| Feb.
27th
All Ireland Junior Camogie Semi Final 
Best of luck to the Junior Camogie team who will play St. Mary’s Grammar School, Magherafelt in the Junior Camogie All-Ireland Semi-Final on Friday at 12 noon. The venue is Tynagh pitch. Ash Wednesday Next Wednesday, 1st March, is Ash Wednesday – the beginning of Lent. The ashes are an annual reminder to each one of us that we came from the earth and we return to the earth. Lent is a reminder to us all that in many life situations there will be no resurrection experience without a prior death experience. The word ‘Lent’ comes from the Anglo-Saxon Leneten, meaning Spring. It is a reference to the time of year when the days begin to lengthen, marking both Spring in Nature and our own Spiritual renewal within. On Wednesday morning at 9 a.m. there will be a blessing and distribution of Ashes in Suaimhneas – also at 11.20 a.m. and during lunch time. All are welcome.
Trocaire 24 Hour Fast Many thanks to all the students who have decided to take part in this years 24 hour fast. Please remember that Juniors must have their parents consent before embarking on this challenge. I would also hope that students would act responsibly and if at any stage you feel dizzy or light-headed or weak, eat something straight away. Drink lots of fluids and when finished the fast have something light such as soup or tea and toast. If all the money is collected by St. Patrick’s Day our school goes into a draw for two walk-on parts in RTE’s ‘Fair City’ or a Multi Media Computer System for our school. The Philippines is the focus of attention for 2006, so lets collect as much as we can and well done to all concerned. Fr. Abe.
Strasbourg Trip
Ten Transition Year students from Portumna Community School had a fabulous time in Strasbourg from the 6th to the 9th of February inclusive. The students were awarded the trip for having taken first place in a European Studies competition organised by Ms. Delores Stinson, who is co-ordinator of the European Studies initiative. This is a joint initiative by the respective Departments of Education in Northern and Southern Ireland. The theme of our project entry was that European Studies should be compulsory in all schools in Europe. Thanks to Delores for her impeccable organisational skills and the full itinerary that gave all of the students a raft of first-rate educational experiences. Our group consisted of three schools from Northern Ireland and three from Southern Ireland.
Day 1: After a pleasant flight the group arrived in Frankfurt and we then transferred by coach to our Hotel in Strasbourg.
Day 2: The students were given a two hour guided tour of Strasbourg. We moved through mazy cobbled stone streets with typical 18th century Alsace-Lorraine houses that have been beautifully preserved. Our guide was excellent giving us a detailed version of the history and culture of the region. We arrived at the Cathedral of Strasbourg where we spent several minutes being impressed with the ornate gothic architecture and the scale of the building that took three centuries to build. The students were given an opportunity to meander the streets and shop for three hours. We were transferred by coach to take part in bowling and returned to the Hotel for dinner, after which the students took part in a quiz based on European issues.
Day 3: We arrived at the European Parliament before 9 a.m. After a thorough security check, the students were brought to the M.E.P. Chamber and were briefed on voting, protocol and other procedures. The 650 students, from all over Europe, spent some time working on various issues in plenary sessions in smaller groups. Later they returned to the chamber to present the issues to the entire student body who voted electronically on each issue after some debate. Stephanie Blake introduced our school in German to the entire European Parliament Delegation. She explained about Transition Year in our school and how it gives students an opportunity to engage in various projects and that we had just finished our Musical, ‘The Sound of Music’, which gave us a special insight into European Studies, World War II and the culture of Austria. She also explained to the delegation that our theme in Portumna Community School was to promote the involvement of youth in the decision-making process at European level. The Dutch speaker praised the content of Stephanie’s speech and she received rapturous applause from the delegation.
The tour was a unique learning experience for our students and it gave them the opportunity of enhancing citizenship education on a wider stage. It highlighted the importance of co-operation of the participants of the European Community, as it allows them to explore each others’ countries, cultures, ways of thinking, living and also to learn to understand and appreciate them better. It has given the pupils and the teachers the opportunity to broaden their horizons in sharing different practices across a variety of schools in Europe. Finally, I would like to commend my colleagues from Northern Ireland as they were a pleasure to work with and their students were great ambassadors from their communities. Thanks to Ms. Masterson and Mr. Coughlan who accompanied our students on the trip and made the experience possible. J. Coughlan.
Congratulations to Cathy Abberton (5th Yr.) who participated in the Regional Final of the Soroptimist International Girls Public Speaking Competition.
Dail Na N’Og
Two students, Sarah Dolly and James Burke have been chosen by the school to be delegates at Dail na nOg 2006 (the National Youth Parliament). The event will be held on Saturday, 25th March in Croke Park, Dublin, between 10 a.m. and 4.45 p.m. and will be hosted by the Minister for Children, Mr. Brian Lenihan T.D. The purpose of the event is to give young people from around the country an opportunity to come together and discuss some of the issues affecting their lives and to ensure that their concerns are heard by the decision makers in the Government.
