Board of Management Report for 2009-2010
Current Board members are: Michael O’Brien (Chairperson), Senator Phil Prendergast, Anne Heverin, Jimmy Cass, Pat Looram, Mary Wynne, Brendan Mullan and Bernadette O’Mahony. The Board held 6 meetings during the 2009-2010 school year and the following is a summary report of the work and issues addressed by the Board.
- Works on roof of old High School building were completed including rewiring and new toilet block
o Updating of equipment in Construction Studies and Technology areas (to meet safety requirements) had been carried out in July and August 2009 in line with costings previously agreed and approved by Board
o A new ASD unit was opened in the school and a major building programme commenced in January 2010 to build the ASD unit and to replace 3 prefabs
o Board approved major renovations within existing building (new art rooms; new passage and link to atrium) to facilitate teacher based classrooms
- Major upgrade of lighting fittings as part of DES Summer Works Scheme (SWS) completed in August 2010
- The High School discipline policy has been reviewed and revised following feedback and comment from all stakeholders
- The Board made many representations regarding the educational cutbacks particularly in the area of special educational need
- The High School Admissions Policy was amended by Board following a review of procedures and advice from ERST head office. An additional section was added to the policy to cater for the new ASD class and was adopted by the Board following consultation with SENO
- Board won section 29 appeal re enrolment and is currently preparing for hearing with Equality Tribunal over enrolment policy
- Major fundraising event held in Powerstown Park Race course in May 2010 to raise funds for ASD classes – in excess of €20,000 raised due to work of a very hardworking committee
- A revised Safety Policy was approved by Board following consultation with all relevant stakeholders
- SNA review took place within High School in December 2009 and the High School Authorities made a very strong case to retain 5 SNA’s currently working with students in order to protect educational welfare of students receiving support. Status quo remained following review. Board acknowledged work of Brid Daly, SNA’s and staff in preparing for review
- School website is being looked after by Rodger Corcoran all those involved in school community are invited to forward data for inclusion on website
- Board commended staff and students on results achieved in Leaving Certificate and Junior Certificate examinations. Results well above national average. Board noted the concern of the principal over number of students taking lower level papers and leaving examination centres early.
- School was also a pilot school for Project Maths with students in 6th year taking new Leaving certificate exam – results were very impressive and Board acknowledged commitment and work of staff in implementing new pilot despite having to address many challenges
- The end of year accounts, as prepared by O’Gorman Brannigan Purtill and Company, were presented and approved by the Board. Copies were sent to FSSU and ERST
- Adult Education Programme for 2009-2010 approved by Board following preparation by co-ordinator Rita O’Dwyer
- Board approved annual school show – Disco Inferno which took place in October 2009 in St Joseph’s Ferryhouse. Huge effort required to produce show and Board acknowledged work of Olga Gannon and Siobhán Alley. Show produced by Keith Greene and Lisa O’Brien
- HSA inspection of the High School took place in September 2009 and feedback was very positive
- Annual Awards Scheme within school was expanded by Board and presentation of awards took place in October 2009. Board approved the decision that the ceremony would be held during school time to reflect importance of occasion. Principal and awards committee had worked with John Cooney (Boston Scientific) to secure €1000 sponsorship for annual awards scheme. Boston Scientific also agreed to be involved with student of the year and it is planned to create a commemorative plague within school sponsored by Boston
- A presentation was given to all senior students in October 2009 as part of World Mental Health Awareness Week – organised by Careers Guidance Counsellors
- High School Guidance Office brought students to open days in UCC, UL, LIT, MITC and WIT. Mock interviews for 6th years took place on 1st December 2009
- Blue Rose Theatre Company did workshop with 1st years and 3rd year students on anti bullying in October 2009 – organised by SPHE teachers
- Board approved training for student leadership group which took place in the High School in October 2009 – arranged by Bernadette O’Mahony and Colm Chadwick. Junior School leadership members were: Stephen Heffernan (Chairperson), Sean Tobin (Vice Chairperson), Andrew Prout (Secretary), Evan Burke (Assistant Secretary), Mohammed Elkanzi (Treasurer) and PJ Ryan (PRO). Senior School leadership team members were: Brian Donnelly (Chairperson), David Ryan (Vice Chairperson), Edward Hannon (Secretary), Jamie Kiely (Assistant Secretary), Michael Quinlivan (Treasurer), Simon Ahearne (PRO), Dillon Grace, Sean Kennedy, Liam Glendon, Neil Fox, Michael Kelly and Jack O’Connor
- Proposal for school tour 2009-2010 approved by Board– students and staff to travelled to Paris and Disneyworld from 28th March to 31st March 2010 (both dates inclusive)
- Proposal to bring students to see Premiership match (Manchester Utd v Chelsea) on 2nd and 3rd April 2010 was approved by Board
- Fashion show involving High School and Loreto schools was approved by the Board and the event took place in Clonmel Park Hotel in December 2009
- Board acknowledged work being done by Toastmasters within High School including TY Toastmasters Night which took place on 25th November 2009. The work of the Toastmaster mentor Denis Corcoran was also acknowledged
- Board congratulated class 3A for running and arranging a marathon in December 2009 to raise money for ASD unit – raised €500. Students ran it in relay and it took 128 laps of the school field to run 26.2 miles which meant that each student averaged 6 laps. Took 3 hours 16 minutes and 29 seconds to complete
- Board acknowledged the work of the High School Parents’ Council in arranging a talk by Ms. Joanna Lynch entitled “Achieving greater self-awareness for you and your children” in February 2010 in the High School. The talk focussed on the value of achieving greater self-awareness and illustrated how greater self-knowledge assists children in their personal development, which in turn raises their self esteem and self confidence. The talk was open to all parents with children attending secondary schooling
