GCS Newsletter

As we reach the end of another busy term in GCS I would like to wish all members of the school community a safe and peaceful Christmas. I am aware of just how much is happening on a daily basis in the school and this amazing newsletter gives a lovely flavour of the wonderful and varied work of the staff and students of GCS.

Merry Christmas everyone.

The Parents’ Association (PA) meet once a month to ensure we contribute positively to the education and general welfare of the student body. It is not too late to get involved! If you are interested, please get in touch via our email: parentsassociation@goreycs.ie

The Parent’s Association continues to support the student body of Gorey Community School in several ways and we have been busy in this first term.

So far this year we have supported:

Open Night

The school’s Open Night on 18th September this year was a great success. The PA provided refreshments on the night to prospective parents and their families.

AED and Training Manikins

The PA contributed to the purchase of a new AED and training manikins which are used by all students in learning CPR.

Breakfast Club

The PA is contributing financial support to the Breakfast Club in the school as we strongly believe that each student should start the day right, have a breakfast and be ready for a day’s learning.

Careers Expo

A busy and successful Careers Expo held in the Ashdown Park Hotel on 27th November was jointly financed by the PA and with the PA from Creagh College. A resounding success for all who attended and the PA would like to thank all those parents who gave up their time to represent their job/profession on the night and openly chat to students and parents.

Leinster Senior Schools Swimming Gala

The PA are proud to support students from our school who will represent Gorey Community School in the Leinster Seniors School Swimming Gala to be held on 2nd February 2025. The PA has sponsored swim hats for the students taking part.

Newsletter

The PA wish continued success to the Newsletter Team and we hope to keep students and parents informed of our activities in this way.

Finally wishing all our students, their families and the staff a very Happy Christmas!

On Thursday December 5th, GCS was delighted to hold the annual Junior Cycle Awards ceremony in the Ashdown Park Hotel. At the event a total of 88 especially designed medals were awarded to the students who achieved a Distinction in the Junior Cycle exams 2024.

The students, parents and staff were addressed by the Year Head, Ms. O Loughlin and The Principal Mr. Finn, and afterwards enjoyed refreshments and the chance to socialise with other parents.

As usual, the top Junior Cycle award was sponsored by Gorey Specialist Orthodontics and was presented to Ella McLoughlin who got an amazing 8 Distinctions and one Higher Merit in her Junior Cycle exams.

In addition to the trophy and cheque from Gorey Specialist Orthondotics , Ella was also awarded the Mark Berney perpetual trophy which was commissioned and donated to GCS by the parents of Mark Berney, a former GCS student who achieved an historic 9 A1 grades in the leaving Certificate in 2013.This trophy is awarded annually to celebrate academic excellence in GCS.

Mr. Finn congratulated the students on their outstanding achievements and acknowledged the significant role of parents and teachers in their success.

On November 27th senior cycle students attended the Career Expo in the Ashdown Hotel which was jointly hosted by GCS and Creagh College Guidance Departments. Students interacted with a host of career representatives from a variety of different areas. We would like to thank all the parents and members of the community for their time in supporting students on their future career paths on the night.

The scene at the Gym on Thursday, December 5th, was buzzing with energy as over 100 Transition Year (TY) students eagerly set up stalls to showcase and sell their products. The atmosphere was charged with competitiveness, as the students, acting as salespeople, put their best foot forward to attract and engage customers. The event highlighted not only entrepreneurial spirit but also the dedication and enthusiasm of the students striving to make their sales a success.

A big thank you to Frank Kelly (KDA Accountants), Niamh Byrne (Ruby Rouge), and Elaine Hernandez (Tricon Automation) for judging our Christmas Fair. They were highly impressed with the exceptional quality of the products, innovation, branding, marketing, displays, and sales pitches. They were also delighted to see sustainability featured in many companies, as well as the added attraction of competitions designed to boost sales.

A big thank you to all our generous sponsors (Tricon Automation, Kehoe Brothers, Brooks, Hendy Accountants, DAC Const., & Brian Dowling) for donating prizes to our winning companies. We are excited to see what the future holds for these budding entrepreneurs. Keep an eye on them in the years ahead as they make their mark in the business world!

