Ethos Report Novemebr 2015
*Students from second year, TY, fifth and sixth year were outstanding in terms of their contributions to the Parish mission in the week before mid-term. Liturgies were enhanced enormously because of the role played by the students in enacting parables, reading prayers, singing and mime. On the last night of the mission, where the emphasis was on youth, the students received warm rounds of applause from a very appreciative congregation. TY students were also praised for their 'babysitting' of small children, whose parents could attend the mission without having to watch and control their little ones! Well done everyone!
*Ms. Irwin, along with the help of Hollie Devitt in sixth year, organised first and some sixth years to get into groups and make up Christmas shoe boxes for the Team Hope Christmas Appeal. A total of 70 boxes were collected and brought to the Curragh collection point by Hollie's mother on Wednesday, Nov. 4th, 2015.
*On Wed., Oct 21st., Ms. Woods organised a speaker from the John Paul II awards to come to St. Mary's and inform all TYs about the award. 18 TYs, along with students from the CBS and Piper's Hill were commissioned by Fr. Liam Morgan at the 12 o'clock mass in Ballycane on Sunday, Nov. 15th. A packed church applauded them on foot of their being commissioned. We wish them the very best in their work in the year ahead, as they strive to attain the Gold award.
* Currently, there are 5 students in fifth year, who are aiming at attaining the next level in the John Paul II Papal Cross award. Ms. Woods also organised their applications for this award. They were of tremendous assistance to Ms. Cleary in organising the prayer room and reception area of the school with the focus being, 'In November we remember.' Ms. Cleary put together a wonderful prayer-service, complete with readings, prayers, action and music, for students and staff in their class visits to the prayer-room in November.
*Those same fifth year students will be selling prayer bracelets and rosary beads in the Assembly hall in the week before house exams in November and in the week after in December. This is a faith initiative that Ms. McCabe wishes to be maintained. Having them blessed by Fr. Liam needs to be arranged.
*Drawing to a close the work done on Judaism in recent classes, Ms. Farrell celebrated a Seder meal with her 3C class. They very much enjoyed the meal with its prayers and actions, foods and blessings. Ms. Farrell shared her resources regarding this meal, for any RE teacher wishing to conclude their focus on Judaism in this memorable and interactive way.
*At a recent RE meeting, on Tues., Nov 3rd, 2015, various 'jobs' were assigned to everyone in the RE dept. for our Christmas mass. Further to contact between Ms. McCabe and Fr. Liam on Wed., Nov.11th, the date has been set for the mass to take place on Monday, Dec. 21st, 2015.
*With Ms. Humphreys, sixth years have made posters for the St. Vincent de Paul food drive, which will take place during the week of Nov. 30th - Dec 4th, 2015. Contact has already been established with 'Vincents' here in Naas and they will collect the boxed food items from the school on the Friday of that week, Dec. 4th, 2015. Ms Humphreys' 3B and TY classes have already volunteered to receive food all that week in the old lost property office near room 20. Katie Dempsey and Roisin Sheridan, our head girls, worked with the Student Council last Thursday, Nov. 12th, in securing more volunteers, from the Council, to give help, especially on the final day of collection.
Olive Humphreys, Nov 15th, 2015