MoodleOur online learning environment has been used by students since March 2007 and has set the standard for many other schools.

Students can access assignments, notes and other aids that can support their learning and education through the internet. Just imagine the night before an exam and some important note has been left in the school locker? A few clicks on the home computer and students can access these vital notes!

“I am delighted at the extent to which my students are using Moodle and I am surprised at how straightforward it is to use”

Ms. Elaine Hourihan, History Teacher

ePortalParents can stay involved and up to date with their child’s progress through ePortal, our online student record system. Through the internet, parents can view up to date exam results, timetables, attendance and other information. You can even graph their progress

in each subject over the years. All this from the comfort of your home, office or getting your child’s summer exam results whilst on holidays in Australia.

WebsiteOur award winning website gives you easy reach of all the necessary information you require regarding your child’s education and time in Coachford College. Subject information, teachers, calendar and support services are only some of the many options available when you log onto www.coachfordcollege.ie

Texting Service for parentsCoachford College offers a text service to parents to keep them informed of changes, especially at last minute. This would include reminders of Parent Teacher meetings, school emergencies and unplanned closures.

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Leaders in

Significant investment and planning has ensured Coachford College is at the forefront in utilising IT in Teaching, Learning and Management. Every classroom is equipped with a Teaching Computer, Data Projector and high speed broadband while we have 6 fully equipped computer rooms to address the needs of modern learning. Some classrooms use interactive whiteboards to enhance the visual learning environment while Film Studies comes to life with 4 newly installed 50” plasma tvs to complement our existing Audio Visual Suites.

Technology

Getting involved .....Students are encouraged to view the world around them and appreciate the contribution they can make throughout their school life and beyond. As part of this, students get involved in many charitable and fundraising activities throughout the year including sending 2 students from the school to assist invalids in Lourdes, undertaking the 24 hour fast for Trocaire and organising cake sales to raise money for various worthy causes. These serve to give students ownership of important projects that can have profound effects on other people’s lives.

Above; Presentation of money to Trocaire.

Left; Getting ready for the cake sale.

While right; 1st year students showing support for the Cork team!

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Coachford College - The Camogie Academy

First years entering the school attend a tutorial for their very first class, they learn the school rules, meet new friends and sign up for the first year camogie team! New players are particularly welcome to play and enjoy the fun. The school boasts six panels that compete in Cork Colleges and Munster Colleges competitions at various grades.

Training commences in early September and, thanks to the multiple substitution rule in Colleges camogie, every girl gets plenty of game time. Indeed, the U16½ Panel is for players not on the Junior panel but ensures every girl gets the opportunity to play at their appropriate level. The principle of skill development, intelligent teamplay and tactical awareness are emphasised. Laps are banned! Many girls have achieved success with the Cork Colleges U14 development squad, the Cork U16 and U18 panels with those top Leaving cert players making the Munster panel. The dedication and commitment of the players is a critical factor in ensuring such levels of success. Similarly, the structured training schedules, cooperation

of the teaching staff and support of the parents ensures the school maintains its standing as one of the top camogie academies in the Country. Schools prefer to avoid Coachford in the draws at the AGM!

Those students who participate in the sport use their organisational skills to good effect by achieving excellent results in exams - sport prepares them for the big occasions by its very nature - success only follows hard work and preparation.

Winning Equestrian Team

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Sheila Kelly from An Bórd Bia with a very interesting cookery demonstration using top quality Irish produce to 5th and 6th year Home Economics Students. She is pictured with students and Ms. Sheila Moynihan, Teacher.

The Sound of MusicYou don’t need to enrol in the fictional “William McKinley High School” to express your talents as Coachford College’s own GLEE club has been performing various music for many years. Music Teacher and ex Riverdance lead singer Ms. Colette Kidney coordinates the many different musical talents that our school has to offer for performances including our awards ceremony and end of year Graduation, not to mention the enjoyment Students receive from their weekly club meetings and practice sessions. Visiting performers add to the experience for the students including famous opera singers Mary Hegarty & Magella Cullagh and acclaimed singer songwriter John Spillane to name but a few. Excursions to the Opera House allow music students and club members to experience music in a social and enjoyable atmosphere through mutual interest.

The music department in Coachford College is a vibrant, enthusiastic and friendly place to be. It offers a great balance between curriculum based learning and vocal and instrumental based learning. It combines music education of the highest standard with innovative approaches to music technology such as the new technology elective that can be taken for the Leaving certificate.

