Eight Skibbereen Community School students participated in the prestigious All Ireland Schools Athletics championships in Tullamore, last weekend.
All had qualified by finishing in the top three in their province and were among over a thousand athletes from more than 300 schools,over the two days of track and field action from minor (u14) to Senior (u19).
All eight students achieved top performances ,with three outstanding performances from field athletes Lorraine Coakley and Katie Kingston and track athlete Caoimhe Flannery.
Lorraine Coakley who had a best throw with a very impressive 9.83m in the Junior(u14) shot ,had the same throw as the gold medal winner ,but Lorraine's second throw was shorter, and so was awarded the silver medal for her mighty efforts.
Katie Kingston participating in the Senior Girls (u19) category ,was 2nd in a highly competitive javelin competition(600g) with a huge throw of 38.05m, with only 67 cms separating the top 3.
Katie was also 6th in the discus(1kg) with a throw of 27.99m
Caoimhe Flannery , ,had a great battle with last year's champion and eventual winner from Loreto Dalkey ,before finishing in 2nd place in a PB of 5;10.4.
Both Katie and Caoimhe will be eligible for this competition, for the next two years.
Other SCS athletes results;
Adam O'Donovan (Intermediate ) 4th in Javelin and 7th in Shot.
Elaine O'Sullivan (Intermediate) 7th in Javelin and Diana Coakley (Intermediate) 4th in Hammer
Sam Kingston (Junior) 6th Javelin and Evan O'Sullivan 7th in Javelin.
The School Community would like to wish all our Junior and Leaving Cert Students the very best of luck in their exams which start tomorrow!
Please be early on the first morning to familiarize yourself with your exam centre and the process.
Make sure to have a copy of your exam timetable on prominent display in your home and check it regularly.
Make sure to have all the proper writing materials with you, Pens, Rulers, Maths Sets, Log Tables and Calculators etc.
Bring a packed lunch as there are no canteen facilities available.
You may sign out between exams but make sure you arrive back in plenty of time.
Full uniform should be worn as clothing should not be a distraction!
SCS is delighted to be involved in the JCSP programme. JCSP stands for Junior Certificate Schools Programme. The aim of JCSP is to develop students’ literacy, numeracy, group work and communicating skills. It ensures that students actively participate in their learning.
JCSP students participated in several initiatives this past school year.
All second-year students went on a trip to the cinema in December to see the movie Wonka.
All second year SPHE students attended a Bullying workshop in SCS, by Bully4u.
As part of students’ wellbeing, yoga mats were purchased for students’ use for meditation, across several year groups.
The Science & Engineering departments obtained additional resources & materials to improve student learning.
Third year art students went on an art trip to see the ‘Ardú’ street art trail in Cork city and saw murals in several locations around the city.
Ms. O’Sullivan’s second year SPHE class have been very busy creating, designing, and decorating the JCSP notice board in SCS, informing us of what initiatives SCS students were involved in.
Well done second years, they did an excellent job designing and decorating the JCSP notice board in SCS. As a thank you for all their work, Miss Roberts, (JCSP coordinator) gave them some treats!
Wishing you all a fantastic summer.
Classes for all 3rd and 6th Years finish on Thursday, May 30th at 3.50pm.
Exams for all 1st, 2nd and 5th years will finish at 12.10pm on Friday, May 31st. Buses will depart shortly afterwards.
Students are asked to clear out their lockers and put any rubbish in the nearby bins.
Junior Cycle and Leaving Cert State Exams Start on Wednesday, June 5th
Tips for before, during and after a State Exam
What to do the night before an exam
Check the times of exams the next day - don’t assume or guess!
Pack your bag and pencil case carefully; gather your pens, pencils, eraser, maths sets, calculator, coloured pencils, and markers.
Don’t forget you can’t ask for these during the exam.
Make sure to write in blue and black pens only: make sure you have these and spare pens packed.
Go back over what your teachers told you with regards to layout of the paper and timing. When you go in the next day, you should know how many questions you must do on each paper and allow time for each one.
What to do on the day of the exam
Be organised: get up on time, give yourself plenty of time to eat breakfast, and get to school before 9am
Wear your uniform, clothing should not be a distraction!
Calm yourself before you begin - breathe!
Focus: try to see the exam as a chance for you to prove what you know.
Be smart: remember your exam paper has thousands of words on it which can give you clues, such as the right spellings to use for answers throughout the exam: use it to your advantage!
What to do during the exam
At the start of the exam:
Read the questions with your pen in your hand and underline key things you must answer
Present information well to maximise your grades - presentation is key.
