LARGY COLLEGE

Largy College Green Schools Committee were delighted to receive their second Green Flag in May. This flag focused on saving energy within the school. The committee encouraged staff and students to be more aware of their energy usage, taking care to only use lights in the classrooms when needed, turning computers off at the end of the day etc. While doing this the committee also ensured that the existing recycling within the school was kept to a high standard. The committee’s next task will involve arranging an event to raise both the Green School flags.

This year’s Prefect Council, coordinated by Ms. Emma Smith and Ms. Geraldine Lyons,  went on a bonding trip to Astra Bowl in Cavan on Tuesday 10th October.  Junior and Senior students, led by Head Prefect Matthew Reihill and Deputy Head Prefect Chloe Reilly, got to know each other and make plans for what they hope the council will achieve in the year ahead. This proved a worthwhile and enjoyable evening for all involved. Students are now looking forward to the upcoming Halloween Disco which they organise as well as a fundraising quiz.

We were delighted to welcome so many first year parents and guardians in to the school on Thursday 5^th October to a coffee morning in their honour organised by Ms. Claudine Goff. Parents/guardians and staff enjoyed delicious treats freshly prepared by first year Home Economics students and their teacher, Ms.Emma McBride. It was a chance for parents to chat to each other, share experiences and ideas and meet their child’s teachers in an informal setting. Thank you to all who were able to attend and for making it an enjoyable morning. Wishing all first year students a pleasant year ahead.

1st Year Gaelic Blitz

All First Year students participated in a Gaelic Football blitz on Thursday the 28^th of September. It was a very enjoyable day for all. The Transition Year Sports Module students organised this event. The event was in conjunction with the fourth year theme “Less stress with more mindfulness and the first year wellbeing programme. Everyone who took part showed great team work and co-operated well with the fourth year students. Great skill was shown by all who participated.  The future of Gaelic Football in Largy College is bright!!

Senior Girls Basketball

Well done to the Senior Girls Basketball Team who recently beat Beech Hill College on a score line of 20-18. This was a very tight match, with the winning basket coming from Fearne Monaghan. The team’s next game is at home on  Friday 10th November where they take on Castleblayney College.

U16 Girls Gaelic Football

Well done to the U16 Girls Gaelic team who got their Ulster League campaign off to a good start, beating Castleblayney College on Friday 6th October. The score line was 5-16 to 1-0. They next face St. Louis Monaghan.

The 2017/2018 Largy College Debating Team is comprised of Jenny Freeman (Captain), Katie Boyle, Elisha Smith and Ned O’Harte, four Transition Year Students.  The team got off to a flying start when they overcame St. Louis’, Carrickmacross. We wish them every success in their next debate when they take on Bailieborough Community School.

Our Transition Year Students attended the Tanagh outdoor adventure centre on Friday 15^th of September for a bonding trip. They ventured to Tanagh early in the morning and spent the day canoeing, orienteering, bog hopping and using team building exercises to get to know each other.  The TY theme for the year is ‘Less stress with more mindfulness’ so this was a fun filled and stress free day for all the students and teachers involved.

Last year’s Young Social Innovators were honoured to be asked to speak and perform at this year’s national Zeminar event in the R.D.S in Dublin.  Zeminar is a social enterprise created to bring all those invested in the development and well-being of young people in Ireland to one place. Zeminar is an event for Generation Z, particularly those aged between 15 and 20, and their parents, teachers, mentors and coaches. Zeminar is facilitating the introduction of young people to some of the best and most innovative organisations on this island. Throughout the event there were workshops, influential speakers, essential resources and fun activities. Our students were honoured to represent Largy College at this prestigious events. Our current YSI group also attended this event, which no doubt provided inspiration for their upcoming events.

Largy College celebrate the 25th anniversary of Ireland’s ratification of the UNCCR

On Thursday, 28th September, fourteen Largy College students attended an event in Croke Park, hosted by The Ombudsman for Children’s Office.

The fourteen students, representing the YSI group 2016/17, were personally invited to attend by Ombudsman for Children, Niall Muldoon.  The Ombudsman, who was a judge at the Young Social Innovators of the year final last May, was impressed by the Largy College,  ‘Mend A Mind’ project.  As a result, he extended an invitation to the group, to help mark Ireland’s 25th anniversary of the ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Â

Throughout the day, a number of speakers reflected on children’s rights in Ireland and highlighted the rights that are being violated throughout the world today. The day also allowed students to voice their opinions on how policy makers can make Ireland a better place for children.  Largy College students made pertinent contributions, particularly on the topic of Mental Health

Congratulations to the Junior Certificate students of Largy College who received their results on Wednesday 13^th September.  Once again, the results were very pleasing, with many students receiving ‘A’s in Honors Level papers. The student who achieved the best Junior Certificate result was Jenny Freeman, daughter of Gabrielle Freeman, Kilrooskey, Newtownbutler, Co. Fermanagh.

Jenny, along with many other Transition Year students, is now actively involved in her Transition Year Programme where she is experiencing new challenges and opportunities.  The Transition Year students are encouraged to actively participate and take full advantage of the many new learning opportunities that the Transition Year presents.

Congratulations to all Largy College Leaving Certificate students who received their results on Wednesday 16^th August 2017.  Most of this cohort  achieved more than their required number of points for their preferred courses. The top student of the College this year was Louis Madden who achieved 589 points in his Leaving Certificate.  Louis is the son of Irene & Paul Madden from Clones and he attended Gransha National School.

Louis, as the winner of the All-Ireland Scifest 2015 Competition, has had the distinction of representing the College at the Intel International Science & Engineering Fair in Phoenix, Arizona, at which he won two awards including a research scholarship which he completed in Italy last summer. Louis hopes to pursue a career in the field of Medicine and in this regard we hope that his academic and extra-curricular experiences from Largy College all stand him in good stead in his future career.