September Scoil Aireagail October 2020 News letter Message from Principal Liam O’Brien Mentoring Programme: To help first Leaving Certificate Class of 2020 As Principal of Scoil Aireagail, the most years settle into life at Scoil Aireagail celebrate their results:Congratulations uplifting experience I have had, in this we run the Cairdeas Mentoring Program. to all our Leaving Certificate students most unusual of years, was the sight of On September 3rd a group of Leaving students returning to school in late Cert students met with Jacinta and who received their results on Monday August. Due to the excellent co- Rachel from Ossory Youth to 7th Spetember. Students returned operation from students and parents participate in training. They showed the to school to meet their teachers and and to the dedication of staff members, students how important their program staff who didn’t have the chance to see we have been able to get on with our is to help integrate first years into them as a group since schools closed in core business of teaching and learning. their new school environment. They It has been very rewarding to have the discussed what being a good leader is as March. It was great to see the students opportunity, once again, to see our well as playing games to encourage the looking so pleased and happy with their students, to re-establish the close first years to mix. It was a fun and results having overcome the relationships that exist between productive afternoon. Since their extraordinary challenges posed by this teachers and students and to training the mentors have organized two year’s Leaving Certificate. Given the contribute to their wellbeing. fun classes with 1st years to help them difficult circumstances it was lovely This newsletter will give you a flavour get to know each other and build of what has been happening in the relationships. Big thank you to Ms. that staff and students were able to school since reopening. Despite the Leahy for organising the program. celebrate this significant milestone limitations imposed on us, we continue together. Well done and best wishes to to do our utmost to provide a holistic the Class of 2020 from all in Scoil education where students have Aireagail opportunities to develop and grow inside and outside the classroom. Be sure also to follow us on our Instagram page where you see regular updates on school activities. Like all schools, we have had to adapt many of the aspects of school life that we take for granted. Unfortunately, we cannot host a conventional Open Night this year. In its stead, we have produced a video which will hopefully Trips give prospective students an insight into the excellent education Scoil Aireagail Geography Field Trip has to offer. You can find the link to Our 6th year students went on a field the video on the school website. Thanks trip to Kilfarrasy beach in Waterford Wellbeing to all the students and teachers who to investigate the impact of coastal 1st Years mark World Mental Health contributed to the video. erosion. This is a compulsory section of Day:To mark World Mental Health Day Finally, I would like to welcome our new the Geography Leaving Cert Course – our first year SPHE students staff members; Ms. Dunphy, Ms. Law, worth 20% of the overall mark. facilitated by their teacher Ms. Dalton Mr. Mackey (teachers) and school The 6th Year students have been busy studied the importance of mental health administrator Helen Coughlan, and last over the last few weeks writing up their this week. They learned about but not least, our first year students in field work booklets. They have to mindfulness and did a colouring exercise 1 Gold and 1 Silver who have settled in explain how they planned and gathered to understand how mindfulness is very well to Scoil Aireagail. their information as well as the results, applied. conclusions and evaluations. The field study is great fun, and also provides students with a hands on and practical learning experience. Find us on Thanks to Ms. Murphy and Ms. Maher www.scoilaireagail.ie for organising the trip. & Instagram scoil_aireagail For up to date news 1 Senior Art Students visit Butler Transition Years Self Defense have a chance throughout the year to programme: Our TY class took part in a enjoy trips like this. Gallery:Our Senior Art students took a self-defense programme with Personal Big thanks to Ms. Naddy and Mr. Walsh trip into Kilkenny to visit Butler Gallery, Safety director Alex Walsh. This for organising the trip. a vibrant contemporary art gallery, in programme helps students develop the historic Evans home. Students got personal safety and awareness. They to enjoy artwork by Irish artists are learning to recognise and evaluate a including works by Tony O’Malley (1913- range of situations and assess their own position within those situations. 2003) who an Irish artist born in Callan, Students are taught methods and skills County Kilkenny. They also saw the to be more aware and better protect photography exhibition entitled The themselves promoting their personal Bloods by Amelia Stein. This was a most safety. Personal Safety and Awareness enjoyable and worthwhile trip for our is an invaluable aspect of student development, beneficial to all students. Art students. Big thanks to Ms. Dalton The program aims to enable students to who organised the trip for students. understand the benefit of effective communication, address anti-bullying, and gain new/improve personal safety Poc Fada Competition: The Ty’s and skills & techniques. their teacher Mr. Walsh have been Thanks to Ms. Naddy for organising and organising a Poc Fada event at lunch facilitating the programme with our times over the last number of weeks for students. 1st and 2nd Years. 1st year winner was Oisin Reid and the 2nd year winner was Michael Slattery. TY Students rise to the challenge at Ballyhass Lake: Our Transition year Olympic Handball Tournament: As part students travelled to Ballyhass Lake, of the TY Physical Education leadership Mallow for an action-packed day of program both Mr. Mackey and our TY's outdoor activities. Students were have been running a junior Olympic TY News encouraged to work together and Handball Tournament during lunch break support and encourage each other on the last few weeks. This initiative has Our TY students have got off to a the activities. Students really had a given the transition years the great start and have had a very great day and were commended on their responsibility to run and officiate the busy first term. Heres just some excellent behavior by staff. Thanks to event whilst also creating some healthy of the things they have been up to Ms. Naddy and Mr. Walsh for organising competition among students and aiding so far this year. the trip. in the promotion of physical activity and 1.Organising the Poc Fada wellbeing in the school community. st nd competition for 1 and 2 years. 2.They are also participating in the GAA Future Leaders Programme and are on the first module of Event Management. 3.They have been busy completing an online course called "Make That Course" (they develop an online course that can be used to teach others a skill or about different topics". 4.Several students are starting Gaisce awards. Big thanks to Ms. Naddy for her role as co-ordinator of the TY Programme in Scoil Aireagail. TY students revel in the magic of Mahon Falls: Our TY students enjoyed a walking trip to Coumshingaun Lake and Mahon Falls on Monday 5th October where they got to experience the great outdoors and the magical scenery on show in the Comeragh Mountains. Spending time in the outdoors and in contact with nature has a positive effect on mental health and wellbeing so it is really important for students to 2 Positive Behaviour Walsh. Thanks to Mr. Eamon Walsh for Student Council 2020/2021 Initiative: In Scoil his contribution to this local newspiece. Our student Council is back up and Aireagail we run a running again. Students from each class Positive Behaviour were encouraged to put themselves st Initiative with 1 and Academic forward and volunteer to be class reps. nd 2 year students to encourage and Tracking:The In most classes it was great to see such reward students who have shown Scoil Aireagail great interest among students who leadership, hard work, involvement in Mission volunteered to become class reps. Each sport/extra-curricular and generally Statement class then voted in who they wished to have made a positive contribution to life states...That we become their reps. Here is a list of the in the school. We award students with a will provide a student reps from each class. If Certificate of Merit and a voucher structured, caring environment enabling students have issues or concerns that every two weeks throughout the each student to reach their full they would like to raise they can do so academic year. potential....Access to more data showing through their class reps. Thanks so Congratulations to the following students' academic progress from entry much to Ms. Phelan for organizing and students who were awarded and at regular intervals allows teachers co-ordinating the Student Council. Certificates of Merit for week ending to monitor the progress of students th October 9 . more clearly and be able to get a better Year 1st Year: Erin Walsh, and Holly Long. picture of their development... Using First Holly Cathal 2nd Year: Alex Roche Fortune and Beth our online educational platform, VS Long Coogan O’Keeffe Ware teachers will regularly record Second Aine Kevin The next Certificate will be awarded on classroom assessment.