Rice College NewsSecond Term • 2012-2013Issue 59 • March

Principal’s MessageI enjoyed visiting all the National Schools during January. Our Open/Enrolment night was very successful on 20th February 2013 with nearly 100 students already enrolled.We had our Mathematics Inspection on 13th /14th March which was a very positive experience. The report will be published on the Department of Education and Skills website in the near future. We had an Incidental Inspection earlier in Maths, Biology, English and Irish. The resulting evaluation evidenced high standards in Teaching and Learning. Schools self-evaluation is now being looked at. Inspectors from the Department of Education and Skills are assigned to schools, working pro-actively on self-evaluation. I feel reassured when I hear parents speak positively about the learning environment in the school at our Parent/Teacher meetings. For students entering Transition Year and 5th Year in September, we are working to create the best possible range of options. Seventy-eight students are selecting Transition Year next year. The Parents’ Council welcomes nominations to the Council from interested Parents. Don’t be hesitant, get involved. On 15th and 19th April our Leaving Certificate students will have their Oral Exams in French and on 22nd and 25th April they will have their Orals in Irish. Our Transition Year Students will be enjoying their trip to Italy at this time. Transition Year “Build a Bank” Competition is up and running and thanks to Allergan for providing the project with generous sponsorship. The T Y Parent/Teacher meeting is on 18th April 2013. Congratulations to our 2nd year G.A.A. footballers who made history with their victory in the Connacht (A) Final in Ballinrobe. Well done boys on a fantastic achievement. Great work is being done in the area of “Smarter Travel” and green schools. A range of activities and initiatives are being developed in collaboration with Westport Town Council and the RSA. Mock Exams for Junior and Leaving Certificate students took place earlier this year. We believe the benefits of the Mock Exams far outweigh any negative comment. Career Guidance saw a range of Third Level visits and numerous visitors delivered seminars in areas of particular interest this term. Our School dinners introduced in the canteen this term have been a huge hit, thanks to all at Carrowbeg Stores for providing this service. A number of students secured their Safepass qualification before venturing out on work placement. I wish to thanks all the employers who accepted our students. We continue to work with the Urban District Council to further develop our main pitch. The Board of Management is prioritising this development as a necessity to cater for the sporting needs of our students. On a daily basis so much extra-curricular activities take place which makes Rice College what it is, despite the doom and gloom, recession, union regulations, moratoriums on Post Structures etc… Thanks to all who contribute in so many ways.

Killian Berry, son of Maura and Michael Berry, Horkan’s Hill, Westport, graduated from GMIT Galway recently with a BA Hons. Degree in Information Systems Management. Killian is a past pupil of CBS and Rice College, Westport. He is currently working in Australia. We wish him every success in his career.

Congratulations

BT Young Scientist exhib 2013

Pictured are a group of TY students and their teachers who visited the Young Scientist exhibition 2013 in Dublin. Back L-R: Mr. Martin Gill, TY Coordinator; Conor Conway, Adam McNally, Colin Coyne, Joe Chambers, Colm Brady, Sean Kitterick, Conor McHale.Front L-R: Mr. Kenneth Moran, Teacher; James Moran, Ms. Sinead McManus, Dep. Principal; Stephen Cawley, Mr. Brian McManamon, Teacher; Daragh Staunton

Pope Benedict XVI declares his resignation - the first in 600 years.

Rory Casey, BSc Hons.; MSc Biomedical science; son of Ann and Sean Casey, Rosbeg, Westport, was recently awarded a Ph.D. in Philosophy from Trinity College. Rory carried out Post Doctoral research for TCD Medical School/St.James’ Hospital last year. He is a past pupil of St. Colmcille’s National School, The Quay, Westport and Rice College.

Pope Benedict XVI made the shock announcement of his decision to retire from the Papacy on February 28th. due to his difficulty in fulfilling his ministry resulting

from the ageing factor. Pope Benedict XVI, the former Cardinal Ratzinger, born in Bavaria, Southern Germany in 1927, succeeded Pope John Paul II to the Papacy in 2005.The last Pope to resign was Pope Gregory 12th in 1415 as part of a deal to end the Great Western Schism, in which two rivals had separately declared themselves Pope. We wish him peace in his retirement.

