Mercy Ballymahon Notes

Notes by: Katie Devlin and Sarah Murtagh

Sport:

Congratulations to the 2nd year girls Basket Ball team who beat Dunshaughlin Community College and to their coach Ms. Carr last Tuesday. Also congratulations to the first year girls’ basketball and their coach Mr. Walsh who beat the same opposition. Both teams have won their first two group games

Good luck to the u19 boys’ basketball team and their coach Mr. Dempsey who are playing the all-Ireland semi-final this Friday in Tallaght Co. Dublin.

News:

5th year LCVP students visited Abbeyshrule Airport on Thursday as part of their LCVP Enterprise course. They now have to prepare an Action Plan and a Summary Report. Thanks to their teachers Ms. Bohan and Ms. Keegan for organising the trip.

Transition year students have completed their second and last week of work experience now. Thanks to all the employers who afforded our students this valuable part of education.

Safer Internet week has been celebrated in Mercy Secondary School Ballymahon under the theme "Be in Ctrl". Safer Internet Day was on Feb 6th and Ms. O Neill completed a workshop with all year groups on internet safety. Elements of student wellbeing, encompassing our school mission statement, respect, anti-bullying, friendship, resilience, connection and responsibility were covered in the workshop. Three follow up lesson plans will be delivered in their Junior Cycle SPHE and Senior Cycle TY Religion/SPHE classes.

Thanks to Ms. O Reilly , Ms. Ryan, Ms. O Neill, Ms. Donohue, Mr. Kenny and Mr. Larkin together with TY students Ali O Connor, Oisín Brogan, Zoe Guinane, Sophie Hogan, Meghan Finnan and Caitlin Farrell who looked after the incoming 1st year who sat their assessment tests on Saturday Feb 3rd.

Just to remind parents of first year students  that a parent teacher meeting will take place on Thursday the 22nd of February from 4.15pm to 6.45pm. This is the last parent teacher meeting of 2017-2018 school year.

Well done to all the third and sixth year students who have completed their mock exams over the last two weeks.  Thanks to Ms. Keegan and Ms. McManus who coordinated the exams.

Thought for the week:

“Life is not a competition; life is about helping and inspiring others so we can reach our potential” (Kim Chase)

Debating

Congrats to our senior debating team, Emer Tyrrell, Aaron O'Connor, Denny Hebron and Amy Cox who reached the knock out stages of the All Ireland Concern Debating competition. They gave an outstanding performance last night against a great team from Davitt College Castlebar. It was extremely close and the result did not go our way. Thanks to their mentors Ms. O'Reilly and Mr. Staunton for all their guidance and support. Thanks to the great supporters who travelled to the event.

Bank of Ireland Junk Kouture 2018 Regional Finalist

Congratulations to our western regional finalists!! - Claire Beirne, Dearbhail Rooney and Blathnaid McDonagh, Ty students who are representing Mercy Secondary School Ballymahon in theBank of Ireland Junk Kouture 2018 Regional Finalists, which will be held on March 7th in The Helix Dublin.

To vote online:

• Please download the junk Kouture app. & vote
• Vote for Seas The Day Mercy Ballymahon 
• The Regional Final Vote, 19th - 23rd February: this vote is for all regional finalists. 

TICKETS

Please note that Junk Kouture has no control over ticket sales, they are sold independently by the venues. 

Tickets have sold out in previous years within 3 hours of going on sale, so be fast!

Tickets go on sale for this years regional finals from each of the venues at 9:00am on the 19th of February.

Website: http://thehelix.ie/

Contact No: (01) 700 7000

Email: info@thehelix.dcu.ie

JC & LC Mock Exams Timetables

Junk Kouture Competition

RECYCLED FASHION DESIGN ENTRY 2018

MERCY SECONDARY SCHOOL BALLYMAHON

“SEAS THE DAY”

Bláthnaid McDonagh – TY student

Dearbháile Rooney – TY Student

Claire Beirne – Ty Student

"SEAS THE DAY"

Designed from plastic and aluminium packaging used to store food, clothes and household goods which are used in excessive amounts daily. The dress consists of chocolate wrappers, fruit packaging, coal bags and baling twine -alongside digital materials.

