March 2012

Colaiste Iascaighs   Notes March 27th

Good Luck

Best of Luck to Ms. Gillespie who will be starting a new job as Deputy Principal in Crana College, Buncrana after the Easter Break. All at Coláiste Iascaigh would like to thank her for her dedication to the school and support of all students during her time with us.

French Orals

Last week the Leaving Cert French class attended St. Angela’s College for Oral French preparation class. With the orals just around the corner it was a great opportunity to get some extra practice for the exam. Thanks to tutor Maura Kilfeather for her help. 

JCSP Traditional Irish Day

On Thursday 15th  of March, a group of 20 First Year JCSP students entertained  members of the Easkey Community in the Health Centre by singing traditional Irish songs and reading poems, not to mention hurling tricks and whistling.  This was all topped off with some cake and tea before the students returned to Coláiste Iascaigh. A big thank you to staff and visitors of the Health Centre.  A very enjoyable experience was had by all.

Careers day

 A very successful careers day took place recently in Easkey Community Centre. A number of colleges were on hand to give advice and information on courses including NUI Galway, Galway Mayo IT, Sligo IT, Letterkenny IT, Sligo College of Further Education, North Connacht College, Corran College, Moyne College, Teagasc, Sligo Adult Guidance Service and Sligo Social Services. Our 3rd, 4th and 5th year students attended the event and found it very worthwhile. Ms Gillespie would like to thank the above colleges for their attendance and the 4th year class for organising the event.

Wellie day

UN World Water Day 22nd March was chosen as a day of action for the current Green Schools water theme in Colaiste Iascaigh. Students participated in a ‘Wellie Day’ wearing wellingtons to school to raise awareness about water and our need to conserve it. Students donated money on the day to Trocaire and raised enough money to provide 3 water wells in Africa. The green school committee prepared a visual display of the average amount of water used per person in the school.

Colaiste Iascaigh holds Mental Health Awareness Day

On Wednesday 28th March Colaiste Iascaigh held a Mental Health awareness day. This day was run as part of the Healthy Schools Programme in conjunction with the H.S.E. The day involved a number of local organisations associated with Mental Health. Each organisation gave detailed information and advice on the work they do. All senior students were involved in case study activities with the organisations. Overall the day was invaluable in gaining an understanding of our mental health and where to find information. Ms. Hennigan and all the students would like to thank all the organisations for all their work and help in coordinating this day.

U14 Rugby blitz

Our U14 rugby team recently attended a Rugby blitz at Sligo IT. We were pooled with Summerhill College and  St Attractas in our group. In our first game against Summerhill we narrowly lost by 5 tries to 4, with a great individual try from the ever impressive Christopher Lavelle.  And will worked tries from Hayden Gilroy, Niall Crean and Lee Flatley.

Our next encounter was against St Attractas. We took the lead with an excellent piece of work from the hard working Hayden Gilroy. However St Attactras levelled the match in the dying minutes and as a result progressed to the semi-final with Summerhill.

We also played  Jesus and Mary Convent with the quick footed Conor Gordon getting across for an excellent try in the second half. Enniscrone ran out easy winners on the day.

Well done lads on a very strong effort.

Youth sport student exchange

On Monday 26th March twelve  of our 2nd year students travelled  to Gortatole adventure centre, for a action packed 2 days. Here our students  joined  up with students from St. Fancheas college Enniskillen and Castlederg high school. The exchange was designed to strengthen cross border links between the schools, and promote cultural awareness. Peace and reconciliation formed an integral part of the exchange with students from all 3 schools having to work together through teambuilding games and various other activities including: caving, orienteering, climbing wall and high ropes challenge.  We would like to thank Mr. Coggins for organising the exchange and Mr Kilfeather for travelling with us.

Saturday 5th May 2012 - 10K Spin for All / Bike Blast
Sunday 6th May 2012 - 60K Lough Gill Circuit, 100K Innisfree Tour, 160K Ox Mountain Challenge
Registration now open
See www.tourofsligo.ie

Champion in the Classroom

Grange Post Primary School

Poetry Workshop.

