It's that time of year again; Christmas is already around the corner. We have had a very busy and successful term. Students are preparing for Christmas exams and we would ask you to encourage those facing the Leaving Certificate in 2009 to give up part-time work while they prepare for their state exams. Of course, the lure of having money in their pockets, whether for presents or further down the line for the 'debs' preparations is strong. However, we ask that the girls be encouraged to see the long term picture. A good Leaving Certificate and further study is the path to career success and lifelong rewards.

Our first year students have settled in well, thanks in no small part to the efforts of their year head, form teachers, senior prefects and the pastoral care team. We encourage them to get involved in as many school activities as possible. They are involved in many sports, the Breakfast club, Homework Club and after-school choir. The Junior Drama club will be up and running again after the holidays.

Our Religious Education team was active throughout the term, often working in tandem with the music department on such lovely events as our Mercy Day Mass and annual Carol Service.

The November Remembers Service was a lovely ceremony, with all in the school community remembering deceased family and friends. At that time we particularly remembered our former colleague Ms. Louise Griffin, whose untimely death at 33 years old, was a great loss.

Congratulations to our many teams and groups who have participated so well and with such success in a range of activities throughout the term.

The Under 16 basketball team are Dublin champions and we look forward to further success for the team in the All-Ireland finals. Our quiz team were prize winners in the annual Credit Union quiz, beating teams from St. Mary's & St. David's, before losing the lead in the final round to the team from Chanel College. The team will compete in the All-Ireland TCH quiz competition in the New Year. Soccer, Gaelic football, volleyball and athletics competitions will continue in the New Year and I have no doubt that we will enjoy more success in 2009. We have a new link with Raheny United football club, with the senior team using our all-weather pitch for league matches. Thanks to the club a new set of jerseys will be provided for our own soccer teams.

Individual students achieved success in many areas. They included our Head Girl, Emma Roche, who found the time to achieve her black belt in karate.

We celebrated Maths Week and Science Week, while the business students of 2nd year, LCVP and in particular Transition year were involved in a wonderful trade fair. Our link with Office Depot continues and 6th Year LCVP students enjoyed a site visit to the company in November. 5th Years are part of a mentoring programme with members of staff from the company.

We always like to add our past pupils' achievements to our ever increasing roll of honour. Current Lord Mayor of Dublin Eibhlin Byrne, is a former Mercy girl and we look forward to welcoming her to our annual Awards ceremony in May. Our Leaving Certificate students of 2008 have gone on to third level studies in a range of colleges, including Trinity, UCD and DCU - with which we have special links. Details of their success may be found in the pages that follow. It is wonderful to see that wherever their talents lay, they were nurtured in Mercy College, allowing them to forge careers in areas as varied as law, medicine, teaching, beauty, music and even professional football.

Our development plans move on apace and the new term will see work begin on a school canteen, with funds garnered through the Dormant Accounts scheme. Thanks to a kind donation from the Parish Council of St. Brendan's Parish, the Special Education department will soon have its own interactive whiteboard, to enhance student learning. Plans have been submitted to the Department of Education Buildings Section for improvements to the toilet facilities. More news of that application -hopefully positive! - in future editions.

As the year draws to a close I want to thank each member of the staff for the high standards and level of care they offer the students of Mercy College. Any reader of this magazine or indeed any visitor to the school can see evidence of this in abundance. If proof were needed of the staff's level of commitment to the girls, one only has to read the various subject inspections that have taken place to date. A flavour of those findings is included in this issue.

The recent budget cuts are a blow to education and to students in every school. However, I am confident that such is the wealth of talent and commitment in the Mercy College community that any negative impact on student life and learning will be as minimal as possible.

May I wish every member of the school community a peaceful and happy Christmas, and every good wish for the year ahead.

MATHS WEEK

The 3rd annual Maths week was held in Mercy College from October 13th to October 17th. A maths quiz for the students was organised. Each day a question was displayed on the maths noticeboard. On Friday the students submitted their entries and prizes were awarded to the winners in each year group.

