New Teachers & Auxilary Staff 2014-15

The School welcomed five new teachers and two new auxiliary staff for this Academic Year

Ms. Grace Doyle Ms. Denise Farrell Ms. Sarah O’Neill Ms. Niamh Redmond

P.E & Maths Religion & English Art Spanish & CSPE

Ms. Christina King Ms. Karen Smyth Ms. Lisa Harte

Home Economics SNA School Secretary

Congratulations

Congratulations to Ms. Hamilton (Art Teacher) on the arrival of her beautiful baby girl in July.

Congratulations to Ms. Gillespie (SNA) on the arrival of her beautiful baby girl in September.

Congratulations to Mr. Connolly (Science Teacher) on the arrival of his beautiful baby girl in November.

Congratulations to Ms. McDonagh (Business Teacher) on the arrival of her beautiful baby girl in December.

Good health and wishes are extended to all new babies and their families and wishing them a Merry Christmas.

Sport News

U16 Hurlers become Meath Champions Our U16s became Meath Champions after beating Ratoath College decisively 2-17 to 2-7 in the County

Final. Kean Flynn 2A was Man of the Match for that Final. They lost unfortunately in the North Leinster

Final. The boys played Clonaslee College from Laois. The teams were evenly matched and even after an

early goal in the 2nd

half our lads went ahead but Clonaslee College hit a spell of scoring and ran out winners

2-4 to 4-12! According to their Bainisteoir Mr. Moore, Ross Kerrigan 2B was the best St Fintina’s Player in

the Final. Mr. Moore is proud of all his Players and said it bodes well for the future of U16 Hurling that the

2nd

Years can put on a stellar performance along with their older counterparts from 3rd

and 5th

Year.

Pictured from left to right are the U16 Hurlers – Back row: Robert Quirke, Conor Molloy, Alan Lewis, Will

Flynn, Niall Mulvey Gavin Griffith, Thomas Coloe, Jamie Smyth, Conor Maguire and Ryan Holmes. Front

row: Jamie Boyle, Jamie Connolly, Ross Kerrigan, Darren Hennessey, Kean Flynn, Harry Hogan, Philip

Loughlin, Andrew Russell and Paul Gill.

Elverys POWER Team is an inspiring team that travels the country giving expert advice on sport, exercise,

sports product and healthy living. They visited the School on Tuesday 25th

of November and gave an

interactive Presentation and Workout engaging all Year Groups. They incorporated high intensity exercise

while providing expert advice on: * Healthy Living and Physical Activity * POWER as an acronym

(Positivity, Optimum Hydration, Wholesome Diet, Exercise and Recovery) * Gait Analysis (the way you

run and why it’s important to know your foot type) explained and demonstrated. * Correct footwear and

clothing necessary for exercise. * Tips on general physical activity, strength and conditioning, injury

prevention and general training advice.

U-14 Football: The U14 footballers have qualified for the North Leinster Final after recording

wins over Colaiste Na Mi, Mullingar CC, Ardscoil Chiarian Clara and Beaufort College. The competition

was run on a round robin basis whereby the top two teams qualified for the final. The team will now take on

Mullingar CC in the Final which is to be played after Christmas.

Pictured from left to right are: – Back row: Cian Brennan, Jamie Boyle, Ross Kerrigan, Pierce

O’Donoghue, Lore Iyinolakan, Kean Flynn, Alan Lewis and Cian Chester. Front row: Ian Moore, Sean

Moloney, Philip Loughlin, Diarmuid O Currain, Nicholas Hanan, Harry Hogan and Adeoluwa Adelowo.

U-16 Football: The U16 footballers have qualified for the North Leinster Semi Final. They took part in a

blitz where they faced off against Beaufort College and Gormanstown College to see who would represent

Meath. The lads recorded two excellent wins and their Semi-Final is to be played after Christmas. Their

opposition is not yet known.

U-18 Football: The U-18 footballers were beaten by Colaiste Na hInse, Laytown in the first round of the

championship. On the day we were missing many of our senior players. Many of the team will be young

enough to play this grade again next year so hopefully the experience of senior championship will stand to

them.

There is a new girls Basketball Team comprising of 1st and 2

nd Year Girls. They are training for

their first League that starts in January.

The School’s Archery Team under the

guidance of Vincent Plant (expert Archer and a

National Training Squad Coach) has continued

training after School on a Wednesday. Pictured

opposite from left to right are some of the Archery

Team: Ryan Geoghegan, Karl Corcoran and Maire

Corcoran. They participate in different

competitions under Mr. Plant’s guidance. Karl

Corcoran pictured centre has been picked to be a

member of the National Training Squad. From

this Squad the Irish Team is picked for

International Events which Karl hopes to

participate. If you would like to join the Archery

Team you can meet outside room 21 every

Wednesday after School.

Unfortunately unlike last year’s successful year our senior soccer players lost their two games, and our

minors had to leave the competition due to a registration problem!

First Years will start swimming in the New Year as part of their P.E Classes with Ms Doyle. They will

attend the Swimming Pool in Trim.

MS READaTHON

For November, our 1st Years took part in a READaTHON for MS Ireland. MS is a disease of the brain and

spinal cord. The MS READaTHON is a sponsored read for young people. It encourages young people to

read while raising much needed funds for services to those living with Multiple Sclerosis. Our 1st Years

raised €700 for the MS Ireland Charity.