Third and Sixth Years

Last September, 3rd and 6th years attended a two-hour seminar with Ray Langan called ‘Rayse the Game’. Students were given tools and techniques to increase motivation, study more efficiently and lessen anxiety. This was followed by a zoom call for parents where Ray complimented this seminar with useful tips for parents and guardians to support their sons/daughters in the exam years.

Fifth Years

In November 5th years attended a 2 hour workshop delivered by Evan Costigan from Brain Box. This workshop provided students with proven strategies to ensure they perform to the best of their ability in exams. Also covered were a range of motivational techniques so that students take charge of their own learning, start early and maintain their work rate throughout the year. Students were also taught unique study methods and revision tips so that information is retained in long term memory. The workshop concluded with how to maintain a healthy balance between study and hobbies, including ways to manage exam anxiety. Each student received an Elevate Study Skills booklet filled with a comprehensive range of practical information.

First Years

During March 2025, 1st years will have the opportunity to attend the dynamic programme designed for 1st years from Brain Box called Headstart. The programme will cover topics such as organisational skills, note making, how to study and revise, friendship, and much more, this highly interactive workshop will build your students’ confidence during the pivotal first stage of their secondary school journey. Each student will receive a Headstart booklet packed with study and organisational tips.

Minister for Justice Helen McEntee recently visited Gorey Community School, where she engaged in an informative discussion with Principal Michael Finn on the school’s planned expansion and existing structural challenges. Following this meeting, she took part in a highly engaging Q&A session with the Student Council.

Former Gorey Community School student, Jennifer Bray, received notable media attention during Election 2024 for her extensive coverage of the Election Exit Poll results. Her work was prominently featured on Friday night’s Late Late Show, highlighting the impact of her reporting on the national conversation.

Congratulations to GCS Leaving Certificate 2024 student Sophia Tracey who, having achieved the maximum 625 CAO points in the leaving certificate, has been awarded the prestigious JP McMaunus sponsored All Ireland Schools Scholarship which gives the recipient 6750 Euro per year for the duration of the degree course.

Sophia follows in the long tradition of GCS students being awarded this lucrative scholarship since its inception in 2008.

Aideen Connaughton recently spoke to Primetime about the multitude of reasons students face which leads to school avoidance. The Full article can be found below.

https://www.rte.ie/news/primetime/2024/1107/1479728-a-huge-problem-inside-the-growing-issue-of-school-avoidance/

Breakfast is available each morning in the canteen in area one. Breakfast will be served from eight o’ clock in the morning until half past eight. Each morning there are cereal bars, fresh fruit, and toast. There is also butter, Nutella, jam and marmalade. There is a wide range of cereal, including corn flakes, weetabix, cheerios, chocolate hoops and frosted flakes. Enjoy a cup of warm hot chocolate, tea or coffee also. Breakfast is free of charge, and all are welcome. We hope to see you there.

A huge thanks to everyone who contributed in any way to our staff coffee morning for Crumlin Children's Hospital and Research Foundation. We have raised €892.55.

A massive well done to Mary Condren for organising this annual fundraiser in GCS.

On the 4th of December a Bake Sale was held to raise money for St. Aidan's sensory room.

Thank you very much to everyone in our school community who donated to our SVP Food Appeal. This joint initiative was run by our Young SVP and our Student Council, and we're delighted to be able to donate such a large amount of items to our local St Vincent de Paul.

Our 1st, 2nd and 3rd year Classical Studies students enjoyed a day out at UCD recently. They attended a lecture on Monsters in Mythology, received a guided tour of the Classics Museum, and had the opportunity to handle some of the ancient artefacts there.

Transition Year Students from Gorey Community School recently went to Oakfield Nursing Home for caroling. The residents thoroughly enjoyed the performance and were delighted to see the talent and kind heartedness of our students.

Our Christmas Raffle tickets will be on sale from Monday December 16th - Thursday December 19th at Reception during lunchtime. €2 per ticket, or three strips for €5. We have a wonderful selection of prizes, and we are so grateful to all the local businesses that have donated. Proceeds from our raffle this year will be used for school facilities.

