Gradam 2015

John Hurley

Gradam 2015

Last night was one of the real high-points of our school’s year. Gradam. The word means ‘ award’, and yet the word itself doesn’t begin to cover just what a special night this is for our students.
I first attended the Gradam awards 10 years ago and was simply blown away by what was happening.  Here we were, gathered as a community, celebrating the best of what our Students had to offer.
And what a celebration it was, and still is.
Over the years we have kept the same successful format for Gradam.  Our guests – Students and their families – gather in the library for a reception at 7.30, and then head to our Cafe for a musical performance by our wonderful music department.  This performance is staged with the assistance ofCADA , and is always something special.  This year, the students performed a selection of numbers from the musical ‘Hairspray’.
Following the performance, the awards are presented.  Each year we have a different presenter, and this year it was the turn of Deirdre Creedon from CIT.
And the awards?  There were a lot.

Students received recognition for their work in a number ofareas.

  • From each year group there were students who stood out just by the effort they put into their studies over the course of the previous year.
  • Awards for Academic Excellence
  • Awards for Community Involvement
  • Awards for Artistic Merit
  • Awards for Sport
  • Awards for achievement in College
  • Awards for achievement in Gaisce

Of course, no night like this is complete without a few speeches!

  • Mr. Kieran Golden, our new Principal, spoke about the values of our school.  How we focus on three things:
    • Student learning – everyone should learn something every day
    • Student Achievement – we celebrate what our students do well, both inside and outside of school
    • Student Well-being – we look after each other
  • Ms. Deirdre Creedon spoke about how students can go onto achieve great things, and how it is so good to be able to look back on our achievements and be able to say ‘I did a good job’
  • Mr. Paul O’Leary (the Chair of our Board of Management) spoke again about the values of our school, and how it is a place that parents can trust their children to be safe, and to thrive.
This has been my 10th time attending Gradam.  I’m still blown away by it, and delighted that we get this chance every year to celebrate the best of what our students have to offer.
Well done to all of those who received an award, and to all those who were nominated.
John Hurley
Chaplain

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Visit to Glen Resource Centre

John Hurley

Visit to the Glen Resource Centre

On Friday last, the 18th of September, 30 students from 2nd Year took part in an Activities Session based in the Glen Resource Centre.
The students were divided into two groups and got to take part in a number of fun team building exercises. The Gladiator Challenge was the first activity, in which the students challenged each other in a vertical assault course. Speed is not always the quickest way to the top and teamwork plays a vital part.
The Glen Resource Centre has designed unique Team Building Activities, taking elements from traditional Team Building activities and mixing them with elements used in well-known T.V. Programmes such as the “Survivor Series” and “I’m a celebrity get me out of here”.
Students then took part in an activity called “Create the Stack”. In groups of 3, students build a tower of crates as high as they can. You have to stand on top of the crates as you build, rising with the tower without falling. This was a very enjoyable activity for the students which challenged their teamwork abilities and communication.
Finally the students got to finish the session by getting to go Snow Tubing on the outdoor ski slope which was a very enjoyable way to end a great session. A special thank you to the staff at the Glen Resource Centre for providing such a great session and to all the students who represented the school excellently.
Opening of School Year, 2015

Opening of School Year, 2015

John Hurley

Address to School Assembly 2015

Good morning students and teachers. We are here this morning coming together as a school community for the first time this school year. This is my first time speaking to you all as our school Principal.
I am delighted to be the Principal of Mayfield Community School. It is a school full of students with great potential and a school where your teachers will make sure that you will fulfil that potential. Working with your teachers, you are all capable of great things. I would like to welcome all of you back to our school and I would like to especially welcome our two First Year classes, Class Pádraig and Class Deirdre to our school.

I would like to welcome our new Deputy Principal, Ms. Casey. Ms Casey brings with a lot of wisdom and experience and that wisdom and experience will help all of us make our school community even stronger.

I want all of you to focus in on three things:

  • PUPIL LEARNING – Be clear what have you learned in school today, what you are learning in class. See and take the opportunity to learn in every class.
  • PUPIL SUCCESS – I challenge all of you to succeed in school and in activities outside school. Our school community will congratulate you and celebrate your successes.
  • PUPIL WELL BEING – Feeling good about ourselves is important. Always encourage each other, call each other by their first name and look out for each other. If you see something that you do not like, tell that person to stop and / or tell a teacher.

We will learn, we will succeed and we will feel good about ourselves when:

We come to class with a positive attitude – This means showing up to school on time. Paying attention in class. Doing your homework. Studying for exams. Staying out of trouble.

Always have with you, your school journal, copy, book, biro and relevant materials e.g. a Maths set for your Maths class

Always be ready to learn

I would like to remind you that during our small break, all students must stay within the school campus. If you leave the school grounds during the small break, you will be detained at the end of the school day. For our Junior School students there is NO EATING OR DRINKING in the Malls. Senior students may have that privilege initially and I hope that you keep it.

Doing well in school has never been more important. I’m sure there will be times in the months ahead when you’re staying up late cramming for a test, or dragging yourselves out of bed on a rainy morning, and wondering if it’s all worth it. Let me tell you, there is no question about it. Nothing will have as great an impact on your success in life as your education.

More and more, the kinds of opportunities that are open to you will be determined by how far you go in school. In other words, the farther you go in school, the farther you’ll go in life.

So remember,

Come to school with a positive attitude

Bring with you your school journal, books, biros and materials

Always be ready to learn

I wish all of you every success in the year ahead.

Thank you.

Mr. K. Golden
Principal