December 2007
Dear Parents/Guardians,
Beannachtaí na Nollag agus na hAthbhliana. Welcome to the final Newsletter of 2007.The term to date has been a very busy one with a myriad of activities taking place on a weekly basis. The commitment and the enthusiasm of the students to their studies, sport, extra-curricular activities and to charitable works is to be commended. All of this has lent itself greatly to thepositive atmosphere characteristic of BoherbueComprehensiveSchool.
I wish you and your families an enjoyable and peaceful Christmas season as we look forward to 2008.Nollaig Faoi Shéan ’s Faoi Mhaise Daoibh.
Seán ó Céilleachair, Priomhoide.
School Website:
I trust that you have now had the opportunity to visit our school website at
Itcontains information, including sports results, school notices, events, newsletters, photographs, etc. to keep you up to date with all that is happening in the school.
Homework Club:
The Homework Club Christmas outing to ‘Tralee on Ice’ took place on Wednesday 5th December. The students then went for some retail therapy to ManorWestRetailPark. A great time was had by all!
Student Council:
The following students have been elected to the Executive Committee of the 2007-2008 Student Council:
- Chairperson: Emmet Curtin,
- Secretary: Laura Cronin,
- Treasurer: Flora Hallissey,
- P.R.O.: Michael Curtin.
- Mrs. Mary O Keeffe is the teacher responsible for liaison with management and staff.
Open Night:
The annual Open Night was held on Friday 16th November. Awards were presented to Best Leaving Certificate students of 2007, Marie Murphy, Boherbue and Thomas Stritch, Newmarket. Best Junior Certificate awards were presented to John Casey, Ballydesmond, Stephanie Arcusa, Cullen and Katie O Sullivan, Derrinagree.
Drive Safe 4 Life Programme
A number of 4th year students took part in the ‘Drive Safe For Life Programme’ organised by IRD on the 13th November. Each student who took part received a Certificate of participation.
C.S.P.E. NEWS:
First Year CSPE classes 1-2 and 1-4 have taken part in Ireland’s first ever Nationwide Children’s and Young People’s ballot. The results of the ballot have been forwarded to Emily Logan, the Ombudsman for Children. Well done to all!
Mrs Sheila Dillon, Educational Officer with Trocaire, visited Mrs Dunne’s 3rdYear CSPE and Geography Classes on Monday, October 15th. She gave a very interesting presentation on Trócaire’s work in developing countries around the world.
Garda Sillery visited Mrs Walsh’s 3rd Year CSPE class on the 16th November. He gave a presentationon Young People and the Law. He highlighted issues which are pertinent to young people such as Drugs, Alcohol and Driving.
School Tour
The Fourth Year school tour to Rhineland, Germany will take place during Mid-term in February.
Public Speaking
Congratulations to Sinéad Guiney, Nóirin Murphy and Eimear Guiney who talked their way into the Cork Semi- Final of the National Public Speaking Initiative ‘07/’08. Along the way they warded off stiff competition from Scoil Mhuire, Charleville and C.B.S., Charleville. They also beat BishopMcEganCollege, Macroom and Christ the King, Douglas on Monday 3rd December.
Readathon Fundraising Project
Over the past ten years the School has raised in excess of €20,000 for Multiple Sclerosis research and care. This year alone they collected almost €3000 This is a phenomenal achievement and is an indication of the generosity of the school community towards this very worthy cause. A huge thank you to all concerned.
Music News:
Congratulations to Siobhán Clifford, First Year, who has earned her second piano scholarship with the Cork School of Music. Siobhán’s scholarship was presented to her at the Cork School of Music Awards Night on October 19th. Emma Fitzgerald, First Year, is also to be commended for her high piano exam grades
Career Guidance News:
The following activities have taken place in recent weeks:
- November 9th: A presentation on careers in banking (Bank of Ireland).
- November 13th, Cork Institute of Technology- Courses and facilities available to students.
- December 13th: Limerick Institute of Technology- Courses and Facilities available to students.
- December 20th; 4th Year student preparation for Careers Exhibition organised by the Institute of Guidance Counsellors, taking place in Tralee on January10th.
Pastoral News
Two Leaving Certificate students went as helpers on the Kerry pilgrimage to Lourdes in September and did trojan work with the sick. Well done Amy and Sineád!
Nurse Margaret Crean visited the school in October and spoke with First Years and Third Years on Personal Health and Hygiene.
