Dunmore Community School

Summer Newsletter

June 2016

State Exams

Leaving/Junior Certificate

examinations, best of

luck to all involved, many

students this year took

advantage not alone of

study facilities after

school each day but many

attended Saturday

morning study and other

sessions right up to the

day before the exams

commenced on 7th June.

Well done to all on the

great study effort and we

hope and expect that it

will be all worthwhile.

Graduation

Thanks to all Leaving

Cert. students, Parents

and other family

members for a most

enjoyable evening on

26th May, also to Fr

Fergal, to the staff

members involved, the

Parents Council and many

others who helped make

the evening so successful.

Prize Giving

Jonathan Comer is presented with the Claudia Gavin Student of the Year Award by Conor Gavin

Senior Sports Stars Pierce Kirrane and Bonnie Mc Ginley receives their awards on Graduation Evening.

Blaithin Kelly receives the Padraic Gilmore Art Appreciation Award from Billy Hannon, Chairman, BOM.

David Burke is presented with the Ann Flynn Science Award by Nora Walsh

Kate Meehan is presented with the Pat Heaney Music Award for her contribution to music in the school

Ronan Gannon receives his award for Full Attendance for six years

Five Year Full Attendance awards were presented to Jonathan Comer and Ciara Carney

Prize Giving Prize giving day took place on Monday 30 May, congratulations to all recipients on well- deserved awards. I wish to thank Minister Sean Canney T.D. who took time out to join us, spoke to our students on the value of contributing

to their local community amongst other things, and presented many of the prizes. We all wish him well in his portfolio as Minister at the Office of Public Works and Flood Relief.

Dearbhla Neenan is presented with the Award for best Junior Cert. Result 2015 by Minister Sean Canney T.D.

Dylan Hanley was awarded the Junior Sports Star award and is pictured with Minister of State Sean Canney and Gay McManus.

Sean Canney, Minister of State presents Oisin Hannon with the Declan Joyce Excellence in Woodwork Award. Also pictured is Paddy Joyce who presents this annual award in memory of his son Declan

Nominees for the Declan Joyce Excellence in Woodwork Award , Robert Hughes and Robert Burke are pictured with Sean Canney Minister of State and Paddy Joyce.

Shane Flanagan received an award for four years full attendance and Emma Brady for five five years full attendance. They are pictured with Billy Hannon Chairman BOM and Sean Canney Minister of State

Joan Burke and Helena Ryan, both members of the Parents Council attended the awards ceremony.

Attendance award winners received their prizes at the award ceremony.

Conor Burns was presented with an award in recognition of his Connaught Rugby Under 18 selection by Minister of State, Sean Canney.

Sean Noone was presented with the Award for Best Leaving Cert. Result 2015

Continuing Dunmore Community School’s long tradition of being awarded J.P. McManus Scholarships, Sean Noone, pictured last November receiving his J.P. McManus Scholarship in the presence of the then Minister for Education Jan O’Sullivan T.D., J.P. McManus and Principal Gay McManus.

O Factor A hugely successful initiative by TY students resulted in a very entertaining afternoon of music, song and dance. Proceeds went to a mini-company venture and a designated charity.

Transition Year student Orna Burke is presented with her cheque which was raised as part of her Transition Year Mini Company. She is pictured with Sean Canney, Minister of State, teacher, Mary Grehan and Principal, Gay McManus.

Careers Expo: November 2016 Ms. Scarry is organising a Careers Expo which will take place in our Sports Hall on Thurs 24th November 2016 from 6-9pm. To date 26 third level colleges, including some English universities, have signed up to attend. This is a great opportunity for our students and their parents to visit the various stands and get all up to date information about the numerous 3rd level courses on offer. This will be open to all students/parents, not only to L.C. students.

Twenty Five Years D.C.S. Celebration Our school passed its twenty fifth anniversary during this past academic year. We celebrated this milestone on Saturday 12 March.

Many students, staff, BOM members, Parents’ Council members both present and past attended. Fr Fergal, Fr Ray Flaherty and Fr John Cosgrove celebrated Mass. Presentations were made to various people for their significant contributions to the development and growth of the school and a tree was planted by Ms. Antoinette Ni Gearailt, President of ACCS, which is the management body responsible for all Community Schools.

Former Principal Pat Gilmore and former Deputy Principal Lil Bruen pictured with Ms. Griffiths and Mr. McManus.

Staff members who worked in D.C.S. in the first year of the school 1990-1991.

Past pupils who made a major contribution to the celebrations on the day.

Google Call to Code

Our first year students took part in a computer coding programme taught by students in our school from September to November, culminating in the Google Call to Code competition. Two of our students, Emma Kelly and Conall Walsh came in the top students in Ireland. Well done!

