Community School

Summer Newsletter

State Exams Prize Giving

Leaving/Junior Certificate examinations, best of luck to all involved, many students this year took advantage not alone of Kate Meehan is presented study facilities after with the Pat Heaney Music school each day but many Jonathan Comer is presented Award for her contribution to music in the school attended Saturday with the Claudia Gavin Student of the Year Award by Conor morning study and other Gavin sessions right up to the day before the exams commenced on 7th June. Well done to all on the great study effort and we Ronan Gannon receives his hope and expect that it award for Full Attendance for will be all worthwhile. Senior Sports Stars Pierce six years Kirrane and Bonnie Mc Ginley Graduation receives their awards on Graduation Evening. Thanks to all Leaving Cert. students, Parents and other family members for a most enjoyable evening on Five Year Full Attendance awards were presented to 26th May, also to Fr Blaithin Kelly receives the Jonathan Comer and Ciara Padraic Gilmore Art Fergal, to the staff Carney Appreciation Award from Billy members involved, the Hannon, Chairman, BOM. Parents Council and many Prize Giving Prize giving day took others who helped make place on Monday 30 May, the evening so successful. congratulations to all recipients on well-

deserved awards. I wish to thank Minister

Sean Canney T.D. who David Burke is presented with took time out to join us, the Ann Flynn Science Award by Nora Walsh spoke to our students on the value of contributing June 2016 to their local community amongst other things, and presented many of the prizes. We all wish him well in his portfolio as Minister at the Office of Public Works and Nominees for the Declan Joyce Conor Burns was presented Flood Relief. Excellence in Woodwork with an award in recognition Award , Robert Hughes and of his Connaught Rugby Under Robert Burke are pictured with 18 selection by Minister of Sean Canney Minister of State State, Sean Canney. and Paddy Joyce.

Dearbhla Neenan is presented with the Award for best Junior Cert. Result 2015 by Minister Sean Canney T.D. Sean Noone was presented Shane Flanagan received an with the Award for Best award for four years full Leaving Cert. Result 2015 attendance and Emma Brady for five five years full attendance. They are pictured with Billy Hannon Chairman BOM and Sean Canney Minister of State

Dylan Hanley was awarded the Junior Sports Star award and is pictured with Minister of State Continuing Dunmore Sean Canney and Gay Community School’s long McManus. tradition of being awarded J.P. McManus Scholarships, Sean Noone, pictured last November receiving his J.P. Joan Burke and Helena Ryan, McManus Scholarship in the both members of the Parents presence of the then Minister Council attended the awards for Education Jan O’Sullivan ceremony. T.D., J.P. McManus and Principal Gay McManus.

Sean Canney, Minister of State O Factor presents Oisin Hannon with the Declan Joyce Excellence in A hugely successful Woodwork Award. Also initiative by TY students pictured is Paddy Joyce who resulted in a very presents this annual award in entertaining afternoon of memory of his son Declan music, song and dance.

Attendance award winners Proceeds went to a mini- received their prizes at the company venture and a award ceremony. designated charity.

Many students, staff, Past pupils who made a major BOM members, Parents’ contribution to the celebrations on the day. Council members both present and past attended. Fr Fergal, Fr Google Call to Ray Flaherty and Fr John Code

Transition Year student Orna Cosgrove celebrated Burke is presented with her Mass. Presentations were cheque which was raised as made to various people part of her Transition Year for their significant Mini Company. She is pictured contributions to the with Sean Canney, Minister of State, teacher, Mary Grehan development and growth of the school and a tree and Principal, Gay McManus. was planted by Ms. Our first year students Careers Expo: Antoinette Ni Gearailt, took part in a computer November 2016 President of ACCS, which coding programme Ms. Scarry is organising a is the management body taught by students in our Careers Expo which will responsible for all school from September take place in our Sports Community Schools. to November, Hall on Thurs 24th culminating in November 2016 from 6- the Google Call to Code 9pm. competition. Two of our To date 26 third level students, Emma Kelly and colleges, including some Conall Walsh came in the English universities, have Former Principal Pat Gilmore top students in Ireland. signed up to attend. and former Deputy Principal Lil Well done! This is a great Bruen pictured with Ms. opportunity for our Griffiths and Mr. McManus. Congratulations students and their Congratulations to all parents to visit the teams/individuals who various stands and get all represented our school in up to date information numerous sports events rd about the numerous 3 throughout the year. level courses on offer. A special mention is due This will be open to all to our senior football students/parents, not Staff members who worked in team and Mr Carlos O’ D.C.S. in the first year of the only to L.C. students. Gara, they had a great school 1990-1991. year, reached the Twenty Five Years Connaught final in both D.C.S. Celebration league and championship Our school passed its where they were beaten twenty fifth anniversary by the eventual All during this past academic Ireland winners. year. We celebrated this milestone on Saturday 12 March. Winning Parents Nollaig Fitzgerald and Aidan Heneghan

Senior Boys Football Team

Second Year winners Amy Sponsored Walk Burns and Sean Ryan Overall Winner Cathal Hardy This fun walk was with Principal Gay McManus and Liz Cummins Parents organised by the Parents Council Council, was most enjoyable and successful. Hopefully we will have one again next year and 3rd Year Winners Leah Noone all parents are welcome and Ewan Mc Holm to join in the fun.

