECOND YEAR, TRANSITION YEAR, AND FIFTH YEAR SUMMER ASSESSMENTS 2020
The We findSummer ourselves 2020 inAssessment unprecedented Plan times,s for First huge Year, challenge, Second coming Year, Transition together when Year, apart and Fifth – Digital Year learning students are currently on www.mercykilbeggan.ie,
JUNIOR CERTIFICATE AND LEAVING CERTIFICATE EXAMINATIONS
The Leaving Certificate Examinations are now scheduled to commence on July 29th, and will follow an amended State Examinations Commission Timetable. More details to follow in due course. Junior Certificate examinations have been cancelled and replaced with school-based assessments commencing on May 19th. The Summer 2020 Assessment Plan for Third Year Students is currently on www.mercykilbeggan.ie
ALL IRELAND MINOR GIRLS XC SUCCESS
On March 7th our Minor Girls Athletics Team consisting of 1st Year students Morgan Corcoran, Adele Geoghegan, Emma O’Brien, Leah Geoghegan, Emma Murphy and Ellen Daly were crowned All Ireland Minor Girls Team champions. This added to their earlier Leinster Team Championship success. What a remarkable achievement for this talented group of athletes. Their hard work has really paid off and everybody associated with our school is proud of them. Their success will be marked in school, upon return, with a presentation of commemorative Athletics singlets being made to the girls. They will be presented by Mr, Farrell and Ms. Gallen at an assembly with their year group.
MERCY SECONDARY SCHOOL KILBEGGAN
KILBEGGAN, CO. WESTMEATH • Tel: 057 9332292 • Email: [email protected] • Web: www.mercykilbeggan.ie Principal: Garrett Farrell • Deputy Principal: Bernadette Gallen MERCY SECONDARY SCHOOL KILBEGGAN NEWSLETTER MAY 2020 ISSUE 4
SCHOOL NEWS
SECOND YEAR PETIS-DÉJEUNER FRANCAIS
On Thursday January 9th, Second Year French students enjoyed a French breakfast together in the canteen. This consisted of croissants, pain au chocolat, hot chocolate and orange juice and students ordered their breakfast en français to practice vocabulary learned from studying French food.
BT YOUNG SCIENTIST 2020
Well done to each student group and their teachers who represented our school at the 2020 BT Young Scientist Exhibition at the RDS from January 8th to 11th. It was a highly eventful and exciting few days for our students and their projects received great recognition. Some of our students featured on RTÉ and Virgin Media news, on Facebook live broadcasts, and were pictured with Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin.
Students: Lisa Ennis & Erin Heeney
Project Title: NCCA vs Students: Where is the Change?
Teacher: Ms. Daly
Student: Orna Kelly
Project Title: Goodbye Documentation, Hello Dramatisation
Teacher: Ms. S. Clarke
Students: Tiarnan Clarke MacMahon, Luke Seery & Owen Bagnall
Project Title: Fighting for Breath; Is the School Drop off Harmful to Student Health?
Teacher: Ms. S. Clarke
BANK OF IRELAND MONEY SMARTS CHALLENGE
On Tuesday January 21st, two 5th Year teams and one TY team represented our school at the 'Bank of Ireland Money Smarts Challenge' within the Westmeath/Longford region. The event was held at the Mullingar Park Hotel and our students performed very well on the day.
TRANSITION YEAR FACE THE PHOENIX
Congratulations to TY student Jason Fitzgerald who won the regional final of TY Face the Phoenix on January 22nd. Jason's business 'Happy Hooves' impressed the judges with its creativity, and Jason impressed with his effort and attention to detail. Jason, pictured below with his friends received a trophy and won €500 for the school. Well done to Jason and to guiding teachers within our Business Department Ms. Stenson and Mr. O'Meara.
MERCY SECONDARY SCHOOL KILBEGGAN KILBEGGAN, CO. WESTMEATH • Tel: 057 9332292 • Email: [email protected] • Web: www.mercykilbeggan.ie MERCY SECONDARY SCHOOL KILBEGGAN NEWSLETTER MAY 2020 ISSUE 4
SCHOOL NEWS
IMTA PROBLEM SOLVING COMPETITION
On January 23rd our school sent three teams to an IMTA Junior problem-solving Maths quiz held in Athlone Community College. Well done to each of our teams, especially to the team of Patrick Iskra, Odhran Gavigan, Barbara Ziarnowska, and Peter Clarke who finished in joint 3rd overall, and to the team of Brian Egan, Ella Casey, Alan Farrell, and Erin Guilfoyle who finished 4th overall.
