First Year Curriculum 2011-2012

 

We have three First Year classes for 2011-2012.

 

Our curriculum for our incoming students is designed to give students a flavour of many subjects. All the following subjects will be core and studied on a weekly basis.

 

Maths                              Irish                   

English                           History           

Geography                    Religion

CSPE                              SPHE                

French                            Physical Education

Science                          Business       

 Home Economics       Music

Art                                    Computers

 

In April 2012, students will be asked to make up their minds about some subjects they would like to do for Second and Third Year.

 

Parents will receive notification about this.

 

Students will be given a choice of 4 subjects:

Art, Music, Business and Home Economics

They must pick two.

 

 

Seond Year Curriculum, 2011-2012

 

All students take the following subjects:

 

Maths - which is streamed into higher and ordinary level

Irish - which is streamed into higher and ordinary level

 

The following are all mixed ability

English

Geography

History

French

CSPE

Religion

Science

SPHE

 

There are two option lines which have Business, Art, Music and Home Economics

Students must choose two subjects from the four.

 

Third Year Curriculum, 2011-2012

Maths, streamed into Higher and Ordinary Level

Irish, streamed into Higher and Ordinary Level

English

Geography

History

French

Religion

CSPE

Science

SPHE

PE

Choice of two subjects from Business, Home Economics, Music and Art

  

 

 

 SPHE

  

On Tuesday 18th of October 2011, First, Second and Third Years were given a talk about personal safety by Marie Geraghty from Howth Garda Station.

 

 It was very interesting to hear of the dangers of the internet such as cyber bullying which can really upset people.  She also told us that even though you might delete something from your facebook page, it is still owned by facebook so it is always going to be on the internet.  So the Gardai will still be able to find it and then trace you

 

Some First Years told stories of things that happened to them and they had seen, like cyber bullying, nick nack's and strange phone calls. Many people had recieved strange phone calls from people claiming to be from Microsoft and saying that they need to fix their computer. We also learned not to go into the pop-ups that say things like you are the 1,000,000th viewer on are site because they are usually just computer viruses or scams.

 

We also talked about fireworks and bonfires at Halloween and how they are a hazard to people and houses around them. Some people throw fireworks into the bonfire to make it bigger. Also many young children have come too close to fireworks and bonfires and have been scarred, burnt or even killed.  We were taught a lot about personal safety and now we are all much more aware of the small things that can be very dangerous.

 

Altogether, it was a most informative and interesting talk

Sinead McMullen and Nicola smith,

First Years.

 

 

 

First Year English

 

Congratulations to Gillian Hogan,

 from Ms. Rosney’s First Year English class 

 April 2011 and reported in the Northside People, 3 August 2011

 

Gillian was the winner in the age 12-14 category in the "Lets Talk about Drugs Media Awards, 2011". The Awards are organised by the Greater Blanchardstown Response to Drugs with the support of County Dublin VEC, the HSE (drugs.ie), The Dublin People and the City Channel. Full details of the Awards can be found　at www.gbrd.ie.

 

This is a great achievement so well done again, Gillian.

Gillian’s excellent essay on prescription drugs follows

 

Prescription Drugs

Problem or Solution?

 

 

Most people take medicines only for the reasons their doctors prescribe, but some people experiment with prescription drugs because they think they will help them have more fun, lose weight or be smarter in school. Another reason people take prescription drugs is because they want to fit in and everyone else is taking them so they think it will automatically make them cool. They choose prescription drugs because they think they are safer and less addictive than illegal drugs that are sold on the street because children can take them. They are only safe if you take them if you are actually sick though. Doctors give that medication for a reason and will explain about all the side effects. Doctors have told them things not to do while taking the drug, for example, drinking alcohol, smoking or taking other medications. People who don’t go to doctors have no idea of any of this. They also think what they are doing is legal but taking prescription drugs without a prescription or sharing them with friends is actually illegal.

 

Prescription drugs are a lot easier to get than street drugs because they are sold in chemists, friends or family could have some and they are also available on the streets like illegal drugs.

 

A 2009 U.S.A survey from the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention shows that prescription drug abuse is on the rise, with 20% of teens saying they have taken a prescription drug without a doctor's prescription. Teens are not using as much illegal drugs as they were in the 1960’s because they find prescription drugs easier to get. This up coming generation of teens have been given the name “Generation Rx.”

 

Another study in Ireland found that the average age of the first illegal drug use is 14. As well as that, believe it or not, females aged between 12 to 17 are more likely to use prescription drugs for non-medical purposes than males of that same age. Although drug use has lessened slightly in recent years, twice as many teens misuse prescription drugs than adults over 26.

 

Sometimes a person can become addicted without even knowing. They will have a medical condition and use the drug prescribed by their doctor, however over time, they start increasing the dosage because the drug makes them feel better, and the cycle of dependency begins. The warning signs of drug addiction are, tiredness, personality change, mood swings, depression and a general lack of interest in life.

 

The most common prescribed medications are tranquilizers. An addict will sometimes attend many different doctors just to keep getting new prescriptions. Prescription drug addiction tends to be the least reported drug problem. According to Dr. Des Corrigan of the National Advisory Committee on Drugs, 520 people a year die in Ireland from prescription drug abuse. A study also shows that in 2000, about 43 percent of hospital emergency admissions for drug overdoses (nearly 500,000 people!) happened because of misused prescription drugs. As you can see these are very dangerous drugs even though they are used on children.

