Dear Parent/(s), Guardian(s) and Students,

I hope that you are all enjoying the current fine spell of weather. There is a notion going around that we brought it back from our very successful two days in the Birr Outdoor Education Centre but if we didn’t bring fine weather hopefully we brought shiny happy faces back instead.

Thank you to Mr. Murray, Ms. Kearney and Ms. Barry for making the trip so enjoyable and safe.

Liam McCarthy paid us a vist today. He was last here in 1997 and was due an appearance in 2013 but he must have by-passed Killaloe and made up for this today when we gladly welcomed back former students Mikey Breen and Steven O’ Brien with the All-Ireland Hurling Cup. Photos with TY can be seen on the school’s Twitter feed @stannescck .

Well done to our rugby star TYs who were involved in the Bowen Cup vs St. Munchin’s College and our TY hurlers also. We have very talented camogie players in TY also. Not to mention athletes, musicians, singers and dancers too. The TY’s Got Talent Night in Birr proved what talent we have and hopefully everyone gets a chance to shine this year.

As I am mailing you TY students are bag-packing in Supervalu to fundraise for the renovation and upgrading of the Memorial and Friendship gardens. Well done to all who volunteered for this worthy project. There were 11 applicants for the AIB Build A Bank School Bank Team and interviews will be held in the next two weeks for those who applied.

22 TYs volunteered to assist with the Boher National School fundraising event or ‘Fourathlon’ on Sunday October 23rdnext. Again, well done for such a spirit of volunteerism. There is a proud tradition of this in St. Anne’s and we are delighted that you are continuing it.

I would encourage all TY Parents/Guardians/Students to keep an eye on the web, Twitter, Facebook etc. for TY Competitions, Study and Work experience Programmes.

Unfortunately, we were unsuccessful in obtaining a place on the RCSI Mini-med programme but were allocated 2 places on the Defence Forces Work Experience Programme. Again, it is unfortunate that we were unable to take up these places but hopefully they will be offered again in early 2017 and the successful students will be better positioned to avail of them.

I have registered the school for the TY Law Society Placement. One student will be able to partake in this if our application is successful. I will take a list of those interested in the coming week and it will be names out of a hat and a list compiled to see who gets to go.

A very worthwhile programme to be part of is the Schools Digital Champion where you get to visit Google in Dublin, take part in very good computer workshop and have fun at the same time. I would encourage all of you to check in with Ms. Kearney to find out more about it. Don’t delay as deadlines are very tight for schools to register and participate in such programmes.

Congratulations to all of you who put their names forward for Gaisce. You will enjoy this programme and gain an award also if you genuinely complete your tasks.

In Young Social Innovators (YSI) the issue of ‘Homelessness’ particularly Youth Homelessness is generating a lot of discussion. One question keeps arising ‘What Would You Do If They Were You?’

So far this week past we had visits from the local AIB and the Irish Heart Foundation. Both very worthwhile presentations were given and a lot of learning took place. The importance of having a ‘happy heart’ and recognising the signs of stroke FAST were emphasised and the students knew FAST very well.

BOI were to visit today but due to a timing issue/error they will visit soon at a reschedule date and time. Apologies to all for this oversight.

There are a number of changes to your calendar for the next few weeks so please note the following dates very carefully.

You should have received a text message this afternoon about sailing being cancelled so please note the new dates.

Oct. 11 TY 1 Work Experience.

Oct. 12 BOI School Bank Talk – To Be Confirmed.

Oct. 13 Soar Foundation Workshop.

Oct. 14 TY 1 Sailing.

Oct. 17 TY 2 Sailing.

Oct. 18 TY 1 Work Experience and TY 3 Sailing.

Oct. 21 TY 1 Sailing

Oct. 21 Gaisce Awards Presentation to TY 2015-2016. 7 p.m.

Oct. 24th AIB Build A Bank Interviews – To Be Confirmed.

Oct. 25th TY 1 Work Experience.

Oct. 27th BOI School Bank Interviews -To Be Confirmed.

Oct. 28th MId-Term Break From End of School 3.20 p.m.

Nov.7th First Day Back After Mid-term Break – 14 days to Modules Changeover – Skills Record Book To Be Up To Date.

Nov.8th TY 1 Work Experience.

Nov. 11th Chess Masterclass with Mr. John Alfred.

Nov.15th Last of Tuesday Work Experience for TY 1.

Nov. 21st Changeover of Modules.

A NOTE ABOUT MATCHES:

Matches are due to be played on the following dates and I am aware that TY students are involved. Matches should not interfere with your participation in TY Events but sometimes clashes occur.

Where clashes occur events and activities cannot always be reorganised. You should liaise with your coaches, teachers involved and keep me informed of developments so clashes can be avoided.

We would like you to enjoy participating in both your matches and in TY Events/Activities.

Oct. 13th Girls Rugby.

Oct.19th Under 16 1/2 Hurling.

Oct.20th Under 18 Rugby.

Oct.26th Senior Hurling.

Now if I could appeal to you to remember the following: