Mercy Ballymahon News

ASD Awareness week

Last week we hosted an Autism Awareness Week as part of the AsIAm Autism Friendly Schools Project. A number of activities took place throughout the week to make our school community more Autism aware. A special thank you to students and staff in Narnia and Blathú who organised the week's activities, including autism awareness classes and teacher training.

CEIST Zoom event

On Tuesday last members of our student council attended a Leadership Group Gathering event held by CEIST. Thank you to Mr. O’Gara for facilitating. The event highlighted students’ resilience and fortitude over the last year and students were joined by guest speaker Professor Luke O’Neill who shared some advice and encouragement amidst easing covid restrictions in Ireland.

Careers

Thank you to Accenture Ireland for facilitating a talk with our 5th year students last week as part of Tech Week in association with Midlands Science. Thank you to Mr. Larkin and Ms. Keenan for organising.

TY virtual activities

Transition Year students have taken part in a number of online activities over the past couple of weeks. Students have engaged with the AXA Roadsafe show in association with Longford County Council, “Tackle your feelings”, a mental health campaign run by Rugby Players Ireland in partnership with Zurich from the Irish Rugby Wellbeing Programmes and the Law Society of Ireland TY Programme.

TY Public-Speaking

Thank you to Alan Devine, public-speaking coach, who facilitated workshops for all of our Transition Year students. From Glenroe to King Arthur, Hamlet, Veronica Guerin, The Tudors, Vikings and Fair City, Alan has over twenty years experience working as an actor in Ireland. He helped students work on confidence, preparation and technique when public-speaking.

Money Smart Challenge

Well done 5th year Economics students Eliot Egan, Cormac Mc Donagh, Cormac Casey, Daragh Campbell, Jack Gallagher, Shane Hanley,Thomas Gruselle, Gary Murtagh, Roan Duffy, Sean O Donohue, Cathal Farrell and Diarmuid Conlon who took part in the ‘Money Smart Challenge’, a Bank of Ireland quiz that sees students learn essential Financial Wellbeing skills.

LCVP soccer event

Well done to Mr. Burke’s 5th year LCVP class who organised a badminton event for 5th year students on Monday last. 60 students participated in the event.

TY Future Leader events

As part of the Future Leader programme all TY students have completed an event management module. Over the coming weeks, each TY class will host a sporting event for their year group. This week’s sporting event is Badminton.

Artist of the week

Each week the Art Department hosts an ‘Artist of the Week competition in the school. Students’ work is displayed in the school and on social media. Well done to recent winners Kiera Lily Farrel, Robin Óg Murphy, Shauna Ann Maguire, Teni Dania, Sarah Shea, Tegan Denniston, Setanta Flood and Keara Shattell. These students have shown wonderful talent, creativity and flair in their art classes.