Goodbye and Goodluck to our Sixth Years

Picture taken in September 2010

Time has passed and Students have arrived and departed from the Year Group. Our Sixth Years are now at

the end of their journey in St Fintinas. They hopefully gained fond memories and friendships during their time

in St Fintinas. The two photos below just give a brief glimpse that it has not been all work and no play for our

Sixth Years! The first shows brothers Adam and Luke Maguire at Tara Mines. The second is of friends

Yannick Presser, Said Barar and Jordan Chester at Balscadden Bay

All members of Staff wish the Sixth Years the very best for the future. Also best of luck to the Sixth and the

Third Years in their upcoming State Examinations.

Junior Football

Our Junior Football Team had an excellent Campaign. They blazed through the North Leinster Championship

beating Beaufort and Gormanstown in Meath. They then defeated St. Oliver’s Drogheda in the Semi-Final by

9:6 to 2:8 before recording a comfortable win against Mullingar Community College in the North Leinster

Final by 5:17 to 2:2. Unfortunately they were to lose to St. Farnans Prosperous in the Leinster Semi-Final by

3 points after extra time (3:15 to 3:12). As it so happened, St Farnan’s went on to win the Leinster Final. So

near but yet so far but hopefully the players can carry this form forward into next Year’s Senior championship.

Panel: Will Flynn, Adam Hyland, Keith Murphy, Conor Molloy, Glen Brady, Thomas Coloe, Jamie Connolly,

Eoin Gaddren, Paul Gill, Jack Hickey, Conor Maguire, Niall Mulvey, Jamie Smyth, Darren Hennessey, Karl

Corcoran, Dylan Dixon, David McQuaid, Gavin Griffith, Nigel Leonard, Kealan Hughes Doherty, Alan

Lewis, Kean Flynn, Ross Kerrigan, Jamie Boyle, Harry Hogan and Basit Sanni

U14 Football

Our U14 team had a successful year also. They recorded some excellent wins against Beaufort, Colaiste Na Mi,

Ardscoil Chiarain Clara and Mullingar CC in the group stages. Unfortunately they came up short, after a replay,

in the North Leinster Final where Mullingar CC defeated them by 6 points on a scoreline of 5:10 to 4:7.

Panel: Cian Chester, Sean Moloney, Cian Brennan, Nicholas Hanan, Lorre Tyinolakan, Ian Moore, Pierce

O’Donoghue, Kean Flynn, Philip Loughlin, Jack O’Connor, Jamie Boyle, Harry Hogan, Evan Kelleher, Ross

Kerrigan, Alan Lewis

2nd Year 7-a-Side Blitz

The Second Years took part in a 7-a-side Blitz in Dunganny in late April. They defeated Kells, Colaiste Na

Mi and Beaufort College however they lost to O’Carolan Nobber. They missed out on a place in the Final by

virtue of scoring difference. A great day was had by all and some excellent performances were on display on

the day. Panel: Basit Sanni, Cian Brennan, Nicholas Hanan, Kean Flynn, Philip Loughlin, Jack O’Connor,

Jamie Boyle, Harry Hogan, Evan Kelleher, Ross Kerrigan, Alan Lewis

New Girls Basketball Teams

This year, 1st and 2nd Year Girl’s Basketball Teams were set up (pictures on the next page), along with a new

outdoor Basketball Court lined out. They competed in the North East Basketball League in their respective

division. Although they didn’t come out on top in their games, they showed excellent sportsmanship

throughout the league, with great enthusiasm. Player of the year for this year was Leah Maloney in 2nd Year.

Second Year Girls Basketball Players First Year Basketball Players

1st Year Physical Education This Year, Physical Education was added to the Curriculum at St Fintina’s for the first time for our current 1st

Years. The Students had a taster of many different School based sports and activities throughout the year

including Athletics, Basketball, Gymnastics, Health Related Activity and Tag Rugby. The Students also

thoroughly enjoyed their swimming lessons in Aura Leisure Centre in Trim. Having Physical Education as a

Subject in School will not only give Students a taster of various different sports and activities throughout the

years, but will also give them the knowledge and understanding of the importance of regular Physical activity

in their lives and how this leads to positive physical and mental health both in and out of School. Well done

to all the 1st Years on their 1st year of P.E and for also completing various fitness tests.

Sports Day

On Friday May 15th the School had their Sports Day in aid of Down Syndrome Ireland. Activities included a

barbecue, sumo wrestling, bungee racing etc. Pictured below are some 6th Years (Jordan Chester, Matthew

Connolly in sumo suits and Said Bara and Adam Maguire on the bungee run) enjoying their last Sports Day.

