ffNagle Rice, Doneraile, School Choir

Síol Newsletter Edmund Rice Schools Trust • Winter 2019 • Issue 18

Celebrating the joy, energy and power of young voices

All around the world, we are seeing the the country, many of you are helping to provision centres with their families, or impact that young people are having on improve the lives of older people, people alone, without privacy, without room the important issues of our time. Together, in hospital, or people with disabilities, for to study, without money and too often, you are calling out the failures of many example – quietly and unassuming - by without a sense that their futures are previous generations in a new, bold and just visiting them, telling a few stories and going to be any different or easier. energetic way – particularly on issues like jokes, singing, taking the time to listen, In 2020, armed with our network wide climate action and climate justice. and by giving people the gift of your position paper, we are going to focus on At the Edmund Rice Schools Trust, we youth and your friendship. Very often, direct provision again. We are asking that celebrate and have great faith in this new it’s the little, quiet things that make the the direct provision system is reviewed youth movement of citizen awareness, biggest difference to people. so that people do not have to stay within advocacy and activism. It is something that But then, sometimes, you also have to it for longer than six months. In total, we is core to our Edmund Rice Charter. The speak out loudly on things. We are proud have outlined 10 things that we want to role of our schools is to nurture your full to say that we are the first network of advocate on for change. potential, as healthy and happy students schools to take on one of the burning issues We can only do that successfully if who are ready and supported to learn, but of our time – the indignity and unfairness we all work together – as a network of also as active citizens who are part of a of the current system of direct provision. 96 schools and as a cacophony of nearly wider community and a wider world. And the impetus to speak out about 40,000 young voices. We have recently As a network of schools you have this issue came from you – our students. sent the position paper to your schools already shown how you can rally together Over the past two years, those of you with a suggestion that it is something you to try to bring about change for people who have attended our Walk in Your might work on within your classes, or who find themselves without fundamental Shoes Advocacy events have heard from your peace and justice groups. rights and dignities. We saw the campaign our students who are living in direct This issue goes to the very heart of on homelessness, initiated by Ardscoil provision. You listened to the stories of the Edmund Rice ethos that asks us to na Mara students in Tramore and then danger and trauma that many had to stand in solidarity with those who are strengthened by the collaboration of go through just to get to Ireland in the marginalised and voiceless, and that asks schools throughout the network. first place. They have witnessed death, us to be advocates for justice and rights. You don’t have to collect signatures, destruction, torture, family separation. We look forward to working with you all. paint placards or take to the street to be Then, when they arrived in Ireland, they an activist. We also know that throughout found themselves living in crowded direct Gerry Bennett, Chief Executive Coláiste Phádraig CBS Lucan Open Night 2019

Coláiste Phádraig’s Open Night was held on Thursday 3rd different subject areas and made sure they felt welcomed and October 2019. Despite the looming threat of Storm Lorenzo, the valued. They answered a lot of questions about the school from school was packed with over 400 enthusiastic primary school parents and their children in a mature, positive and informed students and their parents all eager to see the excellent array of manner and helped them navigate the corridors and different modern facilities on offer in our school. Most of the classrooms classrooms on view. The parents were especially appreciative were open on the night so that the young students could see the of the guided tours they received from the students and they different subjects in action. They got to actively engage with were very complimentary about their friendliness, positivity and our own students and teachers, with the science experiments helpfulness on the night so well done to all who helped out on proving particularly popular on the night. the night The Classroom of the Future was also a big attraction on The 6th yr Prefects were also a tremendous help on the night the night. Opened in 2017 by Frances Fitzgerald, the room is as they took attendance rolls, distributed important brochures, divided into six computer pods and each one can cater for up guided parents and students around and helped clear up at the to four students. The front of the room is free standing which end of the night. Some of them were still in school at 10:00pm can be arranged into groups from two-twelve depending on putting chairs and tables back for the next morning so their the requirements of the teacher and students. The Classroom initiative, leadership and dedication were much appreciated by of the Future is ultimately designed for student led and student school management. centred learning and the unique design really facilitates project Principal Mr. Brady spoke to the assembled crowd about what work, peer mentoring and peer collaboration in ways that a Coláiste Phádraig has to offer prospective students. traditional classroom cannot. It is particularly useful for the 11 of the school’s departed 6th yr students, who attained over new Junior Cycle Programme, with its emphasis on project 500 points in their Leaving Cert, were presented with vouchers work, research, creativity, peer assessment and collaboration, in recognition of their fine achievements. currently being rolled out in schools. It is also useful for Leaving The Coláiste Phádraig Parents Association again were Cert History and Geography as they involve projects as part pivotal to the night’s success as they provided an abundance of their programmes. The school is currently fundraising for a of refreshments to complete a wonderful evening for all 2nd Classroom of the Future which will serve the needs of the in attendance. students in the school. The success of the night has been reflected in the large Many of our current students were in attendance and in number of enrolment application forms received in the following truth they were the biggest selling point on the night as they few days. demonstrated the calibre of student that attends the school. The school looks forward to welcoming the prospective new They spent time engaging the primary school students in the students to the school in the coming years.

ffLocal primary school students sampling the fantastic woodwork projects of 3rd year students in Coláiste Phádraig.

Síol Page 2 Coláiste Phádraig CBS Lucan Br Damien Brennan RIP Br Damien Brennan RIP Coláiste 1960—2019

Much has been spoken and written Phádraig of Br Damien since his passing on the 3rd September last. The Edmund Rice Schools Trust will always be deeply grateful for Talent Show Br Damien’s committed service to education in Callan both as Coláiste Phádraig’s Lucan’s Got Talent 2019 was held this Deputy Principal and as Principal year on Friday, October 11th. As always there was great in Coláiste Éamann Rís and excitement and a great atmosphere around the school on as Chairperson of the Board the day of the show as one of the most eagerly awaited of Management of Bunscoil school events of the year edged ever closer. Work got McAuley Rice. underway early on in the day with TY students helping to set up the venue, the sound system and mentor the Br Damien’s commitment to Gaelic Sport, especially hurling, was nervous acts who would later all take to the stage. Over a further mark of his unstinting commitment to young people 250 students reluctantly left their afternoon classes and their future. He will be greatly missed by all those who to attend this year’s Show. Fair play to them all for were privileged to have been involved in hurling in Kilkenny at sacrificing important academic work and homework in school and Minor inter county level where he served as coach order to be in attendance for 90mins of music, dance, and manager for many years, magic, fun and entertainment! As the students of Coláiste Éamann Rís enjoyed their The show was hosted by the very competent Sultan summer holidays in 2019, little did they realise that when school Mamaev and Alex Jaji. Fifteen acts competed in this year’s resumed in early September they would be without their much show. There were an impressive range of talents displayed loved and inspiring school Principal Br Damien. While school from singing, dancing, guitar and trombone playing to was closed for the three month summer break, Br Damien was rapping, origami story-telling, pronouncing impressively fighting a huge battle to which he finally succumbed on Tuesday, long words and magic. The range of talents and skills on September 3. show in the final was hugely impressive and the audience One of a family of 12 from Arles, Co Laois he was born into were extremely taken with a number of the acts in the GAA family, his father serving as Laois County Secretary for particular. However, it was down to the judges Ms. Ryan, 25 years. He was educated in Carlow CBS where he first came Mr. McDonald, Ms. Cooney, Oisín Kehoe and Seán Foley in contact with the work of Edmund Rice. to select the winners and after a hard fought battle, Nico Br Damien joined the Christian Brothers, was professed in De Leon’s musical skills won out in the end after his crowd 1978 and worked in various schools in Dublin and elsewhere pleasing rendition of Ariana Grande’s Breathin’. in Ireland. The talented Lucca Sullivan came in second place when Br Damien returned to Coláiste Éamann Rís, Callan as he showcased his highly proficient singing and banjo skills teacher in 1990 for a year. Further appointments included performing From Here to Utopia by Ramshackle Glory. Coláiste Cholm, Crumlin and James’ St. CBS, Dublin 8. 3rd place went to the hardworking band consisting of He served as Community Leader in Westcourt, Callan, the brothers Kieran and Nathan Cahill, and Conor Henson. birthplace of Br Edmund Rice, from 1997 to 2003. From 2005 he They sang a medley of popular hits Hotel California, was Community Leader in Kilkenny, but continued teaching in American Pie, Seven Nation Army and Twist and Shout and Callan. In 2012 he was appointed Deputy Principal and later as they had the crowd singing and dancing in unison with Principal in Coláiste Éamann Rís in 2015. them throughout! Coláiste Éamann Rís benefitted significantly from his Well done to all who competed in the final and had leadership and skills as evidenced by his work and commitment the bravery to stand and perform in front of 250 of their to the amalgamation of St Brigid’s College and Coláiste Éamann peers. The audience must also be commended for being Rís in Callan scheduled for 2022. extremely supportive and encouraging throughout the Br Damien had 40 years teaching experience and was the show. Our TY students did a brilliant job helping Ms. last Christian Brother Principal and teacher in second level Bonner organise and run the show to a high standard. It education in Ireland. was a wonderful occasion for the school and €550 was His willingness to give people an opportunity to maximize also raised for the Zambia Immersion Project 2020. Ms. their potential is now legendary, be that in whatever path in life Bonner deserves great credit on yet again putting in so they chose. His lifelong devotion to Blessed Edmund Rice was much hard work and time into this year’s Talent Show. total and was reflected in his own life through his commitment Without her drive, energy and patience, the Talent Show to education and religious life. would not be the success it invariably is. The students are already looking forward to Talent Show 2020! Ní fheicfear a leithéid arís.

Winter 2019 Page 3 Coláiste Phádraig CBS Lucan Coláiste Phádraig CBS Lucan Awards Night 2019

The annual Coláiste Phádraig Awards Night was held in the school on Monday 20th May. The Sports Hall was packed with an estimated 550 in attendance as parents, family, friends, students and staff gathered together to celebrate a whole host of award winners at the biggest and most important event in the school calendar. There were close to 200 students in attendance and each one had been selected for an award in recognition of some commendable achievement in the school throughout the year. The opening awards were for academic excellence, with beautiful glass plaques presented to one student from each year group for each academic subject. In total, ff1st Year Merit Award Winners there were 90 of these awards given out to recognise and reward the students personal achievements while others got throughout the season. Adam captained for their excellent results in the various plaques for English drama, overcoming the team to Leinster Cup and All Ireland subjects throughout the academic year. adversity, having a positive attitude and success and also played for the Ireland Well done to all of the winners in this showing initiative and leadership. Player u16 International team. Kevin McGrane section as attaining the highest grades in of the year awards from the various won the Transition Year Student of a Year Group demands a ferocious work sports were also presented, as well as the Year in recognition of his enormous ethic and sustained application. awards to students who have represented contribution to TY. Dylan Talbot, There were also awards for the best the Dublin Minors in hurling and Ireland Eamonn Feeney, Emmanuel Owodinni, Leaving Cert results which went to Calvin in soccer. Eoin Strong and Craig O’ Hara all won Davis and Dáire Byrne for achieving Daniel Emerson won the coveted coveted From Each, His Best awards for the maximum 625 points in 2018. Dáire Ryan McKeown Perpetual Shield for their various year groups in recognition attained 8H1s while Calvin had to settle outstanding contribution to English class. of giving of their best at all times in every for ‘just’ 7H1s! Dáire is currently studying The final 5 awards presented on the aspect of school life. Craig also won the Maths in The University of Edinburgh night were the main awards. Adam Wells overall award so a special well done to while Calvin is studying medicine in UCD. won the coveted Sports Star of the Year him on winning such a prestigious trophy. Sabah Uddin Aleem and Alex Knowles Award in recognition of his outstanding 6th yrs Keith Quinn and Thomas received plaques for the highest Junior displays for the u17 soccer team Heffernan were the joint winners Cert results last year as both attained 9As in their exams. The majority of awards on the night were non-academic with those involved in any extra-curricular activity in the school getting some recognition for their efforts. There were awards for the 14 BT Young Scientist Finalists, the hugely successful musicians in the Music Club, the Student Council and Green Schools Committee members, the Prefects and the Current Affairs Club members. Student of the Year awards from each class were also given out while there were a large number of co-operation and courtesy merit awards presented to students who have impressed with their attitude and manners throughout the year. Some won awards for outstanding ffPadraig Naughton Joint Winners, Keith Quinn & Thomas Heffernan with Mr Geraghty

Síol Page 4 Coláiste Phádraig CBS Lucan of the Padraic Naughton Award for all round contribution to school life. The following day the group visited This award is named after the 1st lay Iceland two waterfalls in Central Iceland and principal of Coláiste Phádraig (1989- the students were able to climb to 2002). Padraic did the vast majority of areas which afforded them superb the groundwork in laying the foundations views of the stunning surrounding for the wonderful new school building Trip areas. They then visited the “Black and facilities that the students now enjoy Beach”, where they witnessed so the award recognises those who do examples of coastal erosion and a lot for the school in their time here. extrusive volcanic features (similar to Both Keith and Thomas have impressed the Giants Causeway). The following with their good manners, cheerfulness, 27 students and four teachers, Ms. day the group visited the iconic positive attitudes, respect for teachers Winters, Mr. Casey, Ms. Fahy and Gullfoss Waterfall where they enjoyed and staff as well as their outstanding Mr. Tarpey, travelled to Iceland more spectacular views of the forces work as prefects in which both displayed over the recent mid-term break for and beauty of untouched nature. Next leadership, initiative and maturity. a memorable four day educational up was a visit to Geysir, a famous hot The main award of the night, The school tour. Iceland, known as an spring in the geothermal area of the Tommy Brennan Student of the Year, island of fire and ice, is one of the Haukadulur Valley, where the group was won by Aaron Byrne. The award, world’s top tourist destinations due to got to witness the spring shooting named after a former teacher of Coláiste its envious location atop of one of the up vast jets of boiling water up to Phádraig, is voted for by teachers and world’s most volcanically active areas. 130ft high. management and it is always a tough The group flew out to Reykjavik on The final trip of the tour was to choice. Fifteen 6th year students were Tuesday 30th Oct and arrived at their Thingvellir National Park, one of nominated for this award but eventually a hotel after a short transfer. Iceland’s most historically significant, winner must be selected, and Aaron was Their first activity was a visit to sacred and naturally beautiful sites. selected due to his infectious positivity, the Blue Lagoon, a Geothermal Spa This once in a lifetime trip impeccable manners and overall located in a sprawling 800 yr old lava was organised by the Geography contribution to school life. field in the heart of the Reykjanes Department and the students were A number of Transition Year students Penisula-a UNESCO Geopark. The very grateful to the teachers who were also in attendance as they set up warm seawater is rich in minerals such travelled with them, especially the a stall with a huge range of plants they as silica which does wonders for the tour organiser Mr. Tarpey who put in grew themselves in the Poly tunnel skin so the students all felt refreshed a huge amount of time in the planning during their Horticulture module with and invigorated afterwards. After and organisation. The students Mr. Dunne. The students had the plants dinner back in the hotel the group are also to be commended on their on sale to raise money for the school’s managed to catch a short glimpse exemplary behaviour throughout. Zambia 2020 project which they are of the incredible Northern Lights on Their maturity, good manners and hoping to go on next summer. the South West Coast. The students co-operation made life very easy for An enjoyable night was had by all were taken aback by the eerie, spine the teachers and they were excellent and Ms. Redmond and Ms. O’ Leary did tingling beauty of this spectacular ambassadors for the school throughout a great job introducing and presenting natural phenomenon. the entire trip. the awards throughout the evening. Ms. Casey once again ensured everything went smoothly on the night with her meticulous preparation and distribution of the awards. Vivienne Ralph, from Diamond & Gem Jewellers in Tesco Shopping Centre in Lucan, provided all the fabulous awards for the ceremony and was a constant support right up until the last few frenzied hours of preparation while the Coláiste Phádraig Parents Association generously sponsored some of the awards on the night. It was a very positive evening for all in attendance and the parents can be very proud of their sons for whatever award (or awards!) they were presented with during Coláiste Phadraig’s highly successful Awards Night 2019.

