BLACKROCK COLLEGE NEWSLETTER Christmas 2019 Dear Parents, The “true meaning of Christmas” is a phrase coined in the middle of the 19th Century as people lamented the secularisation of the celebration of the birth of Christ. Substitute ‘commercialisation’ for ‘secularisation’ and it still has currency today. For some, the world-famous Coca-Cola ad flags the start of the Christmas season. There is no let up as advertising on social media and the advent of online sales add to the fever pitch. Of course, this has a place and contributes significantly to the celebratory atmosphere, brings people together and encourages a welcome generosity of spirit. However, it is interesting to note that only 67% of adults surveyed in the U.S. believed that the infant Jesus is more important to Christmas than Santa Claus. 14% had no opinion. Keeping the Christian Christmas in the face of the Santa Claus version is a challenge but one we should be willing to tackle. Christmas matters because in the words of C.S. Lewis, “The Son of God became man to enable men to become sons of God”. This is a powerful message. It is for this reason that Christmas is a time of hope, joy, love and peace. It is a time of wonder and awe, a time for humility, a time to put others first. The great Fr Stanley, Principal of Willow Park School, Senior and Junior, for over 30 years used tell the boys about the JOY of Christmas - Jesus, Others,You. The most important gift we bring to any gathering is one which cannot be wrapped. It is our presence rather than presents that makes the difference. Christmas is a difficult time for many, be it the bereaved, the infirm, the elderly or the lonely. There are many on the margins of society for whom the season brings little comfort or joy. We must reach out to them. As Fr Peter McVerry put it, “Because of Christmas, we Christians believe that we encounter God not in sacred places but in other human beings. We Christians worship God by loving God in each other”. To love God in each other, goodwill is not enough; action is key. The response of the boys, the parents, my colleagues and the Union to the St Vincent de Paul appeal has been phenomenal. The time and personal commitment to the 24 hour fast, cyclothon, Soccer Marathon, mince pies morning, Christmas Tree project, duck races and hamper delivery is faith in action. And of course, this spirit is not just a seasonal step but one that should remain constant in our minds and hearts throughout the year. Our recent Climate Action Day provided further evidence of the determination of our boys to tackle this challenge by putting before our school community practical ways in which we can make a difference. I commend the Student Council, Green Schools, Development Education and Student Wellbeing Committees for their enterprise and leadership. This had been an extraordinarily busy half-term. The sensational West Side Story production, the impressive B.C.R., our inspirational Carol Service, the overflowing (what a crowd!) Transition Year Family Mass and the Blessing of the Boats alongside a comprehensive extra-curricular programme and a dynamic classroom experience provide the boys with boundless opportunities for personal, social, intellectual and spiritual development. The recent W.S.E.- MLL inspection has provided a searching examination of this offering. Parents, teachers and students have been surveyed, classrooms visited, focus groups met.We await their report. Finally, I wish you all a peaceful, restful and holy Christmastide.At Blackrock, we place the birth of Christ firmly at the centre of our celebration. May His coming amongst us continue to inspire care, compassion and concern. I thank the Spiritan Community, my colleagues, the parent body, our past pupils and of course the boys for sharing our Christian vision. __________ Photos from L to R : a) David Ryan ( 6th Year) reading at the Carol Service ALAN MacGINTY b) Jamie Mcloughlin (Fourth Year) working hard selling trees for SVP Principal c) Callum Byrne ( 6th Year) as Riff in West Side Story Second Year Our Second Years have completed an active first term in the College and have set basketball, cycling, badminton, squash, swimming, some excellent standards. They continue to make good progress on their weekly public speaking, the Art club, the Science club, the Application Cards and the value of this effort and commitment cannot be Orchestra, cricket, tennis, table tennis, and rowing. overstated.When the new term commences, we ask parents to congratulate their son We wish them well in the forthcoming events and on his weekly Application Card, which he takes home each Monday. This is a very look forward to hearing about their progress. important opportunity to reinforce