Newpark Newsletter March 2012

March 2012 No. 31

TY entrepreneurs to represent Leinster TY mini-company TOMORROW (Nathan Huggins, Conor Ryan and Picabia LaHart) recently qualified for the Junior Achievement Ireland Leinster finals.

We had worked hard over the previous months building a strong, profitable minicompany.

Through hard work and perseverance, we created a selection of quick and easy recipes which (with the help of a talented graphic designer) we turned into a minicookbook, now retailing at â‚Ź3.

The Junior Achievement regional finals took place at the Irish Chartered Accountants on Pearse Street on March 14. Over the course of the day, we battled it out with fifteen other companies for a place in the national finals.

In the morning we had a ten minute interview to persuade the judges that we would be the best company to represent Leinster. We

then had to prove ourselves to all the other participants using a power point presentation.

We were up against some extremely stiff competition. We could quickly see that all the other companies were innovative and creative with impressive financial stability.

It was an enjoyable day, with plenty of time for rest and breaks as well as hard work.

At the close of the event we were announced as the winners of the regional finals. This means we go on to compete in the nationals, which will include an all-expenses paid hotel break.

We are delighted with our triumph and are already making preparations for our next test in May, which could send us on our way to Romania for the international competition!

Many thanks to Ms Steele for all her support and encouragement.

Nathan Huggins, Picabia LaHart and Conor Ryan

Congratulations to Francophonie winners (Newpark teams came 1st and 3rd against 75 other schools nationwide), our awardwinning production of The Bald Prima Donna, the Newpark Chess Team for their impressive performance at the Leinster Chess Tournament and our international skier Cormac Comerford. See inside for details.

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Newpark had an inspection of the quality of learning and teaching in Science and Physics on 24th & 25th November 2011. The inspector observed eleven class periods, examined students‘ work and interacted with students in the classroom. He also examined relevant documentation, met with the Principal, Deputy Principal and teachers and gave feedback at the end of the two days. His main findings were as follows: 

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All lessons were well structured, learning outcomes were shared with students and there was good continuity with prior learning.

Students were encouraged to think clearly, were active in their own learning, developed key skills and were engaged and appropriately challenged by classroom activities.

Teachers had high expectations of students commensurate with their abilities and learning styles.

Teaching methods including use of ICT were effective although some further development of methodologies is needed.

Formative assessment had a positive impact on student learning although some aspects of assessment require further development.

Comprehensive and collaborate plans and schemes of work are available for Science and Physics.

It is heartening to read such comments, particularly as it applies to a large department and the full report will be published on the DES website in the coming weeks.

On Friday 9th March 2012 the school had its first Incidental Inspection. The inspector arrived unannounced into the school at the beginning of the school day and inspected a number of classes based around a particular theme, in this case it was literacy and numeracy in the Junior Cycle. The aim of the inspection is to observe classes on a normal school day. The school management is given a verbal report on the results of the inspection and there is no written report. The inspector reported:    

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Good lesson preparation and planning.

Use of varied methodologies appropriate to the groups Student-teacher relations were positive.

In relation to Literacy and Numeracy there was good focus on the key technical terms in the lessons and positive efforts made to give clear explanations of new terms and methods.

There is a need to challenge students to become more responsible for their own learning and for them to become ‗responsible learners‘.

As with all inspections there are recommendations to work on. We will continue to focus on these recommendations to ensure that progress in the quality of learning and teaching at Newpark continues 2

Mr Derek Lowry

and helps to further develop the excellent work being done in so many classes.

Many thanks to all those parents/guardians who have completed the recent survey on the school website in relation to home/school communications.

The survey will remain on the website until the end of term. In evaluating the responses we will examine ways to improve existing systems.

Congratulations to the European Section students that took part in this year‘s Francophonie.

This is a national online competition run by the French Embassy. Newpark teams from First and Second Year put in superb performances to come first and third out of 78 entries. Mme Laetitia Tessier and Mme Daisy Berteloot work tirelessly to access stimulating and interesting language opportunities for the European Section.

The recent production by the Senior Drama Team of ‗The Bald Prima Donna‘ at the St. Andrew‘s One Act Festival was superb. The cast and crew led by director David Magee (Past Student 2011) created an exuberant production of the Eugene Ionescu farce and were rewarded with three coveted prizes: Best Actor Oisín Lyons, Best Actress Saoirse O‘Coineen and Best Supporting Actress Sian Demery. The groundwork for this achievement has been laid over many years by the boundless energy and enthusiasm of Cathy Devis who has created such a positive culture for Drama and facilitated students, both present and past, to take responsibility for productions. There is an inherent risk of having to pick up the pieces if it doesn‘t work out, but the real learning experience for those involved is tangible and is an essential part of what we strive for in Newpark.

Congratulations to the Transition Year MiniCompany team of Conor Ryan, Nathan Huggins and Picabia Lahart who won 1st prize in the Junior Achievement Leinster regional finals. The team will now represent Newpark and Leinster at the AllIreland finals in May. The Mini-Company teacher always has a rewarding but challenging role as facilitator to a diverse group. Talent, ambition, drive and work ethic are needed to take an idea from scratch and develop a product or service for the marketplace.

Of course some students discover that their skills are not those of the entrepreneur, but others show their aptitude for teamwork or even a real flair for business and the determination needed to make a success of their idea. Transferable and lasting skills are learnt in this type of proactive learning environment. Rachel Steele has been a superb mentor, inspiring her students with her positivity and can-do attitude.

A huge thanks to all involved in Positive Mental Health Week, Seachtain na Gaeilge and La Semaine de la Langue Francaise for a fantastic and interesting range of events and activities.

A very happy Easter break to all.

Leinster Chess Tournament

From Newpark to Brussels

Seán Boyle, Myles Butler-Wolfe, Samir Kahvedzic and Aedán Hamrock had the honour of representing Newpark in an AllLeinster Chess Tournament.

Although we had trained for this with Mr Holmes and Mr Power, it was our first official tournament so it was exciting to see how it would turn out. I had never played chess with a timer and under the pressure of a tournament so it was interesting but intimidating!

We all played five games with different people from other schools and team Newpark came in second place. As an individual, Samir even managed to be joint first in the whole tournament, with four wins, one draw and no losses.

Despite having only graduated from Newpark in 2007, it is quite likely that few teachers remember me. I was an average to bad student in most classes— rugby was more my thing. In 2007, I couldn‘t have foreseen that I would write this article on a train from Brussels— where I work on World Bank projects in Zimbabwe, Ethiopia and Rwanda—to Leuven, where I live and am completing a master‘s degree in Statistics. It‘s a fantastic experience, despite being away from the most important person in my life (someone I met in my First Year form in Newpark).

It took a strong surge in my Leaving Cert. year to scrape my way into Arts in UCD and my first years at UCD were abysmal. I failed many exams and my grades were embarrassing. A point of inflection came one September afternoon. I remember sitting in UCD‘s James Joyce library and being enthralled for the first time at UCD, reading one of Chomsky‘s geopolitical articles on US foreign policy. I soon fell in love with all things Human Geography; a flexible and fascinating subject and from there things changed.

