GuthSceine2012 - Pobalscoil Inbhear Scéine

Guth Sce?ine 2011:Layout 1 25/05/2012 15:58 Page 2
Pobalscoil
Inbhear Scéine
Principal’s
Address
Welcome to our annual
newsletter. I hope that you
enjoy reading about the fantastic school year we have
had in 2011/2012.
It has been an amazing year with so much to report
on. I want to start by thanking the students of
Pobalscoil Inbhear Scéine for their pride in their school.
Their participation in so many activities has helped
Pobalscoil Inbhear Scéine develop into a remarkable
school. Whether it is in their academic studies, sport,
music, Arts Week, Musicals, Debates, our students do
themselves, their families, and their school proud. I
know that I speak for all the staff of Pobalscoil Inbhear
Scéine in saying that we take equal pride in seeing you
participate and excel in so many activities.
I would like to thank our hardworking staff for their
commitment and dedication in striving to get the best
out of all our students. I am amazed to see the lengths
that our staff go to, to help students attain such
heights. On many an occasion, I have seen teachers in
school on weekends, holidays, after school hours, etc.
This commitment is what makes our school achieve
such success. On behalf of students, parents, and the
Board of Management, I applaud your efforts and
Farewell and Best Wishes
As the year draws to an end, it is a
nostalgic time for students who are ready
to leave the nest. It is also a nostalgic time
for one of our teachers who is about to
retire after thirty-seven years of teaching
in Kenmare.
Mr. David O’Dwyer has inspired many
students over his years of teaching , both at
Kenmare Vocational School, and at
Pobalscoil Inbhear Scéine. A fantastic
Metalwork / Engineering teacher, whose
students always achieved exceptional
results. Mr. O’Dwyer has many
dedication. I would also like to thank the Parents
Association for their ongoing co-operation and
support. Your generosity in giving so much time and
support to your school makes it all possible. On behalf
of all the staff, I thank you.
Finally, I would like to say a special thanks to our
Student Council, and our Student President – Rory
O’Donoghue. Rory has been an inspiring leader, and
the voice of the Student Council has been represented
with professionalism, courtesy, and humour. I think
that it is fair to say that Rory has a bright future ahead
of him, and I hope in years to come he will come back
and address the students of Pobalscoil Inbhear Scéine
in whatever high office he will undoubtedly hold.
To all exam students, I wish you all the best in the
forthcoming exams. I know that your hard work will
be rewarded by excellent results. I have to mention the
Leaving Certificate Class of 2012 – you have been a joy
to have in Pobalscoil for the past 5 or 6 years. I will miss
you all when you finally depart the door of Pobalscoil
Inbhear Scéine. Please don’t forget to come back and
visit us. You have left your indelible mark on the school.
Now it is time for you to spread your wings and develop
your skills in colleges, universities, and the work place.
You will be successful in whatever you do.
I would also like to say a special word to all the First
Years of 2011/2012. I hope you enjoyed your first year
with us. To all I wish you a long, happy and hot summer
holiday.
Dermot Healy, Principal
characteristics that make him a stand out
teacher; his dedication to his job, his
loyalty to his students, his dress code, his
ability to motivate students, and his
personality. If any person visited Mr.
O’Dwyer’s classroom, they would see a
workshop full of activity, but in a very
structured way. Mr. O’Dwyer was the best
user of a blackboard in terms of his ability
to draw diagrams and write beautifully,
that I have ever seen.
His dedication to his profession was seen
by all his colleagues. Mr. O’Dwyer has
always been a team player. His
involvement in football training, school
musicals, and his willingness to help out is
something that will be missed. I would like
to wish David a long and healthy
retirement, and who knows, he might
make a return to the stage for us in future
musicals.
Enjoy freedom.
Dermot Healy, Principal
THANK YOU I would like to thank all students, teachers and parents who contributed to our 2012 Guth Scéine. Thank
you especially to Norma Moriarty, Oonagh Comerford and Lisa O’Shea for their proof reading and corrections.
Mairead Clifford
Student PreSident
As student president for the year 2011/12 it has been an honour and a privilege
to serve the students of Pobalscoil Inbhear Scéine. It has been an outstanding
year both academically and extra circularly. Once again this school has forged
ahead as one of the best places to go to school in the country. There have been
so many achievements this year that I am afraid to start a list for fear of missing
any out! Our basketball teams have once gain come to the fore this year, with most notably an All-
Ireland final appearance for the under 19 girls. Our football teams have kept the schools name amongst
the very top footballing names in the country. Once again the school staged a hugely successful and
popular musical, this year titled“All you need is love”. The school has been well represented by numerous
students at Science Olympiad qualifiers, as well as winning a model EU council debate in Dublin Castle.
