Author: John Hurley

For Science Week 2016

• A group of First Year students and a small group of LCA students built Bug Hotels
• The idea of bug hotels is to provide shelter and a source of food for insects over the winter and into the spring
• Insects such as Solitary bees and ladybirds are very important in nature as they can help native plant species to thrive.
• Mayfield Community School is hoping to encourage these insects and others to take up residence in the grounds of the school
• We would hope the bug hotels would contribute to improving the natural environment around MCS
• The bug hotels were constructed using recycled materials including bricks,tiles,wood and chicken wire.
• We constructed a large bug hotel in the garden at the back of the school
• The smaller bug hotels in the garden pots will be placed in various locations around the school
• Bird Feeders have been placed around the school grounds and it is hoped we will encourage the smaller birds such as robins,blue tits and chaffinches to appear more often around the school grounds.

(written by Adam Cunningham and Tyrone Meade of TY)

Students in Mayfield Community School were spoiled for choice during Science week. First year  and LCA students built an insect hotel and put up bird feeders in the school grounds as part of a biodiversity project. Science teacher Ms Callanan said “First year student recycled old pots, twigs, rolled up cardboard, red bricks and chicken wire to create a safe haven for insects and learned the importance of protecting our native species by providing suitable habitats over the winter”.

Students enjoyed a plant tour of Biopharma Education Centre where they learned of the processes and conditions required in a pharmaceutical factory setup. Students also learned about career paths in the pharmaceutical sector.

Students had a unique opportunity to visit the Stardome set up in the hall of the school’s sports complex by Blackrock Observatory. Science teacher Mr Begley said “students gained a new perspective on the night skies in Ireland.” Students were excited to explore the possibility of travel to Mars and learned of the difficulties such a journey would entail. Science teachers in Mayfield Community School were delighted to host this exciting event as it links directly to topics on  the new Junior Cycle syllabus.

Students and staff of Mayfield Community School took part in Gaeilge 24, a nationwide challenge, run by Conradh na Gaeilge.

Mayfield Community School saw over 75 staff and students, all of whom wore green t-shirts supplied by Conrad na Gaeilge, participate in this initiative, however, each and every member of the school community made a huge joint effort in speaking and promoting the use of the Irish language both inside and outside the classroom. Different activities ‘as Gaeilge’ were held throughout the school day.

1^st years participated in a Gaelic football blitz while 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th year students enjoyed a ‘Tráth ns gCeist’, or Table Quiz as most of us know it.

Irish teacher Ms Clíona O’Callaghan coordinated this event and said “Gaeilge 24 was a huge success and wonderful way for students to speak Irish outside of the classroom. We look forward to many other similar initiatives”

From early morning, a fantastic atmosphere was palpable all over the school. Both staff and students alike thoroughly enjoyed the day and the countdown to next year has already begun.

Click on the image below to view the slideshow

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Following is a letter from the Board of Management of Mayfield Community School to all parents:

Dear Parent(s)/Guardian(s),

ASTI withdrawal from Supervision and Substitution

As you are aware from the media, the ASTI has directed its members to withdraw from supervision and substitution duties with effect from 7th November 2016. Our school has a number of teachers who are members of the ASTI.

Health and Safety legislation and the in loco parentis principle place a duty of care on school management to ensure the safety, health and welfare of pupils. School management have assessed the supervision and substitution needs of the school and have put in place arrangements for the provision of supervision of pupils for Monday 7th November. These arrangements were ratified by our school’s Board of Management.

Consequently the Board of Management are pleased to inform you that Mayfield Community School will be open for all students on Monday 7th November.

ASTI Strike Day November 8th

The ASTI has also notified the Board of Management of a Strike Day on November

8th. If this strike day goes ahead as planned the Board of Management will not be in a position to discharge its responsibility with regard to the care of students in its charge. The Board reluctantly decided that it cannot guarantee the health and safety of students on the school premises on that day.

The Board of Management is therefore requesting you not to send your son/daughter to school on Tuesday November 8th.