The winners this year were:

1st year Antonio Cummins

2nd year Huda Saeed

3rd year Vanessa Flood

5th year Shauna Taylor

6th year Amy Dunne

Why don't you have a go!!!!!

Andy, Benny and Charlie have 21 apples between them. If Charlie gave 2 apples to Andy all three will have the same number of apples. How many apples does Andy have?

How many positive 2 digit whole numbers are odd?

In a building in the zoo there were zebras and ostriches. If these animals have a total of 26 legs and 18 eyes, how many ostriches are there?

A drawer contains 10 white socks, 10 black socks and 10 blue socks, nothing else. What is the minimum number of socks Jerome must pack if he wants to be certain that he will have a pair of the same colour?

How many rectangles are visible in the figure below?

TRANSITION YEAR ROUND UP

NERDS "R" US

As part of our Mini Company, 4th year students held a Christmas Trade Fare on Friday 5th December in the school hall. All students, staff and parents were invited to attend. The following products were on sale: cakes, sweets, tea, coffee, soft drinks, floral arrangements, Christmas cards, decorations and there was a raffle for a Christmas cake and floral arrangement.

Most of the products were handmade and many thanks to all the teachers that helped us in the making of the products and on the day. In particular I would like to thank, Monica, Ms. Lalor, Mrs Carpenter, Ms.Cassidy, Ms.Quinn, Ms Dunwoody, Ms. Moran, Ms Dowling (allowed us rent free storage space), our investment banker Ms. Dwyer and the office staff for all their help. Most thanks of all is due to Ms. Downes, our Business teacher who gave us a great deal of help and encouragement. It was a brilliant experience and great success making a very good profit on our initial investment and loan. Part of the profit will be given to charity to raise funds to pay for a teacher in Nicaragua and the remainder will be given towards the funding of an interactive whiteboard for the Art room.

E. Lally (General Manager)

BY THE SEA

On Tuesday evening October 7th, 20 Transition Year students accompanied by Ms. Harrison and Ms. Rooney set off on an action packed, fun filled 2 days in Carlingford Adventure Centre. Students engaged in a number of water and land based activities. A great time was had and the girls are eagerly awaiting their next trip.

JOSEPH AND HIS AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT

The annual musical with the students of Chanel College is in full swing.

Auditions have taken place and the show is cast. Rehearsals will start in January and the show will take place during the week of March 2nd.

BADLY DRAWN ROY

Rule Of Thumb Production Company, and Kish Company has spent the last number of months filming and producing a children's TV programme for the BBC. The programme will be aired next Spring. All the Transition Year students acted as extras for the programme, both in UCI and Northside Shopping Centre. The story centres around a young boy, a cartoon character called Roy, who moves from the country to the city. Only time will tell whether we have a budding actor on our hands!!!

QUIZ

Three teams from Mercy College competed against local opposition - Chanel College, St. David's, and St. Mary's - in the annual Credit Union Table Quiz competition. The girls performed extremely well and enjoyed themselves immensely. The team from 5th Year - Aoife Brennan, Amy Delaney, Amy O'Carroll and Gemma Smyth lead throughout, only to be pipped at the post by a team from Chanel College. The other Mercy participants on the night were: Sara Kenny, Christina Behan, Rachel Cantwell, Yvonne McLoughlin, Jaimie Mooney, Emma Lally, Nakita Lennon, Nicole Russell, Jessica Whitley, Kerry Cromwell, Kim Duffy, Sandra McCormack and Hayley Keen. Thanks also to the supporters who came on the night.

WORK EXPERIENCE

All Transition Year students are at present completing the first 2 weeks of their work experience programme. Students will complete a second block in March.

MERCYSPORTS

MERCY COOLOCK SPORT IS IN VERY SAFE HANDS .........

EXTRACTS FROM THE EVENING HERALD THURSDAY 20TH NOVEMBER ........

BY LOUIS BROWN

Mercy College Cooolock, established by the Sisters of Mercy in 1963, encourages its students to participate in all sporting activities. And it seems that not a lunchtime, afternoon or evening goes by without the girls eagerly participating in sport, which plays an enormous part in the school life. This year sees the Northside school competing competitively in soccer, basketball, volleyball, Gaelic, cross country and athletics leaving their PE teacher Eaine Fitzgerald with plenty to ponder in the months ahead. However, with Mark Ingle, Women's Superleague coach with DCU Mercy, alongside Tony Hatton, who coaches Shelbourne Football Club, in tow, sport looks to be in very good hands.

