NCP - Christmas 2022

The NCP The NCP Merry Christmas from

Those primary school best sellers Siamsa and Sonas have nothing on our festive issue of NCP!

Our TY Christmas Fair takes centre stage with a fine critique of the colourful range of products and services that were made available by our creative and industrious TY students. From delicious treats and seasonal decorations to sustainable trinkets and cosmetics, the spirit of entrepreneurship shone brightly. The insights and learnings shared on the day were almost as insightful as the “unique” marketing tactics which were bound to drive sales.

Continuing the focus on the strong environmental ethos of our school, we delve into the incredible successes of the Green Schools initiatives and the Bin Patrol which highlight the power of our collective efforts in driving innovation and sustainable change in this space. Massive congratulations to our first- and second-year students who are the driving force behind so many of these successful work streams. As with The Learners Voice, where the focus is on maximising the benefits of VSWare, there is a lot more to come next year as the school deepens its commitment to environmental protection.

The success of our recent Social Inclusion Week is celebrated in this issue of the NCP and we continue that celebration in our amazing selection of library picks, all of which focus on inclusivity. In addition, the success of the Food Share collection illustrated the willingness of our staff and students to give back to the community and to continue to foster a culture of supporting others.

It’s Christmas and a time for indulgence and enjoyment so try your hand at the delicious recipes that have been shared for hot chocolate cookies and nutella and marshmallow puff pastry. On the theme of treats, we were very fortunate to have secured an interview with the star of Toy Show - The Musical, Ruby Connolly who shares her thoughts on her experience with the show and her future plans.

Finally, we celebrate the myriad of impressive college achievements across several sporting, social and academic activities. Enjoy the photos and see if you can crack our Christmas Crossword!

This issue of the NCP is truly a celebration of the collective talent and achievements of our school community but also of the incredible commitment and hard work that we continue to display in vigorously pursuing and improving environmental and social agendas. Well done to all those involved and a very special thanks to all of our contributors who have brought these achievements to life.

TY Christmas Fair

As the first class to visit the TY craft fair I was amazed by all of the fantastic stalls and unique ideas. I asked businesses questions about their favourite products, targeted audiences and all their favourite parts of running a TY mini company.

Top Pots told me that they felt the best thing about their business was their products being biodegradable and sustainable because they were made from upcycled chewing gum pots. They also told me their favourite part of running a TY business was that it is filled with so much to do.

Choco Delights said being a Christmassy business helped and that the best thing about running a TY company was making it with friends. One business selling stickers and crepes told me they felt being the only business doing hot food and handcrafted stickers - two ideas which no one else had come up with - was what really set them apart from the other companies.

The designs of the stalls were fabulous with eyecatching posters and brilliant displays. I loved the bead bracelet stand and how they exhibited their bracelets. When asked if there was anything they’d like to say to possible buyers, they told me they’d really recommend them and that they wear them themselves. The keychain stall was very cool and I thought there was a keychain for everyone's taste. They said their best sellers were the pink keychains and that they predicted the 1st Years would purchase the most keyrings. Clipper Whippers reckoned their claw clips would sell better than their small clips and Luscious Lips said the best part of their TY company was arguing with their friends. An earring business told me they’d looked at past christmas fairs to come up with inspiration for their stall and wanted possible buyers to know that they had something to suit everyone’s taste and style.

The 5 v 5 stall was a good idea and after being asked if they wanted to deliver a message to possible buyers, they told me it was a great opportunity to get to know people. I loved the tote bag stall too and thought it was such a crafty idea. They told me that their favourite tote bag was a cow print one. The wooden reindeer stall was very festive, and I thought their posters were attention-grabbing. Snazzy scoops were such a creative business, and I loved their posters. They told me that they thought the sweet scoop would sell better than the charm one and that they chose their name because they liked the alliteration, and they wanted it to be sparkly. They also made an advert, which not many TY companies had thought to do. There were some interesting marketing strategies too, like the one employed by Luscious Lips who linked arms with vulnerable first year girls and dragged them to their stall or that of the key hanging business who when I walked past their stall asked if I lived in a house and moved on to insisting I therefore needed a key hanger. It was a great idea to engrave names onto the key hangers though and they seemed particularly excited when they had finally sold one to a first-year girl.