Open evening at Rice College

2013 Doodle 4 Google

The winning student will have his/her doodle appear on the Google Ireland homepage for 24 hours. They will also receive a €5,000 College Scholarship, a €10,000 technology grant for their school as well as a laptop for themselves and one for their teacher! Many thanks for all your votes for Ross and Luke. We are looking forward to visiting Google HQ in Dublin on April 15th where the results will be announced. Fingers crossed!

Management and staff at Rice College were delighted , but not surprised, at the huge attendance that materialised at the recent “Open evening” at the College. With excellent teaching and facilities the educational future of those young boys and that of future generations looks very bright. Your trust is not misplaced.

Jonathan Keane, son of Thomas and the late Veronica Keane, Furnace, Newport, graduated from Carlow IT recently with a BEng in Aircraft Systems. Jonathan, a past pupil of Rice College Westport, is currently working as Completions Engineer at Hallibarton, Scotland. Wishing Jonathan every success in his chosen career.

Pope Francis succeeds BenedictPope Francis, formerly Cardinal Bergoglio, a native of Buenos Aires, Argentina, was elected on March 13th to succeed Pope Benedict XVI. He belongs to the Jesuit Order and took

the name “Francis” in honour of Saint Francis Xavier, the Co-founder of the Jesuits. He is the first non-European to be elected Pope for almost 1,300 years since Gregory III, a Syrian, in the 8th century.

RICE COLLEGE NEWS

1st Yr. Soccer squad 2012- 2013

Back Row: Declan Shanahan, Emmet Rowley, Ben Walsh, Andrew Currid, Darragh Fabby, Travis Harrison, Stephen Walsh, John Ryan, Adam Heffron, John McGlynn, Philip Cawley, James TreacyFront Row: Edward Gannon, Alex Ó Ríain, John Keane, Keith Joyce, Patrick Lambert, Eoghan McLoughlin, Cian McAllister, Louis Hoban, Aaron Doherty, Daniel McGovern, Luca Ó Ríain

Connacht Senior “B” Championship U15 Soccer 2012 - 2013

Rice College 5Manorhamilton C.S. 1

Rice College Junior Rugby 2013

Back L-R: Matthew Golden, Jake O’Shea, Conor O’Malley, Brian Mullen, Adam McDonnell, Sean Tobin, Niall Feehan, Aaron Dunne, Myles Sammon, Conor Burke.Front L-R: Cormac Moran, Ciarán Keane, Niall Tierney, Darragh Keaveney, Tom McHale, Alan Carroll (Capt), Keelan Dever, James Dowd, Ronan Geraghty, Zak O’Toole

Back L-R: Stephen O’Malley, Peter Corcoran, Jack Murphy, Patrick O’Malley, Christopher Heanue, Darragh Walsh, Brendan Scahill, Eoghan Rowley, Joseph Smyth.Front L-R: Cathal Chambers, Eoin Conway, Mark Reilly, Mikey O’Brien, Paul Lambert, Brian O’Malley, Conor Cunniffe.Unavailable for selection:Paul Doyle, Oisín McLoughlin, Cian Dunne Killian Kilkelly

Back L-R: Joe O’Grady WRFC, Coach; Tom Tobin WRFC, Coach; Jack Hanley, Peter Spellman, Ross Prendergast, Fionn McDonagh, Tadhg McNally, Paul Moran, Darragh Browne, Colin Guilfoyle, Shane Loftus, Conor Madden, Ciarán McGovern, Mark Walsh, Richard O’Malley, Ciarán Harrington.Front L-R: Sean Ryder, Brian McCormack, Ryan Moran, Christopher O’Donnell, Niall O’Malley, Colin Coyne, Jay Ryder, Stephen Staunton, Patrick Lennon, Brendan McLoughlin, Ronan Price, Diarmuid McNulty, Daniel Barrett, Martin Connolly, Manager.

