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

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.

Mercy Ballymahon Notes

Notes by: Julieann Moran and Niamh Hanley

News:

The school celebrated the opening of the new school year mass for first and sixth year students on Tuesday followed by mass for all the other students on Wednesday in St. Matthews church, Ballymahon. Thanks to Fr. Liam who celebrated the masses and to Ms. Malone in the Music department for supplying such uplifting music and to the Religion department for all their hard work in preparing all for the masses.

Thanks to Kay Mitchell who spoke to our 6th years about post leaving certificate courses available at Maynooth University last Thursday.

The transition year students enjoyed their first work experience of the year last week. Thanks to all the employers who provided our students with this valuable opportunity.

The annual School Walk will take place during the week beginning the 23rd of October. Sponsorship cards will be distributed to all families and we ask that the cards be returned before that week. Funds raised this year will go towards extra funding for the P.E. and Music departments in our school. Congratulations to Karl Mc Inerney first year who won the competition to design the poster to be used in the sponsorship card.

Karl Mc Inerney's picture which won Poster Competition

Karl Mc Inerney's picture which won Poster Competition

Mrs. Bohan’s second year business class enjoyed a visit to Kepak last week to support the topic Enterprise which they are studying at the moment.  Thanks to Brendan O Sullivan who spoke to the class and answered their questions.

Mental Health/Mind Fest Week.

In preparation for Mental Health Awareness week which will be taking place from October 9th our Mental  Health Awareness Ambassador team of Cormac Dixon, Jenny Kelly, Cora Norton, Dylan Coady, Caitlin Farrell, Meghan Finnan, Zoe Guinane, Sophie Hogan, Bryn Peters, Evan Chalmers, Ali O’Connor, Seadhna Ryan, Gerard Brennan, Erin McCormack and Ryan Shannon are busy organising many events. These events include Mood tests, playing favourite music during lunch and break times. Crazy Shoe & Sock Day will happen on Tuesday, and €2 will be collected from each student as a fundraiser for pieta house. All students will enjoy a “Zumba” class in the gym. A Mental Health Awareness Talk will be delivered by the TY Wellness Ambassadors to all classes. 5 Minutes Mindfulness and a Table Quiz for 1st to 3rd years  will take place on Friday.

Sport:

Our senior boys’ football team were victorious over Moyne Community School. Thanks to Mr. Mc Cormack and Mr. O’Gara for coaching the team.

Hard luck to our U16 and U19 Girls’ basketball teams who narrowly lost their games against Castleblaney last Thursday. Thanks to their coach Ms. Carr.

Well done to Emer Tyrell, Denny Hebron, Amy Cox and Aaron O Connor who were selected to represent our school in the forthcoming debating competition. The subs include Edel Clabby, Olivia Hoysted, Jenny Skelly and Shane Prior. Preparation for the Public speaking competition “the knights of St. Columbanus” is under way also. Thanks to Ms. O’ Reilly, Ms. O’ Donovan and Mr. Staunton who mentor the teams.

Fundraiser:

An Evening with Katie Gallagher, Paul Prior and Painted Skies will take place in the School Study hall on Friday 13 October at 8pm. Tickets available from school office €10. Buy in advance to avoid disappointment.

IMG-4554 (1) (1).png

Thought for the week:

Falling down is an accident, staying down is a choice.

Mercy Ballymahon Notes

by Tami Dania and Sarah Cox

News:

Thanks to all the first year parents who attended the information night last Thursday.  Ms. O Reilly and three first year students, Aaron Kenny, Shane Burke and Abbey Doherty gave a lesson on the use of I pads in the class room. Thanks to our guidance team Mr. Larkin and Ms. O Neill who spoke about study skills, homework management and changes in adolescence. Ms. Donohue and Mr. Kenny also spoke at the meeting.

All student council members attended a Leadership Workshop given by Sean Kelly from “the Super Generation - group Leadership Programme”.

