Schools notes

St. Mary's BNS, Lucan

We are now receiving applications for
Junior Infants for September 2025.
Application forms can be downloaded from our school website which is: www.stmarysbnslucan.com
and the closing date for applications is Friday 15th November.

Lucan Community College

Admission for 1st year 2025: The admission process for 1st year 2025 is now open online. If you have a child in 6th class interested in attending Lucan CC, please go to lucancc.ie and select parents/guardians - admission/enrolment - and scroll down to read the Admission Notice and Admission policy and then click on Online Application to complete the form. Closing date is 5pm on Friday 25th October but please do not leave it until the last minute in case of technical issues. Applications for 1st year 2025 will now be submitted online only. Please ensure that you read the policy, band descriptors and Appendix 4 carefully before you apply and that you upload all required information at application stage. A letter will be issued to all feeder primary schools advising about the admission process.

OPEN DAY: On Tuesday the 1st of October we held a very successful open day where 5th and 6th class primary students along with their parents and guardians toured the school, experienced the range of subjects and extra-curricular activities on offer in Lucan Community College. There was a great atmosphere in the school as students and teachers put on subject displays, informative presentations, and friendly interactions with very positive feedback received from the prospective students and their parents.

Thanks to all the staff and students for their hard work, passion and dedication in making the Open day a successful event. The student volunteers were fantastic and embody the essence of what we are in Lucan Community College. Above is photo of the TY stand managed by students Naomi Darcy and Dylan McGill.

Hockey: Well done to our Senior Girls Hockey team who beat Mount Anville Secondary School 4 - 0 on Tuesday the 1st of October

Colaiste Phadraig

Enrolment: A reminder that application forms for admission to 1st yr in September 2025 are now available from the school office. They can also be downloaded from our website @ www.colaistephadraiglucan.ie. Completed application forms must be returned to the school office by Friday 25th October 2024.

Cross Country: Well done to our 14 athletes who competed in the Dublin cross-country championships held in the Phoenix Park last Thursday. After heavy rain the previous day, conditions underfoot were pretty heavy so every competitor certainly felt it in their legs.

Daniel Abbott competed in the 1st yr 1.3km race and he performed extremely well to finish in 6rd place (out of 180 competitors!) in a fast time of 5 minutes 25 secs. Daniel kept pace with the frontrunners throughout before using his pace and stamina to finish strongly and claim a richly deserved medal.

Conor Abbott, who had a superb season last year in cross-country for the school, once again demonstrated his phenomenal talent by finishing in 2nd place in the 2.6km 3rd yr race in a time of 10:25. Well done to Conor on his silver medal. The Abbotts are certainly a fit family and we anticipate reporting on further successes for the brothers in cross-country and athletics throughout the school year.

Paddy McGonigle and Senan Carley also placed in the top 10 in the 3rd yr race and both received medals for their excellent runs.

Hurling: Our Junior Hurlers were defeated 4-10 to 3-10 last Friday by St. Paul's College Raheny, in their 2nd group match of their Post-Primary Schools Leinster Hurling B League campaign. Conditions were difficult for both sides in St. Anne's Park, with wind and persistent rain throughout the game. Jack McCarthy had a superb game for Lucan in the inside forward position as he scored an impressive 2-07. Raheny struggled to cope with Jack's athleticism, running power, strength in the air and game intelligence as he tormented their backline throughout with a magnificent performance of skill and precision finishing. Paidi Murphy (1-1), Derry Ware (0-1) and Conor McHugh (0-1) got the other Lucan goals but St. Paul's proved to be a little more clinical on the day and they just about held on for a hard-fought victory in a game that could easily have gone the other way. The team have now won one and lost one in the group stages so they know that victory at home to Malahide CS will secure a top two finish and qualification for the knock-out stages of the competition.

Higher Options: All 6th yr students attended the Higher Options Day at the RDS last Thursday. This popular 3-day event has become an annual fixture on the Education calendar of secondary schools as representatives from over 160 colleges, universities and institutes of further education, from home and abroad, set up stalls to inform and attract students from around the country.

There were exhibitors from Ireland, the UK, the EU and America in attendance on the day. Over the course of their visit our students got to attend lectures and talks, across four stages, about a wide variety of careers ranging from Engineering, Teaching, Nursing, Agriculture, Science and Design, Horticulture and Sustainability, Law, Hospitality and Tourism and many, many others. There were also practical talks on the CAO application procedure, while career guidance expert Brian Mooney was on hand to help the students identify the career area that may suit them best.

Talks also addressed applying for a Student Universal Support Ireland grant, apprenticeships and studying abroad. The students definitely found the whole experience informative and helpful, as they prepare to make important career choices over the coming months and years. The students also got the chance to meet and interact with third-level students at the event which helped them gain an understanding of what college life involves.

Subject Options: In Engineering, our 1st yr students are getting to make 'Pac-Man' keyrings out of plastic during their Taster Week. To do this, they learned how to use their bench tools as well as the pillar drill. The students were taught how to use the standard marking-out, measuring and gauging equipment in the correct manner. They also learned the basic skills of using the manual and power operated hand drills, as well as a selection of suitable drilling speeds and feeds. As in all practical subjects, safety rules are an essential part of the subject so the students learned the basic Health and Safety rules that must be followed, such as the correct use and storage of all materials, tools and equipment used in the classroom, personal protection, and the control of dust and fumes.

St Joseph's College Lucan

First Year Mass: Our First Year Mass took place on Monday 23rd September in St Mary's Church, Lucan. The theme of our Mass was Gathering as a Community. Many students participated and we were in awe of their musical talents and wonderful public speaking voices. It was a wonderful opportunity for all First Years to come together as we have a very diverse community within the school. This gathering as a community underpins the message which we in St. Joseph's wish to foster, we are a community where everyone is important, valued and recognised.

Higher Options: Last Thursday, all our sixth years spent the morning at Higher Options at the RDS. This is a fair where sixth year students all over the country come and attend and can speak to representatives from many of the third level institutions around the country. The sixth years found the day extremely worthwhile and informative as they begin to consider the courses they will place on their CAO forms in the coming months. Thanks to the guidance department for organising the day.

Student Council Bake Sale: Last Wednesday the student council held a bake sale at lunch time. All the proceeds of the sale went to Harold's Cross Hospice. There was a fantastic turn out on the day as many of the students and staff wanted to sample the tasty treats that were on sale. A fantastic 750 euro was raised (and counting). Well done to Ms. Banks and all involved on the day.

Cross Country: Congratulations to all the athletes who ran in the Phoenix Park on Thursday.
Lucy Cassidy ran a fantastic race coming 6th in the 1st year 1300m Cross country race winning a bronze medal. Our wonderful 3rd years were first team home in the 2600 metres with a fantastic performance from all. An amazing win from Ana Jones and 4 more of our team featuring in the top 15, Maia Hannon in 3rd Poppy Lyons Kennedy in 5th and Isabella Lyons Kennedy in 7th and Ellen Kenny in 14th. Well done all.

Senior Camogie: Hard luck to our senior camogie team who were beaten in their first championship game against Dominican College. The team still have two games left in their group and still have a good chance to qualify for the knockout stages of the competition.

Follow Us on Twitter: @StJosephsLucan
Follow Us on Instagram: @stjosephscollegelucan
Find us on our Website: www.stjosephslucan.com