Soccer had its inaugural outing last year and strong performances saw them qualify for the knock out stages, thanks to players such as Lisa Murphy who is currently on the Irish Under 14 squad. Together with Lisa, Aoife McEvoy and Holly Hatton all looks well for the future. Kerry Ryan was central to last year's under 18 team and is now currently playing for Portsmouth FC in the English Academy League.

In basketball, the under 16 'B' side won the Leinster Schools Basketball, while this year the cadettes have topped the league, giving them a semi final match in Leinster. According to their coach Mark Ingle "Players like Laura Ryan and Nayla Abdulla are great new prospects for the future".

On the Gaelic football front, the school opened a new chapter in its sporting history, entering the Senior Gaelic Football Schools competition for the first time this year, and made an instant impact by reaching the quarter finals. Led by their captain Sinead Cummiskey, an all Ireland winner with the Dublin minor team of 2008 along with a large number of girls playing with Parnells GAA club, which has produced many great players such as past pupil Niamh McEvoy, Mercy will soon fancy their chances to go all the way.

Indoor activities such as Volleyball have proved extremely popular with over 60 students taking advantage of the warm indoor training environment to compete for the Junior and Cadette teams. The girls hope to follow last year's second team who reached the All-Ireland play offs in the J6 and J4 levels.

Meanwhile the cross country team of Jadine Brennan, Michelle Gribbin, Roslyn Mc Carthy, Iesha Healy, Kelly Callan and Nadine Duffy tasted great success by capturing the under 14 B event at the North Leinster Cross Country competition in January 2008.

A GIRL ON THE WAY UP WHO PREFERS TO PLAY IT DOWN

DECEMBER 10TH 2008 - EXTRACTS FROM THE IRISH TIMES

Nayla Abdulla: She's a 15-year-old kid with a big smile and an even bigger basketball game, but talking to Nayla Abdulla you would think she's far from the star in the making she looks to be.

The Somalia-born student at Mercy College in Coolock has made great strides on court over the last few years and will line-out with her team-mates in the Dublin Under-16 Schools final against Our Lady's of Terenure at the Oblate Hall in Inchicore. For Abdulla it's all about the enjoyment of playing with her friends. It's also all about girls together, there's no "I" in this team as far as she is concerned.

"It's just getting along with all the girls and having a good time, being there for each other, it's just fun," remarks Abdulla, whose height and strength have played a key part in the school making it to the decider.

Ingle, an assistant coach of the Ireland women's team, knows talent when he sees it and has watched as players such as Ireland captain Lyndsey Peat have blossomed from talented school kids into international players. He sees no reason why Abdulla can't go all the way. "I think Nayla has every chance to go on and play Superleague or even become a professional if she wanted," Ingle declares.

"She's come on really strong this year, she's averaging 16 to 18 points a game. Just from looking at the players I have coached in the past, she's certainly as strong as Sharon Kelly or Tara Fitzsimons, who both went on to play professional basketball from Mercy College." Ingle has played a big part in the integration of the school and club into the DCU basketball programme and believes the structures are in place for talented players such as Abdulla and team-mate Laura Ryan to go as far as they can with their basketball.

"Historically, these kids would have had to go to America to further their basketball careers. I don't think that's the case any more," says Ingle. "The ethos at the school and club is to provide the opportunity for good young athletes to move on. That would be at the core of our mission statement. The school is linked to the club and the club to DCU.

"We have a pathway from the school team to the club team to the Superleague team. Looking down the road, Nayla would certainly be one of the players DCU would be looking to recruit into the college." The third-year student is really enjoying her basketball but she does have dreams of playing internationally when the time comes. "I'd love to play for the National League teams and for Ireland, that would be great," confirms Abdulla, who looks up to the likes of Peat and Mary Fox, who star for the DCU Mercy Superleague team.