Portumna Camogie Club
Registration evening tonight (24th ) between 6 and 7 p.m. in the G.A.A. pitch Dressing Rooms. All girls wishing to play Camogie are asked to attend. Registration fees are €13 for U16s and €25 for over 16s.
Higher Options All fifth year and LCA1 students will be travelling to the Conference Centre, Croke Park on Monday morning to Ireland’s largest Career, Education and Skills Showcase – FAS Opportunities 2006.
Rugby
Well done to the U14 Rugby teams who travelled to St. Mary’s, Galway on Wednesday last to challenge some of the big names in Rugby in a Blitz competition. The first team won our their group winning all four games against Calasanctius, Clifden, Athenry and Garbally. Craig O’Meara and Michéal Dervan were the heroes on this occasion. The younger U14 team, made up of 1st years, won one of their four games with a hat-trick of tries scored by Michael Dalton and one by Brian Mannion. Well done all. R. O Tuairisg
Teams: Kevin Callagy, Michéal Dervan, Brian Dolphin, Dermot Duffy, Niall Finnegan, Brian Gordon, Colin Leahy, Frank Lillis, Seamus McDonagh, Craig O’Meara, Raffaele Lagana, Ger Headd, Barry Glynn, Niall Larkin, Johnathon Cormican, Brian Mannion, Padraic Reddan, Christopher Gohery, Patrick Loughnane, Alan Madden, Keith Flynn, Keith O’Sullivan, Edmund McDonagh, Niall Dervan.
Today In History
1836 – 3,000 Mexicans attack 182 Texans at Alamo, lasts 13 days.1924 – Mahatma Gandhi released from jail.1964 – Cassius Clay defeated Sonny Liston for the heavyweight boxing title
Did you know that on this day in 1947.... it started snowing and it was so cold that the snow and ice stayed on the ground for seven weeks. People were able to walk across parts of the Shannon on the ice! A few (courageous or mad? – you decide) even went across to Terryglass.
Reminder Students, Monday is the last day to bring in your photographs for the S.E.I. Photo competition on ‘How to combat climate change’.L. O’Sullivan
Dates for your Diary: (25th Feb. – 3rd March)
Congratulations to the Portumna senir hurlers on reaching the All-Ireland club final Junior Camogie Team are Connacht Champions
Congratulations to our junior camogie team who won the Connacht final against St. Brigid's, Loughrea on Monday afternoon ..report to follow
Donie O' Meara presenting a set of tops to the schools senior hurling squad
What a week it has been here in school for everyone involved with the production of ‘The Sound of Music’. Following the dress rehearsal on Monday night the cast had their first taste of a live audience on Tuesday when the took the stage before more than 400 primary school pupils from the locality. On Wednesday we had the second ever cabaret style evening with local community groups, families and friends enjoying the outstanding performance from the large cast of Transition Year students. Last night again the large audience were most appreciative of the great night’s entertainment. The final performance takes place this evening at 8pm with a few tickets still available. For anyone without a ticket we would advise coming as early as possible as there just the few seats remaining. Well done to the cast at the production team on yet again pulling out all the stops to provide the school and wider community with such a great night’s entertainment.
Past Pupil’s Sports Star Awards
Sports Stars honoured During the interval of Wednesday night’s performance we had a unique presentation to recognise the outstanding sporting achievements of a number of our past pupils. The seven honoured were presented with a specially commissioned plaque designed and made by local man Brian Murray. Those honoured were: Andrew Keary and Keith Kilkenny – winners of two All-Ireland minor medals. John Muldoon, Connacht rugby player of the year, Ailbhe Kelly and Lourda Kavanagh – Connacht Tribune and Galway Bay FM Camogie players of the year, Damian Hayes and Ollie Canning name recently on the All-Star team. Well done to all on your wonderful sporting achievements and may your success continue. A photograph of the group can be seen on the school website: www.portumnacs.com
Thanks As the curtain falls on the musical for another year, I want to express my thanks to the students, the parents and the staff for the excellent co-operation which made the presentation of the show possible. We enjoyed four outstanding performances from Transition Year 2006; I thank and compliment them. They have left us with many great memories of ‘The Sound of Music’ and they have left a high standard for T.Y. 2007 to follow. Derry Long.
