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PATRICIA DWYER PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE

THE SQUARE ON THE HYPOTENUSE IS

ON TO PASTURES NEW

FUNDRAISING FOR TEMPLE STREET

JUNIOR DRAMA CLUB

FRIENDSHIP WEEK AT MERCY COLLEGE

HOME SCHOOL COMMUNITY LIAISON NEWS

"STEP UP"

X FACTOR - IS SIMON MR NASTY OR MR NICE!!!

NATIONAL CONCERT HALL

GUITAR CLUB

DUBLIN U 16S GAEILIC TEAM

IRELAND UNDER 17S SOCCER TEAM

FOCUS IRELAND

GETTING QUIZZICAL:

HOCKEY TEAM

TRANSITIONAL YEAR MID TERM NEWS CARLINGFORD

HOMEWORK CLUB

WAKE UP IT'S A BEAUTIFUL MORNING!

PHYSICS

NEVER SAW THE DAY

BUDDING EINSTEINS!!!

HIGHER EDUCATION ACCESS SUCCESS!!

SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

READ, RELAX AND SUCCESS

READING CHALLENGE

SANDY BEACHES

STICKY FEET

PARENT'S ASSOCIATION

GET THE POINT

NORTHSIDE LEADERSHIP TRAINING PROGRAMME

FIVE YEARS LATER

N.C.A.D. PICASSO PROGRAMME

 

 

PATRICIA DWYER PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE

 

As this term draws to a close the pages of this newsletter are brimmed full of the wonderful activities that have been taking place over the past few weeks here in Mercy College. Once again the examination results at Leaving Certificate were a credit to students and teachers alike. Members of our class of 2006 have taken up places in UCD, DCU, St. Patrick's College Drumcondra, NUI Maynooth and many Institutes of Technology and Post Leaving Certificate colleges around the country. We wish them well in their third level pursuits. Our Junior Certificate students did themselves, their parents and the school proud. We look forward to helping them achieve senior level in the coming two or three years.

The range of activities that are represented are a testament to the commitment to the staff of Mercy College. Whether Maths Week or Breakfast Club, Geography field trip or Paired Reading, and a whole range of events in between, it is the efforts of staff in every department of the college that make things happen.

 

As 2006 draws to a close may I take this opportunity to thank each of you for the huge contribution you make to Mercy College and to wish every member of the school community - students, parents, staff members of the Board of Management and Parents' Association and the many volunteers who play a huge role in school life - a happy and peaceful Christmas and a every good wish for 2007.

 

THE SQUARE ON THE HYPOTENUSE IS

EQUAL TO THE SUM OF THE SQUARES

ON THE OTHER TWO SIDES!!!

Ms.Casey

 

2006 was the first year that Maths week was nationally recognised. To celebrate this auspicious event, the maths department organised a BIG MATHS QUIZ for the students. Each day a question was posted on the notice board in the foyer and it was encouraging to see so many enthusiastic students throng the mathematically decorated foyer eager to read the question of the day and hopefully know the answer, which was always numerical. At the end of the week Caroline McDonnell and Tara Carthy were the two students who answered all the questions correctly. Both girls received HMV vouchers as did the students from each year who got most answers right. Every student who entered the quiz was presented with a Certificate.

Winners:

1st year Sinead McEvoy

 

2nd year Melissa Casey

 

3rd year Aoife Brennan

 

4th year Shaunna Dwyer

 

5th year Caroline McDonnell and Tara Carthy

 

6th year Susan Parkes

 

The 4th year students attended a maths seminar in DCU, which they thoroughly enjoyed and hopefully found it beneficial.

P.S. if you want to try the questions here they are, unfortunately there will be no HMV voucher for the winner!!! Best of luck.

 

1. Some months have 31 days how many have 28

2. Divide 30 by a half and add 10

3. A doctor gives 3 pills to a patient telling her to take one very half an hour

How many minutes would the pills last?

4. How many 2 cent stamps are there in a dozen?

5. What would have been the value of this sentence to the Romans?

 

ON TO PASTURES NEW

Ms. Dwyer

 

This summer saw us part company with two of our longest serving teachers, Michael Hooper and Mary Browne. I know that students past and present, fellow staff members, parents, the Board of Management and myself wish to thank them for the wonderful service they have given to Mercy College over the years, and to wish them a happy and healthy retirement.

