As we approach the Holy Season of Advent and the Nativity of the Lord, we wish all our readers the Peace and Happiness of the Season.

Eoin Conway, a recent Leaving Certificate student, has been awarded a Quercus Entrance Scholarship for his Leaving Cert. results in 2014.   We congratulate him and wish him the best in all his future career plans.  A major achievement.

Action Week proved a huge success this year, with the grand total of 3,700 euros being raised for worthy charities. Lots of fun events took place, including Non-Uniform Day, Silence-classes, Ashton Talent Shows, Wheelchair basketball, Pyjama day, French breakfast, and much more. This ‘Annual’ on the Ashton calendar, is co-ordinated by Fifth Year students and teaching staff in the school, under the patient guidance of Mr. Ruttle.   Charities included Christian Aid, Autism Awareness Dogs Ireland, Mercy Hospital Foundation, Aware, Irish Cancer Society.

Students in Second Year and other year groups have been busy with the ‘knit a stocking’ campaign. Miniature stockings were knit to raise funds for various charities locally, including East Cork Rapid Response, Irish Premature Babies, Feilecain, the Simon Community, Chernobyl Children’s Trust and Global Missions Ireland, under the guidance of Mrs. Rosemary McCarthy.  ‘Purl and Plain’ got a whole new life!!

Maths week was celebrated at Ashton with gusto!  Lots of activities were organised which heightened awareness of the role of maths in everyday life.  2^nd year students enjoyed a Table Quiz.   Mr. Eoin McGuirc from the Central Statistics Office, made a most interesting presentation on the relevance of statistics in everyday life to 5^th year students.  Fifteen Senior students were invited to UCC to attend a lecture by Dr. Paco Gomez from Madrid University on the relationship between Maths and Rhythm  Students found this lecture most interesting.  Other class events included quizzes and puzzle solving, amongst many other innovative activities.

In Soccer, the Junior Girls team are busily training on Mondays with Ms. Desmond and Ms. Healy in preparation for matches in the next term.  The U-19 Boys Soccer team beat Scoil Mhuire Gan Smál Blarney 1-0 in an exciting game of sporting endeavour, where they also qualified for the knock-out stage, under the tutelage of Mr. Deane.  Minor Boys coached by Mr. Cunningham were unlucky to lose on penalties to Deerpark School after a 2-2 draw.  A great tribute to their continuing determination.

In Hockey, the Senior A Boys reached the Semi-Finals of the All-Ireland Schools Competition, losing to eventual winners St. Andrew’s team from Dublin with a respectable score of 2-1, captained by Simon Wolfe.
The Senior Girls are continuing their training with great pace, as they look forward to upcoming matches.

The Minor Hockey girls A team played against Bandon Grammar School in a league match and drew 1 all.  The B team played St. Angela’s School, and unfortunately were unlucky on the day, but showed enormous determination which they will continue to use into their next matches.

The Minor Boys played several matches recently, playing Midleton College, Villiers College and Kilkenny College, drew some matches and lost others all in the name of sportsmanship.  Their determined efforts and enthusiasm ensures they are preparing already for the next challenge.

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