Nessans Newsletter - September Edition 2010

Nessan’s Newsletter Just what happened..

1st October 2nd yr visit to reading by the writer Ré O Laighléis 30th September Cuisle Young poet of the year competition begins 1DE, 2DE commence MS Readathon Under 14 minor trophy match vs.

Desmond College TY began projects at NLH,’Stereotyping’ Engineering 29th September Under 16 vs. Askeaton 28th September 5TH Years,TY,lca 1,Mid West Careers Exhibition, Limerick Racecourse.

26th September European Day of Languages, In-house events and celebrations.

23rd September TY ‘Fighting Words’ programme @ NLH ‘Safety Street Project’ L.I.T Colours Day Organised by 3DE,3DI 22nd September Keith Earls officially opens the schools brand new rugby pitch Munster A vs.Connacht A 21st September TY attend national ploughing championships,Athy Co. Kildare Coffee morning in aid of Milford Hospice.

17th September Bag packing in Eurospar,Watch House Cross 16th September Trip to Thomond Park,3DA,3DN. 15th September Atlantic oars man Sean McGowan drops anchor at St.Nessan’s C.C Junior Certificate Results.

The Red Cross visit/talk to 2nd,3rd,TY students.

10th September TY Drama Workshop with Ciarda Tobin 9th September Mike Bowland from NLH talk to TY students 8th September TY ‘Angela’s Ashes’ walking tour 7th September Yoga classes begin.

30th August 1ST Year Induction Programme, ‘Mission Transition’ begins.

September Edition

2010

Welcome to St. Nessan's Community College May I take this opportunity to welcome you all back to St. Nessan’s Community College for the academic year 2010/2011.

In particular I wish to extend a very warm welcome to all 1st Year students. I hope that you all settle in well and join with us in making St. Nessan’s Community College the best school in Limerick.

I wish to congratulate our Leaving and Junior Certificate students on their fantastic examination results. All of the hard work has finally paid off. I also wish to thank their teachers who worked so hard to bring them to this level and I hope that our current 6th and 3rd year students will work as hard and match this achievement.

I am also delighted to announce the re-introduction of Leaving Certificate Applied. This is an invaluable addition to the courses that we currently offer our students.

You will see also that we have completed our playing pitch and gym facilities. The playing pitch will be opened officially by Keith Earls on Wednesday 22nd September, when Munster “A” Schools will play Connacht Schools.

Finally, we will continue to strive to provide the best facilities for all staff and students within the college and I hope that you will all make a valuable contribution to the college over the time that you are a student here.

Eugene O’Brien, Principal.

What a Result

Mr O’ Brien is pictured with Chris Dunne who achieved 510 points in his Leaving Certificate and has accepted a place in UL. Ms.Toomey, Mr. Kelly, Ms.Patton, Ms. Brennan & Mr.Gale are pictured with Evan Lane, Tara Kelly and Kathryn Mc Mahon who also achieved great scores in their Leaving Certs and have accepted places in UL. Kathryn Mc Mahon is pictured with Ms.Patton showing her delight at her success. We would like to wish all the students who all achieved great success in their Leaving Certificate Examinations the best of luck as they set off on their college adventures.

Junior Certificate Celebrations

Sta ff Zone

Welcome to Louise Raleigh, Brigid O’Dwyer, Erin Beaumont, and Kevin McHiegh Dawn Nash & Rachel Ryan (LIT Students - SCP Placement)

Happy Birthday Ms. Dwan, Ms. Dunne Ms. O’Driscoll Mr. Tracey, Ms. Ahern And Josephine

A selection of photographs from the day of the Junior Certificate Results. The staff would like to congratulate all the students on their success on their results and also on their JCSP graduation 24 May 2010. Ms Dwan, 3rd Year Head, was extremely proud of all her students. Ms Isabella Backer from the JCSP head office also attended the event. As third year JCSP coordinator I would like to thank all the students, parents, Mr O’Brien, principal, Ms Dwan, yearhead, Ms Kennedy, Ms Guinnan, Ms Coffey, and all the teachers who attended the graduation.

(Ms. Campbell-Cuddihy)

Atlantic oarsman Sean McGowan drops anchor at St.Nessan’s Community College

First and Second Year students at St.Nessan’s C.C. have been treated to an inspirational and motivational speech by Limerick rowing hero Sean McGowan.

