Review of 2014-2015

We wish all our students an enjoyable and restful Summer

Student Achievement

Munster Tennis Champions

U14 Tennis Team

U16 Tennis Team

Leaving Certificate Graduation

Our annual Leaving Certificate graduation was held on Tuesday 19th May. Our school President Sophie Hogan spoke about the appreciation of all the students of their time spent in St Marys.

Sr Maureen our school chaplain wished all the girls the best for the future, this was added to by Sr Ena chair of the BOM , Mr O'Connor the DP and Mr Dineen the Principal.

The students made a presentation to Mr O'Connor our DP who is retiring and Miss Hunt who is leaving acknowledging their efforts over many years.

All the girls were wished the best of luck in their upcoming Examinations.

Tanaiste Visit

The Tainaiste Joan Burton TD recently visited St Marys and complemented the school on its innovation and achievement in this our Centenary year and met a number of student groups during her visit.

St Mary’s Centenary Gathering

St Mary’s Past Pupil Centenary Gathering was a huge success and the Organising Committee would like to thank all those who made it such a memorable occasion. The photo exhibitions, the dvd’s of the various shows, the visit to the Round House and the visit to the Classrooms in the school were all part of an engaging experience for those who attended. There was a great buzz and it was lovely to see so many people connecting and reminiscing. The evening ended with a beautiful Mass of Thanksgiving.

The Gathering was an important moment in the history of St Mary’s and it was gratifying to see so many past pupils with such fond memories of their time here in the school.

Organising Committee – Sr. Ena, Sr. Maureen, Sr. Patrica, Alice Brislane, Noreen Spain, Catherine Holohan, Liz Devaney, Ger McLoughlin, Ger Dullea, Elaine King and Luke O’Connor.

Food by Maria Nagle.

Word of thanks also to Sarah, Eileen and Paddy who did a huge amount of the usual behind the scene work.

First Year Basketball

Well done to our 1st year basketball team that played against Nenagh College recently

First Year Camogie

Tipperary County A First Year Camogie Final

Well done to our First Year Camogie Panel who were narrowly defeated by Ursuline Thurles in the County Final.

The girls played very well under poor conditions with some excellent performances on the day from Caoilfhionn Maher, Layla Fatnassi, Emily Morrissey, Katie Grace, Lily O’Brien, Sarah Madden and Emer Tuohy.

Well done to all concerned.

Well done to our First Year Camogie panel who took part in the recent Munster A Camogie Blitz. A total of seven teams took part from all over Munster. The team recorded one win, a draw and a loss and only narrowly missed reaching the final stages. Well done to all involved There were some excellent performances on the day and player of the day had to be Ellie Spain who made some fantastic saves in goals.

Visit of Fr Peter McVerry

Fr Peter McVerry pictured with 1D who organised a bake sale and raised 630 euros for Fr McVerry’s work with the homeless.

He thanked them for their interest and support. He told students during his talk that what homeless people really cherish beyond the physical help is to be respected and recognised as a human being with dignity like everyone else.

Lenten Fast

Ms Coffey and her colleagues in the R.E. Department organised a fast during Lent and the proceeds collected (1,400 euros) were presented to Sr Angela Hartigan on Friday March 27th.

Because it is our centenary year teachers and students felt that it was appropriate this year to support Sr Angela’s work in Nairobi. She is a past Principal of St Mary’s Nenagh and our students wanted to help less well of students in Kenya.

We wish Sr Angela well in her work.

Internet Awareness

Dr Maureen Griffin spoke to students in St Mary’s Tuesday March 24th on Internet Safety. She is a nationally recognised expert in this area and she alerted students to the risk and dangers involved in social media. While the internet and the different social media devices have brought huge improvements to our lives they also bring enormous challenges. Dr Maureen pointed out the various risks involved and asked students to be responsible and ethical in their use of social media.

SRC Training

On Tuesday 24/3/15 three members of the SRC went to Dublin to Saint Patrick's College in Drumcondra for a CEIST leadership seminar where they had a chance to meet Enda Kenny TD. They worked on leadership skills and group activities. Well done to all concerned.

SRC Presentation

Attached are photo's from the Thomas F. Meagher Foundation Flag Ceremony that took place in Waterford on Thursday 12th March. Members of the SRC attended and were presented with an Irish Flag.

Scholarship.

Congratulations to Maria Pachowicz who won a 3 week scholarship to Germany based on her Junior Cert result in German and an interview she attended in Dublin.

Photographed here with her Teacher Ms Burke and Deputy Principal Mr O’Connor

Golf

Well done to Clodagh Jones on her recent Golfing achievements

Thursday, 19th March 2015 – A Speaker from Trinity College Dublin visited the school to speak to 5th and 6th years.

Thursday 19th March 2015 – 25 students spent the day in UL rehearsing for SEINN 2015. The day culminated in a concert in the University Concert Hall at 8.00pm that night

Wednesday, 18th March 2015 – TY students visited Leinster House and the Dáil in Dublin.

Monday, 16th March 2015 – All 3rd year History students attended a screening of “The Book Thief” in the Cinema.

Well done to all our TY students who made a recent contribution to the Irish Heart Foundation.

Wednesday 11th March 2015 – The TY Parent/Teacher Meeting was held.

Thursday 26th February 2015 – Ms. Russell’s 5th Year Economics class visited Google in Dublin.

Wednesday 25th February 2015 – TY trip to Dublin – Valerie Hunt and Teresa Maher accompanying

Wednesday 25th February 2015 – 6 students attended the School Bank Competition in Cork

TY students visited the Dail and Criminal courts an enjoyable day was had by all.