In the following years, I was founder and treasurer of UCD‘s first anti-war society (it took a two year battle with UCD‘s administration!), my grades transformed and my Geography masters at UCD became an action-packed year. I co-produced a book on urban-Dublin in 1911 (launched by Ruairi Quinn), tutored classes, first-authored an academic article with two UCD professors and finished with the top grades the programme has ever had.

As my interest drifted towards inequality, segregation, labour-markets and demography, I decided to take things further. I chanced-my-arm on PhD applications at the best institutions in the world, and with many positive results, one being a four year employment contract at a top US University.

Getting to this point took many important traits built in Newpark—the creativity all three of my English teachers let me have and the huge amount of time my Leaving Cert. History and Geography teacher gave to me. Further, much of the determination I have now was garnered on cold, wet Saturday mornings, training three months in advance of a big rugby match.

I would say to any young student looking for advice that it‘s never too late to find what you love and there‘s more than one way to find it!

Newpark should definitely enter this tournament every year. It was truly a fascinating, fun and educational experience, and we even walked out with a medal each!

Aedán Hamrock 5LT

Help Cherie Walk A group of Fifth Year students will be running the MiniMarathon in early June and bag-packing to raise funds for Claudia Anderson‘s five year old sister. Cherie needs a life changing operation which will cure her spasticity and give her a chance of a normal life free from pain and dependency on others. We plan to tap into the generosity of the Newpark Community and make a significant contribution to this really important ‗step‘ for Cherie.

You‘ll be hearing more about how you can help in the coming weeks.

Claudia Anderson 5LT

Dylan Connor, Newpark student 2000-2007

Don’t miss the Junior Plays!

Wednesday 28th/Thursday 29th March Adults €10 Students €5 Hunter Theatre @ 7.30 sharp See The Cursed Sock, The Weirdest Holiday, Backshift, Umlaut fm and Head Games

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Girls’ Hockey on the up Girls‘ hockey in Newpark had a consolidating season, building on previous successes while focusing on developing areas such as physical fitness, nutrition, decision making and set plays that need to be improved for next year. All Newpark teams compete with topranking Dublin schools in the top leagues every week and it can be tough to meet this challenge week in week out but the Newpark girls really give 100% to compete at the top level. Their coaches are incredibly proud of their efforts and achievements.

There were 41 First Year girls who made it to training every Tuesday and Thursday under the steady guidance of Ms McCarthy, Peter Murphy and Ms Cooper. There is great emerging talent from this group of players and Newpark was able to field three First Year teams this year which bodes well for the future of Girls‘ Hockey in the school. Names to look out for in the future include right wing Mia O‘Reagan, goalkeeper Savannah Power, sweeper Aishling Grogan and forward Hannah Tracey.

With 32 Second Year players, there were two Minor teams representing Newpark this year. The Minor A team was captained by Ciara Grogan and the Minor B was captained by Astrid Tidey, both of whom did a great job leading their players by example. The Minor A team were in an extremely tough A league and before Christmas they secured an excellent draw against Loreto Foxrock who went on to win the League. They also registered wins against High School, Cluny and Mount Temple. This year coach Ms Downes placed a huge emphasis on attaining physical fitness and in developing the core skills with which they can move on to the Junior leagues next year and there was an excellent attendance record from all players at training every week.

The Junior Team were playing in what is generally agreed to be the most competitive schoolgirl league in Leinster. Under the inspirational leadership of coach Ms Clarke, captain Megan Rankin and vicecaptain Christine O‘Neill, the team put on a truly magnificent display against Alexander College and registered a draw against the eventual league winners.

They went on to defeat Loreto Bray, Our Lady‘s Terenure and Kings Hospital over the season. All members of this team improved hugely over the year and their mature decision making and their willingness to learn and absorb new strategic moves means they will be well prepared for the Senior League next year.

Such is the enthusiasm for Hockey at this level that it is hoped that Newpark will have two Senior girls‘ teams in the Leinster Leagues next year.

The Newpark Girls‘ Senior Team was led this year by longtime Newpark stalwart Yvonne Nyingi, ably assisted by Sarah Henry and Hannah Holden. The Senior Team displayed great dedication and their 4

devoted coach Ms Meredith loved their enthusiasm and positivity. They chalked up a great victory against Loreto Stephen‘s Green and a remarkable 70 win against St. Killian‘s. Special thanks are due to the parting sixth years Juliette King-Hall, Juliet Cummins, Regan Drennan, Alison Sothern, Lauren Shaw and Amy Garland. We wish them the best of luck in the Leaving Certificate and hopefully we will be seeing them on the starting lists of club and college hockey sides next year.

Mag Downes

Boys’ Hockey 2011-12 Boys‘ hockey in Newpark is making steady progress with a good season across the board for all teams.

The Senior Boys narrowly missed out on qualification for the A-League semi finals after a good league campaign. The guys were hoping to build on the experiences of high level competition in the All Irelands earlier in the year. Unfortunately defeat to St. Columba‘s in the A-League playoff meant Newpark would compete in the B League Semi finals for another year. A narrow cup defeat to Kilkenny also meant the end of a decent Trophy run.

However the team has been gelling well over the last few seasons and have next year to look forward to and build on with the majority of the team going into 5th year.

The Juniors entered two teams into the league for the first time in 15 years. Both teams played competitive hockey throughout the year with both the A‘s and the B‘s finishing well in their respective leagues. The Junior A‘s were pipped in the B League final in a high scoring match by Mount Temple. Final Score 6-4.

The Minors and the First Years also played very well this year and finished in good positions in the leagues this season. The First Years had an exceptional season, finishing second in the league to Wesley A‘s and qualified for the A League Semi Finals. Unfortunately they drew St. Andrews A‘s and were outmatched in that game but it has given them a taste of what top level hockey is all about.

Congratulations to all the guys who received Leinster and Ireland trials, particularly Stefan Gallagher who has been selected for the Irish Under 18‘s and Andrew Ramsay who has made the panel for the Irish Under 16‘s.

A big thank you to all the coaches and staff members who have helped and worked with the boys teams this year, particularly Simon Lowry, Sean Walsh, Peter Murphy, Stephen Cullen, Stephen Brownlow and of course our very own Senior Boys‘ bus-driver Mr Lennon.

Looking forward to next season.

Carl Breaden, Boys’ hockey coordinator

Cormac Comerford Skiing for Ireland

This year, for the first time, Ireland sent a Schools’ Squad of five boys and five girls to compete in the Alpine Skiing disciplines of the World Schools Ski Championships 2012. This competition took place from the 5th to 10th March 2012 in Gressoney, Italy. The World Schools Ski Championship is a biennial sporting competition organized by the International School Sports Federation. Newpark Third Year, Cormac Comerford, was selected for the Irish Squad and describes his winter season below

Earlier in the winter season I competed in races in Pila in the North West of Italy and in Les Crosets in Switzerland. They were a great success for my first FIS races. FIS is the Federation of International Skiing and this is my first year competing at such a high level.

The two weeks of my Junior Mocks forced me to come home. I left immediately afterwards to go to France and Italy for more training and racing. After two days training in France, we drove for seven hours to Bormio in Italy for four races. I missed the first slalom race because they brought it forward by a day because the snow conditions were bad.