5th & TY students attended the Engage Art Exhibition in Longford on Wednesday 27th September with Ms. Bruton. They got a tour of the gallery and information on the various artists who completed the various displays.

Sport:

Congratulations to our U 16 and u 19 boys’ basketball and their coaches Mr. Walsh and Mr. Dempsey who beat Gormanstown last week.

Three first year teams attended a 7 a side football blitz in Clonguish last week. Thanks to the CountyBoard for organising the blitz and to  Mr. Kenny, Mr. Larkin and 6 TY students; Gordan Farrell, Seadhna Ryan, Dylan Coady, Jack Murtagh, Sean Kenny and Evan Chalmers who coached our three teams.

1st year boys Gaelic footballers

1st year boys Gaelic footballers

Transition Year:

Margaret Larkin has been presenting her Health for Life workshop to all the Transition year students.

On Wednesday Saide Wheatly, our mini company mentor met with all our ty students to discuss and advise them about setting up mini companies.

Thanks to Muirinn Claffey, Lucy-Ann Myhill and Bláthnaid McDonagh who helped out at the Daycare Centre last week.

Thought for the week:

Your talent determines what you can do, your motivation determines how much you are willing to do. Your attitude determines how well you do it. (Lou Holtz)

Mercy Ballymahon Notes

Notes by: Cian Belton and Niamh Hanley

News:
A group of TY girls and Ms. Quinn would like to thank all the staff, students and parents who baked cakes and bought at their bake sale for Longford Hospice on Friday the 28th of April. It was a great success and raised €503. After fundraising for this very worthwhile local charity, the TY girls, Ms. Quinn and Ms. Mc Tiernan are all looking forward to the second half of their challenge, to complete 10km at the Women's Mini Marathon in Dublin on the June Bank Holiday weekend.

Graduations:

Well done to the Transition year students who graduated last Tuesday night after a very busy year. Thanks to their year head Ms. Bohan for all her leadership during the year. Wednesday last the Leaving cert students had their last day at Mercy Secondary School, Ballymahon, They enjoyed an afternoon of sport and chat after their barbeque. This was followed by the graduation mass on Thursday night. Thanks and to the Religion Department for their work in preparing the mass, to Fr. Liam Murray for leading the mass and to Ms. Malone for all her hard work with the choir.  We wish them luck in their study and in their life’s ahead.

Awards

We held our annual awards ceremony last Tuesday and we congratulate all the students who received awards for their work over the year. Some of the awards were: Leaving Cert Student Of The Year; Kate Beirne, Ceist award Winner Emma Donohoe, Mercy AwardWinner Eddie Mc Loughlin, Leadership award Winner Rachael Lyons. In the sports category we congratulate Rachel Dillon Senior, Aisling McCormack u 16 and Clodagh Lohan under 14 sports girls of the year. We congratulate Shane Mahon Senior, Ros Claffey under 16 and Seadhna Ryan under 14 boys sports person of the year.

In the Creative category Hannah Jackson and Anna Peters shared the senior art award whileBlathnaid Mc Donagh won the junior art award. In Technology Derek Shaw got the senior award and Jack Murtagh got the junior award. In Music:  Conor O'Brien was awarded the senior and Favour Ogunsakin was awarded the junior music award.  For D.C.G. it was Derek Shaw who won the senior and, Amy Cox won the junior. In Home EconomicsAndrea Higgins won the senior and Amy Maxwell won the junior awards. Réalt na Gaeilgewas won by Oisín O’Reilly at senior level and Cathal Keenan at junior level. The Physics awards were won by Robert Murphy and Derek Shaw

Athletics:

Congratulations to Oisin lane, won the 2K walk and came 3rd in 3K Run, Brendan Finnan came 3rd in Javlin and 2nd in 200 m hurdles and Jayne Walsh got 3rd place in 1200 m walk at the Connaught finals, in Athlone IT recently and qualified for all Irelands on 2nd June in Tullamore,

Well done to Cathal Farrell and Jack Gallagher who competed in the 200m and 800m sprint in the N Connaughts earlier.

