Schools notes

Lucan Community College

Under 19 Boys Soccer: can CC 2-0 Colaiste Phadraig, Lucan. A great win for our u19 boys against our local rivals CBS. Goals were scored by Jamie Harrington and Kevin Madu. The lads are now through to the Dublin West Semi-final. Well done.

School Fundraiser: LCC held a fundraiser in honour of the late LCC student Saoirse O'Driscoll who passed away in April of congenital heart disease. Her father John and four of his friends Conor, Daragh, Enda and Roger are taking on the World's toughest Row across the Atlantic Ocean between San Sebastian de La Gomera, Spain to the paradise of Nelson's Dockyard, Antigua which is 4800km. The funds raised will be shared between Heart Children Ireland and the Children's Heart Centre at CHI Crumlin, both of which played a vital role in Saoirse's life. Visit the LCC website for a link to the donation page.

LCC International Baking Competition: As part of #thinklangauges LCC held an international baking competition. Students got to show off their fabulous baking and creative skills and the judges got to taste some culinary delights. Congratulations to the winners who were Oisin Argaud - First Year, Mia Cooke - Third Year, Ciara Glynn and Skaiste Marinskaite fifth year.

St Joseph's College Lucan

Junior Achievement Ireland: Second year science students took part in the Junior Achievement Ireland Program with Pfizer. Students discussed the importance of engineering and the role engineers play in our everyday lives. Students also explored the 3D printing and made models of desk lamps and water bottles. The Junior Achievement Ireland program is a structured, hands on and activity based, focusing on enterprise, communication and interview skills. The program is designed to help negotiate the path from school to a career that suits each students individual strengths.

Special assemblies: Well done to all students who received awards at the recent special assemblies. These students were rewarded for their positive and helpful behaviours and living out the ethos of the Presentation Sisters and St Joseph's College.

St Vincent de Paul fundraising Calendar: The St. Vincent De Paul Christmas Appeal is taking place this weekend, raising much needed funds for families in the run up to Christmas. We are selling our 2025 Calendars in St. Joseph's all this week in school & in Centra, Lucan Village. All money goes to St. Vincent De Paul. The Calendars have been created by our students in TY, showing beautiful images of Lucan and surrounding areas! Students can buy a calendar from Ms. Bligh in cash or by Revolut / Card from Tuesday, 10th Dec 2024. The Calendars make great planners for 2025, and can be used in any office, kitchen, bedroom or classroom! They also make great Christmas gifts to family and friends abroad.

College Awareness Week: Thank you to Dillon from TU Dublin and Dr. Laura from Maynooth University for coming to the school last week as part of College Awareness Week 2024. They spoke to our students about the various courses offered by their respective institutions, the facilities on campus and the possibilities for our students if they chose a course at either TU Dublin or Maynooth University.

Berlin Tour: Last week fifth and sixth year German students went on their European tour to Berlin. They visited the Olympic Stadium, Berlin Wall, Reichstag (German Parliament Building), Brandenburg Gate, Holocaust Memorial, Checkpoint Charlie, WW2 Bunker, East German Museum and of course Berlins famous Christmas markets. Thanks to Mr. Kirwan and Ms. Garvey for accompanying students on the trip.

St. Joseph's College - Sustainability - SVP: The Transition Year Students recently held a successful second-hand pop-up shop in the school. Instead of discarding leftover textiles, they creatively upcycled them into unique and festive Christmas decorations. On the 19th December, these handmade ornaments will adorn the Christmas tree at the local St. Vincent de Paul (SVP) charity shop in Lucan Village, spreading holiday cheer while showcasing the students' ingenuity and environmental awareness.
This project demonstrates the students' commitment to sustainability and community engagement.