 

FUNDRAISING FOR TEMPLE STREET

Ms. Quinn

 

Every Northsider knows how important our children's hospital in Temple Street is. Did you know that they need funds for a new machine for the eye-clinic? The students in Shaw (2nd year) decided that we wanted to do something to help. When everyone left on Friday afternoon, we got together in Room 13 to make Christmas Cards - works of art. The cards were sold to raise funds for the hospital. Not only did we have great fun but we learned a new skill. We felt we could do more, so we planned a sponsored walk to Temple Street. At the time of going to press, we're not sure how much money the two events have raised, but we will let you know in the next newsletter. Maybe you too can do something to support Temple Street.

 

JUNIOR DRAMA CLUB

 

Ms. Niland and Ms. Griffin

 

This term the Drama Club started preparations for this years production of Sean O'Casey's The Plough and the Stars. Auditions took place last week and students are all set to begin rehearsals after Christmas. The Junior Drama Club meets every Friday from 1.30 - 2.30. Merry

Christmas everyone!

FRIENDSHIP WEEK AT MERCY COLLEGE

Maedhbh Daltun

Cool School anti- bullying committee

 

As part of Mercy College's involvement in the Health Promotion Unit's Cool School anti bullying programme, a school-wide friendship week was held from the 13th to the 17th November. All the staff and students participated in a daily lesson on each of the five days around the importance of 'telling about bullying to be safe'. By the end of the week, students were able to clearly identify different types of bullying - physical, verbal, psychological, racial, sexual, and relational- and were informed about the importance of telling a responsible adult about any incidents of bullying that may arise. There was also a focus on procedures which are already in place in Mercy College to keep all students safe.

A comprehensive survey about bullying was conducted throughout the school and will be repeated at regular intervals throughout the year. Frances O'Connell from the Cool School programme delivered a lively talk for parents on the Thursday evening. The presentation focused on recognising symptoms of bullying and how parents can help.

Friendship week was also a time of great creativity for students. Lots of beautiful posters were created by students along with essays on themes of friendship and respecting others. Both poster and essay competitions were held for the whole school throughout the week. The essay competition was won by Sinead Mc Evoy from Bronte in first year. Sinead wrote an essay on the importance of being a good friend and how bystanders can assist others. The poster competition winners were Shabnam Azad, third year, Celine Hickey, first year and Naomi Lester second year. All competition winners received vouchers for HMV.

All classes formed an anti-bullying agreement which is displayed on the wall in each of the classrooms. Follow- up lessons on anti-bullying will take place in the New Year.

 

HOME SCHOOL COMMUNITY LIAISON NEWS

Maria Sommers

 

Another busy term and the following represents some of the HSCL news.

Remember if any parent wishes to contact me about courses etc., please feel

free to do so.

 

Adlerian Counselling

Vincent Byrne continues to provide support for parents and children. He is available in the Parents Room on Wednesday afternoons between 1.30 and 4.00 p.m. and between 7 and 10 in the evening. This is funded by Northside Partnership. Some participants take a step further and study for a certificate and diploma in Alderian Counselling.

 

Local Committee

The local committee consisting of principals, teachers, parents, members of the local community and students from Chanel College, Scoil Chaitriona and St. Brendan’s B.N.S. are continuing to meet this year in order to share ideas and work together as a team across the schools and to share resources and facilities between schools. The theme we have chosen this year is how to promote a sense of respect and inner peace.

 

Rainbow Groups

A rainbow group for children bereaved by death or separation continues to run this term. It is facilitated by Monica Adams on a voluntary basis and provides a great support.

 

Christmas Art

The adult Art class continues to run every Thursday morning from 10 until 12. This is facilitated by Yvonne O'Brien. If you are interested in joining this class or have any other suggestions for other adult classes please contact me at 8480888 during school hours.

 

"STEP UP"

Lea Fitzsimons, Austen,

1st year

 

As a reward for our good behaviour, on Wednesday 8th November, Ms. Keogh our Year Head brought us to the UCI cinema to see a film called "Step Up". As the weather was so bad, CIE provided us with a bus free of charge. The film was very good and I would give it a rating of 10 out of 10. Everybody had a great day and many thanks to all the teachers who brought us.

 

DID YOU KNOW

 

The smallest bone in your body is in your ear !!

