The past week has been exceptionally busy with the 6th year retreats, Geography field trips and a number of sporting events all taking place. There are inevitable consequences to the smooth running of the regular timetable when such activities have to be accommodated but with everyone’s co-operation disruption is kept to a minimum. Many thanks to the Geography teachers for their work in organising the visits to Woodstown beach for the study of coastal erosion and also to the R.E. teachers for planning and preparing for the retreats which were delivered by the Mustard Seed group.
A cheque for €455 was presented to David Kelly, (pictured above with his mother and Fr. Hennebry) a transition year student at Good Counsel College, as a donation towards his up coming challenge where David will participate in the NIALL MELLON TOWNSHIP TRUST BUILDING BLITZ in Cape Town, South Africa, between the 10th – 17th November 2012. The money was raised by one of David’s teachers, Mr. McGinely and other J. C. Students .
The Niall Mellon Township Trust is a house building charity In South Africa, a country with a population of 46.9 million, where life expectancy is 50 – 53 yrs , 5.7 million people are living with Aids and a staggering 12 million people are living in shacks in townships. Irish volunteers, like David, make it possible for children, parents and grandparents to move from the damp , unsanitary , dangerous shacks to a new life with possibility . The trust has housed 80,000 people and aim to make this 100,000 by the end of 2012. This is a demanding but extremely rewarding challenge , where David will experience the awful conditions that shack dwellers have to endure but will hopefully he will get to appreciate that ” one person can make a huge difference in another person’s life ” .
The schools sports campaign has got into full swing and our U-16 hurlers played championship against Johnstown V.S. and Birr C.S. during the week winning against the former and losing to the latter side by a point. They play St. Kierans College next week. The senior footballers, meanwhile, welcomed Colaiste Eoin of Stillorgan to New Ross on Wednesday with our boys winning by 4 points in a very sporting game. 50 first year students travelled up to Kilkenny on Friday to participate in the annual blitz organised by St Kierans. Its always a great opportunity for so many players to get a run on the school team and to play with, rather than against, so many other boys from their neighbouring parishes.
Congratulations also to the golf team who won their opening Leinster league game against FCJ Bunclody on Thursday last and particular well done to the showjumping team of Jim Redmond, Jack Kehoe, Aidan and Eoin Byrne who lifted the prestigious Newbridge College Open Schools trophy on Sunday last.
And finally, we just have to give mention to the 2 stalwart past pupils, Kieran Joyce and Walter Walsh, who claimed All Ireland medals with Kilkenny hurlers on Sunday last. What an incredible day for the lads, their families and communities. We are of course proud to know them as ‘Counsel’ men.
3 stressed out students take a well earned break.
