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Roscommon County Council Anti Litter Campaign

On Thursday, March 27th, the Transition Year anti litter group, alongside the two stars of the video and a representation of the Green Schools committee, travelled to Roscommon to participate in the County Council Anti Litter Campaign. The process to enter this contest had been started in 2013, when the Transition Year class helped film a short movie during December, creating the slogan “Be the solution, not the pollution.”

Once the team arrived at the Roscommon Arts Centre, the contest began with a speech from the project lead and from the County Council’s mayor. After this, all eight submitted films were shown in the theatre, which lead into movie style trailers involving behind the scenes pictures from each project. All eight participating films won awards in some category (Hosted by iRadio’s Steven Cooper), ranging from acting, originality, props and best message. Saint Nathy’s won the award for Best Message, and then proceeded to win the Best Film category.

The film will be shown before movies in Carrick Cinema over the summer season. After the awards were presented, the team got onto the bus and returned back to school, now triumphant with two trophies.

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Auf Wiedershen

On Thursday, April 1st, the Transition Year students from St. Nathy’s College spent their last day with their German exchange partners from Gymnasium Lenoninum Handrup. The day started off with a tour around St. Nathy’s College. This was followed by the students attending a class with their exchange partners.

The German group, were then introduced to an enjoyable game of tag rugby. Everyone involved in the exchange then made their way done to the refectory where Fr. Surlis treated everyone to dinner. It was then time to travel to Lough Key Forest Park in Boyle, where everyone the Lough Key Experience.

It was then time for The Farewell Party.

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Irish Angus Producer Group Schools Competition

On Thursday last, four third year students took part in a competition being run in Mullingar by the Irish Angus Producer Group. It was the second round of the competition, open to students completing their Leaving Certificate in 2016. 15 groups had been shortlisted, from the 60 that had applied.

The original round involved writing a short piece, on different aspects of Angus cattle, while the second round involved the students giving a five to seven minutes presentation, on a chosen topic, about the breed. This was presented to six people from the following companies: ABP, Kepak, Bord Bia and the Angus Society. The topic selected was the marketing of Angus beef and the St. Nathy’s group highlighted the need to promote Angus abroad. This promotion would involve marketing Angus beef to holiday makers coming to Ireland and by encouraging top hotels and chefs to use the products in their restaurants. They also suggested the Angus Producer Group should include a stand at all local shows and local marts to highlight the financial potential of the breed at a local level. Other areas mentioned were quality assurance and the reduced carbon footprint from Angus cattle.

The winners of this stage will be announced in the coming weeks and the prize is an Angus calf for each student which they will rear over the course of two years and include as part of their project in Agricultural Science.

The students would like to thank everyone who helped them prepare for the competition, especially their English teacher Ms McCann, IT teacher Mr. O'Sulleabhain and Science teacher Mr Dolan.

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SciFest at St. Nathy’s College

  St. Nathy’s College, Ballaghaderreen, held their first SciFest@school, Science Fair, on Friday 28^th February 2014. All First Year students (116) entered. A total of 48 interesting and innovative projects (7 individual and 41 group) were submitted, dividing evenly into two categories: 1. Physical Sciences/Technology 2. Life Sciences [one_half]

On the day of the Fair, there was a great buzz around the school. The First Year students entered the P.E. hall before 9a.m., full of excitement and enthusiasm. They eagerly got to work, proudly displaying their projects on their allocated tables and wall space.

Next came the judging! Six experts, from the fields of industry and education were roped in to help with this difficult task. Each judge was initially assigned eight projects. All six judges were impressed with the standard of the projects and even more so by the enthusiasm with which the students answered their questions and described their findings.

The judges then met and discussed and debated the merits of the various projects. Selected projects had up to three more visits from the judges before final decisions could be made and winners agreed.

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Following the initial round of judging, Second Year students came to visit the exhibits before lunch and students from the local Primary school (5th and 6th classes, St. Attracta’s N.S.) came after lunch.

A representative from Sligo I.T.’s Life Sciences Dept. (Dr. Eadaoin Tyrrell) set up a really interesting stand, with lots for the students to see and do. A student favourite was a device to measure their “Grasp” strength!

In addition to the Sligo I.T. stand there was an Information Desk with a wealth of literature and information on everything from common diseases to healthy eating and science courses to sustainable energy. There was also a Competitions Desk with puzzles and crosswords. Small prizes (pens, pencils, rulers etc) were given to any student who made a good attempt at one of the competitions. The entries were then raffled for larger prizes.

Parents were invited to attend for the Awards ceremony, which was at 3p.m. For the first time in the day, the students fell silent. A total of 53 awards were presented, from the top award of First Year Scientist of the Year, St. Nathy’s College, 2014, to 24 Medals of Merit. All students received a Certificate of Participation. The prizes were presented by Bishop Brendan Kelly, Patron of St Nathy’s College, which added to the importance of the day.

The top five projects will now go forward to SciFest at Sligo I.T. to be held in May 2014.

The day was a great success. It was wonderful to see so many students speaking so enthusiastically about their science projects. The students really enjoyed the experience and hopefully this interest in science will remain with them and continue to grow as they progress through St. Nathy’s College!

The Science Fair would not have been possible without the support of a large number of People and Organisations. In particular I would like to thank the local business community: Towey’s Newsagents, McHugh’s Wholesale, Butler’s Steel, FDK Engineering, Aurivo, First class Office and Dooney’s Men’s Wear for providing  funding, prizes and refreshments.

I would also like to thank the Judges, who gave generously of their time and the TY students who were a fantastic help on the day. Last, but not least, I would like to thank Sheila Porter, National Co-ordinator of SciFest, and the Institute of Physics in Ireland who provided prizes and valuable advice for the day.

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Tribute to Fr Finan.

A cornucopia of gifts; eloquence, friendliness, humour, kindness and wisdom were his essence but at the heart of all lay the gift of Priesthood. Added to his knowledge of St. Augustine and Aquinas was his ability to penetrate the language of Pop and Rock music and find in them the subtext of spirituality, imagery and human longing.

To his students at St. Nathy’s he would unveil the great beauty of language. He once asked a third year class to ‘compare and contrast, John Donne, ‘No Man is an Island’ with Simon and Garfunkel, ‘I am a Rock, I am an Island’. ‘Did a boy yawn in my class?’ he asked. He would draw on the Jazz and Blues music of Ronnie Scotts, the stormy seas and skies of Turner, the Neo-Impressionism of Seurat and Modern Art style that allowed the image to evolve spontaneously on the canvas. Who indeed could yawn in his class?

In his final heroic days silence and stillness descended.

Through his priesthood he communicated faith, discipleship and the great diversity of grace and life. He had a solemn sense of priesthood in his ministry in this community and in the parish of St. Joan of Arc, Highbury, London, where he ministered for thirty years during his summer breaks from teaching. Small places are blessed to have gifted and spiritual priests in their midst.

This was the gift given to us in Ballaghaderreen and in St. Nathy’s College for thirty one years in the person of Fr. Andrew Finan.

May he rest in peace. By A Friend.

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