We bid Auf Wiedersehen today to Julia and Christian from https://bmmgesamtschule.de our Partner School in Germany. They came to CPC to meet teachers and students taking part in the Erasmus exchange programme to Germany later this year. Their visit included a professional development assignment giving them the opportunity to observe a variety of subjects and get a taste of life in CPC. They had lots of praise for the teaching and learning practices observed and they have a few takeaways to embed in their classrooms back home. We look forward to seeing them again very soon in Germany. 

Congratulations to our 22 Transition Year students who successfully completed their TY Prefect Training on Tuesday 16th September with the facilitator Mr Pat Murphy in the Kilcullen Parish Centre. Pat was very impressed with the initiative shown by our students and their willingness to be active in our school life. The students examined the leadership qualities necessary to be effective school student leaders and the importance of their roles as role models in our school community. Our TY Prefects are involved in six areas of school leadership in CPC. These include lunchtime games with first years, sports coordination, school representatives, school events organisation, link with AS classes (Buddy Club), helping senior school leadership when organising parent teacher meetings and school communication.

Congratulations 

4A: Sean Cahill, Lucy Curtis, Harry Davies, Julia Loboz, Bethany Swaine.

4B: Eyad Amr, Ruby Butler, Daniel Morgan, Nicola Pytel, Weronika Stepniak.

4C: Sarah Brennan, Amy Egan, Niamh Flynn, Robyn Foster, Cadhla O'Brien.

4D: Rose Hayes, Darragh Keenan, Zoe Moran, Gemma Snell-Fox, Lochlann Wafer.

4E: Kayden Casey, Faye McNally.

Many thanks to Pat for his excellent guidance and advice. We wish our newly appointed TY Prefects the best of luck in this important role. The school community of CPC look forward to seeing them bring their great energy and positivity to school life!

Good afternoon, this year for participating in sports in CPC we will be asking for a once off payment of €51.50 per student. This payment is to cover all expenses relating to extra curricular sport, including but not limited to: transportation costs, venue fees, referee costs, equipment costs etc. 

We ask that all students planning on or currently participating in sport in CPC pay this fee as soon as possible. If a student has not paid this fee, they will be unable to represent the school in extra curricular sport. 

We are looking forward to another exciting year for sport in the school. Thank you. 

A reminder that the CPC Parents Association clothes collection takes place this Saturday between 10am - 3pm.

Clothing, shoes, soft toys and belts can be included in the bags.

Bags can be dropped at the bike shelters in the school carpark.

A huge congratulations to 5th Year CPC student Aoibheann O' Brien, who represented Ireland last Saturday in the U20 Irish and British Mountain Running Championship in Wicklow. Aoibheann was selected after recent trials.  What a fantastic achievement for Aoibheann and CPC.

We look forward to welcoming our 1st year parents to the school this evening.

Our meeting begins at 7pm and will be followed by the Parents Association AGM at 8pm for those of you available to stay. 

Reading Club will return to CPC from next Wednesday 25th September. 

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Cross and Passion College Parents' Association will take place in the school Assembly Hall on Tuesday 17th September at 8pm. All parents/guardians are welcome to attend on the night to find out more about the work of the PA and share their ideas. This is your opportunity to be actively involved in your son or daughter's school. Please come along if you can.

I am delighted to announce that Cross and Pasion College has been chosen as one of 57 post primary schools to introduce Leaving Certificate Drama, Film and Theatre Studies from the start of the 2025/26 school year. This subject will be offered to our current TY students when they are in 5th year. Please see today's press release statement below:

Minister for Education Norma Foley TD has today published the list of 100 selected Phase One Schools that will be the first to offer Leaving Certificate Drama, Film and Theatre Studies and Leaving Certificate Climate Action and Sustainable Development from the start of the 2025/26 school year.

Among the schools participating in phase one, 57 post-primary schools have been selected to introduce Leaving Certificate Drama, Film and Theatre Studies from the start of the 2025/26 school year and 43 schools have been selected for Leaving Certificate Climate Action and Sustainable Development.

