THE LATEST NEWS AND NEXT WEEK 

AT ETSS WICKLOW

Friday 12th April

                                                                                                     Student Report

Did you know that ETSS Wicklow has a partnership with Jigsaw Wicklow?

FRIDAY 22nd March

Easter Newsletter from our Press Team

This term, we have re-designed the newsletter to make it more of an interactive experience. To navigate your way through it, just swipe your screen or press the arrow on your keyboard and to view the photos that are grouped together, just click on them and swipe your way through them. 

We hope you enjoy reading our newsletter that our hard-working and dedicated Press Team put together!

https://sway.cloud.microsoft/GzsgGzRL26B4CyH1?ref=email

FRIDAY 15th March

Re-Scheduled Fundraiser Table Quiz

                                                                                         Student Report

YRE Photography Session

The school's Press Team attended an online webinar about photography skills hosted by the Young Reporters for the Environment (YRE) competition which our school is entering this year. The webinar was a very informative talk about taking photos and editing them and the variety of tools you can use when it comes to photography. The talk will help us improve our photography skills which we can use for our competition entry, that has a grand prize of €1500 for the winner.

                                                                                                                                                                   By Bobby Connolly - Press Team

                                                                                         Lunchtime Workshop

TY Careers/Leaving Certificate Subject Choices

On Thursday evening the schools first Transition Year and Leaving Certificate subject choices fair took place from 6-8pm. It proved to be a valuable and insightful event for both students and parents as they had the opportunity to discuss with our teachers and current senior cycle students the various subjects on offer at ETSS Wicklow. Attendees were also able to gather essential information and guidance on future career options from our guidance counsellor Stacey. The interactive nature of the event fostered meaningful conversations and connections, making it a successful and enjoyable evening for everyone involved. We are looking forward to next year already.

                                                                                                                                                                      By Bobby Connolly - Third Year

                                                                           There was great interest in the event!

                                                                                Leaving Cert Spanish Presentation

   Staff Report

Seachtain Na Gaeilge 11 – 15 Márta

Students had great fun this week, with a lot of activities planned daily 'as Gaeilge' to encourage the use of the Irish language outside the classroom this school this week. Students had fun learning a daily Seanfhocal such as 'Níl in aon rud ach seal' and incorporating this into their daily routine. The week finished with a fun class kahoot on all the new seanfhocal they had learnt with some great prizes on offer.

                                                                                                Fun As Gaeilge

National Pi Day Competition

The highly anticipated National Pi Competition competition was held this week in Glenart College in Arklow. Schools from all over the country participated in several rounds of trying to solve difficult pi mathematical problems as well as remembering as many numbers of Pi as possible.

ETSS Wicklow's Pi team comprising Rada Kanevskaya, Fintan Devine, David Dubrovskij, and Yasseen Mesabbah put up a fantastic performance. The team gave it their all and came very close to clinching the first place, but unfortunately, they fell short by just four points. Well done everyone!

                                                                                  Well done Team ETSS Wicklow!

FRIDAY 8th March

                                                                                          Student Report

Dublin Zoo

TY students enjoyed an amazing day out at the zoo last week, which the second years are getting to also enjoy this Friday!

Dublin Zoo was found in 1831, and it’s the 4th oldest zoo in the world - when it first opened, it had lions, monkeys, leopards, bears and parrots. The purpose of the zoo was solely for entertainment - so the enclosures were small, designed for containment and to allow visitors to easily see the animals.

Communions were often held in the zoo - elephant rides, lion feeding time, and chimpanzee tea parties were all common zoo activities in the 60s - Thankfully, this no longer happens.

Times have changed - now the main purpose and aim of Dublin Zoo is conservation of wildlife, and they try to allow the animals to live as similar a life they can to the life they would be living in the wild.

We left bright and early, and took the train up to Dublin - and arrived at the zoo for 10 o' clock sharp. We split in two groups - and my group wandered around the zoo for an hour.  We saw zebras, lions, red pandas, elephants, wolves, aye-ayes - the lot!

