Published: Thursday, 11th March, 2010 11:00am

Fashion first, but music and travel too!

First, second, third and fifth year music students went to see the RTE Symphony Orchestra in The National Concert Hall.

TY Fashion Show

The transition year students in St. Aidan's are busy making preparations and rehearsing for their Fashion Show, in the school on March 16 (8pm). The latest items from many businesses in the area will be shown - Miss Diva, Lennons, E&M Stores, and Kazoo 4 Kids, bridal and party wear from The Bridal Loft and Dazzling Divas (Jennifer Hughes), accessories by Shira and footwear by McDonagh Shoes.

The students are putting their support behind the business community, and highlighting the fashions available for all ages in Cootehill. They are also providing the music, along with TY Radio, the school show. They tell us Libra, Joseph Ribcoff, Diesel, Levis, Lipsy and Cricket are among the coolest and hottest labels to keep an eye out for.

The models are ready with walks to give plenty of attitude though the highlight for them is watching the teachers strut their stuff! Who are the celebrities in St. Aidan's staff room making it big on the catwalk this year?!

Tickets from 049-5552161.

Green Schools

St. Aidan's Green Schools committee are working on their Green Flag for energy, raising awareness among teachers and students on energy conservation by encouraging a Switch off Campaign on all lights and electrical appliances. Four students have linked up with Abbott Ireland Cootehill to carry out a project on energy conservation sponsored by ESB. Other upcoming events include A Flick the Switch Week and Anti-Litter Week and the National Spring Clean.

Italy

On February 7 nine fifth year students and their teachers made a return trip to Collegio Barbarigo, Padua, Italy, part of an exchange programme initiated by Fr. Kevin Donohoe and Angela Flanagan last year. The students lived with host families for a week and attended school, which included daily Italian lessons.

The programme also included educational and cultural events and visits to Venice, Verona, Vicenza and Padua where they learned to appreciate the Palladio style architecture, the same as Cootehill's Bellmont House - by coincidence Palladio the architect was born directly across the road from the school the students were attending.

They went to the civic chambers of the Venetian city council, Bo University, where Galileo was a lecturer, and the Basilica of St. Anthony of Padua. They met the bishop of Padua, who asked about Ireland and its history. On the social side, they visited Abano Thermal spa at hotel La Residence and a soccer match at the stadium Euganeo.

On the evening before leaving the students were invited to a farewell Mass with the host families, where they did the readings in Italian.

The exchange was a huge success and the participants (Taylor McCann, Elaine Clerkin, Blaithin Hughes, Laura Rogers, Stephen Donnery, Liam Keane, Conor Moynagh, Matthew Pepper and Cormac Roche) thoroughly enjoyed it.

On March 26, 25 fifth year students and two teachers travel to Barcelona for five days, a trip organised by Fr. Kevin Donohoe and Angela Flanagan.

Belgium

We left Dublin early on a Monday, writes Craig McComish. When we landed at the airport we went to a science museum, full of interactive exhibitions that explored many topics. On the second day Mr. Farrell woke us in the middle of the night (well at 7am!) for classes. We did science experiments using a vacuum pump and after lunch went to an archery and rifle shooting range, orienteering in a cave - that was excellent - and had a BBQ.

On Wednesday we tried various simulators and a micro gravity wall to feel what it would be like without gravity, and went swimming in a pool with a brilliant wave machine that nearly ended my holiday on day three!

We went to Holland on Thursday and on Friday morning did the shuttle simulator; we acted out lift-off, mounted a satellite in orbit and visited the international space station Freedom. We also went to a cave for a tour of geographical features. Overall the week was excellent and everybody had a great time.

Information

Open day for incoming first years was Saturday, March 6 and assessment day is this Saturday, March 13 from 9am to noon.

U16 Soccer

The season kicked off with the first round of the Ulster Cup game against Virginia. At half-time the comprehensive were losing 1-0 but an excellent display in the second half earned the boys a 2-1 victory. They received a bye in the second round and then faced a strong St. Macartan's for a place in the quarter-final. The game ebbed and flowed and St. Aidan's won 4-3 in extra time.

They drew St. Eunan's in the quarter-final, a notoriously difficult team to beat thanks to a huge pedigree in Ulster and all-Ireland competition. It was a fantastic match and the comprehensive came from behind twice to level the match.

They played well in the last 10 minutes and could have nicked it at the death. The game went to extra time and there was no score at the end of the first period.

With the wind at their backs St. Aidan's threw everything at the Letterkenny lads and with a couple of minutes to go had a chance to win. The ball was floated in and Caolan Reilly poked it towards goal but the Eunan's goalie dived and the ball spun up to the crossbar. It was the last opportunity of the game and penalties settled the match. St. Aidan's lost 5-4.

St. Eunan's won their semi-final so Cootehill it has a talented bunch of players, who now contest the Cavan/Monaghan League.

Dance

St. Aidan's is now availing of the 'girls in action program' funded by the HSE. The idea is to get girls more active during school time.

Niamh Smith is taking the girls for a dance class once a week during lunchtime for ballet, hip hop and contemporary.

Seachtain na Gaeilge

TY students are busy organising for Seachtain na Gaeilge, March 8-12. Croí na Teanga - It's You! (Heart of the Language - It's You!) is the motto and activities planned include: a table quiz, treasure hunt, poem writing and song writing, poster competition and traditional music session.

There are several prizes, including one for Gaeilgeoir na seachtaine and TY Radio will be playing music from Irish artists, making announcements in Irish as the school becomes a mini-Gaeltacht - the corridors are decorated with symbols of Ireland, proverbs, useful phrases and famous Irish names.

National Concert Hall

First, second, third and fifth year music students went to see the RTE Symphony Orchestra in The National Concert Hall on March 1.

It opened with the theme to Star Wars by John Williams. Special guest was the tenor Emmanuel Lawlor, who performed Nessun Dorma and Love Changes Everything.

The conductor Gearoid Grant spoke to the students about set works on the Junior Cert course and the orchestra backed up his information by playing short excerpts.

SciFest

SciFest, a one-day science fair in third level colleges for second level students, includes a competition and exhibition of projects, a selection of talks and science demonstrations in laboratories.

St. Aidan's took the Best Communicators award in 2009, the Best Communicators award in 2008 and in 2007 was second in the junior biology and first in junior physics.