C ongratulations to Robert Hayes & Shane McCarthy who received Entrance Scholarships to UCD for their excellent Leaving Cert. results 2012.

Robert is currently studying Engineering and Shane is studying Veterinary Medicine.

Congratulations also to Bobby Nolan who received a UL40 scholarship for his excellent Leaving Cert. results in 2012. Bobby is now studying Business at UL.

Congratulations on behalf of the Board of Management and staff to our three past pupils on their fantastic achievements.

We wish them all the best in their future careers.

MISSION STATEMENT MISSION STATEMENT TO PROMOTE THE PERSONAL, SOCIAL, EDUCATIONAL, VOCATIONAL & SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT OF

STUDENTS & TO PREPARE THEM FOR THEIR ROLE AS AUTONOMOUS, PARTICIPATIVE

& RESPONSIBLE CHRISTIAN MEMBERS OF SOCIETY

Pictured at the Super Valu, West Cork Garda Youth Awards. Ms. E. Dinneen, Peter Losberg (6th year), Cillian Collins (4th year) & Principal, Mr. D. Barry.

Peter was the winner of an award for his work for the Civil Defence in West Cork. Cillian won his award for his work in the community in the Bantry Area

Tel: 028-21454 email: stfachtnas@eircom.net Fax: 028-21256

www.stfachtnasdls.ie

CHRISTMAS NEWSLETTER 2012

SCHOLARSHIPS

St. Fachtna’s de la Salle

GARDA AWARDS JUNIOR CERT 2012

Congratulations to Niall Seymour, Ciarán O’Donovan & Shane O’Neill who were all asked to compete in the Lasco Olympiad for their excellence in Higher Level Maths and

Science in the Junior Cert.

Shane McCarthy

Rob Hayes

Bobby Nolan

Transition Year Programme 2012/2013 Students in TY have the opportunity to study not only academic subjects but also modules such as First Aid, Driving Skills, Self Defence, Wellness etc. They also participate in outdoor activities i.e. Golf, Swimming, Archery, Abseiling, Canoeing, Orienteering, Surfing, Paintballing, Knockboy Mountain Climb, Sponsored cycle.

Fundraising events: Cork Simon (raised €2,3 00 on November 29th), sponsored cycle in aid of COPE (due to take place in May 2013) etc.

Other demonstrations/activities: SIM Drive (Driving Simulator course), MOG car safety Demo, Emergency services Demo – all due to take place next year.

Work Experience: Two weeks in the calendar year are allocated to work experience - week commencing November 5th 2012 and week commencing January 21st 2013. Students are encouraged to seek out work in areas in which they have an interest. The core objective is to seek employment in areas that students could see themselves pursuing a career in, in future years.

Blackwater Outdoor Education Week: This year twenty TY students participated in the outdoor pursuits week at Blackwater Castle, Castletownroche, Co. Cork. During this week students are given the opportunity to participate in abseiling, hillwalking, zorbing, orienteering, kayaking, overnight camp out etc.. A very enjoyable week was had by all this year with students enjoying not only the activities but the chance to get to know their peers outside the school environment.

Social Placement: In May students are given the opportunity to work in the community. Previous employers include Skibbereen Hospital, COPE, Cara House, Skibbereen Heritage Centre, Skibbereen UDC, various sporting clubs and playschools. The week is a great success for both students and employers. We hope to continue with this week next year, scheduled to take place from Tuesday 7th May to Friday 10th May 2013.

This year for the first time, we have introduced a module in conjunction with the COPE foundation whereby all TY students are given the opportunity to work with the clients in COPE for a four week duration. The clients and TY students work together and participate in activities such as drama, pilates, arts and crafts. Both clients and students are thoroughly enjoying the experience.

Kevin O’Donovan (2nd Yr) pictured with his English teacher Ms. A. Philpott, & Principal, Mr. D. Barry

Kevin was winner of “Smart Futures” National competition - where students honed their interview / questioning skills by

posing questions to a team of Technology professionals

5th year students are currently organising the annual St. Fachtna’s Food Appeal in aid of the local St. Vincent de Paul Society. Thanks to all who contributed so generously over the years and to all the students who make posters.