€100 Super Valu Voucher

€50 Munchkins Voucher

€50 Kenny Fuels Voucher

Azure Health and Beauty Voucher

Liam Brennans Voucher

Joanne’s Voucher

Bookstation Voucher

Inner Beauty Voucher

Breakfast for two at Partridge’s

Newbridge Silverware Gift Set

Lu and Mol Gif

From the 18th to 22nd of November, our school celebrated Geography Awareness Week with an exciting lineup of activities that brought the subject to life. Each day, students and staff engaged in events that showcased the importance of geography in understanding the world around us.

Daily Highlights

Intercom Announcements: Each morning, the intercom featured fascinating geography facts, sparking curiosity and conversations about our planet.

Geography Table Quiz: Every geography class participated in a fun-filled quiz that tested students' knowledge of global landmarks, natural phenomena, and cultural facts.

Junior Cycle Movie Trip: Junior Cycle geography classes had an educational outing to see San Andreas, a film depicting the dramatic effects of earthquakes. It was a thrilling way to explore tectonic activity and its real-world consequences.

Photography Competition

Students were encouraged to capture the beauty of the world through a lens. Congratulations to Mia Robbins 3rd year on winning first place with her gorgeous photograph of Puffin Island, Aoibhinn O Brien 2nd year on second place with her splendid picture of Croghan incorporating the windmills and Samantha Byrne 3rd year on taking third place with her detailed photograph of soil creep. All students stunning photographs are proudly displayed on the geography notice board.

“Where is Wally?” Challenge:

Each day, the geography board hosted this fun competition, featuring Wally hiding near famous landmarks. It was a hit among students, with Jim Kavanagh 1st year, Kinga Switon 3rd year and Millie Miller Byrne 6th year winning daily prizes.

The week was a vibrant celebration of how geography connects us to the world. Congratulations to all participants and winners who made the event memorable. We hope everyone enjoyed the activities, learned something new, and discovered how geography is truly all around us.

Here’s to continuing our exploration of the world in the years to come!

6 Word Story Competition

“Snow fell, wishes whispered, dreams awakened” Kalina O’Brien 1st year

“Magic moments make moving memories” Hannah Darcy 1st year

“Bells chiming, songs rhyming, children smiling” Joseph Connolly 2nd Year

“Snow fell, bells rang, hearts warmed” Usha Daly O’Toole 6th Year

“Gifts exchanged, smiles shared, joy spread” Sinead fortune TY

“Snowy night, lights glow, joy grows” Sholah Garland TY

Poster Competition

Our SciFest ignited excitement and curiosity, showcasing student projects across all grade levels, from basic experiments to advanced robotics and sustainability solutions. Live demonstrations, interactive discussions, and awards inspired everyone to keep exploring science, fostering creativity, collaboration, and meaningful innovation.

Congratulations to the following students on placing 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in our recent Scifest student choice awards and to LilyMay Healy as the judge's winner.

In November 2024, Mr Finn, Ms Wilson and two 6th year Japanese students, Aoibheann and Kevin, travelled to Japan to attend an international cultural event hosted by Seisa High School, a school that Ms Wilson used to work for. This is the same school that will take part in student exchange activities with a group of 28 GCS students who are participating in a school trip to Japan in February 2025.

The trip to Japan was an incredible experience. To see a culture that shares the ancient to the modern is truly unique. Trying new foods including eel and sea urchin was amazing. Tokyo tower overlooking the city was a great highlight alongside the shrines, temples and modern areas. Didn’t see Mount Fuji but I hope to see it in the future. Aoibheann

Our school trip to Japan was an amazing and wonderful adventure, filled with breathtaking sights, and delicious food and drinks. It was an experience that I will never forget. Kevin

GCS is celebrating 10 years of friendship and collaboration with Colegio Delibes in Salamanca. Ms. Yagüe and Ms. Warren set up a TY Spanish trip to Salamanca in 2014 and our connection with the Spanish school is still going strong. In 2017 Ms. Greiner suggested taking 2nd Years when interest among TYs was beginning to wane in favour of a Camino hiking trip to Spain. Since 2017, the 2nd Year Salamanca trip has been a huge success and is oversubscribed every year. This year 48 2nd Year students enjoyed classes and cultural activities for a week in Salamanca and it is hoped that a TY Salamanca trip may be revived in the future, given the current interest among TYs who were in Salamanca when they were in 2nd Year.

