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Scoil Mhuire Students Trip to India with HOPE Foundation
Transition Y
ear students Sarah Healy, Rachel O’Riordan, Alannah Drumm, Eadaoin O’Keffee and Heather Barrett accompanied by teacher Regina Brett, travelled to India over Easter with HOPE Foundation. The Hope Foundation is a registered Irish Charity working to save the street and slum children of Kolkata (Calcutta) from lives of pain, abuse and poverty.
Exposed to horrendous physical and sexual abuses on the streets, those who survive are left to fend for themselves, hungry, with no promise of a safe future. These children are some of the most disadvantaged children of our time. HOPE works to change their lives, to restore childhoods and give children the chance to create better futures for themselves.
HOPE funds and operates over 60 projects thanks to donors, sponsors, supporters and fundraisers. HOPE reaches out to the most forgotten; offering protection and shelter, healthcare, nutrition, education, rehabilitation and a family for life. The five Scoil Mhuire Transition year students and their teacher travelled to India to work with the HOPE Foundation’s projects in Kolkata.
In order to be selected, the students had to submit a letter of application and undergo an interview. After selection they had the daunting task of raising €3,100 each for the HOPE Foundation. The money raised will be used to fund projects working with the street and slum children of Kolkata. Over 250,000 children are forced to live on the streets of Kolkata and around five million people exist in horrific conditions in slums.
The students visited these children, worked with the projects and bore witness to these horrific conditions. Ms Brett and the students would like to thank everyone who supported their fundraisers over the last few months and made this once in a lifetime trip possible.
1916 National Flag Presentation Ceremony
Three students Darren Heffernan, Colm O’Keeffe and Sarah Healy along with History teacher Gerarda Mullane travelled to GAA headquarters on Monday 7th March to attend the National Flag Presentation Ceremony for Post-Primary Schools. Thousands of students and teachers attended this wonderful occasion in Croke Park in the presence of the President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins. Members of the Defence Forces as well as a number of special guests including former Ireland goalkeeper Pakie Bonner and Olympian John Treacey, presented the National Flag and a copy of the 1916 Proclamation of the Irish Republic to all schools at the State ceremony in association with the Thomas F. Meagher Foundation. It was a memorable day and a great start to the Centenary Programme to remember 1916.
Discovering The Secrets of Blackrock Castle Observatory
Transition Year Students visit Blackrock Castle Observatory
On Friday 26th of February the Transition year students accompanied by their teachers Mrs Barry and Mrs Gillies went to the Observatory at Blackrock Castle for their stellar show tour.
On arrival at the castle students were met by their guide Caoimhin. The tour began by climbing up 86 steps to reach the top of the castle. Students were given a fascinating account of the history of the castle from its origins to the present day. The top of the castle is also home to the observatory telescope as well as weather measuring instruments which ‘tell’ the telescope when conditions are suitable for making observations.
Students next proceeded to the bottom of the castle where the original gunnery has been preserved. Again an interesting account of the soldier’s day in the gunnery was relayed to us by Caoimhin.
The next part of the tour involved the students working at consoles and being guided by researchers trying to save the earth from being hit by a meteorite.
Having saved the earth from impending disaster students entered a dome where recent night time images from the observatory were displayed and explained.
The tour finished with time for self guided exploration of the exhibition area.
This tour was very interesting and educational as it gave students hands on experience of astronomy which they have studied as part of our physics course. The historical aspect of the tour was very informative also.
Positive Mental Health Week
Next week will see range of activities taking place as part of Positive Mental Health Week in Scoil Mhuire. Events for the week include:-
Monday 7th March – A talk given by AWARE to 5th year students.
Tuesday 8th March – Susan Fitzgerald will hold workshops with 2nd and 3rd year students in relation to coping with exam stress.
Wednesday 9th March – All students will partake in a 5K run and Sponsored Walk(weather permitting).
Thursday 10th March – A presentation to 6th year students from Cuan Mhuire Addiction Services.
Friday 11th March – Workshops with Aidan Walsh in Nutrition and Mental Health.
Destination Survey
In a destination survey of the 2015 cohort of Scoil Mhuire Leaving Certificate students, it has been found that in excess of 95% of students have continued in further education. The recent ‘Irish Times’ survey of school leavers revealed that 86% of the group have entered third level institutions within the state.
University College Cork was the most popular choice this year among students, with areas of study undertaken including Engineering, Nursing and Arts. The Institutes of Technology in Tralee and Cork also proved popular, with students gaining access to courses in the areas of Fine Art, Early Childhood Studies, Business and Wildlife Biology. A number of students have chosen to study in Limerick, in Mary Immaculate College, in Limerick Institute of Technology and in University of Limerick, where students have opted for Primary School Teaching, Sports Science, Chemical Engineering and Computer Engineering. Some students have travelled further afield to colleges such as Athlone Institute of Technology to study Dental Nursing and Sports therapy, as well as to NUI Galway to study Marine Biology. Studies undertaken in Dublin City University and University College Dublin include Law and Society, Dairy Science and Business and Law. Scoil Mhuire students have also settled in Shannon College of Hotel Management, Waterford Institute of Technology and St. Angela’s College, Sligo.
The ‘Irish Times’ survey does not take into account the number of students who study at third level outside the state, in universities in the United Kingdom and mainland Europe. A number of students have opted for courses in the UK this year in the areas of Chemical Engineering, Occupational Therapy and Commercial Aviation Management. This year for the first time, a Scoil Mhuire student has progressed to the University of Vienna and is enjoying the study of Transcultural Communication.
A further group from the class of 2015 have chosen to study in colleges of Further Education, both in Cork City and Mallow. This group of students would not be accounted for in the national survey of school leavers. Students have chosen to study Accounting, Art Preparation, Make-Up Artistry and Pre Nursing. Following successful completion of FETAC courses, such students may have the opportunity to take their studies to degree level and beyond.
Overall it has been another successful year for the school leavers of Scoil Mhuire, with in excess of 95% of students continuing in education in various institutions, due to their hard work and self motivation. Great credit is also due in no small part to the dedicated teaching staff of the school and of course to parents, who have supported and guided the students throughout their second level education.
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