The second race was Giant Slalom—my ski came off half way down the course and that caused me to be disqualified. I got a bad result in the next Giant Slalom because I fell, got back up and finished the course. In the second slalom I got my first result under the FIS points system.

After another seven hour journey back to France, I spent two hard weeks training in St Gervais ski resort where it was so cold for the first week that my balaclava was as hard as a rock. One day, we went off piste and got lost. We could see St Gervais along the valley but didn‘t know how to get back.

Eventually we found a road and hitched back to the bottom of the ski lift. I was training with some of the Argentinian and French ski team.

My last race was at the World Schools‘ Championship in Gressoney in the Aosta Valley, Italy.

I would meet the rest of the Irish Team there. To get

there I had to take four buses and four trains with 40 kilos of luggage and skis. The first race was a night slalom which was really cool, a massive floodlit slope with darkness all around. The atmosphere was tense as I was competing against some of the top skiers in Europe. I was disappointed with my first run until I found out that I was in the top 30 which meant I was the first to ski the course on the second run.

Overall, I came 21st out of 60 competitors and first of all the Irish team. It was a massive confidence boost for me. In the Giant Slalom I had a very fast run but the speed was too much and I wiped out. I finished the season with good FIS points and in a good position for next season.

Cormac Comerford 3MT

Athletics notice Athletics training started on Thursday 22nd March for the annual Community and Comprehensive Schools Athletics (CCSA) meet in Santry on Thursday 10th May 2012.

Training schedule: Field events (javelin, discus, shot) Astro-turf pitch Monday 4-4.45pm Jump events (high jump and long jump) Sports hall Tuesday 1.10-1.40pm Track events (100m, 200m, 400m, 1500m and 100m relay) Astro-turf pitch Thursday 4-4.45pm 5

Disappointed…..again!

Architect’s perspective of the planned new school building

On Monday 12th March, 2012 the Minister for Education and Skills announced details of 275 major school building projects. These will take place over the next five years at a cost of €2 billion and will create 15,000 jobs. So why are we disappointed, you might ask?

Newpark Comprehensive School celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2012, having opened the doors of a new building in 1972. This building had a life expectancy of 20 years, which means that it has outlived that life expectancy twice over.

In 1999 the Dept. of Education commissioned a feasibility study of the school and in 2000 a total rebuild was recommended. At that time a design team was appointed, and approved by the DES, led by Smith and Kennedy, architects, Dun Laoghaire.

Our student numbers then were close to 800 and rising. In December of that year the DES sent us the first schedule of accommodation for a 750 pupil school. We spent the following two years arguing that our pupil numbers were 800 and eventually got a schedule to reflect this.

The Board of Management formed a subcommittee, including concerned teachers and parents, to examine all aspects of the proposed new schedule.

Several issues were raised and four revisions of the schedule were considered before we arrived at one that was acceptable to both ourselves and the DES. Meanwhile our neighbours, Readymix were operating a cement works beside the school as they had done since 1970. The noise and dust created was a constant source of annoyance to students and staff. The windows of the canteen, facing the works, had to be boarded up because of daily splashing and lessons were regularly interrupted by the noise coming from the plant. Unbeknownst to us, Readymix had requested a land swap from Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown which could have resulted in a win-win situation. This request fell on deaf ears despite a court decision and promises made by the Local Authority (see M. Classon‘s letter to The Irish Times 15th March 2010).

In March 2011 full planning permission for the new school was granted by An Bord Pleanala following an appeal. On the 7th November The Department of Education and Skills published a notice in the eTenders Public Procurement (the website for Irish Public Tenders) asking for expressions of interest from 6 companies across the EU) in taking on the project.

Meanwhile Cemex (the successors to Readymix) had ceased operating in 2010 and the site was put up for sale with a price tag of €4 million. Planning for the school was at a critical stage and the BOM did not want to factor in the Cemex site in any way lest it halt the progress of the school rebuilding plans. Late in 2011 the agent changed and the Cemex site was now advertised in two lots (site and house) with asking prices of €700k and €300k respectively. At this point the BOM expressed a strong interest in acquiring the site on behalf of the school. The Board wrote to the Planning and Building unit of the DES with regard to the site. Local TDs and Councillors were contacted; including the Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn, and the Tánaiste, Eamon Gilmore, one of our local TDs. A number of face to face meetings took place with local politicians.

We were trying to secure a corner site for future use by the school community and the local community. With the Day school, Night school, Sports Centre, Music Centre and Avoca Hockey Club all operating from this small campus, the addition of this extra space would have meant a great deal to all.

And it literally was a great deal since €600k plus would have secured it.

Then on 12th March 2012 the DES announced that the rebuilding of Newpark was put back, and would not start before 2015/16. So now you might appreciate why we are so disappointed.

The country has gone from boom to bust but our fortunes have not changed. We continue to provide an excellent educational service in the non-fee-paying sector, as affirmed by the Whole School Evaluation of October 2009. We have 4,000–5,000 children and adults on campus every week taking part in the many and various activities offered in Newpark. We have the highest number of special needs students of any mainstream school and we provide a comprehensive curriculum on one of the smallest post-primary school sites in the country. But we need encouragement and help from our Local Authority and the Department of Education and Skills. The latest decision to defer the new building project for at least three years has been a devastating shock and disappointment to the whole school community and indeed the local community.

Why, in the year 2012, is Newpark Comprehensive, a state school, being so forgotten by the authorities when the school serves the community so well? As a matter of urgency, let‘s all think again.

John O’Neill

Images from the stone frieze created for the new school building

School’s chance after dust settles Madam, – Recently I noticed that the former Readymix (now Cemex) site on Newtownpark Avenue, Blackrock is for lease or sale.

In December 1969, James McGurk placed a planning application for permission to replace his plant; a few hand-operated machines. Mr McGurk’s application turned out to be a “back-door” application from Readymix. The neighbourhood and the school were dismayed at this probable intensification of use of the site.

Public demonstrations against the change of use were held. RTÉ’s Seven Days featured the “Readymix affair” as it became known.

I sought councillor and TD assistance. To me and publicly, councillors expressed concerned support and then, when I addressed the council on two occasions in the Council Chamber, did a complete turnabout. A public oral hearing was held.

Why was I so concerned about this development? In 1967, Sean O’Connor, the then visionary secretary of the Department of Education, had encouraged me as owner/principal of Avoca School, to aim towards a State comprehensive school, about the formation of which I had sought his advice.

He advised me to “get rid of vested interests”, to be “co-ed” (we were), to “cease to have boarders”, and “to be viable”. Local schools expressed interest.

In 1968, a charitable trust was formed “Avoca and Kingstown School Ltd”. This amalgamation formed a secondary school of 400-plus pupils.

In 1969 the department approved a large extension to Avoca and Kingstown School – the numbers were increasing rapidly.

Letter to The Irish Times Monday 15th March 2010

1970 saw the arrival of Readymix with its cement dust from its colossal silo, its noise, its grit: a dreadful disturbance immediately beside the school.

I felt that the faith of the Department of Education, the parents and the welfare of the staff were in jeopardy. The county council, on behalf of the neighbourhood and the school took the Readymix Affair through the courts. The finding was in favour of the county council.

As I recall it, Readymix was to be offered an alternative site and Readymix was to shift. This never happened.

