Basketball Update

What a crazy week for CC basketball! 🏀 The U19 girls began the week on a high, beating Crescent Comprehensive on Monday to qualify for the All-Ireland A Cup semi-final.

The U19 boys lost their league quarter final to Malahide Community School on Tuesday and the U16 girls lost to St. Angela’s in the All-Ireland A Cup quarter final.

HOWEVER, the U19 boys made up for the earlier loss with an amazing 3 point win in Cork yesterday over St. Aidan’s to put them through to the All-Ireland A Cup semi-final also. Pictures here are the U16 boys who beat Presentation, Bray in an extremely close game today in the Amenities Centre. They now also progress to their league semi-final, away to Ashbourne on Wednesday. Well done to all who represented the school so well on the court this week...onwards and upwards

Ladies football secure a win over Clane.

Well done to the junior ladies football team who had a great win over Scoil Mhuire Clane on Monday. 

Many of the girls are still on a high after their minor club win and showed on the pitch. Great composure was shown when Aliyah O'Toole was forced to come off injured as a result of a selfless block. The group continued to dominate with only 14 players. A number of fine saves from Corla Nallen as well as some hard earned points ensured the win.

The final score ,3.07 to 2.08.

Well done girls. 

U16 boys record an impressive victory

The boys u16 football team bounced back well, after a first round defeat, to beat Drimnagh Castle comprehensively. Playing into a strong breeze in the first half, Colaiste Chiarain settled into an early lead, a lead which they never relinquished, with some fine scores from Dara Mooney and Conor Murnaghan. Colaiste Chiarain led by score 3-5 to 2-4 at halftime. The second half started the same as the first, with an excellent team score, finished by Darragh Melville. Colaiste Chiarain ran out easy winners on a scoreline of 6-12 to 3-5, with a good spread of scores throughout the team.

It was a very good team performance, with Rory Noonan giving a solid display at full back and Harry Farrell, (the youngest on the team), being very assured at wing back. Team captain Ben Travers played well throughout at midfield and Darragh Melville was excellent at corner forward, showing superbly from start to finish, taking and assisting in a number of scores. A special mention has to go to Michael Ball who debuted in goal, and gave a good performance, especially on kick outs.

The final game vs Old Bawn, which is on next Tuesday 28th in Thomas Davies astro pitch at 13:45, will provide a much greater challenge. The winners will go through to the quarter final with MacDara's (having already beaten Colaiste Chiarain and Old Bawn). If Colaiste Chiarain can maintain the good standard of score taking from the previous day and tighten up on defending well, as a team, they will go a long way to qualifying for the quarter final. Best of luck to the team next week.

Science week quiz in Maynooth University

On Thursday night, nine sixth year students represented Colaiste Chiarain in the annual senior science quiz in Maynooth University. It was a competitive affair with 33 teams taking part on the the night. Although they did not return with silverware, each team did themselves and the school proud. A very enjoyable night was had by all. Thanks to the Irish science teachers association for organising the event.

Colaiste Chiarain Parents Council

The Colaiste Chiarain Parents Council would like to give a massive "Thank You" to everyone who helped make their Careers Night a success: the Volunteers who spoke about their jobs, the Universities and Colleges for lots of useful information, the local Gardai and Fire Service for giving up their time, the wonderful Students & Parents of Colaiste Chiarain for coming along. Hope you found it useful🎓 And last but not least, to Mr Sweeney and Mr McGettigan for their help and support.

Here's some of the photos from the evening.

Three out of three for our senior debating team.

Congratulations to our school debating team. Three wins in a row is extremely impressive. Well done to all involved and special thanks to Ms Keher for all her help.

On Tuesday 14th of November, Colaiste Chiarain hosted a Concern debate in the school library against Ardscoil na Trionoide, Athy. It proved to be a very interesting night where the teams argued the motion "Young people are indifferent to the problems in the developing world." The Colaiste Chiarain team comprised of Saoirse Hyland (captain), Oisin Scanlon, Ellen Coburn and Saoirse Flattery. We were very proud of the team who succesfully upheld the motion and are now undefeated in the League phase of the competition. With one debate left in the league we will keep our fingers crossed that the winning streak continues. Next up the team will get to grips with the motion that "China is good for Africa" but as the team is opposing the motion, we will be attempting to prove the contrary! Best of luck to all involved.

Stand Up Week! 2017 (13th -17th November)

This week we are taking part in Stand Up! Week, the aim of which is to tackle homophobic and transphobic bullying by increasing awareness, friendship and support for LGBTI+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans+ and Intersex People) students by other students.

Why do we need Stand Up! Week

Many lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender and intersex (LGBTI+) young people develop their sexual and gender identities within supportive families and communities and are leading happy lives.  However, many other LGBTI+ young people experience serious levels of homophobia, transphobia and exclusion in their schools, youth clubs and local areas.  

What is happening in school this week?

