NOVEMBER 1997 PROMISES DELIVERED! Our recent Fundraising Auction in aid of the new Pastoral Centre, held at Ballyboden St. Endas Clubhouse, attracted a large attendance. Local resident Michael Jordan, Auctioneer, provided a great nights entertainment, while taking bids on over one hundred items. The final tally for the event was an amazing which is a great start towards the funding of this project. The parish would like to acknowledge the tremendous work carried out by the organising committee for the night, whose expertise and enthusiasm ensured this "novel" fundraising method was both a social and financial success. Most people went home with a prize or bargain tucked under their arm. Our thanks also to the many companies and individuals who donated items to be auctioned or raffled, and to all who attended and bought the goods/ services on offer. Looking forward to seeing you again at our next Ifathryn Coffey M.C. Fundraiserc- ! Michael. Jorda_ _ n. who wa. s the with one of the many Official Auctioneer for the prizes won on the evening. Wheel of Fortune (His sense of humour, made the bidding quite painless!) Winners and Happy Customers from Templeroan nViaj^iay JLi&Os ivy li^riMidzlyAivv! ~ ) Lisa Reynolds was born in Roscommon and educated by the Sisters of Charity in Ballaghadereen. She came to Dublin as a very young woman where she married P.J. In 1975 they bought a house in Idrone and have three daughters. Five years ago she decided to do a "Return to Work" course with Fas and in 1993 was sent to St. Colmcille's Senior School on a part-time basis as a Fas Supervisor. She is now overseer of the Fas scheme which offers work experience to men and women as part-time staff for additional help in schools. These jobs include •ndHHHl assistant secretaries and classroom assistants who do not Mona Moran Lisa Reynolds teach but help the teacher in various ways, such as the No I am not referring to the lonely lady with the strange- preparation of art materials for a class and in a multitude ness in her smile. I am talking about two of the most of other ways which do not involve teaching. Security delightful people one could ever hope to meet. They are officers and caretakers also come into this category. Since Mona Moran and Lisa Reynolds, who work together in 1995 Lisa has been involved with the Workers' St. Colmcille's Senior School. Development Plan and looks after the Fas workers and The children were streaming out of the building at the co-ordinates some training courses such as first aid and end of another school day when I called on them computer literacy. Lisa is employed by Fas on a recently. I made my way to the office, which, without a renewable yearly contract basis and is presently working doubt must be the busiest in Dublin. Despite the fact that on a thirty-nine and a half hour week. She finds this lessons were over, a constant stream of children and work challenging and loves every minute of it. adults kept arriving with queries. "Knock, knock" and a There are many amenities available in the school for head would appear around the door. "Excuse me, but the benefit of the children and their parents. The Book would you know ...", "I would like to get a message to Scheme is one of them. Booklists for the new school year ...", "Sorry, I'm looking for a key for ..." In between are compiled some time before the end of the current times the phone would ring. Silence for a minute or two school year. This means that parents with family or work and then "Knock, knock". "You get used to it" laughed commitments, who are unable to find time to visit vari- Mona. "It's never any different". "Mona is very calm" ous bookshops to buy books for the September term, can says Lisa. "She keeps her cool". I was most impressed and order them from the school in confidence that their son marvelled at their good humour and enthusiasm. It was or daughter will be sure to obtain them in time for their obvious that they were good friends, efficient workers, and formed an ideal team. new class. Two weeks before the school re-opens - Mona procures boxes in which to store books ordered for Mona Moran, a Dubliner, was born in Walkinstown individual classes (24 in all) ready for collection. and educated at Loreto Convent, Crumlin Road, before entering the business world where she gained wide The school also carries a stock of school uniforms experience in the secretarial field. Married to Jim, they including track suits, jumpers, etc. In fact any item of have two children, a son and a daughter. In 1989 she saw school uniform is available in all required sizes. So the an advertisement for the post of School Secretary in St. sudden growth in a child doesn't require a trip into