Two Fourth Year students attended a Seminar on Alcohol Misuse in Cork organised by the Department of Family and Social Affairs.Leaving Certificate students attended a lecture given by Cura from Traleeon the organisation and its services.
Fr. Con Buckley C.C., Knocknagree and originally from Boherbue, celebrated the annual Mass for First Year students and their Parents on 22nd October. First years took a very active part in the celebration of the liturgy and excelled in their music and singing.
Fr. Kennelly celebrated Mass for our deceased pupils and staff members in November in the parish church. All students and teachers attended. Jimmy McAuliffe from Newmarket who died tragically in October was especially remembered. May he rest in peace.
A Penitential Service, followed by confessions was held in the school on 13th December, during Advent. Six priests heard confessions.
A number of students took part in a Taize Mass in Boherbue parish church on 15th December. This Mass had a special appeal for both old and young- where Taize hymns were sung to the accompaniment of our talentedmusicians.
Adult EducationNews
This was once again a very successful term with a variety of courses on offer including Art, Creative Writing, Archaeology, Dog Training, Computers, Parenting, First Aid, Aerobics, Pilates, Christmas Flowers and Fashion Advice with Claire Cullinane. Courses commencing in the Spring will be advertised in January. Suggestions for courses or names of tutors would be very welcome.
Sports News:
Senior Boys Football
The Senior Boys team have reached the Munster A Final for the first time since 1992 having beaten Coláiste Treasa, Kanturk, in the Semi-final, 1-13 to 1-8. A second half goal by John Corkery and some excellent points by Jerry O Connor and Daniel Fitzgerald saw Boherbue emerge as convincing winners despite a late penalty goal by Kanturk. The Final against St. Brogan’s, Bandon, is provisionally booked for 16th January, 2008. Boherbue face St. Brogans as underdogs as they have already defeated us in the Cork County Semi-final!
Junior Boys Football
The Junior Boys team advanced to the next round of the Munster Championship with a three point win over CoachfordCommunity College in the first round. This game was decided by an Eamonn Brosnan first half goal giving Boherbue the lead which they did not relinquish till the final whistle. The boys lost out to St. Brogans, Bandon in the Cork County Championship on a score of 2-8 to 2-6. Hopefully, our mistakes can be worked on for the Munster campaign after Christmas.
Senior Girls Football
Unfortunately, the Senior Girls team failed to qualify for the knockout stages of the Munster Post Primary Schools competition, losing out to Presentation Convent, Mitchelstown on a score of 4-6 to 3-7. A poor first half performance left the girls with an eight point deficit. Despite a brave second-half fight back, Boherbue were two points behind at the final whistle. This was a huge disappointment as we convincingly beat LorettoSecondary School, Fermoy, in the final group game 10-13 to 4-5.
Junior Girls
The Junior Girls team have advanced to the Munster Post Primary Schools qualifier with victories over Loretto Secondary School, Fermoy (8-14 to 1-1), Coláiste Treasa, Kanturk (2-6 to 2-3) St. Mary’s Charleville (4-3 to 2-2) and St. Mary’s High School, Midleton (12-7 to 0-1).
First Year/ Second Year Boys Football League
A very successful First and Second Year Boys Football league is now at Final Stagewith Team Acaptained by Mike O Gorman playing Team D captained by Daniel Jones.
Hurling:
Senior hurlers had a good win over DavisCollege, Mallow, in the first round. Unfortunately, they were defeated by Gaelcholaiste, Tralee in the Semi Final.
Junior hurling will commence after Christmas.
Basketball:
Training has commenced for both male and female students. Once the basic skills are learnt and fitness levels are adequate we hope to play a number of challenge matches!
Handball:
Best of luck to Caitriona Casey who will represent Irelandin Ladies Handball in Arizona,U.S.A. during the Christmas period.
Dates for your Diary:
- Parent-Teacher Meeting for 1st Year: Tuesday, 22nd January, 4.15 - 6.45 p.m.
- Parent-Teacher Meeting for 2nd Year & 4th Year: Thursday, 7th February,.4.15 - 6.45 p.m.
- Mid-Term: School closes on Friday, 8th February and re-opens on Monday, 18th February.
- Easter Holidays: School closes on Friday, 14th March and re-opens on Monday, 31st March.
- Summer Holidays:
School closes on Friday, 31st May.
Beannachtaí na Nollag agus na hAthbhliana
We send Christmas Greetings and every Blessing in the New Year to staff, students and their families. We thank you for your loyal support during the year and commit ourselves to working in your best interests in 2008.
Marie O Sullivan- Editor