After that, we were given a guided tour of the zoo, and the lady (Victoria) told us about Dublin Zoo’s conservation initiatives. It was a really brilliant day, and we all had great fun!

                                                                                                                                                                                                          By Ayah Mohammed - TY

                                                                                        A Flock of Flamingos

                                                                                    An Orangutan in plain sight!

Student Council Message

The Student Council has been working hard since Christmas, on a number of different things - and so far, so good!

We’ve been working on drafting a letter to send around to various local TD’s, talking the pressing matter of our lack of facilities due to not having a proper school building. We are hoping that they will be able to further highlight this in Leinster House, and with luck speed up the process.

We interviewed students from different classes, and asked them to give their opinions on how the lack of a building and adequate facilities is affecting their education, and we will be putting together a video to send alongside the letter.

Student Council President and Vice President, Ayah and Vyga met with John the principle 2 weeks ago to discuss some of the issues that had come up in our meetings.

We discussed the upcoming Student Council book drive, which we will be running after Easter to collect books for a study area/ that is being organised for 5th and 6th years next year - something much needed and wanted by students!

A sanitary towel dispenser for the girls bathrooms is being ordered by John at the request of the Student Council, after the issue was brought up multiple times that there is often a lack of sanitary equipment in the bathrooms.

The process of researching the cost of different water fountains is underway, and with luck the student Council will pick out a suitable one and order it before the Easter break. Students will be happy to know that we will soon have water fountains to fill our bottles!

That is all for the updates on the Student Council, and we hope to accomplish as much as possible in the near future.

                                                                                                                                                             By Ayah Mohamed, President of the Student Council

                                                                                           ETSS Wicklow's Student Council

Staff Report

Annual Chess Championship at ETSS Wicklow

Last week saw the return of the Annual Chess Championship at ETSS Wicklow. We started the week with 128 participants and after days of gruelling knockout matches, we made it our final few competitors. The Junior students, in particular 2nd years, were the stars of the show. 15 of the final 16 were from 3rd year or below, showcasing the strong chess culture among our junior students in the school. A special mention to 1st year students Garrett O'Reilly and Declan Devine, who made it to the last 16 and quarter-finals respectively.

As we moved to the end of the week and the latter stages of the tournament, it was the 2nd years that started to hit the headlines. Yasseen Messabah dispatched Alim Kamilov, one of the pre-tournament favourites, in the last 16. It was plain sailing from there for Yasseen, who beat fellow second years Fionn Lang and Fintan Devine in the quarter-final and semi-final. On the other side of the draw, another 2nd year was quickly progressing through the field. Prahad Raguram eliminated Alex Zevatskiy and Declan Devine, to set up a semi-final showdown with reigning champion, Naoise O'Dubhslaine. It was the game we all wanted to see, and after a very cagey opening, Prahad prevailed against all odds to set up an all 2nd year showdown with Yasseen in the final.

The final was broadcast to the whole school, with top-class commentary from resident chess experts, Craig and Tony. After a very aggressive opening from Prahad, who was only a couple of moves away from a potential checkmate, Yasseen stunned the school by checkmating Prahad, who had trapped his own King into a corner. It was a masterclass from both students, who go away with prize money of €50 and €25.

                                                                                                                                                                       By Craig Ledwith - Chess Master

                                                                                            Prahad in Action!

                                                                                        Past Champion Cody!

FRIDAY 1st March

                                                                                             Student Report

First School Volleyball Club

Our school's volleyball team is a place where students come together to learn, grow, and have fun. Each week, we have special days for practice. On Tuesdays, it's just the girls practising. They work hard to improve their volleyball skills and learn how to play as a team. Then, on Wednesdays, both boys and girls practice together. It's a great chance for everyone to learn from each other and become better players. And finally, Thursdays are all about the boys. They focus on their skills and teamwork, with Andrei, our physical education teacher, there to help them every step of the way.

