Schull Community College

MARCH 2009

1. A group of second year students, with their teachers, Niamh Woods and Lisa O'Sullivan travelled to France for our annual French Exchange. When the students are back, they will write up about their experiences and you can read all about it.

2. Our Lesotho twinned schools, sent representatives of the student and teacher population to Schull. There were 10 students and 2 teachers. They took part in daily school life in the college and were entertained by many locals. They also sang for the public at Sunday Services and in the College itself. One of the highlights was their participation in the St. Patricks day parade in Skibbereen, where they performed their dance for the townspeople.

3.Students from Germany and Spain were also in the school this month. The diversity of the student population was very interesting for students and teachers alike.

4.Oral exams happened for the Leaving Certificate students, who are now nearing the end of their school days in the college.

5.The first year basketball boy's team, played their first match against kinsale in Riverstick Community Centre. Many of the players on the opposing team were much taller that our players giving them a major advantage. The Schull Community College team played their best but they couldn't overcome Kinsale's height and strength. Kinsale won 39-14.

6. 5th year Ag science, went to William and Mary O'Keeffe's sheep farm, to see the breed Vandeen. They also saw the rearing of lambs and the planting of potatoes.

7.The Sailing team were very successful in the Munsters in Schull. There were two teams Black and White. The team of Peadar O Suilleabhain, Ross Murray and Connor Miller came first and the white team of Shane Newman, Oisin O'Driscoll and Dermie Coughlan came second. The crews were Katie Moynihan, Pearce O Flynn, Fionn Lyden, Felix Miller, Ellen O Regan and Casper Snashall.

8.A Variety of speakers were in the school

(i) Paddy Sheehan TD, came to speak to third year CSPE class
(ii) Declan O'Donnell came to 4th year Community Development to talk about the flora and fauna of Schull Harbour.
(iii) Isolda O'Connor of Fairtrade Skibbereen came to talk to first year CSPE
(iv) Jackie Gowran (West Cork Schools Enterprise Co-ordinator) spoke to the transition year mini companies.

9. Fundraising for the month was very successful
(i) Two students have gone to Calcutta India and had to raise €10,000 between them. Well done to Siobhan Hellen and Triona McIntegart!
(ii) No Uniform day was held to raise funds for the Lesotho exchange.
(iii) Fairtrade awareness day was held by the first years and raised €100 for the Skibbereen group

10. Transition years were busy with a Safe Pass course, Personal Development day, Dental survey and Accident and Simulation rescue was performed.

11. "HOTHEADS" the transition year mini company went to Lisavaird on a day of Marketing advice from Aidan O'Mahony and then went on to win the West Cork Enterprise finals overall winner. They go forward to the National Schools enterprise awards on May 14th.

12.Chess club match against Deerpark CBS on March 20th.

13. Reconciliation services were held with each year group

14. Teen parenting sessions were held in the college.

15."Log on with Transition year" is still going on with transition year students helping the senior citizens to learn about computers.

16.Robert Attridge a past pupil won the overall best Construction Studies project in Ireland.

17. The U16 and U18 soccer teams both reached the Munster Quarter finals of the FAI schoolboys cups. The U16's lost to Limerick CBS while the U18's lost to Rockwell college. Nevertheless, this was an excellent year and overall performance by both teams