X FACTOR - IS SIMON MR NASTY OR MR NICE!!!

Kelly Corr, Lee, 2nd year

 

On Saturday the 28th of October I was lucky enough to be given a ticket for my sister and I to go to the X Factor in London. For people that know me, I am the X Factor's biggest fan so I knew I was going to have a great night, it would be my dream come true. My brother met Louis Walsh a few weeks before and he asked him for his autograph for me and it was the that Louis gave him tickets for the show. My sister Denise and I set off by plane to England on the 27 th. We arrived at the X Factor show. I was so excited. The show was brilliant. They were all brilliant singers especially Leona but Eton Road were also really cool. After the show there was a party I was invited to. I got to meet all the contestants and the judges, Robert was really nice to me but my favourite was Ray. He was brilliant. When I met Simon Cowell he wasn't nasty to me and I go my photo taken with him. It was one of the best days of my life and it truly was a DREAM COME TRUE.

 

NATIONAL CONCERT HALL

 

Nikkole O'Neill, 3rd year.

On the 13th November 2006, my music class and several others went to a concert in the National Concert Hall in Earlsford Terrace. The conductor of the RTE National Symphony Orchestra was a man called Gearoid Grant. The orchestra played illustrative music, dance movements, orchestral music and accompanied vocal works all from the Junior Certificate syllabus. Emmanuel Lawlor, a well known Irish tenor, sang two songs called Nessun Dorma and Love Changes Everything. He was extremely good, especially for singing so high and reaching all the high notes at 10.00 in the morning as the conductor Gearoid Grant pointed out to us. The concert ended at approximately 11.20. It was a great and exciting experience and maybe we will return to the National Concert Hall

again.

 

GUITAR CLUB

Elizabeth Gannon, Deirdre McCall

and Louise Clancy 6th year

 

The guitar club started when Ms. Doherty asked three 6th years if they wanted to meet every Wednesday at lunch time to play guitar. Louise Clancy, Elizabeth Gannon and Deirdre Mc Call agreed to this and started the Guitar Club. The club is learning "So this is Christmas" for the School Carol Service. Any student who would like to join are more than welcome.

 

DUBLIN U 16S GAEILIC TEAM

Sinead Cumiskey 4th year

 

To win an all Ireland medal and beat Cork in the final is the best experience any Dublin footballer could achieve. On the 16th September, myself and the Dublin squad travelled to Cashel to face Cork in the All-Ireland final. The match kicked off at 2 o clock and everyone was very nervous as we were defeated last year by the same opposition. This was the game we trained very hard for the whole year round so we weren't going to give up easily. Cork thought they had it in the bag but we proved them wrong while at half time we were leading by 10/11 points. The second half commenced and we finished the rebels off by 5-16 to 1-10 and we were crowned All-Ireland Champions. The celebrations went on through the night with a Garda escort through Dublin to our venue where the excitement will never be forgotten. Up the Dubs.

 

IRELAND UNDER 17S SOCCER TEAM

Kerrie Hogan 5th year

 

I play for Ireland under 17s ladies soccer team. During the mid term break, we played

Switzerland, unfortunately, we lost 2-1. It was a great experience for me and in April we will be playing Italy. I hope that this is the start of a very rewarding future playing for my country and I look forward to the challenge.

 

FOCUS IRELAND

Nakita Lennon 2nd year (Yeats)

 

Hi, my name is Nakita and on behalf of my class, I would like to tell you about how we raised funds for Focus Ireland. As we walked through the gates of the school, Spin 1038 gave us leaflets about a sleepover for Focus Ireland. My mother gave me her permission because she said it was terrible to see homeless out in the cold during the winter and especially at Christmas. All went well and I raised 180 euros. We also held a cake sale which was lots of fun, and we made over 220 euros. This was done as part of our CSPE project - which is worth 40% of our Junior Certificate project.

 

GETTING QUIZZICAL:

 

Amy Delaney, Amy Dunne, Gemma Smyth, and Amy Deane, From Mercy College, Dublin ponder a question during the first round of the Thomas Crosbie Holdings All Ireland Scools Quiz, Montrose Hotel, Dublin

 

HOCKEY TEAM

Sinead Maguire

 

The senior hockey team has done very well so far this year. We have a good strong team and hope to win the Northside League. We are also have two junior up and coming teams that are expected to do extremely well. We will keep you posted.

