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Ard Scoil na nDéise "Reaching our Potential with Respect, Care and Friendship" |
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First Year Welcome Evening, Kickboxing Champion, TY Surfing 22nd September 2014 First Year Welcome Evening
On Wednesday, September 17th, our new first years arrived at the school at 7.30pm to enjoy an “Evening of Welcome” with their families. They were greeted by the Cáirde girls who played an integral role on the night. The evening included a prayer service and addresses by the Principal, Dorothy Hughes, the Deputy Principal, Joanne Brosnan and the Learning Support Co-ordinator, Evelyn Simons.
During the prayer service the audience were treated to some lovely musical performances from various first year students. The girls also brought forward symbols from their primary schools to represent the happy years they spent there. Afterwards, the parents had refreshments provided by the parent’s council and they were provided with an opportunity to meet with some of their daughters’ teachers. An enjoyable night was had by all. Ciara Lucey Kickboxing Champion
Pictured is third year student Megan Lennon who became All-Ireland IKF Kickboxing Champion in the Light Middleweight division which was held recently at the Seven Oaks Hotel in Carlow. Megan defeated Leah Cassells, from Belfast, in what was a very tough 5 round bout. Megan, a Fighter of the Year nominee in the annual Irish Kickboxing in 2013, departs for Tuscany, Italy in October to compete at the World Kickboxing Championships. These Unified World Championships are the first of their kind with close to 10,000 competitors expected to take to the ring over a five day period. We at Árd Scoil na nDéise want to congratulate Megan on her achievements and wish her the very best in her endeavours at the upcoming World Championships. TY Surfing On Tuesday the 16th September the Ard Scoil na nDeise transition year students set off in the warm sun on a trip to Tramore, where we went on an interesting nature walk and spent the afternoon attempting to surf on the stunning beach.
When we arrived at the Oceanics Surf School in Tramore our year was divided into two separate groups. The group I was in went on the nature trek first. We were led by a qualified zoologist and tour guide along almost 4km of Tramore’s beautiful coastline. He educated us on the wildlife and history of the area, while giving us opportunities to eat edible plants that grow around the land and showing us spectacular views from the top of the great sand dunes that have been forming for over 10,000 years. When we made it back to the surfing centre we got a chance to catch a bite to eat and gain some energy for our surfing lesson in the afternoon. We made our way to the demonstration area for a quick safety brief and then began the difficult task of putting on the wetsuits. After a while of pulling and dragging the wetsuits, we were ready to get going. One of the instructors demonstrated the steps needed to surf correctly and then we made our way down to the beach. I think it’s safe to say that surfing is a lot easier said than done. Boards were flying all over the place, people toppling off them into the salt water and our three instructors got a good laugh from our inexperience. Many people caught on quite quickly and put the rest of us to shame by catching the waves.
Overall it was an amazing experience and undeniably one I will carry with me for the rest of my life. I would gladly make a fool of myself trying to surf again if it meant I would have a day as wonderful as this one. Everybody was exhausted on the bus journey home but it was well worth the aches and pains we felt. We would be more than ecstatic to go again and hopefully we will get another chance to improve our surfing skills in T.Y! Sinead O’ Donnell |
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