In November We Remember

November is a time for remembering and praying for our loved ones who have gone before us and whose loss we feel. Each student in our school community was given a leaf to remember a person close to them that has passed.  

 

Leaving Certificate Class of 2020

Below is a message written by Róisín Moore Principal:

On behalf of the school community I am delighted to congratulate the class of 2020 on their Leaving Certificate and Leaving Certificate Applied results. The Leaving Certificate journey was particularly arduous and harrowing this year and the students faced enormous uncertainty and had to cope with a constantly evolving situation from March 12th until May 8th. These students missed out on many of the rites of passage associate with the completion of second level education. 

The outstanding results this year are testament to the dedication and commitment exhibited by the students not just in their final year but throughout their senior cycle. We were thrilled that 3 of our students were awarded maximum points of 625 points and in excess of 31 % of students received in excess of 500 points. This is in line with the school’s academic profile in previous years. All of our Leaving Certificate applied students received distinctions.  

Monday was a most surreal day in the school as the usual excitement, apprehension and energy associated with results day was absent. However, the most striking absence was the absence of the girls who due to COVID-19 restrictions were required to access their results online. As a school we missed meeting them and sharing in their celebrations. 

We are however mindful that for many of our girls the uncertainty is not over as they await third level offers on Friday. In addition, on Monday 14th September the students will be given access to the estimated percentages assigned to them by the school. As a school we know that these estimated percentages will, in many cases, be at variance with the calculated grades assigned by the DES and will leave parents and students with numerous questions. The process used by the DES to convert the school’s estimated percentage into calculated grades remains unclear. 

Unfortunately, some students including those who studied additional subjects outside of school will have little alternative except to commence preparations to sit the written papers in November thus prolonging the uncertainty. 

It is our hope that no matter what the future holds for the class of 2020 that they will look back fondly on their time in St. Brigid’s and that they will always be proud to be Pres girls.

 

Walk to School Initiative

Ms. Sheree Murphy Green schools co-ordinator and her committee comprising of TY students over the last two years have been working hard to promote the encouragement of walking and cycling to school. Their latest initiative saw them designing signage for outside the three main school gates showing the times and distances it takes to walk from any of the main carparks in town to school.

” For example it only takes 5 mins to walk from beech road carpark to the main school entrance, by students getting dropped here would decrease the amount of traffic hugely in around the school and would save parents from being stuck in traffic also” said Sheree. 

On the signage you will also see the slogan  ” A Walk a day, keeps the CO2 away” which Aideen Mullen of Transition year produced. 

St. Brigid’s received their fourth green flag in May which was for their work in promoting alternative means of travelling to school. St. Brigid’s are in talks with the Killarney Municipal Council and hope that other schools will follow their lead in promoting students getting dropped at the different carparks. The core message is even more important now as walking and cycling to school and work not only is good for the environment, mental and physical health but also reduces the potential of congregating at school gates. The initiative compliments the school’s Covid Response plan and the school is encouraging parents, students and staff to embrace the change.

 

Transition Year Trip

Transition Year students from St Brigid’s had their first trip out on their first day back to the Eclipse Outdoor Adventure Centre outside Kenmare. They left Killarney in three buses all wearing masks waiting for their adventure to begin. They had a rough and tough day in the muck, over obstacles, in kayaks as well as orienteering just to mention a few of the activities undertaken. The weather was ideal and this was an energetic fun start to their Transition Year. Below are some photos to give a flavour of the day.

 

St. Brigid’s Killarney Goes Pink for Breast Cancer Awareness

For Breast Cancer Awareness month, staff & students of St Brigid’s Killarney wore pink in support of this worthy cause.thanks to all for participating in the ‘Wear It Pink Campaign’               

 

Biology

Ms. Murphy’s 6th year Biology students had fabulous weather today to do their mandatory Biology fieldwork. They even got to see a few furry. Ms. Murphy’s 6th year Biology students had fabulous weather today to do their mandatory Biology fieldwork. They even got to see a few furry friends.

 

St. Brigid’s students sleep out for St. Vincent de Paul

Last February, the TY class of 2019/2020 organized a sponsored sleep out to raise awareness of homelessness in Ireland. As part of the St Vincent De Paul programme, the students were provided with opportunities to engage in social action in their local community and encourage personal and social development.

Today we are proud to hand over €1,270 to St Vincent De Paul to continue the work that they do. What an amazing amount raised by our girls and is testament to the work that was put in.

Caitlin Cronin, Laura Buckley, Mehek Simonova, Julia Walshe, Melissa Carroll. Caitlin O Connell, Michelle Hickey and Meabh O Connell

Ms Horan, Ellen Farradon, Aimee Rose Myers, Emma Myers, Rebecca Kenny, Sarah McGrath, Clodagh Carroll, Bailey Carlton, Ms Finnerty.

