Avondale Community College

Avondale Community College
School Notes
Week beginning January 23rd 2012

Open Night 2012
Avondale Community College was delighted to open its doors for 2011/2012 Open Night, which proved to be an outstanding success. Prospective parents and students were given a tour of the school by industrious First Year students, before retreating to the Sports Hall, for a presentation by Principal, R. O' Neill, Deputy Principal, F. Boyle, Assistant Principal, T. Byrne, Learning Support Co-Ordinator, M. Egan and Parents' Council Member, P. Smith. Visitors to the school had the opportunity to meet all members of staff, as they moved throughout the various subject departments to view displays of work. The highlight of the evening was the Interactive Science session, facilitated by the Science Department and scientists from Schering Plough, who support our Interactive Open Days and Open Night.
Just settling back from the excitement of exhibiting at the B.T. Young Scientist Exhibition the previous week, the students who were involved the four projects were delighted to share their theories and discoveries with visitors.
Sixth class students are already looking forward to the exciting challenges which second level education at Avondale Community College will open up for them.


B.T. Young Scientists Success!
Students associated with each of the four projects from Avondale Community College, which advanced to the BT Young Scientist 2012 in the R.D.S, reported great activity, interest and enthusiasm around their exhibition stand.
First Years and Transition Years were lucky enough to visit the exhibition on Friday 13th January to support their school mates and view the projects submitted by 353 other schools around the country.
The participants were all most enthusiastic in acknowledging that the experience had been worthwhile and a real boost to their confidence. Students faced at least three interviews with the judges over the two and a half day judging session. According to the comments written on their projects they acquitted themselves well. There was great excitement at the Closing Awards Ceremony as Cillian Kavanagh and Dáire Flood scooped a 2nd place prize in the Intermediate Technology Section with their project, 'Safe Driving with the Ice Device'. Already there are rumblings in the Science corridor of plans and possibilities for next year's competition. There are only 350 days left to the B.T. Young Scientist Exhibition 2013!


Media Coverage
We were delighted to welcome Ms. Marie Cahalane, who takes responsibility for the entire B.T. Young Scientist Competition, to Avondale Community College on Monday 9th January for her interview with TV3. Ms. Cahalane gave an overview of the competition, while Mr. Breen and Third Year boys Cillian Kavanagh and Dáire Flood were then interviewed by Martin King, from TV3, about the latest invention, 'The Ice Device'. The boys gave a comprehensive account of their project, from the initial idea through to prototype and the final version. The boys were filmed by RTE for its Nationwide programme and they were delighted to be interviewed by RTE News.


'Understanding Family Dynamics' Talk
A talk will be held for Parents in Avondale Community College on 31st January from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. This talk will cover the roles played by different members of the family and will explore relationships and boundaries within the family. For further information on this talk, please contact Martine Wixted on 0404 - 46445.