High Achievers: The Class of 2008

Congratulations to members of the class 2008 for their outstanding results in the Leaving Certificate.

What follows is a small snapshot of what some of the girls are doing.

Caroline Carney and Amy Deane are both studying Law at Trinity College while Laura Deighan is studying Philosophy there.

At U.C.D. we have the following students in 1st year: Tara Carthy (Animal Science), Lorna Kelly, Leanne Cooke and Lauren Curry (Arts). Grace Kavanagh got a place in Medicine and was recently presented with a High Achiever Award.

Danielle Whelan is studying Business at D.I.T. While at N.C.I. Bernadette Hogan is studying Accountancy and Samantha O'Connor is studying Business.

Kerrie Ryan is pursuing her studies and soccer career playing for Portsmouth in the UK.

There was such an array of talent in this year group that they are represented in most Colleges of Further Education. They are now gaining qualifications in Beauty Therapy, Social Care, Art Portfolio Preparation, Office Administration and Computer Studies to name but a few.

To all of our past students we wish them every success in their new lives of study and work and hope they stay in touch.

Deirdre Teeling (Guidance Counsellor)

GUIDANCE DEPARTMENT: MAKE YOUR DREAMS COME TRUE!!

6th years have been busy since September: C.A.O., FETAC, Post-Leaving Certificate Courses, Qualifax (the website for information on all courses), Open Days have all become a familiar language. Remember girls make your choices informed - check everything out and the big question to ask yourself is "Will I be happy if I choose..........?" 5th year and 6th year students have attended numerous Career Talks including Dublin Institute of Technology (D.I.T.), Dublin City University (D.C.U.), Institute of Technology, Blanchardstown, Colaiste Dhulaighe (P.L.C.) and Whitehall College to name but a few.

Both groups visited the Higher Options Career Exhibition in September and attendance at Open Days is ongoing.

E. Conneely (Student Council Co-ordinator/Careers)

PARALYMPIC DAY

To celebrate and raise awareness of the success of the Irish Paralympic team in Beijing, 2nd years Beech ran a Paralympic sport's afternoon for all 1st years. As part of their C.S.P.E., action project Beech had been tracking the media coverage of the paralympics and after the Irish team came home with 5 medals (3 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze), they decided to bring a little of the magic of Beijing to Mercy.

1st year students got to experience a taste of some of the sports that athletes competed in, in Beijing, including Goalball, Blind Running, Wheelchair Basketball and Boccia. They also got to learn about the Irish team's exploits through the video Beech put together about it and the newspaper clippings they decorated the Sport's Hall with. The 1st year's also had the opportunity to quiz those with first hand experience, as Jimmy Byrne Chef de Mission of the Irish Paralympic team and paralympic finalist Garreth Culliton were in attendance.

A great day was had by all, roll on London 2012!!!!!

STUDENT COUNCIL NOTICEBOARD

Class elections took place in September 2009and the first meeting took place in early October Meetings take place at 1.10pm every Tuesday in Room 14 Ms Dwyer and Mr O'Mahony attended a meeting and a subgroup met with management to plan a date for our 3rd sponsored walk.

The walk took place on Wednesday 19th November.

A staggering €3,300 was raised, well done to all.

This money together with last year's money totals over €6000. The money will go directly towards refurbishing the toilets.

Plans for 2009 include linking with the Student Council in a local school looking again at the issue of having sweatshirts as part of the Mercy College uniform.

The Council has been in touch with the Office of the Ombudsman for Children and a visit is planned for 2009

Walk Raises €3,300!!!

NEWSFLASH!

Mercy’s Students have raised €816.60 for Action Breast Cancer

A CHRISTMAS CAROL

Well done to the girls in Willow and Lee who performed a Christmas Carol for staff and family. Many thanks to all who made it possible.

Ms. Niland

SCULPTURE

Our annual trip to see The Sculpture in Context exhibition took place in September. 4th and 5th year Art students spent the morning following the exhibition, trying to find the exhibits and fill out a worksheet. After lunch students spent time sketching in the greenhouses and the flower beds. Students had a fantastic day, enjoying a variety of sculptures and sunshine.

