Congratulations to 4th Year Mini Company

Congratulations to Fast Rollin’ who came second overall for stand presentation at the SLSS Mini Company Regional Final in the Tower Hotel, Tallaght. The company provides a delivery service for students who wish to purchase a roll for their lunch. Jack Scullion, Amy Byrne, Gareth Hogan, Claudia Govea, Rebecca Ryan, Frank Snell, Paddy Harney and their teacher Olivia McCarthy had worked very hard. Five projects represented the school very well. Well done to all those involved but most especially Fast Rollin'.

Faith in Action

The Transition Year Religion programme has been working on a variety of Faith in Action projects such as visiting a Nursing home, working with a confirmation class, making meditation pillows, models of places of worship, Passover and symbols of world religions. Brigit Gilligan, Dublin Diocesan Advisor examined students on their work. We then held an exhibition of the students work which was attended by members of the Kilcullen Faith Development Group, Parish Council and Fr. Michael Murphy. Brigit Gilligan then presented each student with a certificate. Congratulations to all the students and their teachers Ms. Mills, Ms. Burke and Mr. Dennehy for all their hard work in assisting the students in this very valuable work.

Afri Social Justice workshop

On Friday 27th February we went to a social justice workshop facilitated by Afri Ireland in The Derby House Hotel, Kildare. It was based on conflict, resources and displacement. On arrival we were introduced to the workshop by the students of Presentation Secondary School, Kildare through a drama they had prepared. We then participated in an icebreaker before the keynote speaker Richard Moore talked to us. He told us how he had been blinded by a rubber bullet and how that had turned his life around, inspiring him to set up the organisation called Children in Crossfire. We then chose from Campaigning strategies, Music, Media/Film or Art workshops. I chose to do the music workshop where we learned about protest songs. As a group, we wrote a song inspired by Richard Moore and performed it in front of the other groups. It was a very enjoyable day and I am very glad I took part in it. Written Brogan B. Jones.

Pictures to follow.

Log On Learn

A group of Transition Year students are working with people in our community to teach computer skills. This is a project developed by Intel in which students ‘buddy up’ with a person who wishes to learn how to use a computer. This one on one teaching and learning experience is proving very beneficial for both the student tutors and people acquiring these useful new skills. They learn everything from how to turn the computer on to shopping online. A catering committee provide refreshments during the well earned break. Well done to everyone involved.

YSI Speak Out Forum

Our Young Social Innovators classes attended the Speak Out Forum in Griffith College. Over three hundred students from a variety of Leinster schools were in attendance. Each group had the opportunity to present their issue through a medium of their choice such as drama, poetry, music or mime. Sr. Stan, Rachel Collier and Joan Burton TD congratulated the students on their hard work. Our students Kim Fallon, Eoin Moore and Muireann Barton sang and played for the opening act receiving huge applause. The day ended with Miracle Bell performing their latest two singles. It was a wonderful experience which inspired students to continue with their efforts to change the world for good.

Transition Year Mini Company

All Transition Year students participated in the Mini Company programme. We had our CPC Trade Fair where each group had the chance to display their work. Five groups were picked to represent the school at the regional final in the Tower Hotel Tallaght. Judges Simon Holohan, of Dunmurry Springs Golf Club, Kildare, SMX Consulting and Border Sports and Des Groome, Chairman of Kildare Chamber of Commerce and of Groome Pet Vets, Kildare, Newbridge and Portarlington were very impressed by the standard of work the students had engaged in. Zaapees a company selling personalised hoodies, Fast Rollin’ a sandwich roll delivery service, I want Candy a sweet shop, BC32K producing a music CD and Spark’d a year book production company were all chosen to represent the school.

Kildangan Stud Visit

On Thursday 5th March, Mr. Dowling brought a group of students to Kildangan Stud.
When we arrived we were greeted by Clodagh Kavanagh, General Manager of Darley Flying Start which is a Management Training Program for the Bloodstock industry. Before our tour of the stud, Clodagh explained what we would be doing on our visit. We saw their gallops, loading bays, stables and their top stallions. Our tour guide Tom explained what takes place throughout the year at Kildangan and also a year in the life of a stallion.
After our tour and when we had seen the likes of Raven’s Pass (Champion miler of last year) we went to see a slideshow on Darley Flying Start. This gave us an insight into what happens on the course and an idea of where graduates of the course have gained employment.
This was a very enjoyable trip. We would like to express our thanks to Mr. Dowling, Clodagh and Tom and the rest of the staff at Kildangan.
Words by Louise Conway, pictures by Adam Carroll.

Students in EU Debate at Dublin Castle

Cross and Passion College was among 30 secondary schools from around Ireland that participated in the annual Model European Council debate in Dublin Castle on Tuesday 24 March. Each school took on the role of a different EU Member State to debate a proposal for an EU directive on renewable energy targets (namely that all EU Member States should produce 50% of their energy from renewable energy sources by 2020). Transition year students Jamie Pounch, Zanab Afolabi and Jack Scullion from CPC were representing Slovakia and took the view that it would not be possible for their country to reach such a target in such a short space of time.

The Model European Council was officially opened by Minister for European Affairs, Mr Dick Roche T.D., the Czech Ambassador to Ireland Mr. Tomás Kafka and the Director of the European Commission Representation in Ireland, Mr Martin Territt. The debate was chaired by Ruair Quinn T.D.

The event which is now in its third year has been organised by the European Commission Representation in Ireland.

You can view entire proceedings by clicking HERE