DESIGN CONCEPT:

Appalled that the sea is fast becoming the world's biggest dumping ground with 1 billion pounds of refuse entering the ocean each year, we wanted to convey this alarming fact to the public through our design . The frame of our dress is sharp and obtrusive towards the top but visually softens towards the bottom- representing all three states of water. The dress is comprised of mainly plastic materials which is the most common element found and number one source of pollution in the sea. Water pollution is aesthetically unpleasing and humans misuse of rubbish cause chaos to marine life. The wings represent this chaos and the variety of materials that wash up on our beaches each year. We hope to inspire people to " Seas the Day " before it is too late and to reverse the damage we've caused. The skirt and shoes symbolises the purity of nature that we aspire for in our environment. 

Our design changed throughout the course of the year. We had originally planned for a single skirt however after receiving advice from a friend we decided to add an under skirt which would also add dimension. It was made detachable to add variety and drama. 
The style of the dress is inspired from Haute Couture with the addition of the wings to represent a Phoenix as our title encourages people to rise up from the ashes of pollution and create a purer world. We also learned how to work as a team and developed great trust in each other. 

Mercy Ballymahon Notes

Notes by: Tami Dania and Sarah Cox

Extra-curricular

Hard luck to the U16 girls’ basketball team who were unlucky in the All-Ireland Div. ‘A’ playoffs held in Loreto Kilkenny on Saturday 13th January. They lost to Crescent Comprehensive Limerick, beat Carrigaline Community School by a point and were beaten by Loreto, Kilkenny. Thanks to their coach Ms. Carr.

Hard luck also to the U16 boys’ basketball team, trained by Mr. Walsh and Mr. Dempsey, who won one  out of two games at the All-Ireland play offs, on Sunday 14th which were held in our school gym. They beat Bray but unfortunately lost to St. Pats Armagh

Well done to Rachel Lyons who competed in the Regional final of the Soroptimist public speaking competition on Saturday 13th in the Bloomfield House hotel Mullingar. She did herself and Mercy Ballymahon proud in what was a very strong competition. Thanks to her mentor Ms. Gaffney for all her guidance in preparing for the competition.

The U19 boys’ soccer team, trained by Mr. Burke and Mr. Tansey, were beaten by Oaklands College, Edenderry in the North Leinster final on Monday 15th January.

Congrats to our Senior Boys’ Football team trained by Mr. McCormack and Mr. O Gara who beat St. Olivers Oldcastle by a scoreline of 1-15-1-9. They are now through to the North Leinster final.

Transition Year:

Two groups of Transition Year students have completed their First Aid class with Martin Mulvey where they were taught CPR and how to use an AED.

Transition Year students also went to Kairos Communications in Maynooth and took part in a media studies course. TY3 went on Wednesday 17th January and TY4 went on Thursday 18th January. Thanks to Ms. Quinn and Ms. Flannery for accompanying the students.

Thanks to Shane Prior, Eoghan Bannon, Ciarán Hanley, Jack Murtagh, Niall McGarry and Richard Laffan who volunteered at the Day Care centre this week.

News:

As part of their action project, a 3rd year CSPE class held a bake sale on Wednesday 17th January to raise funds for Bóthar. Thanks to Ms. Flannery for mentoring the students.

The 6th year physics class accompanied by Mr. Griffin went on a revision Leaving Cert practical workshop to NUI Maynooth on Tuesday.

A speaker from D.I.T. spoke to 6th years on Thursday 11th January about the courses that they offer.

On Monday 15th January, 5th year LCVP students attended a workshop presented by Selina Lindsay form Youth Connect (ICTU) about employees’ rights in the workplace.

All 5th year students have career appointments scheduled with Ms. O Neill and or Mr. Larkin starting from week of 29th January.

Incoming first years for September 2018 are invited to sit their assessment tests in our school on Saturday 3rd of Feb, at 10.00 am.

Thought for the week:

I learned this, at least , by my experiment; that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavours to live the life which he has Imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours. “ (Henry David Thoreau).

Highest LC results 2017

Presentation to the joint winners of Highest Leaving Certificate results 2017 to Dearbhaile Madden and Emma Donohoe. Dearbhaile is studying Science in UCD and Emma is studying Medicine in TCD.

