Coiste Ghairmoideachais Chontae laoise COuNTy lAOIs VOCATIONAl EDuCATION COMMITTEE NEWSLETTER A PROVIDER OF EDuCATIONAl OPPORTuNITIEs JuNE 2011 WORLD RECORD FOR PORTLAOISE COLLEGE STUDENT In April, Portlaoise College student Joseph Thompson made his way to school with world records probably being the furthest thing from his mind. He was due to run as part of the school’s team in the John Treacy Olympic silver medallist whereby a team of 32 students run a Marathon Relay. This is an initiative introduced by the former marathon in relay format. Each team had to complete approximately 105 laps of a 400m track and Portlaoise set a blistering pace as they set out to complete the course in a quicker time than Treacy’s own Irish record of 2.09.15. m/sec. The star of the show, however, was Joseph Thompson. His average time of 28 seconds per 200m interval broke the world record of 34 seconds, and the national record of 36 seconds. It was all the more remarkable as Joseph is not a member of an athletics club, although after his impressive performance here, it’s likely he will draw some attention from the local clubs. Portlaoise College won the overall event, making it a double success for the school on the day. Joseph Thompson PRESENTATION OF A COMMISSIONED ART PIECE Early last year, Anne O’Keeffe, CEO, commissioned a piece of artwork for the new reception area of the VEC Head Office. The Art, Craft & Design students of Abbeyleix Further Education Centre, with the help of tutors Jackie Carter, Edel O’Keeffe and Jock Nickol completed the piece last summer. It was with great pleasure that the students – Maria Desmond, Amy Brannigan and Fiona Doyle presented this piece to Joe Cunningham to close the annual Abbeyleix Further Education Centre awards ceremony on Friday February 18th. PAGE 1 N e w s l e t t e r suMMER • 2011 PORTLAOISE COLLEGE ACHIEVE ALL-IRELAND SUCCESS On Tuesday 1st March the second year boys spikeball Team from Portlaoise College travelled to uCD to compete in the National spikeball finals, where they beat st. Raphaels College, loughrea in the final. This was the school’s first ever time to compete in spikeball and the boys remained undefeated all season and only dropped one set on the day of the National Finals. After the finals, two of the players Pawel Nowakiewcz and Kristof Hanczar were called up to trials for the Irish u17 volleyball team. All Ireland spikeball winners with their coach Oliver Hally ST. FERGAL’S GREEN SCHOOLS st. Fergal’s Green by collecting litter on a regular basis, water conservation and saving schools energy. They have also been busy collecting used mobile phones from Committee are students and staff. These phones raise vital funds for meningitis currently in the research. Having collected over 100 phones they were exchanged for a process of gaining brand new Dell laptop, which was then raffled and the lucky prize their fourth green winner was Emma Keane (1st year). flag. With the They also organized st. Fergals first “Walk On Wednesday”(W.O.W.). new building All pupils were encouraged to walk to school, where possible, or “ride underway since and stride” – parents drop their children in the square and they walk september they the remainder of their journey to school, or simply to carpool with have turned their other pupils. The longterm aim of this project is to reduce levels of attention to the harmful car emissions from the local environment and at the same time travel theme. alleviate the traffic congestion which is evident at the school gates daily. However they still It is hoped pupils will continue these good habits in the future. Emma Keane is presented with her prize maintain the The Green schools Committee are looking to the future, and are by Ms Áine O’Neill standards of the planning new projects which will involve improving the landscape of other green flags our new building in the coming year. Deputy Brian Stanley, TD, and Deputy Charles Flanagan, TD, explain the Irish political system to students from the Adult Refugee Programme, Adult Learning Centre on a recent visit to Leinster House PAGE 2 N e w s l e t t e r suMMER • 2011 NEW PRINCIPAL IN CLONASLEE VS Ms Noreen sweeney was appointed Principal of Clonaslee Vocational number of years and were instrumental in the growth and development of school from 1st January 2011. Noreen was Deputy Principal of Clonaslee the school. Good wishes have been extended to Noreen in her new role as and she replaced Mr Fran Bates who retired at the end of 2010. Both Fran Principal. Good wishes have also been extended to Mr John lee who is the and Noreen worked together as Principal and Deputy Principal for a long new Deputy Principal of Clonaslee Vocational school. Members of Staff with the new Principal: Anne Joyce, Sandra