town Colmcille's School. She applied, was successful and came to remedy the situation. Mona, with the help of Lisa to stay. Mona's job is very difficult to define. It certainly looks after all of this. has variety. She keeps in contact with parents and the Mona and Lisa have great admiration for Mr. Pat Parents' Association; deals with all correspondence; keeps Kelly, the school Principal, who has, over the years, given registers and school statistics; makes arrangements and much time and effort towards the success of the school. bookings for various functions, including outings, tours This, of course, is true. But it is happy, cheerful, dedi- and school trips; acts as nurse for sick children and those cated people like Mona and Lisa who help to put the injured in playground accidents. The children love her. icing on the cake. She is Mona to all and sundry. Eileen Casey CHIROPODY & REFLEXOLOGY • Allergies • Overweight • Low Energy • Bowel Problems etc. SIGHLE HANNON, R.G.N., R.M., M.C.S.Ch., M.I.Ch.O., M.A.Ch.l. Registered Chiropodist and Reflexologist — DIET CONSULTATIONS — Surgery: 11 Knocklyon Heights, Dublin 16. Excellent Homoeopathic Remedies For appointment: Telephone 4942045 (Home Visits on request) Cyril Mahon, 99 Glenvara Park. Tel. (01) 4942437 CHEM-DRY® GOLD MICHAEL McATEER HEATING CARPET & UPHOLSTERY CLEANING Natural Gas Authorised Installer • Specialists in Gas & Oil Installations NO STEAM - NO SHAMPOO - NO STICKY RESIDUE Personal Service • Domestic & Commercial • Emergency 24 Hr. Service DRIES IN 60 MINUTES - FULLY INSURED AND BONDED Super Club Stamps available. Maintenance & Repairs - FREE Estimates PHONE: 6266268/6219525 3 Beverly Green, Beverly Court, Knocklyon, Tel. (01) 4935961 E. F. BARRY & COMPANY John Gibbons ACCOUNTANTS & REGISTERED AUDITORS Painting & Decorating Contractor SCHOLARSTOWN ROAD Specialists in Exclusive Wallcovering Tel. Eamonn Barry 493 7097 160 Glenvara Park, Templeogue, Dublin 16. Tel: 4942181 COPING WITH STRESS Stress has been labelled the plague of the twentieth century. In this article local resident Bernadette Cummins, counselling psychologist looks at the symptoms associated with stress and addresses some of the ways of dealing with it. Stress occurs when "outside" pressures such as work, family problems, personal relationships get beyond our ability to cope and affect us "inside" causing mental or physical distress. Everyone is subject to stress at some time or another; it is part of our modern way of life. Of course it is not always a bad thing. On the positive side it can help to motivate Our Autumn Parenting programme is now well under way. We us to do better. It can add spice to life and lead to had a huge interest in our evening 0-6 programme, so much so that we put on an extra class. Our Basic (7-12 yrs) and personal growth. Assertive Parenting Classes are also up and running - sure HOW CAN I RECOGNISE THE SYMPTOMS? the children in Knocklyon don't know what has hit them! Everybody has their own individual stress threshold As well as running the parenting courses, KAPE believe parents need on-going support. To this end we have a get which determines the limits for how much pressure together from 10 a.m. - 12 noon on the first Wednesday of the body can cope with. When we go beyond this every month in the prefab beside the Presbytery. We usually threshold, our bodies react by sending out stress have a guest speaker followed by coffee and a chat - or, if you signals - these are symptoms which show that we feel the need, a hair tearing out session! Last month we had a are being stretched beyond limits. These signals can wonderful talk on entertaining children by K.C. Duffy. She gave be physical or psychological in nature and include the us some brilliant ideas, from bringing a story alive, making following: muscle tension, headaches, digestive playdough and bubbles (the glycerine is the trick), to party ideas. problems, allergies, nervousness, changes in patterns of sleeping, eating and drinking. If left un- Our next meeting is Wednesday 5th November at 10 treated they can lead to even more severe disturb- a.m. in the Toraigh Room. The talk is by Ms. Fionuala ances including heart disease, strokes, high blood Smith from FAS, on "Back to Work Programmes for pressure, ulcers, anxiety and depression. Women". In December, we are having a purely social morning, with HOW CAN I DEAL WITH STRESS? the sole purpose of chatting and eating as many mince pies as According to Hans Selye, the man who pioneered the possible! So put this in your diary: studies into stress, "It is not the amount of stress we Mince Pie Morning - Wednesday, December 3rd, 10 a.m., have that matters, it is how we handle it" and every- Toraigh Room.