February Edition Nessan’s Newsletter

Just What Happened

Staff ZoneCongratulations to

Ms. Hefferhan who got married on the 10th of

February - we wish her all the best for the future.

St. Nessan’s would like to welcome Suzanne O Connor to the staff of St. Nessan’s C.C and wish her all the best in her role as school

chaplain.

We also welcome our placement students, Ben, Mike,

Emma & Alex who are on placement from UL for 6 weeks.

Also, Steve McHale, Gemma Divine & Mary McInerney who are on

placement with SMILE SCP

Anyone interested in learning guitar? Lessons starting on Tuesday 14th

March 3.30 with Ms Dunne

Roses are red violets are blue….happy Valentines Day ..

Lá shona everyone

Author Visit

World Book DayOn Friday the 2nd of March St. Nessan’s Community College celebrated World Book Day in style. World Book Day is the biggest celebration of books and reading ever mounted in Ireland. The main aim is to encourage students to explore the pleasure of books and reading by providing them with the opportunity to have a book of their own. Each 1st and 2nd and 3rd Year student received a flip book-2 books in one! Seven specially produced World Book Day books have been published and again O’Mahony’s have generously sent out enough copies of these books for all our 1st and 2nd and 3rd Years. Again this year, there is one title as gaeilge which should keep the Irish Department happy and will be a nice tie-in with Seachtain na Gaeilge/Leabhar Power-two nationwide Irish books celebrations which surround World Book Day.

Itinerary:We kicked off the day with an extended assembly for 1st and 2nd, and 3rd Years, which included-distribution of WBD books by the class prefects.-distribution of book tokensNext all 1st and 2nd Years visited the library, borrowed a book-most are now on the system in the libraryAll the Classes entered the many competitions that were held during the course of the day-design a Book mark competition, write a book review and design a Book cover competition. Results and winners will be posted over the coming days. The highlight of the day was the visit by renowned writer ,author, novelist Helena Close whose novels and short stories are nationally and internation-

ally acclaimed. She is widely sought after for readings and workshops here in Ireland. She is a writer of adult and teenage fiction and her very first book, ‘Pinhead Duffy’ was well received here in the school. She donated several signed books to the school library and she was really delighted with the response from the students here at the school. Helena Close held a story telling session with all our 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Years and 5th Years . A very enjoyable and productive workshop was had by all and the students enjoyed the interactive element of the workshop.

3rd Feb Limerick Animal Welfare Visit

6th Feb Beginning of French Week-French

Cinema Session.8th Feb

Parent/Teacher Meeting,1st ,2nd ,5th, TY.

9th Feb North Munster Semi Final

v’s Ennis CBS 2nd Year Basketball

Tournament.1st Years watch‘Les Choristes’,

Part of French Week. 3rd Years Options Night

10th Feb Maghnus Collins –Smyth

visits St Nessans10th Feb

1st International Green Flag Success.

13th Feb Mid Term Break

21st Feb J.C. Art Practical’s

TY visit St Munchins Resource Centre for PANCAKES!

21st Feb Pre Leaving Cert

Exams begin Pre Junior Cert Exams begin.

22nd Feb TY Burren Trip

Fr. Tony distributes Ashes.23rd Feb

BITC visit L.I.T.28th Feb

TY qualify for the Limerick City Enterprise Final

2nd March World Book Day

Helena Close author, visits St.Nessans C.C.

Sinead Hourigan,Watch House Cross Library visits.

Helena Close author of Pinhead Duffy, The Clever One, was welcomed to St Nessans Community College by Principal Eugene O Brien, librarian Mr. J Gale and English Teacher Ms. M Toomey yesterday 2ND of March, World Book Day. The author was really delighted to be invited into the school on this occasion and she read many extracts from her books Pinhead Duffy and The Clever One. She followed this with a question and answer session from the students. She was really impressed with the students and appreciated that here in the school there is a great appetite for reading and various literacy initiatives. “That’s one of the valuable things about the visiting authors, every single one of them has a different story about how they came to write and its important for students who are starting out to realise that there isn’t one single way of doing it and that there are so many different approaches”, Ms. Toomey added “you cant expect to get better if your not going to read beyond your normal expectations of yourself. You need to kick start your reading because reading and writing go hand in hand. Reading is key.” All the students involved deserve great credit for their behaviour and enthusiasm on the day. Hopefully this is something the students will try at home.Ms Marie Toomey

Helena answers students questions

Helena Close with principal Mr O Brien, Ms. Toomey and students

Congratulations to Nikita O Keefe and Nicole Hogan who received highlycommended certificates and prizes at the opening of the fair-trade fortnight at the city library on 29th February. The students attended the prize giving ceremony, class tutor Ms. Kierce Ayers and art teacher Ms Murphy. The theme for the competition was “Take a step for fair-trade” Nikta and Nicole’s joint art piece portrayed a manga style female fair-trade warrior and was hanging in the library with all the other winning entries. The prizes were presented to the students by the deputy mayor Jerry McLoughlin who gave a very warm and interesting speech .We enjoyed the many thought provoking speeches by Dolores O’Meara the very active chairperson of the fairtrade committee and the other speakers. We also had the pleasure to hear a very interesting and first hand account from Sumatha Valluri who had just arrived from India to represent the cotton farmers of India.

