Arts Week
This week, we celebrated Arts Week in Coláiste Chill Mhantáin. Our goal this week has been to foster a celebration of creativity, promote community engagement, and inspire students to express themselves through diverse artistic media.
Artist of the Day: Each morning during tutor time, the Art department sent out an "Artist of the Day" along with three Visual Thinking Strategy questions designed to help students understand the artist's work. Artists and artworks included Vincent van Gogh, Sunflowers, 1889; Louise Bourgeois, Maman, 1999; Banksy, Girl with Balloon, 2002; Katsushika Hokusai,
The Great Wave off Kanagawa, 1831.
All students were welcomed to a number of activities during the week. On Monday, a collaborative art project, inspired by Vincent Van Gogh, was held in LG35 during lunchtime welcome to participate; on Tuesday and Wednesday, the Art department hosted a printing workshop and a clay techniques workshop for Second year students with Christien van Bussel. A collaborative art project was facilitated during lunchtime on Thursday with all year groups welcome to participate.
Arts Week Competition: Throughout the week, students (and teachers) were invited to participate in a Photography Competition themed 'The things I love the most'. We look forward to announcing the winners next week!
Well done to the Art department for facilitating a wonderful celebration of Art in the school this week, and well done to all those who participated.
‘Arts Week’ Birds of Prey Educational Display
On Thursday, February 22, as part of Arts Week, an educational display showcasing birds of prey was held in the art room. Colin Travers guided students in the proper handling and care techniques for the birds. First and Fifth year art students participated in a life drawing session, observing and sketching owls and falcons, focusing on their feathers' intricate details. They also took photos of the birds from different angles and had the opportunity to interact closely with them.
The students' observational drawings turned out beautifully, capturing the essence of these magnificent creatures. During break and lunchtime, the room was open to other students and teachers, providing everyone with a chance to appreciate and engage with the birds. The experience left everyone with a greater appreciation for birds of prey.
German Cinema Trip
Thirty German students from Fifth and Sixth year travelled to the Mermaid Arts Theatre in Bray on Monday, 19 February, to see the authentic German Film 'Lola Rennt'.
The film forms part of their Leaving Cert Oral German exam where students have to answer questions on an authentic German film they have studied.
As usual our students were a pleasure to travel with and displayed great humour at parts of the film, and we would like to compliment them on their impeccable behaviour and manners all day.
Quality Mark for LGBTQ+ Inclusion
On Friday, 23 February, CCM was awarded the Quality Mark for LGBTQ+ inclusion. It was an eighteen-month process with specific goalposts and an evaluation process to ensure all students and staff are welcome, included and celebrated at school. CCM was the first school in the entire country to be accredited and today we received that award with 36 other schools at a national celebration in Dublin. Students ,Aoife Treanor and Sophie Ferguson, performed a word poem written by the school's SASS club. Clara Earls was a complete rockstar, playing guitar and singing a song to an audience of around 200 people. We are so proud of the school's dedication to inclusivity and all the hard work by staff and students alike.
Ultimate Frisbee
On Tuesday, 20 February, two girls’ teams attended the Leinster Girls Cup in Dublin for Ultimate Frisbee. The first squad was a development team, most of whom were playing their first matches. The girls scored in all their matches and won their final game, seeing them take 13th place.
The first team went out fighting, winning two matches and qualifying for the quarters. They played the eventual winners of the tournament, losing and falling into the 5-8 bracket. The girls went down in their match against Sancta Sabina but then clawed back with serious grit, resilience and incredible defence, scoring the winning goal with three seconds left on the clock.
In their final match, the girls played off against John Scottis and it was a very hard-fought match that saw the girls close a 5-point gap, losing by one after a hotly contested call. They finished 6th overall for the day. Well done everyone on a great performance!
Boys Cup Soccer
Chanel College, Coolock 0-4 CCM (Last 16 Knock-Out – Leinster)
The First year boys continued their winning run in the ‘A’ cup competition with a hard-earned victory over an impressive Chanel College team from Coolock, Dublin, on Tuesday, 20 February. The game started brightly, and it was an evenly-matched contest for the first twenty minutes. However, a great solo run by Daniel Connolly and a cool finish put CCM in the lead around twenty minutes into the game. Alex Healy soon made it 2-0 with a 20-yard effort which found the net with a powerful strike, and it remained 2-0 up until half time.