Rice College 14St. Josephs (The Bish) 24

Rice College Junior Gaelic 2012 - 2013

Rice College 4 - 07Garbally College 3 - 14

Back L-R: Fergal Macken, Joint Manager; Jack Hanley, Joe Smyth, Sean Brogan, Cormac Moran, Niall Feehan, Aaran Dunne, Oisín McNulty, Keith Moon, Colin Guilfoyle, Henry Newham, Pat McNamara, Joint Manager.Front L-R: Patrick O’Malley, Jay Ryder, Diarmaid McGreal, Sean Nevin, Liam Gibbons, Conor Burke, Tom McHale, Ryan Moran, Ronan Geraghty.Unavailable: David Hanley, Ray Nugent, Ciarán Keane

Back L-R: David Blean, Westport GAA; Shane Conway, Joint manager; Conor Sweeney, Kevin Lavelle, Darragh McNulty, Peter Spellman, Chris Heanue, Patrick O’Malley, Stephen O’Malley, Paul Doyle, Padraig O’Haire, Oisín McLoughlin, Peter Corcoran, Darragh Walsh, Alan Kennedy, Patrick Lennon, Pat Joyce, Alex Kielty, Martin Connolly, Joint Manager.Front L-R: Andrew Ferson, Andrew Gannon, Niall Murray, Thomas Loftus, Brian O’Malley, Aidan Walsh, Aaron O’Flaherty, Colm Moran (Capt), Paul Lambert, Mikey O’Brien, Mark Reilly, Sean McGuire, Richard O’Malley, Sean Tierney, Killian Kilkenny, Chris Nevin.

2nd Yrs- Connacht (A) Champions 2013

Congratulations to the 2nd Year Gaelic team on being the first team ever from the school to win a Connacht Colleges ‘A’ Championship. Alan Kennedy stole the show with a total of 3 – 9 from centre forward but it was usual “team first attitude” from all involved. A fantastic victory to finish the year on a high. Well done to Martin Connolly and Shane Conway for guiding the lads to victory. A bright sporting future lies ahead for many on this team.

Goals from Stephen O’ Malley (3), Jack Murphy and Joey Smyth helped overturn a 1-0 deficit. A super performance by all as they advanced to the Connacht Quarter Final where they had a tough encounter with Ballinrobe CS. We ran out 4 - 2 winners, goals from Brendan Scahill, Cian Dunne, Stephen O’ Malley and Peter Corcoran. We look forward to meeting Athenry in the Connacht Semi-final. Such is the talented footballers in both schools, they will face each other in both Gaelic and Soccer Cup competitions for the second year running over the next couple of weeks. Hopefully, like last year, we can come out on top. Good luck boys

A brave fight from the Rice lads almost brought about rich rewards. We seemed to be floundering at half-time, but we kept our heads up and were only 4 points adrift at the final whistle. Well done boys, you fought the good fight.

The 1st years fought hard but eventually went down to a very physical St. Enda’s side. Well done to this first year team on a magnificent comeback in their game against St Aloysius, Athlone. They were 2 – 0 down, but a brace from Pat Lambert and a great team performance ensured that the team came back to draw 2-2. There is no understating the importance of this result as Rice College may now qualify for the quarter finals. Well done lads on an excellent and deserving comeback.

Dr. James Kennedy from Athlone I.T., a Past Pupil of Rice College gave a valuable talk to our 5th Year students on Science in general, on specific aspects of Bio-Medical Science and the Research involved in bringing

devices to the market place. The samples of such devices he showed to the class, proved to be very interesting indeed, especially as their application in Surgery was explained. Dr. Kennedy also spoke about his career path to date which gave more insight to the boys on the world of Third Level Education and Progression to the Workplace afterwards. Dr. Kennedy was speaking at the invitation of Anne Donald-Joyce (Guidance Counsellor).

Pictured L – R; Deirdre Hopkins, Art Teacher; Luke Ryder, Ross Mullin and Julie Kennedy, Art Teacher

Mountbellew posed a weak challenge to Rice College in this decider. Apart from a spell in the third quarter, the action was bereft of competitive content. The interval scoreline, 2-9 to 0-0 in favour of Rice College, underlines how one-sided the exchanges were. The emphatic midfield superiority of Brian Mullen, in particular, and Conor O’Malley, had Mountbellew severely defensively stretched. Adam McDonnell was commanding in goal, while Jake O’Shea, Westport’s centre half-back, set an example for his colleagues up front by kicking two points, followed by one from Conor O’Malley. Goals from Ruairí Keating, alert to a rebound, and Brian Mullen, placed by Keating put Rice College in a commanding position. Jake O’Shea was on target again a minute later, and James Dowd pointed a free in injury time- An easy passage to the Quarter Final.

