March Edition Nessan’s Newsletter

Just What Happened

Staff ZoneHappy Patrick’s Day

4th MarchWorld Book Day

8th MarchBoys Basketball Match

in Glenstal Abbey 10th March

FAS visit for 6th Years MOCK INTERVIEWS for

6th Years.D.E.A.R.

11th MarchF1 in Schools Challenge Regional Finals in UL.

SUCCESS SKILLS with J. Achievement

Adapt HouseHealthy Relationships Talk.

14th MarchUI6’S North Munster Soccer

Match VS NewcastlewestScrudu Beag!1st, 2nd Boys

Basketball vs. Croom22nd March

TY begin Adapt House Programme.

Leaving Cert class photo.BITC 5th Year group one to one

interviews in L.I.T.UI6’S vs. Salesians College

Pallaskenry.24th March

Motivational Speaker for L.C.1st Year Basketball vs. Gaelcholaiste

5th Year visit Shelbourne Park and The Bird Sanctuary.

28th MarchLa Marseillais sung ‘on air’F1 in Schools Challenge

website launched 29th March

Breton Crepe CookingFrench week disco

30th MarchRugby match vs. Ard Scoil Ris

Cinema Francais French week posters

Alan Ryan visits school, presents Racing Jersey to Mr O Brien.

31st March1st, 2nd year basketball End of French week

Green Flag Initiative

On Wednesday 30th March, past pupil Alan Ryan visited the school to talk to our 2nd Years about how he made the grade as a professional jockey, share his success with the students and present a racing jersey to the school. Alan, just 18 years old, has been fast tracked through the horse racing system and was celebrating this week after being awarded his first professional contract. After graduating from the home of Irish horse racing at the Curragh, flat-race specialist Alan was persuaded on the advice of his mentor Jim Gorman to move to Kentucky in the USA.He returned to St.Nessan’s Community College today to present a racing jersey and cap to School Principal Mr. Eugene O Brien and the school. He was delighted to talk to the students about having a dream and making it happen for you. “You have to be polite with everyone, have a good attitude and have a lot of motivation and determination.”Becoming a professional jockey opens Alan up to a world of potentially huge riches, with winning riders taking home at least ten per cent of any pot. “But money is only a bonus if you love your job”, Alan insisted. And Alan certainly does. This was brought home to the students, many of them his neighbours and friends as Alan told the students about his profession, his hard graft, focus, motivation and desire to win. “Most people are more comfortable with old problems than with new solutions, you have to constantly push yourself, leave old worries behind and get back on the horse!”, Alan added with a wink.

St. Nessan’s’ was honoured when the Mayor Cllr. Marie Byrne visited, to launch the project work of the Green Flag Committee “Message in a bottle” The Mayor complimented the Green Flag Committee on their artistic work. The Green Flag Committee sparkled with their presentation on raising awareness of water usage in our every day lives. Members from the Environment Department of the Limerick City Council, Ekotree community space, parents and proud grandparents attended the launch. A new notice board has been erected in the G.P.A. Why don’t you check out our photos, water facts, & local newspaper articles.Welcome Bobby to the Green Flag Committee. Bobby is behind the scenes, giving his time to improving the court yard. Perhaps we will have a wonderful allotment......all is to be revealed!Zone again next month, Ms. D.

Top Jock Returns

The Mayor, Cllr. Marie Bynre pictured with Ms. Dennison (Green Flag Coordinator), Mr. O’ Brien (Principal) and proud parents and garndparents of the Green flag Committee students.

Alan presenting the jersey to Mr.O’Brien, sharing a photograph with the students and having a quiet word with his former yearhead Mr. Kelly.

J.C.S.P News

Well done to 2DE, 1DE and 1DN yesterday at City Hall, Cork for the Make a Book Exhibition. The aim of this annual event is to celebrate the creative expression of students. It was great to see them in action, interacting with other students and taking ownership of their exhibition comprising of two books:“What I’m Reading” - A collection of book reviews, best reads, evaluations, photos, writings.“Building on Success” - A collection of original poems written by each and every 1st Year, plus a wall of fame full of 1st Year photos.They did us proud – very positive feedback from JCSP team in Cork, they send regards to all here and commented that St Nessan’s Community College has been represented in the exhibition since its beginning in Cork so serious brownie points totted up yesterday. And we even got to meet the Lord Mayor of Cork,Cllr Michael O Connell who opened the exhibition and 1DN got to rattle his chain!