Miss McArt’s Leaving Certificate English class participated in a workshop dedicated to the poetry of Sylvia Plath and Seamus Heaney. This interactive workshop included elements of drama, art and visulisation to stimulate the students in their responses to the poems. Most interestingly, in their analysis of Heaney’s ‘Bogland’, students used peat to create their own visual representation of the key terms in the poem. The student’s thoroughly enjoyed this experience and are hoping to follow it up with a ‘Hamlet’ workshop later this year. The Leaving Certificate students would like to thank Mary Pat Ryan and her team from the Performing Arts Department, Sligo IT.
Seachtain na Gaeilge 2012!
The students of Grange PPS took part in many events for Seachtain na Gaeilge. The week was promoted within school with all students getting a chance to take part. Students participated in cluichí biongó, word search and cross word puzzles, designed posters and a held a Tráth na gCeist. We were even entertained with some Irish dancing from our senior students. Lollipops were given as prizes to students who made an attempt outside of class to speak as Gaeilge. The week was enjoyed by all, with all teachers taking time to promote Seachtain na Gaeilge within their subject.
Congratulations to Ruairí Mc Loughlin, Shauna Watters and Stanley Dimes who came in first place in our Irish quiz. Congratulations also to Damien Waters, Daniel Keaney, Darius Cawley, Shaun Herity, Rachel Scanlon, Gillian Rooney and Elaine Flanagan who came in joint 2nd.

Second Year Geography Field Trip
The second year geography students and their teachers Ms Evans and Ms Creaven went on their annual field trip on Thursday 8th March 2012. They all put on wellies and wet gear and went to explore the Grange river, they looked the length, width and features of this river. Then they drew a sketch map of the river.

Sports
Rugby training has had a big response and is being enjoyed on a Thursday evening.
Basketball – Our second year girls were involved in a basketball tournament held in Maghe Ene College, Bundoran on Friday 16th March 2012. The team played two matches against the hosts they lost by one point and then were beaten by St Mary’s Ballisodare. We would like to thank Maghe Ene College for organising the tournament and congratulate all those involved especially Ms Evans on their first competition, they certainly did us proud.

Upcoming events
Ten of our first years will attend the final residential of this year’s LET programme in the Share Centre in Lisnaskea, Co Fermanagh, from Tuesday 20th - Friday 23rd March.
Congratulations to Leon McGowan & Keighley Hennigan who will travel to Talin, Estonia on March 15th with the Emerald Reveller’s Dance School.

The School Tour to Paris takes place from Thursday 12th - Sunday 15th April

The Junior Certificate practical examinations in Home Economics, Music and Art are coming up soon, so students are busy. The Leaving Certificate students are preparing for Irish and French Orals.

The West of Ireland  School are delighted to announce the launch of their new WISE new website http://westofirelandschool.com/! This is in addition to their Face Book page - so please check them out!. More importantly, please pass the information on to all the non-native speakers of English you know who might be interested, here or abroad.

There are many fun events happening in the summer, starting with the Sea Shanty Festival weekend at Rosses Point in June, where WISE will be running English language classes in the morning, chaperoning students for the afternoon and probably singing a few sea shanties along the way, no doubt!
Their third series of General English language classes starts in Sligo Town next week - March 26th and 27th. These classes are designed for adults living and working in Ireland and run throughout the year at the following levels:

Beginner (A1), Elementary (A2), Intermediate (B1) and Upper-intermediate (B2). These WISE classes take place in Sligo Town at their offices in Castle Street and Quay Street.

There are also courses available such as the English for Work course and Exam Preparation course.

So, if you know anyone who is interested, please ask them to contact info@westofirelandschool.com as places are limited and new students will need to be assessed beforehand (individual language skills assessments are FREE by the way!)