Jakob demonstrating German Macaron biscuits

Big Thank you to Jakob who demonstrated German biscuits to our TY students and sent us recipe for these lovely Macarons!

Macarons

Ingredients:

3 times the white of an egg

250g icing sugar

Pinch of salt

Bit of vanilla aroma

250g ground almonds or ground hazelnuts

Whole hazelnuts and almonds for the decoration

First pre-heat the oven. Then beat all the eggs and add first the icing sugar(sieving) and after that the rest carefully into the bowls. Now put little pieces on a baking paper. Don’t put them to close together they will rise! Finally put them for 20 to 30 minutes in the oven at 150 degrees.

Mercy Ballymahon Notes

Notes by: Katie Gouldsbury and Amy Cox

TY

All TY groups have had their first day of their First Aid course completed by now. They will get their second day after Christmas. Thanks to Martin Mulvey who gives the course.

Thanks to Gordon Farrell, Patrick Smyth and Seadhna Ryan, Edel Clabby, Amy Cox and Liadhan Farrell who visited the Day care centre this week.

The Young Social Innovators team consisting of 21 Transition Year students are currently working on a Self-esteem Awareness video starring students from every year. The title of their project is “Photo, Photo on my screen, putting down my self-esteem”. The aim of their project is to raise awareness of the damaging effects of social media on self-esteem. The video will be posted in the New Year. Follow their journey on @ysi_mss. Thanks to their mentor Ms. McGovern.

Sports:

Commiserations to the u 16 boys’ football team who lost to Edenderry last week. Thanks to their coaches Mr. Dromey and Mr. Farrell.

Other news:

Well done to the fifth and second and first year students who completed their Christmas exams last week. We hope that they all went well. Thanks to Ms. Keegan and Ms. McManus who helped to organise the exams.

Congratulations to Aishling Farrell and her friend Maeve Newton who won this year’s Christmas FM Song contest. They also got through the first two rounds of auditions for the Late Late Toy Show with the song “This Christmas” which they composed and performed. Aishling also performed this song at the annual Carol Service and was supported by the School Choir on Monday the 18th Dec in St. Matthews Church Ballymahon. Thanks to Ms. Malone for all her hard work.

Also well done to Cathal Higgins his brother Thomás, his sisters Katie and Lily who also got through two rounds of auditions for the Late Late Toy Show with the song “Mistletoe” composed by themselves

The sixth years enjoyed an information talk about post Leaving Cert courses available at N.U.I.G. on Thursday last.

Thanks to John Pridmore who provided the annual retreat day for Leaving Cert students last Friday.

Thought for the week:

Don’t wait for the perfect moment, take the moment and make it perfect

Mercy Ballymahon Notes

Notes by: Sarah Cox and Tami Dania

Transition Year:

Thanks to Bryn Peters, Ellen Shannon, Dylan Coady Eoghan Bannon, Katie Farrell, Chara Mtisi and Rebecca Gill for visiting the Day Care Centre this week.

On Monday 4th December TY 3 and TY 4 went on a day trip to Boda Borg at Lough Key Forest Park as part of their Logic class taught by Mr. Dromey. Thanks to Mr. Walsh and Mr. Tansey for accompanying the students on the trip.

Congratulations to Shane Prior, Sean Kenny, Gerard Brennan and James Murphy who came fourth in the Regional final of Battle of the Wits which was held in Athlone on Wednesday 6th  December. Thanks to Ms. Bohan for mentoring the team.

TY students sat their CAT assessment on Thursday 7th December. It was organised by Ms. O’Neill and will help students when selecting their subjects for Leaving Cert.

TY students went to Portlaoise to watch the U16 girls’ football match and then made their way to Dundrum for ice skating and a day of shopping. They were accompanied by Mrs. Bohan, Ms. Duffy, Mr. Staunton and Ms. Nevin.

Sport:

Congratulations to the U 16 boys’ basketball team trained by Mr. Walsh, who beat De La Salle from Dundalk in the regional final with a score line of 53-20. Also congratulations to the U19 boys’ basketball team coached by Mr. Dempsey and Ms. Flannery who beat O’Carolan College, Nobber in the regional u19 final by a score line 36-34 after extra time. Both teams are now through to the All-Ireland playoffs

Basketball U16 and U19 Regional champions

Commiserations to the U 16 girls’ basketball and their coach Ms. Carr who were beaten in their regional final by Castleblaney in Mullagh on Monday 4th December. However the girls have the opportunity to qualify for the all-Ireland play offs as they are the runner up in the  regional final.

