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ST LAURENCE COLLEGE
 CHRISTMAS NEWSLETTER

From the principal’s desk….

I can’t remember a time when morale among educators was so low. There can be no argument that the country’s finances need immediate and serious attention. Saving money within the education system is entirely possible but the particular targets the government has selected defy all logic. There are a total of 32 cuts in your child’s education ranging from subject choice to supervision, from learning support to transition year. The full list is printed in this newsletter. When you’ve read the list, simply ask ‘Whose future is really going to suffer?’

The Board of Management, staff and I are really anxious about this assault on your child’s future and urge you to contact your public representatives by visiting clinics, writing directly to them or by email.

Their addresses are:

Mr. Barry Andrews: barry.andrews@oireachtas.ie
Mr. Ciaran Cuffe: ciaran.cuffe@@oireachtas.ie
Mr. Eamon Gilmore: eamon.gilmore@oireachtas.ie
Ms. Mary Hanafin: minister@welfare.ie
Mr. Sean Barrett: sean.barrett@oireachtas.ie

Please ask them to listen to the education partners – parents, managers and teacher representatives. We can help them to find less damaging ways to save money while still preserving the essential elements of our system as it stands: academic excellence – inclusion – student-centered teaching – safety – values.

Please don’t assume everyone else will do it!

Thank you,

Michael Redmond.

Reminders.....

  • We welcome visitors to our school. To ensure everyone’s safety and security, we now have a controlled access system at each door. To gain entry for appointments etc. please ring the video-buzzer at the door by the Principal’s office.
  • Please return the green Revenue Form if you haven’t done so already. At no cost to you, this will allow the school claim tax back on contributions. Thank you.

Christmas Exams

The Exam Timetable has been published and given to each student. Parents & Guardians should read their son/daughter’s exam schedule. The exams will be held from Tuesday Dec. 16th to Tuesday Dec. 23rd inclusive.

Student Council

The Student Council had a special Training Day in November. They learnt about the importance of and the role of the council in the school. They also had an opportunity to work on the important skills of listening to and working with others. The student council members also enjoyed the opportunity to get to know each other as every Tutor Class in the school has one person on the council and many of the students did not know each other before this day.

A message from the Deputy Principal

I am delighted to inform you that the Gold and Silver Star Awards Ceremonies for our students took place at the end of November. During these ceremonies, we acknowledged the hard work of a very significant number of our students. A Gold Star was awarded to all students who received a 100% positive school report at Half Term. A Silver Star was awarded to those students who received only one negative comment on their report. Over 150 students were awarded a Gold Star and there were over 80 Silver Star students. As part of the ceremonies, a number of photographs were taken. All the students involved will get a copy of their photograph. Congratulations to all these students and their families!

I would also like to take this opportunity to wish all our students and their families a very Happy Christmas and a very Happy New Year.

 

The Seventh Year students and their teachers had a wonderful time at the Laughter Lounge. They enjoyed all the comedy acts and the night ended with a disco.

Congratulations to the cast of “Grease” who won a “Highly Commended Award” in the Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council Art and Culture Awards.

The school choir took part in an Irish Guinness Book of Records attempt for the Largest Simultaneous Sing Along. They sung “You Gotta Be”

Scientists At Work

For Science Week, Dr Reynolds from Trinity College Dublin came to speak to TY about her research on Zebra fish. The pupils got to look at the larva of zebra fish through a microscope and listen to how studying these fish is helping Dr Reynolds in her research into partial blindness in humans. The pupils also got to extract DNA from a banana!

Congratulations to two sets of young scientists, who qualified for the finals in the RDS in January.  This is a great achievement as only 30% of the 1,600 entrants were chosen. 

The successful projects are:

  • "Should We Use Post Codes?" , by Orla Flynn, Jessica Mullen and Shannon Rooney of Transition Year
  • "Under the Mattress - Where should we invest money?” by Nicole Larkin, Doru Florea and Jamie Kelly (3rd year).

 

First Year Students visit farm!!

The First Year students enjoyed a wonderful trip to an educational – tourist farm. They had a great time exploring all aspect of life on a farm in rural Ireland . (see Photo Album)

The College Club for Fifth and Sixth Year Students is an exciting new initiative that started in the school this term. The students attend on alternative weeks. They get a hot meal every week. This is followed by help and assistance in their academic subjects. The club has been very successful. A big Thank You to all members of staff who have volunteered to help with this project!!!!!