Business Quiz

The BSTAI together with CIMA (The chartered Institute of Management Accountants) are holding the National Finals of the Secondary Schools Business Quiz on Thursday April 11th. This event will be held in Thurles. A team of third year students, Casey Mc Inerney , Anna Caroll, Austin McMahon and Aine O’ Callaghan got through the Mid-West qualifying round in October in Limerick I.T. We wish them good luck in the final.

Student Entrepreneurs

Congratulations to all the transition year students who represented our school at the Clare County Final of the Student Enterprise competition in Ennis recently. Entrants were expected to offer a product or service for sale having carried out market research. They had to write a report on their projects, go through an interview with four judges and present an exhibiiton stand for inspection. From oil lamps to hurley hangers, cook books to baking cake lollipops, snoods to photography - the variety of products and services our students had on offer was impressive.

We are proud of the quality of products, reports and the stands which our students exhibited. We were not successful in bringing home any titles this year – but the transition year students have learned a huge amount about the skills and characteristics required to run their own businesses. Perhaps some will become successful business people in the future. Well done to all involved

Minor Boys Cross-Country News

Congratulations to our minor boys team who represented the school in the All-Ireland Cross Country Championship in University of Ulster, Jordanstown, Belfast on Saturday.

The boys were Sean Cahill, Cian Keogh, Sean Murphy, Feargal Kearney and Conor Tuohy.

It was a great personal achievement for Sean Cahill as he came 18^th in the race and was the first Munster boy to cross the finish line on Saturday.

Cian, Sean Murphy, Feargal and Conor also ran very well and they were the 8^th team to finish on Saturday.  This again was a great achievement as they were the 3^rd team to finish in Munster.  All boys improved their running since the Munster Championship and are looking forward to representing St. Joseph’s again next year.

St. Joseph’s would also like to take this opportunity to thank Mr. Eugene Conlon, who has been training with and preparing the boys since last January.  Eugene trained the boys on Wednesday and Friday afternoons, and on Saturday mornings.  His time and commitment to school athletics are very much appreciated.

F

Congratulations to the school Céilí Band and Grupa Cheoil who recently competed in Féile na hÍnse in the Auburn Lodge Hotel on March 2nd. The Grupa Cheoil put in a great performance and were awarded 2nd place. Those involved were Laura Donnellan, Sinéad Mulqueen and Marie Vaughan on fiddles, Ailbhe Kearney, Marie Duffy, Niamh Vaughan and Laura O’Connell on concertinas, Fergal Kearney, Áine Vaughan, Orla Moroney and Siobhán O’Connell on flutes, Rory Corbett on banjo, Gearóid McNamara on accordion and Fionn Harrington on guitar. They played a selection of polkas, jigs, a barndance, an O’Carolan piece, a slow air and reels.

The Céilí Band won their competition, and retained the Mháirtín Uí Dhúbháin Trophy for the 3rd year. Those involved in the band were Marie Vaughan and Sinéad Mulqueen on fiddles, Ailbhe Kearney on piano, Marie Duffy and Niamh Vaughan on concertinas, Fergal Kearney and Siobhán O’Connell on flutes, Rory Corbett on banjo, Gearóid McNamara on accordion and Daniel Landers on drums. The band played a march, a selection of jigs and a set of reels. Welcome done to Ms Aisling Mulhern for all her hard work with the group. Maith sibh go léir!

Senior Girls All Ireland Final

The Best of Luck to all of our students taking part in sporting All-Irelands this Saturday the 9th March:
Our Senior Girls D All-Ireland final against  Scoil Mhuire, Trim at 1.45 in St. Brendan’s Park, Railway Road, Birr, Co. Offaly- All supporters welcome!

Our Minor Boys Cross- Country team who are performing in the University of Ulster, Jordanstown, Co. Antrim.
We await events as they unfold and really appreciate the time and dedication of all concerned.
Scoil Iosaif Abú

Munster Silver Medal Success for Kevin

Congratulations to first year Kevin Caulfield who represented our school at the Munster Schools’ Indoor Games held in Nenagh yesterday. 

Kevin won a silver medal in the shot event and is now looking forward to competing in the Munster Schools' Outdoor Games to be held next May.

Best of luck from all at St. Joseph's!

A Letter from Kenya

To the Principal, Staff and students of Scoil Joseph, Tulla,

Warm greetings to all of you from St. Michael's Secondary school in Mukuru, Nairobi.

This letter of thanks to you is long overdue as we send our very sincere appreciation for your hard work and generosity in raising funds for our school. A special thanks to Donna (Ms Fitzgerald)and Deirdre (Ms Hogan) for your commitment to the fund-raising marathon undertaken last December. I know that you surpassed yourselves this time 'round against all odds. Mile buiochas.

Here we have been struggling with temperatures of 30 degrees but hoping for cooler weather soon. We expect to get some rain by April, all going well. Our last rain feel in December so plenty of dust floating in the air.

We have begun a new school year in January with eighty six new students into Form 1. All are looking smart in their new school uniforms and eager to learn. Unfortunately we had to refuse another eighty students due to lack of space. We completed the building of four extra classrooms to increase our capacity, but we still can't cater for the high demand. Education is expensive and essential for young people if they are to lift themselves out of the poverty of the slums. Your contribution has enabled us to take in an extra forty five students over and above last year's class. This will make a huge difference to their future lives.

Right now we are getting ready for presidential and general elections in the country. We are all praying and hoping for peace since our last elections in 2008 caused huge loss of life and many families burned out of their homes. We have been warned to stock up and stay indoors next week. Our contacts have been registered with the Irish Embassy in case of emergency. So we will be glued to the T.V. in the hope of peaceful elections. If you have a spare moment, offer it up for peace in Kenya at this time.

I know that many of you students are moving towards the end of the school year with exams in the offing. I want to wish you all the very best and pray that your generosity will be rewarded, in kind.

Blessings and good wishes to all of you.

Sr. Angela Hartigan

Transition Year Young Social Innovators Project

Good Luck TY's

Good luck to our TY's taking part in the Young Social Innovators projects this year. Almost 5,000 young people will SPEAK OUT all over Ireland throughout March.

YSI SpeakOuts are about promoting advocacy among young people and giving them the skills and confidence to advocate on their chosen social issues.Fifteen events will take place in regions all over Ireland.

Each year YSI organises regional events called “YSI Speak Outs”. These events give young people a platform to talk about social issues and communicate their YSI project work in creative ways. All young social innovators are invited to attend a Speak Out event in their region where they can meet up and share ideas.

YSI SpeakOuts are about promoting advocacy among young people and giving them the skills and confidence to advocate on their chosen social issue. This year our TY 1 has topic of  "Body Image" and the project is call "You're Beautiful". We know Ms Hogan has put alot of work in with you and we wish you all the best.