Hard luck to the U16 girls’ football team, trained by Mr. Bohan and Ms. O’Reilly, who lost their Leinster A semi-final match against Portlaoise on Tuesday 5th December.

Congratulations to the U 19 boys’ soccer team, trained by Mr. Burke, who qualified for the knock out stages of the league after beating Mullingar Community college on Friday 1st December. They lost their second group game to Strokestown.  

School Walk:

A sincere thank you to all who supported the annual school walk which raised a total of €3786. Congratulations to Oisin Lane who was the first student to complete the route, Liam Glennon the second, Bradley Gray the first senior boy and Aileen Price the first senior girl. The prize draw winners for the annual school walk were Edel Clabby, Ella Hogan, Áine Dalton and Anthony Flynn.

News:

Our annual Open night was held on Thursday 30th November. Once again a huge crowd attended and the closing date for enrolment for 1st year September 2018  is 4pm 20th December 2017.

Thanks to all who supported the Christmas Shoe Box Appeal organised by Ms. O’Reilly.  Over 100 boxes have been sent to Team Hope.

Rehearsals are in place for the annual Carol service which will take place on Monday 18th Dec in St. Matthews Church, Ballymahon at 8pm. Thanks to Ms. Malone for all her hard work.

Thought for the week:

Everything you do now is for your future. Think about that. (Kushandwzdom).

Team Hope Shoebox Appeal

Well done to all our students who took part in Team Hope Christmas Shoebox Appeal this year. Donated boxes will be delivered to children in the communities mainly in Eastern Europe, former Soviet Union and Africa. Thank you to Ms. O'Reilly who organised the collection.

Mercy Ballymahon Notes

Notes by: Sarah Cox and Cormac Dixon

John Paul II Award:

Congratulations to the students who received their Bronze John Paul II awards from Bishop Francis Duffy at a ceremony in St. Mels Cathedral recently; Feidhlim Maher, Ciara Healy, Zoe Gallagher, Róisín Sheahan, Orla Keane, Maryann Lynch, Aisling McCormack, Ciara Nally, Harry Pendred, Matthew Gunning, Conall McKiernan, Jason Moorhead, Brian Kelly, Clodagh Kiely, Catherine Reilly, Karen Victory, Kevin Lynch, Cian Belton, Caoimhe Lohan, Rachael Lyons, Clodagh Kenny, Eve Corrigan, Claire Shaw, Daniel Lennon, Eoin Mulvihill, Bronagh Gorham and Orla Kenny. Congratulations also to Áine Bannon who received the Silver John Paul II award on the same day.

Sport:

Heartiest congratulations to our senior girls, Emily Farrell and Rachael Lyons who participated in the Soroptimist Public Speaking competition this week. The event was held in Athlone Community College on Tuesday night, with several schools from the locality participating. The competition was steep with an excellent display of knowledge, skill and ablilty by all the girls' involved. Rachael Lyons 5th year will go forward to represent the region in the Leinster final in January. We wish her every success in the next round. Thanks also to their mentor Ms. Ruth Gaffney

The Under 19 Boys’ basketball team, coached by Mr. Dempsey and Ms. Flannery, won their match on Friday 17th November against Corolan College. The u 19 and u 16 boys’ basketball teams are now through to the regional playoffs.

Commiserations to the senior Boys footballers who were beaten by Ballymahon Vocational School, in the Longford/Westmeath Final at Pearse Park last week. Thanks to their coaches Mr. McCormack and Mr. O Gara.

Congratulations to Sean Kenny, James Murphy, Gerard Brennan and Shane Prior who won ‘The Battle of the Wits’ table quiz held in Longford Library on Tuesday 21st November. They now go on to represent Longford in the Regional Finals in Athlone on the 6th December.

NARNIA students enjoyed a day out at Laser Tag in Athlone with Ms. Ryan and Helena Brady on Tuesday 21st November.

Well done to Mr. McCormack and Ms. Carr and all the first year students who held a Gymnastics display in the gym on Monday last.

