St Brendan’s Community School End of Year Awards ceremony

LAST week marked a very important day in the calendar of St. Brendan’s Community School, Birr.

On Monday May 15th, the morning was spent together as a school community and awards were presented. Rory O’Connor from Rory’s Stories and recent guest on the Late Late Show was the special guest on the day. He spoke passionately to the students about mental health and the GAA. He encouraged them to set themselves goals outside their comfort zone and channel their energy doing something positive. He was an inspirational speaker and ambassador for the young students.

He was not the only guest on the day. The school welcomed Ciara Nolan from Grant Engineering, David O’Meara of David O’Meara Pharmacy, past principals Br. Denis Minehane and Mr Tom Foley and past vice principal Mr Brian Hensey.

Students of the Year Awards are determined by the credits awarded by teachers each term. They are not based on academic results but are given to students in our classes who are always helpful, always cheerful, always positive…basically a pleasure to teach, students who smile, are respectful and helpful to their fellow classmates and teachers, students who always try their best, even in the subjects they find difficult. It is not based on academic results so any one is eligible for this award.

Junior Students of the Year Awards are as follows: First Year; Millie Grennan and Miguel Chaves Mendonca. Second Year students of the year are Aoife Owens and Andre Mulcahy Viega. Third Year students of the year are Caitlin O’Neill and Harry Reynolds. TY students of the year were Roisin Kinsella and Evan Brady. Fifth Year students of the year were Áine Kennedy and Jack Ryan. LCA1 students of the year were Grace Coughlan and Tristan Delaney. Sixth Year students of the year were Aisling Kinsella and Damian Delaney. LCA 2 student of the year was Leo Caffrey.

Senior Sports awards were presented by PE teachers Ms Michelle Ryan, Ms Sheila Sullivan and Mr Brian Coughlan. The following Sports Awards were presented to 1st years: Lucie Pardy and Barry Bennett. 2nd years: Ciara Walshe and Callum Connolly Stephens and 3rd years: Moya Guinan and James O’Sullivan. TY sports stars of the year were Kate Pilkington and Caelum Larkin. 5th years stars of the year were Celine Guinan and Ajay Cleary. 6th years stars of the year were Faye Mulrooney and Ben Miller. Junior Hurling medals and Soccer medals were also presented.

Ms Marian Whelan presented Silver Gaisce medals and certs to the following students: Alexandra Crowley, Annabel Haslam, Katie Mannion, Hamid Hosseini and Max Delaney. Presentation of badges to next year Meitheal leaders and Prefects were also made.

A huge thank you to the Awards Committee for organising a fantastic morning Ms Whelan, Ms McDermott, Ms Corboy, Ms O’Hara, Ms Claffey, Ms Lavin, Ms Carty, Ms Liffey. A special mention must be given to the Committee leader Ms Aisling Carroll.