Thought for the week:

Not everything that is faced can be changed but nothing will change unless it is faced…… James Baldwin

Girls TY 10Km Challenge

The TY girls and Ms. Quinn would like to thank all the staff, students and parents who baked and bought at their bake sale for Longford Hospice on Friday the 28th of April. It was a great sucdess as the total amount raised was 503 euro. After fundraising for this very worthwhile local charity, the TY girls and Ms. Quinn are all looking forward to the second half of their Girls TY 10Km Challenge now. They will be becoming more active in the next few weeks in order to complete 10km at the Women's Mini Marathon in Dublin on the June Bank Holiday weekend. Mrs. Mc Tiernan has kindly volunteered to accompany them on this weekend. No doubt her help will be greatly appreciated too.

Mercy Ballymahon Notes

Notes By: Cian Belton and Niamh Hanley

 General News

The Leaving and Junior Cert Art Exams have taken place. Well done to the students who completed the exam, we wish well them with their results. Thanks to Orla Keane, Ciara Healy, Shauna Costello, Roisin Sheahan, Niamh Hanley and Julieann Moran who volunteered to model for the art exam.

Congratulations to 5th year art student Kate Courtney who will be participating in‘Square Eyes’, a student artist street mural project hosted by Cruthú Arts Festival Longford July 27th - 30th 2017. The students are trained by renowned mural artist Phil Atkinson. Kate will get the opportunity to create large murals with Phil. The finished artwork will then be toured around participating schools in the 2017 academic year. The artwork will eventually be mounted in prominent public spaces in Longford.

The third years enjoyed their annual retreat last Wednesday. Thanks to Mike Shortt and his team from Tobar Nua who gave the retreat.

Congratulations to Mr. Burke and his Green Schools team who have been awarded the green flag for our school. They will receive the flag at an awards ceremony in Athlone on Wednesday 24th of May.

Sport:

Congratulations to the first year girls’ basketball team who won two out of their three qualifying games last Saturday in U.L.  Unfortunately, the girls lost out to Mercy Waterford, the eventual winners, in the All Ireland A quarter final. Thanks to their coach Ms. Carr for all her hard work.

First year girls’ basketball team with their coach Ms. Carr.

First year girls’ basketball team with their coach Ms. Carr.

Ms. Ryan ran a competition for first and second year students and their teachers to decide on a name for our special Autism classroom. Congratulations to Ms.Daly who proposed the chosen name “Narnia”. Ms. Daly will recieve first  prize, a lunch with the class. The chosen name NARNIA, means going through a door which looks like any door in the school, but you enter a place that is special and unique in our school. There were many other great ideas for example the three runners-up were:  2. RISE: Reaching Independence Through Structured Environments. 3. STRIDE: Students Taking Responsibility in Developing Excellence. 4. AUTISM- Always Unique, Totally Intelligent Sometimes Mysterious.

TY News

Last Monday TY 2went to the Longford Arms Hotel to the Longford Photography Exhibition with Shelly Corcoran. After the exhibition the TYs went to the Backstage Theatre to perform for TYs from throughout Longford.

All TY students competed in the TY bake-off competition. Two teams from each homegroup qualified for the final. The judges include teachers and sixth year students who taste the food and vote on the winners. Congrats.

Thanks to Orla Keane, Rebecca K Kane, Eimear Gavigan, Aileen Price, Roisin Leen, Claire Shaw, Aoife Gerety who went to local primary schools last week to coach volleyball.

Thought for the week:

Show me someone who is humble enough to accept and take responsibility for his or her circumstances and courageous enough to take whatever initiative is necessary to creatively work his or her way through or around these challenges, and I will how you the supreme power of choice. Stephen R. Covey

2nd yrs art project

Well done to 2nd year art students who created 3D lettering from recyclable materials found in the school with their art teacher Miss Bruton. The lettering will be displayed in the school corridor to promote green schools.