Prendergast, Sarah Delaney, Pamela Cummins, John Lee (Deputy Principal), Roisin Lalor, Helen Dunne, Aisling Roche, Maeve Mangan, Noreen Sweeney (Principal), Martina Lydon, Pat Mahon ECO MEDIA PROJECT BIRCHGROVE MOTHERS’ PROGRAMME Clonaslee Vocational School students took part in the Eco Media Project organised by the Environmental A group of ladies from the Birchgrove Women’s Group recently Awareness Office of Laois County Council. completed a thirty two week programme at their Centre. This The students wrote the script, directed and filmed their own short programme was a joint venture between Community Education and the movie on an environmental topic. Five schools from County laois took Adult learning Centre. The aim of the programme was to provide a part in the Project. Each of the films were available for viewing on the return to education opportunity for eleven ladies. It was funded and County Council website during the month of May and the public were supported by a number of agencies – Co. laois VEC, laois Partnership, invited to vote for their favourite film. The results will be announced in Department of social Protection, HsE and Home/school liaison June 2011. Ty students Blaithín Tynan, Gemma Kelly, susan O’Neill, Officers. The original plan was that it would run for fourteen weeks John Hyland and Adam Wynne were the actors in the Clonaslee film until Christmas, but because of the commitment and enthusiasm of the and Drama teacher Ms Roisin lalor worked with the students on the participants, it was decided by the agencies involved to continue the project. programme until the end of May. The content of the programme was varied and covered areas such as cookery, drama, personal development, art, interior design, computers and guest speakers. TY students filming PAGE 3 N e w s l e t t e r suMMER • 2011 TROCAIRE 2011 learners and staff at st. Canice’s raised €200 for Trocaire during lent 2011. This money was raised through a sale of work and Easter raffle. Pictured: Kath Donoghue, Alice Nevin, Rose Harty, Anne Cawley, Bridget Donoghue, Teresa Ryan, Caroline Maughan, Rosaleen Harty, Rena Mc Donagh & Marian O Dwyer CADETTE HEALTHY BREAKFAST BASKETBALL MORNING IN AID OF WINNERS PAKISTAN FLOOD APPEAL The Voluntary Fundraising Committee (VFC) in laois youthreach got together to organise a healthy breakfast morning in aid of the Pakistan Flood Appeal. students prepared a display of colourful, fresh, healthy nibbles and treats for the students and staff, in return for donations. Breakfast included muffins, scrambled eggs, scones, granola, cereals, fresh fruit salad, smoothies, apple and orange juices, etc. The canteen was decorated with posters informing students on the benefits of donating to a cause like this. The VFC talked to other students in the school about the difference any contribution or donation would make for the people of Pakistan. The Clonaslee Cadette Basketball Team were the Regional Winners The students involved in organising the event were Nicole Redmond, of the B League in 2011 and also made it through Rachael Kane, laura Christie, Holly lawless, shelly Mcdonagh, Joanna to the All-Ireland Quarter Final Murphy, louise McInerney and stephanie Murtagh. HISTORIC GARDEN RESTORATION Community Education students have completed FETAC level 5 Communications as part of a level 5 Organic Horticulture Course in Emo Court. The course is a partnership between Co. laois VEC, laois Partnership, FÁs and Department of social Protection. In the process of completing the course, the students will be restoring the walled garden in Emo Court. The garden, which was in complete disrepair before the course started, has now had its 50 plus apple trees pruned, vegetable patches dug and planted, polytunnel erected and the surrounding walls cleared of ivy and moss. This programme will continue over the next few years until the garden is fully restored to its former glory. PAGE 4 N e w s l e t t e r suMMER • 2011 STUDENTS AT PORTLAOISE COLLEGE RECEIVE JOHN PAUL II AWARD The John Paul II Awards ceremony was held recently in the Seven Oaks Hotel, Carlow. The Award is dedicated to the memory of the late Pope John Paul II and aims to encourage teenagers between 16 and 18 years to become more actively involved in the life of their parish and community. A number of students from Portlaoise College received recognition for their hard work and commitment at the ceremony. Kearen Roberts was chosen as the spokesperson for the Portlaoise Parish and was interviewed by RTE Correspondent, Joe O’Brien. In order to achieve the gold award, students had to complete 20 hours of work to help the church and 20 hours to help their local community. The students helped out at weekends in the Church and at the Parish Centre.