Coláiste Bríde Christmas 2023 As the curtains close on 2023, here in Coláiste Bríde, we reflect on the past year with gratitude and pride. From the classrooms to the extra-curricular activities, the embers of growth, creativity and community have burned brightly. This time of year is an opportunity to reflect on the achievements of each student both personally and academically. It is a time to celebrate those moments of personal awareness: learning from mistakes, nurturing and building friendships, having the courage to undertake a new challenge, and showing the grit and determination to achieve your potential. As a school community we cherish all students, and we are here to support them in any way that we can so that they can flourish. I would like to acknowledge the hard work, commitment, and care of the school community. The collective talent, compassion and endeavours of our teachers, SNA’s, Admin Team, Cleaners and Caretakers, make this school an enriching and beautiful learning environment. We have much to look forward to in 2024 with our musical ‘Six’ taking place in January and multiple sports & cultural experiences adding to our continued excellence in teaching and learning. The forthcoming months will naturally offer up both challenges and opportunities, which we will confront and embrace with both courage and compassion. Our newsletter provides a snapshot of life in Coláiste Bríde and I have no doubt that you will find it an informative and above all, entertaining read. Finally, may I wish you all a very Happy Christmas and the best for 2024. Nollaig Shona
Mr Gleeson, Deputy Principal
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ACTIVE SCHOOL FLAG Hi, the ASF team here reporting on a very successful second term! We started the year with our first ASF event which was a table tennis tournament, along with a whole school dodgeball tournament at Halloween. These events were very successful and were enjoyed by both teachers and students.
This term we’ve kept up the fun throughout the school, keeping Coláiste Bríde active on days like Presentation Day and the end of school Christmas concert. On Presentation Day, the ASF team organised active breaks in between showcases and cultural dances including Irish, Lithuanian and Afro-Fusion. Some of the girls from our team (Tara Kelly, Jemma Pluck, Sinead Flemming, Shonagh Byrne, Kate O'Neill, Lara Kehoe, Katie Fitzpatrick and Peyton Perry-Ryan) led the active break by getting the whole school up to follow a ‘Just Dance’ dance to the song ‘Timber’ that they did on stage, which everyone loved. Goda Marcinkute led the Lithuanian dance along with many other Lithuanian girls in the school. They showcased their culture in an active way by dancing to a traditional song on stage. Oluchi Williams, Nerys Boateng and Miskiyat Momoh led the Afro-Fusion dance along with many other African girls in the school. They performed a dance on stage to a mix of different songs from their cultures. Previous ASF student Katie Byrne worked alongside Eva Donald to create a traditional Irish dance including other Irish dancers from younger years. All of these activities got a great reaction from the school and created a much more relaxed and fun environment on the day. Thanks to all who participated!
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ACTIVE SCHOOL FLAG Another local activity supported by the ASF team was the Cycle Against Suicide fundraiser in The Mill Shopping Centre on Saturday 9th December. Tara Healy and Nerys Boateng cycled a static bike for 6 hours and raised over one thousand Euro for this worthwhile cause. Our next event at ASF will be the end of school Christmas concert where we will be holding a whole school student-led Christmas dance. In the weeks leading up to this, the girls from the team were teaching the dance to all years, preparing and teaching them the dance. Each group got an assigned class to teach during class time. This went down very well and all year groups caught on quickly thanks to the girls from the team taking the initiative. We are all proud of our team and what we have achieved in the last two months here at ASF and we hope you can all look back on our studentled activities and events with fond memories. Special thanks to Ms O’Donnell and Ms L. Kelly for all their support of our plans and initiatives to keep Coláiste Bríde active this year. Keep your eyes peeled for more active fun in 2024!