In 1972, Newpark Comprehensive School opened. It was built through the Department of Education with half a million pounds sourced from the World Bank. It included a sports hall, a swimming pool, a music centre. Wonderful facilities, which thrive today. The school has 831 secondary pupils, 2,000 in adult education classes and 1,100 students in the music centre. What a justification!

The school has endured the nuisance of dust, noise and grit for 38 years, despite complaint after complaint after verified monitoring. Dún LaoghaireRathdown County Council should now facilitate the school to acquire the Cemex site. Please. – Yours, etc, Rev MICHAEL CLASSON, (Former Principal: Avoca School, Avoca Kingstown School and Newpark Comprehensive School), Summy, Portnoo, Co Donegal.

March 2012 Dear parents, staff and students, friends of Newpark, As many of you will be aware the Department of Education and Skills has formulated a five year plan for new school buildings and extensions.

To the dismay and huge disappointment of the school community the school building project was listed in this plan for construction in 2015/2016.

This decision was taken despite the fact the tender documents are within weeks of completion and that on November 7th the project was advertised on the Etenders Public procurement website for expressions of interest from construction companies. It was February 2000 when the report which recommended the need for a new school building was published and later that year that the Design team were put in place. Now, twelve years later and within months of approval for the project to go ahead, it has been put back another four years.

The Board of Management is shocked and angered by this decision. It is setting up a strategy sub-committee to put in place a plan to have this decision reversed and for the project to go ahead as soon as possible. The Newpark Community can play a vital role in this campaign and we would ask for your full support over the coming weeks in bringing as much political pressure as possible on our elected representatives to bring a positive solution as quickly as possible. More details will be provided to you in the near future.

Yours sincerely Derek Lowry, Secretary, Board of Management 7

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Seachtain na Gaeilge 2012 Glas, Glas, gach áit! Bhí seachtain den chéad scoth againn i mbliana. Tharla an ócáid an bhliain seo idir 12-16 Márta. Bhaineamar antaitneamh as an bhféile. D‘eagraigh muid an ‗Poc Fada‘ a bheith ar siúl ar an Luan. Bhí slua mór ann ag glacadh páirte. Bhí an bua ag Shane Murphy agus Conor Ó Byrne ag an deireadh.

Ar an gCeadaoin ansin tháinig an comhlacht puipéad Fibín agus ní féidir le héinne a shéanadh go raibh an seó ar fheabhas. Bhí na daltaí den tuairim go mbeadh seó ciúin ann ach ní raibh sé ciúin ar chor ar bith! Thosaigh an seó le beirt ag rith isteach, masc áiféiseach ar a n-aghaidh ag screadáil. Bhí an seó ag insint scéil na Gaeilge tríd na haoiseanna. Bhí na daltaí go mór mór páirteach ann. An gcuimhin libh an gunna uisce ag teacht i do threo? Cad faoin gcluiche wrestling idir na daltaí sna cultacha móra? Paddy Ó Toole, an dalta bocht a bhí pioctha faoi dhó i gcóir na himeachtaí.

Bhí eagla ar gach duine roimh na mBraithre Críostaí nuair a bhí siad ag siúl timpeall. An tUasal Mac Carthaigh agus an spotsholas curtha air—ainmhfhocal sa chúig díochlaonadh. Bhí an spotsholas curtha ar mhúinteoir eile freisin, an t -Uasal Ó Gallchóir. Cuireadh ar an ardán é os comhair na daltaí agus tugadh suíochan don mhúinteoir bocht. Cuireadh ceisteanna air agus ní raibh sé abálta focal Béarla a úsáid. Cén támhran a chan Jedward ag Comórtas na

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Na scoláireachtaí Gaeilge

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hEorafíse anuraidh? Go léir le chéile anois—Lipstick!

Leagadh an chathaoir agus caitheadh uisce air. Bhí sé fliuch baite. Bhain na daltaí an-taitneamh as an gcraic agus spraoi a bhí san amharclann. Tá súil againn go dtiocfaidh Fibín ar ais an bhliain seo chugainn.

Caithfimid buíochas a ghabháil le Ms O‘Dwyer as an méid a rinne sí ag eagrú an seó le Fibín.

Ar an Déardaoin bhí an chomórtas ‗Are you smarter than a 10 year old‘ ar siúl. Bhí foireann le deichniúr dalta ón seú bliain in aghaidh an foireann sóisearach. Bhí an spraoi acu ag iarraidh na ceisteanna a fhreagairt. Is fíor a rá go raibh na daltaí sa seú bliain faoi bhrú uair nó dhó. An féidir leat deich dathanna a ainmniú i nGaeilge?? Bhí an bua ag an bhfoireann sóisearach ag an deireadh agus ní raibh na daltaí sinsearacha sásta. Bhí orthu an líne is náiriú a rá ‗ Níl mé chomh cliste ná duine deich mbliana d‘aois!‘ Bhí seisiún ceoil iontach againn ar an Aoine.

Bhí an leabharlann dubh le daoine. Thosaigh an seisiún le beirt fhear óg ag seinm an giotár agus ag canadh. Bhí spiorad Lady Gaga ann freisin nuair a chan Joanna agus Grace ‗Just Dance‘. B‘fhéidir go mbeidh siad ar an X Factor lá éigin. Chan an cór ó rang Mr Gallagher leagan den t-amhrán Waka Waka ón World Cup. Tháinig clann Lauren Shaw ar ais i mbliana agus bhí siad ag seinim uirlísí éagsúla. Bhí an -tallann acu agus tá muid fíor-bhuíoch as an sár-jab a rinne siad. Bhí Mr. Quigley ann arís freisin ag cabhrú leis an ngrúpa. Bhíomar faoi dhraíocht an cheoil an lá sin.

Seo liosta buaiteoirí na gcómartais  Poc Fada: Conor O Byrne 6HG & Shane Murphy 3JCY  Postaer bunaithe ar sheanfhocail: April Cleary 3JH, Sofia Finucane 1GC  An culaith is fearr ar Lá Glas: Jonno Maguire 5CQY  Are you smarter than a 10 year old?: an foireann sóisearach (Alicia, Elbe, Anna, Christine, Sadhb & Lucienne)  Gaga 4 Gaeilge: Joanna Byford 5EG & Grace Mason 5PC  An Fugitive Gaelach: Jonno Maguire 5CQY ‘Is beatha teanga í a labhairt’ Is leatsa í Seachain an Béarla – Seachtain na Gaeilge Hugh Gallagher, Irish Department

Bronnadh scoláireachtaí Gaeilge i mbliana arís i gcomhoibriú le Coláiste na bhFiann agus coiste na dtuismitheoirí. Scríobh na daltaí aiste gearr agus chuaigh siad faoi agallaimh le Mr Gallagher agus Ms Ní Laoghaire.

Comhgairdeas le Kelly Burke (4CB), Eva Comerford (1PCL) agus Emily Hogarty (1CH/JB).

Beidh na daltaí seo ag freastal ar Choláiste na bhFiann i Ros Muc Co. na Gaillimhe i mí Lúnasa. Buíochas leis an t-Uasal Lowry, an bord bainistíochta agus le Coláiste na bhFiann.