We listened to her describe the plight and struggle of the cotton farmer in India.We were encouraged to buy more fairtrade products by the speakers ie chocolate, coffee, bananas, biscuits, juice and now we are reminded to try to buy fair-trade cotton. If you cannot see fairtrade cotton clothing ask your retailer can they stock it? If teachers and students make an effort to think about fair-trade and if possible buy the products it could really make the difference. A simple step we are told, like putting one more fair-trade item in your basket, could just be the start of a journey for communities that farm fairtrade crops. Farmers want to sell more fairtrade cotton so that they can invest in different ways to earn a living when harvests fail. Taking a step for Fairtrade in 2012 would lead to a better deal that millions of farmers and workers desperately need.

Fair Trade Awards

Nikita & Nicole recieve their certifictates from Deputy Mayor J. McLoughlin. Pictured with Ms. Murphy, Ms Ayers and

Sumatha Valuri

French Week Poster CompetitionCongrats to all the students from the art dept who took part in thr French Week Poster/Painting Competition. All who took part are to be commended. The winners are 1st Year – Jake Gilligan, Scarlett Faulkner, Gabriel Leal Soares De Paiva & Gary Dillon.2nd Year – Kailey Barrett, Nikita O Keeffe & Kaitlyn Downey5th Year – Amber Higgins.

Once again French week has been quite popular amongst students and staff of St Nessan’s. The week kicked off with staff sharing le pot de nutella and confiture a la fraise to fill up their croissants and they washed it down with some freshly made French café.. MIAM MIAM. Then Madame Andre as tradition goes sang the French national anthem called La MARSEILLAISE… Day after day that week the school walls got live-lier and livelier as students decorated their school with their creations see the pictures for some hu-moristic works of arts from first and second years. Merci mille fois aux professeur d’ART, to First and Second year students for their input!!Mais!!! Yet again the French cinema sessions were the most enjoyable. Junior cycle classes got to see Les Choristes aka the chorus in which the new teacher at a severely administered boys’ boarding school works to positively affect the students’ lives through music. The senior cycle got to see La Vie en Rose which talks about The life story of singer Édith Piaf. Thanks to all teachers who enlightened their classes with their culture on France and its many hidden and more obvious aspects. The school cannot wait for French week 2013!!!

Francetastic French Week!!!!

Day 1: Arrival in Charles De Gaulle airport, bags drop at hotel, lunch, walking tour of Paris, Champs Elysees, visit of Arc de Triomphe, Fresh food market stop, Day 2: Language school, lunch, Notre Dame Ca-thedral, Louvre Museum, Montmartre, dinner, Seine cruise on the bateau-moucheDay 3: Disneyland ParisDay 4: Language school, Lunch, Trocadero/ Eiffel Tower, La Defense, hotel to pick up bags to return to Ireland.21 students from St Nessan’s (second, third year, tys and 5th year) are going very soon to Paris.

Allez St Nessans!!!!

Educational Tour to France

ProgrammeApril 2012

Féile bhliantúil é Seachtain na Gaeilge a ritheann ar feadh coicíse idir an 5ú Márta agus Lá Fhéile Pádraig. Is é aidhm na féile ná An Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn ar ar fud na hÉireann agus ar fud an domhain. Glacann níos mó ná 200,000 duine páirt in imeachtaí na seachtaine chuile bhlian, in Éireann agus i gcéin. Seachtain na Gaeilge is an annual festival which runs for a fortnight. The aim of the festival is to promote the Irish language at home and abroad. More than 200,000 people take part in event.Once again in St. Nessan’s Community College, students and staff get ready to celebrate the event.Among the organised events taking place are : poster competitions ,games ,bingo, crossword competitions and

St. Nessan’s debut in Rith 2012.This is a relay race run, from Gaoth Dobhair in Donegal to Inis Mor in Galway. The run which takes place over 10 days, covers 4 provinces,15 counties and 700km. A special hand carved baton has been designed for Rith 2012. This baton will carry a message .At the end of the run the message, written by Michael D Higgins, President of Ireland, will be read out on St. Patricks Day on the Aran Islands. On Thursday, March 15th Rith 2012 is running through Limerick and students from St. Nessan’s Community College will participate in this national event. Ms Ware-Roinn na GaeilgeBeatha Teanga í a Labhairt : Speak the language , make an effort , Is leor Beirt (it only takes two)

