Careers
Last week we celebrated College Awareness Week in the school. Thank you to our Career Guidance team of Mr. Larkin and Ms. Keenan for creating an informative and helpful video for students and parents about the route to third level education. The video can be found on the school’s social media platforms. Thank you also to all 6th year parents who attended our virtual CAO information talk on Monday last.
Winter exams
Winter exams started on Monday here at Mercy Ballymahon. Wishing all of our students the best of luck as they carry out their tests. Reports will be issued to parents in the coming weeks.
GAA Future Leaders
Transition year students are enjoying their participation in the GAA future leaders programme, a joint initiative from the GAA and the Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST). Thank you to the following teachers for facilitating the modules Mr. Larkin (GAA History), Ms. Minogue (Nutrition), Ms. McCarron (Sports Journalism), Ms. McDonagh (Wellbeing), Mr. Jones (Performance Analysis), Mr. Nerney (Event Management), Mr. Sammon (Coaching) and Mr. McCormack (Refereeing).
HawkEye Chat show
As part of their GAA future leaders module on Performance Analysis, TY students have been busy working with their teacher Mr Jones to produce a brand new chat show, “HawkEye”. Snippets of the show, which will include analysis and discussion on past matches and predictions for matches to come, will be available to watch on the school’s social media platforms.
Keeping active
Both staff and students have been keeping active here at Mercy Ballymahon by taking part in lunchtime and after school activities. Thank you to Mr. O’Gara and Mr. Jones for organising staff sporting activities and to our TY students who are running lunchtime sporting activities for 2nd year pupils.
Minding our Wellbeing
Well done to all students from our Narnia class who are participating in a ‘daily mile challenge’. The students have been walking a mile every day in spite of the cold weather and improving their physical health. Meanwhile, the students from our Bláthú class have been busy creating a ‘Wellbeing Wall’, a wall which highlights all of the things we can do to mind our wellbeing during these challenging times.
Comórtas Óráide an Phiarsaigh
Comhghairdeas to our 5th year students Cathal Keenan, Isabella Fabia Silva Santos and Aileen Briody who have submitted entries to the Comórtas Óráide an Phiarsaigh competition, a public speaking event in association with Gael Linn. The students submitted their video entries this week for review by a panel of judges. Go n-éirí an t-ádh leo.
“A photo speaks a thousand words”
Students in the school are being encouraged to participate in a photography competition hosted by the Community Policing Unit in Ballymahon. The competition, which is open to all students attending Ballymahon Secondary Schools, asks students to take and submit a photograph and to describe what the photo means to them. This is a fantastic competition and we urge all of our budding photographers to take part.
Logainm na Seachtaine
Thank you to TY students for researching our ‘Placename of the week’ - Baile Uí Mhatháin (Ballymahon). According to www.logainm.ie, the placename translates to the town of Ó Matháin. The name originates from a Western chieftain named Mahon. Mahon fought a famous battle at Shrule, near Ballymahon, defeating O’Rourke of Leitrim and laying claim to the lands in the area.
TY Horticulture students at Mercy Secondary School Ballymahon were busy planting a mixture of Winter and Spring plants and bulbs this week.
Brendan Doyle from Longford Sports Partnership (Back left) pictured with one of the TY classes in Mercy Secondary School Ballymahon who are working to achieve their Level 1 Award in Sports Leadership.