Chanel came out firing on all cylinders and only for a brave save from Dylan O’Neill, Chanel could have easily found a way back into the game. Failim Drew Redmond scored the goal of the day with a great solo run from the halfway line, beating four players and placing the ball coolly past the Coolock goalkeeper. It was unfortunate for the Dublin team as they were really pushing CCM hard and causing a lot of problems. Allessio Coppolla provided a great assist for Daniel Connolly who had the easy job of passing the ball into an open net due to clever work on the left-hand side by Alessio. Daniel scored his second of the day and CCM ended up comfortable 4-0 winners.
It was the team's best performance to date, and they will now head into the last 8 of Leinster in the FY ‘A’ cup where they will play St. Kieran’s College from Kilkenny. The First Year Boys team are having a brilliant year so far and will play in a Wicklow/Wexford league final over the next few weeks.
Senior Rugby
CCM: 17 – Newpark: 13
The senior rugby team dug deep to claim a place in the McMullen Cup Final for the first time with a hard fought win against Newpark Comprehensive in Greystones RFC.
Defence wins games and CCM defended heroically as Newpark threw everything at them. Newpark started the brighter side and created an opportunity from a first phase scrum with the full-back making a clean break that required a last-ditch tackle from Brendan Stone. CCM defended resolutely and forced a number of turnovers but couldn't relieve the pressure, which eventually told with a try to Newpark after a series of carries close to the line. The conversion came back off the post and CCM were 5-0 behind.
A quick response was needed and, after sustained pressure in the Newpark half with forwards and backs carrying to good effect, the referee awarded a penalty with Brendan Stone kicking to the corner. Kieran Hunter caught the overthrow and fought his way over to level the scores. Stone converted from wide out to give a 2 point lead to CCM.
It was all Newpark from this point as they laid siege to the CCM line. A harsh yellow card for Brendan Stone reduced CCM to fourteen men but the defence could not be breached with tackle after tackle stopping Newpark. Cameron Hughes, Brandom Battams, Louis Lyons and Liam Delaney all made timely interventions to stem the tide and Newpark settled for a kick at goal after an infringement at the ruck, but the effort slipped past the post. This proved to be the last play of the first half with CCM ahead 7-5.
The second half saw an early Brendan Stone penalty after good work by Kian Quirk and this was followed by a Newpark effort to bring the score to 10-8. CCM began to take control of the game with Kieran Hunter, Cuan Beirne and TJ Kennedy carrying to great effect. Newpark's attack was finding it difficult to break down the CCM defence and had to kick long with Brendan Stone and Alex Dunne returning the ball with interest. Kieran Armstrong and Luke Dunne were standing up in defence, with important tackles keeping Newpark pinned in to their 22. An attempted relieving kick was blocked down by man-of-the-match, Ricardo Whelan, with the returning Cormac Murphy picking up the loose ball to score beside the posts. Stone added the conversion and the lead was extended to 17-8 with eight minutes to play.
Newpark came straight back from the kick-off and forced a couple of handling errors that allowed them dominate territory and build more and more pressure. The CCM defence stood firm with out-half, Ciaran Matthews, combining with centres, Theo Pennell and Luke Dunne, to shut down the early threat from Newpark's backs. Wave after wave of attack was repelled, and a Ciaran Matthews steal at the ruck gave CCM back possession. The ball was moved from left to right with TJ Kennedy making a break to halfway. With time up, Eric Peterson found Brendan Stone who cleared the ball into the stand with the final whistle following and a place in the final secured.
Team: Louis Lyons, Liam Delaney, Kieran Hunter (c), Kieran Armstrong, Cuan Beirne, Kian Quirk, Ricardo Whelan, Cameron Hughes, Eric Peterson, Ciaran Matthews, Brandon Battams, Theo Pennell, Luke Dunne, Alex Dunne, Brendan Stone.
Subs: TJ Kennedy, Jack Reid, Cormac Murphy, Conor Kelly, Stephen Tobin Kelly, John Crowley, Jamie Roche, Jack McConnell.
First and Second Year Boys’ Basketball
Well done to both our First Year and Second Year Boys’ Basketball teams who had convincing wins in their final group matches on Thursday, 22 February, against Temple Carrig. Both teams controlled the court in all four quarters, with both scorelines showing their dominance throughout their respective games.
Our First Years finished with a 32-13 win, progressing to the Cup semifinal in which they will meet Terenure College while our second years now progress to the Plate semifinal after their 39-12 win . Well done to all players who have shown great commitment and impressive integrity throughout their competition to date.