 

 

Transition Year students engage in a CSI workshop

CSI Workshop for TYs at St. Brigid” Killarney. All TY students had the opportunity to participate in a CSI workshop involving scene analysis, fingerprinting, scene preservation as well as  solving a murder crime scene. It was a very informative and practical workshop where some  students are now considering a career in crimonology..the right side of the law!

 

New ASD Classroom

A wonderful new addition to St Brigid’s Secondary School, an ASD special class, opened in September. This class caters specifically for students with a diagnosis of autism and allows for specialised, individual teaching for students who also remain integrated with the mainstream student body. The teachers, June O’Sullivan and Eilish O’Riordan, are qualified in SEN teaching and have experience in ASD specific settings. The room incorporates the TEACCH principles which were designed by the University of Carolina to guide structured teaching for autistic students. We also operate a lunch club so that students with an autism diagnosis can take some time out and relax in our chill-out area. The class can cater for a maximum of six students. 

 

TY students surfing at Inch beach

St. Brigid’s TY students in conjunction with Kingdom Waves Surf School had a fabulous day at Inch beach for surfing. Some perfect waves were caught by the girls. They had some impressive wipeouts as well as catching some 5 star waves.

 

SciFi Awards

Congratulations to Ali O Donoghue and Eilis Mullane who received the Young Environmental Trophy for their project on ” Vertical Farming – The Future of Healthy Schools?”  at SciFest. SciFest is Ireland’s largest STEM Fair programme for second-level students.

Eilis and Ali were also awarded first prize in the Junior Life Sciences category. This was an amazing achievement as the girĺs had to work remotely from each other and largely online during the lockdown period.

 

Green school team plant a tree to support those  effected by covid 19

Tree day occurred on Thursday 1st October. As part of Ms. Murphy’s TY green schools’ class the girls planted an Irish native Scott’s Pine. The girls first planted it in a small pot which they will transfer to bigger pots as the plant grows and eventually plant it somewhere on the school grounds. The girls have dedicated this tree to anyone who has been affected by Covid-19. All the girls wrote a letter to themselves about how they are feeling during Covid-19, what impacted them the most, changes they have come across etc. These letters will be buried near the tree in a time capsule which they hope to dig up and open in 10 years time.

 

2020 ITIA Translation Competition Success

Congratulations to fifth year student Rebecca Doyle won the ‘Translation from French’ category in the 2020 ITIA Translation Competition for Secondary School Students. Rebecca entered this competition independently during the Summer. Rebecca should have received her award at the Awards Ceremony in Dublin but due to COVID 19 she will be mentioned on their social media receiving her prize. Her French Teacher Mrs. Anne Brosnan and all the school are so very proud of Rebecca for this magnificent achievement.

 

Team building and fun day for first years

The St. Brigid’s Transition Year students organised a fun and interactive day for first years. The purpose was to help the first year students to get to know other students in their year group through a fun quiz and cooperative games. They bulit a tower from only paper, they put a dance together in 5 minutes and performed it in front of the other classes. They also solved puzzles and riddles. Well done to the TY students for a very imaginative and enjoyable time for the First Years.

 

The Crocus Project

Transition year students are taking part in The Crocus Project. The Crocus Project is an Irish initiative whereby Holocaust   Education Trust Ireland provides yellow crocus bulbs for students to plant in memory of the one and a half million Jewish children who perished in the Holocaust. The yellow flowers   recall theyellow Stars of David that Jews were forced to wear under Nazi rule. The crocus bulbs bloom around the end of January about the time of International Holocaust Memorial Day (27 January).When people admire the yellow flowers they are reminded of the children who perished in the Holocaust. Well done to the Transition year students who are taking   part in this great project.

 

St. Brigid’s Students Donate Toys to the Adapt Women’s Refuge and Homeless Shelter

Ms O Riordan, Enterprise teacher and LCA Enterprise class will donate toys to the Adapt Women’s Refuge, Tralee and the Homeless Shelter. These toys will be dropped to Tralee Garda station in Tralee, for the attention of Garda Mary Gardiner. What a wonderful show of CEIST values by our brilliant LCA girls.

 

Covid 19 Awareness Art Competition

St. Brigid’s Secondary School ran a Covid19 Awareness Art Competition for all students to raise awareness of good practices we as a school need to take to stop the spread of COVID19. Students were invited to make a poster (A4 or A3) on one or all of the following messages:

• Reminder to sanitise when leaving/entering a room
• Reminder to wear your mask
• Reminder to social distance where possible
• Winners included from senior cycle