Welcome to Junior Cycle English
Welcome to Junior Cycle English
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At Junior Cycle level, the Saint Colmcille's English department is committed to providing students with quality instruction that encourages them to become better thinkers and problem-solvers as well as promoting self-esteem, self-expression and confidence. We direct our efforts towards student-centered learning that promotes active participation and collaboration.
We strive to foster a love and appreciation of English language by developing every student’s ability to express him or herself in oral and written contexts. We aim to cultivate key thinking skills and to develop an understanding of digital media and the key skills required in using it efficiently and effectively for research, communication and presentation purposes.
We advocate reflective practice through the study of English literature, enabling our students to contemplate, analyse and challenge arising concepts. We promote reading from a wide variety of literature to encourage the formation of opinions on the world around them. This is bolstered through theatre visits, workshops, competitions and the use of our excellent library facilities.
As teachers of English we work to promote a positive experience and understanding of English Literature and Language and to encourage every student to achieve their full potential.
For the Students, By the Students
For the Students, By the Students
Recommended Reads 25/26
Recommended Reads 25/26
Here is a list of books recommended by 1st to 3rd Years, with the help of our literacy prefects.
Personal Writing
Personal Writing
See here for Personal Writing examples
Poems Written by Students
Poems Written by Students
The Animal Kingdom
The Animal Kingdom
The Animal Kingdom
Look at the world, look at the war.
We are predators trying to catch our prey,
we are hunters to the core.
The world is stormy, the trees start to sway.
In the wild it is everyone for themselves,
Look at the world we’re inheriting, it’s a conundrum.
We want money in our pockets and trophies on our shelves,
Hear the hissing and growling of an animal kingdom?
By Abby O’Farrell
The Animal Kingdom
The Animal Kingdom
No light likes to shine down here.
The cries and screams the jungle makes
The whizzing shadows, no one can seer.
Each movement is watched, every breathe you take.
Angry thorns entwine around your feet,
Damp shrubbery sinks you below,
Droplets of water sink to the peet,
A whistle from the wind never blows.
A slow reveal through the leaves.
Glowing eyes. Striped fur.
Paws narrow closer, he misconseives.
My future is death, the last stare at the tiger.
By Ciaran Coyne
Show
Show
Lights glimmering at your face,
The sound of the music,
The curtain is opening,
Butterflies in my tummy,
Out I step on to the stage,
To sing and dance,
And to hear the applause
by Ronan Kempson
War
War
The blood of our men stains the grass,
All you can hear is the cries of men and whizzing of bullets,
Each step we take is another step towards our graves,
Each man down is another family crying back at home.
It seems like the sun never shines,
All you can see are bodies scattered,
And guns poking out of the trenches,
Of the men too afraid of dying.
We did nothing wrong, so why are we being punished?
I'd hate to be the one to tell a child his father is dead,
And to see the life drain from their eyes,
And the tears dripping down their faces.
Why are we the ones fighting this battle?
Instead of the ones who started it?
They should be out here,
Not us, Not innocent people!
by Alex McCullagh
Gaelic Football
Gaelic Football
I’m not your ordinary, typical girl,
I dont need a boy to rock my world.
Just hand me a football and a pair of gloves,
I’ll show you my life, the life that I love.
People say I’m “too in love” as if I have an obsession,
Just because in all my years I’ve never missed a training session.
See, Gaelic is my only break, my pause from reality,
Its the only place that doesn’t judge on looks and popularity.
Most girls just want to grow up, marry rich and be beautiful,
my goal is to captain for Dublin, win leagues, be successful.
Gaelic to me isn’t just any sport, pastime or hobby,
its my livelihood, my life, literally my one and only.
Since the start Gaelic’s never left me,
thick and thin its been there through.
Its never ditched me or back stabbed me,
Now can I say the same about you?
I’ve given gaelic all my devotion,
It holds my life, my love and all my emotions.
Its made me laugh, cheer, sing and cry.
I gave it my life, this poem tells you why.
by Alanna McGarry
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