If you are experiencing difficulties viewing this email click here to view in your browser 29 November 2013 CEIST Training - School Financial Management The Board of CEIST are holding information workshops on financial responsibilities of the Board of Management’s Finance Sub- Committees. In recent years, the Trustees have become increasingly concerned at the escalation in numbers of Boards of Management having difficulty fulfilling their obligation in matters of finance. It is our wish to assist and inform all the new Finance Sub-Committees of their obligations in relation to financial best practice. Venerable Nano Nagle October 31st 2013 will forever be remembered as an historic day in the story of the Presentation Sisters. On this day during a private audience with Cardinal Angelo Amato S.D.B., prefect of the Congregation for the cause of Saints, Pope Francis authorised the Congregation to promulgate the decree that NanoNagle (1718-1784) foundress of the Presentation Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary has been bestowed the title of "Venerable". We pay tribute to all those who have been involved in the process especially Sr. Lucy Troy PBVM and congratulate the Presentation Sisters on this wonderful but well deserved accomplishment. November 19th is the Feast Day of the Sisters of the Christian Retreat The Sisters of the Christian Retreat celebrated their annual feast day on the 19th November. The Congregaton of the Sisters of the Christian Retreat was founded in 1789 by Fr. Anthony Receveur. In an age when faith and morals were in decline, he offered to ordinary people a means of drawing closer to God. Through practising meditation and making spiritual retreats, their lives were transformed. Today, the congregation witnesses an even greater breakdown in society, resulting in loss of faith, disorientation, loneliness Presentation Secondary and fear. School Thurles Cookery Evening Congratulations to Presentation Thurles on hosting their first ever Cookery Evening on Thursday, 28th November. A well known and highly regarded local chef, Siobhan Power gave the Presentation Ballyphehane Win 2013 presentation focusing on favourite family dishes and All Island School Choir Competition some Christmas treats. The event catered for all tastes Presentation Secondary School, Ballyphehane, Co. and all ages. Cork were announced as winners of the All Island School Choir Competition 2013 on Sunday night, 24th November. The event was being held to raise funds to support The Grand Final saw four schools compete in front of an the school Astro-Turf invited audience at the Titanic Centre Belfast, which included Project. the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland, Peter Robinson, MP, MLA, and Martin McGuinness, CEIST Annual Statistical MP, MLA who jointly presented the trophy to the winning Returns Submission school. It is very encouraging to Organised by Co-operation Ireland, in association with RTÉ, see so many of our schools the All Island School Choir Competition, presented by Anne who have taken time out of Cassin, forms a five-part television series celebrating and their busy schedule to encouraging the tradition of choral music in second-level access our e-portal and schools throughout Ireland. complete the online statistical returns form for The competition saw entries from schools all over the island of submission to CEIST. Ireland, with 20 schools chosen to perform at regional finals, which shows the magnitude of the win for Presentation We would be very grateful if Ballyphehane, well done to all involved from CEIST. the remaining schools who have yet to access the e- portal or complete the online form in full would do so at their earliest convenience. Please email Presentation Clonmel Students [email protected] or contact by phone on 086-0437146 Launch Song for Charity if any issues are encountered accessing the Students from Presentation Secondary School, Clonmel have e-portal or completing the launched a single with the song they composed in memory of form. their teacher who died tragically in a car accident earlier this year. Summer Works Scheme 2014 The song called “My Hero” was composed by the school’s Transition Year students in honour of their late English and Funding from the Summer Religion teacher Alice Strain, who came from Ballymacmague Works Scheme 2014 will near Dungarvan. allow schools to carry out small and medium scale “My Hero” was created at a songwriting workshop the students building works such as gas, participated in with producer Gavin Ralston and singer electrical and mechanical songwriter Luán Parle on September 23. works, roof and window upgrades, structural improvements; works that will improve and upgrade existing school buildings. It is up to schools to identify the