The first year boys are enjoying a lunchtime Pella competition organised by Mr. Larkin and some transition year students.

Transition Year

Thanks to Oisin Brogan, Eva Harkin, Lucy-Anne Myhill, Ciaran Hanly, Eoghan Bannon, Sophie Hogan, Megan Finnan, Katie Gouldsbury and Gordon Farrell, who went to the Day-care centre this week;

TY2 and TY3 students enjoyed a Holy Spirit Day as a part of their Alpha course in St. Mel’s Diocesan Centre on Wednesday 22nd November. Thanks Annette Evans and her team of volunteers Mona, Catherine, Mary, Jim and Gerry for running the course and to Ms. Bohan and Mr Staunton for accompanying the students.

Teresa Dooner from Killashee gave some TY students a demonstration on her Bread Making recipe that reached 2nd place in the ICA All-Ireland Bread making competition in recent years. Thank you Teresa for your time and expertise, your Bread was gorgeous.

Alan Devine completed his workshop with Transition year students on oral presentations.

Art Exhibition

The ‘Imaginations Run Wild’ art exhibition was held on Thursday 23rd November in the Study Hall of the school. It was opened by Longford artist Phil Atkinson. Thanks to TY students Patrick Conlon, Mark Mealia, Sean Mulleady and Cathal Higgins helped organise Ms. Bruton organise the exhibition.

Agricultural Science

Thanks to Mr. Munds and Mr. Walsh who took 5th and 6th year Ag. Science students to a farm talk based on the Irish beef industry in the Ballymahon Mart on Wednesday 22nd November. Guest speakers included Angus Woods, chairman of the Irish beef industry and actor and playwright Seamus O Rourke.

Monthly Weather Report from our school weather reporting team: Francesca Mc Greal and Matthew Jordan October 2017

Temperatures were quite mild with an average of 13 degrees Celsius. Soil temperature fell gradually from a high of 14 degrees Celsius at the beginning of October, to 9 degrees at the end of the month. Wind direction was mostly from a southerly direction which kept our temperatures mild and our precipitation as rainfall. Grass growth was measured for October at 5cm, which is good and undoubtedly related to our mild conditions.

Open Night and Enrolment

Our Open Night is taking place on November 30th at 7pm. 6th class pupils and their parents/guardians are invited to attend. Closing date for enrolment is Wednesday December 20th, 4pm.

Thought for the week:

If you stumble make it part of the dance.

Public Speaking

Heartiest congratulations to our senior girls, Emily Farrell and Rachel Lyons who participated in the Soroptimist public speaking competition this week. The event was held in Athlone Community College on Tuesday night, with several schools from the locality participating. The competition was steep with an excellent display of knowledge, skill and ability by all the girls' involved. Rachel Lyons 5th year will go forward to represent the region in the Leinster final in January. We wish her every success in the next round. Thanks also to their mentor Ms.Ruth Gaffney.

Art Exhibition

LOCAL LONGFORD ARTIST

PHIL ATKINSON

Will Exhibit his artwork &

Open

MERCY BALLYMAHON

Art Exhibition

IMAGINATIONS RUN WILD

@7pm

Thursday 23rd

November

In The Study Hall

ALL WELCOME

Mercy Ballymahon Notes

Notes by: Sarah Cox and Tami Dania

Open Night:

Mercy Secondary School Ballymahon will hold our annual Open and Enrolment Night for incoming first year students September 2018 on Thursday 30th of November, starting at 7.00pm. All details may be obtained on the school website.

Leaving Certificate:

Dearbhaile Madden and Derek Shaw who received Entrance Scholars Awards from UCD

Congratulations to students from our Leaving Cert class of 2017. Emma Donohoe who was awarded an Entrance Exhibition Award 2017 from TCD and to Derek Shaw and Dearbhaile Madden who were awarded Entrance Scholars Awards from UCD. Derek and Dearbhaile will receive their awards at the Awards Ceremony on Thursday the 16th November. Emma will receive her Award at the Awards Ceremony on Tuesday 21st of November.

Thanks to Ms. D. Daly and Mr. Tansey who arranged a river field study trip to Derrygonnelly  for the leaving certificate geography students on Friday 27th October. This is part of the L.C.geography project which will be submitted by the end April 2018. This project is worth 20 percent of their final exam.