 

TRANSITIONAL YEAR MID TERM NEWS CARLINGFORD

Sinead Cumiskey, 4th year.

 

On the 10th October 4th years went to Carlingford Adventure Centre for a two day trip. While we were there we took part in many

new and different activities. Some of these included rafting, pier jumping, archery, rock climbing, abseiling, team challenges, hill walking but one of the most enjoyable was the night line. This was the one every student was dreading. We walked up high into the cold dark mountains. When we reached the forest our instructors handed us blindfolds. Confused, we all put them on and soon we knew what was coming!! Although everyone was so scared, it was one of the most enjoyable activities we did. Before we knew it the fun, laughter was over and we were packing our bags for our journey home.

 

HOMEWORK CLUB

Amy Dunne, Lisa McDon nell, Margaret Quinn and Emma Roche

 

4th year

 

As part of the Community section of the Gaisce Presidents Award, some of the 4th years decided to set up a homework club for 1st year students. This takes place every Wednesday and Thursday after school. Any first years are more than welcome to come along.

 

WAKE UP IT'S A BEAUTIFUL MORNING!

Ms. Boyle

The Breakfast club is new to Mercy College. Each morning pupils come over to the parents room to catch up with their friends and enjoy a tasty breakfast before starting the school day. Pupils choose from cereal, juice, tea, toast, hot chocolate and the occasional muffin treat.

 

The breakfast club is a brilliant way to get your day off to the right start. We look forward to seeing as many student as possible over the coming months.

 

PHYSICS

Amy Dunne and

Shaunna Dwyer, 4th year

 

Two 4th year students attended Trinity College to take part in the Transition Year Physics experience. They spent the week taking lectures in the Physics of Sport, Careers with Physics, Astrophysics and many more. On Wednesday the 22 nd they went to the Dunsink Observatory where they saw Astrophysics in action. They took part in research projects which will be on show in the school shortly. They found the experience very interesting.

 

 

DID YOU KNOW

 

On average a human finger nail grows about 1mm (nanometer) per second !!

 

NEVER SAW THE DAY

Kim Wade, 5th year

 

On Thursday 16th November senior classes attended a play entitled "Never Saw the Day"

 

Produced by the Walking Forward Theatre Company. The play was about a group of close friends that played in a band together and loved life.

 

One day James and Vince were in a car crash. James was driving too fast and wasn't wearing his seat belt, Vince was wearing his. James ended up with severe brain damage, leaving him with a mental age of two.

 

All the friends stopped talking to each other until they met up on the Jerry Springer show to talk about the accident. Many lives are affected by tragic accidents such as these, but the hardest thing is that this could have been easily prevented by NOT speeding and wearing your SEATBELT. So BELTUP AND SLOW DOWN or you could be next!!

 

BUDDING EINSTEINS !!!

Ms Moran and Ms. Dowling

 

Science week took place during November. Students participated in a science quiz

and the lucky winners were Ninah Kenny and Robyn Farrell 5th year. For all of you

would be scientists here are the questions:

 

1. What is the name of space devoid of matter?

 

2. What is the common name for the tympanic membrane?

 

3. What planet has the shortest year?

 

4. What drug was introduced commercially by Bayer of Germany in 1899?

 

5. What is banana oil produced from?

 

HIGHER EDUCATION ACCESS SUCCESS !!

 

Congratulations to the six Leaving Certificate students from Mercy College who were awarded financial grants by DCU for each year of their studies. These students' area of study include Communications, Business and Science.

 

SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

Mrs Teeling (Guidance Counsellor)

 

This year the above awards have been approved for over thirty Transition and Fifth Year students. Each student will be presented with their Awards on the evening of December 14th by the President of DCU, followed by a reception.

 

Last June two Transition Year students took part in the "TAKE FIVE PROGRAMME". They got to visit and experience life in five Colleges - DCU, DIT, NUI Maynooth, TCD and UCD) It was a unique and enjoyable experience for them.

 

Finally, I would like to thank Amy Dunne and Shaunna Dwyer for attending Physic lectures in TCD. The course co-ordinator phoned me to tell me how helpful and obliging the girls were.

