Acting Principal's Most Recent Address

Parents’ Association Tuesday 17^th May 2022

Acting Principal’s Report

School Development Planning

Form 6 LC Examinations

· Oral examinations and music practical examinations took place from Saturday 9^th – Wednesday 13^th April.

Junior Cycle HE Practical Examinations

· Took place on Monday 9^th May and Tuesday 10^th May.

LC & JC Examination Timetables

· The timetables for the state examinations are available from www.examinations.ie

· LC written examinations will run from Wednesday 8^th June to Monday 27^th June.

· JC written examinations will run from Wednesday 8^th June to Monday 20^th June.

Junior Cycle Whole School Day

· Takes place on Thursday 19^th May. No school for students.

Student Assessments

· Student assessments take place at the following times during Term 3:

(i) TY week of the 9^th – 13^th May (in-class assessments)

(ii) Form 1 & Form 2 - Wednesday 1^st June & Thursday 2^nd June

(iii) Form 5 Wednesday 1^st – Friday 3^rd June

Junior Cycle

· The Junior Cycle class of 2021 received their state certificates of participation on Wednesday 27^th April.

Form 5 Subject Options 2022-2024

Following student consultation, the following are the subject bands:

Band 1

Ag. Science

Chemistry

Art

Band 2

Biology

Technology

DCG

HE

Band 3

Geography

Music

History

Band 4

French

Business

Accounting

BOM

The fourth meeting of the BOM took place on Wednesday 4^th May. The Agreed Report can be found on the website.

Pastoral Care

• 12 Form 2 & Form 3 pupils made their Confirmation on Sunday 15^th May at Cavan Parish Church.

· Garda Visit: Garda English from Cavan Garda Station came to our school in March. During her visit she delivered a very informative, engaging talk on Substance Misuse to the Form 6 students.

• National Go purple Day: Two of our Comhairle na nÓg representatives, Eoin McConnell, and Yasmin Peeters (both Form 2 pupils) coordinated a non-uniform day on Friday 29^th April to raise money for Men’s Aid Ireland and Women’s Aid Ireland.

· Fundraising: Well, done to all the TY pupils who were selling daffodils in March to raise funds for the Irish Cancer Society. Thanks also to all the pupils and families who have supported our ongoing collections for the Ukraine appeal. In April the 2^nd and 5^th year pupils walked through Killykeen Forest Park and raised €2,200 for the Pieta House through the Climb with Charlie initiative.

Update on School Events, Trips, Projects & Competitions

Creative Schools 2020-2022

National CS week took place from Monday 9^th – Friday 13^th May. There were lots of extra activities planned for students during this week: Hip-Hop Dancing, Sunflower mural with Art students from Cavan Institute, TY BLAST project, Exhibition of students’ work at Cavan Townhall and a Form 5 drama called ‘Shelter’. Form 6 Music students, Jacob Gould and Christabel Bakare entertained the audience with some beautiful singing. On Friday Circus Performer Ronaldo Fanzini entertained the students in Form 1 & Form 2, and the photograph taken by Lorraine Teevan made it to the front page of the digital Irish Times! A special thanks to our hardworking CS committee of teachers and students. Special thanks also to our CS Associate Mary Farrelly and to artists Sarah McKenna (Form 5 drama) and Niamh O’Connor (BLAST Project with TY students).

Global Schools initiative:

We were delighted to receive the silver diplomatic passport award for our engagement with global citizenship education this year. Well done to the committee and the co-ordinating teacher Ms. Bates.

Young Social Innovators Project (TY)

Our TY students have been extremely busy working on their chosen projects within the Young Social Innovators program this year. One group have decided to tackle the unfortunately all too prevalent issue of suicide within our community. This is an area the group have very strong feelings towards and feel their actions will highlight the support units that are within our area for people perhaps struggling with their mental health in these times. One of their key initiatives is to organise training for both parents and teachers within our community. Ms. Hazel Leahy, who works for the HSE, has agreed to deliver a safeTalk workshop/training around this issue. This training took place in the school on Thursday 28^th April 6 staff members and 11 parents attended.

National Enterprise Awards

· Eco Ego (William Duffy & Daniel Lord), who took 1^st place in the Junior Category of the Cavan Enterprise Awards will represent Cavan at the National Finals scheduled to take place in the Helix, DCU on 18^th May.

‘Safe Bathrooms Challenge’

TY students took part in the Shona Project. The girls’ toilets receiving a much-needed makeover. The main aim of this project was to decorate the toilets and to make these more positive spaces for students.