TRANSITION YEAR

STUDENT COUNCIL

SOCCER

The School has teams entered in all age groups of the Cork Schools’ cup competition. The U19 team travelled to Ballincollig Community School on Thurs. Dec. 6th to play their first round match. U17, U15 and First Year com-petitions will kick-off in January.

“SMART FUTURES” The new Student Council for 2012/2013 was elected in November. Each year group has two representa-tives. The new Council will continue to work on the constitution which was started by the previous Council. The Student Council meets on the first and third Wednesday of the month to discuss student issues. Kevin Whooley (4th year) is acting as Chairperson of the Student Council until all positions are filled at the first meeting.

FOOD APPEAL

R.E.

GOLF TAE KWON DO UPCOMING EVENTS

SCHOOL CLOSING FOR CHRISTMAS: 21st December, 2012

SCHOOL RE-OPENS: 9th January, 2013

5th YEAR PTM : 24th January, 2013

1st YEAR PTM: 31st January, 2013

For the second year running , St. Fachtna’s has competed in the National Schools’ Regatta. The school won two major races at the event. Congratulations to Paudie Leonard and Matthew Ryan who won the Men’s Open 2x and to Paul O’Donovan (LC 2012) who won the Men’s singles. The school would like to thank the parents of the rowers and Skibbereen Rowing Club for fa-cilitating the school in competing in the National Schools’ Regatta.

PARENTS’ COUNCIL The new Parents’ Council was formed in 2011/2012. They had their first fundraising event in May 2012 - a Cake Sale in the school which was a great success raising € 671.36. In October they had their Annual Flag Day - which was hugely successful and raised € 1947.28. In November a Table Quiz was held which raised over €300. Many thanks to the Parents’Council who have very kindly given up their time in volunteering to help out with the different fundraising events.

Please contact the school if you would like to participate in Parents’ Council events. The members of the Parents’ Council are as follows: Chairperson: Rita O Connell Vice Chairperson: Kathleen O’Driscoll Secretary: Norma Lane Vice Secretary: Caroline Davis Treasurer: Maria Murray Vice Treasurer: Brendan Connolly PRO: Kathleen Leonard Vice PRO: Marion Bushe / Tina Foley Committee members: Sean Crowley, Ann O’Driscoll, Tony Walsh, Eileen Seymour, Doris Leonard & Ann Connolly

We wish to thank Fr. Anthony for celebrating our beginning of school Mass. Students and staff composed and read prayers, lit candles for their families and intentions. 6th Year students sang the O’Riada Mass. Parents and Guardians were invited. The Advent Reconciliation service was on 11th December. We thank the priests of the Parish for providing this sacrament to students and staff.

Students researched a project on the Eucharistic Congress throughout its history - local and national and in-ternational congresses. This exhibition is currently on display in the main hall of the school. The school presented a Tree of Remembrance at the Remembrance Service in the Cathedral on 29th Novem-ber. Students and staff prayed for their relatives, neighbours and friends, deceased students and staff.

Erik Hilmer (5th Year) was part of the Irish Tae Kwon Do team which travelled to the World

Championships in Rorres Novas, Portugal.

Michael Hurley (5th year) was awarded Junior West Cork Golfer of the year, 2012.

This year the school has teams playing in First Year, Second year, U16 and U19 competitions. St. Fachtna’s plays in a higher division than any of the other West Cork schools and therefore matches involve a lot of travel. The U16’s and 19’s have been training since September and have had mixed fortunes in their games as they have been drawn against city opposition of a very high standard. The First and Second years are currently training on Tuesdays from 4 – 5pm in the Sports Centre and are looking forward to their matches in the new year.

Our school has a long and proud tradition of producing fine quiz teams. The four teams which travelled to Cork on November 28th were no exception. The 16 students concerned had a very

enjoyable evening at the Feachtas quiz with the ‘A’ team missing out on first position and a place in the All-Ireland Finals by one point! Comhghairdeas libh go léir!

BASKETBALL

TRÁTH NA GCEIST BOIRD

Paudie Leonard & Matthew Ryan

ROWING

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE

SCHOLROARSHIPS

On behalf of our Board of Management and staff, I would like to wish all of our students and their families a very peaceful Christmas and

prosperous New Year in 2013.

We are grateful for all of the work completed during 2012 and the school wishes that even more can be achieved in the New Year, 2013.

I hope that every student will realise his potential over the next year through his hard work and determination.

