2015-2016 - Ardscoil La Salle

As part of our College for Every Student program 3rd years spent the day in Trinity College Dublin. We had a sample lecture and full tour of the campus in the morning. After lunch in the Dining Hall we visited the Book of Kells and Long Room.

As part of Maths Week 2015 our 5th years attended the Science Gallery lecture by Colin Wright, “Juggling – Theory and Practice”

He demonstrated a selection of the patterns and skills of juggling while at the same time developing a simple method of describing and annotating a class of juggling patterns. By using elementary mathematics these patterns can be classified, leading to a simple way to describe those patterns that are known already, and a technique for discovering new ones.

Today Wednesday 14th we had the launch of the new mentoring program with Yahoo. This is a two year program of relationship building, with our students getting guidance, and advise on career choices and college applications.
The program started this summer when 11 employees very kindly volunteered and were trained for the role of mentors to our fifth year students. These were paired with the 11 lucky students chosen from the 20 applicants.
They all were introduced and met for the first time at the official launch in Yahoo EMEA Offices, Point Village, today.
This is the second group to go the program in the past few years. We look forward to the program being as successful as the last one.

Transition Year students have started their annual program of media studies and film making. We are hugely grateful to Niall and Lee from Kilbarrack Youth Project who come in each Monday afternoon to help students to write, direct, film and edit their own movies.

Niall from Wasa Wasa African Dance and Drumming, came in to Ty to teach us about African culture and drumming. It was a really enjoyable and interesting morning. We learnt African songs and drumming rhythms. The whole class took part and there was something for everyone to do, even for the teachers.

TY all agree that it was a fantastic way to learn about another culture and we are looking forward to Niall coming in to teach next year's Transition Year

We will be visited by Br. Laurence Hughes, the new De La Salle Provincial (Head Brother of Ireland, Britain and Malta) next Tuesday at 10:00am. This will be a fairly short visit as he has a busy itinerary for the day. He will meet some students and teachers during his visit.

In light of the ongoing Migrant Crisis, where Syrian war refugees including many families with young children are fleeing persecution, many International Agencies are desperately seeking help from other countries. The heartbreaking images of these unfortunate people come into our living rooms every evening.

Ms Smith is collecting unwanted adult and children’s clothes and children’s toys. If you feel you could donate any of the above your help would be sincerely appreciated. These items can be left in the secretary’s office.

For the last 12 months ALS has been working with the College for Every Student Programme to further develop the college going culture in our school. This programme aims to educate students about access to college, helps them develop the confidence & ambition to get there while promoting the leadership skills & resilience needed to thrive. We are being supported in this work by the Trinity Access Programme.

During the end of year reflection our students identified a need for a modern library in the school and they have volunteered their time outside normal school hours to help create the library of their imaginations. This is a student led project where they do all the design, planning, painting, fundraising and cataloguing while the parents and staff are there to support, help and guide.

Our comfortable reading area has been furnished by Budda Bag who generously donated 4 bean bags in a selection of colours. The Budda Bags are already a great success and hugely popular! Thanks also to GoCar who allowed us free driving time in their van to collect the bags.