 

READ, RELAX AND SUCCESS

Ms. Moran (JCSP co-ordinator)

 

Paired Reading is taking place at the moment in

Mercy College and will continue unt6il May. Research has found that most improvements in reading occur if a child reads regularly and at her own level. Many thanks to the members of our local community whose valuable help allows us to run this programme. Volunteers are always welcome.

 

READING CHALLENGE

Ms. Moran (JCSP co-ordinator)

Mercy College has received some funding to allow

it to take part in the "Reading Challenge"

programme. Students will be asked to read one

book a week for five weeks. Students will be pre and

post tested to allow them to see the results. I will

keep you posted.

SANDY BEACHES

Janice Crosbie, 6th year

Our Geography field trip

The destination we chose was Balscadden Bay in Howth, Co. Dublin.

The journey out wasn't too long by DART. During the day, we learned to use differentskills such as drawing techniques at different angles of the beach and measuring the keep you posted.

direction and rate of the long shore drift. My personal opinion on this is that it was very interesting and very much worth the time that was put in it. Our teacher Ms. Keogh was very helpful and made it her duty to make sure everyone knew what they were doing and if we needed a helping hand she was there.

 

STICKY FEET

Lorraine Quinn, 1st year

 

A workshop on chewing gum and stewardship (sponsored by the Evening Herald) was given to all 1st,2nd and 3rd year students. Our tutors for the day were Helen and Alex. Alex showed us a play about keeping our environment cleaner. He also told us that he was a street cleaner and he was annoyed that people didn't see him so he always felt he was invisible. Both Helen and Alex told us about chewing gum and the menace it is to our society. If chewing gum got stuck to clothing, you have to freeze it and chip it off. So what should we do? Put the chewing gum in the bin where it belongs.

PARENT'S ASSOCIATION

Valerie Stacey.

 

We would like to express many thanks to Catherine Sadlier for all she has done for the parents committee and hope that she enjoys her retirement!! We would also like to thank everybody that returned the envelope collection and so for we have raised over 500 euros. We would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a peaceful new year.

GET THE POINT

Helen Mc Loughlin, Lee, 1st year

 

Hundreds of students gathered from schools and Church choirs all around Ireland to sing lots of different songs at Dublin's annual Hallelujah Concert on Sunday the 26th November 2006. I took part in a choral concert at the Point Theatre. Some of the songs featured were Rock 'n Roll Lyrics, Eurovision Medley and a collection of dance songs. The performance, which was conducted by the well known conductor Gearoid Grant, was a huge success and was attended by a large audience of parents, well wishers and friends. I really enjoyed the experience and hope to sing at the event again next year.

 

DID YOU KNOW?

The loudest animal in the world

is the blue whale - it can make

sounds so loud they can be

heard 2000 miles away!!

 

NORTHSIDE LEADERSHIP TRAINING PROGRAMME

 

One again several of our students have been chosed to participate in the Northside Partnership's Leadership Training Programme: Stephanie Trimble, Samantha Hatton, Denise Smith and Leanne Kavanagh. Over the course of this year they will take part in visits to Carlingford, the Fire Brigade Training Centre, among other venues as they learn leadership skills.

 

FIVE YEARS LATER

Karen (ex Head Girl)

 

Returning to Mercy College nearly five years

after completing the Leaving Certificate

 

Upon completion of the exams in 2002 I decided a change of scenery was required, and so I moved to England to study English. I worked in various places and after a year decided that I had to return home to College to fulfil my lifelong (whole 21 years) ambition to become an Irish teacher. I began my degree course in UCD in 2004 and am currently in my final year. Next year I hope to complete my Hdip in education so that I will be fully qualified to be an Irish teacher. My experience of college has been fantastic - I have met so many lovely people who are now good friends, there are hundreds of different societies to join - sports, music drama etc.,

 

My memories of school life are very positive ones and my advise to current students would be to enjoy it as much as possible while you are here ( I know it sounds cliché but it is meant to be the best times in your life ) and looking back it is. I would definitely urge anybody who is thinking about the future to go to college. Work hard and the world is your Oyyster.

 

N.C.A.D. PICASSO PROGRAMME

 

Mercy College has been invited to participate in the College of Art and Design's access programme. Talented Art students will have the opportunity to take part in Shadowing Programme, Taster Workshops, Open Day and Portfolio Preparation classes.

 

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