Sean is the first Irishman to row solo across the Atlantic Ocean. Last Wednesday, 15th September, Sean spent an hour outlining the details of his 118 day solo voyage across the Atlantic, to an inspired and star-struck group of teenagers at St.Nessan’s. Sean told the students that no matter what their background is, with hard work and determination, they too can capture their dream. The students were incredibly impressed with the details of his adventure and learned a lot from his talk. It was a very appropriate day to have the talk as our Junior Cert students received their results and it gave the first and second years even more motivation to achieve greatness.

After the presentation and slide show, students were invited to see Tess, the boat that Sean rowed across the Atlantic Ocean, and were delighted to hear of his stories from his travels. The students were amazed to hear stories of sharks, dolphins, flying fish and Sean’s survival tips if they ever found themselves stuck in the middle of the Atlantic. He was bombarded with questions about what he ate, to how he stayed dry and avoided sunburn.

Sean was very impressed with the students and was only too happy to give back to his local community. “It was great. They have a fantastic school out there and are great kids to speak to. I was lucky because I have a nice story to tell. It was good to talk to them, especially to the first years, who need that extra bit of encouragement and I hope I could give it to them.

It was good to be able to tell them about how I could follow my dreams, and that they in turn can do so to if they believe in it”, he said.

Sean McGowen by Kevin Hanley

As I listened to a past pupil of my old school, St. Munchin’s, address first and second year students in St Nessan’s College, I felt absolutely proud to be in the presence of the man who rowed from Ireland to New York in 118 days one hour 14 minutes and 59 seconds.

He spoke of whales coming so close that they nearly knocked over his boat ‘Tess’. He also spoke of fish jumping out of the water and landing right in front of him on the boat. These stories have inspired and motivated myself and my friends to follow our hopes and dreams.

Not a sound could be heard, besides Seán. He had a microphone in his hand but without it, all would still have heard him. He was 100% honest not only in my eyes but also in others, mainly due to him not only telling us the exciting parts, but also the quite embarrassing parts.

Listening to him was better than TV. He was completely focused telling us about his voyage. He had us enthralled. Seán has the utmost confidence in himself and works himself to the limit, but the limit is only what you think it is. After he was finished answering our questions he was nice enough to bring us out to the school yard to see his boat ‘Tess’.

The National Ploughing Championships 2010

The 79th national ploughing championships took place this year in Car Denton, Athy Co. Kildare. We went on Tuesday 21st where there was an attendance of 66,000 people which was an increase on 20,000 from last year. We left St Nessan’s at 8.00am, on a bus headed for Athy and the two teachers that accompanied us were Mr. Doyle & Sr. Margaret The Ploughing championship is one of Europe’s largest agricultural trade exhibitions’ and it also showcases many different breeds of live stock. It also has sporting challenges, machinery exhibitions, educational stands, health, leisure and lifestyle and many other attractions.

Twelve students went from our school but we nearly had two less coming back with us. We arranged to meet back at the entrance at 3.00 but at 4.10 Ellen and Shannon came out of the mud over an hour later. They didn’t do geography for their junior cert and you would know because they managed to get lost in the field. Their phones weren’t working and they persuaded a guard to let them use his phone to try and make contact with the group. We all arrived back safe and sound at Nessans around 7.00p.m and everybody had an enjoyable day – Except Mr Doyle who had to listen to Anthony philosophizing all day!!

From St.Nessan’s to New Zealand.

Paula O’ Connor (past pupil) was first inspired to become a chartered accountant during Transition Year in St. Nessan’s Community College when she got to do a work placement in the accounts payable department at Dell.

“This was my first taste of accounting and I really enjoyed the experience. We also had a careers day in Transition Year and one of the business lecturers from University of Limerick (UL) came to speak to us.” That careers day was the first time she became aware of the various accountancy qualifications and it prompted her to look into them all further.

The future looks bright for Paula O’ Connor who was promoted to assistant manager in Deloitte this month.

(Extract taken from full article in The Irish Independent, Accountancy, Autumn 2010.)

ST. Nessan’s the school that keeps giving!!

Well done to TY and 5th years who raised 783 EURO for Milford Hospice by bag packing and holding a Coffee Morning. A big thank you to all who helped.

