Green Flag Award:

Borrisokane Community College have successfully secured their first Green Flag by An Taisce. Congratulations to the extremely hardworking Green school’s committee under the guidance of Ms. Catriona Maher and all the students and staff involved. The flag will be awarded at a ceremony this coming May in Kilkenny.

Careers Presentation:

With the Leaving Cert fast approaching students have submitted their CAO applications. They can change their mind from the beginning of May up to July after the State exams, hence presentations continue to be provided to students in order that the most suitable course is chosen and realistic expectations are made. On Wednesday last a presentation was given from UCD and Templemore college of Further Ed presented on Thursday.

Parents Subject Choice Information Evening:

Parents of 3^rd year and TY students attended a meeting in the school on Wednesday evening last, on the different Leaving Cert Programme options including the traditional Leaving Cert., LCVP, LCA and the Transition year programme. The Transition year Co-ordinator, Ms Orla Cunningham outlined the highly successful TY programme. Due to limited places these are highly sought after. The varying courses offered, work experience and the wide range of extra-curricular trips were described. Current TY students, Nicole Spillane, Cathal Tighe and Rebecca Mulqueen presented on their own personal experiences of TY  this year. The career guidance teacher, Ms Annette Tierney, outlined the different Leaving Cert programmes available and Ms. Elaine Dunne along with students Adam Carey and Alex Jones gave a presentation on the LCVP. The evening ended with an engaging question and answer session which allowed for further clarifications to be made. It was an extremely successful evening with high numbers in attendance.

Academic Tracking:

Combining scores from the CAT 4, Cognitive Aptitude Tests that all 1^st years completed last October, their Primary school scores and recent Christmas test results, realistic grade expectations are being set with all 1^st years over the next coming weeks. Teachers of Science, Maths, English and Irish will use the informative range of scores combined with their own professional judgements to set realistic subject target grades for the summer exams. They will engage with students individually to discuss these and increase motivation. This allows teachers, the Year head and Management to closely monitor all students’ academic grades to date and ensure that the full potential of each student is achieved. Borrisokane Community College endeavours at all times to keep abreast of current teaching and learning methodologies to ensure the highest level of education is provided.

TY Science students:

Transition year students are currently assisting Science teachers in the teaching of Electronics to 3^rd year Science students. They are providing engaging worksheets and hands on circuits that encourage students to learn through experience. The methodology being followed was one promoted by the late Mr Paul Ginnis. TY students are currently completing videos of themselves demonstrating Junior Cycle Science experiments. They will upload them shortly to the TY website, www.tyborrisokanecc.com. This will provide a further way for current 3^rd years to revise Science before the Junior Cycle exams in June. 

Students Council:

Well done to Student Council members who organised a successful bake sale in the canteen on Friday the 27th and raised €122.  The students Council in conjunction with the Parents Association has organised the purchase of a Pool Table for students use at lunchtimes.

Junior Camogie:

The junior camogie team progressed to the next stage of their completion with a win on Tuesday last, further details next week.

Art Trip:

Senior Cycle Art students along with teachers Ms. Eileen Forde and Ms. Aoife Forde travelled to London on Monday February 23^rd for a three day tour of Art Galleries to support their studies for the Leaving Certificate. Over the three days a total of five Art Galleries were visited – National Gallery in Trafalgar Square, National Portrait Gallery, The Saatchi Gallery, Tate Britain and Tate Modern.  During their evenings they got an opportunity to take in the sights of London with a visit to the London Eye and a performance of the Billy Elliot Musical Show.  The students are most thankful to their teachers for organising and accompanying them on the trip.