St. Peter’s Community School 2009

Past pupils, Áine Kelly, Eileen O’Sullivan & Sabina Tabirca, celebrate starting their first year as medical students at UCC. Welcome to our 2009 Newsletter which outlines the academic and non academic activities of our students over the past year. St. Peter’s students continue to excel in a wide variety of areas. Our Leaving and Junior Certificate results were outstanding with 57% of the class of 2008 going on to Third Level. Three ofour students, Eileen O’Sullivan, Sabina Tabirca and Aine Kelly started their medical studies last October.

The downturn in the economy and the education cutbacks challenged all schools, including St. Peter’s to maintain the many extra curricular activities that are vital to the development and well being of our students. The staff in St. Peter worked hard to provide an extensive range of activities for our students this year. Our senior girl’s football team won a County title while our camogie, hockey, soccer, hurling and basketball teams did tremendously well in their respective competitions. A number of students did exceptionally well in the sporting arena outside school during the year. Our Transition Year students continued the excellent artistic and musical tradition in St. Peter’s by producing a superb performance of “Mama Mia”.

Our students participated and competed in many events and competitions over the past year. Christine O’Sullivan in French, Paul Mc Garry in Computers and our ‘Maths’ and ‘Quiz’ teams achieved great success.

Our ongoing support for various charities continued and over €10,000 was raised by students for deserving causes. Six students travelled to Belorussia to work in the Novinki orphanage during the summer.

Thanks to all pupils, staff and parents/guardians who helped and supported the school over the past year.

Derek DunnePrincipal St. Peter’s Community School, Passage West Top Junior and Leaving Cert Results Congratulations to Heather Swanton who received the award for Best Junior Cert Result and Eileen O’Sullivan who won the Best Leaving Cert Award. Eileen who achieved 580 points in her Leaving Cert is currently studying Medicine at University College . The class of 2008 did very well in the Leaving Cert exams with 57% going on to Third Level. Thirteen students were offered a place in U.C.C. Thirteen went to C.I.T. with one going to Mary Immaculate College and one going to Queens. These results emphasise the quality of educational relationship Team Maths which exists between pupils, parents and teachers in St. 3rd place prize winners of “Team Maths” competition 2009 run by the IMTA. Peters. St. Peters has a proud record of supporting and L-R: Christina O’Sullivan, Caoimhe Doyle, Bryan Keary and Nathan Ellis encouraging all pupils to reach their full potential whatever it may be.

All Ireland Schools Engineering Quiz Programming Competition 2009 Nathan Ellis, Bryan Keary, Christina O Sullivan and Caoimhe Doyle represented St. Peter’s in the National Electrical Engineering - Senior Level Quiz held in UCC. The team came fourth in the quiz. Well done! Paul McGarry, a Leaving Cert pupil, who last year had so much success as Examiner Quiz an Irish Programming Olympiad went to on Saturday 31st January to St. Peter’s quiz team came 1st place in the 1st round of the compete in this year’s event. Paul came Examiner Quiz, with St. Aloysius Secondary School & Hamilton 5th in the very prestigious Senior Level High, Bandon coming in as runners-up. Congratulations to Competition. Senior team members Kieran Doyle, Robert McCarthy & Seán McDonnell. Congratulations to Junior team members also: Paul is now one of 6 Irish pupils on Rachel O’ Connor, Katie Buckley & Rebecca Farr. the Senior Irish panel who will form the Irish team in the IOI (International Olympiad Informatics) Competition in Bulgaria during the Summer. Christina wins first in French Language Competition!

Christina O’ Sullivan, sixth year, beat off stiff competition from the second level schools in the Cork area to run away with first Past Pupils excel prize in the French category of the Bank of Ireland Language at University Competition. This is an annual competition Congratulations to Laura run by the and Harbour Russell and Ciara Tuohy Chamber. who were awarded First It came as no surprise Class Honours Degrees at when Christina, who is very . talented academically, won Laura is currently doing a first prize in the linguistic PhD in Cold Atoms, Quantum competition Optics. She received a grant Congratulations to Korbinian from IRCET for her studies. Vogler, College Ciara managed to achieve a and Ava Corbett, 1H each year in her B Comm Community School who exams. She is currently won second and third prizes doing a Masters in Business respectively. Economics.