Fáilte ar ais -scoilbliain 2010/2011 Éide scoile nua,málaí is leabhair Cúrsa nua b’féidir múinteoir difriúil Bliain nua agus teárma nua ach an rud is tábhachtaí na rúin nua.

‘Tús maith, leath na hoibre’ a deirtear!

Beidh eachtraí éagsúla eagraithe ag Roinn na Gaeilge le linn na scoilbliana.Feicfidh tú na fograí timpeall na scoile.Molaim díbh páirt a ghlacadh agus do chuid Gaeilge a chleachtadh,chomh minic agus is féidir leat.

Smaointe míosa - Ní fhios cé chum

Transition Year News

Show Kids On Friday10th September, TY students enjoyed a drama workshop with Ciarda Tobin.

This was an opportunity for the students, through movement, dance, song and games to challenge themselves emotionally and cognitively.

The sessions brought drama and dance into the student’s life and a positive sense of accomplishment as they completed each game and worked on teamwork and team building skills. Not only did the group have loads of fun, but they also worked on imagination, concentration, creativity, listening and doing skills-fantastic preparation for school work-just don’t tell them that!

Bag Packing at Eurospar On Friday 17th of September T.Y class went backpacking to Euro Spar in Watch House Cross. We took turns on the tills and we went on at different times. (10:00 – 11:30, 11:30 – 1:00, 1:00 – 2:30, 2:30 – 4:00). We did really well as there was only 2 tills. The teacher that accompanied us was Ms.Brennan. We made over €600 in aid of Milford Hospice. We were delighted with the result and we met so many wonderful people who were very supportive of the school and Milford Hospice.

Creative Writing - North Side Learning Hub On Thursday the 23rd of September the Transition Year class took part in “Fighting Words” programme at the North Side Learning Hub. The programme involved, creating a story about two boys on the night of the Junior Cert Results. The programme was very enjoyable and the staff were very helpful. It gave us an insight into story writing production and creativity.

St. Nessan’s Pupils Awarded with FETAC Certificates in Computing Twenty-two pupils from St. Nessan’s Community College have been awarded with Certificates in Computing from FETAC. FETAC is the national awarding body for further education and training in Ireland. FETAC gives pupils the opportunity to gain recognition for learning in education or training centres, in the work place and in the community.

The certificates granted were for successful completion of the following courses: Computer Literacy (Level 3) and Information Technology Skills (Level 4).

The pupils scored high, with many receiving a distinction and others achieving a merit or a pass. These qualifications are recognisable standards of learning and will help pupils to build Kayleigh Mc Namara, Carly Quinlivan and Rebecca Mc Namara proudly display their Fetac Certs. skills which they will need to go onto further education and for the work place.

Congratulations and well done to the following Pupils: Shane Nash, Dean Power, Carly Quinlivan, Kayleigh Mc Namara, Rebecca Mc Namara, Joseph Chan, Jennifer Loughman, Rachel Moran, Fionn Ryan, Stephen Stokes, Dylan Walsh, James Edmonds, Dean Power and Shane Nash with their Anthony Quinn, Daniel Roche, Sonya O’ Donovan, Jamie Connors, John Sheehan, Sarah Joyce, Fetac Certificates in Computing.

Louise Panter, Jade Foynes, Tracey Martin, Richard Ryan and Lisa Ryan

Angela’s Ashes Walking Tour

Angela’s Ashes walking tour brought all our Transition Year students on a guided tour of Limerick providing a vivid and enlightening social of Frank McCourt’s memoir of his childhood in Limerick. The route took in Arthurs Quay, Suttons Coals, Windmill St. Barrack Hill and Leamys School amongst others included in the text of Angela’s Ashes. This “walk and talk” really opened the student’s eyes to the world of Angela’s Ashes and brought the book alive. In reply to questions if we ever found the ashes-well we did actually, in the old Leamy School Museum!

Frank McCourt’s bittersweet memoir of growing up poor in Limerick has sold millions of copies worldwide, camped on the New York Times bestsellers list for months on end, won a Pulitzer Prize, translated into 25 languages and finally made into a multi-million pound Hollywood movie.

Its crushing story of destitution and human resilience has touched hearts across the world.

