Manor Mail February 2022
Welcome to the newsletter from 3S for February Midterm. Hope you enjoy it! Contents:
St. Bridget The story of St Valentine St Valentine’s Day Traditions Mocks! Craft Activities Book Recommendations Christmas Day Activities Valentine recipies Mocks Gold Slips Gallery of Christmas Pictures
The Godess Brigid
The original Brigid was a goddess of ancient Ireland. (a name meaning 'exalted one' from Old Irish) She was a member of the Tuatha Dé Danann and she is associated with… wisdom, poetry, healing, protection for woman amongst other things. Brigid was called "the goddess whom poets adored”, powerful and inspiring. The start of February, was originally one of the four main pagan festivals in the Irish calendar, dedicated to the Goddess Bridget, and was called Imbolc. It marked the beginning of spring.
St. Brigid
• Born in Dundalk in 450AD St. Brigid was called after the godess Brigid. Her father was a wealthy pagan chieftain of Leinster and her mother was a Christian. • It is said the teachings of St Patrick inspired her to dedicate her life to God. • From an early age, Brigid showed she was strong-willed and smart, attributes that helped her grow into a great leader. • One miracle associated with Brigid is when she called on God’s help to convince her father to give her land in Kildare to set up a convent. Her father said that he would only give her as much land as her cloak could cover. Big mistake! With God’s help, the cloak grew and grew to cover acres of land.
She then set up a monastery in Kildare where St. Brigid promoted learning and craftsmanship within her community of holy men and women. • Another story is of St Brigid who was sitting with a dying pagan chieftain, possibly her father, soothing him with stories about her faith and her unwavering trust in God. She began telling the story of Christ on the Cross, picking up rushes from the ground to make a cross. Before his death, the chieftain asked to be baptised. • St Brigid died at the age of 75 in AD 525 and was buried in the church she created. Her remains were taken years later and brought to Downpatrick to be buried alongside Saints Patrick and Columcille. However, her skull was brought to Lisbon where it remains today. • St Brigid is also known as Muire na nGael, Our Lady of the Irish. She is one of the Patron Saints of Ireland..
ST VALENTINE Saint Valentine was supposedly a Roman priest who died on February 14th 269 AD. He performed secret weddings against the wishes of the authorities in the 3rd century. He was imprisoned in the home of a noble as his punishment. When there he healed his captor’s blind daughter which caused the whole household to convert to Christianity. He was then arrested and tortured for this before being decapitated on February 14th. He sent the captor’s daughter a note before he died signed your Valentine which was where the tradition of sending card came from.
10 Valentine’s Day traditions around the world 1.France It is believed that the first-ever Valentine’s Day card was originated in France. And the French village called “Valentine” turns into the epicenter of romance between 12th and 14th February. One can see the beautiful yards, trees, and homes decorated with love cards, roses, and proposals for marriage flakes. It probably is the most beautiful Valentine’s Day traditions in the world. 2.Ghana In Ghana, Feb 14 is celebrated as the “National Chocolate Day.” On Feb 14, one can attend performances, music events, and restaurants that have themed menus for the special day. 3.Bulgaria Like any other country, Bulgaria celebrates Valentine’s Day in its own style. On 14 February, San Trifon Zartan is celebrated in Bulgaria, which means “day of winemakers”. Young and old couples celebrate their love with a glass of wonderful local wine. 4.Denmark Although Valentine’s Day is one of the new denmark festivals, the country also celebrates the day of love and romance on 14th Feb with a twist. In Denmark, Valentine’s Day is not limited to roses and chocolates. Friends and lovers exchange handmade cards with pressed white flowers that are called snowdrops. 5.Japan Japan does it quite differently. It is celebrated on 14th Feb and women buy gifts and chocolates for their male companions or lovers. Men can’t return gifts until March 14, which is called the “white day”.
6.Estonia On 14 Feb, Estonia celebrates friendship day known as Sobrapaev. This amazing festival includes everyone, from couples to singles. So not just couples, but family members and friends also exchange gifts and celebrate love.
7.Philippines In the Philippines, Valentine’s Day is the time when many young couples marry in an event sponsored by the government as a form of public service. Among the most amazing Valentine’s Day celebrations around the world, this one is a gala event in the country and a special day for young people. 8.Slovenia In Slovenia, February 14 is considered a prime day for working in the fields as St. Valentine is one of the patron saints of spring. Slovenians typically celebrate romance a month later, on St. Gregory’s Day, which falls on March 12 9.England On the eve on Valentine's Day, women in England used to place five bay leaves on their pillows -- one at each corner and one in the center -- to bring dreams of their future husbands. Alternatively, they would wet bay leaves with rosewater and place them across their pillows. 10.Italy On the eve on Valentine's Day, women in England used to place five bay leaves on their pillows -- one at each corner and one in the center -- to bring dreams of their future husbands. Alternatively, they would wet bay leaves with rosewater and place them across their pillows.