Follow our socials: Instagram @CB_ActiveFlag TikTok @ActiveSchoolFlagCB
Tara Healy ASF Media & Design Coordinator
OUR CAMOGIE QUEENS!! A huge thank you from me and Ms. Keogh to the first Camogie team in CB in a very long time. You have been a pleasure to work with girls and there is an upcoming U14 team to continue what you have all started!! Mr Devoy
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Gael Linn - Comórtas Díospóireachta an Phiarsaigh Dia daoibh. Recently, the Irish debating team took part in their very first debate. The debate was about reality television and how rubbish it is! ‘Seafóid atá sa teilifís réaltachta! Our team strongly agreed with this statement, arguing it had a bad influence on teenagers and a big impact on employment too. Each member of the team helped think of arguments we could include in the debate. In preparation for our debate, we did many different things to help us learn what the words meant, how to say them, and the structure of the debate. Ms. O’Gorman made voice recordings for each of us to listen to, so we could perfect our pronunciation. We practiced in G5/G6 with the podium and we also added some dramatics to make our speeches more interesting. D’éist rang Gaeilge Ms.Smith sa tríú bliain linn agus d’éist ranganna sinsearacha Ms. O’ Gorman linn freisin. Go raibh míle maith agaibh!Chabhraigh sibh go mór linn. On the day of an díospóireacht, we practiced a lot! Cheannaigh Ms O'Gorman pizza agus cupcakes dúinn. Bhí said blásta! We then went to King's Hospital Secondary School, with Shannon (a past pupil and member of the díospóireacht team!) and Ms O'Gorman, where we practiced even more before the actual debate. Bhíomar an neirbhíseach. We all did really well and got through to the next round. Bhí an díospóireacht go hiontach agus bhuamar! Bhí áthas an domhain orainn. At the end, we congratulated the other team and went home. Is breá linn na bléasair. We will be preparing and taking part in the next debate soon. Tá scéitimíní orainn. We are thankful to Ms O'Gorman and Shannon for helping us prepare and giving us the opportunity. Go raibh míle maith agaibh!! Ar aghaidh linn go dtí an chéad bhabhta eile. Rosa Rafter, Holly Davies, Analeigh Murray and Emily Burke, 2nd Year.
CB CHRISTMAS MARKET Rang Tomas held a Christmas Market as part of their General Ed task. They had decorations, cards, hot chocolate and treats for sale. It was a huge success and really brought the Christmas Spirit to CB!
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STUDY SKILLS WORKSHOPS Study skills workshops for non exam year classes (1st, 2nd, 5th years) took place during the month of November. Specifically tailored to needs of each group, the workshops focused on ways to help students to stay focused create a study plan that works for them. Each year group received an individual booklet to help them to stay on track for their Christmas exams. On November 14th, there was a parent/guardian workshop to allow parents/guardians to learn more about what study tips their children learned at their recent workshop. It was a lovely, positive morning designed to help parents support their children in their study for the upcoming Christmas exams. A big thank you to all who attended - we really appreciate your support!
After much debate in the staffroom as to what makes up the perfect Christmas sandwich, Mr Connell decided to settle the debate by launching our inaugural staff Christmas sandwich competition!! There were many variations laid out but the winning sandwich came from the Admin Team!! Well done Andrea, Sandra and Bernie!! Special shout out to Sandra for that very artistic Santa on the side!!
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MAEBH THE ELF, BRINGING CHAOS TO CB!! This year, Rang Maebh decided to bring an elf that is a mythological creature that's said to be tiny, magical, and a little mischievous, to Coláiste Bríde. Each day four different students had the opportunity to take Maebh and move her around the school for all years to go and search for her. Maebh had a new hiding spot everyday and when she was found you dropped her into Reception to collect your prize of a selection box. Having Maebh join us this year made school that little bit more fun for all students especially with exams around the corner. Thursday the 14th December was Maebh's last day so she had to say goodbye. She will now go to the North Pole where she can fly. Santa will be there with gifts and cheer and Maebh will be back for us all next year. So, from all in Rang Maebh and 3rd Year JCSP, be good kids and take care of yourself and remember these fun times with our very own elf! Chloe Nicholson, 3rd Year JCSP
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Meet Sally Ann - our Home School Liaison Officer As Home School Liaison Coordinator, I would like to wish all of our families a very happy and peaceful holiday season and all the very best for the New Year. I have really enjoyed meeting you in your homes and in school and I look forward to meeting more of you next term. The Christmas season is a time for joy, reflection, and togetherness. As the Home School Liaison Coordinator, I am continually grateful for the strong sense of community that we share within our school. Your commitment to your child's education and well-being plays a crucial role in fostering a positive learning environment. Amidst the excitement and celebrations, I would like to take a moment to remind you to prioritize your own well-being. The holidays can be a busy and sometimes stressful time, and it's important to ensure that you take time for self-care. Whether it's spending quality time with loved ones, enjoying a quiet moment of reflection, or engaging in activities that bring you joy, please remember to mind yourselves during this season. If you find yourself in need of any support or assistance, whether related to your child's education or personal matters, please don't hesitate to reach out. Please do not hesitate to contact me on 0830720483 during school hours or by email me at HSCL@colaistebride.com. Our school community is here to support one another, and your well-being is important to us. May this Christmas bring you moments of peace, happiness, and cherished memories with your loved ones. Thank you for being an essential part of our school community and please keep an eye on the CB website for classes and courses going on in school and the community.