Make A Book Exhibition

The end is in sight for this wonderful initiative. Reading has never been such fun. Students have engaged in this activity thanks to the encouragement of their English teachers Ms. Brennan, Ms. Heffernan and Ms O’Brien. Hundreds of thousands of words have been read. All types of books investigated from fiction to fact. The school Library is now a regular hive of activity with books being exchanged and discussed on a daily basis. The teachers hope to research the data available from student prefer-ences for different literary genre and use this information to introduce similar reading material into the classroom.

Word Millionaire

The English teachers in first year have set the standard. Ms Brennan, Ms O’ Brien, Ms Heffernan, what a fantastic year. They have engaged the hearts and minds of all first year students. Reading is now one of

the first choices of great things that happen in St Nessans Com-munity College. First year have a path worn to the school library to investigate new titles and read old favourites. It is just wonderful to have students stop teachers in the corridor to tell them about the new Limerick writer Judi Curtin.The Irish Independent described Judi as Ireland’s answer to Jacque-line Wilson. The books are described as ‘perfectly–written stories of friendship and growing up’. O’Brien press are the publisher of Judi books. The seventh book in the’ Alice and Megan’ series has just been printed and it high on the demand list. One first year student wants to know could the English teachers in St Nessans Community College organise an English essay competition like the one in Judi latest book? Maybe next month we might find the answer to that question.

English under the colours of the’ Rainbow’

Transition Year News

Make A Book Exhibition

Once again French week 2011 has been a tremendous success! The winners of ‘French is fun’ competition were 3rd prize Rebecca Long 5th year, 2nd prize went to Hailey Vaughan 2di, and the winner was Nikita 1DA. They all received t-shirts as a reward for their creative works of art. 5th years LCVP created some fantastic posters for the exhibition on French speak-ing countries! It gave great atmosphere to the GPA Crepes were flipped over by 2di and 1di. James Daly, Joseph Killeen and Evan Kit-tler are officially being considered as real Celtic Breton people. Their flipping skills were outstandingly good! The Cinema Français with the Extraordinary Adventures of Adele Blanc-Sec (Adele dry-white) by Claude Lellouche entertained most classes and congratulations to everyone because it is not easy to follow a movie by reading subtitles!!!!

More news from the French department: French ORAL EXAM on the 13th of AprilThe French department would like to support and give the best of encouragement to our Leaving Certificate students. You have worked hard for good grades. So Don’t let the stress of the exams bring you down. Learn and be confident in your good work. Develop breathing techniques to deal with stress! Bonne Chance….

Study time for Junior Cert and Leaving Cert French: May I remind all students that after school study is free of charge and that the French department staff will make themselves available if any stu-dent wish to do some extra French after school… Don’t be silly!!! Avail of the ser-vice!!! You can only try to do your best.

French Week c’est fini!!

On Friday the 4th of March Christopher Mac and Jody King, TY students went over to the Greenhill’s Hotel for the Limerick Final of the Mini-Company. Christopher and Jody made a booklet on “How to beat the recession,” including lots of positive thoughts and recession busting tips. The duo hopes that these tips and positive thoughts will help you in some small way to get through the recession. There are some great tips in this booklet. We leave you with one final quote,” There is no such thing as a problem without a gift for you in his hands” Christopher and Jody came second in the competition and got 50 euro. The cost of the booklet is 1.50 if you want to buy one ask Ms. O’Brien for details. I would like to thank Mr. O’ Connor and Ms. Nicolas for their help with the layout and design of the bookletThank you for buying this booklet and we hope it will help encourage everyone to do better,Kind Regards, Christopher and Jody.