Winter 2019 Page 5 Ardscoil na Mara Climate Action Day

ffSave Our Seas Campaign Photo

We, Emily Cronin and Mairéad Butler, throughout the year, with the launch of day. Padraig Cawley, principal of Ardscoil (ERI Youth Ambassadors 2018-19), the campaign taking place in Leinster na Mara, welcomed the guests to the alongside our Peace and Justice House with Senator Grace O’Sullivan last school and Leo Hogan from ERST, talked Committee organised an Environmental February. It has been inspiring to work about the significance of the Feast Day Awareness Day. We decided as young with other similarly minded, determined and how the day and our work links in activists to come together to voice our and motivated young people. with the ERST Charter. opinions on the topic of single use Many of the schools whom we worked We were fortunate to have plastics in relation to climate change. The with were in attendance on the day, representatives from Calmast’s “Plastics: culmination of the ERST “SOS - Save Our including ourselves, Ardscoil na Mara, The Good, The Bad and The Ugly” Seas” campaign took place on 8th May CBS Kilkenny, Christian Brothers College exhibition. Eoin Gill, Director of Calmast 2019, three days after the feast day of Cork, Midleton CBS, Coláiste Éanna, and lecturer in WIT, explained the Blessed Edmund Rice. Ardscoil Rís, CBS Clonmel, CBS Carrick exhibition and talked us through each The “Save Our Seas” campaign was on Suir and a local ERST primary school exhibit. It was eye-opening to see a born last September in Callan at a Glor Na Mara, who have all put in visual and artistic outlook on the current meeting of ten ERST schools. There, we enormous efforts in an attempt to raise drastic state of the climate, particularly were inspired by the teachings of Edmund awareness in their own schools and local in regards to single-use plastics and Rice, and particularly the Edmund Rice communities. While each school looked at marine litter. Education Beyond Borders charter and the campaign from a different viewpoint, Our keynote speaker was Cian Luck, a its call for one voice for justice. We we networked and worked together as an marine biologist with Marine Renewable believe that this is the beauty of being ERST school group. Energy Ireland. He worked for the British an Edmund Rice school: we, like Blessed There were a wide variety of Antarctic Survey and spent 18 months Edmund before us, look outside our esteemed guests at the day, including on Bird Island, South Georgia studying windows, to see what is wrong with the representatives from the local Tidy Towns seals, albatross, and penguins. There, he world and work to improve this and make committee and local Eco Group, as well was responsible for studying the impacts a positive difference in the world. We as TY students from Ardscoil na Mara. of climate change, fisheries by catch and have seen the power of the youth voice Each of these guests brought their own marine litter on the resident wildlife. He with the growth in the Friday’s for Future personal experiences and viewpoints to spoke to us about his work, and it was movement, and we have tried to harness the table, ensuring the day was varied truly awe-inspiring to hear a first-hand this power in our campaign to make a and engaging. account of the effects of marine litter. positive difference in the world. We had the pleasure of having To continue on the marine litter We have worked and networked a number of very enlightening and theme of the day, Camilla Turney, from together as an ERST school group interesting speakers in attendance on the An Tasice’s “Think before you flush”

Síol Page 6 Ardscoil na Mara campaign, which aims to educate people about the consequences of flushing items Ardscoil na Mara Youth away without thinking. Tramore is a “Think before you flush” ambassador Ambassadors town, and it was shocking to hear the extent of the marine litter problem within Our two outgoing ERI Youth Ambassadors, Mairead Butler and Emily Cronin, our own oceans. and this year’s incoming Youth Ambassadors Ava Dineen and Roisin Groves, A number of the schools in attendance travelled to Manchester on the 10th of October. There they presented to the also gave presentations on their work Principals and school governors of English Edmund Rice schools regarding our as part of the SOS campaign. It was work on our “SOS - Save Our Seas” campaign last year. This presentation was interesting to hear each school’s different very well received, and we made a number of useful links and connections with outlook and approach to the campaign. these schools. We were delighted to hear presentations The following day the students met with representatives from the English from student representatives from Edmund Rice schools’ advocacy groups to present on their work and to discuss Ardscoil na Mara, CBS Kilkenny, CBC how we can improve the link between the Irish and English Edmund Rice school Cork, Coláiste Éanna and Midleton CBS. network. It was an incredible experience and it was eye-opening to meet with Other schools brought posters and art other like-minded young climate activists. We plan on running joint campaigns exhibits to display on the day. with the nine English Edmund Rice schools and the ninety-six Irish Edmund Rice Jen Harris, Waterford Sustainable schools and hopefully our schools in the North of Ireland. Living Initiative who gave an inspiring The Peace and Justice group are looking forward to the year ahead and are speech on how we as a student body can excited about the growth of the “SOS” campaign both in Ireland and abroad. create change. Our school have worked alongside Jen in Transition year as part as their developmental studies. Here, Jen kindly passed on her words of knowledge to the students who then went on to peer teach first years within Ardscoil Na Mara. It was a really informative speech and wished to branch into other schools around the country in the coming years. We may be at a crucial tipping point, but with such hard-working, determined, motivated and innovative activists in our ERST Advocacy Groups, we have nothing to fear.

Naas CBS’ Amnesty Group #20yearstoolong

The Naas CBS group are currently organising a ‘Direct Provision Awareness Week’ for the first week of December. The aim of this week is to educate our peers on what Direct Provision is and how people’s human rights are being denied when they enter this system. Some issues with Direct Provision are overcrowding, limited living space, lack of privacy and inadequate facilities for children. During this week, we hope to organise workshops for CSPE classes, a display in the assembly area, have a guest speaker with experience in Direct Provision in to speak with students among many other activities, to raise awareness of the issues with Direct Provision. Pictured is the Amnesty group planning for the Direct Provision week. The Naas CBS Amnesty group is made up of: Eoghán Kelly (Coordinator), Eoghan Stynes, Cameron Doyle, Adam Doran (Secretary), David Murray, Spencer Flanagan and Eoghan Casserly.

Winter 2019 Page 7 CBC Cork Christian Brothers College Cork – Social and Ecological

Justice Activities ffNiall Hannigan, David Walsh, Luke Galligan, Ms Lorna Mulvany at the U.N. In January, three Green Schools representatives, David Walsh, Luke Galligan & Niall Hannigan, travelled to the Edmund Rice International office in Geneva with Ms. Lorna Mulvany as part of a Social Justice & Advocacy event. They met with other students from ERST schools Ard Scoil na Mara, Tramore & Ard Scoil Ris, Limerick and attended a session at the United Nations assembly. Plans are underway for a second cohort to travel to Geneva again in January. The following month, David, Luke and Niall joined with representatives from ten other Edmund Rice schools to meet with Senator Grace O’Sullivan at Leinster House. This event launched the ‘Save Our Seas’ campaign, which aims to raise awareness about the dangerous levels of plastic in our seas. Also, in March, Fifth year students attended a talk by Ms Janet Twomey and Mr Emmet Sheerin of Trocaire on this year’s Lenten Campaign. The campaign ‘ Defend the Defenders’ focused on human rights defenders around the world, whose lives are often threatened as a result of their work. Later that month, Transition Year and Fifth Year students attended the Edmund Rice Beyond Borders Social Justice and Advocacy event in Silver Springs Hotel, Cork. The event focused on Asylum seekers, human rights issues in South Africa and Climate ffNiall Halligan, David Walsh, Luke Galligan at U.N. General Assembly change. In May, CBC students attended the Advocacy Campaign Day at Ard Scoil na Mara, Tramore. 5th Year pupil Niall Hannigan and 4th Year pupils, Seán O’Connell and Adam Gray presented on CBC’s Green School Initiatives. Third Year student Sean Forbes was also awarded the Green Schools Water Ambassador for CBC from An Taisce. Since the start of the new school year, the Green Schools Committee has continued its work, focusing on waste reduction as well as water and energy conservation initiatives. Representatives of the student body accompanied teacher Mr Robert Bevan to the EREBB meeting in Co Kilkenny with the intention of developing a Peace and Justice movement in the college. Work is already well under way in this regard. ffJames Barry, Owen Chandler and Ben Cudmore

Learning School Project 10 The Learning School Project, funded by Teacher Education Section of the Department of Education and Science, is an action research project undertaken by the Education Centres in Cork and Limerick. A heartfelt thank you to the Edmund Rice School Trust teachers, school leaders and school communities whose enthusiastic participation in their LSP10 have ensured their success.

The project seeks to: »» develop an increased awareness of what constitutes a learning school »» support school-based activities promoting the on-going development of the learning school and the SSE process »» enhance the capacity of individual teachers to contribute to the learning school » ffArdscoil Ris, Limerick » nurture teacher leadership in schools.

Síol Page 8 Edmund Rice Secondary School Carrick on Suir

Catholic Schools Week January 27th – February 2nd 2019

Students from 1st to 6th Year in the Edmund Rice Secondary School, Carrick on Suir have been participating in activities throughout the week to celebrate Catholics Schools Week. Some of the activities that ran during the week included daily reflections, liturgies focusing on the daily themes, diversity quizzes, mindful walks, prayer card making and attending mass in St. Nicholas’ Church. One highlight for our school community was Grandparents Day on Wednesday, January 30th. 1st years students invited and after the service everyone enjoyed a interesting were the stories told by their grandparents and families into school well deserved treat and a cup of tea. The grandads who were past pupils of the to be part of a special prayer service to students could have chatted with their school, they really enjoyed hearing all the celebrate all their wonderful grandparents. grandparents all day! stories reminiscing of bygone days. No There was a great turn out on the day One thing the boys found really doubt special memories were made!

Social Justice & Young St Davis College Model Vincent de Paul Committee United Nations January 22nd – 25th 2019 Members of the Social Justice Committee and Young St. Vincent de Paul in in the Edmund Rice Secondary School, A number of Transition Year students from the Edmund Carrick on Suir, joined forces to support and promote our Rice Secondary School, Carrick on Suir took part in Davis school’s Christmas Food Appeal this year. College, Model United Nations Conference in Cork City Hall Social Justice aims to promote complex social issues in in January . Our delegates representing Ethopia took part in a practical rather than an abstract way, by encouraging the General Assembly and in the Security Council over the 4 students to act for social justice. It highlights how each days.They had an opportunity to discuss a wide variety of key of us act within our school for the promotion of social topics of global significance including the displacement and justice and that a person does not need to be famous or ethnic discrimination of the Rohingya people, the question extraordinary to make a difference. of containing military conflict and social turmoil in the Sahel Young St. Vincent de Paul provides opportunities and the reduction of pollution in oceans to name but a few to engage in social action in local communities and issues . This was our first year participating in the DCMUN encourages personal and social development. (Davis College Model United Nations ) and we look forward to returning next year with a greater number of delegates.

FAI Kickstart Programme Science Workshops

A number of Transition Year boys participated in the Some Transition Year students delivered science Kick Start/PDP 1 coaching course in late November/early workshops to 5th & 6th class pupils from local primary December. The students have been coaching soccer in schools in Carrick on Suir Library during Science Week local primary schools of late and also helped to organise a 2018. Our school linked up with Calmast, W.I.T and soccer blitz under the supervision of Stephen Quinn, FAI Carrick on Suir Library this year to celebrate Science Development Officer , South Tipperary. Week (November 11th -18th). Transition Year students, Such initiatives help to make the transition from PJ Duggan, Andrew Loo, Caleb Shortiss Day and Lorcan primary to secondary school much easier for all Walsh participated in science work placement in W.I.T students and their parents, as well as specific induction .Some of our 2nd Year students presented their SciFest activities during the first few weeks of term facilitated entries to the national school students also. by Management, Year Head(s),member(s) of the Special Education Needs Team and Peer Mentors.