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JCSP CHRISTMAS GATHERING By Abigail Locke Brookes On December 8th, Ms. McConkey’s 2nd Year JCSP classes hosted a Christmas Morning for the parents, guardians and grandparents of the JCSP students. Our preparation for this event started many weeks prior. Every student had a job to do to assist in making sure the morning went smoothly. Students volunteered to present on various topics, create a Christmas-themed playlist, make Christmas cards and snowflakes and even bake Christmas treats with Ms. Glynn. Kitted out in our JCSP hoodies we made sure Christmas music was playing, helped our guests make paper snowflakes and laid out all the baked treats – making for a warm and inviting Christmas atmosphere. Students presented on Presentation Day, Word of the Week, and the Reading Committee. Afterwards, we had a student and her mother stand up in front of everyone and sing ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You’, much to everyone’s delight! To conclude our morning entirely, all students who had a parent, guardian, grandparent, etc come to the event were entered into a raffle. Two winners were chosen. One student won a new schoolbag, and the other student won a One-For-All voucher. Ms. Ronan later stated how happy she was with all of our students, especially those who presented and those who got up to sing. All students who were involved displayed great communication and leadership skills, and I think I speak for all those involved in planning when I say that it was great fun to plan and even better to carry out. We all hope that the parents, guardians and grandparents enjoyed the morning, which with popular agreement, sounds like they did!
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STUDENTS VISIT RESIDENTS AT LEXINGTON HOUSE On December 1st, the second year students of the JCSP class had the wonderful opportunity to visit Lexington House, a charming nursing home in our community. It was a heart warming experience as we shared the holiday cheer with the elderly residents, creating beautiful cards and decorations together. We also took the time to exchange stories and learn from their wisdom and life experiences. The highlight of our visit was when we gathered around to sing a Christmas song, which brought so much joy to the grandparents and got them up and moving. As our time at Lexington House came to an end, it was bittersweet as we didn't want to leave and the residents didn't want us to go either. But the memories we made that day will stay with us forever, and we all left with big smiles on our faces.
By Mawande Mbhele
Advent Prayer Service By Leah Gregg On the 6th of December, a small group of students and I led an online prayer service for CEIST, under the supervision of our chaplain, Ms. McKeon. The service took place through Zoom from our Sacred Space, to celebrate the advent season. The service was attended by members of the CEIST community, and members of other schools and institutes of education. We delivered prayers and reflections to give thanks to God in anticipation of the birth of Jesus. My fellow student, Sophia Flynn, finished the service with a rendition of Silent Night. We were honored to be asked by CEIST to lead this service as it has prepared us to give thanks this advent season.
ADVENT
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PRESENTATION DAY By Lael Pembele On the 21st of November, I took part in the Presentation Day celebrations in our school by saying a prayer during the Liturgy on the day. Taking part in this service was very special to me as I had never taken part in it before and was excited to do so. Our Chaplain, who planned the liturgy, asked several students, including me, to read prayers during the service, while the choir provided lovely music. The liturgy marked the start of the celebrations for the day, followed by a display of all the great work that takes place in our school. It was an incredible experience, and I would love to take part again next year. There was a great atmosphere, and there were so many people from different year groups working together. I was honoured to be asked to take part as it was a wonderful experience and received a lantern pin to wear with pride as a thanks for taking part.
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CAO DATES TO REMEMBER!!
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DEC.
SCHOOL REOPENS MONDAY JANUARY 8 2024
NIGHT STUDY
TERM 2 STARTS MONDAY JAN. 15 2024
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2nd YR PTM In Person! TUESDAY JAN 16 (Email with details to follow)
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MOCK PAYMENTS DUE BY JAN. 26 Payable through VSware
TY / Senior Cycle Options Meeting Tuesday January 23rd 6.45 - 8.45pm
SCHOOL CLOSES AT 12PM ON FRI. DEC. 22ND
Each year our Christmas card is designed by one of our students. The theme for this years card was Hope. The winning design came from Loiese Quemada with the back graphic designed by Hilary Reynaga. Huge thank you to all of the students who entered, you are all amazing!!