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Find us on our Website: www.stjosephslucan.com

Colaiste Phadraig

Awards:
Well done to 1st yr Jude Fatogun who won the Mark O' Neill Student of the Month Award for November in recognition of his excellent behaviour, good manners and pleasant demeanour in class and around the school.
Congratulations to TY student Lewis Ajinakou who won the Sports Star of the Month Award in recognition of his exceptional displays for the school's u16 basketball team.
Comhghairdeas freisin le Finn Crawford on rang 1 Oat a bhuaigh an gradam Gaeilgeoir na Miosa do mhi na Samhna mar gheall ar an sar-iarracht a dheanann se an Ghaeilge a labhairt agus an sar-obair ata deanta aige sa rang Gaeilge.

Food collection: Food items have been collected over the past number of weeks for Lucan Lions Club and the response has been heart-warming. The collection as a great success and there was enough food brought in probably for at least twenty-two large hampers. Ms. Casey also collected 305euro from plastic bottles she has collected in the school over the past few months (which numbered close to 2,000!). She returned the bottles to the re-cycle machines in the supermarket and spent the funds on food and groceries for the collection.

The food boxes were collected Tom Kelleher, a volunteer with Lucan Lions Club, on Monday morning and they already have families lined up to receive the hampers in time for Christmas. We would like to thank all those that contributed, both students, parents and staff, so generously to the appeal while we would like to thank Ms. Casey for organising, promoting and co-ordinating this annual collection.

Soccer:
Our 1st yr soccer team crashed out of the Leinster Cup last Thursday after being well beaten by an excellent St. Mary’s Drogheda team in their 2nd rnd encounter.

Our u15 soccer team were beaten 3-1 by Kishoge CC last Friday in their 4th and final group stage match of the Dublin League. Omar Ibrahim got Lucan’s only goal of the game. Our 15s finished in 4th spot in the group so they will now fully focus on the Leinster Shield in January, when they will face Templeogue College in the 1st rnd.

Our u17 soccer team defeated Boyne CS, Trim 3-2 last Wednesday in the 2nd round of the Leinster Junior Cup. Boyne led 2-0 at one stage but Lucan fought back to claim a hard-earned win, with Chris Harold, Patrick Rance and James Dwyer scoring the all-important goals. The team were then beaten 4-2 by Adamstown CS on Tuesday in their final group game of the League. The team are guaranteed a top 2 finish anyway, having won their opening two matches, so it was an opportunity to give the squad some game time. Emmet Kelleher and Ben Lawless got the Lucan goals.

Our senior soccer team were defeated 2-0 by Lucan CC on Thursday in the Dublin League. It was a typically feisty local derby with both teams fighting for every ball with energy, controlled aggression and tenacity. It was a goalless first half with both defences on top of their game but LCC grabbed two 2nd half goals to claim bragging rights as well as top spot in the group, with our team also qualifying in 2nd place.

Hurling: Our senior hurlers advanced to Dublin Senior Hurling C League 1-4 finals after defeating St. McDara's, Templeogue 3-12 to 2-12 last Friday. The victory secured top spot in the group and a home match against St. Declan’s Cabra in the 1-4 final. Páidí Murphy (1-01), Michael O’ Brien (1-0), Patrick Cosgrove (1-01) and Conor Dillon (0-10) got the scores for the team.

Basketball: Hard luck to our u16 basketball team, who suffered an agonising 56-54 overtime defeat to Moyle Park in the East Boys A Shield Final, which was held at the Oblate Centre in Inchicore last Wednesday. Lewis Ajinakou scored a remarkable 42 of the team’s points with Hasan Al Maini (10), Daniel Godson (2) getting the remaining scores. It was a great effort by the team who just missed out on retaining the u16 Shield.

Christmas Service: St. Mary's Church, Lucan hosted a heart-warming Christmas service for our 2nd and 3rd yr students last Friday morning. The ceremony marked the beginning of the Advent Season as well as the Christmas festive period. The occasion brought together students of diverse faiths and beliefs and, under the guidance of Fr. Ubaldo, the multi-faith service not only celebrated the spirit of Christmas but also helped foster a sense of community and belonging. It was a lovely occasion filled with reflection, celebration and joy and we commend the students on being so attentive, respectful and co-operative throughout.