Displaying 2811-2820 of 3798 results.
Our Zambia Team 2019
Created : 15 May 2019, 10:53 AM
Archived : 15 Jul 2019, 12:00 AM
Yesterday evening the ZIP team 2019 showcased the their experience of the Immersion programme they took part in, in Livingston,Zambia. Here is a short insight into their experience written by Thomás Dunne. On the 8th of February 16 students from both Transition Year and 5th Year, and 5 teachers travelled to Zambia as part of our schools long running Zambian Immersion Project. After over 18 months of fundraising which included many enjoyable nights spent at table quizzes, we were finally finished packing shopping bags in the shopping centre and ready to pack our suitcases. On Friday morning the scenes in the GPA included suitcases being sat on as more bandages and plastic gloves were squeezed into bags, guitars being wrapped in cling film, anxious parents, and 21 very excited faces. Fr. Paddy and Fr. David blessed us all and we were finally on the road. After a minor reorganising of bags in Dublin airport (some of our 35kg bags were slightly over the 23kg limit) we boarded our first flight. A delay in Dublin Airport meant we had to flat out sprint threw Heathrow, but 16 hours and a stopover in Johannesburg later we all arrived safely in Livingstone, Zambia. 10 suitcases went missing somewhere along the way, the 4 days of coping without them was an experience. We only had one day to recover from our travels before we started working. Being a Sunday we decided to immerse ourselves in Livingstone and go to the local mass. After 4 decades of the rosary to start, mass then proceeded for three and a half hours, filled with music, singing and dancing, a new priest being ordained, and even people being brought up from the crowd during the homily. We later met Sr. Mary, a nun originally from Cavan who devoted her life to helping the poor in Livingstone and organising the local clinic. On Monday morning we all got up at 6am for our first proper day of the Immersion Project. All 16 of us piled into John’s bus (it wouldn’t exactly pass the NCT) and headed off for our first day of teaching. With our matching Cúl Camp bags (which we’d later donate) filled with stickers, posters and colours, we were dropped off at three different schools: Linda, Lubuyu, and Ngwenya. Fortunately we weren’t thrown into classes alone and were working in pairs, with makeshift teaching plans that we had to totally adapt or scrap as we received classes with a broad range of ages and abilities. The first day was tough, tiring, and a bit awkward as we got to know all the students, most of us had class sizes of between 40-60. I don’t think any of us will forget the first break time in school, we were all swarmed by crowds of children eager to talk to us, high five, fist bump, feel our hair, or swing out of our arms. You’d never find yourself walking alone anywhere around the school, a child would always run over to chat, hold your hand or offer help carrying your bag. We finished in the schools at around 12 or 1 depending on whenever the bus arrived. In the evenings we went to Lubasi Home for orphans and vulnerable children. Although we had a touch of awkwardness earlier in the schools, as soon as we got to the orphanage we were welcomed with songs, children that couldn’t wait to play, and a really homely atmosphere . We brought out the hurls and footballs and everyone started playing. We pushed them on the swings, gave piggy-backs, sat down to chat with them, the teachers got their hair braided and the small ones couldn’t wait to get up on our shoulders to pick fruit from the trees. Every day two students got to go to Sr. Mary’s clinic, not a hospital building of any sort, think more along the lines of everyone in an area gathering in a designated persons garden. When we entered the clinic we were welcomed with a lively song and dance with everyone joining in no matter how sick. We helped to take and record blood pressure and temperature of all the patients and some of us got to go on house visits to people too sick to travel to the clinic. For those of us who got to go on them, these house visits were incredibly eye-opening experiences where we met very sick people who still remained positive, happy and welcoming despite their difficulties. As the days moved on in school everyone began to settle in, we had such good fun in class and made friendships with the students that we’ll never forget. Two guitars were brought and a tin whistle, and we played everywhere from the clinics to the orphanage, I’m sure there’s a few Zambians who think N17 by the Saw Doctors is our national anthem at this stage. We all became friends with everyone in the orphanage, and naturally we all made really strong bonds with a few different children. It was tough to leave on the last day, we said our sad goodbyes and left our hats, sunglasses and bags to people who appreciated them much more than us, and for the first time we had a silent bus drive home. Although we travelled to Zambia to teach, Zambia taught us much more than we could ever teach in two weeks in a class room about being happy and grateful with what we have and to appreciate and love life the way they do. The team wish to thank all who have supported the programme.
Internet Safety talk
Created : 15 May 2019, 10:16 AM
Archived : 15 Jul 2019, 12:00 AM
Internet safety talk from Nadia in Bank of Ireland, given to ms Bracken’s first years yesterday. Ms Bracken arranged this as part of her maths class with the link to numeracy, technology and safety online.