Sport:

The Senior girls’ football team, coached by Mr. Bohan, Mr. Munds and Ms. O’Reilly, won their match against Moyne recently.

Hard luck to the U16 boys’ football team, coached by Mr. Dromey and Mr. Farrell who were beaten by Mercy Kilbeggan in a challenge game recently.

The U16 girls’ football team, coached by Ms. O’Reilly and Mr. Bohan, lost their match against  Loreto Navan on Tuesday 7th November.

The U 16 girls’ basketball team won their game against Scoil Mhuire Longford recently and hard Luck to the U 19 girls’ who were beaten by the same opposition. Thanks to their coach Ms. Carr.

Well done to Seadhna Ryan on winning Silver in the Connaught schools u16 swimming championships held in Claremorris. Seadhna will now compete for the Connaught Inter Provincial team in the spring of 2018.

Transition Year:

Alan Devine has completed his workshop with three TY groups, and our public speaking soroptimist team of Emily Farrell (6th year) and Rachel Lyons (5th year). The workshop gave tips on gaining confidence in public speaking.

Thanks to Helen Emerson who presented a Cognitive Behaviour course on Mental Health to two of our TY groups.

Margret Larkin returned to complete the module “Health for life” with all transition year groups last week

Thanks to Mark Mealia, Patrick Smyth, Patrick Conlon, Richard Sweetnam, John KilBane, Ella McMonagle, Niall McGarry, Ryan Shannon, Richard Prior, Katie Gouldsbury, Danny Hewitt , Liadhan Farrell, Gordon Farrell and Urte Vityte for visiting the Daycare Centre recently .

Thought for the week:

“Go as far as you can see; when you get there, you’ll be able to see further.” Thomas Carlyle 

Senior Debating Win

Congratulations to our senior debating team who won their Concern debate against Moate CC tonight. Team members L-R, Denny Hebron, Amy Cox Emer Tyrell and Aaron O Connor. Congratulations also to their Mentors Mr. Staunton, Ms. O'Donovan and Ms. O'Reilly.

John Paul II Awards

Congratulations to 22 students who received John Paul II Awards in St Mels Cathedral yesterday.

Congratulations!

Congratulations to our past pupil Emma Donohue who has been selected for an Entrance Exhibition Award  in Trinity College as a result of high performance in her Leaving Cert Examinations.

Also congratulations to Dearbhaile Madden and Derek Shaw on receiving UCD Entrance Scholars Awards in recognition for their academic achievement in their Leaving Certitifcate.

Mercy Ballymahon Notes

Notes by: Amy Cox and Katie Gouldsbury

News:

The winners of the first year maths table quiz were Hannah Daly, Cian Molloy, Daniel Egan, Ryan Casey. Thank you to all the teachers and TY students who helped organised the quiz.

Six representatives from the student council, Feidhlim Maher, Ali O Connor, Zoe Guinane, Saoirse Mc Loughlin, Daniel Egan and Joseph Carrigy attended the Comhairle na nÓg in the Longford Arms Hotel on Thursday 18th October. A very enjoyable day was had by all. Past pupil Shiona Cahill was a guest speaker on the day. Well done to Feidhlim Maher, Daniel Egan and James Carroll who were elected onto the Longford County Comhairle committee.

The TY groups have swapped over timetables and will now experience a range of new subjects.

Thanks to all the parents who attended the parent-teacher meeting on Thursday 26th. Our next parent teacher meeting is on Thursday the 9th of November for parents of third year students and Thursday the 16th of November for parents of 6th year students

Alan Devine presented a workshop on communication and public speaking to T.Y.1 students. Everyone had a great day and learnt some valuable new skills. He will be back in November to work the other T.Y. students.

On Tuesday 24th all Ty students went to Tuard Ard Moate for a one man comedy show, “Psycho Spaghetti” performed by Ger Carey. This show looks at the working inside the mind of a teenager. Thanks to Ms. Flannery, Ms. Quinn and Ms. Bohan for accompanying them.

Thanks to Dearbhaile Rooney, Claire Beirne, Blathnaid McDonagh, Chloe Molloy, Cora Norton, Paddy Conlon, Ali O’Connor, Rebecca Gill and Zoe Guinane who visited the Day-care centre last week.

