The College Press ————-Friday, 30th March 2012 Issue 4 Volume 7 —————
The Easter Issue Irish Olympic Qualifiers!
KONY 2012!
Hunger Games Review!
French Exchange! 1
College Press Editorial Team Editors: Sorcha Lavelle –Walsh Ciara Maher Student Contributors: Róisín Flynn Sarah Coller Sam Burke Grace Buckley Aisling Wyer Gráinne Carr Shauna Howard
Special Thanks To: Mr. Doyle
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Editorial Hi Everyone, The Easter holidays seem to have approached quickly after St. Patricks weekend and this is our last break before the Summer Holidays. Hopefully the weather will last! For all of those faithful people who stuck to their lent promises... Enjoy the well deserved chocolate! We hope everybody on the French Exchange are enjoying themselves, we’d love to be there with you! Although many of us will spend this final term preparing for exams there is still a lot to look forward to! Punchestown, Uisce for T.Y.’s, concerts, lunch times in the sun on the banks, etc! :) And of course, hard luck to the Junior Cup Team. Although we didn’t come away with the victory, you all still did the school very proud. Until next term, Sorcha and Ciara :) 3
Hockey Trip to UCD Who says boys don’t play hockey?? This month the Men’s Irish hockey team certainly put any rumours about the ‘masculinity’ of the sport to bed. For those of us lucky enough to witness their 1-1 draw with Korea (ranked 6th in the world), it was the best game of hockey most of us have seen in a long time. Dressed in green we all piled onto the bus after school on March 13 th, UCD-bound and not quite sure what to expect. Those of us aware of the challenge that Ireland faced playing a team ten places above them in the world rankings (a team with a combined number of caps over 1000 more than the Irish team have accrued, as well as the fact that many of the Irish players play for clubs on the continent making training as a team more difficult) were almost nervous! After having a quick tour through the corporate area to snap a few photos with giant hockey sticks and to bemoan our lack of money for Irish hockey merchandise, we took our seats. We were surrounded by other hockey schools from all over Ireland all there to cheer on “The Green Machine”. Right from the anthems we cheered the boys in green with all our might, so loudly we actually put cup song practice to shame (rugby cheerleaders take note). Many of us actually ended up losing our voices as a consequence, but we were too excited to care.
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The game was really end-to-end stuff, the two teams could not be separated apart from the fact that due to their physical stature, the Irish men probably had the edge (fitness and strength-wise). With our eyes firmly on the game (and not on the senior boy’s hockey team seated below us) we watched with admiration as the Irish team patiently built up attack after attack, with unfailing patience. We held our breath as the Koreans took several short corners, shots from which either missed the Irish goal by inches or were saved by Irish goalie Davey Harte (who had an absolute stormer and was named man of the match). It was almost impossible to follow the short corners due to the speed at which they were taken, and as someone who sometimes pushes out short corners, I quietly cringed thinking of my own far inferior technique!
Unfortunately, in an example of just how fast the international game is, Davey Harte’s twin Conor took an extremely hard ball to the head defending a short corner and had to be stretchered off. He was kept in hospital overnight for observation and we later learned that after receiving medical advice, he would play no further part in the tournament! 5
With the Irish team leading 1-0 thanks to David Ames at half time the atmosphere among the Irish fans was positively electric. Despite this, the small group of Korean supporters continued beating their drums and singing as loud as they could, and they finally got something to cheer about when Hyun Woo Nam (yes I did have to look that up) scored an equaliser from a cracking short corner. With the final score at a goal apiece there was definitely a feeling of “the one that got away” among the Irish supporters, but everyone left feeling elated all the same. After the match it was off to the Tallaght McDonald’s where we all descended like vultures on the wonderfully unhealthy food, cramming in as many yummy E-numbers as we could manage. So, safe to say everyone had a great time- thank you to the hockey coaches for organising the trip!
By Róisín Flynn Check out the Hockey Facebook Page for Pictures!