Sen. Con. Championship Quarter Final Rice College 2 - 07 St. Joseph’s Foxford 0 -06

Rice College 5 - 11 H. R. Mountbellew 1 -04

Once Rice College gained control in the final quarter, they looked a formidable outfit, well served in the central positions and displayed more penetration than the opposition. The game exploded into life in the opening minutes when Foxford forced a brilliant save from our goalkeeper Adam McDonnell. Darragh Keaveney goaled for Rice College a few minutes later. The scoreboard read 1 - 4 to 0 - 4 in favour of Rice College at half-time. Rice College asserted their control of proceedings in the last quarter and the scores began to follow. Westport proved very efficient in defence. Looking forward to the Connacht Semi-final!Sadly, we struggled to stay with St Aloysius Athlone in the Semi-final, going down 1-05 to 1-16. Athlone notched up 9 points without reply in the first 15 mins.Fair play to our boys, they gave stalwart performances throughout the championship.

Cross Country AthleticsBy Fergal Macken

It was an excellent year for the school in Cross Country with Senior and Minor boys teams winning Connacht titles and qualifying for the All-Ireland. Colm Moran and Stephen O’Malley (Juniors) and Sean Flynn (Intermediate) also qualified for the All Ireland. Both the Senior and Junior teams took Bronze in the All-Ireland at the University of Ulster, Newtownabbey.It was the fist “Team” success for the school in an All-Ireland Cross Country. We were the most successful Connacht school in the All-Ireland this year! I wish to thank Mr. Rabbette and Board of Management for subsidising the Belfast trip and for providing Running singlets for the athletes.

Back L-R; Padraic Hughes, Joe Hastings, Sean Flynn, Con Doherty, David Harper, Aichlinn O’Reilly, Eoin Long, Oisin McNulty and Fergal Macken.Front L-R; Stephen O Malley, Michael Brady, Alex Ó Riain, Ben Walsh, Aaron Doherty, Eoghan Mc Loughlin, Colm Moran. Absent:Cian Mc Alister, Andrew Currid and Fiachra Byrne.

All-Ireland Cross Country finalists

Sen. All Ireland Bronze medalists

Minor All Ireland Bronze medalists

Back L-R: F. Macken, D. Harper, A. O Reilly, E. Long, P. HughesFront L-R: C. Doherty, J. Hastings, O. Mc Nulty. Absent: J. Cashman, J. Burke and R. Staunton

Back L-R: F. Macken, M. Brady, B. Walsh, P. Hughes,Front L-R: E. Mc Loughlin, A. Ó Ríain, A. Doherty. Absent: C. McAlister, A. Currid and F. Byrne.

Michael RabbetteSchool Principal

We congratulate Conor O’Malley, Carrowkennedy on his call-up to the Irish International Schoolboys soccer squad last February. It came as no great surprise to us in Rice College, as Conor exhibits exceptional ability both in Soccer and Gaelic football. Conor is signed up presently with Salthill-Devon U19s. He is playing to a busy schedule right now in international matches. On March 15th, he lined out in goal for Rep of Ireland V Northern Ireland in the Centenary Shield campaign - Derry the venue. On March 27th. they play Scotland in Aberdeen. April 5th they play Wales in Dublin and April 26th they play England

in Turners Cross. We wish Conor all the best in his sporting interests. Will be interesting to watch his career develop!

During the month of March we celebrate the season of Lent. We fast and contemplate, leading up to Easter Sunday.

Happy Easter Holiday to all!

Catholic Schools Week was held from Sunday 27th January until Sunday the 3rd of February. The theme

of Catholic Schools Week this year brought together two important realities; the first is the community of faith and the second is sharing the good news. ‘Catholic Schools in the Community of Faith: Sharing the Good News’. This reminded us that this year we are celebrating a Year of Faith and invites us to engage more fully within all our faith communities, using the resource that is Share the Good News.In Rice College we remember

our own Blessed Edmund Rice. The students learned about Edmund’s early life and his work, in their religion classes during Catholic Schools Week.