Our group of 48 2nd Year students safely arrived in Salamanca and enjoyed a week of complete cultural and linguistic immersion. They stayed with Spanish host families and had classes from 9am to 2pm, followed by cultural activities such as salsa dancing, Spanish cookery classes, tapas tasting, museum visits and literary tours in the afternoons.

In Spain we don’t decorate the school as much as we do in Ireland, depending on the school we put up a very elaborated *Belen*, sometimes we put little Christmas trees on the school tables.

Here you start decorating earlier than us, we also have an ice-skating excursion. In Spain we have a dance play the last day of school in the theatre hall of our school, our families and friends come to see us dancing and singing *villancicos* and after that we go out with our friends.

Some of our most important traditions include:

We spend *la Cena de Noche Buena* with our family. The next day which is Christmas day there is a lot of food left over and we eat it in *la comida de Navidad* Also on Christmas morning we open the presents that our family give us.

Some typical Christmas spanish foods include *marisco, salmon, carne asado, turrones (de almendra, chocolate), polvorones, jamon iberico de bellota, embutidos*

On New Years Eve we have “los doce uvas” at midnight while the 12 seconds countdown to ringing in the New Year – it is important to eat all 12 so that you will have good luck in the new year.

The day before *El Dia de Reyes* we have a procession on the main streets of every town with a “cabalgata” which is a float that is represented with the kings going to the *portal de Belen* the kings throw sweets to the children on the street. After that is when we go home we get our other presents, it is an especially important day we spend time together

Villcancios

*Canción popular, principalmente de asunto religioso, que se canta en Navidad*

Some typical are: Mi Burrito Sabanero, Campana sobre Campana, Los Peces en El Rio, etc..these are much more lively in spite of their religious themes than the Christmas carols in Ireland.

We are loving our time in Gorey Community School and learning more about the traditions in Ireland and taking part in the preparations for Christmas.

Sally Ryan recently completed her work experience at the Italian Embassy in Dublin. While working there Sally had the pleasure of meeting Mrs. Sabina Higgins and the Apostolic Nuncio, H.E. Most Reverend Archbishop Luis Mariano Montemayor as well as the Ambassador of Italy, H.E. Mr. Nicola Faganello.

Our Linguistics Club enjoyed taking part in the AILO Workshop in Gorey Community School. The workshop was led by Dr Shams, a postdoctoral researcher from ADAPT specializing in Applied Mathematics, Computer Science and Speech Recognition. ADAPT is part of the SFI and is a Research Centre for AI Driven Digital Content Technology.

Our students worked on puzzles in languages such as Umbrian, an ancient language of the region of Italy; Permyak, a language spoken in the north-eastern part of European Russia; and Lalana Chinatec, spoken in the region of Oaxaca, Mexico. Our Linguistic club students had fun while working on their problem-solving skills through logical thinking and pattern identification.

Last week, our first-year students successfully completed their comprehensive CPR training. Under the guidance of certified instructors, they learned vital life-saving techniques—such as proper chest compressions and rescue breaths—and practiced responding calmly and confidently in emergency situations. We are proud of their dedication and enthusiasm, and we look forward to seeing them put their new skills into action as they continue their journey at Gorey Community School

Congratulations to 6th Year student Courtney McCormack who placed 7th out of 127 competitors in DKKQ in November. DKKQ is the largest dance competition of the year. This achievement is a testament to Courtney's hard work and dedication.

Congratulations to 6th year student Anna Adamovica who took part in the Special Olympics Leinster Regional swimming gala in The Watershed in Kilkenny recently.

Anna competed in 50m backstroke and came 5th in her division in the Leinster Region.

She also swam in the 50m front crawl and came 3rd in Leinster.

1. Which of Santa’s reindeer has bad manners?

Rude-olph!

2. Who hides in a Christmas bakery?

A mince spy!

3. What’s an Arctic wolf’s favourite time of year?

The Christmas howl-idays!

4. What’s green, prickly and flies through the air?

A holly-copter!

5. How do snowmen shop online?

They use the winter-net!

6. What type of photos do elves take?

Elf-ies!

7. What did the Christmas tree say to the ornament?

Hang in there!

A selection of the Christmas doors decorated by our TY students can be seen below.