Winter 2019 Page 9 Nagle Rice Secondary School, Doneraile

“Praise to Hitting all the right notes! Thee, oh The Music department in Nagle Rice Secondary School has started the 2019 school year with a bang! The school choir, which consists of 55 members ranging from 1st to 6th year, had the honour of welcoming and entertaining Bishop Lord, for all William Crean at the annual beginning of year school mass. At this momentous parish event, the choir pulled out all the stops and took on choral masterpieces by John Rutter and Heather Sorenson. The dedication and hard work of the creation!” students paid off tenfold as the congregation were simply mesmerized by the beauty and purity of sound produced by this talented group of young people. “Praise to Thee, oh Lord, for all creation!” The choir, which has been growing steadily in numbers and enthusiasm over was the theme of the opening of the the past number of years, have now set themselves an even larger goal to achieve academic year School Mass for Nagle by the 19th of December 2019. Together with the leadership of their teachers; Rice Secondary School in the Church of Mrs. Susan O’Keefe and Miss Ann Linehan, the choir have planned a two hour the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary concert, packed full of choral challenged and Christmas fun. Rehearsals are in Doneraile on Friday 27th September. already underway, and students are quiet happily giving up their Wednesday Although Nagle Rice traditionally begins afternoons, while the very dedicated Traditional Irish group have generously each school year with Mass, this year was decided to rehearse every Friday evening to ensure this concert will be a night extra-special, as Bishop William Crean to remember. It promises to be a musical evening full of music, song and smiles was invited to be the main celebrant, that all here in Nagle Rice are hugely looking forward to. and each of the primary schools in the parish of Doneraile (Canon Sheehan Primary School, Shanballymore NS and Baltydaniel NS) was also invited to be present and participate. It was wonderful also to see so many parents and parishioners attend. The Nagle Rice choir, with over fifty students ranging from first to sixth year, were in fine singing voice, as they led the congregation in modern and more traditional hymns such as “10,000 Reasons”, “Look at the World”, Young Scientists at Nagle Rice Doneraile “Thousand Storms”, “Panis Angelicus” and “Ave Maria – There is a heart”. The Two third year students are at present working long hours on their project for school’s newly formed Trad Group led the the BT Young Scientist Exhibition. Shannon Roche and Sophie Fleming are music beautifully for the offertory and concerned about the growing popularity of ‘Disposable Fashion’ and the effects recessional hymns. The choir, under the of this on the world environment. musical direction of Miss Linehan and Shannon and Sophie explain ’many companies are producing cheap clothing Mrs O’Keeffe, had been especially busy that is designed to be worn once or twice and then disregarded. In addition as in September, having already performed the shelf life of such items are short lived, companies dispose of surplus product at the School’s Awards’ Ceremony and by burning it.’ The girls intend to heighten awareness among people especially also the Open Night, and the choir’s young people of this growing trend. dedication and practice was clearly The awareness campaign will start in Nagle Rice and locally but also at evident in their singing at the Mass. the Young Scientist if they are lucky enough to get through to the final round and exhibit for the week. Part of the project involves ascertaining the level of awareness of ‘Disposable Fashion’ among the general public. An associated part of their project involves the trend among ‘high end’ producers destroying surplus product rather than distributing in order to keep prices high. Sophie and Shannon are involved in Mallow Youth Council which undertakes various activities for the community. Both Shannon and Sophie are among those council members going to Helsinki to partake in workshops on the environment at the ffNagle Rice Secondary School 2019-2020 School end of the year. Banner created by the school’s Art department.

Síol Page 10 Roscommon CBS Roscommon CBS Break Guinness World Record for Autism Awareness month

ffPictures courtesy of Gerard Guthrie

The CBS Roscommon decided to go one step further with this from national schools with autism centres more empathetic year’s Autism Awareness Month by attempting to break to students with ASD units›. He found that having an ASD a Guinness world record on Friday, April 5th. The CBS unit creates an inclusive atmosphere within a school, but Roscommon - which also incorporates the Edmund Rice Autism also that students attending schools with ASD units are less Centre - displayed the world’s largest blue ribbon on their likely to define their classmates by ASD, seeing them instead as football pitch yesterday. The ribbon which measured 1555 individuals and friends with a wide variety of qualities square metres smashed the record previously held in Dubai. The and characteristics. process was monitored and recorded by Guinness World Record Overall, the school is eager to show that Autism Awareness officials as well as independent adjudicators and engineers, is hugely important in helping to look beyond the label of ASD. and local Gardai. The reason behind the world record attempt Autism Awareness helps those with ASD integrate fully with was to raise awareness about the specific needs of those with their community and to break down the myths and assumptions ASD, and to encourage organisations everywhere - particularly associated with ASD. sports facilities and gyms - to provide Autism Friendly facilities The school has now received its official World Record and experiences. Certificate which sits proudly on the wall of the Edmund Rice The Edmund Rice Centre at the CBS Roscommon was Centre. We wish to extend our thanks to all who helped us shortlisted earlier this year for a CARA - a National Inclusion smash the record. Award - for enhancing participation in Sport and Physical Activity amongst those with special needs. The Centre has been hugely proactive in getting the local community on board. The Edmund Rice Centre has been working with local sports facilities and gyms in providing ASD friendly experiences. According to Orla O’Connor of the Edmund Rice Centre ‘ We aim to equip each student with the knowledge, competence and skills necessary to participate in sport and physical activity on an on-going basis. Exercise and physical activity are key life skills for everyone, especially for those with ASD’. Students have worked with trainers and mentors in helping them build exercise into their everyday lives. The school is also unique in that it provides students with opportunities to access mainstream education in their chosen subjects, as well as availing of the resources available in the new, purpose built facility. It places ASD at the heart of the school and has ensured that the entire school community is ffCBS Roscommon celebrate winning the Paddy Drummond Cup in Croke educated on autism and the particular challenges it can present. Park earlier this year. They defeated Scoil Phobail Sliabh Luachra by 1-12 A Transition Year student within the school also won a BT to 1-11, scoring the winning point with the last kick of the game. Young Scientist award this year with his project ‘Are students

Winter 2019 Page 11 Rice College, Ennis Midleton CBS ‘Ban the Bottle’ Advocacy Group — campaign to eliminate single- For the first time, Rice College Ennis has set up an Advocacy group to give the young adults of the school the opportunity to get involved in social justice issues that they see use plastic in around them. Facilitated by Ms. Chambers and Ms. Culligan, we meet each week at lunchtime to collaborate and plan. One of the issues we feel strongly about is climate Midleton CBS change, an ever-present danger to our world. The students of Rice College want to do Midleton CBS is aiming to be a their bit in trying to alleviate the damage done, in keeping with the beliefs of Blessed pioneering school in Ireland to Edmund Rice. eliminate single-use plastic items One of the initiatives the group is trying to implement is banning the use of single- on its grounds. Miss Murphy and use plastics in our school. This includes plastic cutlery and plastic water bottles. the Peace and Justice Committee Single-use plastics are extremely damaging to the environment as they cannot be in the CBS, launched the ‘Ban the recycled or reused. So in order for the school to reach this goal, our ‘Tuck Shop’ has Bottle’ campaign to combat the stopped selling bottles of water and our canteen has stopped the use of plastic cutlery. reliance of students on single use Going forward, we plan to source and sell reusable water flasks during the plastic. We realised that it’s doing school year to further encourage students to stop using single use plastic water so much damage, and we have the bottles at lunch time. The recent installation of two school water fountains supports ability to change it,” said student Joe this initiative. Ahern “We can take the initiative Our group also wants to celebrate the 20th anniversary of direct provision in as students and we can start the Ireland. Edmund Rice saw a need in society, and addressed it by giving the young boys change ourselves. So, we decided if in his care the skills with which they could find the means to live a rewarding life. He we can do it, so why not start?” provided clothes, food and an education. Deputy Principal, Mr. Kelly, The refugees who have come to our country for safety and solace have similar was instrumental in ordering and needs to those boys in the care of Edmund Rice, and it is our aim to offer help as arranging the installation of a Edmund did. new water filtration system for the We will begin by raising awareness of the issues in our school, by addressing drinking fountain and the feedback classes, and putting up posters. By Christmas we hope to have assembled care packs, has been fantastic. We are hoping to which can be gifted to our local Direct Provision Centre. We also wish to highlight the upgrade all our drinking fountains great work that has been done over the last two decades in improving the lives of those in the coming months. in need. We are also implementing five As part of setting up an Advocacy Group in a Rice College school, we have two hour ‘Earth Hour’ segments selected two ERI Youth Ambassadors that will represent our school on a wider stage, as an energy saving initiative. Hope and Jack. We look forward to them presenting our school within the Edmund We have measured the electricity Rice Community. meters and during this time, energy consumption is reduced by two thirds. Teachers are remembering their roots by drawing on traditional ‘chalk and talk’ methodologies during this time, a rarity for students of this generation. The students researched the effects single-use plastic can have on marine life and the environment, and decided to raise awareness among their peers. They conducted surveys, created notice boards and made some changes, such as selling a reusable BPA (bisphenol A) free water bottle and asking students to refuse tinfoil in the canteen. All of the first years were given this reusable bottle as a welcome gift. We are now working on the theme of Biodiversity and hope ffTá Coláiste an Rísigh ag glacadh páirt sa scéim an Ghaelbhrataigh arís an bhlain acadúil seo chun an to educate our students and raise Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn i measc an phobail. awareness about pollination, bees ffD’eagraigh an coiste díolachán císte chun airgid a bhailiú do sheachtain na Gaeilge. Bhain gach duine and the ecosystem. taitneamh as an lá!

Síol Page 12 Callan Amalgamation Dawn of a New Era in Callan education

The Trustees of Coláiste Eamainn Rís and St Brigid’s College in Callan have announced that after extensive research and consultation they have decided to amalgamate and create a 600 student co-educational school for the town. The announcement was made at a meeting in Bunscoil McAuley Rice at which a Steering Committee to progress the amalgamation was launched. The new school will merge the existing secondary schools to form a new Catholic voluntary secondary school. The distinctive history and tradition of both schools will be preserved and promoted in the new school. The Steering Committee will consist of the school principals, two trustees, two parent representatives, two staff representatives and two chairpersons of the Board of Management. Their brief will be to prepare and plan for the coming together of the two schools in 2022. The Steering Committee will be chaired by Mr. Frank Smith.

Meánscoil na mBráithre, Ennistymon Green-Schools Committee

Our Green-Schools committee has had a busy few weeks during this first term of school. We are currently in the process of renewing our Litter and Waste flag while also applying for the Energy Flag. Our committee, composed of students from all years in the CBS have been working tirelessly since last year to achieve our goals. Members of the core committee seen in the attached picture have been assigned roles in which they will take ownership of certain tasks to aid the school in completing our action plan. Ruairi Murphy, Adam Daniels, Colm Collins, Nour Morabye, Oisin Conway, Conor Morrissey, Conor Farrell, Eamonn Devereux, Cathal Flanagan, Fintan George, Emmett Tierney and Jack Clarke are pictured here with their noticeboard. We also have a sub committee of Transition Green‑Schools Coordinators Mr. Macmahon, Ms. Moroney Year students to help our core committee carry out and Ms. Kennedy. important tasks. Three of our diligent Leaving certificate students The Green-Schools programme gives pupils an have assumed the following roles; Ruairi Murphy – The opportunity to take ownership of an environmental issue and head of Green-Schools, Adam Daniels – Deputy Head of create a positive change in their local community. Taking Green-Schools, Colm Collins– Digital and Social Media an active role in achieving an international environmental Communication officer. The list of all students as well award is a prestigious achievement and will be a notable as their list of duties are displayed on our Green-Schools addition to a pupil’s curriculum vitae.

Winter 2019 Page 13 Synge Street Secondary School Synge Street Immersion Trip

Travelling every day! Principal Peter Shanahan gave things we learnt was the Swahili song After a year and a half of planning and us a tour and told us the history of the “Jambo” which became our theme song fund raising the day had finally arrived. school on the first day. Some of the older for the week. When we performed it for We met in Dublin airport at 3am and students showed us around the local area, the Maasai tribe and again back at the first stop was Paris. We were all very including where the old primary and school a few days later everyone was very excited!! After a two hour layover in secondary schools had been, as well as impressed with us! Paris, we boarded the flight to Nairobi. where the local church and mosque were, On the Sunday morning we got up to The flight was seven and a half hours which was really nice of them. We also head to where the locals we gathering long and it was definitely the furthest went on home visits one day which was for Palm Sunday, they gathered in an and the longest that most of us had ever a really moving experience. Six of the old school that was used for kids to go to traveled before. We arrived in Nairobi students brought us to their homes where when there were school holidays. Many International Airport at midnight and we had the opportunity to meet some of people of all ages showed up for the were met by Martin and Ben who were their family members and to see what religious event. After they were done at to be our bus drivers and guides for the their houses were like. It made us realise the school they all walked back to the week. Martin told us some cool facts how much we all have at home ourselves parish. There were so many people... about Kenya like, “Nairobi was the only that we sometimes take for granted. hundreds of them walking down the capital to have a national park in it” and Every morning Teacher Winnie told us road towards the parish, the road was that “Kenya has a total of forty-three what our activities were and we split into packed. To supervise the crowd there was different tribes”. We arrived in Embulbul mixed groups of us and the students from only one soldier and he/she was holding at the Brothers house where we were the school to do them. We played loads an AK47. After we were done there we greeted by Brother Ismail who showed of different sports like football, handball went the principle of Brother Beusang’s us where we would be staying. We were and basketball and then did a lot of music, home. He lived in a very nice apartment tired but really looking forward to the singing and dancing in the afternoons. and from his balcony we could see the week ahead. It was great fun being taught the African windmills on a mountain. We ate well dances even if we couldn’t always do them there and we had a good day. School right! We taught the African students Brother Beausang School was the main some Irish songs like “Molly Malone” The Ruben Centre place we were based during our visit. It and “Ireland’s Call”, plus the “Siege of We visited the Ruben centre which was was brilliant there, we had so much fun Ennis” céilí dance. One of our favourite one of the slums that we visited. It is

ffChildren at the Ruben Centre, an oasis of calm amongst a busy place.

Síol Page 14 Synge Street Secondary School

ffStudents from Synge Street CBS with their teachers, Ms Walsh and Ms O’Sullivan, joined by the very welcoming students in Kenya.

a non-profit, faith-based organization the bacteria that’s in there. It’s really Park. It was an unbelievable experience. striving for an empowered and just shocking and upsetting because no one The views of Mount Kilimanjaro were Mukuru community by providing quality deserves to live like that. Water is a must breath-taking. We also got to see loads education, health, financial and social and it’s not fair for them to have water of elephants, zebras, a lion and her cubs, services to children and families in the that’ll make them sick. warthogs, gazelles and giraffes. It was area. We had a tour around the area and On the light side the locals are really amazing to see the animals in their the nearby primary school and health creative when it comes to art in the national habitat. We weren’t allowed facilities. We had a chat with the students school, they also have an area where they get out of our Jeep but it had an open and shared our stories and experiences. design clothes and baskets using exquisite top roof and we could see the animals We even did activities with them such as designs. And they’re also creative with clearly. Our driver told us of some stories dancing. It was a blast. We’ve learned a making resources such as coal. They’re of people getting killed because they lot about their culture and their lifestyle also passionate about farming. They didn’t listen to their driver. We weren’t and what they want to be when they grow have a mini garden in their school and taking any chances. We also got to spend up. What amazes me is they know what students would stay after school to help some time with the Maasai tribe and they want and their lust for knowledge is with the farming. After school students they showed us their houses and the so unreal and they don’t take education would usually stay at school and hang jewellery that they make. They taught us for granted they’ve really inspired us. out. They wouldn’t go home especially the jumping dance and we sang songs for They have decent health care there. The at school days off they’ hang out in the them. They were so friendly!! hospital is big and they’ve professional school. It was a really great and amazing Our Immersion trip has been one of doctors. Some of their medical teams and unforgettable experience that we the best trips we have ever had. It has are from different countries mostly from will never forget and that we are really taught us to be thankful for what we have Australia. HIV is a huge problem in the thankful to have had. A real eye opener in life and also opened our eyes to the big area and cholera. What shocked me the of the cold reality that we live in but we world out there. We would recommend it most was how polluted the nearby river. have great hopes that things will get to every student. It is a lot of hard work It’s more of waste than water and its better in future. but worth every minute and it wouldn’t contaminated by factory waste, so it’s have been possible without the help and definitely not safe to drink. People would Safari support of our parents and teachers so bathe in it too and you can imagine all We spent two days in Amboseli National thank you!!