RICE COLLEGE NEWS RICE COLLEGE NEWS 1st Yrs Christmas Quiz

1st Place Front L-R: Conor Kennedy, David Groden, Daniel McGovern, Thomas Cannon

2 nd Place Front L-R: Nathan Geraghty, Louis Hoban, Levi Coyne, Andrew Currid

3rd. Place Front L-R: Robert Moran, Fiachra Nolan, Alex Ó Ríain, Alan Mulroy

Allergan Pharmaceuticals assist Rice College in its Greenschools questLast term, Rice College was awarded its fourth “green-flag” on the theme of travel. This year we are moving on to the theme of biodiversity. Biodiversity is the huge variety and variation of life that surrounds us. We are looking forward to a busy spring investigating the wildlife in and around our school and devising plans to protect our plants and animals. To keep the momentum up in the drive to achieve our fifth flag, Allergan Pharmaceuticals, have kindly offered Rice College the very generous sum of €400 worth of funding for materials. Materials include: • A large banner, which will be painted on by students in order to raise awareness of the importance of biodiversity• quadrants, metre sticks, clinometers, pooters, beater trays, ranging poles etc., to aid us in the habitat mapping of our school• various materials to help us increase the richness and number of species in and around Rice College, such as bird houses, flower beds, tree planting, a pond, a ‘mini-beast motel’ etc. The Greenschools Committee of Rice College wish to thank all those in Allergan for their help and support in making our vision for a greener school a reality.

Pictured L-R: Ms. Sinead McManus, Dep. Principal; Elaine Rowley, EHS Specialist; Annmarie Egan, Environmental Health and Safety Officer; Ronan Higgins TY; Winner of the “€100 One 4 All” gift voucher; Cllr. Ollie Gannan, Cathaoirleach Westport Town Council; Brian Mc Manamon, Acting T.Y. Co-ordinator; Niamh Hoban, Green Schools Representative

The Allergan team presenting the “€100 One 4 All” winner’s voucher to Ronan Higgins TY. Allergan also kindly donated €400 to the School towards its “Green Schools” project. Gesture is greatly appreciated by the Rice College community.

TY students hone their driving skills in the spacious and safe surroundings of Rice College with local Driving Instructor Larry Sage. Pictured L-R: Conor M. O’Malley, Shane O’Neill, Martin Gill (TY Coordinator), Larry Sage (Driving Instructor) and Nathan Gavin.Please remember that learning about road safety doesn’t stop once you pass a driving test. It takes a lifetime.

“Alert today - - Alive tomorrow”

New Canteen service

Our School’s Got Talent!

Another school year brought the re-launch of the national competition ‘Our School’s Got Talent’ and the students of Rice College once again proved that we certainly do! 5th Year musicians, Cian O’Malley and Niall Stewart, entered the competition with their fellow band- mates from Castlebar schools, St. Geralds and St. Josephs. This diverse and immensely talented group included the Rice lads on bass and lead-guitar, with the girls on lead-vocal and drums. The first heat of the competition was held in Westport with a large number of students competing from West Mayo Schools: Davitt College, Rice College, Sancta Maria and the Sacred Heart. The students from Rice College overcame strong competition, deservedly making it into the second round of the competition, the Mayo Final, held in Claremorris. Sailing through the Mayo final, the lads returned to Claremorris in the Connaught- Ulster Semi-Final and appeared unstoppable as they took their place in the Connaught-Ulster Final, held in Castlebar. Rice College wishes to thank Cian and Niall for the talent that they bring to our student body and

congratulate them for progressing so far in this nation-wide competition. The lads not only displayed musical talent but also their creative and compositional talent,

as the group performed some of their own material throughout the competition. It was an enormous achievement for those young and talented musicians.

Launch of Rice College Bank

Martin Gill, TY Coordinator; Conor Burke, Teller; Conor O’Malley, Teller; Ed Rose, representing Allergan; Rory Conlon, Assistant Manager; Lee Keegan, special guest; Ciarán Harrington, Auditor; Keith McTigue, Student Officer AIB; Steven Cawley, Sales and Marketting Excutive Manager; Mr. Michael Rabbette, School Principal. Absent from photo: Adam McNally, Bank Manager

The Religious TimesRiona Prendergast School Chaplain

As we enter the last term of this academic year and as our exam classes prepare for their State examinations, I thought this prayer by Oscar Romero was fitting.

