Céilí Mór Seachtain na Gaeilge

Bhain na cailíní ó TY i Scoil Dominican agus na buachaillí ó TY agus 3 West i Scoil Aodháin an taitneamh as an gCéilí a bhí ar siúl ag deireadh Seachtain na Gaeilge. Bhí sé eagraithe ag Comhairle na Mac Léinn, Daithí Ó Beirn ach go háirithe. Rinne sé sár-obair an ócáid a chur ar siúl agus gabhann Roinn na Gaeilge fíor-bhuíochas leis. Ina theannta sin gabhaimid go léir buíochas le hIníon Breathnach as na damhsaí a múineadh, agus leis na múinteoirí a bhí i láthair ó Scoil Dominican agus Scoil Aodháin ag déanamh feitheoireachta. Míle buíochas freisin do Sheán Moore a chabhraigh linn go mór, mar is gnáth!! Bhí Liam Ó hÓbáin ó Bhliain a Sé ann ag seinm ar an mbosca ceoil agus bhí sé ar fheabhas, dár ndóigh!! Bhuaigh Darren Maher, Mark Everard (TYPN), Sam Harold (TYPS), Michael Feeney, Dylan Walsh (TYPE) agus Dale Burns (3West) duaiseanna as ucht a gcuid scileanna damhsa!! Tá súil againn go leanfaidh an traidisiún láidir Gaelach atá i Scoil Aodháin go deo na ndeor.

Debating Update

St Aidan’s has been involved in more debating competitions than ever before this year, taking part in the Leinster Schools, European Parliament, Concern Debates and that’s before the Science and Trinity Phil Speaks are taken into account.

Karl Elliott and Ben Griffin are through to the quarter finals of Leinster School’s competition in which they were semi-finalists last year.This year St. Aidan’s took part in the Concern Debates for the first time, with Robert Keenan, Lee Elliott, Senan O’Sullivan, Damon Foster, Daniel O’Connor and Niall Conway taking part. It’s Niall Conway’s first year debating and he has got past the first round of the European Parliament debates with fellow first timer Kevin Ashton and Darren Maher.

This is will also be the first year when St Aidan’s takes place in the DSI (Debating Science Ireland) competition. Open to senior cycle students on an All-Ireland basis, the competition serves to stimulate interest in biomedical research and any science student who would normally debate but wishes to take part in this event should contact Ms. Ruane or Mr. O’Connor.

Yet to come is the Trinity Phil Speaks Competition in which the students have had great success over the past four years. A mixture of organised debates and speaking off the cuff it is highly entertaining event and can possibly end up in a trip to Hong Kong for the happy victor. Last year, Andrew Linn nearly won a split adjudication panel, but this year is helping organise it as a student of the University.

Last but not least, the teacher’s debating competition was won by Messrs. O’Connor and Deneher who defended Senator John McCain, versus Miss Dunne and Mr Carmody.

Mr. T.O’Connor

Immersion 2009

I am a student in the school, and along with several other students and teachers am organising a trip to Arusha,Tanzania during October this year to do developmental / educational work. It is expected that we will spend 11 days in Arusha. While there we will attend school and work in an orphanage that is associated with the school.

Since November we have started fundraising for the project and in that time we have had to come up with various different ways of raising money. We have come together and raised €5,000 approx. but this is only a small amount of what is required to make our €36,000 target.

To achieve this target we require the support of everyone in the community that includes parents and students who can help.

We will keep you updated on upcoming fundraising events and your support in these will be greatly appreciated.

Kevin Ashton and Niall Farrell
(The Immersion Team)

F1 in Schools Success

F1 in Schools is a competition, open to all secondary schools, to design and manufacture CO2-powered racing cars. Student teams will compete against each other in a National Championship to determine the best-engineered and fastest car in Ireland. Students built a 1/20th-scale F1 racing car capable of travelling at over 110km/hr - using advanced 3D design software and automated manufacturing technology.

F1 in Schools is a unique technology challenge that enables second-level students to get their hands on the latest technology from the worlds of engineering and manufacturing.

Six Transition year students put their ideas and plans together to form Team Tremolo. Students had to put together a 6 page detailed plan of their ideas and design to qualify for the regional finals. With a place secured on the starting grid in the Regional Finals the students started to put their ideas and designs into action. After designing the car DCU kindly milled the car. Meanwhile other members of the team were busy designing a 20 page portfolio, obtaining sponsorship and media coverage just like a real Formula 1 team. Regional Finals took place on 20th March in Blanchardstown Institute of Technology. Team Tremolo with a well designed car that raced down a 20ft track in just over 0.3 seconds, a portfolio and a verbal presentation to be proud of got a chequered flag to represent the school in the National Finals. Team Tremolo - Niall Conway (Team manager), Shayan Yousefizadeh, Darragh Hickey, Alec Griffin, Adam Sexton, Michael Feeney. Special Thanks to our sponsors St. Aidan’s Parents Council and ISA group.

Ms.N. Sullivan