Junior Certificate MOCKS!
Remember this is just the mocks!
Do your best, set a good base line to build on
Practice timing, filling in exam papers etc.
Good Luck!
Valentine’s Day Crafts! Valentine's Day card • • • • •
Coloured paper A white sheet of paper A ribbon Markers A glue stick
What to do Cut out different sized hearts on the coloured sheets of paper. • Draw difference designs on the hearts you have cut out. • Stick the hearts down on your white sheet of paper. • Draw stems down from the hearts to make them look like flowers. • Stick the ribbon down on the paper to create the look of a bouquet of flowers • Write a message to your loved ones inside! •
Valentines vase • • • • •
Acrylic paint. (Red) (White) (pink) Two menacine jars Any flowers ( fake/real) Medium sized paint brushes Tape
What to do Step 1: Cut 5 strips of tape. Make sure they are as long as the jar. • Step 2: Place the tape vertically down the jar. With an even gap between each one. • Step 3: choose one colour of paint and begin to paint the jar that is not covered in tape. Let it dry. • Step 4: When the paint is dry, peel the tape. With another clout of paint shade in the lines that are not painted yet. Let it dry. • Step 5: when the jar is completely dry pick your last colour of paint and design it to your liking. For example small hearts. • Step 6: place the flowers in the jar and then have a happy Valentine’s Day!! •
Romance book recommendations 1. The Notebook In 1940s South Carolina, mill worker Noah Calhoun and rich girl Allie are desperately in love. But her parents don't approve. When Noah goes off to serve in World War II, it seems to mark the end of their love affair. Allie becomes involved with another man. But when Noah returns to their smalltown years later, he finds out about Allie's marriage, it soon becomes clear that their romance is anything but over.
2. It Ends With Us. It Ends with Us is a book that follows a girl named Lily who has just moved and is ready to start her life after college. Lily then meets a guy named Ryle and she falls for him. As she is developing feelings for Ryle, Atlas, her first love, reappears and challenges the relationship between Lily and Ryle. 3. To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before.
To All the Boys I've Loved Before is a teen romance novel about young Lara Jean, a high school daydreamer who writes love letters to the boys she has crushes on. She never sends out the letters though, they're just for her to write so she can let out her feelings and move on from her crush.
3rd years from The Buddy Committee and SEE team helped the teachers, who organised four different activities in the morning, and organised a film for the afternoon.
❖ Mr. Clinch organised a music activity with Music Quizzes, karaoke, sing-along and competitions. ❖ Ms. Buckley organised a craft activity in the Art Room, decorating Christmas Tree pictures with buttons. ❖ Mr. Cullen had an engineering and design competition using Lego to build a bridge. ❖ Ms. Cassidy had ‘Just Dance’ in the gym with some of the 3rd years judging the dance ability of the different classes.
Winners and Runners up in the Just Dance Challenge Kayleigh Francis and Niamh Abbott from class 3Q Summer Sweeney and Hannah Gibson from class 3S Rachael Kelly and Jessica Maguire from class 3R Megan Byrne and Jennifer Grimes from class 3P
Winners of the Engineering Design Challenge Group 1 Brooke Hanney and Rachel Kelly Group 2 Summer Sweeney, Amelia Roden and Keila Cagney Group 3 Sadhbh Brett, Hannah Barrett and Keeva Stewart Group 4 Niamh Abbot and Riya Alex
Winners of the Art Competition
Winner: Colleen Efekodo
2nd: Jordan Martinez Hernandez
3rd: Hannah Logan
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Cook:15 mins Easy Serves 12 Bake a batch of red velvet cupcakes as a treat. With chocolate sponge and a cream cheese topping, they're perfect for elevenses served with a cuppa
Ingredients • • • • • • • • • • •
150g plain flour 1 tbsp cocoa powder 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda 50g butter, softened 150g caster sugar 1 large egg , beaten 1 tsp vanilla paste 100ml buttermilk or kefir 50ml vegetable oil 1 tsp white wine vinegar 1 tbsp red gel food colouring For the cream cheese icing
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100g slightly salted butter, softened 225g icing sugar 100g full fat cream cheese , Preparation and cooking time stirred to loosen Method
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STEP 1 Line a cupcake tin with 12 cupcake cases and set aside. Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Sieve the flour, cocoa, bicarb and a pinch of fine salt into a medium bowl and mix to combine. STEP 2 Using a stand mixer or an electric hand whisk, beat together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, then beat in the egg, vanilla, buttermilk, oil and vinegar until combined. Gradually mix the wet ingredients into the dried. Once combined, mix in the red food colouring until you have a deep red mix – the colour may vary depending on what brand you use. STEP 3 Divide the batter between the cupcake cases and bake for 15 mins, or until a skewer inserted into the centre of a cake comes out clean.