On a personal note, I would like to thank my vice president Tom O’Sullivan. We worked as a team to
make the changes we set out to. Tom’s dedication and hard work as well as friendship were a massive
GUTH SCÉINE 2012 ● PAGE 1
MUSINGS
Sr. Helen
Recently I got a card that had a lovely iris on
the front and it said:‘Angels take themselves
lightly; that’s why they can fly.’It arrived at a
moment when I felt that the world would be
hard pressed to manage without me and it
gave me pause. It made me think about the
times when I get worked up about issues that
are really not that important. It also made me
think of things that are important but that I
have little control over. Maybe I need to take
those lightly too.
These weeks leading up to exams can be
stressful for many students. There is so much
to be covered in so many subjects that it’s
hard to know where to start. It can be
overwhelming and the temptation could be
to bury one’s head in the sand and avoid the
issue altogether. Or else you could get so
frazzled that nothing goes in. It’s hard not to
make heavy weather of exams.
There is a story that is told of a King who
commanded that all his craftsmen and
wise men be gathered together. He
demanded that they should come up with
something which when he was sad would
Parents Association
Newsletter 2012
The Parents Association had yet
another busy year. Our year started
before school even began with our first
ever 2nd hand uniform sale. This was a
huge success. In September the Parent
Association invited Breda Morgan to
speak to the parents. There was a huge
turnout and the feedback was
outstanding. Our annual AGM was
held in October and the guest speaker
was Mairead O'Sullivan a counsellor
currently working one day a week at
the school. November was our first
official meeting. We bid farewell to
our Chairperson Antoinette Moynihan.
Antoinette served many dedicated
years on the committee and we wish
her luck.
A new committee was then elected.
Ann Duncan and Valerie Tiffin were
appointed chairperson and cochairperson.
Stella Moran -treasurer
and Bernie O’Sullivan secretary. We
also had new parents join, including
five who are First Year representatives.
Along with many members whom
have been on the committee for years.
Ann Duncan also represents us at the
PACCS meetings (Parent Association
of Community and Comprehensive
Schools) which we are affiliated to.
make him happy,
and when he was
happy would
make him sad.
They all tried, and
thought and
worked, but only
one of them came
up with anything. It was a ring and on it
was engraved: ‘This too will pass.’
Jesus told his disciples to trust in Providence.
He said: Do not worry about tomorrow.
Tomorrow will take care of itself. Each day has
enough troubles of its own. He said: Look at
the lilies of the field. They neither work nor
spin but not even Solomon in all his glory is
robed as they are.
So perhaps one challenge to us at this time
is to shelve/park our worries about the future
and savour the day. In preparing for exams
all we can do is our very best TODAY. Today is
all we’ve got. The best things in life really are
free- health, friendship, laughter, beauty, joy,
love. Perhaps we need a lightness of touch
and the realisation that there is a wheel of
life ‘Rotha Mór an tSaoil’. The wheel goes
round and wherever we are on the wheel of
fortune ‘this too will pass’.
Ann attends monthly meetings in
Dublin and Munster. A great deal of
Ann’s time is given to attending these
and we would like to thank Ann for
this.
Two of our members also serve on the
Board of Management. They are Ann
Randles and Maureen Gudgeon. We
would like to thank them for
representing us and working with the
Board of Management on our behalf.
On a final note I would like to remind
parents that the Parent Associations
primary function is to represent the
views of the parents within the school
community. We have a great working
relationship with both the School
Management and Students. All parents
with children attending the school are
automatically members. All of our
meetings are open and we invite you to
come along. They are normally held on
the first Thursday of the month at 8:00
p.m. We also have a page on the
schools website so why not have a
look?
Best wishes to all students sitting
exams. I would also like to wish
everyone a safe and happy summer. I
look forward to another year on the
association and hope to see some new
faces in September.
Bernie O’Sullivan Secretary
part in making the presidency such an enjoyable experience. This year has been the highlight of my five
years in this school. It has been an enormously humbling experience to have been chosen as school
president by my friends and peers. I have got so much out of this experience and enjoyed getting to
know as many people as possible. I have loved every minute of representing the students and
attempting to make a change for the better. The pride of being able to say I was your president was
second only to coming in to school every day and working in the atmosphere you created in the school.
The achievements listed above aside, your hard work, positive attitudes and welcoming and accepting
nature are what I will remember. I will never forget this last year. If I could have one message to the
students, it would be to hold your head up high and achieve every possible target you can.
I would like to thank all the staff and students, particularly LC2’s, not just for this year; but for my five
years here. A special mention to Ms. Piggott, Ms. Murphy and Mr. Healy for all their efforts this year. I
wish all Junior and Leaving certs the very best of luck in the exams!!
Is mise le meas, Rory O’Donoghue