Congratulations Congratulations to all teams/individuals who represented our school in numerous sports events throughout the year. A special mention is due to our senior football team and Mr Carlos O’ Gara, they had a great year, reached the Connaught final in both league and championship where they were beaten by the eventual All Ireland winners.

Senior Boys Football Team

Sponsored Walk This fun walk was organised by the Parents Council, was most enjoyable and successful. Hopefully we will have one again next year and all parents are welcome to join in the fun.

On your marks…Get set… GO

Organising Committee

1st Year Winners Nicky Glynn and Emma Kelly

Second Year winners Amy Burns and Sean Ryan

3rd Year Winners Leah Noone and Ewan Mc Holm

Transition Year Winners Aoife Bowens and Micheál Burke

5th Year winners Padraig Joyner and Rachel Murphy

Leaving Cert winners Bonnie McGinley and Pierce Kirrane

Winning Parents Nollaig Fitzgerald and Aidan Heneghan

Overall Winner Cathal Hardy with Principal Gay McManus and Liz Cummins Parents Council

First female student Aoife Sheehy

Parents Council present gear bags to Niall Cloonan 1st Year, and Jack Heneghan 2nd Year who raised the most sponsorship money.

A special award for John Monaghan who completed the 6k

T.Y. Graduation The TY students surprised us all with a wonderful drama production, as well as music and song on Monday 30th May to mark the end of a special year for them all. We

wish to thank Helen Knightley for working so diligently with the students in producing their play.

Highlights of TY

Transition Year Students enjoyed their adventures at Horizon Adventure Centre, Westport in September

Trip to Bord Gais Theatre in early October to see the stage adaptation of Mark Haddon’s award-winning novel “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time”.

TY Students along with Community Youth Worker Bernie Conlon attended the Comhairle na nÓg AGM and related activities at Claregalway Castle in November. Over 170 students from secondary schools in Co. Galway were in attendance.

Golf Workshop in October

Selling Christmas cards at Eurospar in aid of Western Alzheimers

Cake Bake in February

Winning GMIT CANSAT Regional Final

‘Awakening’ concert in Castlebar in May

School Tour to Barcelona

John Paul ll

Awards Ceremony

in Knock

Pierce Kirrane, Jonathan Comer,Sean Kelly, Lee Donoghue and Ciara Carney who were presented with The Papal Cross Awards by Archbishop Michael Neary at the John Paul ll Awards Ceremony in Knock last December

Connacht

Badminton

Champions

Under 19B Connacht Champions

Under 19C Connacht Champions

Under 16 Connacht Champions

National Flag Post-

Primary

Presentation

Ceremony

Students Scott Green, Elizabeth Mc Elhinney and Shane Flanagan were presented with the national flag for Dunmore Community School in Croke Park on March 9

Shaun Burke and Shane Flanagan raise the flag on Proclamation Day

Board of Management /Parents Council Both those bodies have come to the end of a three year term, I wish to thank all involved for their selfless contribution

to the school and its students over the past three years. Elections are now underway to form a new BOM and a new Parents Council will be formed as soon as practicable afterwards.

All-Ireland Winner

Shauna Ryan, winner of All Ireland medal with Irishtown Foróige Club.

Junior Certificate

Business Studies

Awards

NUI Galway’s College of Business along with the BSTAI, Junior Cert Business Studies Awards Ceremony was held in October in the Bailey Allen Hall in NUI Galway. The ceremony celebrated those students who achieved an A Grade in the Higher Level Business Studies exam at Junior Cert level. Pictured are Sinead Mullins & Mairead Gallagher along with their teacher Ms Martina Duignan.

Return to School in August

Fri 26th Aug: 1st Years only Mon 29th Aug: 1st, 2nd, 3rd Years only Tue 30th Aug: 1st, 5th, 6th Years only Wed 31st Aug: All students including TY

Luke meets Pope Francis

Luke Dunne receives a blessing from Pope Francis when he visited the Vatican with his grandmother.

Scott Green

Scott Green, a Leaving Cert student is pictured with the book Wild Words. This book was produced by Leitrim Co. Council as part of Wild Words Book Festival for young people. Students

from Ireland and the UK were invited to submit their stories for inclusion in the book. Scott was one of the students whose short story entitled ‘They’re Coming’ has been included in this year’s publication which is available from Amazon. Scott continues to write extensively in both prose and poetry and we expect to hear a lot from and about him in the future and we wish him every success.

School Uniform Shoes

Over the past year student compliance with the school uniform code has been very good. The one area where we have some concern is in regard to footwear. Both boys and girls are required to wear black shoes. Shoe laces are to be black also.

Boys: Acceptable Footwear

Boys: Unacceptable Footwear

Girls: Acceptable Footwear

Girls: Unacceptable Footwear