2nd year art students with green schools co ordinator Miss McTiernan.

2nd year art students with green schools co ordinator Miss McTiernan.

Mercy Ballymahon Notes

by Aisling Mc Cormack and Niamh Hanley

TY News

Congratulations to Sam Maxwell, James Carroll and Cronan Flood on coming second in the All Ireland Student Enterprise awards in Croke Park last Wednesday for their mini company called “J. and S. Kitchen Aid”. They designed a knife top hand protector which rests on the spine of a sharp knife and enhances comfort and safety when chopping veg. Their prize includes attending a Boot camp in U.C.C. from the 29th of May to the 3rd of June. They have been invited to appear on the Late Late show on Friday 5th of May.

Ms Barbara Heslin, Director of Services Community & Enterprise, Corporate & Cultural Services & Human Resources Longford Co. Council., Longford County Council Cathaoirleach Cllr Mick Cahill, Sam Maxwell, James Carroll, Cronan Flood, Pat …

Ms Barbara Heslin, Director of Services Community & Enterprise, Corporate & Cultural Services & Human Resources Longford Co. Council., Longford County Council Cathaoirleach Cllr Mick Cahill, Sam Maxwell, James Carroll, Cronan Flood, Pat Breen Td. Minister of State for Employment and small Business, Michael Nevin, Longford Enterprise Board

Well done to Ms. Quinn and the transition year girls who held a cake sale to raise funds for Longford Hospice.  They raised 503.50 euros from the cake sale. They will travel up to Dublin on the 5th of June to take part in the 10k women’s mini marathon. Thanks to all who baked and donated towards the Hospice.

Thanks to Orla Keane, Rebecca O Kane, Eimear Gavigan, Aileen Price, Roisin Leen, Ciara Foxe, Aoife Gerety who went to the local primary schools to coach volleyball last week. Thanks to Matthew Duffy, Rory Howlin, Leon Walsh, Oran Doherty and Oran Kenny who went to the Day Care centre last week

Snap Bank, the TY school bank supported by Bank of Ireland Ballymahon, are recruiting new members for their bank. Well done to Feidhlim Maher Manager, Brian Kelly and Clodagh Kiely Marketing team, Bronagh Gorham and Cian Belton Digital Managers, Eoin Mulvihill Auditor for all their hard work.

General News

Congratulations to Mr. Gary Kenny who has been appointed to the Post of Deputy Principal in our school beginning on the 1st of September. Mr. Kenny teaches  geography and history in our school.

Well done to our Leaving Certs who completed their L.C.V.P exam Wednesday last. They have now completed their L.C.V.P. program.

Third Years had their English CBA (Classroom Based Assessment) last week. This exam is 10% of their Junior Cert English exam. 

Our First Years had their retreat in Knock Co. Mayo last Thursday. Thanks to Ms. D Daly, Ms. Matthews, Ms. Gaffney, Ms. Brady, and Fr. Liam Murray who travelled to Knock.

Ms. Brady’s second year C.S.P.E. class went to the Dáil as part of their action project on Wednesday last.

Thought for the week:

"Life is like an ocean; sometimes calm and sometimes stormy but still It has beauty." Mp Kumawat

Mercy Ballymahon Notes

by: Orla Keane, Emer Gavigan, Ciara Fox, Claire Shaw

Sport:

Hard luck to Mr. Bohan and Ms. McCann and the girls U14 football team who lost to Sacred Heart Secondary School, Tullamore in the second round of the Championship recently.

Physical activity week was experienced in our school last week with activities held in the gym Tuesday 1st years, Wed 2nd years and Thursday for 3rd years. Thanks to Mr.McCormack and Ms.Carr for organising the events.

Congratulations to Sarah Dillon who made the final 12 in the All Ireland Under 16 Basketball Panel.

Ty news:

Thanks to Paddy O Connor and the Longford Co. Board who are providing 26 ty students with the first level GAA Coaching Course.

