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Easter Newsletter.
Dear Parents,
I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a peaceful and happy Easter. I would like to thank you for all your support and encouragement during the past term. I would also like to thank the staff for all their hard work and dedication during the past term. The Parents Council have just been tremendous, as usual ! Finally, I would like to thank all the boys for their excellent work during the past term. As you can see from this newsletter everyone has been very busy. Wishing you all a peaceful Easter.
Holidays: School will close on Friday at 12.00 for a staff meeting. School will reopen after the Easter Holidays.
Glor na nGael Football Competition.
This competition has been in existence for a number of years. (Formerly Feile an Fhomhair.) It is for pupils of fifth class and under. We had by far our best year to date in the competition - defeating Gaelscoil, Bishop Foley and Graiguecullen in the league stage but narrowly losing out to Bishop Foley in the final.
The fifth class boys who did themselves and the school proud were David Hickey, David Donovan, John Mannion, Darragh Williamson, Dale McGee, Shane Nolan, Keelan Doyle, Sean Gannon, Cian Clancy, Eddie McKenna, Paul Walsh, Declan Byrne and Michael Hennessy.
These lads got great backing from the following fourth class panel members: Cormac Mullins, Martin Doyle, Colm Quigley, Jeff Moran, Adam Snoddy, Mark Davis Jamie Hanly and Brendan Murphy.
We look forward to these lads and many more from fourth and third class keeping up the good run for the school next year.
Computer Fair.
The school was represented at Dublin City University computer fair on Sat. 8th of April by Brian McDermott, John Patrick Kane, Samuel Moran, Jamie Cooney, Stephen Curran and Barry Martin. The project on display was the schools Millennium Project with special emphasis on "Age of Kings" which is an excellent historical simulation based on life in Celtic times.
Handball.
The school also had a splendid year in the Cumann na mBunscoil handball competition. the following boys competed in this competition: Mark Mealy, David Donovan, Sean Gannon, Eddie McKenna, Declan Byrne, Michael Hennessy and Cian Clancy. Sean Gannon and Michael Hennessy reached the quarter finals and Cian Clancy became Carlow Champion. This was the first time for any pupil from the school to win the competition. In fact, Cian was unlucky not to reach the next stage in Leinster as he defeated the Kildare and Wicklow Champion and unfortunately lost out to the Kilkenny Champion. Well done to all concerned and we look forward to many more boys taking up handball in the coming months.
St. Patrick.
Well done to everyone who took part in the St. Patrick's Day Parade. The boys had a marvellous time and looked tremendous. The photograph on the front page of the Nationalist was brilliant. A special word of thanks to everyone who took part; staff, parents and above all the boys themselves who enjoyed themselves thoroughly. A special word of thanks to the Parents Council who did so much hard work preparing the children for the parade.
Bord Na Gaeilge.
The boys in fifth class have completed their part in this project. They each created a single poster based on an Irish saying. They used old Gaelic script and Celtic patterns to design these posters. These posters have now been placed on the Internet. If you wish to view same or download them you may see them on the school website at http://www.iol.ie/~askeabns We have already received some very nice e-mails from other schools praising the children's work.
Daffodil Day.
Many thanks to everyone who supported the school's daffodil day which was a tremendous success and much appreciated.
Don Conroy.
The children had a very enjoyable day when author and T.V. presenter Don Conroy came to visit the school. The children loved watching Don drawing for them. They also enjoyed his lovely stories. This was a a very enjoyable and very successful day. The children got a great kick out of seeing somebody from T.V. and especially the Den in school! We will have similar days in the near future. He was very impressed with the quality of art work and essays on display.
Cumann na mBunscoil - Seven a Side.
Hurling.
The following boys took part in this competition and acquitted themselves well against Tullow and the Gaelscoil. Brian McDermott, Desmond Garvan, Shane Nolan, Oliver Kenna, Mark Meally, David Donovan, Colm Quigley, Aaron Dunne and Conor Murray. It is a few years now since our hurlers have been successful and we hope more boys will avail of the Carlow Hurling Club coaching on Sunday mornings.
Football.
This squad surpassed all expectations by winning the county title. In the process they defeated seven schools - mostly in very tight games. The defeated teams were Bennekerry, Tinryland, Ballon, Newtown,(St. Mullins.) Bagnelstown, Bishop Foley and Gaelscoil. The spirit and determination these lads displayed - often against physically stronger opponents - had to be seen to be believed. The squod now go on to the South Leinster final where we hope to have one or even better, two representatives chosen for Croke Park on All Ireland Semi-Final or Final day. The boys who represented the school in Croke Park in the 1990's were Joe Travers, Adrian Corcoran, Andrew Byrne and Christopher Bolger. Our current squad consists of Christopher Power, Jamie Cooney, Cormac Mullins, Sean Gannon, Cian Clancy, Keelan Doyle, Dale McGee, John Mannion, Ross McGee, Daniel Moran and first reserve Eddie McKenna.