Congratulations to Nikita O Keefe and Nicole Hogan who received highlycommended certificates and prizes at the opening of the fair-trade fortnight at the city library on 29th February. The students attended the prize giving ceremony, class tutor Ms. Kierce Ayers and art teacher Ms Murphy. The theme for the competition was “Take a step for fair-trade” Nikta and Nicole’s joint art piece portrayed a manga style female fair-trade warrior and was hanging in the library with all the other winning entries. The prizes were presented to the students by the deputy mayor Jerry McLoughlin who gave a very warm and interesting speech .We enjoyed the many thought provoking speeches by Dolores O’Meara the very active chairperson of the fairtrade committee and the other speakers. We also had the pleasure to hear a very interesting and first hand account from Sumatha Valluri who had just arrived from India to represent the cotton farmers of India.

We listened to her describe the plight and struggle of the cotton farmer in India.We were encouraged to buy more fairtrade products by the speakers ie chocolate, coffee, bananas, biscuits, juice and now we are reminded to try to buy fair-trade cotton. If you cannot see fairtrade cotton clothing ask your retailer can they stock it? If teachers and students make an effort to think about fair-trade and if possible buy the products it could really make the difference. A simple step we are told, like putting one more fair-trade item in your basket, could just be the start of a journey for communities that farm fairtrade crops. Farmers want to sell more fairtrade cotton so that they can invest in different ways to earn a living when harvests fail. Taking a step for Fairtrade in 2012 would lead to a better deal that millions of farmers and workers desperately need.

Fair Trade Awards

Nikita & Nicole recieve their certifictates from Deputy Mayor J. McLoughlin. Pictured with Ms. Murphy, Ms Ayers and

Sumatha Valuri

French Week Poster Competition

Day 1: Arrival in Charles De Gaulle airport, bags drop at hotel, lunch, walking tour of Paris, Champs Elysees, visit of Arc de Triomphe, Fresh food market stop, Day 2: Language school, lunch, Notre Dame Ca-thedral, Louvre Museum, Montmartre, dinner, Seine cruise on the bateau-moucheDay 3: Disneyland ParisDay 4: Language school, Lunch, Trocadero/ Eiffel Tower, La Defense, hotel to pick up bags to return to Ireland.21 students from St Nessan’s (second, third year, tys and 5th year) are going very soon to Paris.

Allez St Nessans!!!!

Educational Tour to France

ProgrammeApril 2012

Seachtain na Gaeilge 2012

The Moyor launching Seachtain Na Gaei;lge in St. Nessan’s C.C with staff and students

Transition Year Students did themselves proud at the Limerick City Enterprise Final recently. Nessan’s Community Calendars and T –Nage Dreams represented St. Nessan’s very well at the Strand Hotel. Both groups received a cheque from Deputy Mayor Cllr. Diarmuid Scully and T- Nage Dream also received a lovely glass plaque. Well done to Megan, Jodi, Jenny, Callum, Alyson, Donal, Sean , Robert, Rachel and Kate. It was a lovely day at the Hotel and we were very well entertained by Richard from “ I love Limerick” and Conor Ryan a recent contestant on the Voice. We were very well looked after by former students Lisa and Susan Hannon who now work in the Strand. Thank you to all the staff involved with the Enterprise – Ms . Carew, Mr . O’ Connor, Mr . Clifford and Ms . O’ Brien. Our thanks also to Eileen for all her help. St. Nessan’s Calendars will be on sale tomorrow for €5

Entrepreneurs of the Future!

Green Flag CommitteeNicole Mason 1DI, Aaron Philips 1DE, Becky Duggan 1DA, Stephen O Neill 1DE, Daargh O Keeffe 1 DA, Mark Angley 1DE, Cillian Cassidy 1DE, Zach Elkurdi 1DE, Nathan O Brien 1DE, Kim Keily 1DE, John O Mahony 1DE, Kelly Amm Blackledge 1DA, Aaron Brosna 1DA, Jake Giiligan 1DE, Adam Keane 1DE, Nicole Hyes 1DE, Allana O Mahony 1DI, Micheala Meehan 1DA, Lyndsey Devereux 2DI, Amanda Barry 2DI, Joanne (Missy) Sheehan 2DI, Nicole Kelly 2DI, Dean Kelly 2DI & Lorna Bennis 2DI.

Keep our Environment clean,Because we want it to Gleam

And be squeaky clean.

Kelly Ann Blackledge 1DADon’t be BitterNever Litter.