But our team doesn't just stop at practice. We have big dreams for the future! We want to start a volleyball club. This club will be a place for everyone who loves volleyball, no matter how good they are. We'll have games, practice sessions, and even events to help out our community and the school. Because for us, volleyball isn't just about winning games. It's about building friendships, supporting each other, and growing together both on and off the court. With hard work and determination, we know we can make our volleyball dreams come true!

                                                                                                                                                             by Marija Mickeviciute in Third Year

                                                                                              Our Boys Team

                                                                                              Our Girls Team

WCDMUN 2024

Last weekend our Model United Nations Delegates attended the prestigious WCDMUN Heald in Wesley college Dublin. Ayah Mohammed in TY was the only female main submitter of her resolution at the General assembly which was one of the few passed at the general assembly. In addition Odhran O’ Reilly in 2nd year made a resounding speech at the general assembly and Oscar Kavanagh in 3rd year made a few impactful speeches as well.  Once again a massive thank you to the WCDMUN team and our advisors as without them we would not be able to attend.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              By a Third Year Student

Student Council Attends BOM Meeting

On the 22nd of February, Marija and Sonny, a 5th year student, attended a meeting at 7pm about what was going on with the student council, who we were, what we did, and some ongoing projects.

We started by introducing ourselves. We then talked about what we have been up to as student council members. One of the most recent projects we have worked on was the selection box drive, which was a donation to our local Vincent de Paul branch. After 3 weeks of gathering selection boxes from each classroom, we donated over 250 boxes. The class that donated the most selection boxes got a free pizza reward. Another thing we did was have the student council write a letter highlighting the impact of temporary housing on our school life. This letter was presented to the PSA and also shared with local councillors and TDs in the hope of securing our permanent site in the future.  

We also reviewed policies such as anti-bullying and attendance policies. One of our ongoing projects is to make a video showing the impacts of a temporary building at our school. In the video, we want to interview students from different subjects and extracurricular programmes about how the building affects the subjects. Also, we are planning to install water fountains at our school. We are still thinking about which options to choose.

Another project we want to get involved in is the ISSU conference, in which student representatives from schools in every corner of the Republic of Ireland come together to feed into the work of the ISSU and its policies for the coming years and learn skills to aid them in furthering student voice in their own schools. Some members of the Student Council are planning to attend, and our 5th year member, Katie O'Connor, is planning to run for disability officer.  Also, we want to make a library or study zone in the unsaturated area in the upstairs 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th year building after Easter. We will ask our local library to donate any books or ask students to donate books too.

On the 21st of March, we are going to do a wear red day to stand up against racism. Pyjama Day is also another idea. It’s a pyjama or cosy day, which is to help student wellbeing and metre health, especially after the very busy exam week. The meeting went very well overall.                                                                                                                                                              

                                                                                                                                                             by Marija Mickeviciute in Third Year

                                                                                          Our Student Council

LGBTQ+ History Month

This week in our LGBTQ+ Ally Group we celebrated LGBTQ+ History Month which is celebrated every February. This years theme is Medicine #UndertheScope so we are celebrating people who work as doctors, counsellors and many other people under this topic. Harry showed us a PowerPoint listing some key things in history. As a group we all came up with some examples of LGBTQ+ celebrities that have changed our country to be more inclusive. We also talked about our history as a group that this is the first LGBTQ+ Ally Group and we will always be the first members of it!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        By Harry Tindale - Third Year

                                                                    An Interesting lunchtime PowerPoint Presentation

  Staff Report

Astro Pi Competition

For the second year running ETSS Wicklow has submitted entries to the prestigious Astro Pi competition. This year students are tasked with having to write computer programs that solve a scientific task in space: to gather data to calculate the speed at which the International Space Station (ISS) is travelling as accurately as possible. We have submitted two very interesting ideas, with the aim of having both teams progress to the final stage, where students will have their code run on the ISS and receive the results of their experiment. Exciting times! Our two teams were made up of second and third year students.

