Patricia Dwyer Principal's Message

"Different from the day before"

"Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body"

Romeo Romeo Wherefore Art Thou

Patricia Dwyer Principal's Message

What follows in this newsletter is a representation of the vibrant life of Mercy College. It celebrates an abundance of talent that is so evident in our everyday school activities.

In every aspect of school life our students continue to shine and to represent our school with pride. Whether on the sporting field, in music, in artistic endeavours or on stage, the creativity levels are immense. Our 1st year basketball squad won the Dublin league and were runners-up in the All- Ireland finals, beaten only by their nemesis - Taylor's Hill of Galway, the only team to beat us during the tournament. Our 4th years displayed their talents in Guys and Dolls and on CD, in DCU's computer labs and in Carlingford's adventure centre. Our choir earned second place in the Feis Ceoil, also performing in the Cork Choral Festival. The Junior Drama Club's production of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet was a prime example of partnership in action with so many members of the school community lending a hand with sets, costumes etc., Mercy Melodies offered an opportunity for soloists and choirs to display their talents. Students, parents and Home School teacher, Ms. Somers, were involved in introducing a Healthy Eating programme for students, with fresh sandwiches and rolls, apples and water available every day. Students raised funds for several charities, including Temple Street Hospital, COPE, the Simon Community and the Marie Keating Foundation. Our Religious Education team were busy all year, with a range of ceremonies and activities that helped bring Catherine McAuley's vision to life.

All of these activities ran in tandem with the high quality teaching and learning that takes place across the year groups. All members of the teaching staff have been engaged in continuing professional development throughout the year, with six teachers currently taking the Master's programme in their own area of expertise, displaying a level of commitment and willingness to build on their already excellent skills. Several of our 6th years received DIT Business awards, while others benefited from programmes in DCU - our links with that University remaining as strong as ever. As June and the State Exams approach we wish our 3rd years and in particular our Leaving Certificate classes every success at exam time and on to 3rd level. As they take up their places in a range of colleges next year we hope that they will remain a part of the extended Mercy College Community.

Some changes took place within the building itself, with more to follow this summer. Due to sterling efforts of Ms. Downes, Ms. Conneely and the Students Council, our classrooms downstairs were given a new look, with new student's chairs, teacher's desks and freshly painted walls. We greatly appreciate the efforts of the Parents' Association and parents in general who gave so generously to our Sponsored Walk and raffles. This Summer sees the Typing Room converted into a second Computer lab. A major programme of window replacement will take place this summer, and our plan for refurbishment of the upstairs classrooms will start afresh in September. A key person in all this has been Michael O' Donohoe, our caretaker. We thank him for all that he has done since joining us in October.

On a personal note I wish to thank the staff, students, parents and members of the Board of Management for their support and commitment to our school community throughout this year. With all of you committing your time and energies to such a myriad of activities we can look forward with confidence to continued success and achievement in the next academic year.

Student Council

The 2005/2006 Student Council met for the first time in October 2005. The Council was involved in two major money raisers to buy chairs for the classrooms. In early March, the Council organised a sponsored walk. Council members did wonderful work distributing sponsorship cards and collecting money. Despite the rain the walk was great fun and over 3000 euros was raised.

Council members tasted healthy snacks and gave the go ahead for the new “healthy” vending machines that are currently located in the Hall. The parents association asked

Council members to help with the annual raffle and again the members did wonderful

work raising awareness among their classmates and selling tickets. The money raised was

put towards converting the typing room into a second Computer Lab. The Council will

meet in mid May to reflect on their work of the last year and to look at the implementation

of their suggestions in time for the coming year.

Thank you girls for being brilliant and I really enjoyed working with you.

Ms. Conneely

Sponsor a Chair

Update Ms. Downes

Many thanks to all the students, staff, parents and sponsors who contributed in excess of 4,800 euros. A lot of time and effort went into this fundraising with raffles, corporate sponsorship and a sponsored walk. The walk itself raised in excess of 3,000 euros. We have managed to get new chairs for all of the 1st and 2nd year classrooms.

I would also like to say a special thanks to Mr Pat Downes, General Manager of Beverley Smyth/Nat Ros, for donating office desks, chairs, shelves, storage cabinets, typist chairs for the computer rooms, filing cabinets etc. Michael, our caretaker has painted the downstairs classrooms, so all in all happy days!!

Next year we will tackle the upstairs classrooms.