Nollaig Shona agus ath bhlian faoi mhaise do gach duine.

David Barry - Principal

St. Fachtna’s won their fourth Cork Colleges Under 16 ‘A’ title in six years, by securing a deserved victory over Rochestown, on a scoreline of 2-8 to 1-8, in the decider of the 2011/2012 campaign. The pivotal moments of the game came early in the second half when St. Fachtna’s outstanding corner-forward, Michael Hurley struck for a brace of goals. This scoring burst put Fachtna’s in front for the first time in the match and they never relinquished that lead for the remainder of the game. It was an outstanding team performance on the day with everyone on the field making a huge contribution to this fine victory. Scorers for St Fachtna’s: M Hurley 2-6 (1p), K. Whooley and P Bohane 0-1 each.

Team: C O’Driscoll (Castlehaven), O Connolly (Kilmacabea), T Cronin (Bantry Blues), D O’Driscoll (Ilen Rovers), R Walsh (Castlehaven), D O’Callaghan (Kilmacabea), T Bushe (Ilen Rovers), D Casey (Ilen Rovers), A Hassett (Ilen Rovers), P Bohane (Castlehaven), C Nolan (Castlehaven), S O’Donovan (Ilen Rovers), G O’Neill (Tadhg MacCárthaigh), K Whooley (Kilmacabea), M Hurley (Castlehaven). Subs: S McCarthy (Tadhg MacCárthaigh) and S. Leonard (Ilen Rovers).

SENIOR FOOTBALL: St. Fachtna’s travelled to Templenoe on Wednesday the 10th of October to open this year’s Corn Uí Mhuirí campaign against Tralee CBS. A strong Tralee side fielded more than half of the team that reached last year’s semi-final including three current Kerry minors. It was Tralee who were first off the mark and led by 0-4 to no score as the game entered the second quarter. Paul Hickey opened Fachtna’s account in the 17th minute with a pointed free. Tralee added another point three minutes later but Fachtna’s were beginning to exert some control on proceedings and added two more points before half time to leave it 0-5 to 0-3 in favour of Tralee at the break.

On the resumption Tralee stretched their lead out to four once more. Fachtna’s, however, seized the initiative with a brace of points from Jack Bushe and scores from Da-ragh Cahalane, Conor Nolan and the industrious Sean O’Donovan leaving the scores level at 0-8 apiece after 43 minutes. Fachtna’s maintained their momentum with Mi-chael Hurley adding two further points either side of a pointed free by Paul Hickey. This left Fachtna’s three points up with ten minutes to go. Tralee fought back in the closing stages to reduce the margin to a single point with three minutes remaining. Fachtna’s were not to be denied and further fine scores by Darragh Cahalane and Jack Bushe sealed a three point victory.

Team: Colm O’Driscoll (Castlehaven), Richie Fotzgerald (O’Donovan Rossa), Daniel Kingston (Tadhg MacCárthaigh), Diarmuid O’Callaghan (Kilmacabea), Brendan Hayes (Clann na nGael), Alex Hassett (Ilen Rovers), Darren Collins (Clann na nGael), Cillian Newman (O’Donovan Rossa) Josh Pickett (Ilen Rovers), Paul Hickey (Clann nan Gael), Darragh Cahalane (Castlehaven), Conor Nolan (Castlehaven), Seán O’Donovan (Ilen Rovers), Jack Bushe (Ilen Rovers), Michael Hurley (Castlehaven) With qualification already secured for the Corn Uí Mhuirí quarter final Fachtna’s took on St. Brendan’s of Killarney to decide the final group placings. The concession of a poor early goal while playing against a gale of wind in the first half was almost countered by some excellent defensive work that limited Brendan’s to only two more points from play. However, the awarding of a questionable penalty gave the Killarney boys a two goal cushion at half time. Fachtna’s job was not made any easier in the second half when they went a man down and although they rallied strongly to reduce the gap from seven points to two, the weight of numbers eventually told as the “Sem” finished strongly to secure group victory.

Fachtna’s now advance to the Munster Colleges Senior ‘A’ Corn Uí Mhuirí quarter final on the 23rd of January – the quarter final draw will take place early in 2013.

Under 16 The school’s Under 16 & 16 ½ teams are currently in training with their championships due to start in January and February respectively.

FOOTBALL