From the Principals Desk

It is also worthy of From the reflection that the Kinsale Community Principals School first opened its doors in September 1996 – 20 years ago this Desk September. Welcome to the second edition of our Over the previous Newsletter for the 2015/16 academic 20 years students year which you will find is replete with from our school have details about a vast array of activities that performed exceptionally our students have been involved in since in the Young Scientist January. Exhibition. This year was no different as our The cover of last year’s Newsletter Young Scientist students carried a photograph of Minister Jan led the way in the RDS O’Sullivan TD turning the sod for our last January. The benefit new extension. As I look out the window that our students derive from behind my desk now I am witnessing from this experience is the construction of an expansive floor immense, not just in the area which will be linked to our current area of science but in building through a link corridor which the overall development will pass directly through where the of their capacity to principal’s office is currently sited. In the engage in research and course of the summer the works should confidently communicate be very impressive as the building takes their findings. shape. It is envisaged that we should have possession of the new gym by the Our students performed end of October and that the construction excellently in the of the three storey extension in front of area of sport over the the school will be completed by January year attaining county, 2017. By that stage it is planned that we provincial, national will have no pre fab building on our site! and international honours. One student I want to thank all of the ‘Friends of The final phase of the construction is the who I feel compelled to mention is Kinsale Community School’ for all of extension to the e-block which will be Conor O’Callaghan on his international your support over the school year. A complete for September 2017. successes as a table tennis champion. special word of thanks to, the Parents Other sporting successes of note were Association, the Kinsale Peace Project, Even though it is not on the current in the area of Basketball, Golf, Show the Lions Club, Eamon Judge and his drawing plans we are at the time of writing Jumping, Soccer, Football, Hurling and colleagues at Eli-Lilly for the support, seeking an increase to our building budget Camogie with quite a number of our assistance, and guidance that you very from the Department of Education and students representing their county in generously provide to our school on an Skills to upgrade our sports field and these sports. on-going basis. to develop a running track around the perimeter of the field as part of the current All of the numerous extra-curricular Finally I want to thank and congratulate works. I will keep you posted on how this activities that occur in our school occur Maria Brosnan for all of her work in proposal develops. because of the generosity of the teachers preparing and editing this very impressive in our school. There is a deep desire edition of the Newsletter. 2016 has been a great year for reflecting within our community of teachers for all on the past, in particular in respect of the to achieve the best that they can. I salute On behalf of the Board of Management Easter Rising. As a school community and thank our staff for their dedication in and our Chairperson Sr Rita I would like we celebrated the Proclamation Day on this regard. to wish every one of our students the March 14th and we used the occasion to very best wishes for a safe and enjoyable raise our new national flag which we had I want to assure all of our students that are summer break and I look forward to received from the President of Ireland completing their examinations over the welcoming you back for the 2016/17 Michael D Higgins. We also collaborated next number of weeks that each and every school year. with the Kinsale Historical Society on examiner that visited our school during April 23rd and 24th in respect of the the oral and practical examinations were display of art work and research in the highly impressed by your excellence. I Temperance Hall commemorating and want to take this opportunity to wish our remembering our local links to the Easter Leaving Cert and Junior Cert students Rising. every success in your examinations. 02 KINSALE COMMUNITY SCHOOL SUMMER NEWSLETTER 2016 HELPFUL POINTERS Deputy 1. Agree a clear set of rules with your child on screen time in the home. Talk to your child on when you think it is appropriate Principals and inappropriate to use screens. Agree times when screens are allowed and not allowed in the home. For example dinner time, Desk homework time and bed time. MANAGING YOUR child’s 2. Do as you say. Modelling ‘SCREEN TIMe’ IS IMPORTANT. behaviour is THE most powerful way you can influence your Most young people are negatively affected child’s behaviour. nowadays by excessive screen time as a result of ubiquitous access to phones, 3. Restrict the use of computers/ tablets, computers and TVs. Challenging devices in the bedroom. young people on their usage as parents Depending on the age of your can be challenging but is very necessary. child you may want to set a Frighteningly, studies have shown that curfew or ban devices from the average screen time is seven hours a day bedroom completely. movie night, games night. and this pervasive internet addiction is associated with structural and functional 4. Buy an alarm clock for your child’s 8. Don’t have screens always on in the changes in brain regions involving bedroom and charge their phones in your background. Turn off TVs and Computers emotional processing, executive attention, room at night time. This can be a helpful when not in use, these can be distracting decision making, and cognitive control. way of giving them a break from the for kids if they are trying to participate in In short, excessive screen-time appears to internet. another activity. impair brain structure and function. Much of the damage occurs in the brain’s frontal 5. Try not to rely on screens too much 9 .Finally, join in, why not set some lobe, which undergoes massive changes to keep the kids amused. This only time aside to play your child’s favourite from puberty until the mid-twenties. confuses rules on screen time, try and computer game and discover the online Frontal lobe development, in turn, largely stick to the agreed rules with your child world together, safely. determines success in every area of life— and remember to set a good example. from sense of well-being to academic Be strong! For useful tips and information or career success to relationship skills. 6. Chat to your child about what they do see www.webwise.ie (www.psychologytoday.com) Use this online and encourage them to use their research to strengthen your own parental screen time for learning and education. Kathleen O’Brien position on screen management, and to 7. Pick one evening a week where you (Deputy Principal) convince others to do the same. do a family activity together, whether it’s Caring for Ciara Pictured are Principal Mr McCarthy, Head Boy Hugh Whelan and Head Girl Alison Condon presenting Pauline O’Brien (Ciara O’Brien Trust) with a cheque in the sum of €30,045 which was raised by the Kinsale Community School ‘Caring for Ciara’ sponsored walk which took place in October. Congratulations and well done to all involved! KINSALE COMMUNITY SCHOOL SUMMER NEWSLETTER 2016 03 KCS Kouture Junk Kouture is a National competition that encourages Senior Cycle pupils to design and create high end Kouture outfits that are made from recycled materials. This year TY students competed in the Junk Kouture competition and made a number of designs including a tin costume, a cereal box costume, a plastic/ paper-mâché costume and an ice-cream shop costume. Although the Junk Kouture team did not reach the National Finals it was a fantastic opportunity and an enjoyable experience for all involved. Students’ creativity flourished and it was a great teambuilding experience. Well done and thank you to all the team and to their Art teacher and mentor Mr Keith Murray for his guidance and support throughout the year. Pictured are some of the designs created. years participating in a tidy up at Charles in these courses. LEAVING Fort and fifth years organising a clean-up in • Tom Walsh from Kinsale Youth Support the Sáile grounds. They have looked after Service, (KYSS), spoke to students CERTIFICATE their teachers also with regular baked treats providing information and promoting appearing in the staffroom at break-time understanding of the challenges facing APPLIED NEWS courtesy of our fifth years and a sumptuous young people within our community. lunch prepared by our sixth years. • Fifth years visited the Kinsale Branch of May is a busy time in every classroom and In addition here is a short summary of the Bank of Ireland. it is no different for our Leaving Certificate activities undertaken: • Students attended a talk on Architecture Applied students as they have been kept • Students were fortunate to have the as part of their Graphics and Construction very busy finalising their assessment work. opportunity to visit Ballymaloe House studies programme. Sixth year students have fulfilled where they were treated to some homemade • All students completed an 8 week fitness their Examination briefs in Graphics refreshments.

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