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STEP 4 While the cakes are cooling, make the icing. Beat together the butter and icing sugar using an electric whisk or by hand until pale and fluffy, about 3 mins, then beat in the cream cheese for a further 1-2 mins until well combined. STEP 5 Once the cakes are cool, use a piping bag fitted with a star nozzle to cover the cakes with the cream cheese icing, or dollop the icing on top using a spoon.
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Secret Heart Cake • • • •
Prep:50 mins plus cooling More effort Cuts into 8-10 slices Slice into this delicious cake to reveal the secret heart design running through the middle - a really romantic bake! Preparation and cooking time:2 hrs and 20 mins Ingredients:
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2 x 175g unsalted butter , softened 2 x 175g golden caster sugar 6 large eggs 2 x 140g self-raising flour , sifted 2 x ½ tsp baking powder 3 tbsp cocoa powder 2 x 85g ground almond 2 x 100ml milk 3 tsp vanilla extract 28ml bottle red food colouring or ½ tsp red food colouring gel For the icing
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100ml double cream 200g dark chocolate , finely chopped 50g unsalted butter pink sprinkles (optional)
Method •
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STEP 1 Heat oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3. Grease a 900g loaf tin and line with a long strip of baking parchment. Cream 175g butter and 175g sugar until light and fluffy. Beat 3 of the eggs and pour in, a little at a time, mixing after each addition. Sift together 140g flour, 1⁄2 tsp baking powder and the cocoa, then fold into the butter mixture along with the almonds. Combine 100ml milk, 11⁄2 tsp vanilla and all the food colouring and add to the batter, then mix until evenly coloured. STEP 2 Pour into the prepared loaf tin and bake for 1 hr 10 mins until a skewer comes out clean. Cool for 10 mins in the tin, then transfer to a wire rack. When cool, cut the cake into 4cm slices. Using a 5cm cutter, stamp out the hearts (save any remaining cake for another treat). STEP 3 Repeat step 1 to make a second cake mixture – you won’t have cocoa or food colour in this batch. Pour 3⁄4 of the mixture into the prepared loaf tin. Push the bottoms of the hearts into the batter in a tightly packed row. Spoon over the remaining cake mixture, covering as much of the hearts as possible. bake for 1 hr or until a skewer comes out clean. Cool for 10 mins in the tin, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. STEP 4 For the icing, gently heat all the ingredients over a low heat until combined. Leave to cool, then chill until needed. Spread over the cooled cake and decorate with the sprinkles, if using. Will keep for 3 days stored in a cake tin.
Congratulations to all of the above and thank you to Mr. Walsh and class 3S for this edition of the newsletter. Have a restful midterm and I will see you in March, Ms. Guinan
Gallery
Pictures by : Anna Hyland
Eimear Keyes Georgia Lynch Maguire
Gabia Durkin
Saoirse Moran
Tara Fearn
Zoe Adriaanse Niamh Bury
Maia Wisely
Rebecca Abernathy
Cuileann Monaghan
Sadhbh Brett
Kayleigh Francis Deimante Collier Megan Byrne Jessica Orlea Jordan Martinez Hernandez Collen Efekodo
Keeve Stewart Fionnuala O’Byrne Juliette Allen Heather Small Trudi Hogan
Katie Teefy
Farrah Connelly
Jennifer Grimes
Keila PaliukaityteCagney
Amelia Roden
Leah Flynn
Cherie Bai
Summer Sweeney
Shiyan Yu Megan Mc Gloin Sophie Murphy Maria Wren
Ciara Glancy Niamh Abbot Aoife Keegan
Brooke Hanney Aimee Ennis Demi Leigh Gunnery Lillie Mooney
Nicole Leder Julie Meghen Sophie McGrath Hannah Lagan
The End