I will keep you posted.

Parents Association

Secretary Catherine Sadlier,

This year, for the first time the Parents Association

held a Christmas raffle and we managed to

raise 500 euros. This money was put towards the

purchase of chairs for the classrooms. A special

word of thanks to our committee member,

Stephen Kealy who provided all the prizes. Our

annual Easter raffle took place in April and this

raised over 1600 euros for the school. We would

like to thank the Student Council and

Ms. Conneely for their assistance in the sale and

distribution of tickets.

A new committee will be formed in the next

school year and all parents/guardians are

invited to become involved All are welcome to

attend our AGM which will be held in October.

Finally, we would like to wish all the 3rd year and

6th year students the best of luck in their exams.

Library News

Ms. McAlister

There are lots of new titles to interest Senior and Junior cycle students. Come along to the library and have a browse around the shelves. The Book Club Review for the month of April was won by Jamie Lawless 1st year for her review of "Best Friends" by J.Wilson. We look forward to a large number of entrants to the current review. I would like to take this opportunity to remind all students that all Library books must be returned before we close for the Summer holidays. Finally, have a pleasant time during the Summer and remember it's a wonderful time to catch up on your favourite authors' latest book. Happy reading.

"Different from the day before"

Ms. Cassidy

This exhibition of Contemporary Art by second level pupils was the result of a working partnership between a group of Art teachers, the Faculty of Education at the National College of Art and Design and the Museum of Modern Art.

The second level students and teachers visited two contemporary art exhibitions in IMMA. The first was the work of Chinese Contemporary Artists and the second was called "Drawings and Works on Papers from the IMMA Collection". This allows pupils and teachers to engage in new media and materials. 6th years Tara Moran and Fiona Healy spoke to the delegates at the Educational Studies Association of Ireland annual conference. They spoke about their experience of the exhibition and the follow up project, and were very highly commended by everyone there.

Our students took inspiration from the exhibition and John Byrne's take on Leonarda da Vinci's Last Supper. Students took an existing artists' painting and put their own contemporary slant on it. They could change some of the content, images and materials but keep the piece resembling the original. Paintings by Fiona Healy ("Reality Check" taken from Renoirs Umbrella), Tara Moran (Once a blank page") and Lisa Kenny ("Radio Gaga" taken from Hans Holbein Ambassadors).

Painting 1 - Tara Moran 'Once a blank page'

Painting 2 - Lisa Kenny 'Radio Gaga' - taken from Hans Holbein - Ambassadors

Painting 3 - Fiona Healy 'Reality Check' - taken from Renoirs Umbrellas

JCSP - Ms Moran

Take Up and Read,

Take Up

and Read

The importance of reading cannot be

over emphasised as a skill for students for school and for life. With this in mind all first year students took part in a Reading Programme. With the help of volunteers from the local community some students read with a tutor, some read while listening to a tape and some read alone. We hope this was a worthwhile activity and hope the habit of reading

will continue over the summer.

Battle of the Bands

On Thursday 19th January Coolock Artane Credit

Union sponsored the Battle of the Bands music contest charity event. Local secondary schools in

the area competed to win the title.

A band from Chanel College called Bruwski

emerged victorious. Students from Mercy College, St Mary's Killester, Chanel College and St. David's CBS competed against each other.

Eleven acts performed and the standard was very

high. Soloist Jayne Howard from Mercy College came 2nd and 3rd place went to guitarist Dara Kelly from St. David's. All funds raised on the night

went to the charity "To Russia With Love".

"Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body"

Second year students in Room 12 had a good work out last term as they worked their way through one million words. Following a trip to Northside Library to select books the girls made their way through a mountain of words in no time at all. Well done girls,

"feel the burn".

Moving to the Beat

Ms. Moran JCSP co-ordinator

Second year music students were busy

"moving to the beat". A Samba music initiative proved to be a big hit with the

girls (see music news for more details)

Buddies

Ten Transition Year students have been involved in a Paired Reading Programme with Scoil CaitrÌona Junior School since February. The girls are working with Junior and Senior Infants, First class and students with special educational needs to provide a positive and fun reading environment. Our Transition students are great role models and both groups of students are enjoying this

very rewarding experience.