When answering questions:
Read and check back over the question again to make sure you are answering exactly what is asked
Remember to use diagrams in subjects where they are either required (such as on the Geography paper) or to add context to your answer
Read back over your answers when you finish a section
Stay the distance: each exam is timed for a reason, so don’t leave early.
If you have spare time:
Do an extra question; remember, all material must be corrected by the examiner
Keep writing; you are permitted to extend and develop your answers by indicating on the paper what the extra information relates to (such as by writing “extra information for question 2”).
If you are running out of time:
Make a list of the remainder points you would include in an answer if you don’t have time to finish it in full
List the points you would make if you are short an answer to a question: a few points are better than nothing.
What to do after the exam:
Stay on track. Try to not to discuss the exam paper with your fellow students: you are all different and comparing could lead to upset and could distract you from your next paper.
Get something to eat and enjoy some fresh air.
Go into quiet room and relax for the afternoon exam.
Enjoy a good break in the evening. Try and refocus by getting some fresh air or exercise and then move your focus on the following day’s exams.
Congratulations to our First year Girls Football team and their coaches, Ms. Kate O Donovan, Ms. Anna Ward, Ms. Ella Ryan and Mr. Ger Carey on winning the County Championship today in Ballincollig. They beat Mitchelstown on a score line of 2-11 to 1-4. They are a fantastic bunch who trained throughout the winter in very difficult conditions. We are very proud of their success and we wish to thank the girls, their coaches, their clubs and coaches and their parents for all their support this year.
Congratulations to all our TY students who finished today. Their year’s work was acknowledged in a lovely Awards Ceremony which they themselves helped organise and host. Many thanks to Mr. Conor Uhl. TY Coordinator, Ms. Ellma Ní Shuilleabháin, Year Head, Ms. Mary Belton, Deputy Principal, Ms. Colette Brennan, Music Department and the musicians, Ms. Mary Kelleher Fowler, Ms. Margaret Maloney and Ms. Ciara Walsh, Admin Staff, the Canteen and BAM team for all their efforts in making today such a wonderful occasion. Some pics below:
The School Community would like to congratulate the Leaving Cert Class of 2024 on their graduation today. It was a befitting occasion for an incredible Year Group. We wish them all the very best of luck in their upcoming exams. Many thanks to Ms. Mary Rose O Brien, Chaplain, Ms. Karen Sheane, Year Head, Ms. Colette Brennan, Music Department and the Musicians, Singers and Choir, Ms. Mary Kelleher Fowler, Ms. Margaret Maloney and Ms. Ciara Walsh, Admin Staff, the Canteen and BAM team for all their efforts in making the graduation such a wonderful occasion. Many thanks to all their teachers, SNA’s and Parents/Guardians who supported and guided them over the last six years. Some pics of the day below:
Sincere thanks to our fantastic past students Kate Barry and Blaithín Roberts who visited SCS to talk about their experiences of studying Radiography at Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen Scotland.
The girls were full of advice for our senior students on making a UCAS application and preparing for study abroad.
Every best wish to Kate and Blaithín.
Congratulations to our Junior Ladies Football Team who were crowned County “A” Champions yesterday. They beat Mount Mercy, Cork City in Bandon on a scoreline of 6-20 to 4-15. It was an incredible achievement and it followed in the footsteps of our Senior Ladies County win last Friday. It has been a long hard campaign and we wish to thank the panel for all their efforts all season. We wish to particularly thank the coaches, Ms. Anna Ward, Mr. Ger Carey, Ms. Ella Ryan and Ms. Kate O Donovan for all their time and sacrifice. Many thanks to our local clubs and coaches, parents, school staff and sponsor Damien Long Travel. SCS Abú!
Sincere thank you to Matthew Brownie of the Skibbereen Food Company who took the time to visit Skibbereen Community School last week to speak to Transition Year Food & Hospitality & Mini Company students.
Matthew gave a very informative talk; how he worked as a professional chef in several restaurants, in many countries, from New Zealand, across Europe & Ireland.
He explained how the idea for Scratch my Pork was born in 2013, to the establishment of a very successful company with an ever-growing selection of tasty & tempting snacks.
In 2022 he won mini–Snack Company of the Year. Matthew Brownie also won the Best Small Business award in 2023. The Skibbereen Food Company has very quickly grown from strength to strength.
Matthew kindly brought in several of his latest products for the Transition Year students to sample, Nibbly Wibbly’s, corn baked snacks and Air-Dried steaks, lean beef slices, to mention but a few!