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Amazing A.B.C. Achievement! In what was a truly proud day for the College at the Kildare Enterprise Board Final, your editors Sorcha Lavelle Walsh and Ciara Maher – also known as the CoC.E.O.s of The Advice Booklet Company (A.B.C.) – managed to expertly secure a place in the National Student Enterprise Awards in Croke Park on the 19th April.
You may have seen them at the Open Night, at the Parent -Teacher Meetings, liked them on Facebook or simply seen them advertised right here, but as the competition for the Kildare Final places revved up, A.B.C. were everywhere to be seen (thanks to excellent marketing strategies – take note incoming TYs!). 7
The unique range of products created by the talented twosome included A School Survival Guide aimed at 1st Years and A Guide To Sitting the Junior Cert. The catch was that these guides were not written by some ancient teacher or parent with no clue about how it is nowadays – it was written by the girls themselves - “By Students, For Students” as their slogan goes.
After making it through the school heats along with three other mini companies (Webipedia, Yummy Days and Buy Irish), Ciara and Sorcha upped their game by making their products available on the Kindle Store. On the 5th of March the girls headed to Killashee to the Kildare Enterprise Board Final. The standard of all companies was very high and as the presentations ran, the tension ran even higher. But calm and collected as ever, Sorcha and Ciara (who are also close friends) pulled off a highly impressive PowerPoint presentation beginning “business should be fun” – there holds their secret! 8
Rapturous applause and cheers from all Newbridge College students and staff in Killashee were heard as the names of the 2012 Kildare Enterprise Winners were announced – A.B.C.! Following an award presentation, the girls were interviewed by Clem Ryan on KFM. I’ve dabbled in a bit of mini company myself and I’m aware of the work that goes into creating your own successful business at the tender age of 16, but I think we should all be very appreciative and extremely proud of the girls – ahem sorry – high flying businesswomen as they should now be known! We wish them the best of luck as they represent the College on the 19th April in Croke Park and in all their future business endeavours. Follow them on Facebook or their website: www.wix.com/advicebookletcompany/home ...and don’t forget their guides are now available on the Kindle Store and in Farrell and NephBy Sarah Coller ews Bookshop in Newbridge for €3.95. 9
The Hunger Games In the last issue I mentioned that one upcoming movie of 2012 was The Hunger Games and by the time you read this the movie will have been out for a week. For those of you who haven’t read the book and are going to see the movie over Easter, I’ll give you a short synopsis of the plot.
The movie is set not too far in the future, the United States has been split up into 12 districts and every year each district sends two people between the ages of 12 and 18 to compete in a competition that appears on live TV, 24 go in and one comes out.
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On the day that the competitors are being chosen, the sister of the main character Primrose (Willow Shields) is picked to compete, the main character Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) then volunteers to take her place. The book was written by Suzanne Collins and is the first book in a series of 3, the second being Catching fire and the last being Mocking Jay. The plot is interesting and also seems to resemble another movie that came out in 1987 called The Running Man starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, the plot of both movies are quite similar, it’s a game show that’s purpose is to kill it’s contestants. The movie has been out for longer in America and some people are saying that The Hunger Games could end up being the next Harry Potter genre of book to movie representations, I personally hope that it does and that the movie does not fall flat on its face. Hopefully after reading this I have convinced a few of you to go and see this movie over Easter, I know I will be, though as is the case with movies like this one it would be better if read the book first. By Sam Burke. 11
Best New Music Acts of 2012 Bon Iver are a folk
band
originating in Wisconsin, USA. They won this year’s Best New Artist Grammy and Best Alternative Music Album for their album, “Holocene”. Their other albums include For Emma, Forever Ago (2008) and their self-entitled album Bon Iver (2011). Check out their songs Skinny Love and Holocene. Emeli Sandé released her first album this year after writing songs for many popular artists like Tinie Tempah and Cheryl Cole. Our Version of Events shot straight to no.1 in the UK. Sandé has two no.1 singles across the UK and Ireland, Next to Me and Read All About It which was a collaboration with Professor Green. I’d recommend listening to her live version of Heaven which she performed on Later with Jools Holland. Did you know that Emeli Sandé studied medicine for 4 years before becoming a professional musician? 12
Lana Del Rey shot to fame after her live performance of Videogames on Later with Jools Holland this year. Her album Born To Sorry, I couldn’t resist. Die debuted at No.1 in seven countries and her songs Videogames and Born to Die have also been in the top ten worldwide. Although about 50% of her face is fake, there’s no denying the girl’s got real talent. For the past few weeks Somebody I Used to Know, Gotye ft. Kimbra has been at the top of the charts all over the world, so if you’ve been living under a rock or something and haven’t heard it yet go have a listen. I guarantee it will be stuck in your head for a day or two.