Shauna O'Hanlon and Tara Smartt 4th year

TOP OF THE POPS

You have probably heard that the 4th year students have recorded a CD this

year. We performed ten songs and the school choir was invited to sing on one of the tracks. One of our students Hiromi Suzuki from Japan, designed the CD cover and Mr Young designed the booklet. Fionán De Barra, a Sound Engineer, came to the school to record the CD. St. Brendan's Parish and Coolock-Artane Credit Union sponsored us and without their help, we would have been unable to record. Any monies raised from the sale of the CD will go to our chosen charities, The Marie Keating Foundation and Temple Street Hospital. Representatives from the charities, the sponsors, parents, students and staff all attended the launch of the CD which was held on the 24th May. Many thanks to all who purchased the CD and to Ms Daltún and Ms Doherty

for their time and effort in helping us with our CD Mercy Melodies.

Compute TY

Ms. Rooney

Last January saw our Transition years swap school for

University for a week. The girls spent that week in The School of Computing in Dublin City University designing their own personal web page. It was a great opportunity

for the girls to develop advanced computer skills.

GUYS & DOLLS

One of the highlights of Transition Year is the production of a Musical with Chanel

College. This year was no exception and March saw the staging of a wonderful production of "Guys and Dolls", with Helena McMackin, Shauna O'Hanlon, Leanne Cooke and Therese Redmond in lead roles. The students played to a full and appreciative audience each night. Many thanks to students, staff, parents and management who made this show such a success. A huge thanks to Jimmy and Carol O'Byrne, our Directors and to Mary Rose Stauder our Musical Director.

Andrea Keating, Ashleigh McNally and Niamh Lynch 2nd year

Festival of Music

The school choir took a trip to Cork to participate in the 52nd Cork

International Choral Festival. This is the first year that Mercy College has participated in this prestigious event. We travelled by train and stayed overnight in Jury's Inn Hotel. When we arrived in Cork on Thursday afternoon we did a bit of sight seeing and had a rehearsal in the hotel. On Thursday evening we all went to see "Scala on the Rocks" in the City Hall. "Scala" is a Youth choir from Belgium. They performed a selection of songs from classical to pop. They closed the concert with a great version of U2s "With or Without You". We really enjoyed it. On Friday morning we practiced for the competition, then we all got changed into our uniforms and went to the City Hall. The Lord Mayor gave us a welcoming speech and then the competition began. We were the first choir to perform. All the other choirs were excellent and enjoyable to listen to. We were awarded a certificate of merit for our performance of Evening Prayer and Ding Dong Dedero. When the competition ended we were all in a rush, we ran to the hotel to collect our belongings and went straight to the station to catch our train home. Thanks to our teachers Ms. Doherty, Ms. Daltun, Ms. Whelehan and Mr O'Mahony who came with us.

Samba Workshop

Nikkole O'Neill and Christing Behan 2nd year

The Samba Workshop was a wonderful experience for us. We learned how to play drums and lots of other instruments. We all really enjoyed it and had so much fun. The first day we started we learned how to play the drums and the bells. We were also taught a dance, which people have been doing in samba for many years. On the second day we all got to try the instruments. Our teachers were Sarah and Simeon and they were very entertaining! After doing samba for two weeks Sarah and Simeon asked us all if we wanted to do a concert. We were delighted with the idea and we were all hoping that we wouldn't have to perform in front of every year, which would be very embarrassing. Needless to say this is what happened, but after our initial embarrassment, we had a great time and look forward to playing samba again.

Next Year

The choir has been invited to return to St.Mary's,

Clonsilla to sing in their annual Songs of Praise Service. This will take place in early October. The choir will sing hymns on their own and will join the Parish of St.Mary's in singing other Harvest hymns.

Novena Mass

Naomi Lester 1st year

At the beginning of March the school choir was invited

by Fr. Hand to sing at the Novena Mass in St. Brendan's Church. The choir sang a selection of hymns and was joined by a packed church. It was a very enjoyable evening. Many thanks to the girls and their parents who continue to participate enthusiastically in Parish events.

Feis Ceoil

Louise Clancy and Deirdre McCall 5th year

The school choir took part in the annual Feis Ceoil at the end of March. There

were seven national choirs who participated in the Sacred music competition. We came 2nd to a choir from Tullamore, which was a great achievement. We sang two pieces, Evening Prayer from Hansel and Gretel by Humperdinck and Standing in the need of Prayer, a gospel song, arranged by L'Estrange. We got a beautiful certificate which will be displayed in the school. We really enjoyed the day out and many thanks to Ms.Doherty who conducted the choir and to Ms.Cutliffe who accompanied the choir on the piano.

