ST. COLMCILLE’S COMMUNITY SCHOOL NEWS

Extra Curricular update:
Basketball
The Cadet Girls’ Basketball Team was narrowly defeated in the Dublin Schools Final in the National Basketball Arena on Thursday 11th March. Congratulations to Mary Pat Prendergast and Aileen Ryan for their great success with this team. All the junior students of the school were brought to support the team and they created a wonderful atmosphere at the game as well as representing our school extremely well in the wider community.

Badminton
The Under 14 Boys’ Badminton team had two tremendous successes recently. Firstly they won the Dublin Schools Championship and subsequently went on to win the Leinster Finals also. Congratulations to them and to Ms. Stapleton on their great achievement.

Hurling
Over ninety boys from first and second year participated in the indoor hurling league, which took place over the last 5 weeks at lunchtime. We were honoured to have had two Dublin hurlers to present the prizes to the winning teams. Mark Meehan captained Kilkenny to success and John Cashin captained Dublin. Conal Keaney and David Curtin were present on Friday afternoon to sign autographs and present the U14 hurling panel with new sliothars and hurling grips compliments of Ballyboden GAA Club. Many thanks to Conal and David for giving up their free time to visit our school.
Our Under 14 Hurlers also played in the semi-finals against Coolmine Community School on Wednesday 28th of April.

Table Tennis
The under 13 boys won their league and the senior boys recorded an historic win by not only winning their league for the second time but also remaining unbeaten in all forty eight matches.

Volleyball
Well done to our 2 Junior Girls’ Volleyball teams who came 1st and 2nd in the South Dublin Schools Volleyball blitz against St. Mary’s of Haddington Road and St. Paul’s, Greenhills.

Camogie
All our camogie teams are busy training for our upcoming matches.
Senior Team is in the quarter finals of the Dublin County ‘B’ championship against Maynooth Community School in upcoming weeks
Junior Team are preparing for the semi final of the Dublin County ‘B’ Championship.
Minor Team is in the final of the South Dublin League and also in the semi final of the Dublin County ‘A’ championship.

French Exchange
Students and teachers from the College Saint Joseph in France were involved in an exchange programme with our students and teachers at St. Colmcille’s Community School, Knocklyon. We welcomed them here in the school on Tuesday 16th March, with a reception organised by the parents, teachers and students. Events organised for the week included a Céili, guided walking tour of Dublin, a trip to the Aquatic Centre and shopping in Blanchardstown. Many students made colourful and welcoming displays to make them feel welcome. It was an experience enjoyed by all involved and a special link has now been formed between the two schools for many years to come.

Seachtain na Gaeilge
A wide variety of events was organised by the Irish Teachers to celebrate our culture and native language during Seacthtain na Gaeilge. These included Trath na Gceist, Ceili, Caint Aonair, Ceolchoirm and Drama. Congratulations to all involved for both an enjoyable and well organised week of activities

Green School Flag
Congratulations to the whole school community on the wonderful achievement of having the prestigious green school flag awarded to the school recently by South Dublin County Council. The Green School Flag Committee began its work in May 2001 when a small team of students and staff joined forces to heighten environmental awareness at St. Colmcille’s Community School. Over the past two years the committee has expanded considerably and a huge effort has been made to encourage all those in our school community to “Reduce, Reuse and Recycle” as part of the national “Race Against Waste” campaign. The committee has had considerable success in implementing its anti-litter policy and with the support of the students and a dedicated staff we have seen a dramatic improvement in our school environment. Both “An Taisce” and “South Dublin County Council” continue to be a great source of support and encouragement to the committee. Particular congratulations to Ms. Hayden as co-ordinator of the committee of teachers and pupils who continue to promote the ‘reduce reuse and recycle’ mentality amongst us. The flag will be formally presented to the school in the near future.

Colours Day
On the 10th of March we had a colours day in aid of The Multiple Sclerosis Society and The Chernobyl Child Aid Project. The fundraiser was an enormous success, raising €650 for each charity. Thank you to everyone who supported the causes.

St. Colmcille’s Weather Station
The weather station is now up and running with the first and second year students recording daily rainfall levels and sending them directly to Met Eireann in Glasnevin.