DECEMBER
2005
tel 848 0014 / 848 0888 / 848 0290
fax 848 0163 email info@mercycoolock.ie web www.mercycoolock.ie
As
this term draws to a close we can reflect on the many and varied activities that take
place in
Mercy's
great achievement in the arts and music continues and we look forward to the next term
when students of 4th Year record and launch their CD, and finish a mosaic they are
currently designing.
They will also be involved in a week-long computer course in DCU and in the annual
musical with the students from
Our
Girls continue to give generously to charity. This term we have raised money for
We are always delighted to hear hope to about the continued success of former students. In the new term we launch a past pupils association.
None of the events and activities that are outlined in these pages would be possible were it not for the huge efforts of our teaching staff, the members of our office and maintenance teams, our Parent's Association and Board of Management, all of whom work tirelessly to ensure that each girl attending Mercy gets the best possible education. I wish to take this opportunity to acknowledge that work, to thank them and to wish them well for the coming year.
Finally, may I wish you and your family an enjoyable Christmas and a happy peaceful 2006.
Patricia Dwyer
Congratulations to the Leaving Certificate class of 2005 who are settling into
their new courses very well. Teaching and the caring professions including
social studies and nursing were the top course choice for the class of 2005.
in
and DCU.
Good luck to all of you as you start on your new journey.
Ms. Coneely
This was set up by a local lady Patricia O'Brien. It is an organisation that allows
people to send gifts to the less fortunate children of Bellarouse in
have been affected by the
This year the 5th years put together a box each, containing gifts
such as colouring books, toys, hats, scarves, sweets and colouring pencils for
children between the ages of 4 to 12 years. Together we collected over 35 boxes.
Many thanks to the students and staff for their contributions.
Amy Widdis and Amy McLeod 5th year
Five of our senior students have completed a year-long training
programme organised by Northside
Partnership and held in various venues around the city and beyond, including R.T.E.,
Brigade Training Centre and Carlingford Adventure Centre.
The girls - Suzanne Blake, Holly Duff, Orla Healy, Linda Hennessy and
Lynn Malone, completed modules in public speaking, mentoring, report writing, project management and outdoor activities. Such was the impact of our nominees on the programme that we have had four 5th year students accepted on the coming year's programme:
Sinead Collins, Lisa Birch, Claire Carthy and Lorna Caffrey.
The
transition from primary to secondary school can often be a worrying time for 1st years and
their parents. Here in
In November Aisling Keenan of 6th year
represented Mercy at the regional
finals of the Rotary Youth Leadership competition in Clontarf
Golf Course. Having come through the school
heat that involved interview and
testing on issues of general knowledge
and world events Aisling
was an able representative of the
school. Though she did not win the
coveted trip to
As
part of the sixth year Geography programme, we went on a field trip to
Laura Walsh 6th year
The students from room 35 and
Heaney visited the Dail on
Wednesday 19th October. The trip
was arranged by Mary Wallace T.D.
While there, we listened to various
T.D.'s discussing important issues,
including our Taoiseach Bertie
Aherne (FF), Enda Kenny (FG) and
Pat Rabbitte (Lab). Our local T.D.
Sean Haughey (FF) kindly gave us a brief history of all the former
Taoiseach. We ended our day in McDonalds, for a well earned meal.
A team comprising Fiona Healy, Aisling Keenan, Gemma Smyth, Blathnaid Martin and subs Amy Delaney and Caroline McCormack took part in the Thomas Crosbie Holdings school quiz in the Montrose Hotel recently,
Though
up against strong opposition
in the guise of CBS Monkstown and
Four senior students, Nicola Gorman, Lisa McLoughlin, Anne Madden and Claire O'Connell were narrowly beaten in the Credit Union school quiz, losing in a tie breaker. However, they did not go away empty handed, taking home 100 euros for their trouble.
STUDENT PROFILE
Name
Linda Talbot
Linda left Mercy College in 2000, she took
a gap year before taking a place in Brunel
University,
degree. She graduated with honours in
Summer 2005. Linda is currently taking
another gap year and will go
on to do a Higher Diploma
in Education.
The school is currently raising
finance to purchase chairs for the
1st and 2nd year classrooms. Each
chair cost €25 and the total cost will
be in the region of 4000euros.So as
you can see a lot of effort by the
staff, parents and students is
required. To date we have raised
1,100euros.
