Edmund Rice Schools Trust • Summer 2013 • Issue 7 Síol Newsletter The very best wishes to all our schools That is what is so pleasing for me, from the Edmund Rice Schools Trust. and to all readers of this issue, and Green Flag Thank you so much for sending us previous issues of Síol. Not only are Raising Ceremony photos and articles of your activities you discovering and developing your Scoil Iosagain, Aughavannagh since the start of this school year. many talents, but you are going the next Road, Crumlin, Dublin 12 The response from our schools to Síol step and helping others, in so many continues to be excellent, and grows meaningful ways, just as the founder In late September Scoil Íosagáin’s with each new publication. We are of our schools, Edmund Rice, would pupils, staff, friends and neighbours greatly enthused that Síol is such a have wished. enjoyed a wonderful excitement success and that our schools are so Every single one of you has so much to filled day of celebration as they keen to be part of this publication. It offer. Real change and real hope starts came together to witness the raising truly is a wonderful forum for sharing with you. What you think really matters. of our first flag in the Green School’s all your achievements with your fellow initiative. Years of hard work and Edmund Rice schools in our Network Continue to get involved in projects to dedication by our pupils, staff and of 97 schools. help others, whether it’s in your school, the wider school community paved your community, your club, your parish, In many ways Síol represents what an the way to officially becoming a your team. As Mahatma Gandhi said “Be Edmund Rice school is all about. In its Green School. the change you wish to see in the world”. pages are so many examples of student You decide. You will continue to make a Continued over>> involvement in activities promoting positive difference. personal and social development. The Edmund Rice School not only encourages Every good wish, its students to become aware of, and Gerry Bennett develop their skills and abilities, but also Chief Executive asks you to use those same skills and strengths to help others, whether that is locally, nationally or internationally. The articles we receive are testament that you are doing just that. << Continued from front page With a focus on reducing, reusing and recycling, the pupils and staff supported by an enthusiastic Green School’s Committee, Ms O’Reilly our Co-ordinator and hugely supportive ancillary staff ensured that our school ticked all the boxes for the Litter and Waste theme. Our Green School code reminds us to Pick it up, drop it in, don’t forget the bin. The day’s events began in the school hall where the Garda Band provided entertainment for the whole school community. Their energy and enthusiasm helped to make our celebration a memorable one. We continued our celebration by gathering in our school garden for the raising of the flag. Well done to 3rd and 6th classes for their terrific presentation. Our Principal, Ms. Máiread Fanning, thanked Ms. O’ Reilly, the Green School’s Committee and our ancillary staff for their huge efforts in helping to receive this prestigious award. Thank you also to those who supported us by sharing in our special day and especially to Mr Eric Byrne who kindly shared his fantastic photographs with us. Congratulations to all of our pupils for their hard work and dedication to environmental awareness and action. We are actively working towards our second green flag and look forward to the new challenges it will bring. Síol Page 2 SEED (School Earth Education) Croke Park Hours Many Primary teachers are familiar ffA 2 hour training session with a whole with Paddy Madden’s popular SESE staff after school would include the articles in teachers’ publications, his following components: work as lecturer with Marino College, 1. Soil analysis-constituents of soil, Heritage in Schools and the Blackrock main types, porosity, humus, NPK, Education Centre. Paddy has been soil creatures, rocks. responding to the needs of schools in regard to the ‘Croke Park hours’ 2. A yearly plan of work for the on service. His latest initiative for number of classes in the school. schools is called SEED (School Earth 3. Practical work: making Education). See www.sonairte.ie and biodegradable pots, making a follow the link for earthed.ie. wigwam, sprouting seeds, use of Paddy Madden lectures in SESE in the a light box, hardening-off, sowing Marino Institute of Education. He also peas in a gutter pipe, sowing gives short courses to whole staffs on carrots in a dustbin, sprouting school gardening. Paddy’s book, Go Wild potatoes, caring for growing at School, has recently been reprinted. potatoes and other crops, sowing Available for €15 plus €3 p&p at paddy. salads and sunflowers, making [email protected] beds, gardening without beds. For his podcast on teaching about 4. Composting: techniques for making spring see Programme 129 on good compost. www.insideed.com. 5. Protecting the crops from pests. ffSEED (School Earth Education) is Organic techniques. a new organisation for promoting 6. Fruit in the school garden. gardens in schools. 