 

Prescription medicines obviously play an important part in the treatment of many conditions, but when used inappropriately they can be as dangerous as heroin or cocaine so they are generally a solution to illness, but have to be taken correctly.

 

 

Second Year Home Economics

 

Cake Icing and Decorating Demonstration

 

Friday, 17 December 2010

 

Mr. Gary Wickham spent a lovely afternoon demonstrating Cake Icing and decorating to our Second Year Home Economic students. He brought along some beautifully decorated cakes as prizes including a cake decorated as a Paul’s Boutique bag, a leopard skin Mac Makeup bag, Santa stuck up the chimney and also some traditional cakes.

 

Ashley Morris got the opportunity to try her hand at icing and did a lovely job.

 

It was a very educational and most enjoyable afternoon and many thanks to Mr. Wickham.

 

First and Second Year PE, 14 April 2011

All First and Second Years attended the Fingal County Council Exercise: Energise Day held in Sportslink in Santry on 14 April 2011.  The girls tried cricket, ultimate frisbee, cheerleading and hip hop.  The day is co-ordinated by the Sports Office with funding from the Irish Sports Council's Women in Sport initiative.

 

The day promoted physical activity for girls who don't pay sports as a way to encourage them to become more active.

 

Datails of the day were reported in the Summer 2011 edition of the Fingal News.  

 

Many thanks to Mr. Fennell for organising St. Mary's to participate in the event.

 

Third Year CSPE

Childline Talk

St. Maebh's class will receive a talk from Childline today from 11.15 to 12.35 in

the Study Hall.  The talk is part of their Action Project for the CSPE course and has been organised by Mr. Fennell.

 

The class hope to organise a fundraising event in aid of Childline later in the year

 

 

CSPE Action Project - Barnardos

 

St. Brid's CSPE Action Project is based on their chosen charity, Barnardos.

 

There will be a presentation on Friday 21st October 2011by Bernardos in the Study Hall at 1.45 pm. to 3.05 pm.

 

Organised by Mr. Fennell.

 

.

 

Third Year CSPE, 2010-2011

Fundraising for the Cats and Dogs Protection Agency

 

 

Mr. Fennell’s, Third Year CSPE Class, St. Anne ‘s, from St. Mary’s Secondary School, Baldoyle recently organised a fundraising event for the Cats and Dogs Protection Association (CDPA).

 

Mary Gormley from the CDPA came out to talk to the class about the work of the CDPA

 

After the talk, the students decided to organise a cake sale to raise money for the CDPA. They raised €114 which was greatly appreciated by Mary Gormley, as the Cats and Dogs Protection Association of Ireland rely only on voluntary contributions and do not receive any government funding.

 

 

 

Mr. Fennell the class tutor said the students were excellent organising the event and making all the cakes. It was a very worthwhile event and the students expressed a caring attitude towards the cats and dogs that are being ill-treated or need homes in Ireland.

 

 

Kathleen O' Higgins, Honorary Secretary later wrote to confirm how grateful they were regarding the fundraising.

 

 Third Year CSPE Action Project

St. Catherine

Guest Speaker - Garda Sherlock, October 2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Second Year CSPE Action Project, 2010-2011

Make a Wish Foundation – Sharon Dagg

 

Sharon Dagg spoke to the Second Years on 7 April about the work of the “Make a Wish Foundation” and how it was founded. The students viewed DVDs of wishes coming true for a number of children. They also learnt of further examples of wishes coming through in the near future.

 

Sharon also spoke of fundraising ideas for schools and explained the process of granting wishes.

 

The session was followed by a very enjoyable Question and Answer Session.

 

Thanks to Ms. Casey for organising the talk and many thanks to the “Make a Wish Foundation”.

 

Good luck girls with the Action Project.

 

First Year Physical Education, 2010-2011

All First Year Students participated in the Exercise Energise Activity Day in Sportslink, Santry on 29 April 2010.

 

The day is sponsored by Fingal County Council to whom we are very grateful.

 

PE Uniform must be worn.

 

Many thanks to Mr. Fennell for organising the event.

Sky Dome Academy

 

First, Second and Transition Years visit the Sky Dome Academy - Ireland's digital mobile planetarium.  The Planatarium will be based in the Sports Hall on Friday 27 January 2012 and the students will have sessions that last 50 minutes.

 

For further information, see www.skydomeacademy.com

 

The visit has been organised by Ms. Griffin and Mr. Vaughan as part of the Science courses.

 

 

CSPE - Visit to Leinster House - Dail Eireann, 7 October 2009

 

All Second and Third Year Students visiting Leinster House.

 

Organised by Mr. Fennell and accompanied by Ms. Martin.

 

Ms. Maureen O' Sullivan, former teacher and newly elected TD, to bring students on a guided tour as part of the CSPE curriculum

 

They will be accompanied by Mags Gargan from the Irish Catholic and Jennifer O' Leary from the City Channel.

 

Students will depart at 9.40 am and hope to be back to school for about 2.00 pm.

 

This should be a most interesting and informative tour given that Ms. O' Sullivan will be the tour guide.