Trips

Burren!

Ms. Purcell’s 5th Year Geography Class visited the Burren. While there they visited Alliwee Cave that is home

to several calcite structures including stalactities etc. They also visited Black Head that had a huge limestone

pavement down to the sea and had evidence of isostatic movement. From Black Head Students had picture

postcard views over to the Aran Islands, Connemara etc.

Criminal Courts of Justice!

Ms Purcell’s 3A CSPE Class visited the Central Criminal Courts in Dublin as part of their Junior Certificate

CSPE Action Project. They took part in a Mock Trial where they were able to act out the different roles involved

in a court case in an actual courtroom. They also had the opportunity to attend a court session involving a murder

trial. Students enjoyed their day in the Courts.

History!

Our budding 1st Year Historians along with their History Teacher Ms. Murray went to visit the largest Ango-

Norman Medieval Castle in Trim for a guided tour and they also visited the Hill of Tara that was once the seat of

the High Kings of Ireland. Our budding Historians recognise the abundance of Historic sites in Meath.

Dunmore Cave!

JCSP Students along with Ms. McKenna visited Dunmore Cave in Kilkenny. Dunmore Cave is home to a

series of chambers formed over millions of years, the cave contains some of the finest calcite formations

found in any Irish cave. It is also a site of a Viking Massacre, Archaeological finds within the cave confirm

Viking activity. Hence why it has its haunted reputation. The cave is also home of several species of bats.

“Make a Book”!

1st and 2nd Year JCSP Students participated in “Make a Book”

exhibition in Dublin along with Mr. O’Connell and Mr. Moore. All

participating students travelled to the Civic Offices in Dublin to

showcase their own book called "Monsters Think”. This is an annual

celebration of reading, writing and the creative imagination of

Students involved in the JCSP. It is an initiative that supports literacy.

Thanks to Mr. O' Connell an English Teacher and Ms. O' Neill the

Art Teacher for all their work with this very successful initiative.

Francis Ledwidge Poetry Winner We were delighted that Students from St. Finitina’s Post Primary school were recognised for their hard

work. Shauna Callaghan, Liam Cullen Moran, Liam O’Connor and Lauren Malone were awarded prizes in the

Francis Ledwidge Poetry Competition. Liam Cullen Moran and Liam O’Connor received certificates in the

Junior Category and Lauren Malone received a Special Certificate in the 1st Year Category. Shauna Callaghan

won the overall prestigious prize in the Junior Category within Co Meath and Co. Louth and was awarded a

Glass Plaque. Congratulations to all the winners.

Liam Cullen Moran, Shauna Callaghan, Lauren Malone Shauna Callaghan with her winning

pictured with Ms Farrell in Slane Castle at the Prizegiving plaque outside the School

Art News

Artist in the classroom: JCSP Students took

part in a three week initiative programme

where a Professional Artist came to the School

to work with the Art Teacher Ms. O’Neill and

JCSP Students on a sculpture based project.

Students developed their drawing and three-

dimensional art skills. Each student created a

3D clay sculpture based on animals from the

Jungle Book. The focus of the programme was

on developing creative visual skills. The work

produced enhanced the student’s “Make a

Book” entry and was exhibited at the “Make a

Book” Exhibition. Overall the project was a

huge success and allowed Students to explore

their imaginations.

Some Art Work by Students

Danna Munoz Giraldo, Kathlyn Toner and Kyanna Holly Kavanagh and Rachel Traynor 5th Years

Van Buuren 2nd Years showing their creative work. showing their creative work.

5th Year Art Gallery Visit: As part of the Leaving Certificate Art Curriculum 5th and 6th Year Art

Students visited the Irish Museum of Modern Art in Dublin with their Art Teacher Ms. O’Neill. This

was a great opportunity for Students to get out of the class room and engage with Contemporary Art.

Students came away with a greater knowledge and appreciation for art. Critical and creative thinking

skills were developed, along with a gained knowledge on the importance of galleries within Society.

Students learned all about different types of art exhibitions, the planning behind the shows and got to

see first-hand contemporary Irish art.

Green School Progress – Our Third Flag

This year at St. Fintina’s we have been working hard all year to reduce our water consumption and raise

awareness about the importance of water conservation. Our committee is headed up by Ms. Evans and Ms.

