BelvoSummer19.qxp_Layout 1 25/06/2019 10:23 Page 1 Belvedere Summer Edition 2019 | AMDG NEWS A WORD FROM THE HEADMASTER “If we destroy Creation, Creation will destroy us.” – Pope Francis Dear Parents and Guardians, phones and smart watches in the College is now strictly forbidden, apart from Rhetoric Hopefully this newsletter will add to the students in specific classes where the teacher summer sunshine and brighten your day. Each is using IT and requires students to access the page is the tip of an iceberg of ability, material with their phones. Thanks to the commitment and a generosity of spirit which support of the PA, the lockers have been helps create a culture where students discover refurbished to provide safe storage for mobile their talents. I want to thank all, particularly phones in order to accommodate this change. the staff who give so generously of their time The reduction of single use plastic is also a and expertise, for empowering so many welcome development, which the PA students to contribute to a culture which sponsored by providing stainless steel water (RL) & Dylan Diamond (RK). Many celebrates achievement and recognises hard bottles to all students. We have achieved a lot congratulations to the incoming College work in pursuit of excellence. I hope you find in Reduce, Reuse and Recycle, but there is so Officers: Captain Cathal Butler (PS) and time at some stage to have a look at Pope much more we need to do in a world facing a Officers Eoghan Conway (PA), Aidan Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si (Source: Full Text crisis caused by our neglect of the McCullough (PX), Eimhin O’Neill (PF) & Cathal and Guidance Map for Pope Francis' Encyclical environment. Smith (PA). 'Laudato Si' found online at National Catholic I also want to thank all those who have On the pages which follow you will see Register). It’s easy to become so engrossed in supported the fundraising programme for some, not all, of the achievements of so many life’s daily challenges that we forget the big better classroom facilities. The current facilities students. While celebrating their success and picture. The Pope’s Encyclical challenges us to recognising their commitment, part of the were provided by the generosity of previous act rather than just reflect. Hopefully the objective of publicising their achievements, parents, and many who appreciate this have achievements of the students in this edition including displaying them on the website and enabled us to proceed with Cabra, Temple reflect young men who are prepared to be big screen in the foyer, is to encourage other Street and the Art Facility development, which “Men for Others” as Fr Pedro Arrupe S.J. called students to become involved. While it’s will hopefully commence in December 2019. for in his address to Jesuit alumni in Valencia in neither feasible nor desirable to force students I hope you are tempted to visit our website 1973. to be involved, encouragement is sometimes as it has much more up to date information. Each year brings changes and as we bid all a student needs to step outside of their The state exams are going well so far and I farewell to a number of staff, we welcome new comfort zone and engage in a new co- hope all our students have an enjoyable, safe people who will enrich our students’ education curricular activity. and productive summer. If you think of what by sharing their experience and talent over the I want to thank the Parents’ Association (PA) you can achieve in 85 days, it opens the years to come. Ms Angela Dempsey, Mrs for all their work in supporting the students possibilities for so much reading, going over Deirdre Melvin, Ms Rachel Keogh, Mr Stuart and staff over the year. We reviewed the notes, engaging in community work, Wheeler and Mr Conor Doherty have given Behaviour for Learning Code of Conduct and a volunteering with environmental projects and great service to the College and we wish them number of changes need to be noted. These so much more. Some students will make the a long and happy retirement. Mr Peter Downey will be clarified in the Journal, on the website most of the summer opportunity and on the maintenance staff will also be retiring and at School Assemblies with the students. hopefully all will mature and develop in their and we wish him well. The new Deputy The objective is to improve the learning sense of ownership for their learning and their Principals will be announced after the Board environment for all our students. I am grateful achievements. Meeting on June 20th. to the review group, which included Enjoy the Newsletter and thank you to the I would also like to share my appreciation for consultation with the PA and Student Council, team who put it together and all who the outgoing College Officers: Captain Luke who considered all aspects of the use of contributed to this edition. McCaffrey (RF) and Officers David Boylan (RX), mobile phones, including its impact on social Robert Anthony Clery (RK), Aaron Coleman interaction by students. The use of mobile Gerry Foley. A.M.D.G. In this issue: News & Faith & Belvedere Sports Music Achievements Services Union p2 p8 p12 p14 p18 BelvoSummer19.qxp_Layout 1 25/06/2019 10:23 Page 2 News & Achievements Belvedere College SJ Debating Excellence in Junior Certificate Business Studies Awards Belvedere College SJ was represented by Oxford Union Finals Day Derry De Yang (SS) at the Excellence in Junior Certificate Business Studies Awards. Three Belvedere debating teams qualified for The award was in recognition of Oxford Union Finals Day, the biggest debating Belvedere’s contribution to teaching and Congratulations and well done to all the ‘A’ competition in the UK. 32 teams tried out and promotion of excellence in the discipline, grade students and to all of the teachers only four teams made the break, three of while also acknowledging all students who from the Business Department: Ms Sinead which were from Belvedere. The teams were: achieved an ‘A’ grade in their 2018 higher McGouran, Ms Helen Stack, Mr Noel Dylan Diamond (RK) and Tom Hegarty (RS); level Business Studies Junior Certificate McKenna, Ms Norma Shanahan and Ms David Boylan (RX) and Fiachra Nolan (RS); exam. Clodagh Culligan. Darragh Schmidt (PX) and Cillian O’Neill (PX). Well done to all and to their coach, Mr Philip 2019 BT Young Scientist Hogan. & Technology Exhibition Congratulations to Garret Molloy (RX) who came first in his category - Biological Science Junior Individual at the 2019 BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition. His project was titled, Amplified Renewable Bioelectrical Energy in Reduced Carbon Footprint Livestock Waste Treatment System. Well done Garret and thank you to Mr Tom Morris, his co-operating teacher. French Debating Garret Molloy with BT Chief Congratulations to the French Debating Team Innovation on their success against St Michael's College in Officer, Conor the final of the Alliance Française Joûtes Patterson and Oratoires. The winning team consisted of John French Kirwan (RA), Andrew Bermingham (RF), Ciarán Ambassador, Murphy (RF), Dónal Heelan (RA) and Ishan H.E. Stéphane Banik (RL). The team was magnificently Crouzat coached by Ms Louise Curtin. 2 BelvoSummer19.qxp_Layout 1 25/06/2019 10:23 Page 3 News & Achievements Senior Applied Maths Quiz Regional Round Gael Linn Irish Debating Leinster Champions! Well done to the team and to their A special congratulations to Andrew Bermingham (RF), Kome Agbanobi (RF) and coach Mr John Broderick, and a sincere Ben McDonald (PX) who placed second, and to Jack Twomey (RL), Ethan Osbourne thank you to their Irish teachers for (RL) and Gareth Healy (PL) who placed third. instilling a 'grá' for the Gaeilge in them. Team: Fionn Keating MacDermott (RS), Rory O'Dunlaing (GK) and Odhrán Dillon Kelly (RL) Substitutes: Daniel Moran (GS) and Conor Flanagan (GK). Webwise Ambassadors Congratulations to Ziyad Ayad (GA) and Eoin Regan (RX) who became Webwise Leinster Senior Ambassadors. Webwise is an internet safety initiative focused on raising awareness of School Debating online safety issues and good practice among students, parents and teachers. Competition Finalists Congratulations to Mr Philip Hogan and to the students who qualified for the All- Ireland Schools Debating Competition. Senior Team: Darragh Schmidt (PX) and Cillian O'Neill (PX) Individual: Eoghan Conway (PA), Tom McGinnity (PK) Junior Team: Vincent Lin (RF) and James Egan (RA) 3 BelvoSummer19.qxp_Layout 1 25/06/2019 10:23 Page 4 News & Achievements Home Economics Poetry Field Trip to Elements working away at their textiles! Junior Certificate Practicals Ballyknocken Cookery School Chinese Cookery Chinese New Year celebrations in the Home Economics Department with our Chinese Language & Culture Teacher, Ms Juan Gao. 4 BelvoSummer19.qxp_Layout 1 25/06/2019 10:23 Page 5 News & Achievements Student Enterprise Programme Strictly Come Dancing Congratulations to Ms Caoimhe McCormack and the TY Young Entrepreneurs who participated in the Student Enterprise Awards. They won the Innovation Category in the Dublin City Final held in Croke Park. This group were one of two that reached the final from Belvedere. An Gaisce Belvedere’s first Strictly Come Dancing was a resounding success. Thank you to all the staff who participated – competition was fierce and the entertainment factor high! And many congratulations to the very deserving winners Scott Bastow (RL) and Freya Hunt Sheridan. From concept to delivery this was a wonderful event with over €10,000 raised for the St. Vincent de Paul – so thank you to: Mr David O’Hanlon (Judge “Magnifico”), Ms Laura MacNaughton & Ms Aisling Bridgman (Hosts & Dancers), Jazz Band (interval entertainment) – Dancers extraordinaire: Mr Dan Dunne & Ms Martina Leddy, Mr Richard Wilson & Ms Megan Oliver, Mr Eoghan Keogh & Ms Roisin O’Donohoe, Ms Louise Curtin & Mr Shane Moloney, Mr Thomas Morris & Ms Katie Judge and Mr Stephen Carey & Ms Aileen Ivory.