Making Irish fun?

You’ve got to be Fíbín!

So, imagine going through every part of Irish History. Not only that, but imagine going through it as gaeilge. Usually we would all be asleep by now except for that one person who loves history and the Irish language. I know, you‘re all thinking of Ms O‘Dwyer at this AM stage. But if it weren‘t for Ms O‘Dwyer and the other Irish teachers the school would never have invited the immensely talented and hugely entertaining Irish puppeteers and actors, Fíbín.

From being spat on, to Sumo fights, to having buckets of water thrown on you the whole show was extremely interactive, side-splittingly funny and educational without making you yawn. We met cavemen, Vikings, Normans and Barack Obama as a baby. The Christian Bothers talked about ‗gneas‘ and the birds and the bees had students AM from every year and teachers almost wetting themselves. The whole show was fastpaced and I found myself understanding the language better and better and thoroughly enjoying it. Mr Gallagher being drowned in water was indeed the very best part.

I also learned that there is no Irish translation for ‗supercalifragilisticexpialidocious‘.

Anna Moran 5DM

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Newpark Positive Mental Health Week – 2012

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Newpark prides itself on the ethos which aspires to equip students with a balanced outlook on life, work and leisure. We are very fortunate to have such wonderful music and art departments which help students express themselves in ways perhaps that some of the other subjects don‘t allow. The focus of Positive Mental Health Week was to introduce students and staff to new ideas around keeping mind, body and soul healthy. We set about doing this by six key areas: Mind/Body, Art, Information, Relaxation, Music and - perhaps most important of all—Fun.

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Mind/Body Our school was very fortunate to have Tai Chi and Pilates instructors offer their time to run classes over lunch to willing staff and students. Tai Chi is a type of internal Chinese martial art practiced for both its defense training and its health benefits. Our lovely Pilates instructor guided us on the principals of this movement therapy that uses a method of physical exercise to strengthen and build control of muscles, especially those used for posture. Third Year students were given instructions on how to manage stress and had stress levels assessed by the Stress Biofeedback method.

Art Positive Mental Health Week commenced with posters displayed all round the ABC corridors. Fifth and Sixth Year art students spent time in thought and expression and delivered some spectacular pieces of art highlighting all the overwhelming aspects associated with both mental health and mental illness. Well done to all involved, particularly Ross O‘Sullivan 5DM and Sean Byrne 6HG who came first and second in the competition. Not all students take art as a subject yet they all had their chance to express themselves on the Graffiti Wall outside the art room.

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Newpark Positive Mental Health Week – 2012

Information Speakers from Mental Health Ireland, Bodywhys and Transgender Equality Network Ireland inspired and informed students on matters associated with the mind and body.

More information on any of these aspects may be found outside the nurse‘s office and of course online. Some examples are ie.reachout.com, www.headstrong.ie, www.lgbt.ie, www.teni, www.bodywhys.ie

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Music Newpark‘s wonderful music department practiced and produced a fantastic Lunchtime Concert which was free of charge for all staff and students to enjoy. On another occasion a group of students provided us with the unusual yet enticing sounds of experimental jazz.

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Relaxation During the hectic Monday lunchtime an inviting Mindfulness/Meditation session put people in a relaxing yet clear thinking mood for the afternoon. The week ended with a scented room and an Indian Head Massage for those lucky enough to have booked a spot with yet another volunteer who is an expert in her field.

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Fun Fun filled activities included staff and students in fancy dress running, skipping and hopping 5km around ‗the Rockies‘ on the most glorious day of February. Picabia Lahart was the first across the line but Sinéad Malin was not far behind as the first female to cross the finish line.

Coley McManus and Chloe Anderson won a prize for best fancy dress with their Harry Potter theme. After the run everyone enjoyed waffles provided free of charge to add to the delight of the day. We all enjoyed tucking into highly decorative cakes provided by students and parents (PTA) on Friday afternoon‘s cake sale.

Many thanks to all who took part in the organisation, planning and delivery of the week.

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Joan Hannan and Avril Lahiffe

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The Bald Prima Donna –comic success at Drama Festival!

The Bald Prima Donna by Eugene Ionesco Presented by Newpark Comprehensive at St Andrew’s One-Act Drama Festival

March 15th 2012

I have to confess, when I saw this play listed in the programme, my heart sank a little. Ionesco's Absurdist classic performed by a school‘s company: we could be in for a long night. However, oh me of little faith, it was brilliantly directed for its context, and for the age of its cast.

This play was written as a response to the playwright‘s learning English phrases from a written course. It became a template for the post-war absurdity of human stilted communication in the English middleclass of its time (1950).

So a group of Irish students in 2012 were to attempt it? Yes, to great success. Given that we have no servants; and that present day children (referenced but never seen in the play) would have been hugely in evidence in any 21st century home; the directors chose to highlight absurdity through physical comedy and each player was properly aware of the brand of comedy in which they were engaged. This is a great tribute to the cast, but more particularly to the young director, David Magee.

This physical comedy served to highlight, rather than obscure, the absurdity of the banal conversation between the Smiths and their dinnerguests, the Martins. This was carried through beautifully in the manner in which the couples reacted to the presence of the lower-classes. Comedy is a very serious business, and the Fire Chief (played with hilariously boring concentration by Jack Cummins) and the Maid (played with just the right understated, bored-yet-relaxed, amused irony by Zoe Perrin) contrasted beautifully in their characterisation with the Couples‘ selfconsciousness.

Fionn Russell, as Mr Martin, deserves special mention for his plasticene movement, which very much caught the tone of the production. Most importantly, each character was extremely welldefined and poised. Evidenced by the fact that this all-round excellent cast carried off Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress (Saoirse O'Coneen and Sian Demery) and Best Actor (Oisín Lyons) on the night.

All the production team in Cathy Devis‘ care are to be sincerely congratulated.

Eleanor Methven, Co-Adjudicator St Andrew’s One Act Drama Festival 2012

Coming soon in the Autumn from Newpark Theatre Company…

Arthur Miller’s

All My Sons Calling ALL parents, staff, past and present students to get involved.

We especially need actors from older generations.

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Graphic Novel coming soon

Newpark will

ROCK YOU DVD NOW ON SALE €20.00 to Ms Glancy ASAP The Happy Gig! Several weeks ago Positive Mental Health Week took place and all over the school many activities happened that got everyone thinking more about positive mental health. And so the music classes decided to tear away from learning every little detail of Tchaikovsky and put on a lunchtime concert.

Thursday, March 1st we were booked into the Hunter Theatre to perform music that was happy, positive and upbeat.

Some of the Sixth Year musicians got involved and opened the concert with Hey Joe. This was followed by students from both Fifth Year music classes performing classics such as Remember When, Lady Luck, Rock Lobster, Electric Gypsy, My Refrigerator Broke, Johnny got a Boom Boom and Here Comes Your Man. The concert concluded with a full group performance of Mr Blue Sky. Big thanks to Ms Glancy and Ms O‘Keefe for organising this fun event and well done to all students who got up and played Derek Byrne 5EG

[See more pictures on pages 10 & 11]]

Newpark‘s graphic art project with Fighting Words is drawing towards a conclusion. Eleven Newpark students are have written and drawn diverse and original graphic stories to be compiled and published in a single anthology.