most urgently required Cólaiste na Toirbhirte, Bandon projects to be funded from the Summer Works students undertake Leadership in Scheme. Faith School Training Each school can apply for one small scale project and The student leaders from Leaving Certificate class in Cólaiste will be responsible for the na Toirbhirte, Bandon, Co. Cork participated in ‘Leadership in completion of those works. a Faith School’ training recently with Catherine McCormack from CEIST. Schools are required to seek Trustee approval The training consisted of identifying the nature of leadership before submitting their and the qualities of a good leader followed by the attributes of applications to the DES. a leader in a faith context. Click here for details. Cycle Against Suicide Cycle Against Suicide is an initiative started by Irish entrepreneur, Jim Breen, as a result of his Launch of School Magazine by TY appearance on RTE’s The Students in Árd Scoil na Tríonóide, Secret Millionaire programme. Athy The main objective of the Cycle is to raise awareness The following is a report written by Árd Scoil na Tríonóide, of the considerable help Athy Transition Year student, Aaron Webb on the launch of and supports that are the school magazine “Prometheus” in October. available for anyone battling depression, self The magazine was brought to publication and launch by four harm, at risk of suicide or Transition Year students, Adam Ryan, Aaron Webb, Gary those bereaved by suicide. Prendergast and Sean Donoghue. It was a very successful launch and sales of the publication went beyond expectation. Click here to download the latest cycle against suicide newsletter. Energy Wise! Click here to view the News from Eureka Secondary November newsletter from the Sustainable Energy School, Kells, Co. Meath Authority of Ireland (SEAI), which details energy tips and various competitions, Eureka Secondary School, Kells, Co. Meath students won the workshops, etc. for Young Social Innovator competition 2013 with a project schools. entitled “Bring Organ Donation into Education”. Sr. Fidelis Purcell on As a consequence The Irish Heart and Lung Transplant RTE's iWitness Association invited the school to hold a competition to design Christmas cards which they would sell to raise funds for this Sr. Fidelis Purcell made a very worthy charity. contribution to RTE's programme, iWitness on Tuesday night 26th November. Sr. Fidelis is Chairperson of the Boards of Management News from Presentation Secondary of two CEIST Schools, Presentation Secondary School, Ballingarry School, Thurles and Presentation Secondary School, Ballingarry. Presentation Secondary School, Ballingarry, Co. Tipperary have shared a number of news items and excellent photos Click here to listen to Sr. with CEIST. Fidelis on the RTE Player. The school has profiled some excellent student achievements Profile Your School On along with other events occuring in the school. Our E-News! As usual we encourage our schools to profile their good news or upcoming events on our e-news. We are especially St Mary's Ballina New Student interested in hearing from Chaplaincy Team schools who have not featured much up to now. St. Mary's Secondary School, Ballina, Co. Mayo have a new All news big or small is student chaplaincy team under the stewardship of the school welcome, please send to chaplain Joanne Cullen. John Woods, [email protected] / 086- This is a great initiative and it is heartening to see students 0437146. helping students. The team recently organised the liturgy for their school Mass and November Remembrance. Killina Presentation Secondary School Awards Night Killina Presentation Secondary School, Rahan, Tullamore, Co. Offaly recently held their Academic Awards night. This is an annual event which recognises students for their performance in the 2013 State Examinations. There was a large turnout on the night and as well as the awards, entertainment was also provided by the school's traditional music group. CEIST Schools Celebrate Presentation Day 2013 Many schools throughout the country celebrated the Feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary - Presentation Day 2013, which falls annually on the 21st November. Two CEIST Schools, Coláiste Bríde Secondary School, Clondalkin, Co. Dublin and Presentation Secondary School, Currylea, Tuam, Co. Galway kindly shared news and photos of their celebrations. Scoil Muire agus Pádraig Swinford Student is UCD Scholar Congratulations to Lisa Corley a past student of Scoil Muire agus Pádraig, Swinford, Co. Mayo on being awarded an Entrance Scholarship to the UCD College of Health Sciences. Lisa was one of a number of high-achieving students nationally who were honoured at an Awards Ceremony and Reception held in the O’Reilly Hall of UCD on Monday November 11th 2013