The Board of Management will notify parents of arrangements regarding any further strike dates as they arise.

The Board of Management wishes to assure you that it will continue to make every effort to provide education and care for our pupils and values your support in this endeavour.

The Board of Management regrets this course of action is necessary.

Yours sincerely,

_________________________.

Secretary of the Board of Management

The following was written by Dylan Morley, a 6th year student.

2016 Proclamation

Irishmen and Irishwomen: In the name of God, and the men and women who came before us and fought for our independence, we, the future of this proud country and the students of Mayfield Community School, share our hopes and desires for an Ireland of the future.

We believe that no citizen should be discriminated against based on the grounds of Race, Gender or Sexual Orientation. Now that same-sex marriage has been legal in Ireland since the 16th of November 2015, we urge people who are un-accepting of this, to change their mentality because Ireland is changing hers. We hope more women enter politics, as women’s rights are just as important as men’s. We hope more people of different nationalities come to live and work in Ireland so they can experience our wonderful culture and heritage.

We urge people to talk more about mental health. We want people to understand mental health is an important issue, that affects many people in Ireland everyday. We hope more information is provided to the people, especially students, on the subject of mental health. We want people to see and believe the great opportunities that are there for all of us and it is our responsibility to live our lives to the full.

We believe everyone has the right to affordable third level education. This will mean more people from disadvantaged communities will have a better chance to succeed in life and avail of the same opportunities as those who come from privileged backgrounds. We hope those who come after us have an even higher standard of education.

We think that every person has the right to affordable accommodation. We believe more shelters should be opened in order to stop homeless people from sleeping on the streets. We urge more people to get involved with charities and to help the vulnerable people who live in our society.

We hope to continue to promote our culture and heritage in order to show the rest of the world what makes Ireland so unique.

We make this declaration of our hopes and desires for our country, while reflecting on those who fought before us, who gave us the opportunity to aspire to better Ireland. We look forward to the next 100 years of celebrating being citizens of this proud country.

Dylan Morley

An Turas go dtí an Amharclann agus an Gailearaí Ealaíne – le Shelly Cashman

Ar an deichiú la de mhí Deireadh Fomhair 2016 chuaigh daltaí ón gceathrú, ón gcúigiú agus ón séú bhliain ar thuras go dtí an ‘Everyman Palace theatre’ chun an drama An Triail a fheiscint. Caithfidh na daltaí staidéar a dhéanamh ar an dráma seo i gcomhair na Ardteiste. Bhí an dráma ag na daltaí as béarla chun a bheith in ann é a leanúint. Fuaireamar na ticéidí don dráma saor in aisce mar bhí gcomórtas postéir agus bhí orainn postéir a chur le chéile  i gcomhair an dráma. Bhuaigh Ryan Long sa séú bhliain an chomórtas. Bhronnadh an postéir i fráma ar Ryan Long ag deireadh an dráma. Tógadh griangraifanna don nuachtán agus suíomh an amharclann. Bhain na daltaí an taitneamh as an dráma agus fuair Ryan taibléid nua mar duais i gcomhair an phostéir. Úsáidtear an postéir timpeall na tíre seo don dráma. Chuaigh siad ar aghaidh ansin go dtí an gailearaí ealaíne ‘Crawford’ i lar na cathrach. Ta orthu aiste a scríobh faoi gailearaí ealaíne sa scrudú. Bhi clár fáiscthe ag gach dalta chun notaí a thógaint ar na h-ealantóirí mar caithfidh siad staidéar a dhéanamh air.  Bhí turas treoraithe timpeall an gailearaí again. Chuaigh Iníon Uí Bhrádaigh, Iníon Uí Cheallacháin agus Máistir Ó Parle ar an turas lena daltaí. Bhí an turas an tairbheach ar an iomlán do na daltaí agus bhaineamar an taitneamh as.

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Please note that we have had to postpone our open night that was due to take place tomorrow , 27th September. 

We will announce a new date shortly