By Geraldine Collins on Jun 6, 2016.   No Comments

Ashton Digest June 2016

As Junior Certificate and Leaving Certificate students sit their examinations, we wish them peace of mind, and heart, knowing that they have done their best.  We also wish their parents luck and lots of patience!. As an annual event on the school calendar, the P.E. Department, headed up by Mr. Eddie Kirwan, Ms. Siobhain Dennehy, Ms. Sarah Falvey, Mr. Dean Lynch, and Ms. Kate Twohig, organise the Sponsored Walk. This year the charities were: Cork Simon Community; Cork Meals on Wheels; Cork Penny Dinners; Christian Aid; Irish Cancer Society;  Brú Columbanus Cork; Marymount Hospice. At a recent School Assembly, Ms. Kerry McMahon from Cork Simon Community spoke about the reality of homelessness on the streets of Cork city, and outlined the fact that this is a situation which is affecting all areas of society.  She clearly motivated students to raise the best funds they could, for such good causes.

Ashton Students continue their Spanish winning ways. Olé Olé!  Cian Murphy and Reece O’Reilly Butler –  5th Year students at Ashton School, Blackrock Road, along with Spanish language teacher Mr. Olan Geaney, recently met the Spanish Ambassador to Ireland, José-María Rodríguez Coso, and received their prize of a week’s scholarship to study Spanish at the university of Valladolid, in Valladolid, Spain. This was won against stiff competition from many schools across Europe. What an achievement considering this is the 4th successive year, that the Spanish Department at Ashton has laid claim to a week’s scholarship for Ashton students in Spain. The students won the prize for making a video in Spanish about promoting the region of Castilla y León in Spain, as a great destination to travel to, and visit.  Mr. Geaney was delighted with the success of the student’s work and complimented them on their diligence, film skills,  and interesting ‘angle’of presentation.  Congratulations to every one involved.  A superb win.

Ashton was host to the German based DeineMaids from Cologne, the Cork RTA Choir (Primary) and the Cantabile Vocal Ensemble also from Cork.  Musical Director for the event was Ms. Mary O’Brien, Music Teacher at Ashton, Accompaniest Mr. Stobart, based at St. Finbarr’s Cathedral, and Co-Ordinator Mr. Drew Ruttle, Chaplain at Ashton, and Musical Director of the Ashton Players. At the invitation of Music Teacher Mary O’Brien, the various choirs, including the Ashton School Choir, along with the Ashton TY Group entertained the audience and kept them enraptured and joyful for the entire afternoon. Spirits were lifted, smiles were the dominant theme, and Ashton ‘was alive with the sound of music’!  Deputy Lord Mayor Cllr. Mick Nugent complimented the choristers, teachers, and co-ordinators for their vision and diligence in promoting the creative arts in the school, and extended a warm welcome to the visiting choirs.

As part of Active Schools week, there were a variety of activities held at lunch time and after school, co-ordinated by the Physical Education Dept.  These included welly tossing, hockey and soccer crossbar challenges, poc fada, potato and spoon races, sack races and three legged races. All students were invited to attend after school Zumba, rounders, soccer, basketball, ‘tip the can’, and badminton.  In conjunction with these exciting activities, there were daily healthy eating initiatives, with healthy snacks, smoothies, vegetarian options and  lots more offered as’ tasters’ to students and staff. Students and staff endorsed the spirit of Active Schools week, co-ordinated by Ms. Siobháin Dennehy, Ms. Sarah Falvey, Mr. Eddie Kirwan, Mr. Dean Lynch, and Ms. Kate Twohig

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