the good behaviour and practice that is acknowledged on the Card. A regular check on each boy’s Homework Diary is also The Scifest Competition took place this term and the advisable, to assist him in the organisation of his daily homework and revision. projects have been on display along the Senior Science corridor. Well done to all boys on their The House Competitions continue wonderful work. A panel of external examiners with the Table Tennis competition which from Scifest made awards in various categories. Harry Brady at the Carol Service. began with great enthusiasm after the Congratulations, especially to the overall winners Halloween break. As the exams begin, the Simon Considine and Diarmuid Byrne for their project Investigating the effect of blue and white leagues draw to a close, concentration on temperature in an exothermic reaction.All Second Years will attend the with some exciting finals awaiting our Young Scientist Exhibition in the RDS in January. return in January. Well done to all our participants and to our House Captains Under 14Cs V Belvedere in December Many of the boys attended the opening night of the fantastic College Musical West who organise the matches and encourage Side Story and no doubt they have gained a few insights in preparation for their own all involved. production with Fourth Year in term three. The extra-curricular activities During this half-term we also had our Carol Service for the season of Advent, with available in Second Year are a vital the entire College in attendance in the Sports Hall. It was both a festive and prayerful part of each boy's experience of and occasion with Fr Cormac O’Brolchain reminding us that ‘God is with us and in us.’ contribution to our College Well done to all our Second Years who participated in this Service, especially in our community. Consequently, it is great Choir and as members of the College Orchestra. to see high levels of participation and engagement with the many activities Sincere thanks to all the Second Years who helped to fundraise for our annual Duck on offer. The vast majority of our Race in aid of the St. Vincent de Paul Society. They raised in excess of €2,000. Second Years are involved in sport or Our message to the boys is to reflect on the difference between ‘somebody must do another activity. Some highlights something’ and ‘I must do something’. The challenge is to recognise the impact of our Gregory Quinn and Amlan Parida at the Junior Mace include a great season for the gaelic Competition own actions. This theme will be revisited and reinforced on our return in the New team, along with a very good term of Year when we ask Second Years to embark on their Auxilium service. U14s rugby, with some tough matches and some great wins. There is active involvement in the Chess Club and the Junior Chess team has had a very good term. The Dates for your Diary Newbridge tournament was a first for many and the boys did very well, Wednesday 15th January: Information evening for Second Year Parents on the achieving 11th place out of 28 teams. Junior Cycle and ‘Auxilium’. They will go on to compete in the Harry Pierce at the Junior Mace Competition Sunday 19th January: Leman Concert: National Concert Hall Swiss tournament in the spring. Friday 7th February: Progress Cards Thursday 13th February: Second Year Parent-Teacher Meeting 4:15pm- In Debating, we held our inaugural Junior Mace competition in the College in November and there was terrific Second Year participation. Well done to Luca Kenny, Jack Leyden, Amlan Parida, Harry Pierce and Gregory Quinn for their excellent contributions. Equally well done to Aran O’Flaherty who has represented Second Year in Model United Nations this term. Other extra-curricular activities involving many of our Second Years include Third Year As the first term draws to a close, I have no doubt the Third Years will use the In debating Third Year has been well represented. Frazer McGinn, Daniel break to rest up, relax and recharge the batteries. But it also provides an Keeley, Gavin Bowen-O’ Connor and Jamie Starr-Bourke were part of the team opportunity for reflection. I would encourage all the students to look to page 67 that represented the college in rounds two and three of the UCD Junior of their homework journal where they have a framework to look back on the Debating Competition. Then on the 23rd of November, Daniel alongside Ben term and plan for a productive and successful second term in the New Year. Kieran Glennon and Alec Linklater competed in the inaugural Junior MACE held in the College. We wish them well at the next junior MACE to be held in Activities which have made this a busy half term include Science week, the Third Castleknock in January.