The students thoroughly enjoyed his inspiring talk, and we in Skibbereen Community School wish Matthew ever success in the future with his thriving business.
Thank you again Matthew.
Pictured below are some 4th year students litter picking this week.
Many thanks to Mr. Jerome Dwyer Skibbereen Tidy Towns, Cork County Council and Ms. Orla O’Sullivan for organising.
5th year students completed the Leaving Cert Ecology Field Study in Fota wildlife park at the beginning of May.
Despite the weather not being the most pleasant, students were very enthusiastic and enjoyed the day's activities - learning as they went.
They were able to look at both biotic and abiotic factors and their influence on the habitat and carry out the quantitative and qualitative studies of the habitat.
The day ended with a very informative presentation in the Parks new lecture facilities.
Thank you to Ms. Burchill, Ms. Quirke and Ms. Pauline O’Callaghan who accompanied the students on the day.
All second year students have been busy in this last term in Science.
They have had to propose a hypothesis based on a research question. They then test this hypothesis by experiment and finally present their findings in a written report.
Students enjoyed the experience and will have learned lots of different skills in the process.
Pictured below are the students at work:
Another great day for SCS students:
* Diana Rose Coakley - Intermediate - 1st in hammer 42.20m, 5th in discus 27.51m.
* Lorraine Coakley - Junior - 1st in shot 9.50m, 4th in javelin 26.39m.
* Katie Kingston - Senior - 1st discus 30.11m, 1st javelin 35.39m.
* Caoimhe Flannery - Senior - 1st in 1500m steeplechase 5:12:85.
* Elaine O’Sullivan - Intermediate - 1st in javelin 30.44m.
* Ciara Delaney - Senior - 3rd in 400m 1:00:97, 4th in 800m 2:27:11.
* Adam O’Donovan - Intermediate - 2nd in javelin 40.08m, 2nd in shot 13.15m.
* Sam Kingston - Junior - 2nd in javelin 34.00m.
* Evan O’Sullivan - Junior - 3rd in javelin 33.69m.
The top 3 have now qualified for the All Ireland Track and Field in Tullamore on Fri/Sat 31st May/June 1st.
Congratulations & well done to all.
Congratulations to our Senior Ladies Football Team on being crowned Cork County “A” Champions on Friday last. They beat Coláiste Choilm, Ballincollig in the final. They are a fantastic panel who put in a very hard season with a lot of wet winter evenings. Thankyou girls for a great year. You have done yourselves, your school, your families and your clubs extremely proud. Many thanks to the coaching team of Ms. Ella Ryan, Ms. Anna Ward, Mr. Ger Carey and Ms. Kate O Donovan who volunteered so much of their time afterschool and who arranged friendly matches during the school holidays. Many thanks to leaving certs Amy and Laura who have given our school six years of service. We wish you all the very best in your upcoming exams. Many thanks also to our local clubs, club coaches, parents, school staff, sponsor Damien Long Travel for all their support all year. This is a fantastic achievement for all!!
6th Years marked their end of year with a “Beach Day” at the Warren Strand on Friday afternoon. There was a sandcastle competition, a first down run in swim, beach rugby, football and plenty of ice cream! Many thanks to Ms. Karen Sheane, Year Head, Ms. Rosie O Brien, Chaplain, Ms. Bernie Hegarty, SNA, Jellyfish Surfshop for the prizes, Sunny Ice-Creams, Damien Long Travel and Michael Deegan and Liam Murphy, Lifeguards.
The entire TY Year Group had breakfast together on Thursday morning to celebrate a fantastic year of work. The event was organised by Mr. Conor Uhl, TY Coordinator, Ms. Ellma Ní Shuilleabháin, Year Head and Ms. Mary Belton, Deputy Principal as a means of thankyou to the students for all their efforts this year. They start summer exams on Monday, May 20th and their graduation ceremony is on Thursday, May 23rd where they get a chance to showcase their year’s work.
Pictured today are our second years taking part in a bike maintenance workshop with Cycle Sense for National Bike Week, sponsored by Cork Sports Partnership.
Skibbereen Community School is delighted to be known as a cycling hub.
Thanks to Ms. Ruth Balla and Ms. Katie Mann for facilitating and to Ms. Orla O’Sullivan and Mr. Tom Foley for organising.
Some of our SCS senior ladies participated in an invitational seven aside blitz in University of Limerick on Thursday, 2nd May.
The girls performed extremely well, winning both their group games to progress to a cup semi final where they lost out narrowly.
Congratulations to all involved.