It incorporates many extracurricular events such as the annual Awards Ceremony in which the school choir performs a variety of songs of their choice. We also have a school band which adds a very popular, different dimension to the music dept. The band consists of vocalists, guitar players and a drummer who practice regularly both in school and outside of school. We have a Trad Group which includes a variety of instruments such as concertina, fiddle, tin whistle, guitar flute and banjo. Students are from all years, both boys and girls.

We held a school concert at the end of the school year that included all areas of the music dept. participating and performing different genres and styles of music. This contributed to a great night and raised funds for the purchase of equipment for the music dept.

“Overall the music dept is an invaluable addition to the school with something for all music lovers”.

Kevin Barry-Murphy, Music Student

Ex Riverdance Lead Singer and Music Teacher Colette Kidney with accomplished musicians Ashling & Danielle Vaughan.

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We are proud of all our students’ achievements throughout their years at Coachford College. Coming 1st in the country in a subject in the Leaving Cert is generally the highest level of excellence and students from Coachford College have achieved this accolade 6 times since 2000 in Physics, Mathematics, Gaeilge and Applied Mathematics which is by no means, an easy feat. Students from our Junior Cert class are invited to compete in the Olympiad competitions held annually for high achieving students and a

number of Students from our Junior Cert Maths classes are invited to UCC for enrichment classes. With Maths education firmly in the news, 48% of Coachford College students sitting Higher Level Maths in a recent Junior Cert achieved an A grade, nearly 3 times the national average whilst generally 75% of our Junior Cert students sit the higher level paper, twice the national average and this statistic continues throughout most subjects with Coachford College continually rising above the national average.

Above; George O’Mahony from Dripsey who achieved 600 points in his leaving Cert. George is currently studying Electrical Engineering.

Above right; Paul Murphy with UCC President Dr Michael Murphy. Paul achieved 600 points in his leaving cert examination at Coachford College and is currently studying Energy Engineering at UCC.

Right; Laura Corkery, who obtained 600 points in her Leaving Cert and currently studying medicine in UCC. Her brother Alan achieved 8 As in his junior Cert exams in 2010.

achieving ... ... new heights

8 Students were honoured at a Parchment Ceremony in UCC for obtaining an A in their Junior Cert business exam, well above the national average.

Its not only Students who strive to achieve, our Teachers are recognised for their commitment and high standards of education through professionalism, good sense and innovative style. This is no more evident than Mr. Diarmuid Hickey who was presented with a highly prestigious Teachers’ Award by the Institute of Physics, Portland Place. The London Institute’s citation describes Diarmuid as “an outstanding communicator of Physics with pupils of all abilities”. His Students regularly achieve excellent grades in their exams, with 3 attaining highest in Ireland in Physics in their Leaving Cert.

The fact that the award was presented by Professor Jocelyn Bell Burnell, who discovered the first radio pulsars served to illustrate the significance of the award. Diarmuid is symbolic of the commitment and dedication displayed by the Staff of Coachford College.

Naturally academic achievement isn’t the only reward for expressing your talents and this is no more evident than talented Past Pupil Margaret McCarthy who was afforded the opportunity of entertaining the Obama family on St. Patricks Day. Margaret achieved an excellent leaving cert, won numerous camogie medals and partook in many musical feats throughout her time in Coachford College.

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Each Year Coachford College School Bank competes in the AIB Bank Challenge under Ms. Joanne O’Keeffe. Management, administration and promotion of banking activities are all assessed during their regular opening hours in the school providing a great business education for those involved.

F1 in Schools is a unique technology challenge that enables second-level students to get their hands on the latest technology from the worlds of engineering and manufacturing. From planning and design to manufacturing, financing and racing a car, our teams learn a multitude of skills that allow them to develop personally. Venturi racing from Coachford College achieved 2 awards at the National finals, Best use of ICT & CAD and Innovative Thinking, a remarkable achievement for the team in the face of very stiff competition from all over Ireland.

The pride of representing the school community on a team is a great aspiration for many students in Coachford College and it’s not only sports that we compete in. Our students compete in various competitions each year including Team Math, Science Quiz, Pi Quiz, Pfizer Quiz and Junior Maths Competition. Indeed, Coachford College won the Pfizer Chemistry Quiz in 2007, Junior Cert Science Quiz in 2003 and 2008, Junior Maths Competiton in 2008 including the highest result in Ireland. Coachford College has reached high levels of debating and general knowledge quizzes over the last number of years and students are given every opportunity to represent their school.

representing the ...... school community

Our Maths Quiz Team who competed in the Pi Quiz. Stephanie O’Callaghan, Rosanne Murphy, Niamh Lynch and Rebecca O’Donovan.

The best Students in the country get selected to try out for the final Olympiad Teams in Maths and Sciences. 3 Students from Coachford College were selected.

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It’s a bright April evening, the warmth of Spring is in the air and they are easy to spot. The grey pants and the grey jumpers with their bright blue and yellow crest mark the group out as students of Coachford College. Strolling along together they are enjoying the company of friends and the stretch in the evening that hints at long free summer days.

The uniform that identifies the group is a symbol of so much - a symbol of a school, of an area, a symbol of a community to which these young people belong. Girls and boys from a largely rural area, with a shared heritage, a past, present and future that is eternally linked. All connected by blue cotton and grey wool.

Coming from a large catchment area the College serves as a focus for students from different areas, joining up people that might otherwise never move in the same circles. The students are from far away parishes, bordering diocese and even more vitally, rival GAA clubs! These young people are taken from familiar surroundings and brought in first year to form a new community – away from the primary school and the parish, away from the safety and familiarity of family and, sometimes, of friends.

More often than not, this is a welcome development for the students. They are ready to move beyond the comfort of the known, in their quest to become adults in a larger, more challenging community. However, it can also be a tough time for anxious Mums and Dads who want their babies to fly the nest, as they know they should, but also want to hold and protect them for just a little longer.

It would be interesting to know what people see when they look at those wearing the grey of Coachford College. The academic achievements of the students are well known, with Coachford College students earning their places among the top Leaving

Cert Results in the country year after year. But that is not the full story. The road to success is not the same for everyone and even if they are all wearing the same grey and blue the paths that our students take are many and varied. Behind the uniform there lies a rich tapestry of talents and interests that adds to the fabric of life in Coachford College.

While all the students in the classroom may be dressed in the same way each of them brings something unique to the group. If you can see beyond the grey woollen jumper you can imagine this student in a crisp, white doebuck, about to win an award in the Taekwando World Championships in Korea. That girl over there would be more comfortable in jodphurs and riding boots as she jumps the fences for the Irish equestrian team. The boy next to her is finding it hard to concentrate on the modh connileach as he dreams of pulling on his football boots for his upcoming soccer trials with Ipswich Town. In each classroom there are students that live exciting, busy lives and they bring the warmth and colour of their hobbies, passions and dreams into the school building with them.

For some of these students their pastimes may become their careers but for most of them they are passions that enrich their lives and the lives of the other students around them. No matter what you are interested in you will probably find a kindred spirit within the walls of the school.

For many years students of Coachford College have left the grey uniform behind and gone out into the world to become doctors, teachers, secretaries, builders, physiotherapists, guards, entrepreneurs, graphic designers, plumbers, footballers, pilots, singers and dancers. There are graduates of the school working in virtually every area of life. They have spread across the world to places like Perth, Vancouver, China and Mozambique.

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Why choose Coachford CollegeYou want the best education and opportunities for your child. In Coachford College, we work together in partnership to achieve their fullest potential in a supportive and positive setting. All members of Coachford College community are expected to treat one another with respect, good manners and courtesy at all times where we expect and promote high standards of behaviour and encourage our students to live out the values of respect, honesty, truth, care and justice while developing a keen sense of responsibility and promoting commitment.

A lot of students have also gone on to become parents and loads of them have remained living in the area around Coachford. Their work and their achievements are as valuable as the students who travelled far from our shores. Many couples went to school in Coachford together, and now they are returning with their children, entrusting us with the care of the next precious generation.

Of all the jobs that of parenting is arguably the most difficult, the most consuming and, without doubt, the most rewarding. It brings with it great joy but also great responsibility, as we seek to ease the transition from child to adult for our children. We want them to succeed but we also want them to be happy. To know that we are

releasing them into an environment that recognises and cherishes the unique talents and value of each child makes this easier for us as parents.