7. Open day. ffOne of our services is: Gardening skills training and supporting 8. Looking after the garden during the the curriculum. summer holidays. ffWe have implemented this in several 9. What to do in winter: green schools already this year. Your school manures, bulbs, scarecrows. may want to get involved. 10. Tools, Resources. Reaching the Summit CBC Sidney Hill Conor Durkan who achieved 9 A1s in his Leaving Cert and the boys who reached the summit of Kilimanjaro. Spring 2013 Page 3 Giving back with Gaisce St. Declan’s Cabra Gaisce or The President’s Award, has clubs, one young man is coaching young been up and running in St Declan’s swimmers for the Special Olympics College for the last 6 years. It is while others are helping coach first year Ireland’s National Challenge Award for teams in the school during their lunch young people and it is the country’s breaks. Thanks to our young volunteers’ most prestigious and respected enthusiasm St Declan’s College now has a individual Award programme. chess club, a music club and a table tennis Students participating in the Award set club. Some of them are even teaching themselves a challenge in four areas. English to fellow students for whom English isn’t their first language. Other They must learn a new skill or improve community activities include volunteering on an existing one, they must participate in community radio stations, working in a physical activity and they must in animal shelters, helping elderly become involved in some voluntary work neighbours, playing the organ for their within their community. They must also church choir, singing in the church choir undertake an adventure journey as part and doing a Drugs Awareness Course so of a team. Most of the boys who decide to that they can in turn educate our first set themselves the challenge of achieving year students about the perils of taking the Award are already involved in at least drugs. All in all it has to be said that their one or more of the activities required of participation in the Award programme them but there is always one section of is an enriching experience not only for the award which will stretch them and themselves but also for those people take them outside of their comfort zone. who are lucky enough to benefit from For many of them it is the voluntary their youthful enthusiasm and boundless work section of the Award which will energy. This year we have thirty six do this. This is also the section of the current and former students taking part award which they often find the most in the Award, eighteen are going for their rewarding personally. The voluntary Bronze Award, fourteen are doing Silver ffPhoto of Lloyd Lynch World Kick Boxing Champion activities undertaken this year include and four are going for Gold. We wish coaching younger children in their local them all every success. Official Opening of Synge Street School Garden Synge Street, Dublin The new Synge Street Primary School garden was officially opened by leading past pupil, and Member of the Edmund Rice Schools Trust, Dr. Dáire Keogh. The beautiful garden, at the front of the school was planted with bulbs by parents and students. The emerging flowers this Spring symbolize the growth and beauty of Parent’s love and guidance. The schools will be celebrating 150 years of education in Synge Street in 2014. Síol Page 4 Chairman and how he always sought, The creation of the robot was a team Deerpark CBS with the Board, to do his very best for effort and the students put in many hours Deerpark CBS Deerpark CBS. of extra work during lunch time and after school to produce a robot capable The guest speaker on the night was Dr of winning the tournament. During the Bill O’Sullivan who taught in Deerpark process the students were practically for many years and who still, even in applying what they were learning in retirement, gives sterling service to the the classroom and were also increasing school by his coming in daily to do drama their team-building, cooperation, rehearsals with the students for the communication and leadership skills. school’s Dramafest. In an entertaining The members of the team were; Captain address, Bill spoke of how the students and Manager - Jamie Minihane, Drive present on the night, and their parents, Team - Airidas Vaitkus, Luke O’Shea, Pit ought to be proud of their achievements Crew - Aaron Baron, Dane O’Shea, Daniel and that in life all that is reasonably O’Shea, Programmer - Richard Goulding, required is to do one’s best.