On Tuesday Jan 27th the entire TY year completed a 5km run/walk. Back in October the Tipperary Sports Partnership gave the girls an introductory running workshop and the girls set themselves a target of completing a 5km run in the new year. And so they kept themselves in shape over the Christmas and were well prepared for the task . Thankfully the weather was dry and all the girls safely completed the course along with teachers Mr Callinan and Ms King.

Congrats to the Business Department on their Enterprise Fair last Monday morning.

Sunday 25th January marked the beginning of Catholic Schools Week. Catholic Schools Week has been celebrated in Ireland for the last five years. This annual event calls on Catholic Schools to give expression in a special way to a particular aspect of Catholic Education.

This year the theme of Catholic Schools Week is “Called to Serve”, and it encourages us to examine what we understand by service and who it is our schools serve. To this end, Catholic Education is called to self-reflect and refresh its mission.

Catholic Schools Weeks also provides an opportunity for teachers to begin classes with a prayer.

Thank you to the RE and Music teachers for their involvement in the 6.15pm Mass in St. Mary’s of the Rosary Church last Saturday for the beginning of Catholic Schools Week.

Thanks to Elaine Cullinan and her team at Tipperary Sports Partnership for their expertise and providing stewarding on the day.

Ms Claire Cummins from Study Focus facilitated some study skills workshops with 3rd and 6th year students on Tuesday Jan.6th. These workshops were organised in conjunction with the Parents Council and hopefully the students acquired some important learning skills and strategies for the Junior and Leaving exams.

Student Achievement

Term 2

The annual Christmas Carol service will be held on Friday 19/12/14.

Second Years had a talk regarding Cyber Bullying on Thursday 18/12/14.

Wednesday 17th December 2014 – UL Law Department Talk for 6th Years.

The School Christmas Concert took place on Friday, 12th December 2014.

Saturday 6th December 2014 - The Junior B Camogie Team were narrowly defeated by St. Annes, Killaloe in the North Munster A Final, well done to all participants.

Thursday 4th December 2014 – 6th Years will have a Speaker from UCD in.

Monday 24th November 2014 – SRC Training taking place in the Library today – All Class Captains involved – Ms. Gibbs & Ms. Russell.

Maria Malone, received an award at UCD on Wednesday Nov 12th for her outstanding results in the Leaving Cert in June 2014. Maria, who is now studying radiography in UCD,is pictured here with her parents Geraldine and William and Deputy Principal Luke O'Connor.

Retreats

Monday 10th November 2014 – 2nd Year Retreat

Tuesday 11 – 3rd Year Retreat

Wednesday – 5th Year Retreat

Thursday – TY & 6th Year Retreat

Friday – TY Retreat

Congratulations to the Senior Camogie Team on their recent success versus Hospital

The Centenary Mass took place at 1.30pm on Friday 21/11/14. This was a wonderful occasion and a big thank you to all involved in the organisation.

Thursday 13th November 2014 at 7.00pm –A CAO Information Night was held for 6th Year Parents and Students.

Tuesday 11th November 2014 – A group of 1st years (4 from each class) will take part in an Irish Table Quiz organised by Conrad na Gaeilge.

Term 1

Trad For Trocaire – A large group of students from across all year groups were recently involved in a fundraising exercise throughout the school. A large sum of money was raised for this worthy cause. Well done to all concerned.

Maria Pachowicz, Patrice Cleary, Eva Moynan and Roisin Taplin have been identified as students in our school as high achievers in Science & Maths in the 2014 Junior Certificate Examination by the State Examination Commission (SEC) and have been invited to participate in the National Olympiads (IrJSO and IrEUSO) which will be held on November 1st in Dublin City University to select six students to represent Ireland at the European Union Science Olympiad (EUSO) in Klagenfurt, Austria from 26th April – 3rd May 2015. Well done to all involved.

Thursday 16th October 2014 – 6th Years attended an Open Day in UL/MIC/LIT.

Elections for School President will took place on Wednesday 22nd October 2014 Congatulations to our new school President Sophie Hogan.

Tuesday 14th October 2014 – 5th Years attended Nenagh College for a Drama Workshop given by HumourFit called “Message in a Bottle”

Tuesday 14th October 2014 – 1st Years attended the CBS for a Drama Workshop also given by Humour Fit called “Mighty Bully Brady”.

Wednesday 1st October 2014 – 7-A-Side Camogie Blitz in Holycross, well done on a great victory.

Junior School Tour to Germany

3rd year German students travelled to Germany on Saturday 20th September 2014 and return late on Tuesday 23rd September 2014.

Annual School Trip to Paris

The Annual Trip to Paris takes place from Saturday 20th September to Tuesday 23rd September 2014. It involves 2nd year students only.

The National Ploughing Championships was held from 22nd to 25th September 2014 at Ratheniska, Stradbally, Co. Laois add approximately 70 Transition Year students completed work experience for the duration.

Thursday 18th September 2014 – Approximately 70, 6th attended Higher Options in the RDS, Dublin – Ms. Gibbs

Monday 15th September 2014 – Information Night for Parents at 7.00pm.

2nd Year History Trip to Portumna

All 2nd years went to Portumna on Friday, 12th September 2014 between 11.00am and 3.30pm (approx). They visited the Irish Workhouse Centre and Portumna Castle.

The Annual School mass was held on Tuesday, 2nd September at 2.15pm.

Lunch time and after school training are on going for Camogie, Basketball and Football