By Grace Buckley 13
MISCELLANY While we welcome the Easter break, it is important to remember that the next term is the last before the summer holidays. So let’s not forget the exam students who will sit their Junior and Leaving Certs next June. For the Leaving Cert class it will be their last term in Newbridge College, (Awwww!) after which they will all go their separate ways. It is also the final opportunity to prepare for the State examinations. For those students, this coming term will be crucial – studying, revising, updating notes, study timetables and generally getting psyched up for the event. So if you haven’t taken your studies seriously up to now then get started – it’s never too late. To those students I would say, be encouraged by the words of Brutus in Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar”, but heed the warning! Brutus:
There is a tide in the affairs of men. Which, taken at the flood leads on to fortune; Omitted, all the voyage of their life Is bound in shallows and in miseries. On such a full sea are we now afloat, And we must take the current when it serves, Or lose our venture. (Julius Caesar Act 4 Scene 3)
EASTER What is Easter and why does it fall on a different date each year? And why does the Eastern Orthodox Churches celebrate it on a different date than the Western Christian Churches? The greatest festival of all the Christian Churches commemorates the 14
resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday. It is a movable feast; hat is, it is not always held on the same date each year. In AD 325 the Church Council of Nicaea decided that it should be celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon on or after the vernal equinox of March 21. In 1582 Pope Gregory XIII completed a reconstruction of the Julian calendar and produced new Easter tables. One major difference between the Julian and Gregorian calendar is the "leap year rule".By the 1700's most of Western Europe had adopted the Gregorian calendar. The Eastern Christian churches still determine the Easter dates using the older Julian calendar method. Easter can never occur before March 22 or later than April 25. IT TAKES ONE One song can spark a moment, One flower can wake the dream. One tree can start a forest, One bird can herald spring. One smile begins a friendship, One handclasp lifts the soul. One star can guide a ship at sea, One word can frame a goal. One vote can change a nation. One sunbeam lights a room. One candle wipes out darkness, One laugh will conquer gloom. One step must start each journey, One word must start each prayer. One hope will raise our spirits, One touch can show you care. One voice can speak with wisdom, One heart can know what’s true. One life can make a difference, You see it’s up to “You”.
OFF THE BOOKSHELF Body Parts by Anne Atomy, And the Other People by Allan Sundry, April Fool! by Sue Prize, 40 Yards to the Latrine by Willy Makeit and Betty Wont ,How to Succeed in School: Rita Book , Artificial Weightlessness by Andy Gravity, End Of Term by C. Myra Report , The Big White Bird by Albert Ross, How To Have Fun by Meryl Lee.
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French Exchange Exchanges have been recognised as one of the best ways for young people to improve their knowledge of languages, to broaden their horizons and to make lasting friendships with people from other cultures And what a better country for students than France? France is not only a country of food and fashion but it's a country with a dynamic industrial and agricultural economy. The geographical location of France, at the crossroads of the EU and the Mediterranean, together with its diplomatic and political influence give it a key role for not only the European Union but also for potential career paths. Don't forget that here in Ireland we're in a recession and some of you may be planning on emigrating. If so, France is not one to be missed. Speaking French could not only benefit your Leaving Certificate but also your future career. The Exchange Programme between Newbridge College and St Dominique has been operating successfully for many years. As part of the exchange programme, approximately 20 students travel to France for a week in April. They spend it with their French exchange partner, experiencing French family life and sampling the culture. They can also get the chance to go on excursions during the course of the exchange to see some of what the beautiful French Riviera has to offer. In turn, the French visit during the month of February. Students from St Dominique, spend a week in the homes of their "correspondents" in the College and surrounding areas, experiencing some true Kildare hospitality. The cost of the exchange is relatively cheap.
