Well done to all those who contributed to the final edition of The Submarine for this academic year: click here to access and download a copy.

First Formers Rory O’Dowd, Hal Somerville and Alexander Fought write about their grandparents.  Fifth Former Maybelle Rainey  reports on forest fires in the Hortland Bog in North Kildare and Hugo Dunlop (Fourth Form) asks whether humanity’s aspiration to do justice at Nuremberg has been fulfilled. We also hear what some of our pupils got up to during ‘lockdown’ and about their plans now that lockdown has been lifted. There are poems from Isabella Treacy (II) and Marco Trolese (III) and an abundance of art-work from Third Formers Zofia Cannon-Brookes, Kate Higgins, Isabel Warnock and Pavlov Shavlov,  as well as Fourth Formers, Cadhla McGuinness and Iona Chavasse and Fifth Formers Arizona Ford and Ana Junquera, among others.

(Updated statement, June 7th)

On Sunday, May 31st, St. Columba’s College was contacted by a former pupil of the College, who bravely shared with us her experiences of racism while attending the school. Her actions motivated other people, both former and current pupils, to share similar experiences.  We can only imagine how difficult it was for the young people involved to write down those experiences. We thank them for having the courage to bring these matters to our attention.

The Board and Management of St. Columba’s College is taking these matters very seriously and are taking a number of steps to address and respond to the issues raised.

The College has established an independent review to consider the issues raised by the pupils and former pupils and specifically to evaluate whether there is a culture of racism, direct or indirect, within the College and, importantly, to make appropriate recommendations arising out of the review. This review is being conducted by an experienced legal and governance professional and will involve others with expertise in the area of cultural diversity, with direct experience within an educational setting. We have asked those working on the review to conduct it within a 6 week period. This is to allow sufficient time to ensure that the process is thorough and robust.

The College is committed to shining a searchlight into these issues, which are of the utmost importance to the College community and are part of a wider discourse in society. I very much hope that the conversation which will ensue from this process will be a catalyst that will allow us to ensure the care for our pupils is of the highest standard. Where there are lessons to learn we will not be afraid learn to them.

Mark Boobbyer, Warden of St. Columba’s College

There are many fun and educational opportunities for pupils after teaching has finished, leading up to the end of term on June 19^th.  Some of the awards and achievements will be announced at the Warden’s online End of Term Assembly. The time/day/link for this will be sent to pupils closer to the day.  We encourage all pupils to take part in as many activities as possible, starting with the Virtual Sports’ Day on Wednesday 3rd June. Contact details are not public here, but in the College documents and via Firefly. Pupils and parents can also see relevant material in this Firefly section.

College Awards and Prizes

 Warden’s Prizes

A challenge to all pupils at the College to produce a creative piece of work. It is not an academic task but one that will require imagination, ingenuity and practical skills.  Final date: June 19^th?

Examples

• Compose, perform and record an original piece of music;
• Produce a piece of art work;
• Make a model or mobile;
• Design and build a robot;
• Prepare and record a TED talk;
• Write a computer programme;
• Create an app;
• Make a short film;
• Make a photographic diary of the lockdown.

Other suggestions can be emailed to the Warden’s Office. There will be cash prizes in various categories and for different year groups. In September we will hold an exhibition of the best of the projects.

Form Prizes

(Dr Singleton)

These have been calculated on academic performance throughout the year, and those for Forms below Sixth will be announced at the end of term assembly.

Leadership Awards 2019-20

(Mr Jones)

These will be based on nominations by pupils and staff, and announced at the end of term assembly.

Willis Memorial Prize for Knowledge of Shakespeare

(Mr Girdham)

Sixth, Fifth and Fourth Forms. Those interested will receive the task directly, and will have a 48-hour period in which to complete it. There will be a general essay on Shakespeare’s plays, and a shorter task to analyse a sonnet by Shakespeare. No preparatory work is needed: candidates can use their knowledge of the plays they have already studied.  Final date: June 14^th.

Peter Dix Memorial Senior Poetry Prize

(Mr Canning)

Sixth, Fifth and Fourth Forms. Candidates will submit between 2 and 5 poems in a portfolio based on the theme ‘Lockdown’. Full details and guidelines are on Firefly.  Final date: June 14^th.

Junior Poetry Prize

(Ms Morley)

Third, Second and First Forms. Candidates write poems of at least 14 lines (as many as they like) on the theme of ‘Change’. Full details and guidelines are on Firefly.  Final date: June 14^th.