Thanks to Orla Keane, Niamh Hanley, Jason Coughlan and Oran Kenny who visited the daycare centre during the week.

The annual sleepover in the school gym took place on Wednesday night. The money collected goes to Bethany House and St. Martha’s homeless shelter Longford run by St. Vincent De Paul. Thanks to Mr. Broderick, Mr. Kenny, Mr. Burke, Ms. Matthews, Ms. Nevin and Ms. Bohan for supervising.  

Gaisce students did a 20 km walk on Wednesday last from Ballynacarrigy to school along the canal. Thanks to Mr. Dempsey and Ms. Carr and Helena Brady for accompanying the 45 students on this adventure.

The Ty1 and Ty2 students visited Bodaborg on Monday 24th. They enjoyed a day of solving puzzles. Thanks to Ms. McDonagh for accompanying the students.

General news:

Thanks to all who supported our annual Easter Raffle and congratulations to the winners. In first place was John Nally, second Anne Kelly, third Eoin Fallon, fourth Kevin Lynchand fifth John Kilbane.

Agricultural Science projects and interviews were held last Wednesday and Thursday. Well done to the leaving cert Geography students who completed their geography project last week. Also well done to the third year students who completed their Science, C.S.P.E., Religion, Technology and Art projects by Friday last.

John Pridmore spoke to 5th and 6th year and Ty students on Tuesday last. John spoke about his transition from living a life of a gangster to a reformed  practising Catholic.

Thanks to all the employers who helped 5th year LCVP students with their work experience last week.

Last week we celebrated Technology week and activities included5th Year Technology and DCGstudents visited AIT engineering, Robotics and Automation. 1st Year Technology and T.G students held a Table Quiz. Congratulations to the winners. Following a tie breaker in 1st place was Niamh Gogan, Diarmuid Conlon, Aoibhe Doherty, Cian Neary and in 2nd  Place was, Mary Manning, Aoife Duffy, Leah Shannon, Jack Mulleady.  2nd Year Tech and T.G students visited Cooney Precision Engineering Company in Ballymahon. To conclude Technology week TY4  students visited Mergon international, in Castlepollard.

Damien Sheridan from Games Development Administrator Longford GAA is recruiting students 16 years and over, to act as Coaches and Volunteer helpers for their 7 weeks of Camps this summer. All details about these positions can be found by following the link below:

 http://longfordgaa.ie/kelloggs-gaa-cul-camp-coaches-required/ .

Thought for the week:

"Don't mourn over your bad decisions, just start overcoming them with good ones."
Joyce Meyer

Free Triple P Parenting Programme for Parents of Teens

FREE Triple P Parenting Programme

For Parents of Teens

11 – 15 years in Co. Longford

7 week GROUP programme (4 weeks where we meet for 2 hours each week followed by 2 weeks of phone calls & final week where we meet back together). The Programme gives you tips and strategies to help parents cope positively with the challenges of raising a teenager.

This programme looks at

·       Ways to build a stronger relationship with your teenager

·       Tips to reduce family conflict

·       Strategies to manage problem behaviours

·       Ways to support your teenage to become more independent and to stay safe

Date : Tuesday 2nd May 2017

Time: 10am – 12noon

Location: Ballymahon Library, Ballymahon, Co. Longford

or

Date : Tuesday 2nd May 2017

Time: .30pm – 9.30pm

Location: Family Centre, St Mel’s Road, Longford

Bookings and Information.

To book your place call Midland Area Parenting Partnership Office at 090 6447111.

If you would like more information, you can ring or look at our website www.triplep-staypositive.net or contact Catherine 086 414 3518.

DOWNLOAD FLYER

Mercy Ballymahon Notes

Notes by Cian Belton and Niamh Hanley

General News

Last week every family received a card to sell lines for our School’s annual Easter Hamper Raffle. This fundrasier is supported by the Parents Council to raise funds for the school. We ask families to try their best to fill as many lines possible on the cards. The draw will take place on Friday 7th April.