Videos and discussions on LGBTI+ issues in SPHE classes

Rainbow waterfall at school entrance and flying rainbow flag

Non uniform day on friday where staff and students wear a colour of the rainbow

Supports

Mr Coplen / Ms Keher / Ms Heffron (LGBTI+ Awareness Committee)

Noticeboard outside Room 5 / support@colaistechiarain.com

Guidance Counsellor (Mr McGettigan)  / Chaplain (Ms Gallagher)

http://www.belongto.org (Information on support groups for parents and LGBTI+ people)

Art and Design Appreciation

The 3rd years are currently working hard on their Art Junior Cert Projects. As part of their support studies, students are asked to research artists and designers that they are interested in and that may influence their work. Caitlin Manning chose to research a variety of animators that inspire her. Her presentation is very engaging due to her fantastic interactive layout. Click on the photo below to view the presentation.

Does money grow on trees?

Mr Kirwan’s 1st Year Business Studies students spent this afternoon showcasing the results of their first research project about the changes in earning and spending habits as we go through the different stages of life.  

The students rose to the challenge of gathering information from people of different age groups, presenting to the rest of their class and answering on-the-spot questions.

There were certainly some entertaining discoveries! Spending wishlists ranged from a tarantula to an everlasting holiday to a winning lotto ticket. We even discovered that one interviewee’s source of income was the Tooth Fairy! Well done everyone. 

 

Those magnificent men and women in their flying machines!

The much anticipated inaugural school paper airplane competition finally took off today after being downed by Storm Ophelia before the midterm break. Students from all years and even a few teachers took the skies to test their design and engineering abilities to find out who'd be crowned 'Top Gun'. It proved a hugely enjoyable event with some ingenious and creative designs on display. Hopefully this will become an annual event as part of Maths Week. 

History Alive!

The second years were treated to a history class like no other today in the school library. Kindly facilitated by Leixlip Library, the students were given an interactive lesson on The Plantations. The best part undoubtedly was trying on all the period costumes and weapons which further illuminated a hugely entertaining, funny and surreptitiously educational talk!  

Iceland Day 3

We visited another volcano today where we were able to walk down into the crater. Bjork held a concert here on a raft floating in the crater lake.

 

Afterwards we visited the famous geyser that erupts every 5 minutes. Some of us downwind got soaked. 

Finally we visited the famous Gullfoss waterfalls. They are truly magnificent to see. 

 

Iceland Day 2

Today started with an earthquake simulator. We also saw the rift left in the floor of a shopping centre from the last earthquake. Afterwards we visited a glacier.  It has retreated sharply in the past 6 years. Large crevices are visible on it. Parts of the ice are a lovely artic blue. Meltwater from the glacier forms a river that runs beneath it. We had a picnic lunch here at a balmy 0C. Following lunch we visited the Black Beach with its immense basalt columns similar to the Giants Causeway. The sand is black from volcanic activity. Following on from that we saw two waterfalls one of which we can go behind. Fingers crossed that we'll see the Northern lights tonight.

Standing between the North American and a European plates. 

At the glacier. 

Geography Trip to Iceland

We had a very busy day today! Leaving Leixlip at 2am we arrived in Belfast in good time for our 7am fight to Iceland. We hit the ground running with a trip to the mid Atlantic rift where we stood between the European and North American plates. We followed this with a steep climb to an extinct volcano to see the crater. Afterwards we visited the mud pools and thermal springs. The smell of sulphur was everywhere. Finally we climbed an observantion deck to see the sights of Reykjavic. 

At the thermal springs. 

Standing in the Midatlantic rift. 

On the crater of a volcano  

Colaiste Chiarain v's Confey College. Match report by Ciara Mulleady and Laura Doyle

Thursday 26th October saw our u14s make the short trip up the hill to play our neighbours, Confey College.

Colaiste Chiarain got off to a great start against our rivals with a penalty in the opening minutes taken by Conor Brennan which was saved and rebounded with a goal by Owen Mulleady. Then points followed by Liam Cahill and Conor Brennan. Confey then began take a foothold in the game and despite a super goal by Harry Farrell, Confey were deservedly up by five points at halftime.

Score at half time was 2-3 to 2-8.

At the start of the second half there were some fantastic saves by Colaiste Chiarain’s keeper, Cian Tiernan. A goal was scored by Conor Brennan followed by points from Liam Cahill and Owen Mulleady, which was taken from a tight sideline angle. Halfway through the second half the game was level, however,  another goal and a point was scored by Confey to seal the win.

The final score was 4:8 - 4:12 with Confey taking the win.

This was a game Colaiste Chiarain will feel they left behind. One wonders what could have been if we showed the same passion and pride in the first half as we did in the second. This result now means our next game against HFCS Rathcoole is now a must win.

Team: Cian Tiernan, Niall Hession, James Foster, Paul Donnellan, Ethan Meehan, Conall Henson, Alexander Buisman, Liam Cahill (capt.), Harry Farrell, Owen Mulleady, Sean Hussey, Shane McCarthy, Harry Power, Conor Brennan, Daragh Hughes.

Subs Used: Keelan Byrne, Oisin Dolan, Calum Cleary


 

Match report by: Ciara Mulleady and Laura Doyle

 

October Newsletter 2017

This publications highlights the news from Colaiste Chiarain during our first term. We plan to produce another newsletter at Easter and one before the end of year.