Darragh O Keeffe 1DA

Pick up the rubbish, throw it in the bin,

Sweep the floor, it’s not a sin.Lyndsey Devereux 2DI

Keep clean – go green,Don’t be an ass – save electricity

and gas.Aaron Brosnan 1DA

The u14’s North Munster team were eliminated from the North Munster in the cruelest of fashion just before the midterm., losing on a penalty shoot out after drawing 2-2 in extra time. After having finished top of the qualifying group, which awarded St. Nessan’s home advantage, we had to concede our advantage as the LIT pitch was booked up due to college competition. The match was played on astro turf at Lees Road in Ennis against Ennis CBS. St . Nessan’s took the lead with Ross Bowen volleying home but conceded shortly afterwards to leave the game level after normal time. Ennis CBS then took the lead in extra time before Jason O Callaghan scored a superb free kick to level the game as penalties beckoned. Unfortunately, luck abandoned Nessan’s in the shoot out and Ennis CBS progressed to the final after winning 4 - 3 on penalties. It was a great credit to the lads to get to the semi final which displays the competitive spirit of the school in sporting events.

Soccer Update

To honour the memory of the late Fr. Gerry Daly, the Redemptorist Fathers have presented the Fr. Gerry Daly Scholarship to a student(s) from St. Nessan’s Community College. This is the third year of the Scholarship. It is awarded each year to a student(s) to assist them with their third

level education expenses. All students in the college, once eligible, fill in an application form for the scholarship. Each application is assessed by the trustees and a recommendation(s) are made to the Principal.Fr. Gerry worked tirelessly over many years for the less well off in Limerick City. He will be especially remembered for the Fr. Gerry Daly Christmas Food Appeal. Because of the long association that St. Nessan’s Community College has had with this appeal, the Redemptorist Fathers chose St. Nessan’s in order to honour Fr. Gerry’s memory. This year the Trustees of the Scholarship decided to award the Scholarship to Armando Porretta. At the award ceremony, Fr. Adrian Egan, of the Redemptorist Fathers, spoken eloquently about Fr. Gerry and congratulated the college on their commitment to and the spirit of giving that has been evident in the college for many years. He also congratulated both students and wished them well in the future careers. Congratulations to both students and we wish them every success in the future.

L to R. Ms. Teresa Delaney; Mr. John Gale, Trustee; Armando Porretta, Scholarship Recipient; Mr. Eugene O’Brien, Principal; Fr. Adrian Egan, Redemptorist Fathers;

& Mrs. Christina Porretta.

Fr Gerry Daly Scholarship

Newsletter Design and Layout: Michael O Connor Newsletter Editor: Marie Toomey

‘Be Cool - Stay in School’ SMILE School Completion Programme

Flying the Flag

St. Nessan’s C.C recently hung 3 flags proudly displaying our Nessan’s crest, our Irish National Flag and the Munster Rugby Flag. They can be viewed as you enter at the front of the building.

Thai Red Beef Curry ( Serves 4)500g lean beef strips2 teaspoons oil1 clove garlic,crushedHalf red pepper sliced & 100g mushrooms, sliced1 tablespoon red curry paste1 tablespoon brown sugar &1 tablespoon fish sauce2 x 165 can reduced fat coconut milk100g spinach& Bunch Coriander leaves,choppedCombine beef,oil & garlic in a bowl. Heat wok & add beef for 1 / 2 mins,remove from heat.Add pepper & mushrooms(with drop of water). Cook for two mins & add beef, stir in curry,brown sugar,fish sauce, mink, spinach & coriander. Toss for two mins & serve with Basmati Rice.Kj 1167, fibre 5g, protein 31g, carbohydrate 8g, saturated fat 7g, total fat 14g, cholesterol 65mg

Healthy Eating Recipes

St. Nessan’s pupils awarded with FETAC Certificates in Computing Eighteen pupils from St. Nessan’s Community College have been awarded with Certificates in Computing from FETAC.FETAC is the national awarding body for further education and training in Ireland. FETAC gives pupils the opportunity to gain recognition for learning in education or training centres, in the work place and in the community.

The certificates granted were for successful completion of Information Technology Skills (Level 4) Course in Computing.The pupils scored high, with 13 students receiving distinctions, 4 with Merits and 1 pass. These qualifications are recognisable standards of learning and will help pupils to build skills which they will need to go onto further education and for the work place. Congratulations and well done to the following Pupils: Kelly Angley, Christina Counihna, Rachel Cully, Kelsey Duhig, Jack Dunne, Jade Griffin, Shane Guerin, Rebecca Long, Thomas Meehan, Sally Minihan, Glen O’ Halloran, Jessica O’Neill, Pamela Pasziewicz, Danielle Power, Jade Power, Valerie Ranson, Emma Roche, Lisa Roche. Well Done to all Students involved