Winter 2019 Page 15 Thurles C.B.S.

Br. Ó Donnchú: Cup eluded him during his time as principal, he saw the Dean Ryan cup come to Thurles Our former in 1992 and the White cup in 1996, 1997 and 2001. He was so proud of his links with Principal, Thurles C.B.S when in 2009 and 2015 the Dr. Harty cup finally made its way back into colleague the trophy cabinet in Thurles C.B.S. How apt it was that some of his former students were and friend. part of the management team that brought our school to victory. He followed every It was with deep sadness that we, the game from afar. staff of Thurles C.B.S. received the Many past pupils recall how he sad news of the passing of our former brought the teams to the Mona Lisa after principal, colleague and friend Br. O matches and how he would call a whole Donnchú. For those who worked with him school assembly to celebrate our successes he was known simply as the ‘The Boss’, a in sport. With great enthusiasm he would term of endearment and endear himself take out the guitar and sing ‘Slievenamon to us he most certainly did. ‘at the top of his voice. He referred to Br. Ó Donnchú came to Thurles in 1991 these occasions as’ The Huha in the hall.’ and he remained with us as principal until Everyone would join in the celebration 2001 when he retired to the missions in feeling uplifted and enthused. His vibrant Zambia. However he always maintained personality rubbed off on everyone: his links with the school and helped in wellbeing at its very best. establishing our immersion project, the He is remembered by all, both past seeds of which were sown in 2004 when pupils and those of us lucky to have worked two members of the teaching staff went with him as a kind and caring man who to Zambia and met with Br. Ó Donnchú in treated all who knew him with absolute Mufilira. His enthusiasm and eagerness respect. He knew each of his pupils by to maintain his link with the C.B.S name and he knew where they came from. resulted in our first immersion project In fact he maintained connections with shared over the course of the night. in 2005. This was the first of many trips many of his past pupils corresponding with We will always remember his kindness our students made to Zambia where them regularly and updating them with and generosity, the many hot breakfasts they worked alongside Br. Ó Donnchú stories of his work and life in Zambia. quietly organised for those who needed in the local communities. Much needed He lived his life embracing the spirit them in the monastery kitchen. We funds were raised which helped in and ethos of Blessed Edmund Rice. His remember his famous Russian hat and building schools, workshops and many kindness was clear for all to see during the many school trips when he himself other much needed infrastructure. The his time in Thurles. Summer months would drive the school mini bus, be it to famous ‘Tipperary Plots’ in the middle of were often spent touring Europe on his a match, to a retreat or a school tour. We Murundu compound were cultivated by motorbike, visiting with fellow Christian remember his smile, his greeting and his Br. Mick as he endeavoured to teach the Brothers around the world, organising handshake. We remember his warmth and locals the importance of growing crops shipments of old sewing machines, welcoming voice. We will no longer meet and being self-sufficient. computers and anything he felt might be him in the staffroom or on the corridors Br.Ó Donnchu made our visits to of use to developing communities. Never a as we did during his many visits home Zambia possible. Without his help and man to rest on his laurels he was regularly but we treasure the memories he has left encouragement before, during and indeed seen walking the countryside of Tipperary, us with. While we all have a different after the trips to Zambia the project would his mind always working on ways he could story to tell, we smile when we recall his not have been possible. He provided a safe help others less fortunate than himself. favourite song environment for us on our visits. Although he left us as principal in ‘Happiness, Happiness, the greatest During his time as principal of the 2001 we always felt so connected with gift that that I possess, C.B.S. he not only managed the school him and his presence at our many I thank the Lord that I’ve been blessed but he also taught many classes and also Bicentennial celebrations in 2016 was With more than my share involved himself in coaching hurling wonderful. It was particularly special that of happiness.’ teams. He taught computer classes, that he was home to perform at our past Br. Ó Donnchú shared that happiness science classes, music classes, Irish pupils concert where he took to the stage with all those who were privileged to classes, religion classes and many more. and entertained the audience with many have known him and for that we are He made it his business to teach classes of his old classics. He loved the stage forever grateful. and involve himself in the lives of each of and loved entertaining others. Being in Ní bheidh a leithéid ann arís. Ar dheis the students. the company of so many past pupils and Dé go raibh a anam dilís. Being a proud Tipperary man, his love former staff members along with current of hurling was clear to all. While the Harty staff was special and many stories were M Lloyd C.B.S. Thurles

Síol Page 16 Oatlands College Oatlands College Choir

Conducted and facilitated by Miss Sinead Rodger, the Oatlands College Senior choir enjoyed a transformative twelve months of success in the academic 2018/2019 school year. In October 2018, the choir took part in a series of vocal and performance workshops in London’s West End, bookended by viewings of Matilda and Les Misérables on the West End stage. The choir’s first performance of the year took place in Mount Merrion church as part of the memorable “Sing While You Can” concert for our school chaplain and dear friend Father Tony Coote. Although Father Coote recently and regrettably lost his battle with motor neuron disease, his immeasurable goodwill will live on in the more than €700,000 he raised to bring awareness to the illness. It was a great honour to perform in his company. In November the choir finished an impressive 2nd place at the Sligo International Choral Festival. This was the choir’s first time placing at a competitive level – and was a sign of ffOatlands senior choir celebrating their win things to come. At the turn of the year, the choir were selected to participate and perform in a master class held in the National Concert Hall with world renowned male voice choir “Chanticleer”. In the run up to March’s Transition Year musical, the choir – including some of our musical stage performers – spent an evening away from rehearsals to finish an impressive 2nd at the Wesley Interschool Music Festival in the male voice competition. All of the choir’s hard work culminated in a memorable month in May beginning with the Chamber Choir finishing 2nd in the Liturgical Music section at the Navan Choral Festival - and ending with the Senior choir placing 1st as National Youth Choir of the Year 2019 at the very same competition. Oatlands placed 1st out of 16 participating choirs from schools and youth choirs from across Ireland. All in all it was a very memorable year for all of the students and teachers involved.

ffOatlands College Senior Choir after seeing Les Miserables on London’s Westend

Winter 2019 Page 17 Woodbrook College Green School Travel Flag

Woodbrook College is committed to doing its part in helping combat the human Some of the initiatives that Woodbrook contribution to climate change. Inspired by Laudato Si, our community lives the change College students participated this it wants to see in the world. This year we focussed on how travel to and from school year were: can be explored through the lens of the Green Schools initiative. The aim of this travel theme is to encourage schools to promote sustainable modes of transport to and from 1. The Walk on Wednesday initiative. school. Green-Schools Travel encourages pupils and parents to walk, cycle, Park ‘n’ This initiative encouraged all students Stride, use public transport or carpool instead of using the private car on the school run. to travel sustainably to school every Wednesday. First year students who participated were entered into a raffle to win a JD Sports gift voucher. 2. Pedal-Cents ran a Travel Sustainably Day in the school in December. All first-year students participated in this interactive, energy creating event. 3. Walkability/infrastructure audit was conducted by the Green School Committee. The findings and results were sent to Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council. 4. A Green noticeboard was placed in the school 5. Transition Year students attended the DLRCC Eco Conference 6. School surveys on sustainable travel methods to school were completed and the results displayed on the school website, app and Green Schools noticeboard.

Transition Year Young VDP Entrepreneur Programme Christmas

All of the TY students took part in the Young Entrepreneurs Programme this year Hamper which involved them forming into groups to come up with a business idea and to develop that idea into a small business. The students held a market day in the school at Appeal Christmas at which they sold their products to staff and students. The five best projects were awarded prizes and the top two best business ideas were selected to represent the Reaching out to others who need school at the regional finals in Dun Laoghaire. The results were: help and to be loved is an all-year round endeavour at our caring community in Woodbrook College Best Business Jaded Designs Daniel Munroe, Edward Cojocaru, Jack Browne, but even more so at significant Idea DJ Drohan, Adam Bushe times in the year when struggles 2nd Controller Skins Paulius Rutkauskas, Enda Douglas, David Power can be amplified. Ms Duffin and Ms Coffey worked with a Merits OSF Calendars Peter Duffy, Daragh O’Connor, Juan fantastic group of boys and with Carlos Labuni, Danben Tingson the contributions of students and WB Shoe Cleaning Ethan Shortt, Nicholas Fitzgerald, parents alike to build an incredibly worth-while collection of hampers Chocoholics R Us Josh Cantwell, Conor Murphy, Oisin Grassick to be delivered to needy families over the Christmas period.

Síol Page 18 Woodbrook College Fun Run

The Buddy System The annual school fun-run is a core part of our identity as an ERST school as we continuously seek to find ways of helping Woodbrook College places a huge value on the and supporting those in our community who are facing real relationships that our community is built on. We feel it challenges. We have reached out to cancer research groups, is important to celebrate these relationships and provide special Olympic organisations, homelessness organisations opportunities for students to bond in a meaningful and more since the inaugural year. It is a huge opportunity way. The Buddies system is a great way of doing this by for students, parents, teachers and friends to join in our matching a 5th year mentor with a group of six or seven communities’ efforts to live out our Christian ethos regardless of 1st year buddies to be their guide as well as a person they our backgrounds and celebrate all that is good about the school. can trust and go to during their time in school. One of The winners this year were: the first bonding activities held this year was our annual Winner: Luke Kenny Bingo Day and all involved had great fun 2nd: Cory Hayes 3rd: Conor Murphy Fastest Girl: Toni Marie Ceno World Wise Global Schools 2019

World Wise Global Schools (WWGS) was established in 2013. Since then, the programme has worked with 350 schools nationwide, in pursuit of our aim to integrate Global Citizenship Education into all aspects of teaching and learning at post- primary level. This is achieved by providing a comprehensive range of supports and interventions for schools – including grant funding, training, events, resources and personalised support ffOrlaith McBreen of Irish Aid, from the WWGS staff team. Here in Woodbrook College, we Student James McGrane & have put in a huge effort in the area of Global Citizenship and teacher Suzanne Hand. were honoured with a Global Citizens Passport Award this year. Woodbrook Climate Change

Woodbrook College sent a delegation of students and teachers to represent the school community at the recent climate change protests in solidarity with the global movement prompted by the Swedish teenager Greta Thunberg. Our protest march was held in Bray and sent a message to the local government in North Wicklow to put pressure on Government policy makers to protect the future of humans on our planet.

Winter 2019 Page 19 The Abbey School Young Social Innovators & The Art Department: A Cross-Curricular Project

Since September 2019, Transition Year Students have been working on developing their Young Social Innovators Project 2019 – ‘Sign of the Times’. This year the aim of the student’s project was to raise awareness about Deafness in the local community. The students wanted to teach as many people as possible in both the school and community basic Irish Sign Language. We got in touch with Anne Bradshaw, who works as a Community Development Officer (Disability Services) with the HSE. Anne’s job involves working with the community in terms of social inclusion and universal access. A meeting was held to discuss our plans in October 2018. Present at the meeting were the four student representatives - Jack Flannery, Thomas O’ Dwyer, Alex Daly & Tommy Yau as well as Anne Bradshaw and Jolene ffLeaders: Jack Flannery, Tommy Yau, Thomas O’ Dwyer, Alex Daly Team Members: Ross Mc Kenzie, Gerchardas Gascenka, Elanas Buivydas, Patryk Jamroz, Ethan Crowe. Carey (Y.S.I. Guide & Art Teacher). Anne was keen to get involved with Pilot Programme. In our art classes, and support our Y.S.I. Project. She January Transition Year Pupils were fortunate suggested supporting us in making a In January, with the help of Dominique enough to be selected to work with Enda Disability Awareness Educational Video Davoust & Kirsty O’ Connor (a Griffen, Creative Associate with the which could be shared on both our volunteer with the HSE and a qualified Creative Schools Pilot Programme run by school website and the HSE website. It Occupational Therapist) the students set the Arts Council of Ireland. was decided that the video would focus about designing the various scenarios to Through this initiative pupils were on explaining what it is like to live with be included in the video. The aim was to taught the basics of Animation. We decided a hearing impairment as well as being create an educational video which would to ask Dominique to be our Animation educational in nature. The students show the basics of Irish Sign Language Tutor as the students were already wanted to include a basic tutorial on (colours, alphabet, numbers, words etc) used to working with him previously how to interact with a Deaf person. and to also explain what life is like living when they filmed the Acting Sections Anne put us in touch with Dominique with a hearing impairment. Pupils felt of the Educational Video. Enda Griffen Davoust, a local videographer, animator it was important that a section of the (our Creative associate) consulted with & photographer with a background in art video would explain how to interact with Animation Tutors from the Limerick & linguistics. a person with a hearing impairment. College of Art & Design on how best to Dominique suggested that over the Students volunteered to act out the scenes proceed. It was recommended that we Christmas Break students should work on where necessary. investigate ‘Paper Cut Out Animation collecting as much research as possible Next, we came up with the idea of Style’ using the software ‘AFTER-EFFECTS’ for their Educational Video. We discussed co-operating with the Art Department in with pupils. The topic for some of these the style of the video & possibly including order to enhance our Educational Video videos would be creating Animations animated drawings also. Dominique further. In terms of animating the video to complement our Deaf Awareness offered to help pupils develop a basic it was decided that student artwork could Educational Video for our Y.S.I. Project. format for the video & with the video be used. It was suggested by Ms. Carey Anne Bradshaw suggested that we production itself. that a link could be drawn between the could work toward eventually developing Y.S.I. Project and the Creative Schools an Irish Sign Language Training App