Under 16 Football
Created : 14 May 2019, 9:50 PM
Archived : 14 Jul 2019, 12:00 AM
Much awaited Leinster semi final on Monday 20th at 12pm in Hawkfield. Can all players meet at the far end of the GAA pitch in Thursday at 13:30.
Attention 6th year HL English classes
Created : 14 May 2019, 6:56 PM
Archived : 14 Jul 2019, 12:00 AM
English Paper 1 exam on this Friday 17th May, 1.30-4.20. This is a final opportunity to practice paper 1 skills, your sons' attendance is highly recommended
Transition Year Information
Created : 14 May 2019, 1:30 PM
Archived : 14 Jul 2019, 12:00 AM
TY's last day of class will be Thursday 23rd May. Their Awards Night takes place on Monday 27th May at 7 pm. Many TY's are busy at the moment preparing for the Mock Trials in Galway on Friday and the Year Book, which will be for sale next week. In addition there are projects and other activities still ongoing - meaning all TY's should be in full attendance until Thursday the 23rd.
Cork Autism Conference
Created : 14 May 2019, 1:14 PM
Archived : 14 Jul 2019, 12:00 AM
We would like to invite you to this year’s Cork Autism Conference, Ireland's largest autism event. If you're looking for information and direction pre or post diagnosis, are facing daily challenges, or approaching significant transition points, then the Cork Autism Conference can help you. At the conference, you can watch presentations from an autistic person, parents of autistic people as well as professionals working in the area of autism, plus access specialist autism products and services. Once inside the event, all content is free to access and CPD certified for professionals. To book your tickets and save up to 47% off the door price visit: bit.ly/corkautism Here are just a few reasons for attending: ✓ Hear Leading Autism Professionals share Supports, Tools, Interventions and Insights to give you the unique opportunity to Advance Your Knowledge in Autism and Improve Outcomes for Autistic Individuals of all ages ✓ Access Practical Resources and Strategies for meeting and exceeding the challenges of autism and best empower autistic people ✓ Learn Actionable Insights and Wisdom from an autistic person, to best support autistic people ✓ Discover Trusted Specialist Products and Services on Autism including learning tools; communication aids; educational products; sensory equipment; advice and support services ✓ Interact with special features such as the World of our Sensory Room created by a Specialist Autism Speech and Language Therapist, designed specifically for Autistic People ✓ Have the Opportunity to Clarify Areas of Autism and ask questions that cannot be answered by reading a book, website or blogpost Book your tickets today and save up to 47% off the door price by visiting: bit.ly/corkautism P.S. Please feel free to spread the word of the conference to other parents, carers and professionals who might benefit from attending
Laois Schools Best Individual Speaker.
Created : 13 May 2019, 9:20 PM
Archived : 13 Jul 2019, 12:00 AM
We had two competitors, Thomás Dunne and Cian MacGearailt in the Best Individual Speaker held in Mountmelick library this evening. Well done to both lads who represented their school very well. Special congratulations to Cian MacGearailt who was first runner up in the competition. Well done lads!!
TY Reminders
Created : 12 May 2019, 10:05 PM
Archived : 12 Jul 2019, 12:00 AM
All Best Work Portfolios must be ready for inspection on Tuesday.14th . Work should be in a proper folder (ring binder), with subject dividers and have a list of contents. Best of luck to Eoin Moran for the MOS National Final tomorrow.
Marlins win!
Created : 11 May 2019, 11:04 PM
Archived : 12 Jul 2019, 12:00 AM
Last weekend Laois Marlins Swimming Club were competing in the Leinster Division 2 Championships at the National Aquatic Centre in Dublin. Three students from our school-Conor Menendez, Scott Overton and Ben Wall were part of the 13 swimmers taking part across 49 swims. Conor, Scott and Ben, along with another swimmer Noah Murphy took gold in the boys relay event. Overall the Marlins team took home an impressive medal haul-11 Golds, 7 Silvers and 5 Bronze. Well done to the boys on their team wins and individual PB’s!
TYB Student qualifies for Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) National Final
Created : 11 May 2019, 11:05 AM
Archived : 11 Jul 2019, 12:00 AM
Eoin Moran, TYB, has qualified for the 2019 Ireland Microsoft Office Specialist Championship finals as one of the top students of Microsoft Word. This means he is one of the top 20 students in Ireland who sat the Word exam.. This final will take place on Monday 13th May in the Microsoft Ireland Dream Space in Leopardstown, Dublin. It is both an amazing experience and a great honour for Eoin and we wish him the best on Monday. Well done to him and his teacher Mr Paul Cahillane for the work they have put in. MOS is a core part of our Transition Year Programme, It is a self directed programme - meaning that while the students receive two hours each week Computer Room time, with their teachers (Ms Buckley, Mr Donlon, Mr Cahillane) they must direct their own learning by following the course themselves, at their own pace. To complete the modules, extra work outside of school is also required. It is a credit to Eoin that he has been recognised for his hard work. Well done and good luck!