A ReflectionBy Ms. Susan Mannion - RE Co-ordinator

We accomplish in our lifetime only a tiny fraction of the magnificent enterprise that is God’s work.

Nothing we do is complete, which is a way ofsaying that the Kingdom always lies beyond us.

No statement says all that could be said.No prayer fully expresses our faith.

No confession brings perfection.No pastoral visit brings wholeness.

No program accomplishes the Church’s mission.No set of goals and objectives includes everything.

This is what we are about.We plant the seeds that one day will grow.

We water seeds already planted, knowing that they hold future promise.

We lay foundations that will need further development.We provide yeast that produces far beyond our

capabilities.We cannot do everything, and there is a sense of

liberation in realizing that.This enables us to do something, and to do it very

well.It may be incomplete, but it is a beginning, a step

along the way, anopportunity for the Lord’s grace to enter and do the

rest.We may never see the end results, but that is the

difference between the masterbuilder and the worker.

We are workers, not master builders; ministers, not messiahs.

We are prophets of a future not our own’.

Archbishop Oscar Romero

The Passion Play will be staged on Monday 25th, Tuesday 26th, & Wednesday 27th March 2013 in the Abbey Grounds, Ballintubber Abbey.

Wishing you all a very Healthy and Happy Easter

Rice College has recently been working alongside Westport Town Council to regenerate interest in travelling to school the greener way. An examination of the modes of transport used by students coming to school, demonstrated the growing need to encourage students to walk and particularly cycle, to school. In order to do so, we have re-launched our COW (Cycle on Wednesdays) initiative and in order to increase the appeal of the programme, we offered all students who cycled to school on a Wednesday, a free lunch or breakfast in the school canteen. The students’ response was phenomenal with the number of bikes increasing from a steady three to a massive eighteen! To make life a little more difficult for the students, because we all know that boys like a challenge, throughout the final school term, we will be awarding tokens on random days, to promote students to CED (cycle every day). So get on your bike!

Rice College Re-launches COW days By Niamh Hoban Greenschools Coordinator

By Niamh Hoban Coordinator

A Step Along the Way

T Y reportBy Martin Gill - TY Co-ordinator

Percussion, Drama, Film Making, Photography, Dance, Choir, Creative Writing & Puppetry, not your average week in school. It was a chance for the TY students to try their hand at something new, something they haven’t tried before. The students engaged themselves in one activity over the course of the week, culminating in a performance for the Showcase on Friday in the SHS. The students engaged really well with their chosen activity and produced a memorable showcase that they should be very proud of.

Arts week (Jan 21st-25th)

Road Safety ShowThe students attended the Road Safety Show in Castlebar, to see and listen to real life stories about dangers on the road. It was a very informative show and was really hard hitting, with accounts from people from our locality, telling their stories of how they lost loved ones. I’m sure it made an impact on the students about how careful and responsible we all need to be when driving.

Work ExperienceAll students have successfully completed their second round of work experience. The students were very imaginative in selecting their placements and I hope they got some real experience out of it. Some students were successful in obtaining a summer job out of their placement.

When I was elevenBy Karl Hastings, First Year student

3rd Years Skiing in LavaroneBy Fergal Macken

When I was elevenI was in the Scouts

For the Patrick’s Day Parade We wore our uniforms, orange and black –

I thought I looked weird.

We got a few go-carts andTook turns riding them down the

Wind-swept hills of Westport,Watched by a gathering of hundreds,

Chatting and jeering.

I was going fast, and faster still,Heart pumping, body shaking - PULL THE BRAKES, QUICK!!

NO GOOD! The whole thing flipped overWith me in it.