Síol Page 20 The Abbey School CBC Preparatory School Cork based on our video by collaborating with L.I.T. Tipperary: Masters in Digital Design Students who could help with developing News from Cork & building the app. CBC Preparatory School marked the start of the school year with the first of our February Masses, celebrated by Fr. Tom. Our monthly Mass is prepared on a rotating basis At the same time as our Animation by a class group - on this occasion the boys of Sixth Class under the direction of Workshops are taking place, pupils their teacher Ms. Sharon McAdoo prepared much of the liturgy. will also be receiving Basic Irish We remembered Mrs. Sheila Curley in our prayers this month. Mrs. Curley Sign Language Classes from Elena was a former teacher at the Preparatory School, who passed away in July and is Sawczenko. Originally from Poland, sadly missed by students and staff alike. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam dílis. Elena is profoundly deaf and uses sign We welcomed our new Junior Infants to the Prep School as well as a number language to communicate. She has of new boys to classes further up along the school. We are delighted to report recently completed her Masters in Fine that all our newcomers have settled in excellently and have taken very well to Art: Painting. Despite the challenges life at the Prep School. faced, this has not stopped Elena from Our Sciath na Scol Football team began their campaign in earnest in sharing her talent & creativity for all to September. The boys have been training hard and succeeded in reaching the enjoy. Elena teaches Irish Sign Language final which will be played against Gael Scoil Uí Choráin on Thursday 7th in the hopes of creating a more inclusive November at Páirc Uí Rinn. community. During YSI Week, the We were delighted to once again don our pink outfits to support Cork Pink team took on board the lessons learned Week where a number of events, including a ball run on Sidney Hill, raised much from Elena and became Peer Leaders needed funds for cancer care services in Cork. themselves as they designed lessons In a long-standing Cork tradition, the Lord Mayor of Cork, Dr. John Sheehan, and taught basic Irish Sign Language to visited the school on 17th October. He gave a very interesting speech and Junior Cycle Pupils in our school, further encouraged the boys to ask for help if they were struggling in school. spreading the message of inclusion. Many of our classes used the Rugby World Cup as a jumping off point for learning activities in the classroom. 3rd Class and 6th Class students completed March projects on the countries competing in the tournament and 5th Class students On March 29th , pupils travelled to The created travel brochures for each of the competing countries. The boys in 3rd Lyrath Convention Centre in Kilkenny Class also performed the Theme Song “World in Union” at morning assembly. and gave a Performance & Presentation on their Social Issue of Concern: Deaf Awareness which received excellent feedback and won an award for ‘Best Props’ on the day. Despite not progressing to the next stage of the competition, pupils had more good news to come! April We were excited to receive news that we had secured a meeting in Leinster House with Finian Mc Grath TD, Minister of State for Disability Issues. On May 8th, we will be travelling to Dublin to make a presentation to the Minister and to ffRepresentatives from Junior Infants to Sixth Class welcomed Lord Mayor, Cllr. John Sheehan and explain our project so far. We will be Lady Mayoress, Aedamar Sheehan to CBC. Also pictured are Mr. David Lordon, College Principal seeking funding for our App Design so as and Ms. Sharon McAdoo, Prep School Deputy Principal. to create a more inclusive society for all and we will discuss the research we have undertaken, and the difficulties faced by those with a hearing impairment. We will also be requesting that Irish Sign Language become a short course on the New Junior Cycle Curriculum. This group of T.Y. Pupils have shown true leadership and courage in campaigning for equal rights for all and have become advocates for the Deaf Community and Activists on both a local and national stage. Well done to all the boys involved!

Winter 2019 Page 21 CBS Primary Kilkenny Green School Programme

We are currently working towards our 5th Green flag for ‘biodiversity’. We will keep you all updated throughout the year and we would like to take this opportunity to thank you most sincerely for all your support and co-operation to date. Room 7 were the Garden Squad for October and spent some time planting and weeding in the garden. Every class will have the opportunity to help during the year.

Christmas Shoebox Appeal - Team Hope

This is our first year taking part in the Team Hope Christmas Shoebox Appeal. We had our launch day a few weeks ago. One of the key elements of an Edmund Rice school is to ‘create a caring school community’. We encourage as many families as possible to take part to support this wonderful initiative. Shoeboxes can be dropped into the school before November 7th. All of the shoeboxes this year will be going to Africa to help those less fortunate than us. Thank you in advance for your support.

Síol Page 22 CBS Primary Kilkenny Amber Flag Student Council Our first ever Amber Flag committee was founded last year. An enthusiastic, hard-working bunch of boys achieved so much for We recently elected a Student Council for the school year the school over the year. 2019/2020. The boys organized fundraisers raising funds for both Teac Our new Council members will provide a pupil voice on Tom and Pieta House including an ‘Odd Socks and Orange Tops’ school matters. Suggestion boxes will be left in classrooms day where we had a guest speaker from Teac Tom. They ran and feedback brought to monthly meetings. We look competitions promoting Positive Mental Health and Growth forward to working with our Student Council throughout Mindset initiatives in the school. the year. All the team’s hard work culminated in them achieving our first Amber Flag in June. Huge congratulations to the boys. We can’t wait to see what they have planned to promote positive mental health in our school this coming year.

ffStudent Council

St Aidan’s CBS, Whitehall 10 years of the Immersion Programme

As St Aidan’s CBS (Whitehall) celebrates the 10th year of its Immersion Programme and prepares to send a group of students to Arusha for the sixth time, it was apt that the school was able to host a South African school on a similar journey themselves. of having a similar impact in the local Inevitably then, the game itself was This was the case on May 7th of this community. The coming together of these fitting of the occasion. St Aidan’s took an year as 23 students and 4 teachers from schools epitomised the very vision of early 2-0 lead, only for Veritas to come Veritas College, an Edmund Rice school Edmund Rice Education Beyond Borders. storming back to lead 2-3 on the hour located 40kms east of Johannesburg, The two groups exchanged gifts and mark. The last 30 minutes were pulsating, visited the Collins Ave institution as stories, ate together and of course – and the slightly partisan (but fair!) crowd part of their cultural and immersion played a game of football. were happy to see the home side rally to experience in Ireland. Veritas College has a proud sporting snatch a draw. Veritas College has a history of tradition across many disciplines. St Veritas College flew back to South carrying out special outreach projects Aidan’s CBS has been a regular recipient Africa the following day with many with the intention of promoting social of The Herald’s ‘Sporting School of the memories and perhaps the odd bruised justice and advocacy in their region. Year’ award and are current all-Ireland limb. St Aidan’s can reflect on another St Aidan’s CBS has a 55 year history U-15 soccer champions. momentous day in its proud history.

Winter 2019 Page 23 Coláiste Rís Dundalk President Michael D. Higgins visits Coláiste Rís Dundalk to celebrate 150 years of CBS Education

President Michael D Higgins’ visit to work on designing submarines, which a great privilege to meet World Dancing Coláiste Rís and the CBS primary school he had hoped would bring an end to Champion Elliot Kwelele. Students who on 19th September was the highlight of imperialism, but were eventually used by had spoken to him on his way around yearlong celebrations to mark the 150th the US Navy. the school confirmed that he was anniversary of the Christian Brothers President Higgins observed that the indeed a confirmed League of Ireland arriving in Dundalk. school opened in 1889, just two decades supporter and wished Dundalk FC every The President, who was accompanied after the Famine. Up until then, education success, though hopefully not against by his wife Sabina, were welcomed to the has been the preserve of the wealthy Galway United! school by former Coláiste Rís principal and the Christian Brothers had played He praised the various activities Pádraig Hamill, the current principal an important role in making education promoted in the school from sports Nóilín Ní Dhulaing, deputy principal John available for all so that pupils could to debating, remarking that the latter Moylan, and principal of the CBS primary escape from poverty. They had continued should be used not only to produce star school, Patricia McKeever. to provide education through different performers but to give every child the In a wide ranging address to the periods as the State was changing and capacity to articulate what they feel and school community, the President recalled had been to the forefront in championing what they have learned. the founding of the school by Brother education through Irish. Looking to the future, he said that the Louis Yorke, noting that the work of Thirty years ago, Coláiste Rís became children now attending the school will be the Manchester-born brother was so co-educational, ahead of the posse, the generation whose views of economics appreciated by the people of Dundalk that and had proven itself to be a school of will change, who will deal with the great they named a street after him, and the hospitality, welcoming students from challenge of climate change. Addressing town came to a standstill for his funeral central and Eastern Europe, central and the students, he told them to “look after in 1907. south Africa and elsewhere. each other and make sure no child is He also spoke of the school’s first The President noted that he had ever excluded” as the friendships made in mathematics teacher, the renowned been delighted to see examples of high school are most important. scientist and inventor John Phillip quality art and culture as he made his Holland, who is best remembered for his way through the school and it had been

Síol Page 24 Coláiste Rís Dundalk Art Visit To Florence 2019

In October 2019, a group of 19 Coláiste Rís Art Students visited Florence in Central Italy. The visit was organised by their Art teacher, Miss Elaine Byrne, as part of their studies for the Leaving Cert. course. Florence was the birthplace of the Renaissance and, after Rome, is surely the richest centre of Renaissance Art in the world. It was to this wonderland of beauty that the Coláiste Rís students set off expectantly with Ms. Byrne and Mr. Markey Next day, Thursday, the group went to Italian word, “gelato” was learned. And They flew into Pisa, transferred by bus three museums that contained the works it was very easy to pass a few hours in to Florence and stayed in a hotel ideally of the greatest artist of all; Michelangelo the late evenings in the Piazze, alive situated in the old Historic Centre, just Buonarroti. The Medici Chapel displayed with street theatre, music, and the street minutes by foot from all the sights. On a number of sculptures by him, made to sellers with their various gimmicks to the Wednesday morning they visited the honour the Medici family without whose entice a euro from a tourist’s pockets. Uffizi Gallery, one of the world’s great patronage the Renaissance could not have On the final morning the group collections of art, housing as it does been the marvel it was. In the Opera del went to the Duomo or Cathedral, one works by Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael Duomo museum the students saw a Pietá of the great wonders of Florence with and Botticelli, an artist that the students by the great man, full of sympathy for its spectacular facade and even more were studying in particular detail on their the dead Jesus, but which Michelangelo spectacular dome, built by Brunelleschi. course. In the evening they crossed the himself smashed in places because The Dome had to be climbed, of course, Old Bridge on the River Arno, the Ponte he didn’t think it was perfect. In the all 464 steps of it, until the students Vecchio, and went into the Brancacci third gallery was the most iconic of all emerged at the very top into the glorious Chapel to see the early Renaissance work Michelangelo’s works, his majestic David, sunshine and the marvellous panorama of of Masolino and Mosaccio. Afterwards a magnificent celebration of youth and the city below them. they walked along the Arno to the Church beauty and courage. And then it was back to the hotel, with of Sante Croce where, on both sides But the visit to Florence wasn’t all a a lightening visit to a market to let those of the Church aisle, stand the tombs serious pursuit of art, lest ‘all work and at home know they weren’t forgotten. of the greats who changed our world; no play’ might lead to dullness. There was Another rush for the bus to Pisa and the Michelangelo, Macchiavelli, Galileo and plenty of slagging and companionship plane to Ireland. And late on Friday night Dante. Although his tomb is there Dante and buzz in the pizzarie and snack bars they were back at the school gates and refused to be buried in it because of a that had to be visited. There was hardly home. The whole experience seemed to disagreement he had with the people an ice cream parlour that wasn’t stopped have passed as if in the blink of an eye. of Florence. at, thus ensuring that at least one new

Gael Linn Table Quiz & Céilí

On Friday 11th October, all first year students attended the annual Gael Linn table quiz and Céilí which was held in the Lisdoo. The students all had a very enjoyable day and took part in the quiz, singing and Céilí dancing with other local schools. Congratulations to one of our teams from 1Q who came first in the quiz and will progress to the next round in January. ffWinning team: Ms Keelan, Jack Cotter, Luke Haughey, Seán Boyle, Odhrán Woods and Ms Crimmins

Winter 2019 Page 25 Francis Street CBS

ffBoys from Francis St CBS watch the hot air balloons take flight over Cappadoccia at sunrise. Francis Street CBS – Erasmus Plus Trip to Turkey!

In September 2018, Francis Street CBS embarked on our first Erasmus Plus project. Working with 4 schools from around Europe- Colégio de São José in Portugal; Szkola Podstawowa nr 112 Przymierza Rodzin im. Jana Pawla II in Poland; Namik Kemal Anadolu Lisesi in Turkey; and School 21 in England. Embracing Erasmus Plus’ ambition to build projects with like-minded schools to exchange best practice and create innovative tools and methods for their field we designed a school- based project entitled Science – Soft Skills- Tutoring. With generous funding from our National Agency Léargas we have been fortunate enough to travel and visit our partner schools in Warsaw, Coimbra and most recently- Turkey. Early in the morning of Saturday 5th October, our project co- ordinator Avril McClenahan accompanied by 6th class teacher David Tonge gathered with five of our 6th class pupils- Calum Lennox, Oliver Zborowski, Cian O’Reilly, Kerim Fullam and Kaylum Byrne for our most adventurous Erasmus trip to date. Our first stop was Istanbul where we met up with our host co- ordinator Fatma and the teachers and students from our partner schools for a full day of sightseeing and exploring. We visited the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Cisterna Basilica and took a boat trip along the Bosphorus- crossing the river from Europe to Asia was an exciting and memorable event for everyone. We acclimatised to the culture and even managed to pick up some Turkish words to prepare us for our week ahead at school. On Sunday evening, we took another flight- this time to the home town of Namik Kemal Andadolu Lisesi in Samsun. ffOliver, Cian, Calum, Kaylum & Kerim with Avril McClenahan & David Tongue, heading off on their trip. Samsun is a city situated on the northern coast of Turkey and has a

Síol Page 26 Francis Street CBS population of almost half a million. We were very lucky to have a beautiful view of the Black Sea for the duration of our stay and the weather was a pleasant change from the fast approaching Autumn we had left in Dublin! On Monday morning, our school week began and we were made to feel very welcome in our new classes for the week- the boys got to take part in lessons on robotics, learning to control LED lights and how circuits work. By Friday they had the opportunity to put their skills in to practice to create a Smart City. As well as developing the science elements of our project, we ensured to meet the sustainability needs of Erasmus by planting trees for friendship that will live on in our name for many years to come. We were treated to a full Turkish experience from the food we ate for lunch each day to learning some traditional Turkish dancing as well as visiting some other schools in the local area. The highlight of our week was journeying with all of the other teachers and students to Cappadocia, a historical region in Central Turkey. It took 7 hours by overnight bus to get there and we arrived just in time for the magical sunrise where hundreds of hot air ffJake Dennehy in 3rd class balloons are raised to the sky- it is a scene we will never forget! For our last night, we stayed in Cappadocia, visiting Awards Night the Underground City at Kaymakli and the open air museums of Goreme. Our Francis St. C.B.S. as a proud Edmund final meal was in a stone cave where Rice School has welcomed two we practised our Turkish dancing and Ministers for Education and the enjoyed our last moments as a group. President of Ireland, Micheal D. We returned to Dublin and Francis Higgins in the past three years. Street on Sunday 13th October and have In March 2017 Richard Brutan been busy ever since- relaying all of our visited the school to launch ‘An interim project ambitions and developments review of the national literacy and as well as telling stories of the fun and numeracy strategy (2011-2020) ‘ which ffSean Kelly, 6th class student with friendships that were made. showed all targets set for reading Minister for Education, Joe McHugh We are so excited to be part of this and maths at primary level have project. To date 15 boys from Francis been reached. Street CBS have been able to avail of In January 2018, the President of Ireland, Micheal D. Higgins opened their opportunities to travel while the whole new school library. school got involved when we hosted 70 In June 2019, the school hosted Minister for Education Joe Mc Hugh at visitors from our partner schools last May. their annual Awards Ceremony held at St. Catherine’s Church on Thomas St. Our next and final stop for this project in Dublin 8. The ceremony which celebrates the wonderful students of the will be to School 21 in London next April- school welcomes all parents and many members of the community. Students we can’t wait to complete what has been are recognised for academic, sport, art, community and cultural efforts with an incredible experience being involved creativity, innovation and hard work being resounding themes. with Erasmus Plus and we are already It was a wonderful night and the Minister made a wonderful speech thanking planning for our next project- watch the Principal, Fiona Collins and all the staff and school community for their this space! inspiring work and their ambitions and aspirations for their students. The Minister presented many important awards most namely the ‘Student of Avril McClenahan, Erasmus Plus the Year’ to each class and the ‘Social Entrepreneur of the Year’. Co‑Ordinator, Francis Street CBS.