Well done to our Junior Cert students who completed their Music and Home Economic practicals last week. Well done also to our Leaving Cert students who completed their Music practicals and also their French and Spanish Orals last week.

1 st years held a bake sale in aid of Daffodil Day last week. Our staff also held a coffee morning in aid of Daffodil Day. Daffodils were also sold in the school . An incredible €1300 was raised . All proceeds went to Cancer Research.

Well done to Aoife Nolan, Emmalee Morgan, Emma Ballesty and Brona Cox who have been working in the Art room to complete a green schools art project, as we are hoping to achieve our green flag.

Well done to Mr. Dempsey and his 6 teams of 5 th and 6th year students who attended the Bond Trader Challenge in AIT last week. Congratulations to Jack Kenny, Conor O Brien, Conor English, Eoin Connell and Cathal Murtagh, who came first and won an Amazon Fire tablet each and to James Foley, Gavin Rynn, Neil Kilbane, Aaron Farrell and Ellen Kelly who came second out of a total of 42 teams.

TY News

Thanks to TY3 who promoted "Show Racism the Red Card" last Wednesday at lunch time.

Ms. Cribben captured silly moustached head shots of our students in a photo booth. These were presented on a Display in the Study hall, linking each student to a nationality across the world.

TY students that are undertaking the Pope John Paul II Awards are continuing to attend Thomand Lodge Nursing Home every day for the last three classes.

Thanks to Rob and Elaine from Bank of ireland, Ballymahon who held interviews among TY students for various positions in the school bank on Friday last. Successful candidates will be announced shortly.

Last Friday Angela from the Volunteer Centre spoke to TY students on the benefits of volunteering with clubs, charities and societies in their communities. Thanks to Angela for coming in and giving the talk.

Sport

Commiserations to our U17 boys’ Soccer team and their coaches Mr. Burke and Mr. Broderick who lost the Leinster Semi-final in Leixlip on Tuesday 28th March to St Killians of Bray.

Best of luck to our U16 girls’ football team and their coaches Mr. Bohan and Ms. McCann who have their All Ireland Final on Sunday 2 nd April. They travel to Clane, Co. Kildare where they will face St. Angelas, a strong side from Waterford. Throw in is at 3pm. All supporters are welcome.

Well done to James Murphy and Josh Manning who went to Manchester to play with Longford Rugby club last weekend.

Congratulations to Cian Belton and Longford Athletic Club who came 2nd in the U17 boys 4X 200m relay last weekend.

Thought for the week:

“Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you'll start having positive results.”

Willie Nelson

Athletics

On Thursday March 30th a group of 1st year athletes travelled to AIT to compete in the Connaught Indoor Athletics Competition.  It was a very successful outing and enjoyed by all. Thanks to Leslie Finnan for helping to organise.

The teams were:  

Girls - Melissa O’Kane, Jill Glennon, Lauren McGuire and Casey McNamara

Boys – Jack Gallagher, Michal Kajan, Cathal Farrell and Brendan Finnan.

Results:  Boys and Girls came 2nd in the Relay. Lauren came 1st in the Sprints. Brendan came 2nd in the High Jump and Long Jump.

Well done to all.

Good Luck in the Final!

A Surprise for Mercy Girls Football trainers Mr. Bohan & Mrs. McCann!!! TY students created this caricature board and presented it to the teachers in the open area today!
Well done to the creative TY students: Cormac Cahill, Clare Shaw, Cian Belton, Eve Corrigan, Joshua Manning and Laura Harkin.
Good luck to all the girls footballers in the final!!!

Bond Trader Challenge Winners

Last Friday, 30 of our 5th and 6th year students travelled to AIT to compete in Bank of Irelands "Bond Trader Challenge". We had six teams compete in a 40 team competition and two of our teams placed 1st and 2nd. The winning team consisted of LC students; Conor English, Conor O Brien, Jack Kenny, Owen Connell and Cathal Murtagh. Well done boys!