Everything I do

Ms. Dunwoody

On the 20th March, all the students from room 35 performed a concert for their parents and teachers. Each student performed two songs which they had prepared for their Music Practical exam. There was a great selection of music from "Everything I do" by Bryan Adams to "Hero" from Mariah Carey. The concert was followed by a reception. Thanks to all who attended and well done to the girls who did very well in their Practical Music exam.

SPoRTs News

Hockey

Ms. Whelehan

A good year was had by all. The Junior Team were unfortunate to lose out on a quarter final place by one point. However, they played extremely well and we have great hopes for next year. The Senior team played well and were third in their section. The Mercy Celts (past pupils) are up and running and would welcome new players for the next season. We hope to have 1st and 2nd years playing leagues in the coming season.

Finally, I would like to wish all exam candidates the best of luck in their exams.

Athletics Lyndsey Reilly 2nd year

This year the athletics team went to Santry. The events were high jump, long jump, 500 metres, 800 metres and the relay event. Despite only one team member winning a medal we all had a great time. Hopefully next year with more training we will win some medals.

Minor Leinster Basketball Champions

It has been a great year for the Mercy Basketball Programme. The Club has grown enormously over the past twelve months. We now have nine teams and an academy for 5-12 year olds all playing and competing in the Dublin leagues. Mercy's National League team were the winners of the Regular season championship in only their second season in the top flight, while the Division 1 Team won the Dublin Cup and the Division 1 National title.

Our National league players are coaching at underage in the Club and this factor combined with Annette Ingle's coaching in Scoil Chaitriona has produced one of our best ever 1st year Basketball teams. The team easily won the Leinster title and played in the National finals in Inchicore. Here the team did extremely well in qualifying for the final, eventually losing to a very good team from Taylors Hill in Galway. Mercy beat Castlerea, Belfast and Charleville on their way to the final. Remembering that our programme is about developing players, I believe that this team has a very good future ahead of them, as they are very dedicated and hard working. It is also worth mentioning here, that our 2nd year team would have qualified only we did not have enough numbers to produce a team, however, both these teams will combine next year and due to their efforts the school has gained promotion to the B Division next season.

Mercy's first year team are: Carly Tyrell, Simone Tipping, Laura Ryan, Kim Duffy, Lisa Collins, Louise Perry, Jade O'Reilly, Amy Wilders, Laura Kirby, Ciara Redmond, Katie Coffey, Rebecca Prendergast, Melissa Casey and Shauna Wolverson.

I would like to thank all the supporters who attended the girls finals and also the great support

from the Principal Ms. Dwyer and Deputy Principal Mr O'Mahony throughout the year.

Yours in sport, Mark Ingle (Basketball Coach)

Soccer

For the first time in the school a senior soccer team has been set up. Training is on

Tuesday's at 4.00 p.m. and all new members are welcome. We recently played our first game and we were beaten 4-1, we see this as a minor glitch and hope that with more practice, we will turn this around and start winning !!

NEWSFLASH¼¼.NEWSFLASH

Congratulations to Kerrie Ryan who has been asked to train with the U17 Ireland

team. Kerry is currently playing for the school soccer team and is a player with

Raheny United U16.

Student Achievement Awards

My name is Claire O'Reilly a 2nd year student and I love athletics. I have won many awards in the past and hopefully I will many more in the future. I have won an All Ireland finalist medal last year for 2nd place and this year I came 2nd in a North Leinster final. My main ambition is to become the new Sonia O'Sullivan. Just recently, I was awarded an MP3 player by the Bank of Ireland for achievement in athletics. My family are very proud of me and I hope that their pride will last. Apart from running, I also do the High jump and I have also made the Leinster finals. I will keep you posted.

Young Artist Competition

Congratulations to Laura O' Brien in 5th year who was a prize winner in the Sutton Park School Young Artist Competition. Picture shows Laura with the winning artwork.

First Year Quiz

As part of the LCVP programme, the students ran a quiz

for first years. The following students won the team prize:

Ciara Murphy, Jamie Lawless, Amy Branagan, Lisa Collins.

Congratulations girls.

Seachtain na Gaelige

Lorna Molloy

During Irish week we celebrated Irish culture, music and language. Many students

participated. Bhí an craic go maith!