Geology Prize

(Dr de Brit)

Fifth Form only. This will entail writing a research project in Geology on a topic of your choice.

Other Competitions, Activities & Ideas

(in alphabetical order: open to all Forms unless otherwise stated)

Art Activities

(Ms Cullen & Ms Murphy)

• Artist talks every Thursday (same time as always: from 4 pm / 5 pm – 6ish)
• A poster competition (on handwashing).
• The Art History challenge (already on Firefly).

Biology/Art Project

(Mr Jones)

A competition for the best biological drawing. For full details click here (FireFly login required).

The Columban magazine

(Mr Girdham)

Look at the Chaplain’s ‘Lockdown’ album of photographs (photographs also at the bottom of this post) and write a paragraph on one of your favourite/most significant places in the College. The most interesting paragraphs will be published below the relevant photograph in the 2019-20 edition of the school magazine (out in the autumn). If you would like to write about another place, do so, and the Chaplain will take a photograph of it. Send entries to the Sub-Warden by the end of June.

Dúshlán Gaeilge | Irish Challenge

(Ms Lynch & Ms Maybury)

Competition: Pupils of Irish will be given a series of fun challenges to complete. They will be awarded points for each completed task and the pupil with the most points at the end wins. Examples of challenges include ‘translate an Irish poem into emojis’ and ‘make a meme as Gaeilge.’ Deadline: June 30^th.

Fifth Form Careers and University Applications

(Mr O’Shaughnessy)

During June there will be opportunities to discuss next year with your academic tutors, and to receive advice about early deadline UCAS, and UCAS personal statements.

• Online meeting with Mr O’Shaughnessy: Friday 12^th June, 2.00pm Irish time (early deadline UCAS).
• Online meeting with Mr O’Shaughnessy: Wednesday 17^th June, 2.00pm Irish time (UCAS personal statement writing meeting, and suggestions for research during the holidays).
• 23 UK universities are hosting aStudy in the UK Virtual Week from 1^st to 5^th June: a series of free webinars, live chats and Q&A sessions aimed at offering information, advice and guidance to prospective undergraduate students. Detailshere on Facebook.

Gaisce at Home

(Ms Lynch)

Our adventure journey which normally coincides with the Achill trip cannot take place this year. Gaisce participants are being offered two alternatives:

1. Adventure Journey Exploration project – written/audio/visual presentation or
2. The Backyard Adventure Journey – practical project. Relevant pupils will be contacted and briefed on these alternatives. Deadline: June 30^th.

Generation Lockdown Writes

(English Department)

An opportunity for writers in all Forms up to the age of 17 to share poems, stories, personal experiences of the recent months. Well-known authors will judge each age category, and a book of the best entries will be published in a book by John Catt Educational. Advice available from your English teacher. Full details at www.generationlockdown.co.uk(international entries are welcome).

Homeless Charity Events

(Mr Cron)

Events to raise money to feed the homeless using established charities which run food banks, and feeding and care schemes. It is planned also to set up mini-companies to help raise money, as well as for next term’s Team Hope Christmas Shoebox Appeal. This is open to everyone, but particularly aimed at current Third Formers who intend to study Business in Fourth Form.

Mathematics Challenges

(Maths Department)

A competition to recreate al-Biruni’s experiment to calculate the radius of the earth. All details on the Mathematics Department Firefly page. There you will also find many puzzles, interesting videos as well as a suggested reading list to keep your mathematical brain going throughout June.

Mile-a-Day Challenge

(Ms Thompson)

We are challenging you to run a mile (1.61km) each day during the month of June! You can run outside or on a treadmill. Make sure you record your run using a fitness app and at the end of each run take a screenshot. At the end of each week upload your runs from the entire week to the Google Form below. Then do the same next week … If possible try to take a couple of videos of you running and send us in photos or videos of any nice scenery you see on your run or anything unusual or fun you notice. Upload link on Firefly.

NUA course (Scripture Union)

(Mr Cron & Reverend Owen)

Eight 15-minute videos will be watched and discussed, with two live Google Meetings a week. This course normally takes place in the Chaplain’s House, but is moving online in June.

On-Campus Performance

(Mr Swift)

Recording of eclectic performances by various live-in ensembles and individuals in front of a socially-distanced audience.

Politics Discussion Group – Crash Club Debate

(Ms Duggan)

Fifth Form. Bulletin/publication of Covid-19 research done by Politics Club members on the  differing responses and approaches to the pandemic by 14 different countries  around the world and, secondly, on imagining a better post-pandemic world.

Sports’ Day: Wednesday 3^rd June, 1.30 to 5.00pm Irish time.