                                                                                                                                               By Ali Aziz – Geography & Technology Teacher

FRIDAY  23rd February

  Student Press Team Report

Third Year Mock Exams

On Tuesday, February 6th the 3rd years began their pre Junior Cycle exams (mocks). Students took on papers for core and option subjects, English, Irish and Maths which were taken in ordinary and higher level and History, Geography, Science. The option subjects were Home Economics, Business Studies, Music, Art, Technology and Woodwork. These exams will give all students and insight into what areas need to be revised for the Junior Cycle final exams and what areas they have done better on. The Home Ec cooking mocks are scheduled for around March 4th (exact dates TBC). Well done to all of the 3rd year students who completed their mocks.

                                                                                                                                                                                                 By Bobby Connolly - Third Year

Junk Koture

Over the last few months some ETSS Transition Year Students have been working hard on their Junk Kouture creations. We had some very imaginative and unique designs including different dresses and even a car ! All of the designs were made from recyclable materials such as cardboard, paper cups, Shein bags and train tickets. Congratulations to all the students on their hard work and time put in to present their final pieces.                                                                                       By Ava Flynn

TY Trip to Mondello Race Track

On the 22nd February 2024 the TYs went on a trip to Mondello. We started off with a talk about road safety and were divided into three groups; green, orange and yellow. The green group started off with a trip to the museum to look at all the amazing race cars they had; including two formula 1 cars! They then took a trip to the lookout tower, where you overlook the racetracks. We were then brought back to the main building where we got to practice emergency breaking. The fastest was 0.32 seconds! We were then brought up to the training room where we participated in a practice theory test and even tried on funny goggles to see what it would be like if you were under the influence of alcohol whilst driving. The final activity of the day was practicing parallel parking, turning sharp corners and indicating around other drivers. It was an overall amazing experience and I would highly recommend going if you have the chance.

                                                                                                                                                                                  By Ayah Mohammed - TY

                                                                                                  Some very nice Cars

Staff Report

Table Quiz Fundraiser

Join staff and parents next Friday night the 1st of March at 7pm for a evening of general knowledge for a table quiz fundraiser in aid of our annual TY musical and the two day Model United Nations event.

Model United Nations in a nutshell allows students from schools across Ireland to role play delegates from UN member states and simulate UN committees where current issues are debated. The benefits for students are clear, as it provides them with the opportunity to develop and use real world skills such as; research, drafting, critical thinking, teamwork, deliberation, negotiation, conflict resolution and leadership skills. Since 2019 we have been the hosts of this amazing event in the local community. This year WICKMUN will be held at ETSS Wicklow from Friday 19th - Saturday 20th April 2023.

Out TY musical this May is the renowned Wizard of Oz and we look forward to opening our doors to the local community. Both of these events introduce our students to the joys and benefits of engaging in politics and performance.  Due to the considerable costs of running these events we are looking to raise as much as possible through the on the night quiz and raffle. It should also prove to be a very fun evening and a great way to get to know more members of the school community. I look forward to seeing you all there next week.

                                                                                                                                                                                    By Ceire Hatton - HSCL

Finally please note that the school will be closing on Friday the 12th April to facilitate staff training.

FRIDAY  9th February

  Student Press Team Report

WICKMUN 2024

We are very proud to say that we are an enthusiastic Model United Nations school. We have been involved in MUN since 2019 under the guidance of late principal Colm Kehoe, and are improving our knowledge and skills as the years progress. The Model United Nations (MUN) is an international format of debate which allows students to take part in simulations of the United Nations by representing different countries and NGO's/IGOS in different committees that debate a range of relevant and topical issues. It develops strong organisational, negotiating and research skills, encouraging group work and working with others. An MUN club is ran in the school by Ceire and James on Fridays at lunchtime.