Winter 2019 Page 27 Bunscoil Sancta Maria, Synge Street Bunscoil Sancta Maria, Synge Street Presents The Lion King!

In June 2019 Synge Street’s Drama Club put on a production of The Lion King. Our Drama club was established in September 2018 in response to the new Oral Language Curriculum developments. The Drama club gives students the opportunity to improve their oral language skills, practice public speaking using expression, develop their listening skills, boost their confidence and most importantly have some fun. moves and perfecting songs for the big school community came together to get Boys and girls attend Drama Club each night. Parents and teachers alike got involved in this show and making it such week where they play games and engage involved in making props, backdrops and a ‘Roaring’ success. in drama activities such as improvisation, costumes, all to ensure that our show We are already looking forward to see quick speech challenges, hot seating, would be a spectacle. And a spectacle what the Drama Club has in store for us script writing, character development it was! this year! and acting. With the hall full of people, the In preparation for the Lion King, children put on their best performance Ms Lyndsey Regan, Drama Teacher students and teachers spent weeks ever, making audience members laugh, Bunscoil Synge Street. learning lines, practicing excellent dance cry and beam with pride. The whole ERASMUS Happy Healthy Lifestyles Project

Bunscoil Sancta Maria Synge Street were delighted to welcome visitors from Italy, Spain, Portugal and Armagh for a Joint Staff Training Event as part of our Erasmus+ project ‘Promoting Happy Healthy Lifestyles’. We have been fortunate enough to be involved in the project for the past year and this staff training event gave us the opportunity to plan ahead with our European counterparts for the different projects and initiatives that we will be taking part during this academic year. The project will be focusing on mindfulness and healthy eating over the coming months while last year we were working on our physical activity levels. We are delighted to be working with our partner schools and it has been particularly nice to work with and create strong links with one of our fellow Edmund Rice schools, Armagh CBS who are leading this fantastic project.

Ms Niamh McCumiskey Erasmus Co-ordinator

Síol Page 28 Bunscoil Sancta Maria, Synge Street Doon C.B.S Primary School Pupils Council 2019- Edmund Rice Beyond 2020 - Doon C.B.S Borders in Bunscoil Primary School. Synge Street

Working in partnership with Armagh CBS, Bunscoil Sancta Maria Synge Street has brought life to the meaning of EREBB. Both schools have come together in a variety of ways, through student exchanges, teacher exchanges and whole school projects under the theme of ‘Healthy Happy Lifestyles’. Together our pupils have enjoyed sporting activities, excursions, learning opportunities and have deepened their knowledge of each other, their schools and backgrounds. ffBack Row: Jack Shanahan, Darragh Murphy, Rory Mc Gregor In April 2019 Bunscoil Synge Street welcomed our Front Row: Paddy Ryan, Dominic Ryan, Pád Og O’ Brien and Cian Murphyt Armagh CBS peers to Dublin. We took part in a variety of activities including a hurling match, the Viking Splash and an Edmund Rice Sports Day with our fellow Edmund Rice schools in Scoil Chiaran Donnycarney. We are very proud of these links that we have created and look forward to our partnership strengthening in the future. 40 years service

ffSarah Ryan Whelan of Regeneron Ireland DAC presents I.T. equipment, computers and laptops, to Doon C.B.S. Primary School. Pictured is Sarah Ryan Whelan on left and School Principal, Joanne O’Connell on right along with pupils of Doon C.B.S.

ffEoin Murphy (left) and Diarmuid Crowe of Doon C.B.S., medal winners at ffVictoria McQuaid, Principal with Mary Byrne, School Secretary who is the Tipperary Primary School Cross Country Running held at Thurles Crokes celebrating 40 years service. Athletic Grounds, Thurles.

Winter 2019 Page 29 Wexford CBS Secondary School Official Opening of Wexford CBS Secondary School

Friday 8 March 2019. Many years of waiting officially ended on Friday as Wexford CBS finally opened their €12 million new school in a ceremony in the school. The school, an Edmund Rice School, with a history of providing education for boys in Wexford since 1849 now boasts state of the art facilities for its 640 pupils and 50 staff. Having been on the waiting list in the Department of Education for over twenty years, the new build was finally sanctioned seven years ago after many disappointments and false dawns. Planning was secured in 2015 and construction started the following year. Master of ceremonies for the historic occasion was CBS Deputy Principal John Hegarty who also serves as a member of Wexford County Council. He welcomed the large crowd to Friday’s opening which was held in the new Gym hall. Among the attendance were past pupil Labour Party leader Deputy Brendan Howlin, Minister Michael D’Arcy, James Browne TD, Mayor of Wexford Tony Dempsey, Cllrs George Lawlor, Ger Carthy and Tom Forde (another past pupil), current and past chairpersons and member of the school’s Board of Management and Parents’ Council, current and past staff, principals of local primary and secondary schools, representatives of the Christian Brothers and the Edmund Rice Schools Trust (ERST) as well as representatives from the builders Mythen’s Construction and the architects KOBW. Among the many speakers were Gerry Forde, Chairman of ff(L to R) Gerry Forde (Chair of BOM), Brendan Howlin (former Government Minister and current leader of the Labour Party) and Michael McMahon the Board of Management; Leo Hogan from ERST; Catherine (Principal) Busher O’Sullivan from the Parents’ Council; Ryan Kavanagh of the Students’ Council; Michael McMahon, CBS principal and The school moved to its current location in Green Street in 1875 Brendan Howlin who officially opened the school. with the financial help of local businessman Richard Devereux Fr. Aodhan Markham, representing Bishop Denis Brennan and has been expanding since then. However a new school spoke and also blessed the school with the assistance of Fr. has been necessary since the 1990s and after a lengthy and James Cullen and Rev Conor O’Leary. frustrating wait it has finally arrived. The audience heard of the history of Wexford CBS which It was a difficult construction project due to the fact that 640 started educating boys in Wexford town in 1849 at the site of students and their teachers remained on site in prefabs during the current Faythe primary school before moving to a building the build which presented significant logistical difficulties. Some at George’s Street in 1853. Such was the popularity of the school of the rooms from the old school were also incorporated into that 192 boys turned up on the first day and up to 80 boys were the new school during construction which lasted two years. The turned away due to there not being sufficient space for them. school now enjoys state of the art science laboratories, language laboratories, a music room, computer rooms, classrooms, woodwork rooms, technical graphic rooms, library, office accommodation, new gym/hall, fitness suite, learning support and an impressive ASD unit. The project was a massive success and will serve generations of Wexford CBS students very well into the future. Musical entertainment was provided by students Luke Spellacy, Sean Kirwan, Sam Hoffheinz and Alex Gregg. Spellacy brought further glory to the school on Saturday evening when he claimed the Wexford People sponsored Wexford’s Got Talent title in great style. The large crowd of past pupils, ff(L to R) Gerry Forde (Chair, BOM), Leo Hogan (ERST), Michael McMahon (Principal) and John Hegarty (DP) parents, neighbours and members of

Síol Page 30 Wexford CBS Secondary School St Mary’s CBS, Enniscorthy the general public enjoyed refreshments before being brought on a guided tour Visit to Irish Aid Centre of the new school by members of the Students’ Council. As part of our Development Studies class, we visited the Irish Aid centre in The total cost of the new school Dublin. There we learned about the 17 Sustainable Development Goals and the was €12 million which is includes importance of interdependence between countries. We decided to look at how improvements to the adjoining Wexford Ireland helps other countries in need and used Irish Aid as our example. CBS primary school. However, the Irish aid is helping to fund services in Malawi like school and health centres. school’s playing field has yet to be They send out volunteer teachers to educate the people in the village, so they completed and is unfortunately unusable know what to do. The Irish Aid volunteers also learn from the people of the at the moment but the school are village. They supply food to the area like porridge and potatoes especially in currently planning and undertaking December to February, also known as hunger season. They help buy fertiliser to fundraising to finish this aspect of enrich the soil to plant crops on. They teach the people new farming methods the project. to get the most out of land and how to use it. They also help build new services like schools, health services and shops for food. I think Irish aid made a massive Maths & difference because they are helping to develop the country achieve one of the sustained development goals, no poverty. They are supplying food and basically Science high doing everything they can for the countries that they work with. When we watched a video on other countries and how the money is used, achievers we learned lots of facts and at the end Winnie asked us to tell her one fact we learned. We then went into another room and played their version of snakes and ladders which linked with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals and we were Wexford CBS is very proud of asked quiz questions on aid. I learned that poor countries also have extremely students Asjadullah Shori & wealthy people and that Congo has loads of cobalt needed for phones but it can’t Masib Jawad whom the State be extracted as there’s a huge war over it. I also learned that Ireland helps other Examinations Commission (SEC) countries which I never knew before this year. has identified as high achievers in Maths & Science in the 2019 Alan O’Neill, Transition Year student Junior Certificate. Both young men have been invited to participate in the National Junior Olympiad Competition to select six students to represent Ireland at the International Junior Science Olympiad in Doha, Qatar from 3-12 December. The National competition takes place in DCU on Saturday November 2nd.

Good luck to our lads.

Winter 2019 Page 31 St Joseph’s Fairview Cycle Against Suicide Ambassador School

Over the past few years we, here in St Josephs, have worked very hard to promote positive mental health across our school community. In 2017-2018 we became a Cycle Against Suicide Ambassador school for the first time, in ffPictured are the Senior members of our HEADSTRONG team: Back Row (L-R): Evan White, Lee Cadwell, 2018-2019 we were awarded the Amber Kevin Trefas, Joshua Dignam, Peter McDermott, Joe McAuley, Jack McGuirk, Matthew Boland, Cian Maloney. Flag from Pieta House and, last month, Front Row: (L-R): Tom Gaskin, Ms. Leetch, Ms. O’Donnell and Sean Higgins we were awarded Cycle Against Suicide Ambassador School status for the second various awareness campaigns and much young people to ‘Be Brave, Reach Out and year in a row. This award was achieved more! On the 25th of September students Speak Up about Mental Health’. by the HEADSTRONG committee in attended training in Dublin Castle in Huge congratulations to all who the school. This committee carried order for the program to be launched in attended the training event and out an event each month last year that Joeys again this year. particular congratulations are in promoted resilience and stamped out the The program this year is theme based order for our two 6th year students, stigma associated with mental illness. so the committee will be covering a Seán Higgins and Tom Gaskin, who The committee is made up of students different theme each month that they were chosen from hundreds of young from 1st year-6th year and the events feel is relevant to young people. Overall, people to be ambassadors for this included a spinathon, a colour run, the aim of this program is to encourage national organisation.

St. Joseph’s triumph at Cuchulainn Heart Challenge!

In 2017 a group of TYs from St. Joseph’s created a book about mental health called MIND MATTERS. This book won multiple awards and has truly opened many doors for us as a school. One of those doors led us to the Cuchulainn Heart Challenge, kindly sponsored by the Ilac Centre. We are one of only two schools in Ireland that have been fortunate enough to be chosen to take part in the challenge! This program was designed to nurture and develop a wide range of very valuable employability, citizenship and business skills in TY and 5th year students within our school. The programme has been acclaimed internationally, and involved the students in using high level business materials and working directly with real Business Professionals from The Ilac Centre and other very successful businesses. For the students, taking part in CuchulainnHeart was an enlightening, high energy experience. The challenge was centered on creating community action project ideas for our area. Teams worked tirelessly ffBack row (L-R): Evan White, Kevin Trefas, Peter McDermott, Joe McAuley, Seán Higgins with the Cuchulainn Heart Team, business advisors at the Front row (L-R): Tom Gaskin, Jack McGuirk, Lee Cadwell, Cian Maloney, top of their fields and were also judged by our team of Matthew Boland expert business professionals. Our overall champion team then progressed to the their idea ‘Generation Joey’s- a group that links young and international finals in London which have just taken place on old in our community. the 23rd of September in Kings Cross. Our students competed Our winning team was made up of 5th and 6th year against schools from England, Scotland and Wales. Our students; Seán Higgins, Joe McAuley, Cian Maloney, Lee students went from strength to strength on the day and were Cadwell, Matthew Boland, Peter McDermott, Evan White, awarded the Overall Award for Best Concept at the event for Kevin Trefas Tom Gaskin and Jack McGuirk.

Síol Page 32 St. Mary’s CBS, Portlaoise

Hurl Standz student enterprise win

Three young entrepreneurs from our school finished second in Noah Fingleton said: “The three of us play hurling for Park- the main category of the All Ireland Student Enterprise Final in Ratheniska, our local GAA club, and we just thought that when Dublin last May. we weren’t using our hurls, they were just lying in corners or St. Marys CBS students Marc Ramsbottom, Simon Fingleton thrown around. “So we saw this as a problem and thought how and Noah Fingleton – whose business is Hurl Standz, a clever could we make something that could solve this? and very useful concept they came up with to hold their ”The lads set up their work studio in Marc Ramsbottom’s hurling equipment. house and, under the guidance of his dad John, they have each Hurl Standz is essentially a wall rack that comes in single learned how to weld the pieces together to make the finished or double size and allows hurlers to store their equipment in a product.Marc explained: “My dad is a fitter and he has a welder smaller space than would normally be the case. They are light, at home. So he showed us how to make a couple of them and portable and wall-mounted as as well as storing hurls, they can then we figured out how to weld them properly.” hold helmets and boot bags also. The trio set up social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter As for who came up with the idea in the first place, the and Instagram to promote their product and they received lads say it was something that they all came to together. plenty of support from local businesses.