A big hit was the bubble-gum lollipops and one of the most frequently asked questions certainly was “where did you get the lollipop” as the mysterious lollipop giver was continuously on the move and you had to undergo a search to find her.

Overall, it was a fantastic fair and I think the consumers, business owners and even the teachers enjoyed it.

By Heidi Beary

GREENSCHOOLS GREENSCHOOLS GREENSCHOOLS

Did you know that there is 269,000 tonnes of plastic in our oceans? Well here at Green School’s, we’re doing our part to try and limit that!

Here at Green Schools, we have made great progress over the past 6 months with Recycling. Last year we ran a used battery collection competition, with over three thousand used batteries collected and recycled at the Kilcullen recycling plant (well done to last years 1st years for collecting the most batteries!)

Roughly 25 blue recycling bins were purchased for the corridors and the classrooms, and another 12 old bins were upcycled by painting them blue (a big thank you to the 1st and 2nd-year students who gave up their free time to paint these last year!)

Another thank you to last years 5th Year students for winning 1st prize in a Neat Street nationwide TikTok competition! It was judged to be the best TikTok recycling video in the competition. Well done to all involved and to Lauren McLoughlin for editing the video. A small, laminated poster was also designed for each room to remind students and staff to turn off the lights when leaving a room however there are still a few to deliver!

We also had a cycle-to-school day last year in May and another one this year on Wednesday the 21st of September. We would encourage both students and staff to continue cycling (or walking) to school whenever possible.

A huge thank you to all the students and staff that collected over 2500 coloured bottle tops over the past six months. A special thank you to Etienne Thompson and Emily Kehoe (TY students at the time) who gave up many hours of their free time after school to put it together.

This year the current 2nd year CSPE classes are doing Bin Patrol once a week on all the bins in each classroom in the school to see if they are being used correctly. All students have been encouraged at assembly talks to use the recycling and general waste bins in the corridors, social areas, and in the Ref properly. Keep up the good work, it is making a difference!! There is also an enthusiastic group (both last year and this year) of 2nd year litter pickers. They collect litter in different areas around the school on Thursday afternoons. Their reward is a free meal in the Ref on Fridays! So, if anyone else would like to join in, please feel free to put your name forward to Mr. Falvey! Remember to

Learners Voice

In the learners voice our goal is to make learning better for all and this year we will be focussing on rewards for students.

A major part of our goal this year is VS ware and making sure that all the staff members and students know about it and can use it regularly

We have also been discussing fun events for everyone to take part in and to promote the usage of VS ware.

We have decided to add new awards to VS ware so it is easier to give out rewards and achievements.

Hannah Cash

By Aobha OFlaherty

Toy Show the Musical:

Everybody knows the Late Late Toy Show - but have you heard of the Toy Show the Musical?? In the musical, we follow our protagonist, Nell, on a magical adventure through Tricycle Street about remaining true to yourself, taking leadership when times are tough and finding joy in just being a kid! Here’s an exclusive interview with Tricycle Streets very own Frankie! (played by Ruby Connolly)

So, Ruby, what’s it like to be part of Toy Show the Musical? It’s brilliant I can’t believe I’m part of it! It’s a fun experience and it’s such a privilege to be a part of!

What’s your favourite part of being in the musical? My favourite part of the musical is performing and meeting all the amazing people

What’s your favourite song in the musical? I love all the songs; I can’t pick a favourite one!

Have you any plans for the future? Well, I’m actually in the middle of shooting a film at the moment and I’m really excited! I also hope to be a professional actor when older!

(Editor’s note: Ruby isn’t the only talented member of the Connolly family, with our very own talented NCP writer Isabel recently treading the boards as Peter Pan in our hugely successful production of “Shrek”)

The Henna Wars by Adiba Jaigirdar.

Nishat doesn’t want to lose her family, but she also doesn’t want to hide who she is, and it only gets harder once a childhood friend walks back into her life. Flávia is beautiful and charismatic, and Nishat falls for her instantly. However, when a school competition invites students to create their own businesses, both Flávia and Nishat decide to showcase their talent as henna artists. In a fight to prove who the best is, their lives become more tangled—but Nishat cannot quite get rid of her crush, especially since Flávia seems to like her back.