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When hosting a student (including excursions, visits, sports, etc.) the costs are borne by the host’s families. The participants should bring pocket money for shopping and small bits and bobs along the way but in the end the flights are the most costly part of the exchange. From my experience of the exchange, the success depends on the enthusiasm of the participants during the stay. It is expected that Irish students have a positive attitude towards France and their way of life and not least the food and vice versa. The vast majority of the Irish will have the time of their lives, some will have an average holiday and some may get a little homesick. But all will improve their French if they try. Representatives will be available in both countries throughout the stay to offer advice and assist parents and students. I am confident in saying that the Irish students receive a warm welcome. It is important to notice that French students are highly motivated and their main objective is to improve their spoken English. Knowing this before I went on the exchange (2011) gave me a huge advantage as I then had set expectations. In my experience it was one of the best times of my life. I am even going back to visit my correspondent over the summer again. It remarkably improved my vocabulary as well as my pronunciation. It was a trip of a lifetime that I will never forget and many of my friends agree with this. My advice to whoever is going over is to take it all in and be as enthusiastic as you can. I did get very homesick at first as I hadn't been away without my family that often beforehand. However, throwing myself in the deep end really helped me gain a lot of confidence. Being with a family that spoke a completely different language was hard to adjust to but it was extremely beneficial. It was an incredible adventure that I cannot wait to go back to enjoy this summer and I would recommend it to anyone, anytime! -Aisling Wyer
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Variety Show 2012 Once again the annual variety show took pride in showcasing the plentiful talent that the students and
teachers of
Newbridge College have to offer, and what better way to do it then to raise money for charity. Not only was the show fun for all involved, but it also raised a generous amount of money towards the Irish Cancer Society. Nobody can deny that the teachers act this year was absolutely hilarious! Who would have thought that Ms. Scully and Ms. Mahon would take to the floor with their rendition of ‘Rolling on a River’ and end the routine with a cartwheel from both teachers and a magnificent display of flexibility by Ms. Scully doing the splits? And Mr. Joyce, Mr. Doyle and Mr. King with their version of the Inbetweeners dance? I doubt anyone realised how well Mr. Joyce could pull off the character of Neill, those dance moves aren’t exactly easy! When all the
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teachers came together for their final piece of ‘Everyday I’m shuffling’ the crowd went wild. (And in case anybody didn’t know, that was Mr. Ger Doyle who crashed into the side of the stage while wearing a cardboard box over his head, although I don’t think it’s one of his prouder moments ...) The rest of the talent in the show was also quite remarkable. From hip hop to power ballads, from Irish dancing to comedy, the Newbridge College variety show really had it all. I’m sure everybody who attended would have to agree that it was a really great show, and those who didn’t go .. Well you missed out on a really entertaining night! Special thanks to Ms. Smythe and Mr. Sherlock for making the whole thing possible, and best of luck to them and the other teachers taking part in the ‘Shave or Dye’ campaign. Don’t forget to donate as much as you can because it’s all going to a very worthy cause. By Gráinne Carr n.b. (*Editor/Mr. Doyle’s note) There is no actual proof one way or the other to the identity of mystery person in the box!
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On March 5th, 2012, a little heard-of of chairty called “Invisable Children” released a 30 minute video. It’s aim was to make notorious third world criminal Joseph Kony infamous. Expected to receive a few thousand views, the video currently boasts more than 85 million YouTube hits. We’ve all seen it and discussed it amongst our friends. Many of us have shared it on our Facebook pages, and encouraged others to do the same. The majority of us did so without doubting the chairty’s credibility or the information it gave us, both of which have now come into question. But who is right; Kony 2012 Campaign’s supporters or it’s critics?