Anthony Idris

Anthony is currently a 5th Year student in our school who has played an important role in Athletics. Starting out in 1st Year Anthony was keen in participating in athletics. However for the first few months he was unable to complete the 1mile jog warm at the beginning of every session. That didn’t deter him as he came back week after week, trying his best. 12 months later Anthony wins the Laois Schools Cross Country Championships! He was a keen endurance athlete until he discovered combined events. This involves all aspects of running, throwing and jumping; something Anthony was very passionate and talented at! His determination and work rate can be seen very clearly when he takes the sprints session in the after schools training! The highlight of his time in school to date has to be winning the All Ireland Junior Boys Triple Jump, jumping a distance of 11.40m. The future is bright for Anthony Idris!

Winter 2019 Page 33 St. Fintan’s High School St. Fintan’s High School Zambia Immersion Trip June 2019

Kabwe, Zambia, is regarded as the world’s the outskirts of the town. The contrast of the day for our students, the absence most toxic town. Almost a century of lead between life either side of these gates of mobile phones and PlayStations and mining and smelting has left over a third was inspiring and humbling. We were the simplicity of old-fashioned games, of the population of Kabwe living in lead greeted with a welcoming ceremony by live music and dancing did not deter our contaminated townships. One of these hundreds of children proudly wearing lads; in fact, they embraced it and forged townships is Makululu, the second largest their Sables Nua uniforms and beaming special bonds with many of the children. shanty compound in Africa. For the past with happiness. Anyone who has been The happiness at Sables was infectious, 7 years, St. Fintan’s High School has to Sables always refers to the happiness so much so that you could easily forget travelled to Kabwe on various projects and atmosphere here. This would be the fact that every child here came from with the charity Zamda Ireland. Zamda magnified every morning when we would extremely challenging circumstances. provide free primary education and enter through the gates to see the school This fact would be brought home to us meals to over 280 vulnerable children children, some of whom had walked a each day when a small group of two Irish in their school, Sables Nua, as well as couple of hours to the school, setting students and a teacher would accompany full time shelter and care to 20 boys. about their morning routines of cleaning, the social worker on a visit to one of the We (15 students and 3 teachers) arrived readying themselves for their lessons, local student’s homes. It was experiencing in Kabwe late on Monday 3rd June this playing games, reciting nursery rhymes or these circumstances, yet seeing how year. Our first daylight view of Kabwe just enjoying each other’s company. happy the children were that had the was the following morning as we made Our work in the mornings centered most profound effect on us as a group. our way in a minibus to the school. around two projects, the first being Each evening we would reflect on our day Huge trucks, old buses, cars, bicycles the construction of a secondary school and the comparatively trivial concerns and walkers created clouds of dust, all to accommodate the current students’ in our lives back home. We spent two navigating to avoid each other and the progression from primary education and and a half weeks in Zambia and at the many potholes on the unmarked road. the second, the cataloguing of books end, we were heartbroken to leave. Our We did not know it yet but these streets in the school’s new library. The library fundraising efforts over the previous year were at one stage the home for many of was funded by Young Social Innovators and a half had raised €14,000 for Zamda the students we would meet over the next Den (YSI) following the success of our and Sables Nua. However, the effect the few weeks. Before arriving at Sables Nua, victorious YSI project in St. Fintan’s trip had on each of us was incalculable their lives consisted of poverty, crime, last year. The afternoons were spent and we all returned to Dublin and St. drugs, neglect, abuse and prostitution. organising activities and playing games Fintan’s with a different perspective on Arriving at the school, the security gates with the school children, the vast life, a little bit humbler and with a new were rolled back to unveil Sables Nua, majority of whom would stay in school sense of social responsibility. an immaculately kept sanctuary on all day until dusk. This was the highlight

Síol Page 34 CBS Kilkenny Promoting Social and Ecological Justice in CBS Kilkenny

Here in CBS Kilkenny we have been busy promoting social and ecological justice issues over the past year. Our Cumann ERST and Green Schools Committee work hand in hand with local organisations to provide support where possible. We have been working on the issue of homelessness to promote social justice in our community. On the 10th of October, to mark “World Homeless Day” as a school, we focused on fundraising in partnership with other schools in the city for the Good Shepherd Centre. the need to reduce our plastic waste in the school. The main aim Our Cumann ERST approached all local city schools to of this was to spread awareness and promote positive action in get involved. Loreto Kilkenny, Callan CBS and CBS Primary our school community. This is to ensure that our students are Kilkenny came on board. A range of events were held across the aware of the reasons behind the work that we are doing. schools. A total of €1950 was raised, and a shoebox appeal was Bernadette Moloney, the Kilkenny Environmental Welfare held generating one hundred shoeboxes with essential goods Officer, and Cllr. Michael Noonan spoke to our students and required by the Good Shepherd Centre. staff concerning the role we have to play in reducing our All Junior Cycle students attended a presentation from our plastic waste and promoting a recycling mentality. They spoke Cumann ERST which focused on the issue of homelessness and of the importance of promoting sustainable development in our local community. Our Cumann ERST was complimented on the positive actions that they are taking to promote ecological justice.

Climate Action Week

During Climate Action week (14/10/19 – 19/10/19), there was a particular focus on the correct use of bins and the reduction of plastic throughout the school. TY students Immersion manned the bins at break time and lunch time in order to encourage the correct allocation of waste. We are now In July 2019, Ms Caitriona Evison and two students, Peter promoting the use of our own reusable aluminium bottles O’Brien and Eoin Maguire, were invited to go to Sierra and we hope that all students will use these with the hope Leone with the NGO, Concern Worldwide. of eradicating single use bottles. Our students took the They were accompanied by Concern Staff and the opportunity to advocate on behalf of the environment by winning Concern Debate Team from Monaghan. It was taking part in the Climate Action Strike in October. an extraordinary experience. While there, the group met In order to reuse the plastic that students are currently with the Minister for Education in Sierra Leone and also disposing of, plastic bottles collected from the bins in the Irish Ambassador. They visited many Concern projects, the school will then be used to grow saplings of trees for schools and WASH projects both in Freetown and out our “One More Tree” initiative. This initiative involves in the Tokolilli District. The group also stayed with Sr collecting seeds and planting them on school grounds. At Mary at her School for the Hearing Impaired. They met the end of the year, a variety of saplings of different size with many of the Concern staff members and attended will be available and will be gifted to students who have debates, discussions and meetings around the policies and sufficient space to plant them at home. programmes in Sierra Leone.

Winter 2019 Page 35 CBS Primary Tralee CBS Primary Tralee celebrate Scríobh Health Promoting Flag Leabhar In June 2019 Scoil Mhuire na mBráithre celebrated receiving a Health Promoting Flag. This is the schools first Health Promoting Flag and both teachers and students have Second Class pupils from Scoil been working on this initiative for the past three years. The celebrations began with a Mhuire na mBráithre, Tralee took roof top exercise class with Ciara Griffin, Captain of the Irish Womens Rugby team and part in the Scríobh Leabhar Project teacher at the school. They continued the celebrations with Ms. Patricia Sharpe and this year. The Scríobh Leabhar the Health Promoting Committee giving each class a basket of fruit to enjoy. Finally, Project is run by various Education Scoil Mhuire na mBráithre had a special visit from Olympic Swimmer, Fiona Doyle. Centres in conjunction with Forás The pupils were enthralled as Fiona shared her journey to becoming an Olympian. The na Gaeilge. The project aims to children learned that hard work and determination is important to reach their goals. awaken children’s interests in the Irish language, by encouraging them to design and write their own books as Gaeilge. The Second Class pupils had the opportunity to write about any topic or theme that interested them. Once the books were completed, they were swapped with another school so other children get an opportunity to read books written by children of a similar age group. The children wrote and designed books about various topics, such as, Mé Féin, Spóirt and Cluiche Ríomhaire. All pupils received a small prize for taking part and two pupils; Rowan and ffHealth Promoting Committee with teachers Ciara Griffin, Dara Quirke, Patricia Sharpe and Amelia were selected to receive a principal Denis Coleman. ‘Gradam Award’.

Kilimanjaro Mama wins big at Kerry International Film Festival

Louise Quill, former teacher at CBS Primary Tralee, set up Tír na nÓg orphanage in Tanzania, Africa in 2006. The orphanage was created to alleviate the suffering of the Tanzanian children and provide a home where they would be nurtured in a loving safe environment. Kilimanjaro Mama is an hour-long uplifting documentary highlighting the fantastic work being done by an extraordinary woman, Louise, with the help of her husband Derek O’Connor, current teacher at CBS Primary Tralee. The documentary illustrates that one person really can make a difference and despite dealing with many challenges, founder Louise continues to transform the lives of orphaned and abandoned children in Tanzania. The team of Tír na nÓg were delighted when it was revealed that they won the prestigious Best Feature Film award at Kerry International Film Festival. The award-winning documentary will be entered into a select number of film festivals both nationally and internationally.

Síol Page 36 CBC Monkstown CBC Monkstown is Going Green!

It all began in earnest in March 2019 finish their meals in the canteen and staff when teacher Mr Neil Ferguson and room. As well as reducing the volume of seven students from CBC Monkstown waste going to landfill sites, recycling and attended the Edmund Rice Education composting our domestic waste helps to Beyond Borders (EREBB) Conference minimise charges for waste collection. in Croke Park. Inspired by the vision The benefits of recycling include a of Blessed Edmund Rice, this annual cleaner environment, the safe disposal of gathering aims to give vibrant expression hazardous materials, greater awareness of to the student voice by discussing their excess packaging and a careful approach ideas for citizenship projects, advocacy to the use and re-use of materials. and other EREBB programmes. With The very hard-working CBC Green this commitment to transformational Schools Group operate under the banner education for justice and liberation, our of “Working together, we can make a big students decided to use what they had difference”. New outdoor school bins have learned and make a difference in the lives been acquired and multi-lingual, bright- of all in the CBC community. The first coloured labels have been added to our ever CBC Monkstown Advocacy Group internal bins. As well as representing the was born and now meets on Tuesdays school at the Climate Change March on at lunchtime, discussing topical issues September 20th 2019, the Green Schools including homelessness, refugees and Group have also established the ‘Bin climate change. It to Win It’ competition in the school. In May 2019, after conducting a This competition of healthy rivalry pits survey of the products used daily in the different year groups against each CBC, the Advocacy Group decided that by keeping tabs on the cleanliness of action had to be taken to reduce single- their respective locker areas, canteen use plastic consumption in the school. areas and classrooms. Members of the Consequently, they decided to create the Green Schools Group can also be seen first CBC Reusable Thermos Bottle and using their litter-pickers around the make it available for everyone in the school after lunch each day as well as school community to purchase. After supervising the litter collection points in a few months of liaising with different the school canteen. companies and designing logos and As part of the Green Schools slogans, they finally developed the initiative, a school-wide anti-litter slogan finished product. The bottle is BPA free competition was recently held in the and can keep liquids hot or cold for up school. Congratulations to our winners to 12 hours! The initial supplies of 100 who won vouchers which had been kindly bottles sold out within one week of their sponsored by Argos. launch in September 2019. The logo of ffThe CBC Reusable Bottle “Plastic-Free in CBC” is catchy too! The three winning slogans were: Following on from the pioneering work of the school’s Advocacy Group, the CBC 1. ‘Easy as ABC, no more litter in CBC!’ Green Schools Group under the guidance 2. ‘Be a sound Monk, bin your junk!’ of teacher Ms Ailbhe Smyth, re-emerged 3. ‘CB…. C you later litter!’. as a powerful voice within the school. As part of the campaign to spearhead In October 2019, the CBC Green Schools CBC becoming a more environmentally- Group also went on a fact-finding trip friendly school, this group has been to the to the Panda Waste Disposal Group in fore in leading the school’s charge towards Ballymount Cross. There they witnessed its first Green Flag. To date, the Green at first hand the manner in which waste Schools Group have initiated a number is diverted from landfill towards recycling of changes to the manner in which CBC and fuel generation through multiple deals with its litter and waste. A number sources. The school has also applied to of green recycling bins, general waste Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council bins and brown food waste bins have for other initiatives via the Community been installed in the school canteen. All Environment Action Fund. CBC staff and students can now separate their litter and food waste when they Beir Bua agus Beannacht!

Winter 2019 Page 37 Rice College Westport Three students make Art the U15 International Ms Hopkins 2nd year art class returned this year to the Ireland Soccer Team wonderful news that their application for inclusion in the Design Skills programme 2019 was successful. Congratulations to our Rice College students and Westport Design SKILLS is an initiative involving the Creative United players Conor Walsh, Daniel Kelly and Adam Nugent Ireland Programme, Junior Cycle for Teachers (JCT), for making the 20 man Republic of Ireland Under 15 the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland (DCCoI) and International squad!! the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment They were involved in an international tournament in (NCCA),who wish to document, celebrate and promote October which was held in Mayo. best practice in Irish craft and design education. Following a preparation and planning day in the Match 1: Thursday 17th Oct. v Latvia, National Museum, Collins Barracks on Saturday 14th Castlebar at 15:00 September we were paired with jewellery designer What a proud Thursday for Rice College. Ireland won 3-1 Victoria Foutz. against Latvia in Milebush. The boys have just completed 6 hours of workshops with Victoria. They learned the basic techniques of Match 2: Saturday 19th v Faroe Islands, jewellery making and wire manipulation and employed Westport at 15:00 them in their own creations which were based on the Another great match from the Ireland U15 team winning 4-0. theme ‘CONNECT’. Adam Nugent got the first goal and Captain of the team Daniel We are currently recording the work and Kelly got the last goal. These three students played a blinder! gathering feedback. The boys now have a greater appreciation for the Match 3: Monday 21st v Luxembourg, planning stages of the design process and have developed Ballina at 11:00 practical skills that may be useful in the completion of What a score for the U15 Ireland team. 8-0 to Ireland. Another their CBA’S over the next two years. goal from one of our students, making this 4 goals for Adam Nugent in three games. Fantastic news for our students and a great success for Westport town!! Friendship Week in Rice College for First Years

Our first years enjoyed a September Friendship Week with talks from Garda Colm Boyle and Dodgeball tournaments to name a few. They had a week of being welcomed into the school with their Mentors and such a fun week it was for all involved! They had Fr.Charlie McDonnell opening the week for a blessing and their friendship candle is still burning in the school.