(Mrs Johnson)

A series of 10 challenges in teams, with the overall winning team announced at the end. Points from previous competitions (the Sports’ Day girls’ hockey and the rugby 7s) will be added. The challenges will be sent out via a Google Form, and Mrs Johnson will send plenty more detail in advance.

Sport Skill & Drill Challenges

(Mr Canning)

Some of our own sports’ coaches and stars have compiled a series of videos that we can all practise to improve our skills and hand-eye coordination over the summer months. Thanks to Mr Kemp and the Senior girls’ hockey squad for putting together an eclectic range of coordination skills and  ‘keepy-uppy passing drills we can all copy. Thanks also to our gifted junior Hockey player Harry St. Leger and our talented Irish under-23 squad member Sophia Cole for setting advanced ‘skills and drills’ challenges for you all to master. See the videos on Firefly.

Staff Baby Photograph Competition

(Mr Girdham)

An online competition in aid of Purple House cancer support charity. Identify which beautiful baby is now a member of staff. The link will be sent to all pupils on June 3^rd, for completion by June 13^th (with voluntary contributions to Purple House).

The Submarine

(Ms Duggan)

Editors Avi Johnston and Edna Johnston want to hear from you. Pupils in all year groups are invited to submit their artwork, poetry, book reviews, movie/gaming reviews, crosswords, think pieces, photographs etc., for the Hilary Term edition. Or you could just complete the following (in up to 100 words) “The first thing I’ll do after lockdown is…”  Email all submissions to submarinescc@gmail.com by June 8^th.

Tóraíocht Taisce Gaeilge | Irish Treasure Hunt

(Ms Lynch & Ms Maybury)

Competition: Pupils of Irish will be given a list of items as Gaeilge to find around their house and/or neighbourhood, put them all together and take a photo. Deadline – June 8^th.

Typing Tournament

(Ms McEneaney)

It is a good time to develop proper touch-typing skills. Log in to your typing.com account or create an account using your school email address.  Join the tournament using this link. Work through the exercises keeping your hands covered with a tea towel. See typing instructions on Firefly. The winners will be the top three typists (most time spent and highest accuracy). Deadline: June 20th.

Transition Year (Ms Kilfeather)

• Get Cooking: send in your best 10-minute meal. This must include a recipe and a short video link of you preparing it. Prize for the best! If you would rather cook someone else’s recipe have a look at ‘The best 10-minute meals’ from The Guardian.  Deadine, Friday 5th.
• Some of you had signed up for Rosemary Smith’s driving school intensive 1-day course which has naturally been cancelled. You may like to get a copy of the Rules of the Road and then answer a 40-question quiz: email Ms Kilfeather by Monday 9^th.
• Don’t forget our wildlife as the weather gets hotter.  Learn how to make a simple bird bath at home. Check out this clip. Enjoy and don’t forget to send Ms Kilfeather your efforts: there are prizes for the best and most imaginative ones. Deadline: Fridat 12^th.
• TY took off with speed in September and disappointedly ended abruptly. I’d like you all to volunteer one word only to describe your TY experience up to March. You must draw this word and make it as colourful as possible then send it on to me and I will put all 72 words together to make a cool collage of all your submissions. Please initial each drawing too. Deadline: Wednesday 10^th.
• Keep your mind busy with these simple online Spanish and French online crosswords.
• Bad hair day? Send on any photos of your DIY haircuts during the lockdown – not sure about prizes but definitely worth a giggle, ‘because you’re worth it.’
• For those of you who get rainy days in June and you’re looking for some escapism, check out 100 best movies of all time.

Voices of Poetry

(Mr Swift)

A recorded version of the annual event, with poems recited by pupils and staff in many languages.

Portraits of SCC

50 photos

Fifth Former Maybelle Rainey writes:

On Thursday evening, at the Art Talk, my uncle Gawain Rainey spoke about art in the fashion world. His company Image Partnership has over 20 years of experience producing fashion shoots and films and is also an agency representing some of the hottest artistic talent in fashion. He has worked with a glittering array of  top names in fashion, including Burberry, Vogue, Fendi, Prada  and Stella McCartney to name a few. He and his teams create exciting content for these brands in a number of different media: advertising, flim, editorial shoots and animation as well as the production of fashion shows. In his agency books, he has gathered a broad range of talent to make this possible – directors, photographs, set designers and makeup artists.