Ciara Tuohy and Laura Russell

 St. Peter’s Community School, Passage West

Barr Bua Awards The main Awards were: An exceptional group of students were honoured at this year’s Barr Outstanding Leaving Certificate Results: Eileen O’ Sullivan Bua annual awards ceremony. Students saw their hard work and Student of the Year: Michael Mullane commitment rewarded within a variety of categories – Student Accomplishment, Academic Success, Sports and Activities, The Arts, Sportsperson of the Year: Shane Howard Community Leadership. Parents, students, teachers and many guests Community Leader of the Year: Tiarnan O’Sullivan were in attendance to see the students accept these awards. Outstanding Junior Cert Results: Heather Swanton Graduate distinctions were awarded to some very successful pupils. Sara National Award for Junior Certificate Donnelly was not able to attend but her father accepted the award on her behalf. Sara was awarded a B.Sc in Biochemistry and was only Irish Metalwork Results: Adam Walsh student to be chosen from 500 applicants to do a PhD Cancer Research Peter Dunworth Memorial (Languages): Gillian Dunne in the world renowned University College London. Mr. Donnelly read an David O’ Mahony Perpetual Shield: Enya MacMahon e-mail in which Sara thanked the school for the award and stated that it was heartening to know that the education she and her classmates Meadows Cup (School Service): Grace O’Connor had received in St. Peter’s is second to none and that so many of her Outstanding Sporting Achievement (Dan classmates have achieved so much. Crowley Cup): Craig O’ Shaughnessy Laura Russell and Ciara Tuohy also received graduate distinction awards Kelleher Memorial Award: Lisa O’ Sullivan for their 1st class honours in Science and Commerce. Laura is currently doing her Phd in Cold Atoms, Quantum optics. Ciara Tuohy is currently Christian Endeavour: Rebecca Boland doing a masters in Business Economics. Secretary of the Year: Jackie Foley FETAC students were awarded their FETAC Certs on the night. Personality of the Year was awarded to a surprised Elaine O’ Donovan for her enthusiastic and pleasant approach. Secretary of the Year was awarded to Jackie Foley. Guest of Honour, Joan Russell, VEC congratulated all recipients. She told the assembled group that even when we achieve well we should set the bar higher and try and achieve more. Ms. Russell advocated reading as a great and life-long skill. She spoke of Passage West and the surrounding area and the great opportunities that students have who live in the area.

 St. Peter’s Community School, Passage West

Sports St. Peter’s Girls Senior Gaelic Football Enters Munster Team Retain County Title Hockey League St. Peter’s girls Gaelic football team regained their Senior Girls St Peter’s entered into Cork County Vocational Schools Title with an exciting one point the Munster Schools win over Colaiste an Chraoibhinn, , in the final. After an Intermediate League impressive first half performance, St. Peters led 3-3 to 1-3 at this season and did half time, with goals coming from Shannon Twomey, Natasha themselves proud, O’Sullivan and Sacha Murphy and points from Lisa O’Sullivan showing improvement and Karen Twomey. In the second half Fermoy made a gallant with every game. They comeback and it took further goals from Natasha and Muireann were ably led by captain Doyle as well as a crucial late point from Captain Sinead O’Reilly Lisa Kerr, who gave to keep them at bay. The final score was 5-6 to 5-5. her all throughout the season on and off the pitch. Katie The following team members played in the final. Nikki Twomey, Falvey was one of the finds of the season showing her ability Enya McMahon, Niamh Cahill, Kathy Histon, Gemma Cooney, as goalkeeper. Also Kate Boland, a new-comer to the squad, Sinead O’Reilly, Erin Twomey, Karen Twomey, Tia McMahon, showed her flair for the sport on the right of mid-field. Natasha O’Sullivan, Shannon Twomey, Laura McCarthy and Sacha Murphy. It was a tough season, considering it was our first entrance Lauren Hickey, Kate Boland, Melissa Dineen, Laura Wilkens and into a competitive Munster League for many years, but the Shauna Kind all played in the lead up to the final. girls showed great commitment and determination, so St Peter’s hockey is definitely on the up. Many thanks to our ever-faithful manager Emma Lydon, coach Ms. Karen Tracey and also Mrs. Frances Clarke who helped out with coaching.

Taekwon-Do Champions Congratulations to Marlon Forde, Transition Year, who along with the Irish team came in an outstanding 3rd place in ‘Fighting’ in the Taekwon-Do European Championships in Spain recently. The team will go on to compete in the International Championships in Argentina in September 2009. Marlon has been a member of the ‘Passage West Taekwon-Do Club’ for the past 7 years. Best wishes to him and his team Congratulations to Marc Howard, Ricky Higgins and Graham in the forth-coming competition! Carroll won all Ireland medals with the Cork County Vocational Congratulations to Kathy Histon school hurling team after they beat Offaly in the Ireland final. and Danielle Sawani, 4th Year, who took part in the British Tae Kwan Do Championships in Nottingham recently. The girls took silver medals in the U-16 Danielle Cantwell team event. Congratulations also to Kieran Histon on his achievements. Wins Gold! Congratulations to Danielle, 3rd Year, who won an amazing gold medal in the 50m run in a Special Olympics event. Well done Danielle!