We would like to thank the following
sponsors:
Seamus Ward (Accountant), Bank of
Suzanne Kavanagh-UCI Cinema,
Students and Staff.
If any parent would like to sponsor a
chair or a leg or back or any part of
the chair all donations, no matter
how small, would be gratefully
accepted. Many thanks and I will
keep you posted.
Ms.P.Downes
Congratulations to the following 6th year students Claire O'Connell, Ciara Cumiskey, Rachel Ivie and
Aimee Carroll who received a
cheque for 100euros and a Certificate from the
The award was presented to them by TV pundit George Hooke who enthralled the audience about his life as a student, an accountant and finally as a TV presenter. After the presentation, a buffet was provided. So what did the girls have to do to receive this award? They got the highest scores in their Summer test in each of the Business and Accountancy class, so it just goes to show that hard work does pay off!! We
hope that the present 5th years are taking note.
Ms. P.Downes Ms.S.Moloney Ms. M. Browne
Merry Christmas
Amanda Doyle
& Laura Deighan 4th year
We have been rehearsing for our forthcoming CD since September.
Ms.Daltun and Ms.Doherty's 4th year music classes are involved in making a CD. We have written to companies to assist with our sponsorship for the recording and promotion of our CD. R.T.E's Emma from the Den (who visited us early in November) along with her producer Pauline, have kindly offered help in promoting the CD by mentioning it on their programme and attending some of the recording sessions in January 2006. As a group, we have chosen a variety of songs to sing and record.
Soloists from our year will be performing in the recording studios.
We
are currently holding a song-writing contest and the winning song will feature on our CD. The CD will
be launched by 4th years at the 4th year open evening in May 2006. The CD will be available
for general purchase in the school during lunchtime in May. A group of 4th years were
involved with
the cover design and we have chosen two charities that are important to us, The Marie
Keating Foundation in aid of breast cancer research and
in future news letters.
LITTLE BIT OF
We're
looking forward to a visit from Ma Samba, a
The
students will have the opportunity to play a wide range of instruments from
On the 9th of November 2005, a group of fifth and sixth year music
students attended a workshop on their set pieces for the Leaving
Certificate in the National Concert Hall. The students heard
Tchaikovsky's "Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture" played by
a full orchestra, conducted by James Cavanagh from the Royal
Orchestra played a modern "Piano Quartet" by the Irish composer,
Gerald Barry. J.S.Bach's cantana "Jesu der du Meine Seele" was
played by a small orchestra and accompanied by a choir and solo
singers. Overall, it was a very interesting experience. We listened to and
analysis of each work, accompanied by instrumental demonstrations,
and then heard a full performance of each piece. We were invited
to join in with the choir for the final movement of the Bach cantana.
We left with detailed notes on each piece and a better idea of how
they sound live. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and hope to visit
the National Concert Hall again in the near future.
Deirdre McCall and Elizabeth Gannon 5th year
After a very successful production of Willy Russell's Our Day Out
in May, the junior Drama Club of 2005/06 have started preparing
for the end of year show. Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet will be
performed next May and the girls are busy preparing costumes and
props. Auditions were held in November and the cast comprises of
1st, 2nd and 3rd year students.
The annual theatre trip took place on 9th December. The girls
enjoyed a production of the
Christmas, they will continue working towards May and will avail of
workshops provided by Martin French from St. Patrick's College,
Drumcondra and the Gaiety Youth Group.
Ms. T. Niland
LOCAL COMMITTEE
The local committee which consists of principals, parents and students from Mercy College, Chanel College, Scoil Chaitriona Cailini, Scoil
Chaitriona Nai and St Brendan's
ADULT EDUCATION
The following classes have been running in the school during the term:
Art classes Every Thursday morning from 10am to 12am
facilitated by Yvonne O'Brien
Ageing with Confidence Every Thursday afternoon from 2pm to 4.30pm
facilitated by two experienced Counsellors from
Northside Counselling Service Ltd.,
We are planning to run a Computer class for beginners in January. This will take
place on Thursday afternoons from 4 to 5.30 and will be facilitated by a
teacher from
If you are interested in any of the above, please contact Maria Somers at
8480888 during school hours.
