Joey’s friendship committee
Our 180 first year students are settling into secondary school very nicely! They are being well looked after, by their tutors, year head Ms Byrne and our Cinnire Team. The twelve-student, Cinnire team, have the responsibility of making life for our incoming 1st years as comfortable as possible. The twelve girls were appointed at the end of 4th year, after undergoing an interview process. We wish the girls the very best wishes in their special duties this year!
Joey’s friendship committee were on the corridor during lunchtimes in September, answering student queries about extra curricular activities and other events in the school. Well-done girls! Your contribution is greatly appreciated!
Amazing Brains
On Monday 2nd, all of our 2nd year students learned how to develop a better mindset and study habits, to help them reach their true potential with Amazing Brains ‘Drive for Results’ programme.
Best in Show Award!
St. Joseph’s College and 4A6 collected the Airfield Estate Festival of Food “Best in Show” award on Monday 9th September following their entry of vegetable produce grown on school grounds. 4A6 were delighted to collect the award on behalf of those fourth year students who participated in the ‘Environmental Science and Society’ class led by Ms. Dunne in Transition Year 2018/2019. Potatoes, sugar snap peas, strawberries, rhubarb, beetroot, red and white onions as well as garlic was grown. The class demonstrated that small spaces can be green spaces! All produce had zero air miles associated with it and the class were keen to keep in mind some of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Thank you to all students involved and hope this year’s crop of students will be just as eager to enhance their gardening skills!
6th Year Retreat
Some of our 6th year students enjoyed an over night retreat in Emmaus Centre in Swords on Monday 9th. The feedback from participating students was very positive. The Emmaus experience comes highly recommended!
TY Voluntary Work
Voluntary Work has commenced for our Transition Year students. We are grateful to all of the local businesses and organisations who facilitate this event every year.
Cllr Vicki Casserly speaks to 3rd years
Cllr Vicki Casserly (& Mayor of SDCC) visited our 3rd years to talk about life in politics and as a Mayor. We would like to thank Cllr Casserly for her visit, which was a wonderfully educational and engaging experience for our students.
6th year Geography
6th year Geography students went to Kippure Estate, Co. Wicklow, to carry out their Geographical Investigation for their Leaving Certificate, accompanied by their teachers Mr O’Connor and Mr Walsh. The girls completed a field study which constitutes 20% of their final Leaving Certificate mark. The beautiful weather, fabulous scenery, autumn colours and the sound of the moving water all added to the day!
Malta Invitational Junior Girls Table Tennis
Congratulations to 5th year Mia O’Rahilly Egan who won the Malta Invitational Junior Girls Table Tennis Team Event in Malta last week. We are very proud of Mia!
The National Ploughing Championships
On Tuesday 17th, our 4th year students attended the opening day of The National Ploughing Championships in Co. Carlow. The weather stayed fine and a super day was had by all!
Sculpture Drawing Art Trip
On Wednesday, our 5th year Art students enjoyed their Sculpture Drawing Art Trip to O’Connell Street, followed by a visit to the ‘Sculpture in Context’ exhibition in the National Botanic Gardens. The fabulous weather we are experiencing at the moment made their task all the more enjoyable, as they drew some of the magnificent sculptures that can be found in our city. These included the James Joyce statue on North Earl Street, the Jim Larkin statue and The Spire on O’Connell Street and some of the beautiful sculptures in the National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin.
Debs Night
Our recent graduates looked fabulously glamorous on Wednesday (18th Sep) at their Debs Ball and the night went very well indeed! A big thank you to the staff of Dunboyne Castle Hotel for their excellent hospitality and for the delicious meal which they served on the night. A special word of thanks to Ms Meade for organising the glittering event and to the girls’ year head Ms Byrne and all of their tutors and teachers who attended the event. It was lovely to have an opportunity to chat to the girls and to hear all about the career and life paths that they are now pursuing. We thank the girls for their time in St Joseph’s and we wish them all, success and happiness for the future!
First Year Mas
Our new students celebrated a special First Year Mass in St Mary’s Church on Wednesday 18th. It was a lovely ceremony to start their journey in St Joseph’s. We would like to thank Fr Tom Kennedy for celebrating the mass, Ms Mellet for arranging the beautiful music, Year Head Ms Byrne and all of the singers, readers and participants.
The Language Hub
The Language Hub has commenced again on Wednesdays in the Language Lab at lunchtime. All students from all year groups are welcome to come along to practice and improve their Spanish, French, German, Italian or Irish. Students can also play language games on the computer to help with vocabulary. Thank you to Ms Walsh for facilitating this great resource!
Sporting Success
Well done to our Junior Camogie Team who had a brilliant victory in their first game of the season, against Maryfield College. Final score 12-10 to 1-2. Well done to everybody involved!
Well done to our U19 Basketball Team – they won their first game of the season against Palmerstown Community School 31 to 5. Well done to all involved in both teams!
An afterschool Badminton Club has commenced on Tuesdays at 4pm in the sports hall with Ms.Keena and Ms.Walsh. This club is suitable for all ability levels from absolute beginners to advanced levels and is a great way to make new friends whilst learning a new sport.
We were very proud to see past pupil, Eleanor Ryan Doyle named on the Irish Women’s Senior Soccer team, in their game against Montenegro on Tuesday 3rd September. Well done to all on a great result!
Bewley’s Hospice Coffee Morning
The staffroom of St. Joseph’s College hosted the Bewley’s Hospice Coffee Morning this week. The coffee morning featured the added element of a Bake Off. Sixteen staff members participated with other teachers bringing along their baked produce. The display was such that Mary Berry herself would have been amazed. Delicious treats were served with the coffee resulting in over €350 collected for Hospice services. Thanks to those who baked, judged, organised and especially those who contributed.
Green School Seminars
Mr O’Connor and Mr. Walsh organised a series of Green School Seminars Friday 20th to raise awareness of correctly using the bins in our school in our campaign to achieve the Green flag for litter and waste. All year groups except 6th years attended. It was held on the same day as the Climate Strike so that students might be encouraged to remain in school for the presentation.
Our presentation involved giving the background to why the Climate Strikes were taking place on a global level and then discussing what our own Green School committee have been doing over the last 2 years.
Councillor Paul Gogarty was invited to attend and speak as he has links with the Green Party. He spoke very passionately about his personal experience and we are grateful to him for taking time out to visit our school. The girls on our Green School Committee provided a bin demonstration before asking students to try and win a prize (bamboo toothbrush) by correctly using the bins. The theme of each seminar was that small changes can make big differences!