Positive Response
Negative Response
Amnesty International has welcomed the massive public response to the Kony 2012 campaign. In a statement, it said how "Joseph Kony and other LRA leaders have evaded arrest for far too long” and praised the campaign as a “salient reminder of the continuing crimes by LRA members and the need to arrest and surrender their leaders”.
Foreign Affairs magazine published an article stating that several organizations, including Invisible Children, had "manipulated facts for strategic purposes, exaggerating the scale of LRA abductions and murders". It has also been critised for prizing “feel good, simplistic messages over complex history."
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The Reaction in Uganda At a recent showing of the Kony 2012 video in Uganda, locals began throwing rocks at the screen and leaving in anger. One commented; "There has not been a single soul from the LRA here since 2006. Now we have peace, people are back in their homes, they are planting their fields, they are starting their businesses. That is what people should help us with." The Ugandan Prime Minister has launched an online response on YouTube. On video, he seeks to correct the false impression that Uganda is still in conflict, and invites everyone to come and see the country, assuring that people would find it a very different place to that portrayed by Invisible Children.
Financing Invisable Children spends 80.46% on programs that further their mission, 16.24% on administration and management costs and 3.22% on direct fundraising. It is independently audited every year. However, it is only rated 2/4 stars by Charity Navigator.
Progress On March 21, 2012, a resolution "condemning Joseph Kony and his ruthless group for a 26-year campaign of terror" was put forward in the US. The African Union has announced its intentions to "send 5,000 soldiers to join the hunt for Joseph Kony" and to "neutralize" him. The soldiers will begin their search in South Sudan and it "will last until Kony is caught". 21
World
By Shauna Howard
Day
Book
As some of you might know, World Book Day was celebrated on the 1st March 2012 and has been celebrated for the past 15 years. It also has been the biggest annual event promoting the enjoyment of books and reading. Something you may not have known is that their main aim is to encourage more children to explore the pleasure of reading and to provide books to children that do not have access to them. Each student across Ireland receives a 1.50euro book token that can be used in booksellers across the country.
Top 5 Books for 2011-2012 1. The Hunger Games (series)- by Suzanne Collins 2. Chains- by Laurie Hals Anderson 3. The Help- by Kathryn Stockett 4. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (series)- by Stieg Larsson 5. The Lucky One- by Nicholas Sparks. With a great list of books like this, nobody has an excuse not to read. Reading is an amazing way to unwind especially after a long stressful day at school. It can also benefit you academically, broadening your vocabulary, allowing you to be more creative and have a better understanding of how a story is written. An example of this creativity can be found on the new blog set up by the English department in the school. They have organised a competition for the best short story under 140 characters or 1 tweet. The finalists are Robert May, Alan Kelly, Ellen Higgins, Sam Burke and Blathnaid Corless. To vote you can either go onto the blog itself at http:// newenglishirl.blogspot.com/ or follow @NewEnglishIRL on twitter. The winner will be announced on the 29th of March. Every last vote counts, so get tweeting!! 22
...Notice Board... French Debating The French Debating team (Lorna Cudmore, Olivia O'Neill-Brown, Ciara Gardiner and Róisín
Congratulations to Lorna Cudmore in 6th Yr who was awarded best overall speaker at the final of the Alliance Francaise Joutes Oratoires
Flynn) would like to thank Miss Mitchell for all her hard work with them this year. The team reached the semi-finals of the Alliance Francaise Joutes Oratoires Competition where they were beaten by a strong team from
Applied Maths Quiz
Congratulations to the Newbridge College teams and to their mentor Kevin Conliffe, who had a clean sweep in the Regional Applied Maths Quiz on Tuesday last.
WORLD BOOK DAY 2012
A Huge thank you to Farrell’s bookshop – main street Newbridge for their help and resources for this year’s World Book Day. The shop is jam packed with great reads to suit everyone’s tastes and you can really pick up some great bargains. “Like” their Facebook page!
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Easter Maze Enjoy Kiddies ;)
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