OFFICE DEPOT SITE VISIT

11 students from 6th year LCVP visited Office Depot offices and warehouses in Blanchardstown. On arrival we were divided into two groups- each with our very stylish safety reflective gear. One group visited the warehouse and the other group visited the call centres. Both groups visited each and at the end, there was a meeting in the board room.

Students learnt a lot about the general day to day business and realised there was a lot more to the job than answering telephones. These visits provide a valuable insight into the world of work and will help them with their further careers.

Ms. Cassidy and Ms. Kearns

STUDENT LEADERSHIP TEAM

Our team of 26 student mentors, along with class prefects and student council members were presented with their official badges last term. Those of the senior team are engraved with their names and particular area of responsibility, and will serve as a nice memento for the 6th years when they have left Mercy College.

STUDENT LEADERSHIP

This year's senior student leadership team is:

Head Girl Emma Roche

Deputy Head Girls Shaunna Dwyer & Samantha Hatton

Student Mentors Anita Andrews; Danielle Andrews; Amy Byrne; Stephanie Byrne; Emma Carroll; Lisa Cuddy; Amy Dunne; Niamh Hand; Lisa McDonnell; Sinéad Maguire; Lynn Rush; Rachel Synnott; Stephanie Trimble; Christine Walsh

Careers Captain Bláthnaid Martin

International Students Carolyn Conlon

Library Prefect Stephanie Butler

Music Prefects Katie Duff & Claire Uzell

Office Prefects Shabnam Azad & Margaret Quinn

Sports Captains Sinéad Cumiskey & Leanne May

NORTHSIDE PARTNERSHIP YOUTH LEADERSHIP TRAINING COURSE

Several of our Transition Year students are participating in this year's Youth Leadership programme. As in previous years, the girls are benefiting from a range of activities, including visits to the Fire Brigade Training Centre and training on presentation and facilitation skills. The students involved this year are: Amy Branagan, Lisa Collins, Emma Lally, Nakita Lennon and Naomi Lester.

MERCY GOES VISTA!!

The two computer rooms are now fully equipped with Vista computers.

Some of our venerable old computers ( 6 to 7 years old) have found new homes but others (over 10 years old) are in permanent retirement.

NEWGRANGE

On the 20th November students of Willow and Lee went to Newgrange. Newgrange is a world heritage site. It is beautiful and had Celtic designs and much more. The tour guide demonstrated what happens on the 23rd December each year. It was very interesting and we all would like to be there to see it.

Rebecca Kennedy Vickers

BULL ISLAND INTREPRETATIVE CENTRE LOTS OF BULL!!!!

All first year students visited Bull Island as part of their study of ecology and the environment. The resident biologist gave a talk on the plant and bird life in the area and the girls did some field work.

DÁIL NA NÓG

Several students are also honing their leadership skills by representing their peers and the school at Comhairle na nÓg.

JERUSALEM WITH RABBI ROSEN AT YAD VASHEM

When I made my first visit to Auschwitz some time ago, I had no idea where that journey would lead! Earlier this year I was amazed to be invited to visit Jerusalem as a guest of Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Memorial Centre.

The programme covered the history of Judaism in Europe and the impact of the Second World War on that culture, but also provided opportunities to study Judaism with Rabbi Schindler and others and to explore initiatives in inter- faith dialogue with Rabbi David Rosen, former chief Rabbi of Ireland.

Leaving a cold, wet, November in Dublin for the sunshine of Jerusalem was a real treat, but this was no holiday! The staff at Yad Vashem kept us busy with lectures and study trips from early morning until late afternoon, but we had the evenings to ramble through the old city and explore.

Jerusalem is a fascinating place. A very green city on the edge of the desert, it is a city full of surprises. Steeped in history, Roman ruins, the Western Wall of the Temple and the older Jewish City of David are overlooked by the Mosque on Temple Mount. All this is surrounded by a new city as modern as the new suburbs here, and growing just as fast. Today, very different cultures exist side by side, not always comfortably. My visit made me very grateful to live in a country where the Gardai go unarmed and the army is invisible. Our too - short visit did not allow time to explore the Palestinian territories. That journey is one I look forward to making in the future.