O’ Shaughnessy Kicks for Gold Soccer Sucess Craig O’ Shaughnessy was awarded Outstanding Sporting Stephen Kenny continues Achievement at the Barr Bua Awards in St. Peter’s. Craig is his soccer sucess. He was one of the very few in his Kickboxing club and throughout in Sunderland at Easter Ireland to be awarded a black belt in Kickboxing with a Grade and will spend two weeks A. He is a multi-winning National Kickboxer and has won on an in Leeds this summer. International Level, most recently winning silver in Italy at the World Kickboxing Championships.

 St. Peter’s Community School, Passage West Transition Year Transition Year Awards The annual Transition Year Awards took place in May 2009, culminating an event filled year for the students Attendance Awards who took part in

modules, business projects, a tour to Paris, retreats, talks and work experience Transition Year Musical 2009 as well as completing their academic studies for the year. A stellar cast of Transition Year pupils took to the stage in the The students were involved Musical ‘Mamma Mia’. The show, which had been in the making in running a School Bank, for months, was spectacular and packed audiences on both the Public Access to Law Wednesday and Thursday nights. The months of hard-work, Programme, a Science and commitment and drive all paid off as the show ticked all the Tara Marzuki -Person of the Year Technology course in CIT, the boxes musically and theatrically. “Drive for Life Programme” Mr. Dunne praised the pupils for their dedication in putting and the Communications module run by the together such an entertaining musical. He also thanked the Media and Music Exams Board. directors Nollaig Heffernan, Claire Sherwin and Marie O’ Dwyer Congratulations to Tara Marzuki who was for the great leadership shown and awarded Person of the Year . the long days, evenings and even holidays given up to rehearsal. Under the guidance of Enterprise Co- Although the musical was primarily ordinators Mr. John F. O’Sullivan and Enterprise a Transition Year production teachers Ms. Una McCarthy, Ms. Mary Teahan some first, second and third year and Ms. Yvonne Hayes, our Young Enterprise pupils supported ‘Mamma Mia’ Companies were established. wonderfully. The students formed companies with a Talented musicians Lisa Kerr, Shaun full scale management system, a board of O’Donovan, Eoin Ducrot and Directors was elected and a company name Ryan Carroll provided wonderful was chosen. The Mini Company Programme accompaniment. provides young people with a huge business learning experience. They got an insight into how the competitive business world works. The company “T.Y.M.C.” produced a CD for Mama Mia and a Leaving Cert Year Book, “Phoenix” organised a school Sports Day TY Trips and organised a F.I.F.A. Games Competition, “School Trade” sold Students set off for Safety Kits and Sports Shorts, “A.B.C.” produced Christmas Cards Recess in Galway at and Children’s Tee-shirts. The Companies participated in the Junior the end of September Achievements Trade Fair in Douglas Village Shopping Centre and for an activity –packed were very successful. few days that saw the group bonding during land and sea St. Peter’s Log-on-Learn based activities. Group Graduates Students packed their bags again in Log-on-Learn learners graduated from their course recently! This Spring touring the fantastic initiative saw senior citizens coming to St. Peter’s every sites of Paris and Wednesday over the past few months to gain computer skills and Vimyridge where learn about the Internet. they viewed World Transition year students War I sites. Visiting were responsible for teaching this group the many different and each TY pupil was sights gives students assigned a learner. Well the opportunity to done & Congratulations practise their French to the graduates of and get a taste of the Log-on-Learn and the culture as well. Transition Year group!

 St. Peter’s Community School, Passage West First Cut Youth Film Project

Sports Day Some of our Fifth year students took part in a youth film project organised Transition Year by the First Cut pupils organised a Film Project and Sports Day for 1st supervised by Mr. Year Pupils. The Tony O’Leary. This rain stayed away was a wonderful and great fun was opportunity to had by all in the experience the varying activities world of film organised e.g. Egg making. We and Spoon race, uncovered some 3-legged race and budding Steven team sports. Well done to all who participated and those involved Spielbergs! in the organising!

Irish Guide Dogs visit St Peter’s Pat Coakley of the Irish Guide Dogs visited our school on Wednesday morning, 4th February with guide dog Unity. Pat was invited to the school by 3rd year CSPE students to talk about the great work of the Guide Dog Association. 3rd year CSPE students and 4th year Home Economics pupils combined their fund raising to present a cheque French Theatre of €400 to the The annual visit by a French Theatre group to the school was Guide Dogs extremely entertaining as always. Some students took active roles in the productions, which were divided into a senior and junior plays.

