Mission Day
The Ursuline Leaving Certs organised a fantastic day of high jinksfor the whole school on Wednesday, 5 October to raise money for their sister schools in Kenya. Their theme, the Wild West, was enormous fun with students from all year groups line dancing, sampling the insane delights of the haunted saloon and busting some moves in the disco. There were games galore including an obstacle course, a ring toss, a penalty shoot-out, pin the tail on the donkey and a nerf-gun style shoot out around the hay bales which were kindly sponsored by Principal MsGlesson. Lots of students and teachers got their photos taken at the saloon photo booth where they could dress up like cowboys, cow gals, Indians or sheriffs totting toy guns and rifles. Food was a huge part of the event with ‘mocktails’, penny sweet bags, popcorn, cakes, ice-cream and chocolate waffles all on offer to satisfy the hunger hordes. There was plenty of denim, plaid, Stetsons and western style boots on display, with one of the regular couriers to the school curiously wondering if the Ursuline was having a Gareth Brooks tribute day. To borrow a popular ranching phrase everyone had a ‘hog-killin’ time while raising €5000 for the Ursuline Missions in Kenya started by Sr Clare Ursula from the Thurles Convent.
Mental Health Talk Thurles Library
Many thanks to Jennie Deering from Jigsaw Tipperary who spoke to a class of Ursuline TYs last week on the theme five a day for mental health. The event was organised by Anne Kinsella in Thurles Library to mark World Mental Health Day and the students got a lot of good information on looking after themselves. Jennie outlined five key components for practicing self-care –staying connected with others, being active, continuing to learn and be curious, taking notice and giving. It was really honest and practical talk and the students took on board Jennie’s suggestions for maintaining a healthy mind.
Breast Cancer Awareness Talk
One of the most important workshops that TYs get every year is on Breast Cancer Awareness. Juliette from Breast Cancer Ireland gave an in-depth talk to students last week about taking care of their breasts, how to self-check and the signs to look out for that may indicate cancer. She showed them a mannequin which students were free to examine to help them feel and see first-hand the kinds of things they should be looking out for. Juliette is always very positive about the incredible strides that have taken place in the field of breast cancer treatment and how if caught early the prognosis for survival is very good and improving all the time.
Ger Carey Live in The Source
There was plenty of laughter to be had at the Ger Carey Transition Year Show attended by all four Ursuline TY classes on Tuesday 4 October. The Source was packed with teenagers from local schools watching Ger’s hilarious take on teenage life. Assuming many personas from the ‘messers’ at the back of the class, gossipy girl gangs in toilets and strict serious teachers with plenty of idle threats Ger covered the lot and so much more in his one-man show. He laid bare the perils, the joys and the monotony of being a teenager and had his audience giggling and roaring at his escapades.
Hockey
The Ursuline Hockey teams continued with their League campaigns last week with Junior Bs, Senior Bs, Minor As and Minor Bs in action at home. There was success for the Junior Bsand Minor Bs in their games with the Junior Bs beating Loreto Clonmel 3-0 and Minor Bs also winning out against Laurel Hill Coláiste 3-0. The Senior Bs lost out to Loreto Clonmel while the Minor As finished their match against Laurel Hill Coláiste in a 2-2 draw.
First Year Football Blitz in Rockwell
On Monday 3 October three teams of Ursuline First Years travelled to Rockwell to compete in a LGFA blitz against other teams from all over the county. There was plenty of skill on display with all teams doing well in their games and more importantly enjoying their debut in the Ursuline blue and white.