Recession Busters

On Friday the 11th of March Ellen Tobin Hogan, Shannon O’ Neil, Angelique Coughlin, Danielle Quinn, Grainne Hackett and Emma Roche went to UL to compete in the F1 in schools competition. We had to be out at UL for 8am. We left St Nessan’s Community College at 7; 30am by private bus, wearing our specially designed sweatshirts bearing the logo, THE CHEETAH EYE. When we got there we had to set up our promotional stand and get out car scrutinised by the judges. Lunch was at 12 and afterwards we did our presentation, all 5 girls speaking about the project and raced our car. We won 3-1. After the race we went back to our stand and answered questions from the UL students. The awards were next and there were only 9 places available. We secured a place along with 8 other schools. The final is on the 9 of April in Dublin and hopefully we will take 1st place. GO CHEETAHS, YOU’LL NEVER BEAT A CHEETAH!!By Ellen Tobin Hogan

English under the colours of the’ Rainbow’

Layout & Design: Michael O’ Connor (Smile SCP), Senior Editor: Ms. Toomey. Photography: Mr. O’ Connor, Mr. Treacy & Ms. Campbell Cuddihy.

Get cooking at home: A quick recipe for CREPES!!!!!Ingredients1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 tablespoon white sugar 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 cups milk 2 tablespoons butter, melted 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 eggs DirectionsIn a large bowl, sift together flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Stir in the remaining ingredients; mix until smooth. Heat a lightly oiled frying pan over medium high heat. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/4 cup for each crepe. Tilt the pan with a circular motion so that the batter coats the surface evenly. Cook the crepe for about 2 minutes, until the bottom is light brown. Loosen with a spatula, turn and cook the other side. Stack the finished crepes by putting wax paper between each one. Keep covered with a dry cloth until ready to eat. Video on how to make CREPES: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-2E2WqG8Qk

Happy French Week

Great response has been given to the latest French department project for spring 2012. I am very pleased to say that it has generated quite an interest. Here is the percentage breakdown for the French State Exams.

Junior Certificate French listening skills 43% of the overall exam• Leaving Certificate French Listening Skills 20% of the overall exam•

French Oral Skills 25% of the overall examWe would like our students to maximise their linguistic ability to respond to the exam needs. In an effort to increase the student’s confidence and to help reduce the inevitable anxiety that is involved in a French listening/oral, we are proposing a school trip to France in spring 2012. The approximate cost will be €400 - €650, depending on the number of students travelling. The trip will last 7 days and will include classes in the morning and cultural visits or sport activities in the afternoon.In order to book a place on the trip, a deposit of €150 is needed by the 26th of May 2011. There is still time to enrol and book your place. Contact Madame André.

St.Nessan’s students want to go to France in spring 2012...

This month our ‘Star’ is Jenny O’ Connor a third year student. Jenny has spent her summer holidays at Dublin City University where she is involved in the’ Gifted and Talented ‘ programme. A whole new world of opportunity started for Jenny when she came to St. Nessan’s Community College .’Intellectual Scholar’ is the title given to students who are in the top five percent academically in the country and Jenny reaches this target with ease. Over the past few years Jenny has studied Selective Fiction, Journalism and this year hopes to study Behavioural Psychology. For young academically gifted students these summer courses are a chance to excel at the highest level. We the staff at St. Nessan’s Community College are proud of Jenny’s achievements her respectful manner and caring personality.

Spotlight on a Student

Fr. Gerry Daly Fund

To honour the memory of the late Fr. Gerry Daly, the Redemptorist Fathers have presented the Fr. Gerry Daly Scholarship to a student(s) from St. Nessan’s Community College. This is the third year of the Scholarship. It is awarded each year to a student(s) to assist them with their third level education expenses. All students in the college, once eligible, fill in an application form for the scholarship. Each application is assessed by the trustees and a recommendation(s) are made to the Principal.Fr. Gerry worked tirelessly over many years for the less well off in Limerick City. He will be especially remembered for the Fr. Gerry Daly Christmas Food Appeal. Because of the long association that St. Nessan’s Community College has had with this appeal, the Redemptorist Fathers chose St. Nessan’s in order to honour Fr. Gerry’s memory. This year the Trustees of the Scholarship decided to award the Scholar-ship jointly to: Noelle Ryan & Colin Hehir At the award ceremony, Fr. Adrian Egan, of the Redemptorist Fathers, spoken eloquently about Fr. Gerry and congratulated the college on their commitment to and the spirit of giving that has been evident in the college for many years. He also congratulated both students and wished them well in the future careers. Congratulations to both students and we wish them every success in the future.