Munster Express Online

On Tuesday 21st September we all gathered in St. Paul’s Church for our mass to celebrate the beginning of our new school year. This mass was celebrated by Fr. Richard and was a lovely occasion. Thanks to all the singers and readers who added to the liturgy.

On Thursday 9th September some of the third year Home Economics students attended a Patchwork Exhibition in Cork Institute of Technology. It was of particular interest for the students who do patchwork for their craft project in the Junior Certificate Exam.

Leaving Certificate students attended the Higher Options Conference in Dublin on Thursday 16th of September.

Our 5th year Home Economics students got an opportunity to participate in the Waterford Harvest Festival. They attended a Sensory workshop held in City Hall on Friday 17th September. This workshop was organised by Slow Food and through a series of sensory journeys the students were guided through the taste, sight, smell, touch and sound of food.

Health and Wellbeing Week: 11th – 15th October. The emphasis was on physical, spiritual and mental well being. Lots of activities were organised for the students, staff and everyone was encouraged to get involved. Some of the activities included Drop Everything and Walk, Aerobics, Yoga, Hip Hop, Salsa and a W.O.T Walk on Thursday. Students and staff walked to school instead of driving or being dropped off.

2nd year: students were involved in organising a Childline Cheerios Breakfast for the 1st year students. This was a great success and enjoyed by all. €390 was raised and is being donated to Childline.

6th year students who are studying History for their Leaving Certificate travelled to Berlin on a 4 day trip beginning on Thursday 7th October. A highlight of the trip was meeting with the Irish Ambassador to Germany, Waterford born Mr. Dan Mulhall. The girls visited the Reichstag, Checkpoint Charlie, the Memorial to the Murdered Jews, the Bradenburg Gate and many more interesting sights.

JCSP: Students. The 2nd year JCSP Group have undertaken A Paired Reading Programme with students in the Presentation Primary School.

3rd year Home Economics students were treated to 2 cookery demonstrations given by Patricia Barry a qualified chef. This was funded by the JCSP Programme.

Our Annual Awards Night took place on Tuesday 19th October. The Mayor of Waterford Counsellor Mary Roche presented awards in many different categories – Art, Sport, History, Music, Speech & Drama, Gaisce, Community Work etc. Congratulations to all of these students.

Hip Hop Dance Competition: Congratulations to Shannon Keane, Emily Shine, Rachel Stott and Rebecca Waring who took part in the Hip Hop World Championships in Bochum, Germany recently. They are members of the Atomic Dance Crew Waterford. They did very well and really enjoy the experience.

Transition Year News: The highlight of the term was undoubtedly the trip to Kilfinane Outdoor Education Centre, Co. Limerick on the 23rd/24th September where twenty four girls attempted indoor rock climbing, kayaking, hill walking and river walking accompanied by Ms. O’ Sullivan and Ms Matthey. While the girls were in Kilfinane the remainder of the group were busy learning to horse ride at Stonehaven Riding Stables. On September 21st we visited Belmont where we were given a tour of the Brothers of Charity facilities by Susan McGill as part of an introduction to the Integrated Physical Education Programme.

Marina Blascu, Ciara Daniels, Lynn Evans and Orlaith Daly participated in a workshop run by the Waterford One World Centre on the Millenium Development Goals and will be visiting Waterford primary schools after midterm to carry out workshops.

Twenty three students have registered for their Bronze Gaisce Award and are currently working on their physical, community and personal skill challenges.

TY Musical – Rehearsals are well underway for this year’s production of the musical “Hairspray” which will be staged on 15th, 16th and 17th February.

The LCA class are very busy organising Team Hope, sending shoe boxes for Christmas, filled with gifts to children in Third World Countries.

Sportsnews;.The Pres Gym has been a hive of activity since the various club training sessions started at the beginning of September. We have eleven sports clubs with training sessions at lunchtime and after school hours: 1st Year, 2nd Year, U16 and U19 Basketball, U13 and U19 Soccer, Camogie, Tag-Rugby, Racquet sports Badminton & Indoor Tennis)Senior Weight and Fitness Training and Athletics ( starting after Christmas holidays)

Soccer News; The U-19 soccer team lost to Ursuline in the first round of the South-East League. Excellent performance from Captain Kerry Rochford and Daisy Mbu in goal.

Basketball Club; The school basketball club have made a fantastic start to the 2010/11 season with a straight 6 wins out of 6.Both teams won their respective National cup games against Cork and Tipperary opposition. The U16 team convincingly beat Abbey CC in the league and the Mercy in a pre-season challenge game. The Seniors recorded a win against Abbey CC in the league and the Ursuline in their pre-season challenge game.

Camogie news; Well done to our camogie team who played in the U16½ blitz held in De La Salle club grounds recently. This is our first time in a number of years having a camogie team in Presentation and they put in some excellent performances in reaching the semi-final. It was a great achievement as our team is made up almost completely of 1st and 2nd years. They displayed some excellent grit and determination in grinding out their three wins. They lost out to Ard Scoil Dungarvan in the semi-final in a very close match that hung in the balance right up to the final whistle.

Overall it was a great day out for our team, with a lot of talented performances from our young squad. Our focus must now return to the first round of the Munster Championship against Blarney which is coming up in the next few weeks.