A Word with Mr Weafer

by Jack Coughlan and Alex Steposz

We got a new Principal in September. He has settled in very well and we decided to ask him a few questions to get to know him a little bit better Firstly, we asked Mr Weafer what made him decide to become a principal. “I always had a passion for teaching.” (You have to be a teacher first before you become a Deputy or a Principal ) From a young age he was interested in being a leader, so it felt like a natural choice for him to become a Principal.

We learned that he has been 23 years playing adult hurling!! We were curious if playing sport has made him a good leader. He says you use some of the same skills, communication and teamwork and knowing how to lead from the front by example and the back by building the team.

Jack asked him apart from sport and school what other interests has he got. He has a wife and two kids and they like to do things together like go hiking around a place called Kiltealy. He also reads everyday.

by 2 Colfer, Selskar College

..............interview with Mr Weafer continued from page 1 Then Jack asked “what is your dream holiday destination?” Mr Weafer says he is a home bird but his wife loves travelling. He has had two big trips, he went to Sierra Leone in Africa as part of a school trip of students and teachers. (he was a teacher then) which he describes as a “fantastic trip”. He also spent a whole month travelling down the coast of California.

Mr Weafer's favourite movie is Escape from Alcatraz or is it Selskartraz?!!

What is your favourite song? asked Jack “The Ferryman by the Dubliners” A friend of Mr Weafers used to sing this on nights out after hurling matches. His friend has since passed away, so this is a very special song to him.

We are 14 so Alex asked Mr Weafer what he was like at 14 in school and he said when he was 14 years of age he enjoyed the social side of school. He figured out at 14 that if he was polite and helpful that people would help him.

He says his vision for the future of Selskar College is not too far from where it is now. Mr Weafer is not looking to make huge changes but his vision is that everyone, students and staff, should feel they belong to our school community. He wants us all to reach our full potential and for the school to be “progressive” and “vibrant” We are a caring school he says, this is nice to hear.

Cheekily Jack and Alex suggested Mr Weafer is better at sport than his brother Mr P Weafer and he said that this is a fact…………..but the other Mr Weafer might not agree!!

Thank you for the interview Mr Weafer!

Horses by Anastasia Doyle

Anastasia has a big interest in horses. She has been reading up on horses and horse care and here she shares some of her learning.

Horses can do show jumps. Horses natural diet is mainly grass, which has a high roughage content. You will need to give them around 5 to 10 gallons of fresh water per day.

Did you know? Horses can sleep standing up. Horses can remember what your emotional state was when they last saw you! You can estimate a horses age by its teeth.

Some horses don’t like to get groomed, you have to do the hooves to get the dirt out. The mane comb for the mane and tail. Oil can make their hooves nice and clean. The dandy brush can remove heavy dirt and mud. The body brush its for removal of dust and scurf from the coat and tail. Horses are used for riding and transport. People have used selective breeding to make more giant horses. Some people keep horses as pets. My dream is to one day have my own horse.