Trips

3

rd Year Geography Students entering Dunmore 6

th Years on their Geographical Investigation in

Caves in Co. Kilkenny Howth, Co.Dublin

2

nd Years at the Army Camp in the Curragh Kildare Matthew Connolly and Shauna Farrell 6

th Year

as part of a CSPE Project Geography Students at Tara Mines Navan

Higher Options!

Sixth Years along with Ms. Calvey attended the Irish Times Higher Options Conference in the RDS on Friday

19th

September. It’s a forum on Third Level choices for students. It gives a valuable insight into Third Level

Courses in Ireland and abroad ranging from Art Colleges to Agricultural Colleges. While there students could

go to the relevant college stands and ask and questions they had and take away booklets etc.

Dunmore Cave Kilkenny!

Ms. Purcell’s 3rd Year Geography Students visited Dunmore Cave outside Kilkenny and the City of

Kilkenny on Monday the 20th

of October. The cave is home to calcite structures e.g. stalagmites etc. It is

also a site of a Viking Massacre and is home to several species of bats. They had a mini workout with the

cave's 700 steps! They also saw Kilkenny Castle while in the city.

Geographical Investigation!

The 6th

Year Geography Class along with their teachers Ms. Purcell and Mr Gorry carried out their

Geographical Investigation on the Geomorphic Processes of Erosion in the coastal environment of Howth,

Co. Dublin on Tuesday 30th

of September. Their Investigation carries 20% of the marks for Leaving Cert

Geography.

Army Camp!

2As and 2Bs along with Ms. Murray went to the Curragh Army Camp on Tuesday the 18th

of November to

carry out their Action Project for Junior Cert CSPE Action Project. While in the Army Camp, they were

shown the work of the Army at home and abroad when they are on UN Peace Keeping Missions. Students

experienced the bomb disposal unit and even some students tried on the bomb disposal unifrom, they

learned about the combat units and got into Army Tanks etc.

NUI Maynooth Open Day

Sixth Years with their Guidance Teacher M.s Calvey attended NUI Maynooth’s Open Day on Friday the

28th

of November. A lot of Students show an interest in this College due to its close proximity to home and

its excellent range of courses available.

Tara Mines!

Ms. Purcell’s 6th Year Geography Class visited Tara Mines outside Navan on Friday the 5th

of December

for their study of "Human Interaction with the Rock Cycle" Physical Question. They were given a guided

tour of the site and students enjoyed an informative trip on the operations of Tara Mines and mining in

Ireland. Hopefully the tour will help them if the Question is asked in their Leaving Cert in June!

CSPE Fundraisers

10km Sponsored Walk: The 2A & 2B CSPE Classes pictured above along with Ms. Murray organised a

10km Sponsored Walk as part of an Action Project. They raised €900 for the Meath Branch of Down

Syndrome Ireland and an additional €278 went to funding their bus for their Action Project etc.

Christmas Food Appeal: The 3B CSPE class organised a Christmas Food Appeal for the local branch of the

St Vincent de Paul. The students invited a local representative from the charity to come to speak to the class

about the work of the local charity. Non-perishable food items were collected and donated to the branch.

The 3B Students wish to thank the Staff, other Students, and all the Parents who donated items. Ms. Murray

would like to thank the local shop 'Crunch' in Broadford who donated food items! Well done to the 3B class

for organising the Food Appeal.

3rd Year RSE Programme As part of the RSE Programme for 3th Years, Students participated in a Workshop focused on topics linked

to their SPHE subject on 12th

December. This workshop was organised by the SPHE & Guidance

Departments and is being delivered by a facilitator from the Voluntary Organisation, ACCORD. A RSE

workshop for Senior Students is planned for later in the School Year.

Anti Bullying Week & Mental Health Awareness Week

The School held an Anti-Bullying Week in October and a Mental Health Awareness Week in November.

During the Anti-Bullying Week, students had an opportunity to learn about how to become more proactive

in combating bullying. As part of our Mental Health Awareness Week we had "Humourfit Drama" in to

present workshops / dramas. There was an Anti-bullying Drama for 1st and 2nd Years and a Mental Health

Awareness Drama to all Year Groups. Also Senior Students and some Teachers participated in “Breathe”

workshops on the 12th

of December. These workshops were developed to raise awareness around well-being

and positive mental health for young people.

New School Update

The plans for our new 2 Storey 500 + Pupil School have now gone to final contractor tendering stage. The

tenders are due back on January 16th 2015. It is envisaged that the contractor will be known shortly after

this date. There will be a minimum two-month waiting period before any work commences on site. The

building is due for completion by August 2016.

Junior Cert Excellence

The Principal gave special recognition to Holly Kavanagh 5B who was the highest achiever in the Junior

Certificate 2014 in the School. Holly achieved 7 As all at Higher Level. She is pictured below with the

Principal who is presenting her with a special plaque in recognition of her excellent achievement. The whole

Junior Certificate group showed an excellent performance overall. The Staff and Principal were delighted

with the 2014 Junior Certificate results.

Monthly Awards Junior Achievement: Junior Merit: Senior Achievement: Senior Merit:

September: Charlotte Enstone Larry Dillon Shauna Farrell Eoin Gaddren

October: Olivia Christie O’Brien Ken O’Donnell Orlagh Moroney Colin White

November: Maria Corcoran Lauren Homes Jordan Chester Joe Boyd

Wishing the Whole School Community a Happy Christmas

and a Prosperous and Healthy New Year 2015