Avondale Community College

Avondale Community College
School Notes
Week beginning March 12th 2012

World Book Week
Last week at Avondale Community College the school was alive with creativity, as writers and poets alike visited the school and we turned World Book Day celebrations into a week-long event! On Monday, Irish author Jane Mitchell, author of Chalkline visited the school. Second year students were privileged to enjoy Jane reading an extract from her novel. Students had many questions about the novel itself and they also gained much insight into the creative process. On Tuesday, Dublin based author, Brian Gallagher, author of Across the Divide, spoke about his own writing and presented a creative writing workshop. He spoke to First year students about character creation and the development of ideas into an enthralling tale. Wednesday saw the arrival of local poet, Jane Clarke. The students had an opportunity to listen to Jane reciting some of her poems. As well as this, Jane discussed the process of writing poetry with the students and gave them many tips for writing their own poetry. On Thursday, the whole school got involved in Reading Week as Drop Everything and Read was held from 11.00 to 11.35. This was a great opportunity for all members of the school community to cherish the joy of reading. Reading Week ended with a flurry of excitement, as a Dress Up Day was organised by the TY students as part of their Y.S.I Project. There was great excitement as Bellas, Wallys and Sherlock Holmes alike roamed the corridors! The finale of Reading Week saw the launch of ‘Avondale Writes’, a creative writing and poetry competition for Avondale students. The week was extremely enjoyable and with many students reading several books throughout the week. Promotion of reading and literacy is important in every area of life. Reading Weeks in Avondale go a long way to promoting reading in an exciting and interesting way!

Rotary Ireland All- Ireland Title!
Having qualified for the 2012 All Ireland Final of the Rotary Young Chef Competition at the end of January, Craig Curley displayed his wide range of culinary skills in the Santa Sabina College, Sutton, Co. Dublin. This time Craig was competing against budding young chefs from all over the island of Ireland. Craig again created a sumptuous three course meal and finished it off with an excellent presentation of his dishes. The judges were so impressed with Craig's skills and expertise that he was voted the All- Ireland Champion. This is a fantastic achievement and Craig will now go on to represent Ireland in the RIBI Young Chef Competition in the UK in April. Well done Craig and the best of luck from all the staff and students in Avondale Community College!

Green Dragon All- Ireland Finalists and Grand Marshals!
Dáire Flood and Cillian Kavanagh, our B.T. Young Scientist prize winners and finalists in the Green Dragon Innovation Challenge are currently preparing for the National Final in Croke Park on 28th March 2012. The boys will present their invention, 'The Ice Device' to a panel of judges. Following the regional competition they successfully secured one of the 25 tightly contested places in the National Finals. The boys' busy schedule doesn't stop there, as they have been chosen to be Grand Marshals at this year's St. Patrick's Day Parade in Rathdrum.
Best of luck to Cillian and Dáire in the National Finals!

Sports News
Referee Course
Fifteen Transition Year students completed the G0-Games Refereeing Course in Aughrim last Thursday and Friday. This was organised by the Wicklow County Board, under the guidance of Hugh Kenny. This is a great opportunity for students to put the GAA motto of ‘Give respect, Get respect’ into practice and to look at the games from a different perspective.
First Year Boys’ Football
The First Year Boys’ Football team plays St. Kevin's Community College, Dunlavin in the First Year Boys’ ‘B’ Semi Final. The team, captained by Conor Byrne, is sure to give it their very best on the day. Best of luck to the team!
Second Year Girls’ Basketball
The Second Year Girls’ Basketball team met St. Killian’s Community School, Bray in the first round of the league. The Avondale team enjoyed a convincing win on the day. They now meet East Glendalough School next week in the next round of the league. Well done and best of luck to the girls in the next game!

Transition Year News

Irish Cultural Studies Trip
As part of their Irish Cultural Studies course Transition Year students enjoyed a trip to our national sporting ground, Croke Park. They received a guided tour around the impressive stadium and even had an opportunity to visit the presentation area! Following this, students visited Dublinia to experience Ireland during the Viking and Middle Ages. This was an enjoyable and educational trip.

Value Rathdrum
Last week a group of Transition Year students met local traders to discuss the prospect of promoting local business in Rathdrum. Following a productive meeting, the Transition Year students have offered their expertise to local traders by setting up a Facebook page, called Value Rathdrum, which will promote consumer value and special offers in the local area. Aaron Cullen, Kate Privett, Patrick Kinsella and Naoise Foley are busy working on this page. In such economic times it is heartening to see young people using their initiative and developing their sense of community as they try to increase business in the local area. Well done to the students involved.

Community Links
The boys from the local B.N.S. in Rathdrum are eagerly awaiting the Paired Reading sessions with the group Transition 1 from Avondale Community College. The Transition Year students will read with the primary school students for a set period each week. This is a proven and successful method of improving literacy amongst students.

Radio Broadcasting Talk
Transition Year students attended a talk, presented by East Coast FM D.J., Paul O’ Connell. Paul spoke to the students about the radio industry and the many career opportunities available. He also offered students the opportunity to visit East Coast FM for the day and to take part in some presenting and also to get to grips with the world of radio media. The students found this talk interesting and informative.

CAMARA Project
Transition Year students, along with their IT teacher, Ms. Kelleher, are displaying their social conscience. Instead of discarding old computers, TY students have thought about those who might need and appreciate these valuable resources. As part of the Camara Education Project, old computers are refurbished and loaded with educational programmes. These are then used to educate children in disadvantaged schools in sub-Saharan Africa, Jamaica and Ireland. Former Ireland rugby player, Shane Byrne, was on hand to support this extremely valuable and admirable project. Well done to all those involved!

Arklow Music Festival
Students from Avondale Community College put their talents on display, when they participated in the Arklow Music Festival. Well done to the choir from Avondale Community College, who participated in the Music Festival last weekend. The choir performed well and received a second and third place prize at the event. Second year students participated in the Spoken Verse competition in the festival. They too did very well and received very positive feedback. Well done to all students involved.

Book Club
The Book Club have now received this month’s title, Ice Breaker by Mikael Engstrom . Last month’s title Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine proved very popular with the students. It provided a great insight into the life of a young girl who has Asperger’s but was also attempting to come to terms with great loss and change in her family unit. Students were very enthusiastic about sharing their thought and observations in the last meeting.

U.C.D. Shadowing Day
Six Leaving Certificate students from Avondale Community College visited University College Dublin, as part of the Shadowing Programme. Students had an opportunity to tour the college campus and attend a variety of lectures. The students found the experience both interesting and motivational. They are excited and enthusiastic about their future plans, as this taste of college life has merely whet their appetites!

Subject Choice for Fifth Year Students
On Wednesday 29th February prospective Fifth Year students attended presentations on the Senior Cycle curriculum during the annual Subject Choice Afternoon. Subject teachers explained what their respective subjects entail. A booklet on each subject choice was distributed to all students. Prospective Fifth Year students have received subject choice forms.