Avondale Community College

Avondale Community College
School Notes
Week beginning March 26th 2012

TY Log on, Learn - Computer Training for Older People
Transition Year students in Avondale Community College are offering free, one to one computer training for those aged 65 and over.
Learn how to book flights, surf the Internet or send an e-mail to a friend!
These user-friendly classes will take place, on 6 consecutive Friday mornings from 11:40 - 12:40, starting from April 20th
As places are limited, don’t delay! To book your place phone Miriam, our Secretary at 0404-46445

Good Luck to our Green Dragon Entrants!
Best of luck to Dáire Flood and Cillian Kavanagh who will present their invention, ‘The Ice Device’ at the National Finals of the Green Dragon Innovation Challenge in Croke Park today. The boys were successful in the Regional finals in Athlone earlier this year and were one of only 25 finalists to qualify for the final round of the competition. The Avondale finalists will present their idea for the Health and Safety sector at the National Finals. The boys will battle it out in the morning by presenting their ideas privately to two judges in their respective categories. Two finalists will then be chosen from each category to present their idea in the afternoon session, in front of five judges and the audience. The very best of luck to the boys and hopefully they will bring home the prize!


Sports News
First Years Girls’ Basketball
Avondale’s First Year Girls’ Basketball team enjoyed a good win over Coláiste Bhríde, Carnew in the Wicklow/Wexford League. The girls will meet Gaelcholáiste na Mara in the next round of the league. Well done and best of luck to the girls!

Junior Boys’ Football
The boys were successful in their last match against Blessington Community College. They will play Coláiste Chraobh Ahann in the next round of the league. Best of luck to the boys, keep up the winning streak!

Junior Girls’ Football
The Junior Girls’ Football team will be participating in a Wicklow League Blitz next week. Best of luck to the girls!

Minor Boys’ Hurling
The Minor Boys’ Hurling team will play in the ‘B’ final shortly. They will play Colaiste Chill Mhantain in the final. Best of luck to the team!


Transition Year News
AWARE Talk
Last Wednesday, Oliver Smith from AWARE met Transition Year students. Oliver talked to the students about depression and suicide, along with mental health issues. The talk increased students' awareness of depression, as well as helping students become more open about emotional difficulties. The talk was very informative and worthwhile. Many thanks to Oliver for visiting the school.

TY Log on, Learn - Computer Training for Older People
Transition Year students in Avondale Community College are offering free, one to one computer training for those aged 65 and over.
Learn how to book flights, surf the Internet or send an e-mail to a friend!
These user-friendly classes will take place, on 6 consecutive Friday mornings from 11:40 - 12:40, starting from April 20th
As places are limited, don’t delay! To book your place phone Miriam, our Secretary at 0404-46445


TY Scratch Software Development Competition
Our TY students experienced a taste of computer programming when they recently entered the national Scratch Competition.
Scratch teaches computational thinking and problem solving using a simple-to-use, yet powerful, building block approach to software development. Students using Scratch gain a better understanding of what a career in computing entails and can make more informed subject and CAO choices. We are eagerly waiting to hear if any of our 10 group or individual games and story projects have made it to the National Finals.



Religion Trip
Second year students travelled to Dublin last week, as part of their Religious studies programme. The students enjoyed a tour of Glasnevin Cemetery and had an opportunity to visit the graves of some of the most famous Irish historical figures, such as Daniel O' Connell, Eamonn De Valera and Michael Collins. Following this, the students visited the Islamic Cultural Centre of Ireland in Clonskeagh. Students were given a tour of the centre, experiencing the mosque and gaining insight into the Islamic religion. This was a most educational and interesting trip.


Young Social Innovators
Our Young Social Innovators presented their ideas at the YSI Speak Out in Kilkenny last week. Seventeen Transition Year students from Avondale Community College presented their project which would targeted the area of literacy. As part of their YSI project ‘A Books Life’, the students recorded a number of key texts from the Junior Certificate English course and uploaded these recordings in an mp3 format onto the school intranet where they can be downloaded and used as a study companion by all students. As part of their YSI project, students were involved in the organisation of for World Book Week and they are currently running a book fair in the school library. The students experienced great success at the ‘Speak Out’ and are now through to the National Finals in this year’s Annual Showcase of Young Social Innovators will take place on 9th May 2012 in Citywest Hotel and Convention Centre. Congratulations to the students on their achievements so far and best of luck in the next round!