Mosque Visit

Our 3rd Year groups attended the Mosque in Ballyhaunis as part of their Junior Cert Journal Project. The 3C and 3D groups chatted to the tour guide Manor and learned about the layout of the Mosque, the Quran and how Muslims pray. It was an exciting morning for the students!

Síol Page 38 Coláiste Éamann Rís, Cork

New name, new uniform, same great teaching tradition!

It’s a year of huge changes for one of “Coláiste Éamann Rís has an excellent when the school was already seeing a Cork’s oldest schools - Deerpark CBS reputation and this will only grow when it significant increase in numbers – whereas (which was founded as Sullivan’s Quay becomes a co-ed” 28 students graduated from sixth year, 87 in 1828) is now Coláiste Éamann Rís Along with the change to co- students joined first year in September! and with their change of name, comes a education, the school has introduced Similarly, student academic successes change in educational status. Now, after a new uniform and a new crest; which have improved and were reflected in the 191 years of teaching boys, the school reflects the school’s past as Deerpark 2018 CAO figures, with CER Cork being has now become Cork City’s first English and its roots as a Christian Brothers named second most improved school in speaking co-educational Catholic School. school. The colour blue was chosen as Ireland and the most improved across Speaking of the change An Tánaiste the school’s new colour as it represents Cork for sending students to college. Simon Coveney said, “For over 190 years the waters in Genesis 1 and acts as a Other changes in the school include Coláiste Éamann Rís has accepted boys symbol of change/the beginning of the opening of a new Home Economics only so this announcement truly recognises something new room, and the introduction of free hot the modernising of the school’s focus for the The change in status comes after a lunches cooked on site and given to every 21st century”. His words were echoed by lengthy period of negotiation with the student in the school. The school has also the leader of Fianna Fáil Micheál Martin; Department of Education and at a time changed their website to www.cercork.ie.

Trend Micro Excellence in Education Awards

Coláiste Éamann Rís were shortlisted finalists in the Trend Micro Excellence in Education Awards. The nomination comes in recognition of the school’s work as cluster leader in the Department of Education School’s Excellence Fund. Under this project Transition Year students work with four local primary schools every Thursday, teaching fourth class students coding and robotics. The project has been so successful that the students and staff involved were asked to present their project on the main stage at the 2019 Tech Summer in Cork City Hall in May. Speaking of the project, chair of it@cork, Anthony O’Callaghan, said; ‘It’s very exciting and promising that programmes of this nature are happening in our local schools, it’s such a great age for kids to begin learning IT and coding skills that will be of benefit to them in years to come, especially when they decide what pathways to choose for work and careers’

Winter 2019 Page 39 Coláiste Éanna Coláiste Éanna Students, Past and Present, represent Ireland on the World’s Sport Stage ffColáiste Éanna’s victorious “A” League Minor All-Ireland Basketball team 2019, with coaches Ms. Conroy, Following in the footsteps of past Mr. O’Sullivan & Mr. Loughney.] pupils, including Pádraig Harrington, Paul McGinley, Graham Shaw and and World sport events. The school deserved opportunity for the Coláiste Brian Gartland, Coláiste Éanna’s U15 holds the unique honour of two of its Éanna boys, allowing them to compete Basketball team will represent Ireland past pupils, Pádraig Harrington and Paul against many different nationalities, on the World’s Sports Stage. The team McGinley captaining Ryder Cup teams. network and make new connections. It will participate in the International Also, Graham Shaw, another past pupil, recognises their commitment, dedication School Sports Federation (ISF) U15 coached the first Irish team to reach a and hard work to basketball. Basketball World Schools’ Championships World Cup Final, namely the Women’s Along with training, fundraising in Zadar, Croatia, 15th – 22nd March, Hockey Final, in 2018. efforts are now being planned to assist 2020. This is an inaugural event at this The ISF Sports Director, Mr. Josip in covering the costs of the team and age group, and Coláiste Éanna has been Kosutic, has stated that, apart from the coaches. Muintir Choláiste Éanna are very invited to represent Ireland in the men’s sport dimension, the Basketball World proud of the success of our basketball event, following their victory in the ‘A’ Schools’ Championships will be “an teams to date, and we wish our U15 League Minor All-Ireland Competition in excellent opportunity to build friendship representatives and their coaches, Mr. University Limerick at the end of the last and cooperation among young people in O’Sullivan, Ms. Conroy, Ms. O’Reilly and academic year. the world”. Participants from twenty-five Mr. O’Connor, every success in Croatia. Coláiste Éanna has a proud tradition countries are expected to attend. This of flying the Irish Flag at both European event will be an amazing and well-

Knights of Éanna - Chess trip to Bristol

Every Autumn, Coláiste Éanna’s Chess Club, the Knights of Éanna, attend the annual Millfield Chess Competition in Bristol, England. This year, two teams of ten students, accompanied by Mr. Grant, Mr. Flynn, mentors and parents, represented our Coláiste in Millfield, 7th – 9th October. Arriving on Thursday afternoon, the students had a day to acclimatise and prepare for the event. The two-day competition commenced on Saturday. Coláiste Éanna started with two challenging qualifier matches, from which one team progressed into the championship division. The Knights of Éanna, battled hard through two qualifying rounds and five division rounds, with two honorary Knights, Eoin Harrington and Matthew Burke achieving our highest scores. While our teams did not depart the competition with silverware, our students benefitted from their participation, improving their ratings and skills, many achieving ‘personal bests’ in their scores. Well done to All.

Síol Page 40 Coláiste Mhuire, Mullingar Innovative Move to One Hour Classes

Coláiste Mhuire strives to always provide the best for its students and once more Coláiste Mhuire have spearheaded the way with the move to one hour classes. This switch to hour long classes has a number of immediate benefits within the school day, the most noticeable of which is that the day is now comprised of six hour long slots rather than the previous nine periods. This switch results in less “lost” time as a result of movement time between classes and also allows more engaging and interactive classes, thus significantly improving the teaching and learning. Staff of Coláiste Mhuire received training before the beginning of the academic year on how to best utilise the longer class periods and the overall consensus on the switch, from both staff and students, has been positive. Teacher, Brian Murtagh, commented on the increased potential for group and peer learning within the new hour long classes stating “The new class lengths provide a much greater scope for students to lead the learning and demonstrate their prior knowledge. It has opened the possibility to delve deeper into subjects and ensure that each student within the class has the opportunity to participate”. Second year student, Dylan Carey, commented on how the hour long classes made adapting to secondary school life easier, “We don’t have to move classes as often during the day and we also only need to carry books for two subjects in our bags at once.” Indeed, Principal Malachy Flanagan has noticed the positivity of this change in the school already. “The new hour long classes have added increased structure to the school day and ensure a calmer environment in the corridors. The change has allowed for our staff to embed modern methodologies into their teaching and promote the key skills of the new Junior Cycle and an active learning environment for students of all year groups”. Overall, it seems that the switch to one hour class time has already become a hit in Coláiste Mhuire. ffLiam Murtagh completing his project

New Principals in the Edmund Rice Schools Trust in 2019

New Principals 2019

ff14 new Principals were appointed in 2019 (10 Secondary and 4 Primary) to schools in the Trust. Top Row-L-R: Aaron Wolfe - Coláiste Éamonn Rís, Cork; Michael McHugh - O’Connell Primary; Edward Kennedy -Mount Sion Secondary; Seán de Lap - Coláiste Íosagáin; Joe Hagan -Waterpark College; Cathal Boyle -Coláiste Choilm; Ciarán McLoughlin - Árdscoil Rís; Pól Hansard - Gaelscoil Choláiste Mhuire, Parnell Square. Front -L-R: Óisin Mac Eoin - Coláiste Mhuire, Cabra; Siobhán McDonagh - Oatlands Primary; Liam Newell -O’Connells Secondary; Aoife Wrynne - Scoil Íosagáin, Crumlin; Nóilín Ní Dhúlaing, Coláiste Rís, Dundalk; Canice Hickey - Coláiste Éamann Rís, Callan.

Winter 2019 Page 41 CBS James’s Street

CBS James’s Street RE Programme

In CBS James’s Street we teach Religion to include this element into the RE The library is stocking specific books as a non exam subject to all students. programme and using links with our including: Once, The Diary of Anne Ms K Hill along with cross curriculum Chaplain Fr Eugene Taffee and our JCSP Frank, The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, teams have incorporated short courses librarian Lorna Vogelsang, we have graphic novels and films specifically that may be included on the junior Cycle created a tolerance, respect and creative for the commemoration. Second Years Profile of Achievement. The second approach to learning about Judaism. will show off their understanding and year Religious education programme Caring for our small school garden project work in time for 27th January’s includes scope to plant the crocus bulbs allows us to be explore stewardship and Holocaust Memorial Day. from the Holocaust Education Trust. We care for the earth while remembering have found it beneficial and inspiring those who died during World War II.

Creativity and Meditation

The fifth year non exam RE programme lends itself to many ideas and searching for meaning in our lives. This Autumn the 5th year students in CBS James’s Street wanted to learn how to meditate simply and yet be creative. Through cross curricula partnerships with Mr Moloney’s art and Ms Hill’s Religious education programme, we explored our creative and meditative styles together. Students simply painted rocks, while contemplating our place in the world, and listening to Mozart. It took some patience to allow the first coat of paint to dry and remain in a peaceful quiet before resuming the duties. The students enjoyed participating and will use the stones at home as part of their self care and mindfulness. Some have cited they will use them as ‘study’ ffVincent Comerford, stones also. fifth year student.

Síol Page 42 Choláiste Íosagáin, Baile Átha Cliath Foireann bhuacach mhná Bhaile Átha Cliath

Ba chúis mhór bhróid dúinn i gColáiste Íosagáin é nuair a bhuaigh foireann Bhaile Átha Cliath Craobh na hÉireann i bpeil na mban don tríú bliain as a chéile, agus cúigear dár n-iarscoláirí ar an bhfoireann. Ba iad siúd Éabha Ruitléis, Aoife Ní Chatháin, Niamh Ní Choileáin, Martha Ní Bhroin agus Sinéad Nic Gualraic. Tá cúrsaí spóirt an-tábhachtach dúinn i gColáiste Íosagáin, agus chomh maith le peil Ghaelach, imrímid camógaíocht, cispheil agus tá an-chuid lúthchleasaithe againn freisin.

Lá Idirnáisiúnta na Náisiún Aontaithe Gradam Zurich Young um Dhíothú na Bochtaineachta Portrait Prize

Ghlac cór sinsearach na scoile páirt i Lá Idirnáisiúnta Ní gach aon lá a bhíonn pictiúr atá curtha i gcrích ag dalta na Náisiún Aontaithe um Dhíothú na Bochtaineachta, scoile ar crochadh sa Dánlann Náisiúnta ach sin an t-éacht ar an 17 Deireadh Fómhair. Faoi stiúir a múinteoirí cóir atá bainte amach ag Molly Ní Chearbhaill as Bliain 6. Bhí chuir na cailíní a gcroí sa cheol ar an lá agus iad ag Molly ainmnithe ar an ngearrliosta do ghradam The Zurich déanamh a gcuid féin chun aird a tharraingt ar fhadhb na Young Portrait Prize sa Dánlann Náisiúnta dá portráid dar bochtaineachta in Éirinn agus timpeall an domhain. teideal ‘Seán’. Ná déanaigí dearmad ar a hainm!

Bunscoil Callan

International Day

International Day was a great success! The Student Council organised for each class to research and present a different country. On the day pupils got the opportunity to gather together in the school hall and look at the different stalls presented by each class. Students and teachers got to learn about Roinn A Champions flags, taste the different cuisines, learn about different cultures etc. In total 27 countries were On Thursday 30th of May, Bunscoil McAuley Rice schools camogie team made history represented in our school. as they reached the Roinn A Schools final. They played an experienced St. Canice’s team and won 4.3 to 1.2. To add to this success on Tuesday 25th of June, the Boys under 11 team played Kilmanagh in the Roinn A Schools final where they beat them 5.09 to 1.06. Fantastic achievements by both teams who have made history this year. Well done to all involved!

Winter 2019 Page 43 St Joseph’s C.B.S, Sunday’s Gate, Drogheda Drogheda News

We have had a busy first term here in St of Mr Robbie Keane (co-ordinator), Ms. Joseph’s, welcoming our students back Ellen Dillane, Ms Deirdre McNeill and and saying hello to new pupils in junior Mrs Mary McCreesh were cheered into infants and in third class and in other the hall to the A-Team theme tune. Mr classes throughout the school. Our school Mulroy, Ms Gregory and Mr Carberry’s were thrilled to hear news from the classes performed at the event and Department of Education and Skills that Yvonne Forde from Genesis spoke to in September 2020 we would be enrolling the boys also. Yvonne was so impressed girls in junior infants for the first time in that she invited the boys to perform at our history. the Universal Children’s Day event to Our programme of in school iniatives be held in Monasterboice on the 21st and after school activities got under as of November. always but this year we added a new The school was very proud to unveil string to our bow. Late in June last year some new Edmund Rice artwork in our the whole staff underwent training so school yard. We have had a picture of that starting from the first day of the new Edmund Rice in our shelters for 19 years school year we became a KiVa School. and the paint work was looking a little The KiVa anti bullying programme tired and shabby. Our shelters have been ffEdmund Rice Mural comes from Finland and is brought to transformed with murals depicting, flags us with the support of Genesis who also of the world, the solar system, maps of St Joseph’s finished the term on a support Incredible Years with the school. Ireland, Drogheda and the Boyne Valley jubilant note with victory in the Gaelic KiVa anti-bullying lessons are taught so that our yard now looks bright and football final and our team proudly in classes twice monthly as part of the colourful and can be a place of learning brought home Corn Sheamuis Ó SPHE programme and we also staged a too. We moved Blessed Edmund to a new Maoltuile. Today the county champions, Kick-start Event on the 15th of October central location and we are delighted the Newtown Blues visited our school to in the hall to launch the KiVa programme with the results. The work was completed show off the cup as many of the winning and to introduce the KiVa team to the by local artist Noel Kelly who is also a team are former pupils and we had the whole school. The KiVa team, consisting past pupil of our school. pleasure of comparing silverware.

ffSt Joseph’s CBS Gaelic Team ffKiVa Anti Bullying Kick-start Event

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