Class Act: Scoil Mhuire, Strokestown
The group taking in the sights of the French capital.
Scoil Mhuire Strokestown vs RCC: The Scoil Mhuire senior lads took on Roscommon Community College in an entertaining challenge game on Friday, November 10th. The game took place on Strokestown GAA pitch, conditions were very difficult with heavy rain throughout the game. Strokestown lead at half time 1-9 to 1-6. It was a tight affair in the second half as RCC got on top at times. Scoil Mhuire finished the game strong with a converted penalty by Stephen Tighe and another goal from Cameran Craughwell to get Scoil Mhuire over the line. Full time score: Scoil Mhuire 3-12 Roscommon Community College 2-13. The lads now face Roscommon CBS in the Connacht Championship.
Congratulations to Callum Clarke, a Second Year student from Tulsk, who received a silver medal at the National Bravery Awards in Farmleigh House on November 10th. Master of ceremonies for the event was Ceann Comhairle Sean O'Fearghail who said ‘the Irish State was recognising and celebrating the noblest impulse in a human being, the impulse to risk our lives in order to save someone else’s.' Callum took swift and brave action in September of 2021 to save his grandad, Séan Stroker, after he got into difficulty whilst fishing on Killina lake. Well done Callum on this incredible award.
Congratulations
Congratulations to Fifth Year student Rachel Quinn who successfully auditioned in May this year to become a member of the Irish National Youth Ballet for the 2023/2024 season. The company has 45 of the best young ballet dancers in Ireland and Rachel was selected through a competitive audition process and joins an elite group of young Irish dancers. Funded by the Arts Council, the company aims to give the best young dancers in Ireland the opportunity to train with brilliant teachers and choreographers and to perform in exciting semi-professional productions throughout the year. The patrons include the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Ms Sabina Higgins and Senator David Norris. INYB is often a stepping stone for young people into the professional life of a dancer and we wish Rachel the very best in the group's upcoming performances, most notably 'Cinderella' on December 8th-10th at the Samuel Beckett Theatre Dublin.
The eagerly-awaited Scoil Mhuire Strokestown trip to Paris saw senior French students and their three French teachers, Ms Cadam, Ms Fowley and Ms Brudell spending four days in the French capital.
Day 1 saw the group discover the Arc de Triomphe,the Champs-Élysées, Place de la Concorde,the Tuileries Gardens, Beaubourg and the Centre Pompidou. The size and scale of these buildings was incredible and we even saw the avenue called after the only Irish president of France- the namesake of one of our students! No relation, we think! Dinner was beside the incredible Pompidou building with all its brightly-coloured pipes on the outside.
On Day 2 they climbed to the second floor of the Tour Eiffel and picked out the famous landmarks on the Parisian skyline. The afternoon was spent in the Quartier Latin (student quarter) at Notre Dame and the oldest part of Paris-the 2 islands in the middle of the Seine. They even saw the sculpture of the French king who supposedly invented school. Merci Charlemagne!
A visit underground to the Memorial to those deported to the death camps during World War 2 was a very moving experience.
That evening was the highlight for many with a boat trip down the Seine to see "Paris la nuit" ,all the illuminated buildings at night.
On Day 3 they passed under the magnificent glass pyramid to discover and admire the treasures of the Louvre. Everyone rushed to see La Joconde (Mona Lisa) and no, they still don't know why she is smiling.
The magnificent Sacré Coeur Basilica was well worth the climb up the hill in Montmartre and everyone lunched and shopped for souvenirs in the pretty little shops near La Place du Tertre. They marked their last evening in Paris with a trip to Lucky Luciano pizzeria where the waiter made all order in French! A lovely chance to relax after all the visits!
On Day 4 the group were the guests of the Paris Town Hall where all saw an art exhibition on sport in the lead up to the 2024 Olympics in Paris. They also had a guided tour through the incredible salons or reception rooms of the Hôtel de Ville and learned about its troubled past while admiring the incredible rooms and ceilings.
The return to the airport ( after a 2nd stop at Sephora!) came too soon but having walked their feet off they all felt that we knew so much more about the city and its people.
During their stay they learned a lot not only about the different Parisian sights but about the traditions and history of the French people. They saw on the Arc de Triomphe the names of Irish generals who had fought for Napoleon. The floral wreaths everywhere reminded all of the upcoming Armistice Day and of the impact of World War 1 on the French. Everywhere the preparations for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris could be seen. The students spoke French and learned how to use the métro. The diaries that were kept in French are a reminder of all that the group did and saw during the trip. Many students will use these diaries as the basis for their Leaving Cert French document. The photos taken will be a reminder forever of the great séjour in Paris. Un grand merci to the teachers, school and parents for all the work put into making all this possible. À la prochaine fois!
Well done to the students of Scoil Mhuire who raised €842 from the recent non-uniform day in aid of the Christmas Shoe Box Appeal. A total of 52 shoe boxes of gifts were also donated to children in countries of Africa and Eastern Europe. Representatives from Team Hope visited the school to collect these donations which will compliment online contributions. The money raised was also used to purchase items such as toothpaste, soap, socks, gloves, colouring pencils, colouring books and games. Well done to all the students and Ms Cribbin for their great work. Your contributions will make a young child smile this Christmas.