Fifth Class Indoor Soccer League.
Edward McKenna's team were victorious in this keenly contested league. At the moment the Sixth class Indoor Soccer league is in full flight. This contest is also very keenly contested with goal difference separating some of the teams from each other. This league will conclude after Easter.
Indoor Hurling.
There will be an Indoor Hurling League for Second and First class after Easter. This league has been going for several years with the children enjoying it tremendously. They enjoy tremendously the speed and excitement of the games. Details re league will be given to the children after Easter.
School Quiz.
This has been a very exciting term for the Quiz Club.
In January we had the Credit Union Quiz, Round 1, which was held in our school hall, and in which all the schools from the town competed. Category A, was the under 11 section and our team consisted of John Whelan R.12 Jeff Moran R12. Enda Holohan R.11 and Sean Farrell R.11 with frankie Coughlan as substitute. The team performed excellently and finished second being beaten by only one point. Team B, the under 13 section, ended up being a thrilling competition with our representatives Niall Ryan, R.18. Michael Wall R.18. Kevin Lawlor R.18. Declan Byrne R.16 and substitute David Dowling R.16 only being beaten into second place after two rounds of tie breakers.
In February we had two teams in the Cadbury's / Parent's Council Quiz, which was held in Rathcrogue:
Team A: Michael Wall, Kevin Lawlor, Niall Ryan and Jeff Moran.
Team B: David Dowling, Cillian McManus, Sean Farrell and John Whelan.
Both teams competed very well with team A achieving success and qualifying to take part in the All Ireland Parents Council Quiz, for the fifth time, in the Burlington Hotel.To put things into perspective, over sixty teams were represented in this competition !! Well done to all concerned.
Quiz practice is taking place every evening after school and will continue to do so until after the competition. Well done to one and all and to the boys who continue to train and represent their school so well.
Book Raffle
The school book raffle was a tremendous success. Over 900 books were donated to the school. We would like to thank everyone who donated books as the quality of same was excellent. They will be a tremendous addition to both the class library as well as the school library in Room 2.
Tesco Tokens
Close on 6,000 tokens were donated to the school. We would like to thank everyone who kindly donated tokens to the school. These tokens will allow us to acquire £600 worth of software for the school. The school is in the process of acquiring new computers. It is hoped to place one of these computers on a trolley thereby making it available to individual classes re project work. The software selected from the Tesco catalogue will reflect this as software chosen will be Science, History, Music etc. The school already has encyclopedias in digital form which will also be made available to individual classes. Acquiring information in digital form is an important skill. Also, the ability to interpret and summarise this information are also very important skills.
First Confession.
Congratulations to all the children from first class who made their First Confession. They were just excellent and a credit to both their parents and the school.
Ireland on Sunday.
The school's computer room recently acquired a new computer by means of tokens from Ireland on Sunday. It is an excellent machine and the children are making very good use of it. Third class will start computer class after Easter. The emphasis of these classes will be to give the children basic word processing skills which are essential. Once again we would like to thank for your generosity in donating your tokens for the school.
School Tours.
Please note these dates for future reference.
Junior Infants.
Friday 9th June The infant classes will be going to Morell Farm in Straffon.
Remaining classes.
Friday 16th of June.
First and Second class will be going to the Zoo and the Phoenix Park.
Third and Fourth class will be going to the National Heritage Park and Johnstown Castle in Co. Wexford.
Fifth Class will be going to Wicklow Gaol and Glendalough.
Sixth Class will be going to Clara Lara.
Book Fair.
The school and class libraries are at the present moment being re-stocked with new books. These have been specially recommended by the Dept. of Education. To date close on £2,000 has been spent on these books. We will also be shortly receiving books donated to the school as a result of the school book fair which you so generously supported.
Goat
We would like to thank everyone who contributed towards the cost of our goat for the Third World which came to £250 pounds. This is a very worthy cause which is being supported by Bóthar.
Swimming.
Third and Fifth class have completed their ten weeks swimming. Fourth class are going at the moment. The children are enjoying this tremendously and we would like to thank the Parents council who do so much in arranging these lessons.