On Saturday the 24th of March the graphic artist/writers met up at Fighting Words for their final Saturday workshop. With the deadline for all completed artwork looming the following Wednesday they were discussing the details of layout and presentation of the book. The running order of the stories, the index, the title, the front cover illustration all have to be decided and the group will also have the responsibility for marketing their publication.

Fighting Words are funding an initial print run of 500 copies The anthology will be ready for publication at the end of May—so look out for details of the upcoming launch.

Congratulations to this talented group: Matthew Kenny 1PCL, Cian Malin 2CG, Aedán Hamrock 5LT, Diolmhain Ingram Roche 5EG, Fionn Russell 5EG, Manon Gevers 5EG, Aura Jurciunkonyte 5LT, Laura Boland 6MK, Aoife O‘Ceallachain 6MK, Genevieve Healy 6DBT, and Robert Cole 6DBT. Many thanks to Alex, Matthew, Rosa and Orla from Fighting Words who have given so much time, interest and attention to this project at Newpark.

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Concours internet francophonie 2012 On Wednesday 29th February, the French Embassy organised its annual French online contest as part of the ―Journée mondiale de la francophonie‖. 78 teams across Ireland, including European Section First and Second Year students, participated in this contest.

Before the play we didn‘t know what to expect but once we watched it everyone was very enthusiastic.

The actors kept us interested throughout the whole play so no-one got bored. They were very energetic— always jumping around, doing cartwheels, tumbles, handstands and basically anything to do with exercise whenever they had the chance.

Overall it was a wonderful experience and a great success. I am sure that everyone enjoyed it and had a great time.

Anda Iakab ES 2EL

Le café français

This year, two teams from Newpark were in the top three.

Congratulations to the ‗Équipe Bleue‘ (Fionnuala Healy, Elvira Guiomard, and Muireann Mc Donnell of First Year) who came first and to the ‗Poupées‘ (Second Years Katie Lowry, Hannah Drum, Anna Bielenberg and Juliette Mc Bain) who came third.

The students were invited to the award ceremony on Wednesday 21st March in the IFI. There they had the opportunity to attend a French film screening (Une vie de chat – A cat in Paris) which was followed by a French ―goûter‖ (snack). They received a certificate as well as prizes. This is a fantastic achievement for the European Section students and we are very proud of them.

Laetitia Tessier

Le Porte-Bonheur 23rd

On the of March, we went to a French play called Le Porte-Bonheur along with the First Years. It was held in the Hunter Theatre and the people in the play were French actors.

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Mardi 20 mars, les élèves de terminale ont eu l‘opportunité d‘améliorer leur Français pendant le café Français. Nous sommes allés dans les autres classes de Français où nous avons pu manger des bonbons et des biscuits en parlant avec les autres étudiants. Je dois dire que tous les élèves comprennent que l‘examen oral va bientôt approcher et le café Français était une bonne opportunité de pratiquer. C‘était une expérience très agréable pour tout le monde, sans doute.

Les oraux de Français auront lieu du 16 au 20 avril. Il s‘agit d‘une conversation de douze minutes avec l‘examinatrice sur des thèmes tels que les loisirs, les vacances, l‘école… Bonne chance à tous et bonnes vacances de Pâques.

Alex Redmond 6CC

Lyon Trip 2012

We went to France for two weeks.

It was pretty fun.

We met some cool people and had a great time.

I‘m really anxious to go back and see them again and everyone is trying to arrange something. Can‘t wait.

David Lyons 2KC

This year twenty-five Second Year students from the European Section (including five from mainstream) went to Lyon from the 5th to the 12th of March as part of the annual exchange with the French school Bellevue. A number of trips were planned during the week: Le Musée des Miniatures, le Musée Gadagne, Annecy, le Vieux Lyon and La Part-Dieu.

After welcoming their French penpals last November, it was the turn of the Irish students to go to France and stay in a French family. It is a great opportunity for students to interact with native speakers, improve their French and learn elements of French culture. Some had the chance to go skiing over the weekend and discover the Alps. They all got along with their correspondents and some have already planned to see each other over the summer….

What the students thought: It was nice seeing our correspondents again.

Everybody seemed to get on well with their person. I got to stay with a really nice family. The week in Lyon was brilliant and I‘m sure I‘ll remember it for a long time!

Elaine Cullen 2KC

Le 5 mars, nous sommes allés à Lyon pour voir nos correspondants qui étaient venus en novembre. Ma correspondante était très gentille et on s‘est bien entendues. A Lyon, nous avons visité des églises, des monuments et des musées. Tous les jours, nous avons mangé des pâtisseries et la nourriture était vraiment délicieuse. C‘était super bien, une très bonne expérience et je me suis vraiment bien amusée!

Marie-Chantal Hamrock 2CG

La nourriture et la culture étaient magnifiques et très différentes de l‘Irlande Astrid Tidey 2VM It was a really good trip and everyone had a great time.

The city of Lyon was very beautiful and we visited very nice churches and landmarks and went to interesting museums. The visits were very good and after school too. Nearly everyone got on with their correspondents and became great friends. We all hope to see them again in the future.

Katie Lowry 2KC It was so much fun! It was so nice to see all the correspondents again, I really enjoyed all the day trips we went on, especially the shopping trip in La PartDieu. A group of our class and their correspondents did lot of things after school and on the weekends.

They took us to a laser game, shopping and bowling.

One of the French girls, Lea, held a party at her house on Saturday night, I really enjoyed it. It was my favourite part of the trip. I loved going to Lyon. I got on really well with my correspondent and I would definitely go back.

Anna Bielenberg 2KC

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La ville était magnifique Solenn Reeves-Long 2KC I really enjoyed my first time in France Juliette Mc Bain 2KC

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C‘était une expérience inoubliable

Marie-Chantal

Hamrock 2CG

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It was a great and positive experience Sophie Phelan And the food was nice! Cillian O’Brien 2EL 15

Thumbs up for Arts Modules

Voice Our Concerns

This year, Transition Year has added a couple of new subjects to its modular Arts options. These are Jewellery-making and Sign Language. Over the course of Transition Year, students choose three eight week Arts modules.

Making jewellery is a very fun and imaginative class. Every week each student comes out of the class with stylish and personalised jewellery that defines them. We have a wide range of beads and accents to add to the jewellery. Over the module, we will be making necklaces, earrings and bracelets. Students are showing impressive skills and there is a huge buzz about this class. You can express yourself through the jewellery you make and enjoy the process too. It is a very relaxing class and it would be a very rewarding hobby. I would recommend everyone to have a go!

In my opinion everybody should want to be able to communicate with someone who is deaf. Students in this class had a great time learning Sign Language. We all came away with a new skill that will be a very good asset through life. At the end of the module, we each did a brief presentation showing off our skills and all we had learned. We had to sign our name, age, where we are from and things that we like.

Sign Language is an amazing way to communicate with others who cannot hear and you never know who you might come across or when you might need it. Everyone should learn Sign Language – at least the basics such as how to say your name, age and where you are from. Even just being able to say all that will enable you to start a conversation and let the person know that you have a little Sign Language and are trying to communicate. This is what everyone likes to feel: that people want to talk to them.