Soccer Update

On Wednesday 29 th September our U16S lost the first game of the season to Askeaton 3-1. We played well in the first half and we had a couple of chances to give us the lead but unfortunately we didn’t score. In the second half we fell asleep and they went up and scored and we dropped our heads. About 15 minutes later they scored again.

Then Ger Meehan came out of goals and pulled one back for us but it was too late. Then as we started to get position, a very stupid mistake saw Asketon score and wrap it up for a 3-1 win. Everyone played well on the day. Man of the match has to go to Ger Meehan.

(Results by Christopher McInerney)

Extra Curricular Activities Girls Fitness & Toning Classes every Monday for Junior Cycle students at 3.45pm.

1st Year Boys Soccer Training every Monday at 3.45p.m Gym Club Monday & Wednesday at 3.45p.m Junior & Senior Rugby every Monday at 3.45p.m Girls Soccer Training every Tuesday at 3.45pm U14 Basketball Training every Tuesday at 3.45pm Girls Basketball every Wednesday 1st & 2nd Year Rugby every Wednesady at 2.20p.m U14 Soccer Training every Thursday at3.45p.m Senior Soccer every Thursday at 3.45p.m

New Facilities For St Nessan's Community College Keith Earls, a past pupil of St. Nessan's Community College, took time out of his schedule to officially open the school's brand new rugby pitch prior to the Munster A v Connacht A Schools game last week.

St Nessan’s Community College in Moylish Limerick has also recently made improvements to it's gym with the addition of squat racks, lifting platforms and free weights.

It also has a number of high quality machine weights along with several rowing machines and treadmills, an indoor hall and more.

For anyone interested in hiring the facilities they can contact the school at 061 – 452422 or e-mail info@stnessans.com.

The schools website is http://www.stnessans.com

Mr O’ Brien with past pupil Keith Earls as they prepare to officially open the new pitch

A selection of photographs from the official opening on the 22nd of September 2010.

Soccer Star in the making

Michael Guerin 2DI Team name Stella Maris (Dublin) Position Centre Back Age Group U14 The first time I played for Stella, we won a tournament and I got a gold medal.

I played for Limerick during the summer in the Kennedy Cup. This is the biggest competition in Ireland. Most of the large soccer clubs in Britain have a scout watching the games in the Kennedy Cup. In my first game against Athlone we won 5-0. After the game my dad got a phone call saying that a Dublin team called Stella Maris wanted me to play for them. It was the Blackburn scout Pat who made the call.

I go to Dublin every Friday for training & play a match on Saturday. I have been doing this over the summer and will hopefully continue until next summer. I got a trial for the Ireland U14 team and I am in the Regional Development Centre at U14 level.

I would love to play on the Irish team and eventually be a professional soccer player with certain English club preferably Manchester United.

Girls basketball

1st year girls basketball is on every Wednesday from 1.50-2.30 until midterm break.

Training for all 1st and 2nd year girls will continue after midterm from 2.20-3.30pm. New players are welcome. Ask Ms Ingerton for any further details. Teams will be playing in the Limerick league commencing in November A basketball Blitz for all 1st year boys and girls will take place on Wednesday October 20th in the Sportshall from 12.50-2.20pm. Teams will be mixed and all students are encouraged to participate in this fun event. Entry forms and details will be given out soon

by Ms. Ingerton.

Senior basketball for all 3rd, 5th and 6th year girls will be starting soon. Please ask Ms Beaumont for training times. Basketball is a great way to get fit and to meet students from Double All Ireland Winning Team (2000) with Ms.Ingerton other classes and schools. We have a very proud tradition of basketball here in St Nessan’s.

This year marks the 10 year anniversary of our girls double all Ireland win at cadette and senior D level in 2000.

Layout & Design: Michael O’ Connor (Smile SCP), Photography: Mr. Tracey, Mr. O’ Connor & Brendan Gleeson. Senior Editor: Ms. Toomey. Sub-Editor: Arron Moloney & Luke Morrosey. Sport’s reporters: Anthony Quinn, Christopher Mc Inerney. Typists: Shannon O Neill, Danielle Quinn, Jody King. Research: Alan Kelly, Daniel Ryan, John Daly & Edward O’ Keeffe. Reporters: Angelique Coughlan, Ellen Hogan & Grainne Hackett.