During his chat, Gawain went through, layer upon layer, all of the different departments and skill teams he puts together to create this magic. On just one fashion shoot, there can be as many as 35 people on set, aside from the model and photographer, to assemble the final product. Teams of set designers, stylists, make-up artists, lighting crews, catering and assistants are all pulled together by production (ie. Gawain) to create the precise look that the client desires.

Gawain grew up in the Welsh countryside, the second youngest of a bustling and bohemian family, driving tractors and running wild on the hillside, about as far from the world of fashion as you could imagine. However, his father had a seminal clothes shop on London’s Kings Road in the sixties, called “Hung on You”, dressing the Beatles and Rolling Stones, and his mother Jane, now a very successful interior designer, was considered a style icon of that decade. So although he had a fairly wild country upbringing, it is clear that fashion and design run in his blood.

Like me, Gawain is extremely dyslexic, but unlike me, there was little support within schools at this time, and he abandoned formal education at 15 and got a job, determined to get going.

He spoke of how he started as a photographer’s assistant, which mainly involves carrying photographic equipment and running errands, but showed him the ropes of how a set ran. Through working consistently and determinately, he built up a base of contacts within the industry, some his age, starting out, who were soon to be household names.

In his chat, Gawain stressed that although there are many amazing courses now in fashion colleges, it is also possible to climb the ladder in this world by just getting out there and getting work experience. Whichever route you take, though, it requires true hard graft, determination and a belief in one’s own personal ‘look’. The fashion world is famously hard to crack, but again he stressed that consistent hard work carries you forward.

I have a boundless admiration for Gawain’s achievement in having built such a successful business- what an inspiring and interesting talk! If you want to see more about his company follow this link.

Fifth Former Tim Otway-Norwood and three of his friends are raising money for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution by ‘virtually cycling’ around Ireland. They aimed to raise €2000 at first, but have gone well past that now, with currently over €7000 on their GoFundMe page.

Tim writes:

“To update you, the RNLI challenge is going really well: we have been cycling for six days. We set up a Twitter page @VirtualRnli and have been mentioned on Ryan Tubridy’s morning radio show on RTE radio 1, and the Irish Sailing Association have put it up on their website and put an article on Afloat.

We have been joined by Olympic Silver Medallist Annalise Murphy and other Olympic hopefuls have also taken part, including Aoife Hopkins, Oisin McClelland and former Olympian Timothy Goodbody. The Olympic Federation have also mentioned us on their Twitter accounts.

We have cycled over 1134km, climbed 7400metres and spent 36 hours cycling over six days around my online classes.  We took a rest on Friday in Virtual Achill Island Lifeboat Station.

Today, Saturday, we set out for Donegal.

Thank you for your support, we hope to get to over €8000.00.”

Further donations can be made below.

Éile Ní Chianáin reports on the latest session of the Fifth Form virtual politics debating club:

Today we discussed ‘the legalization of all drugs.’ Sinead Cleary introduced the topic and highlighted why she suggested this motion. We decided to begin each of our meetings with a quick vote before the discussions began on whether we were for or against the motion. Interestingly, we were an even split. 7 of us were for the legalisation of drugs and the other half against. In our discussions we encourage everyone to contribute through stating opinions, outlining ideas or hopes for this future idealistic world, responding to others points or asking questions.

This discussion raised thoughts and questions on:

• should we decriminalise drug users?
• the power drug cartels hold over society and governments
• whether the sale of illegal substances gives rise to secrecy and mistrust in society?
• can substance abusers and addicts get the help they need for rehabilitation and recovery within prisons?
• is reforming corruption in governments that facilitate drug trafficking the solution?
• if drugs were legalised what restrictions would be put in place?
• the practicality of implementing drug legalisation is LEDCs
• The real-life effect of the legalisation of drugs in Portugal

In our next meeting we plan on voting at the beginning and end of the debate to see if members have been swayed by others’ arguments.

This weekend would have seen our Transition Year pupils participating in our 5th Pieta House ‘Darkness into Light’ walk in Marlay Park. Despite the cancellation of the event, we continued the tradition and supported this amazing charity by asking TY pupils and staff to show solidarity with those affected by suicide by getting up at 5:30am on Saturday 9th May to watch the sunrise from their homes. See the many evocative photographs in the album below.

Pieta House is accepting online donations here.

Darkness into Light 2020

25 photos

The first Wellbeing Challenge this term produced lots of cheery images of what makes pupils, staff and parents happy.

The next challenge is to submit photos of things which bring you calm and peace. Please submit photos by Thursday 14th May.

See all the photos from the challenges in the album below.

Wellbeing Challenges

36 photos