ST LAURENCE COLLEGE
 NEWSLETTER

 March 2007
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From the Principal’s Desk……
 Fr. Chaminade’s greatest challenge was to keep faith alive during the French Revolution. We are also in the middle of a revolution. For the most part, we in Ireland haven’t had to think too much about our faith and our schools – they were just part of our landscape and we didn’t have much choice. From now on however, things will be different. Whether you send your child to a Catholic school or not will be a real decision. So what’s the difference and is St. Laurence a Catholic school?

Shopping lists (for anything other than shopping) don’t always have much value. What matters is the way in which we live and relate to each other. On the other hand it’s useful sometimes to run a check on things and the following list of ‘Indicators of a Good Catholic School’ is really interesting. How do we measure-up?

  • The School is a happy place with a network of bonding and concern for people
  • There is a clear mission statement describing the mission and core values
  • The school provides a positive learning environment, which affirms holistic education and encourages creative teaching
  • Pastoral Care for students, staff and parents offers support and opportunities for personal growth
  • The school community celebrates its Catholic and Christian faith through prayer, liturgy and worship
  • The school interacts creatively with parents, the parish and the wider community
  • Leadership in the school is enhancing and life-empowering
  • People communicate well with each other.
  • Decision-making is a shared responsibility in a spirit of collaboration
  • There is priority in the curriculum for religious education both, at the formal level in communicating the Catholic story and in the infusion of the curriculum with Gospel values
  • The school is a just place and promotes a harmonious relationship with the earth
  • Education is experienced as a partnership between school, parents, parish and local community
  • Each person of the school community is respected
  • The curriculum is relevant to the students

Perhaps we can begin a debate around these indicators for our school and make a real difference for the future. Start a conversation about Catholic schooling at home and let’s get talking!

Leaving Certificate Oral Exams
There are going to be strange sounds heard during the Easter holidays in the homes of the Leaving Certificate students in the College. Starting on the day the school reopens, Monday 16th of April, the French orals begin.

  • French Orals: Mon. - Wed. April 16th to 18th
  • Spanish Orals: Wed. April 18th
  • German Orals: Thurs. April 19th
  • Irish Orals: Tue. - Thurs. 24th to 26th April.

All the best to all students involved.

St. Laurence College is Expanding
St. Laurence College was recently granted approval by the Department of Education and Science to construct four new classrooms. These new rooms will be added onto the outside of the existing building and will take pressure off the present rooms. Construction will begin once all the paperwork is completed.

Not only have these four new classrooms been approved, but the refurbishment of the Technical Graphics Room is timetabled for completion by September. Over the past three years, St. Laurence College has constructed or refurbished:

  • 2003: A new Computer Room
  • 2004: A Prayer Room and new classroom
  • 2006: Two newly refurbished Science rooms and new vinyl linoleum in all the corridors
  • 2007: A newly refurbished Home Economics Room.

The school tries hard to make available the best and most up-to-date facilities possible for the education of its students.

Advice for Parents on helping with Homework
If your child satisfactorily finishes the set homework in less than the study time, then use the remaining time for revision and studying. Students can:

  • Reread any notes they took in class and ensure they are clear.
  • Read the chapter they were doing in class
  • Redraw diagrams, maps, graphs that they drew in class
  • Learn key phrases, headings and spellings.
  • Revise the previous chapter in their textbook.
  • Organise their class handouts.

 

Transition News
Well done to all the Fourth Years (and a few from other years also) who collaborated in the joint St. Brendan’s College/ St. Laurence College staging of Fiddler on the Roof held at the Mermaid Theatre, Bray this month. An absolutely professional performance by Sean Frayne as Tevye was added to with great portrayals by Niamh Richardson, Demi Mitchell, Leanne Kelly, Sinead Byrne, Kelly Keating, Clare Kiernan and Wendy Fox.

Religious Education Survey
The Religious Education Department at the College is currently drafting a Policy Statement for Religious Education. As part of this, we are interested in getting feedback from parents/guardians and are conducting a short survey. Students in certain classes will be asked to bring the survey home and ask their parents/guardians to complete them.

Retreats this Spring
Retreats in Glendalough are in the offing for two year groups: 2nd Years on Wed. April 25th and Transition Years on Tuesday May 1st. Let’s pray for good weather!

Senior Maths Quiz
Congratulations to the Senior Maths Team of

  • Sylvia Sterecha
  • Angelina Farrelly
  • Zita Hamilton
  • Karen Mc Gillian

They gave a good account of themselves at the recent Dublin Senior Maths Quiz held at St. Andrew’s College, Booterstown.

Sports Update
  • The Minor Boys Basketball team play St. Killian’s in the semi-final of the League. The best of luck to them.
  • The Senior Boys Basketball Team lost the
  • League Final to Presentation College Bray 59–45. It was a great season. Well done.
  • Under 13 Boys are still involved in the soccer League.
  • Senior Girls Soccer have won all four League games and are through to the play offs. Hope you do well girls.
  • Finally the Under 14 girls soccer: Congratulations on their performances throughout the year. As a team, they battled hard to beat St. Thomas’s Bray, 7–0, Manor House Raheny 3–2, St. Dominick’s 8–0 but were finally beaten the in the semi-finals 4–1 by Santa Sabina.
Mrs Butler and Ms. Miller thank the girls for all their hard work and dedication over what was an excellent season.