- Jason Mullins and Tony Cantwell selected to represent school on Lourdes trip
- John Higgins (2009 World Snooker Champion) played against local talent in High School atrium in March 2010. Event organised in association with Circles Snooker Club and monies raised went to ASD unit. Board acknowledged the huge amount of work done by Darius Delahunty and TY students to get sponsorship and prepare programme for event
- High School students under the leadership of TY students raised in excess of €1500 for a past pupil who is terminally ill by collecting old mobile phones and laptops. Wonderful achievement that actively involved whole school community
- Board acknowledged the fact that Kieran Cleary and Company Solicitors have again provided a ‘French and Rugby Scholarship’ for one High School student to travel to the French Sports and Language Centre in Soustons, near Biarritz, this summer. The successful student participates in French classes and specialised rugby tuition. The 2010 winner was Tony Cantwell
- Old for new campaign (old Irish money – coins and notes) continued throughout 2009-2010 and raised a considerable amount of funding for IT equipment
- Board acknowledged the outstanding work of staff in the promotion and implementation of all extracurricular and co curricular activities within the school. Achievements were acknowledged at all Board meetings. Some major highlights included: High School won Under 15 Gaelic football Munster A final (Corn Uí Mhóráin) in November 2009 by defeating St Brendan’s Killarney in Mallow on a scoreline of 1-15 to 1-5. 1st time High School or any Tipperary school has won this competition. Remarkable achievement that reflects commitment of staff and students to achieving standard required. Team managed by Tom Conway and Brian White; High School senior gaelic football team played Middleton CBS in final of Corn an Uachtaráin on Sunday 21st February 2010 in Mallow and won Munster Championship. The team played Salesian College Celbridge on 27th March in Carlow in All Ireland B Colleges semi final and won by 2 points in a very close match. They played St Attracta’s (Sligo) in Portarlington on Friday 9th April in the All Ireland final and won 1-10 to 0-12. Massive achievement by all concerned and it is the first time that the High School has ever won an All Ireland title. Great credit due to panel, teachers (Tony Gleeson and Chris Allen) and outside assistance received from John Evans and Brian White; High School under 15 hurling team played Tulla in the final of Corn an Phiarsaigh in April 2010 in Templemore and won 3-11 to 2-4. This is the first time the High School has ever won a Munster B title in hurling so it is a significant event in the history of the school. Great credit due to whole panel and teachers/coaches involved – Liam Rice, John Broderick, Paul O’Mahony and Noel Russell; Board acknowledged that a lot of work was done at county and provincial level to raise standard of hurling and football within the school. Support was provided in terms of staff and funding which was a huge benefit to students playing gaelic games within school; 1st year Futsal championship took place in December 2009 in Thurles and High School won county title for 2nd year and as a result progressed to represent Tipperary in Munster finals; High School students Eoin Maloney and Eoghan Lyons (team) reached final of Philsoph Schools Debating competition – reflected work and commitment of staff to debating over a number of years particularly Caroline Mc Namara, Jenny Mc Carthy and Con O’Suillivan; Business Quiz team (Michael Maher, Kevin Condon, Dominic Walsh and Patrick Morrissey) defeated teams from 20 other schools in Thurles and progressed to All Ireland Finals that will take place in late 2010. Teachers involved were Olivia Corcoran and Martina O’Reilly; Brian Twohig (1A3) won 1st prize (project on Kilcash Castle) and Andrew O Donnell (1A3) won 2nd prize (project on parish of Clerihan) in South Tipperary Heritage Project (junior section) in March 2010; Sean Tobin (3A) selected to represent Ireland A (under 17) at the Celtic games in Antrim and he was also given a Munster Star Award in Tralee (Brandon Hotel) in January 2010; High School athletes took part in Tipperary Cross Country Athletics Championships in Thurles and won award for best overall school – 1st time this had happened since 1997; High School senior rugby team defeated Patrician Academy Mallow in the Munster final of the O’Gorman Cup in February 2010; High School students won a National Award in Junior category of Bank of Ireland awards scheme in May 2010 – winners were Brendan Martin (1A2) and Mark O’Reilly (1A4) in the Entrepreneurial section. Wonderful achievement that was a result of the work of Martina O’Reilly, Carol Kenny and Renee Duggan (Bank of Ireland); The High School was represented by Brendan Martin and Mark O’Reilly in the All Ireland final of the Student Enterprise Awards (SEA) which took place in April 2010 in Croke Park and they won the overall National title thereby becoming Young Entrepreneur National Award winners; Public Speaking Examinations (Leinster School of Music) took place in the High School in May. Shane Donnelly won a silver medal in his final level exams (highest award) and the following students received medals in their grades: Colin Aylward, Ivan Chadfield, Liam McCarthy, Edmund Morrissey and Jaco Oosthuysen. Board acknowledged huge amount of work done by Anne O’Loughlin to prepare students for their exams; High School selected for finals of 1 good idea project which took place in Dublin Castle in March 2010 – students involved were Billy Redmond, Barry Dalton, Gavin Wynne, Ivan Chadfield, Jaco Oosthuysen and Billy Tobin and they were the Munster winners of the climate change photo competition; Under 14 tennis team won Munster Shield in May defeating Patrician Mallow 3-2 in final which took place in Limerick. Team was Shay Whelan, Shane Lonergan, Michael Tobin, James Dillon and they were managed by Jerry Shanahan.
- Board acknowledged tremendous work being done by Parents’ Council within school and they also recorded their appreciation for the essential support that school receives from the local community in terms of finance, advice and goodwill.
|