Extracurricular Activities

Athletics: The RSC Athletics team trained hard in term 3 in preparation for the Ulster E District track and field event held in the Antrim Forum in May. Notable results as follows: Aoibheann Mulligan won silver in the intermediate girls 200m and bronze in the 100m. Tobi Ogundare received bronze medals for senior boys’ high jump and long jump with Matthew Eguakun finishing 2nd in the long jump. Yasmin Peeters claimed silver in the junior 1500m with Harriet Brady finishing 3rd in the same race. Thanks to Mr. Vahey and Ms. Cahill for all their work with the team all year.

Hockey: League games have been played against Dundalk Grammar School, Mercy College, Navan, and Drogheda Grammar School. The senior team had mixed results this season however the juniors have performed really well having only lost one game. Thanks to Ms. Cowan for coordinating and Sasha Gannon of Cavan Hockey club for coaching.

Rugby: RSC U16 boy’s rugby team travelled to our sister school, Enniskillen Royal Grammar School for a Rugby challenge in early April. They had an enjoyable day and won the match 40:26.

Badminton/Table Tennis: In April, 25 pupils enjoyed a trip to Monaghan Collegiate for a challenge match in Badminton and Table Tennis. Students also had badminton challenge matches against Breifne College. They then travelled to the Ulster Table Tennis finals in Lisburn Racquets where the school had great success claiming 3^rd place in Ulster with the u15 girls and u15 boys. Thanks to Mr. Hall for all his organising of these events.

Form 5 Residential Trip: Our Form 5 students made their way to Castlebar for a group bonding/educational trip. The group took part in a number of water activities, cycled the Greenway from Newport to Mulranny, attended the School Summit at the NUIG Air Dome and even managed to squeeze in some shopping!! Thanks to Mr. McHugh and Ms. McQuaid for accompanying the pupils.

School Trips: Form 1 – 17^th May: Cuilcagh Mountain & Marble Arch Caves and Form 2 – 26^th May: Causey Farm

TY Activities:

· Cookery competition: Well, done to Sarah McGovern and Praisy Reuban (Pictured) who competed in the final of the Young Cook of the Year' final organised by Cavan Institute and Cavan County Council in May.

· Make-up workshop

· Stop Motion Animation

· TY Fáinne

· Hydrobikes: Wednesday 18^th May, Lough Carafin, Butlersbridge

· Mock Interviews: Tuesday 24^th May 4-6pm

· Trip to Tayto Park: Monday 30^th May

Buildings & Maintenance

Sports Hall - Update

Three DTM held, CAD drawings issued with a design for 4-badminton court hall and PE Laboratory. DT to review these plans. Desired location set into the hill to the right of the student path. Stage 1 to be sent to the DE by 24^th June. DTM

Modular Building – Update

Same design team working on Sports Hall will deliver this modular building. Location directly across from Art room, set back into sloped field. Excavation of site commences on Tuesday 28^th June. Hand over date 27^th November

Opening of Special Classes

At the moment class(es) will open for September 2023. Probably ASD Classes

Rewiring of ground floor

To take place over the summer months.

Other Items:

Student Photographs

Photographs have been taken of all class groups and student groups involved in any leadership roles. They will appear in our summer newsletter. Form 1 and Form 6 parents may like to purchase the class/year group pictures from Adrian Donohoe photographer, details on cost and how to do so will follow.

School Uniform Singer Sewing & Knitting Centre will stock the full school uniform, including the blazer and jacket. Uniformity will stock some items.

School Calendar 2022-2023

Students begin to return on Monday 29^th August, all students ae back by Wednesday 31^st August. Calendar to be circulated on Friday 20^th May.

Booklists

Booklists are currently being finalised and will issue to parents within the next week or two.

Upcoming Events

School Awards: Will take place during the last week of term.

Canon Lidwill will lead a prayer service for all Form 3 students on Wednesday 1^st June, Form 3 students can remain at home for independent study on Thursday 2^nd and Friday 3^rd June.

Sports Day Tuesday 24^th May

Form 3 Parents Information Meeting about TY, Wednesday 25^th May 7pm

LC Graduation Thursday 26^th May 7pm (2 guests per student)

TY Awards Tuesday 31^st May (during school time)

Summer Holidays Form 1 & 2 – Thursday 2^nd June, Form 5 Friday 3^rd June

Outstanding Matters

Dugouts for Hockey pitch

Ventilation in Classroom DE Grant – No funding was received.