The Transition Year Film-making group has been working on a documentary as part of Amnesty International‘s Voice Our Concerns initiative. Our piece is questioning the use of ‗Mosquito Alarms‘. These are electronic devices used to deter loitering by young people which emit a sound with a very high frequency. The sound is very irritating to most people under the age of 25, and cannot be heard by older people.

The device is marketed as a safety and security tool for preventing youths from congregating in specific areas. As such, it is promoted to reduce anti-social behaviour such as loitering, graffiti, vandalism, drug use, drug distribution and violence.

We travelled to St Stephen‘s Green Shopping centre, where we interviewed the Security Manager Vincent Fuller about why a shopping centre might have a problem with loitering. He explained that he had never used a mosquito alarm.

The shopping centre management‘s main concern was for the safety and comfort of their customers and Vincent told us that most people will move if it is explained to them that they are causing a problem for others. We also carried out a vox-pop on Grafton Street, where we got a range of views on the use of these alarms.

Our film was submitted to Amnesty International on the 20th March, and will be screened as part of the Voice Our Concerns showcase in the Lighthouse Cinema on Wednesday the 29th March.

Mosquito alarms are currently in use in some Irish shopping centres. Shami Chakrabarti, director of Liberty, believes the devices are a clear contravention of young people's human rights. ―What type of society uses a low-level sonic weapon on its children?‖ she asked. ―Imagine the outcry if a machine was designed to cause blanket discomfort to members of one sex or ethnic group.‖ We hope our documentary will help to raise awareness of the issues around the use of these devices.

Melissa Butler, 4CR

Ciaran Byrne

Newspaper Fashion TY students had one hour to design, create and model their innovative costumes.

Helen O‘Sullivan & her 4CB design team were this year‘s winners.

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In the Public Eye Shane Lyster & Dara Marshall, Transition Year Journalism students talk to Newpark past-pupil RTE news presenter, Brian Dobson Q: What did you think of your time in Newpark and what were you thinking at the time in regards to your future?

A: I was interested in journalism and the media from quite early on and it was actually because of Newpark and its Transition Year that I became involved in the production of a radio programme with other students.

This radio programme gave me my first taste for journalism and for broadcasting—the seed was planted then. TY does give you the opportunity to try new things. I had a few other ideas at the time but by the time I left school I knew journalism was what I really wanted to do.

Q: What was your first career?

A: I studied communication in college, then I got into Radio Nova, which was a very successful pirate radio station.

At that time there was no licensed commercial radio station: there was RTE and that was it, and the pirates filled the gap that was there and were very successful. I worked there for two years, one year part-time and another full-time and then I went to the BBC Northern Ireland and now I‘m in RTE. Q: What was life like in Northern Ireland when you were there?

A: Well, it was great because I was young and we had some good times. It was a curious place in terms of journalism to operate. I mean there was still violence and there was the conflict as it was the early eighties and I had arrived there during the hunger strike.

Around the time I was there, there was a big emphasis on trying to reach a political settlement. Garret Fitzgerald was pushing what is now known as the Anglo-Irish agreement and that was signed while I was there so most of what I was reporting was the lead-up to this. Because I was in the local BBC we were covering the conflict as well as the things you would expect to find in an everyday news station like local news. This made it difficult to interview either side of the conflict as they did not trust us.

Q: Are you Protestant or Catholic and do you think that it affected your stay there?

A: Well I was raised into the Church of Ireland and no, I wouldn‘t say that it affected me because I was insulated by a couple of things. I was from the South and that made me a bit of an outsider and secondly, the BBC operated strictly that you had to leave your religion and your politics at the door. It was an unusual place to be as there were people from both sides there and I never came across any incident aside from a few insignificant arguments. I never received any hostility as a reporter but there was a lot of hostility towards the BBC—particularly from Unionists because we were a little too neutral in their

mind. Reporters were distrusted a lot, I got chased a few times during riots but it was never really dangerous.

Q: As a reporter, you have to hide your personal feelings and you always look so calm and collected.

What were you thinking at the time?

A: I tried to keep myself very detached: not to say I didn‘t feel sympathy for those involved. I was covering the good news like the Good Friday agreement but it was only when I got home that it sunk in, because you‘re just so busy.

Q: You interviewed our former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, what was that like?

A: Well, that happened at short notice but I liked Bertie Ahern. I liked what he did to improve relations with the North. When I say I liked him, I found him very personable and a very agreeable individual—as he had to be. I think history will show that he made some terrible errors in the economy—which we are paying for now—and I think the tribunal inquiry will decide whether or not he accepted downpayments or not.

Q: What were you thinking when the queen visited?

A: It was a great week. We were unsure how the people would react. We never assumed there would be hostility towards her. We thought they would at least be courteous to someone who is visiting but I didn‘t expect it to turn into the tremendous success that it did. It was a real turning point in Anglo Irish relations.

Q: Did you feel proud to be covering this momentous occasion in politics?

A: Of course. The thing about my job is that in a way it gives you this ringside seat at these great events.

Sometimes it‘s on a screen and sometimes it‘s up close and personal. I was on the Green when Obama gave his ―is feidir linn‖ speech. I didn‘t get as close to the Queen because most of our coverage was done here in the studio. But you get to participate in these events and that‘s an enormous privilege. It was great to be there when we closed a long dark chapter in Irish history. I can‘t see the North returning to what it was.

Q: Why do you think of these ‗death to dictators‘ movements that are happening at the moment?

A: I think people, no matter where you are or what regimes you live under, have a yearning for freedom.

Q: Do you think that Ireland is an inspiration to other countries abroad?

A: Well Gandhi mentioned us when he was trying to secure independence for India. But our struggle was hardly a series of uninterrupted successes.

Q: Do you like working in RTE? A: I do. I enjoy my job enormously. Now not every minute of every day, there are good days and bad days.

But when there is a big story breaking, there is a tremendous rush—a little bit like a drug—there is great excitement.

Q: Despite this excitement, you keep yourself very composed under the camera.

A: Well, we have to be. We have to stand by every word we say and we‘re not going to take a flyer with assumptions. We state the case.

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Synagogue & Mosque

Train for Europe http://t4eu-r.cnc-network.eu/

On the 29th of February, the Sixth Year religion class visited the Synagogue and Mosque in Dublin.

We were greeted at the Orthodox Synagogue by the cantor, Alwyn Schulman. The guys in the group had to put on yarmulkes (Jewish head-caps) before we went into the main part of the Synagogue. After a talk given by Cantor Schulman, we had the privilege of seeing the Torah, which was written on kosher parchment and is kept within an ark.

The practice of prayer in the Synagogue was fascinating. There was a glow-up board of deceased members which would light up corresponding to the anniversary of their death.

Following this, we made our way to the Mosque. There we had a guided tour led

by Dr Ali Salim. After telling us about the three Islamic shrines and basic Islamic belief, we took off our shoes and entered the prayer hall. There Dr Salim expanded on Muslim beliefs and practices. Entering the hall we were mesmerised by the sheer simplicity of the décor— differing greatly from the Synagogue which was abundantly dressed in both stained wood and glass.

Overall both tours were highly beneficial to our study, as they gave us a better perspective on both Jewish and Islamic beliefs.