TY students, Ciara Mulligan, Jill Dennehy, Niamh Dempsey, Ellen Shannon and Laoise Nerney are putting together an anti-drink/drugs ad for a competition which is being run by the Longford Garda. Sean Mulleady, Mark Mealia, Patrick Conlon and Ciaran McDonnell are busy preparing an art piece for the school art exhibition “Imaginations run wild”, which will be held in the school on Thursday 23rd of November at 7pm.

Well done to Joseph Kenny, Maciej Gorski and Matthew Jordan who took part in a Health and Safety Quiz run by the NISO in A.I.T. recently. Thanks to Ms. Bohan for accompanying the team.

TY students who took part in NISO quiz in Athlone

Sports

Congratulations to the U16 and U19 boys basketball teams who both won their matches against Coláiste na Hinse on the 24th of October. The U16s won on a score line of 48-17 points. The U19s had to work much harder.  The game twoed and froed throughout and with 30 seconds to go our lads were down by 2 points. Some exceptional team play led to captain Neil Kilbane's shining moment, equalising with only three seconds left sending the game into extra-time. It was in extra-time that the Ballymahon men showed their true class outplaying the opposition in every facet of the game.  After the additional time, Ballymahon finished the victors of this exceptional game 62:55.Well done to their coaches Mr Dempsey and Mr. Walsh.

Thanks to Damien Sherdian and the Games Development committee in Longford who organised the first year boys’ football blitz in Pearse Park last week. We entered 4 teams and won most games. Thanks to the coaches Mr. Kenny and Mr. Larkin

Congratulations to our Concern debating team of Arron O’Connor, Denny Hebron, Emer Tyrell and Amy Cox who won their debate against Borrisokane Community College in Tipperary on Monday 23rd.  Thanks to their mentors Ms O’Reilly, Ms O’Donovan and Mr Staunton.

Thanks to all who supported our annual School Walk on Tuesday 24th of Oct which helped to raise money for the school. To date over 2600 euros has been collected.

Thought for the week:

The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will. (Vincent Lombardi).

Mercy Ballymahon Notes

Notes by: Tami Dania and Sarah Cox
News:
Maths Week took place in our school from the 14 th to the 22 nd of October. The prism maths
competition took place. All students were invited to respond to a poster competition on the
corridor and drop their answers into a box at the office. Many other maths activities were
done by first years including a maths table quiz on Friday.
Well done to the third and sixth years who completed their mocktober exams last week. The
first parent teacher meeting will be held on Thursday 26 th of November from 4.15 to 6.45
pm for parents of transition year students.
Thanks to Katie Gallagher, Paul Prior and Painted Skies who performed in our School on
Friday 13 October at 8pm. A great night was had by all.
Representatives of the Green Schools Committee visited all classrooms last week to remind
students to use the appropriate bins.
Sport:
Hard luck to the senior boys gaelic football team, trained by Mr. McCormack and Mr.
O’Gara, who lost their match against Rochfortbridge and to the U14 boys football team,
trained by Mr. Larkin and Mr. Kenny, lost their football match against the Ballymahon
Vocational School last week.
We wish our Soroptimist team of Rachael Lyons and Emily Farrell the best of luck as they
prepare for their first competition in November. Thanks to their mentor Ms. Gaffney
The annual School Walk will take place during the week beginning the 23 rd of October. We
ask that all families make a contribution. All monies raised will go towards the P.E. and
Music departments.
Transition Year
Thanks to Lucy-Ann Myhill, Alison Dennehy, Clodagh Dillon and Ellen Shannon who visited
the Daycare Centre Seadhna Ryan, Dearibhaile Rooney and Claire Beirne last week. Thanks
to Ms. O’ Neill, Ms. O’ Reilly and Mr. Larkin who accompanied all TY students to a Career
information day in Roscommon and Athlone I.T. last Wednesday
Mental Health week
Mental Health Week was held last week and a competition was held for best dressed and
craziest socks and shoes. The winners are as follows:
Best dressed: Gavin Rynn, Craziest socks and shoes, Arron O’ Connor and runner up was
Alicja Krol.

Thought for the week:
Always remember that the future comes one day at a time.