The announcement marks an important moment in the Senior Cycle Redevelopment Programme and the Minister’s vision for a Senior Cycle that provides young people with an opportunity to study a range of subjects that align with their talents and passions.

Minister Foley said: “It was fantastic to see a strong level of interest from schools of all types across the country in taking part in this first phase of delivering the new Leaving Certificate subjects of Drama, Film and Theatre Studies and Climate Action and Sustainable Development. These subjects are being introduced to provide greater choice for students to better reflect their range of interests and support the development of a wider range of talents and skills.

“The applications received demonstrated the extraordinary talent, qualifications, experience, and commitment by teachers in schools across Ireland interested in introducing these two new subjects to their students. The level and variety of current subject provision in the selected schools and the enthusiasm shown by their school leaders, teachers, students and school communities was nothing short of exemplary and I have every confidence that the rollout of both subjects will be a success. I am most pleased for the students in the 100 post primary schools across the country who will experience either Drama, Film and Theatre Studies or Climate Action and Sustainable Development at Senior Cycle in this initial phase and who will have the opportunity to develop their interests, strengths and talents in these areas.”

Teachers in the selected schools will begin working with Oide, the teacher support service, this school year, a year in advance of teaching the subject. All selected Phase One schools will be provided with the necessary resources to establish new subject departments in their schools and to support the teaching and learning of the subject from the start of the 2025/26 school year.

Drama, Film and Theatre Studies will promote and encourage creativity as a basis for learning through immersive experiences. Students will have the opportunity to cultivate informed thinking through learning supported by creative and critical processes. 

Climate Action and Sustainable Development will develop students’ capacity for informed and meaningful action for a just and sustainable world as they engage with key sustainability challenges including the climate crisis. Students will be empowered to build their understanding of a number of interconnected core concepts and principles related to climate action and sustainable development.  

Dear Principal,

The Oireachtas Essay Competition / Aiste an Oireachtais, an initiative by Senator Rónán Mullen and which I launched three years ago, is now in its third year and I am delighted to tell you that the competition will be held again this year.

This Competition aims to encourage young people across the Island of Ireland to reflect on the importance of the democratic process and to consider their place in it.
.

Who is this Competition for? 

As well as the Oireachtas Essay Competition / Aiste an Oireachtais being open for Senior Cycle (5th Year and 6th Year) and AS/A level students on the Island of Ireland, for the first time, we are inviting Transition Year students to submit essays to us and compete for a prize fund of €6,000. PTSB is the Principal Sponsor for the next three years, and we welcome back CJ Fallon as Associate Sponsor this year. We are looking for essays in English or Irish (max 1,000 words) on the theme Parliamentary Politics Liberates / An tSaoirse agus an Pholaitíocht Pharlaiminteach

This year's Competition takes its inspiration from the forthcoming 250th Anniversary of the birth of 'The Liberator', Daniel O'Connell, who devoted his legal and parliamentary careers to powerful, peaceful agitation in the cause of freedom and justice in Ireland and worldwide.

No surprise then that our chosen theme is 'Parliamentary Politics Liberates' for those writing in English. Is é 'An tSaoirse agus an Pholaitíocht Pharlaiminteach' an téama dóibh siúd atá ag scríobh i nGaeilge.

We are inviting students to register on our Competition website — www.oireachtasessay.ie / www.aisteanoireachtais.ie — by 8 November 2024.

As always, when students register we email them a code number with which they can upload their completed essays by 22 November 2024.

Why are we doing this?

Many people wonder about the quality of our politics and the future of democracy itself. We hope this Competition will again stimulate interest in the political process and help each student to find their role in our democratic system.

Who is organising the Competition?

Senator Rónán Mullen has devised the Competition with the support of a Competition Advisory Committee including academic and teaching professionals across the Island of Ireland, and with assistance from the Oireachtas Education Unit.

The closing date for submitting essays is 22 November 2024. The very best of luck to all participants. See attached Flyers.

I would simply ask principals and teachers to encourage Transition Year and Senior Cycle 5th & 6th Years to participate in this Oireachtas Essay Competition, as these young people are the future, who will be charged with upholding and strengthening our democracy.

Regards

Seán