TRANSITION YEAR & FIFTH YEAR HOLOCAUST TALK
On January 29th Tom Hanley from the HETI, delivered a talk to all our TY and 5th Year students on the Holocaust Narrative. This talk coincides with the 75th memorial of the liberation of Auschwitz and Birkenau. Thanks very much to Tom for this informative talk.
FRENCH THEATRE
On January 30th, all French students from our school has the opportunity to attend a French workshop in our school canteen which was organised by our French Department teachers. This highly entertaining event provided our students with the opportunity to develop their linguistic ability in a fun and unique setting, whereby our students were assigned various roles to play and tasks to achieve by the leaders of the workshop.
KAFFEE UND KUCHEN
On February 3rd all Second Year German students had 'Kaffee und Kuchen' which was organised by our German Department teachers. They enjoyed traditional German delicacies such as Schwarzwalderkirschtorte, Marmorkuchen and Herrentorte. Lots of fun was had by all.
TRANSITION YEAR ENGLISH TRIP
On February 3rd all Transition Year students went to Moate to attend a comedy show in the Tuar Árd, performed by stand-up comedian Ger Carey. There were plenty of laughs on the day and thanks to Ger for the great entertainment.
JUNK KOUTURE REGIONAL FINALS
Pictured are some of our TY students who attended the Junk Kouture Regional Final in Castlebar on March 5th. Laura Murphy and Sarah Costello modeled the creations on behalf of their respective teams. Team 1 - Sarah Costello, Geri O'Brien, and Megan Quinn. Team 2 - Fiona Dixon and Laura Murphy. Both of our teams were supported on the night by some of their close friends and their guiding teachers.
TRANSITION YEAR FORENSIC SCIENCE
On February 25th our Transition Year students participated in a Forensic Science Workshop. They tried to figure out who committed a crime by searching for clues, studying documentation, and through analysing the evidence. Thanks to Alison who facilitated the event.
MERCY SECONDARY SCHOOL KILBEGGAN KILBEGGAN, CO. WESTMEATH • Tel: 057 9332292 • Email: [email protected] • Web: www.mercykilbeggan.ie MERCY SECONDARY SCHOOL KILBEGGAN NEWSLETTER MAY 2020 ISSUE 4
SCHOOL NEWS
TRANSITION YEAR BRAY TO GREYSTONES
On February 13th our Transition Year students went on a Physical Education trip where they walked from Bray to Greystones via the spectacular cliff walk and then visited JumpZone Sandyford for some trampolining. Our students were also given the opportunity to do some shopping between the two activities at Dundrum Town Centre. The weather was perfect for the occasion and each student really enjoyed their activity-filled day out.
KARNEVAL AND FASCHING
Our German students celebrated Karneval and Fasching in German classes from February 24th to 27th.
LA CHANDELEUR AND MARDI-GRAS
On February 27th our Transition Year students served our 1st Year French students’ crepes for La Chandeleur and Mardi-Gras. Transition Year students took all orders in French, where 1st Years ordered their crepes and toppings using French vocabulary.
FIFTH YEAR A.G SCIENCE TRIP
On February 26th our Fifth Year A.g Science Class, accompanied by Ms. Relihan and Mr. Cox, visited Coorevin Farm in Co. Tipperary, where focus is placed on beef and sheep enterprise.
SECOND YEAR CSPE
On March 3rd, all Second Year students went on specific CSPE class trips accompanied by their respective CSPE teachers. These trips provided our students with insights into aspects contained within CSPE curricula and have provided a basis for future project work.
TRANSITION YEAR STUDENT ENTERPRISE
On March 12th three of our Transition Year Groups attended the Student Enterprise Finals in Athlone. The Mercy Kilbeggan company Arbor Bracelets went on to win best display in the senior category. Well done to all groups involved.
GAISCE PROGRAMME
Our Transition Year students’ Gaisce Journey has culminated with students having completed the three activity sections; Community Involvement, Personal Skill and Physical Recreation. In place of their Adventure Journey to Coláiste Uisce and Croagh Patrick climb each student submitted a small presentation outlining their experiences throughout Gaisce and their highlights from Transition Year. Congratulations to the class of 19/20.
MERCY SECONDARY SCHOOL KILBEGGAN KILBEGGAN, CO. WESTMEATH • Tel: 057 9332292 • Email: [email protected] • Web: www.mercykilbeggan.ie CLASS OF 2020 – THE HIGHLIGHTS
CLASS OF 2020 – THE HIGHLIGHTS
CLASS OF 2020 – THE HIGHLIGHTS