HOMEWORK CLUB
An after school homework club has been set up for some
1st year students and this runs in conjunction with Northside Area
Partnership, it runs on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons and is
facilitated by teachers from
Maria Somers
PAIRED
A meeting for the paired reading tutors was held in the parents
room on Monday November 28th at 10.30. This was facilitated by
Ms.Moran the JCSP co-ordinator and myself. Ms.Moran outlined the
aims and outcomes of paired reading. The paired reading groups will
start in January 2006. Sincere thanks to our groups of adults and tutors
who are parents, members of the local parish and retired teachers from
reading environment for our 1st year students and are great role
models. If a parent has any concerns about a student's education or
behaviour please feel free to contact me.
SUPPORT GROUPS
Two Rainbow groups for children bereaved by death or separation
continue to run this term. They are facilitated by two adults on a
voluntary basis and provide a great support.
Adlerian Counsellor, Vincent Byrne continues to provide support for
parents and children. He is available for parents in the parents' room
on Wednesday nights between 7.30 pm and 9.30 pm and on
Wednesday afternoons between 2.00 pm and 4.00 pm. All are
welcome and this service is free of charge.
CARLINGFORD ADVENTURE
On the 25th October, the 4th year students went on a trip to Carlingford
Adventure Centre. That night when we arrived, everyone put on their colourful wellies and went for a walk into the forest. During the day we went canoeing, raft building, rock climbing, abseiling and did the high ropes course. The high ropes course was a 30 foot climbing frame and
wasn't for the faint hearted.
A lot of people got over their fear of heights and of water and some just got over their fear of getting dirty! We all feel that we have got a lot
closer and it was a good bonding session.
We all loved the trip so much that when we were on our way home we were begging our teachers to bring us back again. Many thanks to
Ms.Rooney, Ms.Lalor and Ms. Harrison for taking the time out to bring us.
Laura Deighan
During September 4th, 5th and 6th year students attended the "Sculpture in Context" exhibition in the Botanics. This is the third year that the exhibition has been held in the gardens, and the third year we have attended. Artists create works to suit specific sites throughout the gardens - in the greenhouse, on the grounds, in the lakes or hiding on trees. Some are also displayed in the visitors centre which overlooks the gardens.
The idea of the visit is to give students an appreciation and awareness of Irish sculpture. And also to see how it works - or not in some cases, in different settings. The students pick their favourite pieces describe and draw them. They also pick two pieces they dislike and explain why. On return to school, they write an essay based on their day and we use the work they have seen as an influence on their own.
This year we were blessed with the weather, although 5th and 6th years did have some rain in the afternoon. We all had a great day walking around the gardens, getting some exercise, appreciating the stunning scenery and many sculptures. Hopefully we will continue to do so in the years to come.
Ms. Cassidy and Ms. Kearns
Many thanks to all those who brought in shopping tokens for
computers. This year we received a portable DVD burner which
we use to back up all the work done by students in the Computer
room network. We also used a USB drive to move data between
machines not on the network. Software was received for
Geography, Religion and Media Studies.
Mr Young
A warm welcome to all new students to the school library.
Congratulations to the Junior Cycle students who participated
in our first Book Club Review and to the winner, Stephanie Trimble.
A special thanks to the students who helped to organise the event
and to Blathnaid Martin for her art work. A selection of new titles
is available and I urge all our Junior and Senior cycle students
to maximise their use of the facility. On behalf of M.S.Readathon
I would like to thank those students who participated in the
competition. This year's total is in excess of 755 euros and monies
are still being received.
Ms. McAlister
Fifth
year biology students enjoyed a good day in
earlier this term. The group got to interview research students in
T.C.D.
hear about research being done in
live mathematicians". The mathematicians talked about their
careers in maths and explained the relevance of maths in life.
A very important part of school life here in Mercy is the work of the student council. Each class elects its representative. They, along with the Head Girl and Deputy Head Girl meet to discuss issues and suggestions for improving life for everyone in the school community. The student council also plays a part in our charity work, undertaking various projects throughout the year.
On the 29th November our class 2.4 had a visit from a member of
the ISPCA. She brought a dog called Beckham and talked to us about
him and other animals that were treated very badly in the
If we learned anything, it's that we should treat animals properly.
Susan Fox 2nd year
Sarah Smyth represented the school
in the Schools Games held in Santry
Stadium in September 2005 and
won the following medals in the All
Ireland Secondary Schools Final held
in Tullamore:
Gold 100 metres
Silver Shot Putt
Silver Discus
Sarah was also awarded a bronze
medal for the overall medal winner
in the 100metres / Shot Put / Discus
and Javelin.
Congratulations Sarah.
Ms.
Maloney