Monthly Archives: October 2013

Walk in my Shoes Campaign

Transition Year

1 in 4 people in Ireland are expected to experience a mental health difficulty with 75% of mental health difficulties beginning before the age of 24! Walk in my Shoes is a nationwide awareness and fundraising initiative of St. Patrick’s Mental Health Foundation which aims to change the lives of vulnerable young adults in Ireland providing them with mental health services and support.

On Thursday 24th October the TY class organised a’ walk in my shoes’ event asking all staff and students to wear two different shoes into school that day and donate €2. The idea behind ‘Walk in my shoes’ came from a 16 year old boy who had attended St. Patrick’s who said he wished his friends could put themselves in his shoes and understand what he was going through. As part of the event teachers got involved in some fun races- the men in high heels and the women in oversized wellies. There was also a three legged race.

The total raised on the day was €404 and the money will go directly to St. Patrick’s Hospital to help with their services.  Thank you to everyone who took part in the campaign.

 

Halloween Cupcake Competition

News

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First year Home Economics class took part in a Halloween cupcake competition where they had to first make a batch of buns and then creatively decorate them using a Halloween theme. Students put a lot of creative effort into the competition and congratulations to the winning group, Aileen Flynn, James Og Maguire, Hughie Maguire & Megan McHugh.

TY First Aid with Red Cross

Transition Year

On Monday the 7th and Tuesday the 8th of October, two men from the Red Cross came in to our school to teach our Transition Year group First Aid. On the first day they gave us presentations and a power point on important sections such as Accident Management, Bleeding, Fracture Management, Burns and Head Injuries. These sections were very interesting as we learned what to do and they showed us related incidents.

On the second day, it was more practical as we got to do the most important section of CPR. Everyone got to try it on dummies. This was very good for us as it was as if we were trying it out on real people. We also learned how to put someone in the recovery position.

The two days went very well and everyone enjoyed it. All Transition Years now know how to do CPR, what to do when someone’s choking or having a heart attack. Also we know how to check for broken bones and how to do a body-check.

TY Gathering in Knock

News, Transition Year

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On the 4th October our Transition year students travelled to knock to take part in the TY pilgrimage taking place. Over nearly 3000 students from right across the country took part. The gathering was arranged to allow TY students an opportunity to visit the shrine and unite together in prayer and reflection. On the day the students got the chance to listen to many inspirational guest speakers, take part in the stations of the cross outside and at the end f the day gather in the Basilica for mass celebrated by the Papal Nuncio, Archbishop Charles Brown and many other clergy and bishops present. The mass was filled with praying and singing by everyone on the pilgrimage.

Ballinamore CS Floral Pride Winners

Agricultural Science, Green Schools

Leitrim County Council hosted the prize-giving ceremony for the Floral Pride competition in the glens Centre, Manorhamilton on October10th.  Ballinamore Community School won first prize in the Secondary School Section.  Ann Prior and Lauren McNiffe represented our school and Lauren accepted the prize on behalf of the school from Mr. Sean McDermott, Cathaoirleach of Leitrim Co. Council.

Floral Pride Winners 2013_001

 

 

The opening address was given by Mr. Martin Dolan, Leitrim Co. Manager, who outlined the success of the Floral Pride initiatine and praised the work done by all the participants.  Ms Nollaig Whyte M.e for the evening acknowledged the efforts of the winners in each category.  An on going slideshow provided wonderful views of Leitrim as a result of participation in the Floral Pride competition.  We thank Leitrim Co. Council for their generous prizes and wonderful hospitality on the night.

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Kilimanjaro Thank You

News

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On Friday September 6th a presentation was made to the North West  Hospice and Our Lady’s Hospital, Crumlin on behalf of the Ballinamore  PPS Kilimanjaro Achievers climb. The presentation took place in  Méanscoil Fatima and the organisers were delighted to be joined by John  Kelly (North West Hospice), Dr. Pádraig Sheeran (Our Lady’s Hospital  Crumlin) and Darren Grant (Kilimanjaro Achievers) for the presentation.

In January of this year, Méabh Gleeson, Siobhán Mc Tague, Donnchadh Dolan  and Conor Moran, travelled to Africa with their teacher Aoife Ní Mháille to summit Mount Kilimanjaro. In the run up to this climb the group had  carried out a fundraising campaign in the local area. This trip was to  be guided under the watchful eye of Ian Mc Keever, RIP. Unfortunately,  tragic circumstances led to the untimely death of Ian during the climb.  Ian was a wonderful inspiration and encouragement to adults and students alike and his death is deeply regretted by all of those involved in  this climb, as well as by everyone who knew him.
Kilimanjaro  Achievers have now built an Orphanage under the CHETI project in Ian’s  name and are pursuing Ian’s dream to build a school in Tanzania. A  contribution was made towards this worthwhile project on the night.  Everyone involved with this fundraiser would like to greatly appreciate  all the kind words, messages, thoughts and prayers that were sent to  them at the time of Ian’s tragic passing. Ar dhéis Dé go raibh a anam.

In total €7,374.42 was raised by the four students and their teacher.
The organisers and the school would like to take this opportunity to offer  heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported this fundraiser in any way.  There are too many to mention names but to the amazing community of  Ballinamore and its Business population, to the people of its  surrounding areas and undoubtedly to the school staff, students and  their families thank you for the generous contribution you have made to  such worthy causes.

Work Experience at Neven Maguire’s Restaurant by Ciana Stringer

Home Economics, Magazine, News

Learning cookery skills art on a plate dessert time

 

On the 12th June I went to MacNean House and Restaurant in Blacklion which is owned by Celeb Chef Neven Maguire. I had competed in a cookery competition earlier in the year as part of the Mushroom Festival at Lord Kilbracken’s Estate in Killygar. I received a runner up prize for a days experience working in Neven’s kitchen.

I began at 1pm and was kitted out in a full chef uniform and given a tour of the restaurant and kitchen. I then met all the chef’s and began working. As you can imagine I started off chopping lots of vegetables and I also vacuum packed anything that was not being used for that evening’s service. There were lots of different sections in the kitchen where the various foods were being prepared by different chef’s. Throughout the day I moved around all the various sections. Before lunch I made pastry cases which were to be used later for appetizers. Each chef is in charge of making a different element for lunch. We all got to eat this lunch which consisted of chicken, bacon and pasta with a sun dried tomato & pesto style dressing  which seems very simple but it really was seriously delicious.

After lunch I helped make some garnishes for the dinner service. Some of the meats I had to use for the garnishes were rabbit & duck. Despite it being a Wednesday evening the dinner service was extremely busy as there were two sittings. I then got to make vegetable stock. I was also shown how to cook a steak properly and learnt some tricks on how to tell if it was rare, medium or well done. I got to try the most amazing dessert ever- a chocolate sphere which was served with a hot chocolate sauce over it which caused the sphere to melt once the sauce was poured over the dessert by the waiter. Inside the sphere was a chocolate brownie, chocolate ice cream and mini malteser’s. I was delighted that I got this amazing opportunity.