As the competition heats up, Nishat has a decision to make: stay in the closet for her family or put aside her differences with Flávia and give their relationship a chance.

Heartstopper by Alice Oseman

Charlie Spring is a fourteen-year-old boy that is openly gay at his school. He has gone through intense bullying and one of the hardest things a gay person can go through: being outed. In Year Ten, he’s put in a new form group, and sits next to Nick Nelson, an attractive, kind “Rugby Lad” that may be more than just a friend to Charlie.

The Colour Purple by Alice Walker

Separated as girls, sisters Celie and Nettie sustain their loyalty to and hope in each other across time, distance and silence through a series of letters spanning twenty years, first from Celie to God, then the sisters to each other despite the unknown. Abused repeatedly by the man she calls 'father', Celie has two children taken away from her and is trapped in an ugly marriage. She meets the glamorous Shug Avery, singer and magic-maker - a woman who has taken charge of her own destiny and gradually Celie discovers the power and joy of her own spirit, freeing her from her past and reuniting her with those she loves.

All the Things We Don't Talk About by Amy Feltman

When Morgan's absent mother Zoe torpedoes back into their life after breaking up with her girlfriend, she brings chaos that upends their life, not to mention their neurodivergent father's. It also threatens Morgan's relationship with their best friend and sets off a catastrophic chain of events. This is a beautifully wrought story of trauma, resilience and friendship with a whole lot of heart.

Burn It All Down by Nicolas DiDomizio

Eighteen-year-old aspiring comic Joey Rossi just found out his boyfriend has been cheating on him for the past ten months. However, what did he expect? Joey was born with an addiction to toxic jerks—something he inherited from his lovably messy, wisecracking, Italian American spitfire of a mom (and best friend): 34-year-old Gia Rossi.

When Gia’s latest non-relationship goes up in flames only a day later, the pair’s Bayonne, New Jersey apartment can barely contain their rage. In a misguided attempt at revenge, Joey and Gia inadvertently commit a series of crimes and flee the state, running to the only good man either of them has ever known—Gia’s ex, Marco. As they hide out from the law at Marco’s secluded lake house, Joey and Gia must confront all the bad habits and mistakes they’ve made that have led them to this moment—and find a way to take responsibility for what they’ve done.

Well done to Sophie Morrissey and Aoife Magee who represented the school in the Soroptimist Public Speaking Competition at Clongowes Wood College yesterday. Both girls were commended for their powerful speeches. Congratulations to Aoife who won this round and will go on to represent Kildare North in the Regional Final in January.

Well done to the Senior Soccer Team on their achievements .

Congratulations to the 6 students who took part in the Rotary Youth Leadership competition; Oscair Murphy, Sophie Morrissey, Mia McGrath, Ardin Magee, Conor Sexton and Lucy Hannon. All students were particularly impressive and complemented by the judges. Huge congratulations to the winner, Lucy Hannon, will now go on to represent Newbridge College in the regional finals. We wish Lucy the very best of luck.

College College Achievements Achievements

Science Quiz Results:

Well done to Abi Walsh, Emma Shanahan and Ella Hughes on reaching the national final ISTA senior science quiz in Trinity College last Saturday. They girls performed very well and did their school proud.

Midlands League Division 3 Champs!!!

College College Achievements Achievements

Students

Share Food initiative

In the lead up to Christmas, the Religion and CSPE Department launched their annual Share Food collection to help those in need in our local community.

St Conleth’s Parish, Newbridge distributes over 150 food parcels to needy families and individuals every week. Unfortunately, the demand often exceeds the supply, meaning many families have to go without food. Our students generously donated and we hope that we have made a difference within local community. Thank you to all who donated and Merry Christmas.

from 1X who donated to our

Well it's that time of year again, lights are twinkling, exams are finishing, teacher's last nerves are shattering, it can only mean one thing, Christmas is here! We hope you enjoyed reading our festive issue and I would like to say "Thank You" to all our very talented and dedicated contributors and a special thank you to Ms. McCluskey. As 2022 draws to a close we hope your year has been epic. If this year has been tough, everyone h wishes you every happ Merry Chris mals!