Personally, it has been a wonderful experience. For my students, the photographs and stories provide a very different picture of Judaism and the birth of Christianity, lifting it off the page and bringing it alive in a new way.

I'm very grateful to the management of the School for making the journey possible and to Ms Hayden, who looked after my classes while I was away

REMEMBER NOVEMBER

During the month of November, Christians remember our loved ones who have died. In Mercy College, the staff and students gathered to celebrate the lives of those we love "who have gone before us, marked with the sign of faith." One candle was lit for each person whose memory as celebrated and the names of those for whom we prayed were taken to St Brendan's Parish Church to join the names of those from the parish, who are remembered in prayer each month for the coming year.

Next spring will - we hope - bring flowers from the bulbs planted by the students as part of the November ceremony.

DEAR (DROP EVERYTHING AND READ)

The entire community of Mercy College fell still for twenty minutes each day for a week in October. All pupils and staff read quietly. It was an attempt to encourage reading as a pastime and to emphasise the importance of reading for academic success and life.

PAIRED READING

The strong tradition of co-operation between Mercy and the local community continues this year. Local volunteers contribute generously of their time and enthusiasm and enable this personal reading programme to take place.

Once again our sincere thanks to all who help and new volunteers always welcome.

WORD MILLIONAIRE

Next term we hope that our second year students will embark on a "Word Millionaire" programme. It is hoped that each class will read a million words over a few weeks. We wish the girls lots of luck!

OUT AND ABOUT WITH THE GEOGRAPHY DEPARTMENT

In late September 3rd years were blessed with a beautiful day for their trip to Powerscourt Waterfall in Co. Wicklow. They sketched the waterfall, looked at gradient and followed the Dargle downstream to learn more about meanders, erosion and deposition. Lunch was followed by a stop in Enniskerry to sketch the village and take a final look at the Ordinance map of the area.

Willow visited Portmarnock Beach in late November. They examined the beach, observed the number of waves breaking and looked at the direction of various landmarks

Ms. Keogh and Ms. Conneely

LOCKER CHECK

First and second year base rooms have beautiful lockers. To ensure they are kept in wonderful condition, random locker checks take place, with prizes awarded for best kept locker. To date, the level of tidiness and organization has been excellent. Keep up the good work girls!

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

My name is Danielle Hayes, and I left Mercy College in 2004. I went to UCD via the New Era Access Programme. I studied Geography, Archaeology and Mathematics in first year. After I graduated in Geography and Archaeology I continued my studies by completing my Masters Degree in Geography where I achieved first class honours. My achievements so far have proven to me and to onlookers that with hard work, enthusiasm and motivation, accomplishments like this are attainable to anyone, regardless of one's social, economic or cultural background.

My name is Niamh Whyte. After doing my Leaving Certificate in Mercy College in 2002, I started a BSc in General Nursing in University College Dublin, in partnership with the Mater Misericordia University Hospital. I graduated with honours and qualified as a Registered General Nurse. I then worked in the Mater Hospital for nearly 2 years as a staff nurse on a 31 bedded ward specialising in neurology and incorporating the stroke unit. In September of this year I left the Mater to embrace the concept of lifelong learning. I have commenced a Post Graduate Diploma in Children's Nursing, studying in Dublin City University and working in The Children's Hospital, Temple Street. When I finish this course it will lead to a qualification of RCN (Registered Children's Nurse). I then hope to do further studies and to specialise in neo-natal intensive care.

LCVP PROGRAMME 5th Year

Eight students were selected to participate on the Mentor Programme in conjunction with Office Depot. The students had to apply for the programme following a seminar which took place in the school. Mercy College is one of only fifteen schools participating in this programme in Ireland. Office Depot nominated eight members of staff who will each act as Mentor to a student. They will advise the students on career choices; help the students with computer skills; offer work shadowing to the students and help them with any aspect of the world of work. The students met their mentor at the official launch of the programme which took place in Mercy College on Wednesday 26th November. The Mentors were welcomed by the Principal Ms.Dwyer and were introduced to the students by Louise Warde Head of Human Resources from Office Depot.