Darina Allen visits St. Peter’s Agri-Aware Healthy Darina Allen, of Ballymaloe Eating Competition fame, paid a visit to St. Peter’s Congratulations to 2nd year pupils Katie Falvey, Megan Farr, Home Economics room a in Grace Mason & Mollie Holland who came in amazing 5th place January to demonstrate out of 500 entries in the Agri-Aware Healthy Eating Competition. the art of breadmaking. The final of the competition took place in Bord Bia, Dublin. Neville Maguire, celebrity chef was one of the judges and did a food demonstration as well. Concern Fast As part of their CSPE project, 3rd year pupils organised a fast to support C o n c e r n . Students from 1st to 6th year took on the 24 hour challenge. €2348 was raised by the students. Mr Pat Connolly from Concern came to the school to accept the cheque. He spoke about the work of Concern and commended St. Peter’s for their long-standing commitment to fund-raising for charitable organisations.

 St. Peter’s Community School, Passage West Rising Idol Students going to Talent Show Bellarussia in the Summer of 2009 2009 The Summer of 2009 will see six senior students from St Peters going to work in an orphanage in Novinki in Bellarussia. For Well done to all those Rebecca Boland it will be her third visit and for Ailis Walsh, who organised and Jenny Power, Yvonne Sweeney, and Katy McGraaighan, they participated in the are returning for a second Summer.It was their enthusiasm and spectacular Talent dedication to this work that lured a fellow fifth year Rory Clarke Show 2009. Family to venture on his first trip. and friends came to All these students had support the various to participate in serious acts. Many weeks of fundraising and throughout preparation and organisation went into this year’s show and Mr. the year thanks to the support of Mr Dunne. They Dunne praised all involved for its huge success. Well done to the did a number of fundraising Students Council, Ms. McGovern and all events including a first year competitors for the great success. 10km walk in , a Congratulations to our Overall Winner, non uniform day and a hot Sacha Murphy who wowed the audience food day. They also received with her singing. the proceeds from the talent show. We congratulate these Students enjoying the Senior Category Ballycotton Walk students and wish them well. Winners Sacha Murphy with Mr. Derek Dunne 1st prize: Enya McMahon & Gillian Foley / 1st Year Trip to Oysterhaven Rachael O’ Connell & Kathy Histon First Year students took a break form study to have some fun in Oysterhaven. The sun shone and all enjoyed a wonderful day of 2nd prize: Aisling Maxwell activities and bonding exercises. 3rd prize: Aisling Roche Junior Category

Winners Junior Prize winner Emma Hallissey 1st prize: Emma Hallissey 2nd prize: Jack Ahern 3rd prize: 2nd Year pupils walk part of Kerry Way Violet Fada Musa 2nd Year pupils were blessed with sunny weather when they set off towards the Kingdom for a day of walking. They were led

along part of the very scenic Kerry Way. Some 5th Year students accompanied the junior group as well as teachers and guides. A great day was enjoyed by all. Secretarial-Business Course St. Peter’s runs a very successful Secretarial- Students’ Council: The History And Business Course. Each year Post-Leaving Current Role Of The Students’ Council Certificate and Mature students who complete this course receive a Level 5 Certificate from The aim of the Students’ Council is the representation of students FETAC (Further Education and Training Awards by students...The Students’ Council consists of one pupil from Council). Students also complete the ECDL each class in every year group. (European Computer Driving Licence). As part of the work experience module they are placed The Council meets voluntarily during the Monday lunch break in companies or businesses one day a week once a week and more if necessary. A liason teacher Ms. McGovern throughout the year thus enabling them to assists and supports the students with the running of the Council. gain invaluable experience in the work place. The Students’ Council aim is to come up with positive initiatives The FETAC group is honoured at the Barr Bua for the school community and the development of the school. A ceremony each December when they receive full days training for all Council Members was held in school to their Certificates. help the students to get to know each other better. The president and vice president meet regularly with the principal to discuss After School Study their ideas and to keep Mr Dunne informed. Supervised after school study is firmly established in St. Peter’s. Three study centres operate and this facility is increasingly popular Well done to outgoing President of the Students’ Council Rory with students and their families. Early booking is advisable Clarke, who was assisted by a very able Lisa O’Sullivan. They Led in the new school year. Holiday and Saturday study for a very committed and hardworking Students’ Council. state exam classes will be made available during the year. A very successful Study Seminar was held for Third year and Sixth year students was given by Psychologist Gabrielle Humphreys.

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