Farrell and a number of Students from all Years within the School. Over the course of the last 2 years we

have done a lot of work both within the School and the wider Community to raise awareness of water

conservation and to try and cut our overall usage. We have had Speakers in from both Meath County Council

and from Nature Conservation to give talks on awareness to our Students. We have also sent out Surveys and

Newsletters to the wider Community to inform and involve them. As part of the Programme we have inserted

Hippo bags into all toilet cisterns and have done leak checks and promoted the switching off of taps by

Students and Teachers. We also have rainwater harvesting in place for use in cleaning etc. We were presented

with our 3rd Green Flag at a ceremony in The Helix in DCU on May 20th pictured below, which was attended

by Ms. Evans and three Student Committee Representatives. In the first photo from left to right: Ms. Evans,

Michael Doyle 5th Year, Liam Cullen Moran 2nd Year and Holly Kavanagh 5th Year.

LCVP

5th Year Students had an eventful year with the BITC partnership programme. They had workshops on CV

writing, Interview Skills and Teambuilding. It was a very successful year. They built on their presentation

skills by presenting back to Lagan Cement what they had gained from the link. The best group had Kelan

Hughes Doherty, Rachel Campbell and Rebecca O’ Sullivan proving their ability to present to a group of

students and adults competently.

Computer Programming

“Computer Programming” was piloted with some Junior Certificate groups and that Shauna Murphy

successfully completed Course 1 in Coding in a short space of time. Congratulations Shauna on your

outstanding performance. First Year Students were busy developing their “Typing” skills and a competition

was held for the best typers. With Andrew Varzaru proving himself to be way ahead of the rest of the class

with an excellent score.

JCSP Celebration

Pictured above are some of our JCSP Students during the JCSP Celebration. This is now an annual event in

our School. These celebrations allow students to showcase their work from different subject areas and we

invite their peers, parents and teachers to a celebration of their year in JCSP. All JCSP students received

Awards for completing their various initiatives throughout the year. Pictured on the left is Robyn Leech 2nd

Year receiving an Award. Robyn also won a Kobo E-reader for reading the most books in the Reading

Challenge. The Celebration was also an opportunity to display their project work, their JCSP folders, and

any of their highlights of the School Year. Pictured on the right are Andrew Van Tonder, Cian Chester,

Adam O’Rourke and Matthew Healy from 1st Year showcasing some of their Paddle Boat Woodwork

Projects. Students from 1st Year also displayed Projects they made in both Home Economics. 2nd Year

Students read out a Poem which they wrote in English and Megan Christie O' Brien spoke and showcased

her Junior Cert. Woodwork Project. The Ceremony also said goodbye to our 3rd Year JCSP Students who

have completed the programme. Mr. Moore would like to say “Well done and thank you to all for your work

throughout the year!”

Awards

Student of the Month Awards:

Junior Achievement: Junior Merit: Senior Achievement: Senior Merit:

December: Kelly Dunne Shannon Beegan Amy Kate McGee Holly Kavanagh

January: Michelle Traynor Shauna Murphy Amy Moore Sinead Howlin

February: Lauren R.Geraghty Louise Connolly Sean Molloy Chloe O’Neill

March: Lauren Keating Zygimantes Siaulys Adam Maguire Ryan Geoghegan

April: Basit Sanni Ashlyn Masterson Matthew Connolly Amy Flynn

End of Year Awards: The End of Year Awards Ceremony was held Tuesday 19th May. This Ceremony gave students recognition for

their hard work and dedication both in and out of the classroom.

Student of the Year Awards: Congratulations to Aoife Culleton 6th Year who was presented with the Senior Student of the Year Award for

2014/15 during the Awards Ceremony. Congratulations to Robert Quirke and Shannon Beegan 3rd Year who

jointly received the Junior Student of the Year Award for 2014/15 during the Awards Ceremony. These

Students have shown a very strong work ethic and an excellent academic record during their Junior and Senior

Years respectively. Oher Students who won Awards included Louise Connolly who won First Year Student

of the Year Award; Harry Hogan who won Second Year Student of the Year Award; Holly Kavanagh who

won Fifth Year Student of the Year Award; Aoife Culleton who won the ICA Award; Jordan Chester who

won the Community and Civic Award and Said Barar who won the Principal’s Awards

Aoife Culleton Senior Student of the Year Award Shannon Beegan and Robert Quirke Joint Winners

of Junior Student of the Year Award

Holly Kavanagh 5th Year Harry Hogan 2nd Year Louise Connolly 1st Year

Student of the Year Student of the Year Student of the Year

Said Barar won the Principals Jordan Chester won the Senior Excellent Attendance

Award Community and Civic Award

Junior Excellent Attendance Award Winners

Wishing the Whole School Community Happy Summer Holidays