MARIAN COLLEGE BULLETIN

Vol 16 Sept
No 1. 2001

Welcome
Welcome Parents, staff and students to the start of a new academic year. A new beginning is always a time for new and renewed friendships, new resolutions, new commitments, new hopes and aspirations. We are glad to see everyone back and also to bid a special Marian welcome to the many new students and new staff who are joining the Marian community. A particular warm welcome to all the first year students who start out on the the next rung of the pathways through education ladder. We wish you all a most productive and fulfilling year and know that all students will be trying their hardest to achieve the very best they can. Staff enter the new academic year dedicated to encouraging the students best efforts, so to everyone in all their various fields of endeavour the best of luck for 2001 - 2002.

New Staff
Several new staff have taken up their posts in the College this month. A special greeting to them all.
The new staff are Mr John McEvoy, Mr Pat Glover, Ms Caoimhe McGuinness, Ms Aisling Russell, Ms Michelle McCann, Ms JulieAnne Daly, Ms Breda Atkinson, Mr Thomas Kelly and Ms Eve Rogers.

Mass for the opening of the School Year
The College community came together to celebrate a special Liturgical Mass at the opening of the School year in Star of the Sea Church Sandymount on Wednesday Sept 12th. This is a very significant date in the Annals of the Marist family. As well as being the Feast of the Holy Name of Mary it is also the day when all 4 branches of Mary's Societies celebrated their general chapter in Rome. So delegates for the 4 Marist congregations, priests brothers nuns and laity gathered together in conference on "How the hopes and plans of the first Marists can be a fountain of life for our Marist communities today". The theme for Marian College's Mass was seizing the many opportunities of the new academic year. God's blessing was asked for all our relationships and endeavours during the coming year.
An extra celebration of the Marist feast day was afforded when all staff & students celebrated with light refreshments to mark this great significant event. Our gratitude is extended to the Marist Brothers for hosting the refrestments.
Getting your Bulletin
The monthly Bulletin is edited and sent to you each month by the Home School Liaison coordinator at the College Mr Hughie O'Byrne, It is given to the students for their parents usually on the third Thursday of every month, so remind them to make sure it reaches you.

Results
Congratulations to the Leaving Cert Class of 2001 on their very commendable results, pride of place went to Brian Egan, Shane O'Donnell and Conan Doyle who received 11A's and almost 600 points each, but the real success was seen by the large number of students who reached their potential and thus reaped the rewards of a job well done. We and they know who they are and we commend their efforts most particularly. Our Junior Cert students also did themselves proud with Kieran Browne leading the way with 7As and they all now move on to Senior Cycle in either the Transition or 5th Year programmes.
Parent Teacher Association A.G.M.
The PTA had their first meeting of the 2001 -2002 academic year on Sept 17th when the representative of each year group set up the open forum format for the AGM which will take place on Sept 20th. All parents are invited to attend the AGM and a very stimulating & invigorating meeting is expected.

Open Day
Next Saturday September 29th is Open Day for prospective students and their parents.
Our first year numbers have increased yet again for the third year. Our projections now suggest that the College will maintain itself as a school of about 400 students with 72 students in each year of the junior cycle, 20 students in Transition year and about 60 students in both 5th & 6th Year and about 26 students in our co-ed Repeat Leaving Certificate Programme which has been growing since its successful introduction by Mr Kevin Lawlor three years ago. The reason for all this information is that Saturday is the Open Day for prospective students who wish to join our first year programme in September 2002. Please let any of your neighbours and friends know that they can visit the College with their sons at any time between 10.00am and 1.00 pm on Saturday when they will be shown around the school by members of the College staff. It will be essential for such parents to complete an application form as soon as possible after the Open Day because we are expecting to achieve our target of 72 students by November of this year and don't want disappointment through not making a timely application.

Meningitis
Meningitis is a dangerous disease, coming in two main forms viral and bacterial. This disease is particularly dangerous for young people and so the Government's vaccination campaign continues here in the College from Monday September 17th and will be carried out by the East Coast Area Health Board.

School Captain - Vice Captain
Mitch Cavanagh - Graeme Glennon

September the 10th was the date, Room 14 the venue for the election of this year's College Captain. Altogether 8 6th year candidates had been nominated . Sean Coleman, Graeme Glennon, Paul Finnegan, Damian Hanlon, Niall Meany, Kevin O'Brien, Steven Kelly and Mitch Cavanagh. After several polls Mitch was elected Captain and Graeme Vice-Captain. Congratulations to both and every success for the coming year.

St Andrews Resource Centre - C.A.P. 2YK1
The Ringsend/Pearse Street Resource Centre hosted the graduation night for the career awareness programme for young people in the local community. A large crowd of over one hundred and fifty people turned up for the awarding of certificates to the C.A.P.2YKClass which included Philip Downes, Stephen Higgins , Joseph O'Doherty and Paul Byrne's sister Laura. This educational initiative was funded by Fas, hosted by St Andrews and the Tolka Valley Training Centre and all tailored to the community's needs. The Director General of Fas Roddy Molloy complimented all the graduates on their excellent exhibition. Ruairi Quinn, who himself was involved in helping set up the resource centre thanked one and all and complimented the graduates on their courage, to get involved and hopefully help themselves to become self starters in the future. Also in attendance were Jim Hynes of St Andrews, Kevin Humphreys the local councillor and master of ceremonies Betty Ashe. The facilitators which included Bernadette Weafer were presented with floral bouquets. Roving reporter and link man for the night was Philip Downes. The night finished with refreshments and entertainment ala Nigerian style by Select, the Cap students of 2001.

Past Pupils Corner
Congratulations to David Quirke Leaving Cert. 1986 who has now get the attention he always sought while in Marian being featured in a full page article in the Irish Times and other prominent newspapers because of his partnership with Bono's brother in the establishment of Ireland's first nude restaurant sorry its called the Nude Restaurant in Suffolk St., we wish him the best of luck.

Internet - Online
Stephen Lawless webmaster of 5th year has been making huge efforts to get us online and his success is there now for all to see. Visit our webside at mariancollege.net.

All Ireland Day
It is not everyday the College is represented at Croke Park on all Ireland day but this year is different. Clanna Gael & 5th years Graham Dent already has a Leinster winning medal for Dublin and hopes to make it an All Ireland double when the "Dubs" take on Tyrone on Sept 23rd. We congratulate Graham on his success so far and wish him and the Dublin minor team all the best on the big day.

Sports Notes
J. C.T. Rugby team had a 57 - 3 win over Firhouse in the league. S. C. T. lost to St. David's and the Senior Soccer lost 0 - 4 to Blackrock. The U16 hurlers beat St. John's. Further update next month.

"Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat".
Rehearsals have just begun and we hope to present as good a show as last year's "Oliver" Performance dates are December 5th - 7th. Anyone interested should see Mr. Ryan. Our Music Dept. would welcome donations of Keyboards. If you have one to donate of sell contact Mr. Ryan. Our collection of drinking cans continues this year with the proceeds going to Br. Kevin's Marist mission in South Africa There are special bags around the school.

Insurance
All rugby players are covered by a special I.R.F.U. insurance scheme but if anyone wishes to have extra insurance see Mr. Meany for details.

Upcoming Calendar Dates to note
A.G.M. of P.T.A. Thursday September 20th 8.00pm.
Higher Options Day Third Level Colleges 19th - 21st September
Open Day for prospective incoming First years Saturday 29th September 10.00am - 1.00pm.
Sixth Year Parent/Teacher meeting 1.00pm - 3.00pm October 9th.