Mr. Hogan 5th year Year Head , Ms. O'Leary LCVP Co-Ordinator and Ms. Dunwoody Co-ordinator were present. Alison Norman gave a brief summary of the programme informing the students of the opportunities available to them on the programme. Each student will visit Office Depot once a month to meet their mentor and will spend a few hours with them learning about the world of work , attending presentations, workshops etc. They will also meet a few times for social events. The lucky students are: Aoife Brennan, Amy Delaney,Samantha Feery, Jamie Lawless,Sandra McCormack,Shauna Prendergast, Gemma Smyth, Rebecca Wright.

BUSINESS STUDENT OF THE MONTH

Each month, the 1st and 2nd year business teachers nominated a student from each class to be their business student of the month. The following students were nominated for September, October and November:

1st Year: Pauline O'Boyce; Ilham Abdulla; Sarah Fitzpatrick; Jessica Byrne; Erica Hanna; Hannah Kelly; Celine McDermott; Jessica Lally; Leah Forbes; Jennifer Simpson; Shauna Kiernan; Katie Niblock

2nd Year: Geraldine Mahady; Ciara Wynne; Lee-Anne Gilsenan; Rebecca Amet; Niamh Keegan; Huda Saeed; Rutendo Kandiwa; Aoife Redmond; Sarah Clarke; Hayley Massey; Hannah Freeman; Maria Caymo; Laura Cahill.

EXTRACTS FROM DES INSPECTIONS TO DATE

GEOGRAPHY: "A very high standard of teaching and learning."

"A sensitive and caring interaction between students and their teachers in avery positive learning environment."

"A recognition of the needs of students with different learning abilities."

MUSIC: "Strong atmosphere of learning."

"An atmosphere of mutual respect existed."

"Discipline was well managed."

"Music is thriving in Mercy College, Coolock and the enthusiasm of the teachers has been instrumental in this."

SCIENCE: "Clear and well-structured lessons."

“Enthusiastic teaching."

"A good rapport was seen to exist between students and their teachers."

GAEILGE: "Well ordered and structured teaching approach."

"There is a positive, favourable attitude towards Irish in Mercy College."

"Diligence and enthusiasm of the Irish teachers."

MATHS: "High quality teaching and learning were evident in the lessons observed."

“Very good relationships exist between students and their teachers." "Students enjoyed and engaged enthusiastically with the Mathematics involved."

"It is clear from the prizes awarded for student achievement, the whole school celebration of Maths Week, and the Mathematics articles in the school newsletter that great pride is taken in the work done in Mathematics in the school and that Mathematics enjoys a high profile position."

IRISH HARP CONCERT

DECEMBER 3^RD 2008

The students from Lee enjoyed a concert of Irish Harp music on December 3rd 2008. They were visited in school by harpist Síle Ní Thuama who played a variety of Irish and Christmas music. The students all had an opportunity to play the Harp and asked lots of questions in preparation for their Junior Cert. examination in June

PRACTICAL EXAMS

Sixth and Third Year Music practical exams will take place in March 2009. The students are busy preparing their songs and pieces for the exams at the moment.

BOWS & BAGS

2nd year students from Laurel set up a Student Enterprise business. All the students that were involved gave up 2 - 3 lunches per week. At Halloween, we sold goody bags and we had a stand at the Christmas Fair that was held in the school hall. Many thanks to Ms.Boyle for making this a very worthwhile experience.

SCHOOL COMPLETION PROGRAMME

Congratulations to Linda Devitt, Co-ordinator School Completion Programme on the birth of her baby son Senan. Linda is on maternity leave at the moment and Allison Donohoe has been appointed to cover her maternity leave. The Breakfast Club continues to take place each morning in the parents’ room and is a huge success. Since the mid term Allison has organised board games during lunch. The drama club will be starting up after Christmas. Please feel free to talk to Allison at any time.

The Mercy Summer project was a huge success with a variety of activities on offer - sports, cookery, crafts and a trip to Carlingford.

Edited by: Paula Downes

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