Alexander Chisnall 6SH/PH

Inception

congratulations to First Year poets who have produced a superb anthology of poems selected by Derek West.

Five of these poets will be reading their work at the Junior plays on Wednesday 28th March.

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Fifth Year Engineering students travelled to Portugal for their second international project meeting 5th-11th March , Lisbon We arrived at 6.30pm on the only flight from Dublin to Lisbon on the Monday. Tuesday was our first working day and we progressed the work started in Croatia at the first meeting. By Tuesday afternoon we had made some important decisions about the wagon components and the European electronic map.

Wednesday was our ‗visit‘ day and we went to an aircraft maintenance factory as well as visiting the host school CENFIM Núcleo de Torres Vedras.

On Thursday morning we started a new Workline ‗A‘ to deal with the locomotive design. At this stage all worklines are in progress. Workline B deals with Wagon Components e.g. wheels, Workline C which is the European electronic map and Workline D is supporting tasks like the multilingual technical glossary.

Friday saw the conclusion of the work and the decisions about what has to happen next in order to progress the project. Our co-ordinator, Heinz Wildgrube, reminded us that Ireland will hold the EU Presidency in 2013 when the project is finishing and asked us to write to President Michael D Higgins and ask him to invite the Train Family to Strasburg for the final meeting and presentation of the project.

Saturday was cultural day and we were taken

on a bus-tour of the city before being released for an afternoon of shopping and melting in 25 degrees. At the farewell dinner that night we chatted and said goodbye to all the friends we had made during the week. A total of 24 schools are involved with over 100 students attending each meeting. The next meeting is in Slovenia from 10th-16th May. We can‘t wait!

Colin O’Neill 5LT

Cheering on the

Who’s minding the baby?

Over 50 Newpark hockey players made the trip to UCD on 15th March to support the Irish Men‘s Hockey team in their effort to make it to the Olympic Games for the first time since 1908. For many of the players this was the first time to see hockey as it is played at the very highest level and they found it very stimulating and exciting.

This year, for the first time at Newpark, the Leaving Certificate Applied programme included a Childcare module in Fifth Year. Part of the coursework included looking after a computerised baby called RealityWork. The baby cries when it needs to be changed, cuddled or winded. Every minute that the baby is in your care is monitored by a computer chip inside it. After the 24 hour care period the chip is used to show how each student got on so that they can be graded. If you don‘t change, feed or cuddle the baby when needed you lose marks for neglect or abuse.

Green Machine!

The Newpark crew saw two matches, South Korea play Malaysia and Ireland play Chile and they contributed great support in helping the Irish team beat Chile 3-0. Definitely Supporter of the Day was Third Year Katie Whelan who painted everyone‘s face in the Irish colours and who lead the posse of enthusiastic cheerleaders. A great sporting day out was had by all.

Mags Downes, Newpark Hockey

Newpark Stands Up! In February a company called BeLonG To came into Newpark. They shot a video starring pupils from the senior years: Joanna Byford, Katie Jess, Amy Corcoran, Isla Hoe and Madison Porter amongst others. The film was about Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender bullying and raising awareness of the ways that friendship and positive understanding can help to eliminate homophobic bullying.

From my experience 24 hours was ENOUGH. It opened up my eyes and proved to me that if I was to end up with a baby I would have to give up all my after school programmes such as drama. The lesson learned is that babies need a lot of care, food and minding and none of us are in the right position to have a baby until we can at least support ourselves.

Nicole Murtagh 5AMCC

The film is interactive in the way in which it uses your name and those of your Facebook friends for comments shown at the end of the video and sends you a text when the main character Emma is shown in a room with two bullies. It is a fun and creative way to create awareness about the cause.

It was a great experience to be part of the film and I recommend you go to www.standup.ie to watch it!

WWF’S EARTH HOUR

OUR WORLD IS BRILLIANT SWITCH OFF YOUR LIGHTS AT 8:30PM ON SATURDAY 31 MARCH

Joanna Byford 5

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Newpark PTA - Calling all parents Just a reminder again that we are always looking for other parents to join the PTA. Remember, this is your school. A great way to get involved in your child‘s education is to join the PTA. We meet monthly on Wednesdays at 8pm. Meeting dates are on the Newpark website—our next meeting is on Wednesdays 18th April.

The PTA has set up a group to explore fund-raising ideas.

If you are interested in joining, we would love to see you there.

Please send an email to PTA@Newparkschool.ie with any ideas for fund-raising, or any support you can offer.

Fund-raising is going to become increasingly important as education cuts deepen.

At a recent meeting the Student Council requested a number of items from the PTA. We are currently getting quotes for additional bike-racks and shelters to cope with increased demand from the cycling population—these items will be bought soon.

We have recently bought microwaves for student use in the school canteen. Other purchases include educational equipment and reference books for some of the classes and fridge which were also requested this term. So you can see where the fund-raising money goes—there is always a need for additional items in the school.

Thanks to all those parents who donated old clothes to our clothing collection at the end of February. We plan on running another clothes collection in May, so please start rounding up your unwanted items!

The Lost Property Office is open on Tuesdays after school, Thursday lunch-times

and Friday mornings before school. It is well worthwhile for students (and parents) to call in to see if any missing items are there. We are planning on having a sale of the items in Lost Property soon, as many items remain unclaimed despite numerous appeals for collection. We make every effort to reunite labelled items with their owners. The sale will be an opportunity for students to purchase items of uniform, hoodies, books etc from Lost Property at a fraction of the retail cost. Further details will follow when the date and time of the sale are confirmed.

In February we had our first meeting of the new group for parents/guardians of children with special needs or exceptional ability. A follow-up meeting is scheduled for Tuesday 27th March. If you are interested in coming along, you would be most welcome. To recap, the objective of the group is for parents to share and learn from each other‘s experiences with students in the above categories in secondary school.

We believe there is a wealth of knowledge amongst the parents themselves and it would be good to share this, particularly with parents of younger Newpark students.

Hopefully it will give parents the chance to pick up tips from those with older children who are further advanced along the secondary school route.

As always, if you have any queries or suggestions, please email the PTA mailbox PTA@newparkschool.ie or drop a note into the PTA letterbox in the front reception area outside the school office. Happy Easter to all.

Mary Walsh, PTA

Parents’ Prayer Group.

A number of parents have formed a Parents‘ Prayer Group to meet for prayer once a month on a Monday morning.

These parents are meeting specifically to pray for the staff, students and issues related to the school and of course all parents are very welcome to join them.

The group met for the first time on Monday 12th March in one of the parent‘s houses near Newpark and will met there

again on Monday 16th April and on Monday 14th May. One of the parents who helped to form this group is Tracey Gevers and she can be contacted on 086 3892098 for further details of times and places or to receive prayer requests We appreciate that many parents cannot attend due to other commitments and we invite them to send in prayer requests if they wish to do so. They can be emailed to me at the school or to Tracey. Thanks.

Suzanne Harris, Chaplain

March Newsletter: Anna Johnston & Mags Downes Newsletter photographer: Anna Moran 5DM [photos marked AM] Thanks to all our contributors this month.

Please email contributions for the next issue to newsletter@newparkschool.ie

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