Arklow Mental Health Week
This week Arklow CBS students participated in a vast array of activities all organised as part of Arklow Mental Health week. Arklow Mental Health week is now firmly embedded in the school calendar and year on year students look forward to participating in the wide variety of workshops and talks.
2nd Years -Drug & Alcohol Awareness organised by East Wicklow Youth Service
Third Years - ‘It’s time to Start Talking’ organised by Jigsaw
First Years - Managing Conflict organised by Martine Wixted
Fifth Years - Smashing Times Theatre – the topic of alcohol and suicide.
Big Sing - Celebration Ceremony
Students found all the talks and workshops extremely beneficial. Many thanks to all the teachers who accompanied their students to the various events and to Ms. Lee for all the hard work she puts into the choir.
TY Collection for Autism
This Thursday and Friday saw our Transition Year students participate in the Irish Society for Autism’s annual collection. Prior to the collection the students had a talk from Denis Sexton about autism. Denis gave the students an insight into his own life and his own experiences of having a son with profound autism. Students really found this talk to be a complete eye opener and certainly gave them a different perspective on autism.
Basketball
Arklow CBS made the trip to Kilmuckridge to play Colaiste Aithe in u16 and u19 basketball.
The u16s played first and they went out with a point to prove after a loss to Gorey Community School last week, and prove it they did winning the game 21- 6! The CBS defence was on fire as they didn't concede a single basket in the first two quarters. Arturo Amaros played his usual dominant driving game and when he wasn't scoring lay ups in the first two quarters he was scoring free throws as the Kilmuckridge side had no choice but to foul him. Arturo was again mvp with 10 points to his name. Niall O'Donovan managed to get on the score sheet, a nice bonus to add to his impressive defensive performance. Wiktor Gajek popped up in the second quarter to score what is now his trade mark coolly taken lay-up. Conn Kinsella kept the scoreboard ticking over in the third quarter with 2 baskets. While Daniel Byrne closed out the scoring from play in the final quarter. A very impressive performance from a CBS team that couldn't even be rattled by the mid game evacuation of the PE hall due to a fire alarm!
The u19 team came out and played a much tougher game but the quality of captain and mvp Cian Cooney managed to lead the team to a 40- 32 victory. While the Kilmuckridge team didn't have the same quality of ball handlers, they had phenomenal outside shooters who between them sorted 6 three pointers which kept them in the game despite long periods of CBS dominance. Ultimately it was the Arklow sides ability to adapt their defence to close out the shooters with Ross Kenny and Kealan Delaney being called on to move outside of their normal zone to defend, coupled with the quality of shooting from Cian and arrow like passes from Tadhg Powell that won the game. Cian Cooney the number 23 finished with a serendipitous 23 points to his name, while Tadhg Powell who was more play maker than shooter today still scored an impressive 9 points. Other players who got vital scores were Jason Breen with a free throw and a lovely calm shot from the top of the key. Brandon Hanlon who was often the lynch pin in the centre of the defence scored 4 points and Ross Kenny rinsed out the scoring with a basket scored after a laser guided pass from Tadhg Powell.
Well done lads! And many thanks to Ms. Merrigan for the fabulous write up, training and accompanying to matches!
TY enterprise
TY enterprise is a competition across the nation and it also gives you a chance to see what life is like as an entrepreneur. Ty students must assemble a team comprising of a maximum of five people and they must brainstorm an idea to produce and sell. In Arklow CBs students get eighty minutes a week in the enterprise class to work on their business and product. At the start of the year the TY enterprise coordinator for Wicklow came to talk to the students and explained the rules and regulations.
The following is a description of the company currently being ran by Cathal Deay and Adam Shanley : We decided for our enterprise that we would make parabands. Parabands are stylish bracelets that contain 7- 14 feet of rope. One of which also contains a flint and steel, whistle and compass. We also had to set up a Facebook (parabands), Instagram (para__bands), and also a Twitter (parabands123) we also have an email (parabands123@gmail.com). As a group we decided that we need to divvy out jobs to each other, as a business has roles. Now our business is thriving, and we have orders being made daily from small single orders to large quantity orders for clubs and organisation’s such as the scouts. Now we are currently booked in at the Árus lorcáin Christmas market on the 24th and 25th of November and also at the Bridgewater craft fair on the 15th of December, we hope to see you there
Static Cycle in aid of Pieta House
This week as part of World Mental Health Week, Arklow CBS held a static cycle in aid of Pieta House for Suicide awareness. Two representatives from each year cycled two half hour slots each for this great cause. The students invloved were Donnacha Murphy, Ryan Scanlon, Charlie Graham, Philip Feokrytov, Owen Byrne, Padraic Bermingham, Craig Caulfield, Darragh O Murchu, Kealan Delaney, Sean O Neill, Cian Clooney, Luke Cummins. A great day was had by all with a fantastic positive atmosphere at Bridgewater Shopping Centre. Many thanks to Mr. Regan and to Mr. O’ Gorman for organising the rota and for accompanying the lads, and hopefully they got to do some cycling themselves!!
Fifth Year Boxer
Huge well done to Fifth Year student Daniel Fox on his recent boxing win against Patrick Dinnigan. According to reports this was a completely one sided fight to Daniel with Daniel hitting his opponent a clout in the second round which resulted in a count! It ended up as a three round match with Daniel the winner by a unanimous vote! Well done Daniel!