TY students learning their Chinese Characters

The Transition Year Students had a great opportunity to see the play, “Bullied”, on the 28th and 29th of November. It was a well spent 1 hour, covering important issues including bullying, cyberbullying, divorce within the family and talking to people.

We are thrilled to congratulate past pupil Aoife Wafer on her selection to World Rugby’s prestigious Dream Team!

Adding to this incredible honor, Aoife was also named Irish Rugby Writers Player of the Year last week—a testament to her exceptional talent and dedication to the sport.

Our school community is immensely proud of Aoife and all she has achieved on and off the pitch. We look forward to following her continued success in the world of rugby!

On Wednesday the first year girls played a rugby blitz in Gorey rugby club. They played against Gaelcholaiste na Mara, Colaiste Bride and DCW All girls played amazing. They showed great skill in winning all three games. They had lots of fun on the day. Well done girls!!

Our Senior LGFA Team has topped their group and now look ahead to an exciting challenge against Ballymahon in the Leinster Semi-Final, which will take place in Abbotstown on Thursday, December 18th. We wish our girls the best of luck as they aim for victory and continue to showcase their talent and determination!

Date: Friday, 15 November

Venue: Gorey

Gorey vs St. Marys

The Senior Girls' hurling clash between Gorey and St. Mary’s (New Ross) delivered an Brilliant display of skill and determination, with Gorey emerging with a scoreline of 5-17 to 1-9.

First Half:

Gorey dominated from the outset, scoring impressive score of 3-12 by half-time. Their attack was strong, with standout performances from Chloe Kenny, who scored a spectacular goal after a sidestep that left her marker shocked. Anna Hughes and also found the back of the net, showcasing on point finishing.

St. Mary’s , managing to score 0-2 in the first half, they struggled to break Gorey’s solid defense.

Second Half:

The second half saw Gorey continue their dominance. Chloe Kenny and bebhinn remained a constant threat, while Emma James delivered a fantastic moment with a solo run through the center the St. Mary’s defense to slot over a magnificent point. Bebhinn added another goal, ensuring Gorey’s control over the game.

St. Mary’s managed a solitary goal in the second half but couldn’t match Gorey’s firepower.

Final Score:

Gorey: 5-17

St. Mary’s (New Ross): 1-9

Key Players:

Chloe Kenny: Exceptional footwork and goal-scoring ability.

Anna Hughes: Reliable and efficient in front of goal.

Emma James: A great presence with her solo runs and composure under pressure.

Gorey’s victory was a showcase to their teamwork, skill, and finishing, making them a great strong team in the competition.

Date: 11 November

Full-Time Score:

Gorey 2-7 (13)

Cill Chainnigh 1-14 (17)

Half-Time Score:

Gorey 2-5 (11)

Cill Chainnigh 0-12 (12)

In a closely contested Junior Boys Hurling semi-final, Cill Chainnigh claimed a four-point victory over Gorey.

First Half:

The match started with a high tempo as both teams showed great intensity. Gorey’s attack was in fine form, taking their chances well and netting two crucial goals. Despite this, Cill Chainnigh’s forwards were sharp and added consistent points throughout the first half, keeping them in the game. Gorey’s two goals were countered by Cill Chainnigh’s sharp shooting, and the first half ended with a narrow lead for Cill Chainnigh at 0-12 to 2-5.

Second Half:

In the second half, Cill chainnigh pressure led to a vital goal nearing the end of the match, which helped extend their advantage. As the final whistle grew near, the tension heightened, and Gorey were left a man down due to a sending off. Despite this, Gorey continued to battle hard, matching Cill Chainnigh point for point, but they could not overcome the final score. The gorey lads all played extremely well as team and showed one of their best performances all season but it wasn't meant for them today.

Mr Crowe

Ms Donohoe

Celia Bejerano Hermida

Aoibhe Byrne Ryan

Rory Doran

Tommy Farrell

Alex Gahan

Isaac Patrick Gallagher

Sholah Garland

Carrie Hanstock

Aveen Kavanagh

Ava Kelly

Thomas Kinch

Sarah Kirwan

Rian Lacey

Saoirse Lawless

Oliwia Matosek

Kadie MArie McAuliffe

Scott McDonald

Pablo Munoz

Stephen Murphy

Joseph Parle

Dean Sexton

Stuart Slattery

John Tracey

Peter Travers

Sophia White