The student that excels at maths is easy to see, as is the one who struggles with french. Outside the classroom these boys and girls are different people - giving it 100% on the rugby pitch, caring for sisters and brothers, dancing and singing, winning medals in athletics, practicing their scales over and over just to get them right. It is this, all of this, the child inside the classroom and what they bring of themselves to the whole school community that makes Coachford College a vibrant picture in the rich tapestry of life.

The Eucharistic Congress Bell visited Coachford College as it travelled around Ireland and gave each student the opportunity to ring the bell. Pictured are Erin O’Connell, Ellen Daly and Kevin Barry-Murphy along with Mr. Edward Williamson, Deputy Principal

Mission Statement:

We are a Community. Together we share mutual respect in a positive

environment. We develop individual potential in all fields.

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Supervised StudyCoachford College offers students an opportunity to join a homework club which operates after school each day for a nominal fee. Students are supervised in a controlled environment allowing them to complete assignments, research projects and study class work ensuring they can benefit from their studies in Coachford College. Any Year Group can join the study.

Pastoral CareCoachford College is committed to creating a caring community of learners in a safe and respectful environment. The College and its members stand for tolerance of individual difference and the adoption of the notion of rights and responsibilities for all. The College seeks to be a place of learning which promotes excellence through the development of the whole person. There are many supports in place in the school to support Students requiring assistance including full time Guidance Counsellor, Chaplain and Special Needs Coordinator. Every student is assigned to a Year Head depending on which year the student is in. The Year Head provides support for the year group and their parents whilst also dealing with discipline issues. Each class group is assigned a Tutor who coordinates absence notes, updates Students on relevant School matters and provides a support role.

LibraryCoachford College offers a library service whereby students can borrow books from our extensive collection. The library is open at various lunchtimes allowing students to read a variety of books or take them home for a short period of time.

Student CouncilThe Student Council consists of a representative body elected from each class within the school. The Student Council gives students an opportunity to voice their concerns and opinions and to play an active role in policy making within our school. A member of staff will liaise with the Student Council and through the council, links will also be formed between the students and school management.

School TourCoachford College students from senior cycle are given the opportunity to partake in a foreign trip where the group is given the experience of other cultures and sampling educational activities under supervision. The experience allows Students to see educational sights outside of Ireland whilst also enjoying social time with their fellow students and building a lifelong relationship.

Student Services

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Mrs. Sheila O’Leary, Guidance Counsellor and Mrs. Marie McAuliffe, SEN Co-ordinator, members of the pastoral care team.

Head Boy & Head GirlCoachford College elects a head boy and girl annually from the leaving cert group. These students show leadership, ingenuity and forward thinking and play a ceremonial role throughout the school year e.g. awards night, welcoming visitors to the school etc.

Parents CouncilEvery Parent in Coachford College has the opportunity to take part in the Parents Council. The role of the Council allows Parents to interact with management and staff of the school to assist in the well-ordered running of the college. The Parents Council meets regularly and provides a forum for feedback and new ideas from students’ parents. The Parents Council are consulted on all major changes of policy and school rules.French Exchange

Students from Lycée Saint-Sauveur, Redon, France with their Irish friends. Annually Transition Year students attend classes in Redon for a period of two weeks and their exchange partners attend Coachford College.

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It is said that “travel broadens the mind” and in this case it’s certainly true. I have learned so much from this exchange, especially about French culture, beliefs and way of life. My two weeks in France taught me a lot about French culture. I had often read or heard about traditional French stereotypes but it wasn’t until I lived in La Gacilly with my host family that I could appreciate their different ways. I always perceived that French people were very snobby, but that of course is not true of the people in La Gacilly and Le Lycée Saint Sauveur. They were kind, friendly and interesting people. This exchange was also a great chance to make new friends. I got on very well with my correspondent Estelle; she was kind, funny and very welcoming. Hopefully in the future, we’ll meet up again.I really enjoyed exploring all the new places such as Vannes, Guérande and Rennes. They were beautiful places filled with culture and enriched with history. I love Art so I really enjoyed the different crafts in Brittany. Some of France’s customs were completely alien to me but, as I became accustomed to the endless greetings amongst other things, I learned to appreciate their unique Bretagne culture.This was perhaps the greatest cultural experience of my life and it was a fantastic opportunity. I’m so sorry to see it come to an end; it really was the stuff of dreams.

Niamh Crowley, TY Student.

A student’s perspective ... ... on the French Exchange, April 2012