OUCH! Head bashed into a steel fence,Wheels came apart,

I was cursing – Scary St. Patrick’s Day

Brief Spring/Summer Review on Student Guidance

Talks were arranged for Senior Students as follows:Year 5 - January 18th - NUIG Business Course January 25th - NUIG Science CoursesYear 6 –Feb. 20th - NUI Maynooth Presentation re. CAO, College Application etc.Year 5 – Feb. 22nd – Talk on UL courses and facilitiesYear 3 / TYs – Feb.28th - Options Night/Subject choices Year 6-March 7th- Interested students visited the Open Day at Westport College of Further Education. Year 5 – March 15th – Dr. James Kennedy from Athlone I.T., a Past Pupil of Rice College gave a valuable talk to the students on Science, Bio-Medical Science and Research.TYs – April 11th participated in ‘Taster Day’ Workshops at Sligo Institute of Technology.Year 5 – May 9th - AWARE Talks called ‘Beat The Blues’ scheduled. Year 6 Please Note: Early Application for Student Grants, to SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland) is recommended. See www.studentfinance.ieThose who have not yet applied to CAO are advised to check the latest deadline to do so soon www.cao.ie.The Final date for Change of Mind is July 1st and note that the Free On-Line Facility opens on May 1st.Best wishes to all those doing state exams this year.

Anne Donald-Joyce (Guidance Counsellor)

2013 - Bliain na Gaeilgele Máire Uí Mhaolruaidh

Tá an bhliain seo, 2013, ainmnithe go hoifigiúil mar Bhliain na Gaeilge agus tá grúpaí agus eagraíochtaí ar fud na tíre ag déanamh iarracht an Ghaeilge a úsáid. Anseo í gColáiste Rís, táimid ag déanamh sár-iarracht ár gcúpla focal a fheabhsú. Tá fógraí as Gaeilge timpeall na háite. Reachtáladh cómórtais agus tráth na gceist boird i rith Sheachtain na Gaeilge.Ní gá a bheith líofa. Tá Gaeilge ag gach duine. Déan do dhícheall agus bain triail as! Tús maith leath na hoibre.

Rice College went on a ski trip to a place called Lavarone in Northern Italy during the February midterm. Lavarone is a beautiful place in the Dolomite range about 200Kms north of Venice. It is located in a region known as Trientino.

The trip was a great success and the students were impeccably behaved throughout the week we were away. They worked very hard at learning how to ski and were all competent skiers after a few days on the slopes.

Unfortunately we did have one accident on the slopes which resulted in a fractured hip. I wish Ciarán a speedy recovery and I would like to thank Ciarán and his parents for being so supportive and helpful during his time in Italy. Unfortunately, like in all sports, you can sustain an injury but all going well, he will be back in action soon. The destination for the ski trip in 2014 will more than likely be Austria, so if you are interested, you can start saving for a great holiday and sporting experience!

Eat right and be bright in Rice College

In the “Fun Quiz” for aspiring 1st Years, held at the “Open evening” in Rice College, Rory Brickenden took the top prize. Congratulations

Pictured L-R: Stephen Brickenden, Michael Rabbette, Principal; Rory Brickenden, winner of Quiz and Brian McManamon, Teacher

2nd Yrs - Connacht (A) Champions ‘13

Seachtain na Gaeilge Tráth na gCeist Winners: John Keane, Archie-Erskine Hadden, Edward Gannon and Luke Tunneypictured with Mr. Rabbette and Ms. Deirdre Ryan

Capt Colm Moran receiving the Connacht Trophy from Billy Horan on behalf of the Connacht Colleges

Rice College cruised to victory in the Connacht Colleges (A) 2nd Years Final at Flanagan Park Ballinrobe against Presentation College Headford. It was a historic day for the school as this was our first ever Connacht Colleges “A” Championship title. Rice College centre forward, Alan Kennedy was the Main Man, , using his pace, power and accuracy to devastating effect, scoring 3 - 9 and cutting Headford’s defence to ribbons. Stephen O’Malley also got in on the act scoring 2 - 0 and Chris Heanue scored goal number six. Rice CollegeTeam: P. O’Malley, M. Reilly, D. Walsh, M. O’Brien, P. Corcoran,B. O’Malley, P. Lambert, O. McLoughlin 0-1, C. Heanue 1-0, P. O’Haire, A. Kennedy 3-9, A. Walsh, C. Moran, S. O’Malley 2-0, P. Doyle 0-1. Subs used: D. McNulty, P. Spellman, A. O’Flaherty, A. Ferson, S. Tierney.

Rice College community was shocked at the news relating to the horrific attack on one of our students, Henry Newham at the weekend. We extend our prayers and good wishes to Henry and wish him a speedy

recovery to full health. We hope to have him back in the classroom again very soon.

Congratulations Conor “The Ball STOPS here!”