Lorna Caffrey fáiltiú, Miriam Hinch feadóg stáin, Holly Kealy and Kelly Bruen filíocht, Jayne Howard canadh.

I rith seachtain na gaeilge bhí seans againn teanga agus cultúr na gaeilge a cheiliúradh.

Bhí tráth na gceist ag na cailinÌ sa dara bliain seomra 9,10. Bhuaigh foireann Aoife Ni

Bhraonáin, Rebekah Nic an Tsaor, Ayan Ali Gudade agus Erika NÌ Cába.

Career Guidance

Ms. Conneely

At this stage of the year 6th years have plans in place for the coming academic

year. CAO forms have been sent into "cyber space", interviews for Post Leaving Certificate courses are almost over and despite all the pressure, Summer is coming!

Good luck to each one of you and may all your dreams come true.

Meanwhile 5th years are researching their options. The new year began with a trip

to Croke Park for the Opportunities 06' career exhibition.

Several past pupils came back to talk about working life. These included a

Dietician/Nutritionalist, a Teacher, Interior Designer and a representative from a major bank. Our links with DCU continue, senior students were involved in various projects including student shadowing, an Easter revision course and a Discover DCU Workshop. 3rd years had a ten week career module for the first time this year.

Have a wonderful Summer and remember you can achieve anything once you go

about it the right way. "It’s not what you have but how you use it" (Alfred Adler 1932).

Romeo Romeo Wherefore Art Thou

Ms.Niland

After months of preparation the Junior drama club staged a production of William

Shakespeare’s' Romeo and Juliet in May. The girls from 1st, 2nd and 3rd year performed successfully in front of friends and family. Despite the demanding rehearsals, everyone enjoyed the experience. Special thanks to all who helped out this year including Ms. Dwyer, Mr O' Mahony, Michael, staff, students and friends.

DSPCA

Katy T. Keenan and Holly Keally 1st year

As part of our CSPE programme our class visited the DCSPA

shelter in Rathfarnham with Ms Harrison and Ms.Cassidy. Our class was shown around the shelter and looked at all the different animals that had been hurt or abandoned. All the students had to write about the visit and this will go towards

60% of our marks in our Junior Certificate exam.

Science Update

A thank you to all 3rd year science students who rose to the challenge and completed the two science projects, it was a learning experience for us all. 2006 is the first year that the new course will be examined and we wish our students the best of luck in June.

Ms. Moran and Ms. Dowling

"Sunshine all the way"

After torrential rain at the beginning of the week, the sun shone for our 6th year field trip to Newbridge demesne. Ecology is part of the Leaving Certificate course and we spent the morning looking at the flora and the fauna in the habitat. We hope the girls enjoyed themselves and we also hope that they will study the information and apply it to their exams!! Best of luck to our 6th year exam students.

Dublin City University

DCU and Mercy College continue to co-operate to develop science education. The local 3rd level college has a close working relationship with the school and our 6th year students availed of laboratory facilities this year to revise the Leaving Certificate practical work.

Axis

Dé Máirt an 7 lá de Mhárta chuamar go dtí amharclann

Axis i mbhaile munna. Chuir taibhdhearc na Gaillimhe dhí dhrámaí ar and stáitse. An Cearrbhach Mac Caba agus fiche bliain ag fás. BhÌ an asisteoireacht thar cionn

agus thaitin an seó le gach duine ón rang.

Tuesday the 7th of March we went to the Axis Theatre in Ballymun. There were two plays on the stage. The actors were great and all the students loved it.

Awards Ceremony 2006

This year saw the introduction

of the "Sr. Gonzalez Perpetual

trophy for excellence in Maths."

The trophy was presented by

Colette Mc Hugh, niece of

the late Sr. Gonzalez, to Ngan

Nguyen who received the highest

score in higher level maths in the

Leaving Certificate 2005.

Student of the year Claire O'Connell 6th year.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Angela Corrigan left Mercy College

in 1994. She went to DIT Aungier

Street and studied Computer

Programming and received a BSc

in Information Technology. Angela

is currently working for Independent

Newspapers in Advertising.

Head Girl: Orla Healy

Deputy Head Girls:

Lisa Burch & Lorna Caffrey

A thank you to the Secretary of the Parents' Association, Catherine Sadlier who has retired from this position after five years service.

This Newsletter was designed and printed by Premiere Print - Tel. 01 866 5600 Email. premiereprint@eircom.net