First female student Aoife Sheehy

Transition Year Winners Aoife Bowens and Micheál Burke

On your marks…Get set… GO

Parents Council present gear bags to Niall Cloonan 1st Year, and Jack Heneghan 2nd Year who raised the most sponsorship money.

5th Year winners Padraig Joyner and Rachel Murphy

Organising Committee

A special award for John Monaghan who completed the 6k Leaving Cert winners Bonnie T.Y. Graduation McGinley and Pierce Kirrane 1st Year Winners Nicky Glynn The TY students surprised and Emma Kelly us all with a wonderful drama production, as well as music and song on Monday 30th May to mark the end of a special year for them all. We wish to thank Helen Knightley for working so diligently with the students in producing their play.

Highlights of TY Golf Workshop in October School Tour to Barcelona

John Paul ll Awards Ceremony in Knock

Transition Year Students Selling Christmas cards at enjoyed their adventures at Eurospar in aid of Western Horizon Adventure Centre, Alzheimers Westport in September

Pierce Kirrane, Jonathan Comer,Sean Kelly, Lee Donoghue and Ciara Carney who were presented with The Papal Cross Awards by Archbishop Michael Neary at the John Paul ll Awards Cake Bake in February Ceremony in Knock last

Trip to Bord Gais Theatre in December early October to see the stage adaptation of Mark Haddon’s Badminton award-winning novel “The Curious Incident of the Dog in Champions the Night-Time”.

Winning GMIT CANSAT Regional Final

Under 19B Connacht TY Students along with Champions Community Youth Worker Bernie Conlon attended the Comhairle na nÓg AGM and related activities at

Claregalway Castle in ‘Awakening’ concert in November. Over 170 students Castlebar in May from secondary schools in Co. were in attendance. Under 19C Connacht Champions

to the school and its Return to School students over the past in August three years. Elections are now underway to form a Fri 26th Aug: 1st Years new BOM and a new only Parents Council will be Mon 29th Aug: 1st, 2nd, formed as soon as 3rd Years only Under 16 Connacht Champions th practicable afterwards. Tue 30 Aug: 1st, 5th, National Flag Post- 6th Years only Wed 31st Aug: All Primary All-Ireland Winner students including TY Presentation Ceremony Luke meets Pope Francis

Shauna Ryan, winner of All Ireland medal with Irishtown Foróige Club. Students Scott Green, Elizabeth Mc Elhinney and Shane Flanagan were Junior Certificate presented with the national Business Studies flag for Dunmore Community Awards School in Croke Park on March 9 Luke Dunne receives a blessing from Pope Francis when he visited the Vatican with his grandmother.

Scott Green

Shaun Burke and Shane Flanagan raise the flag on NUI Galway’s College of Proclamation Day Business along with the BSTAI, Junior Cert Business Studies Awards Ceremony was held in Board of October in the Bailey Allen Hall in NUI Galway. The ceremony Scott Green, a Leaving Management celebrated those students who Cert student is pictured achieved an A Grade in the /Parents Council with the book Wild Both those bodies have Higher Level Business Studies exam at Junior Cert Words. This book was come to the end of a level. Pictured are Sinead produced by Leitrim Co. three year term, I wish to Mullins & Mairead Gallagher Council as part of Wild thank all involved for along with their teacher Words Book Festival for Ms Martina Duignan. their selfless contribution young people. Students from Ireland and the UK Boys: Acceptable Girls: Acceptable were invited to submit Footwear Footwear their stories for inclusion in the book. Scott was one of the students whose short story entitled ‘They’re Coming’ has been included in this year’s publication which is available from Amazon. Scott continues to write extensively in both prose and poetry and we expect to hear a lot from and about him in the future and we wish him Girls: Unacceptable every success. Footwear

Boys: Unacceptable School Uniform Footwear Shoes

Over the past year student compliance with the school uniform code has been very good. The one area where we have some concern is in regard to footwear. Both boys and girls are required to wear black shoes. Shoe laces are to be black also.