Maths Competition
Congratulations to our students that took part in the Team Maths Competition for Leaving Certificate Honours Maths students which was held last week in St. Joseph’s Secondary School, Galway. Our teams did us proud: from the eighteen teams Tadhg Reddan’s team came joint 3rd and Orla Hayes’ team (1 point less) came 4th. Thanks to Mr. Long for the cash prize and our thanks also to the parents who brought the teams to Galway. Joint 3rd – Tadhg Reddan (Capt.), Richael O’Brien, Lorcan Farrell, Robert Watson.! 4th – Orla Hayes (Capt.), Sarah Kiely, John K. Leahy, Conor O’Hare.
M. Geraghty & B. Larkin.
Senior Hurling Portumna C.S. 7-11 St. Marys 3-7
The Portumna C.S. Senior Hurling team won their Senior Championship Quarter Final yesterday(2nd) against St. Mary’s College, Galway by a convincing margin. Marys opened the score with a point from play after two minutes and Portumna responded with a goal from Joe Canning. James Lynch added to this with a fantastic point and a goal. The Portumna team kept the pressure on and dominated throughout the game which finished on a score line of 7-11 to 3-7. Details of the Semi-Final to follow.
1st Yr. Singing
Singing sessions begins next Wednesday, 8th Feb., 4.00 – 5.00 p.m. with Ms. Treeny Hogan-Canning. Class is full but anyone wishing to go on a waiting list please give your name to your Tutor.
I.S.P.C.C.
As part of our 1st year Action Project for C.S.P.E. we decided to raise money for the I.S.P.C.C. and we did this by selling Holly and Dustin badges before Christmas. We raised €155 and thank you to everyone who bought badges. Last Friday (27th) a speaker from the Galway Branch of the I.S.P.C.C. talked to us about the group. We then presented her with the money we had collected. Ronan Carter
Youth Club
Galway Youth Federation are organising a local Games competition to decide who will go forward to represent the region at the area games and possibly the National games. Last year the Table Tennis team represented Portumna in Limerick at National level. This year the Youth Club have 4 teams entered in the competition – Table Tennis (capt. Ronan Royston), U18 5-a-side soccer (capt. Keith Finnerty), U15 5-a-side soccer (capt. Brian Gordon) and Freestyle Hip Hop. Damian Coleman has kindly offered to come to Youth Club to coach the 5-a-side teams on Friday, 10th and 17th Feb. so we would ask the team captains to ensure your teams are present. Helen and Edel Fallon will be at Youth Club on Fri. 17th to instruct and give advice to the Hip Hop team. We would sincerely like to thank Damian, Edel and Helen for generously giving their time. Please Note: There is no Youth Club this Fri (3rd) Looking forward to seeing you all on the 10th Feb.
Romeo and Juliet Reminder: 5th and 6th year Music students will be attending a performance of Romeo and Juliet in University Concert Hall, Limerick on Monday. Bus will be leaving at 10.30 a.m.
Cross Country On the 1st of February, eleven students from our school went to compete in the Connacht Cross-Country final in Athlone I.T. College and these are the results: Junior Girls 1,500m – Amanda Lynch – 5th Inter Girls – 3,000m – Julie Larkin – 4th Inter Boys –4,500m – Kieran Treacy – 11th Senior Boys – 6,000m – Damien Larkin – 9th All of the above qualified for the All Irelands in U.C.D., Dublin on the 4th of March. Well done to all who took part in the Connacht Finals: Katie O’Brien, James Killeen, Veronica Burke, Anita Burke, Catherine O’Meara, Craig O’Meara and Edel Cunningham. A special thanks to Ms. Lyons who took time out of her busy schedule to train us. Rugby Many thanks to Mr. O’ Tuairisg for organising a great trip to Wales for the senior rugby team. The lads played two matches narrowly losing the first and winning the second convincingly. By all accounts it was a most enjoyable and beneficial weekend. Thanks also to Mr. Long and Mr. Flanagan for accompanying the team on the trip.
Today’s Match Result: The Senior Rugby team were defeatedby Colaiste Iognaid (Jezz) earlier today.
Who Would You GiveYour Last Rolo to? To honour Valentine’s Day, this year’s Debs committee are offering you the chance to express your undying love or even just a little crush to your special Valentine. Enclosed will be a secret message and your last Rolo for €1 or a rose for €2. They will be on sale from Tuesday onwards at morning break and lunch time.
Dates for your Diary: (4th – 10th Feb.) Mon. 6th – Start of Anti-Bullying awareness week Mon. 6th – Junior Camogie – Connacht Final Vs. St. Brigids. Tues. 7th – L.C.V.P. Recorded Interviews – 1.00 to 4.00 p.m. Wed. 8th – 1st Yr. Camogie Vs St. Rynaghs in Birr at 1.30 p.m. Wed. 8th – Open Night for Incoming First Years. Fri. 10th – Senior Hurling challenge Vs. Roscrea C.C. @ 2 p.m.
Getting ready to go on stage - Roisin Gordon getting ready for her role in The Sound of Music
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