So far this year, we have been invited to multiple MUN conferences, ETSS Wicklow attended Royal Russell MUN in London in October, RADMUN in November, PARKMUN in December and ROCKMUN in January as the delegation of Mexico,  participating in some fruitful debate. Well done to all students who took part in this. We are excited to attend more conferences in the 2024, such WCDMUN in Wesley College and of course our on WICKMUN.

Building on the success from hosting our first in-person conference last year we will be holding our second annunal conference on school grounds from the 19th-20th of April. Due to Covid, the first three years were hosted online, but nothing beats the energy of face to face debating. This years main preparation team for the conference consists of: Secretary General: Katie O' Connor, Co-Secretary General: Ayah Mohamed, President of the General Assembly: Hannah O'Callaghan, Conference Manager: Sonny Anderson, Co-Conference Manager: Lenna Smith, Head of Administration: Harry Tindale, Co Head of Administration: Urte Matuseviciute, Chair: Lenna Smith, Chair: Odhran O' Reilly, Chair: Oscar Kavanagh, Head of Press: Bobby Connolly, Head of Media: Hugo Kerekes and Head of Security: Caleb Gunn.

. Last year, we had a whopping 180 delegates attend our conference, and we are hopeful to get a full capacity conference of 220 this year. We are inviting multiple schools from all over Ireland, and can’t wait to meet all these delegates for a debate filled, and not to mention enjoyable, weekend.  As we get closer to the event, all are welcome to sign up for the numerous roles that will be needed for the hosting of this incredible school event.

                                                                                                                                                            By Katie O'Connor - Secretary General                                                                                              

                                                                             General Assembly WICKMUN 2023
                                                      

                                                                                       Staff Report

Educate Together Debating Competition

                                                                                 Student Press Team Report

TY Hairdressing Workshop

Transition Year students had the great opportunity this week to participate in a barber hairstyling workshop with the local stylist Pink Elizabeth. The workshop was organized as part of the school's Transition Year program and proved to be a great success. 

Pink Elizabeth began by giving a brief introduction to the world of hairstyling and grooming. She then demonstrated some basic techniques such as how to trim a beard, how to style hair, and how to use various grooming tools. The students were then given the opportunity to try out these techniques on each other! They were provided with all the necessary tools and equipment and were given guidance and assistance by Pink Elizabeth. 

The students thoroughly enjoyed the hands-on experience and were excited to try out their new skills on each other. Overall, the workshop was a great success. The students not only had a lot of fun but also learned some valuable skills that will serve them well in the future. 

                                                                                                                                                                                      Ayah Mohammed - TY

                                                                      TY Students learning the ropes of Hairdressing

Forensic History - JFK Shooting

Before going in to this workshop, I honestly did not know what to expect - I assumed that since we were told that it was a forensics workshop, we’d be conducting some sort of investigation, maybe revolving around DNA or fingerprints. And in one way it did - but what I was not expecting was to be delving in to the story of John F. Kennedy’s assassination, and theorising about who the killer was - or why he killed the president.

The classroom was done up spectacularly - posters, standing banners, a copy of J.F.K’s autopsy, a model of his brain, and prop guns - everything in connection with the case.

The man told us the story of the assassination, right down to the finest detail, every timestamp, every witness - and we saw that the case was wrongfully closed - none of the explanations added up, and much of the evidence was tampered with - including the body, and there were no photos of the autopsy…

The assassination of J.FK is arguably one of the most famous murder cases of all time - and incredibly dark and interesting to study. TY’s had great fun!

                                                                                                                                                                                        Ayah Mohammed - TY

Basketball Success

                                                                               ETSS Wicklow Boys Basketball Team

Football @ ETSS Wicklow

                                                                                                                                                                     HollyAnne Armstrong - First Year

Rockmun 2024

                                                                                                                                                                            Oscar Kavanagh - Third Year

                                                                          5th Year Katie O'Connor delivering her speech.

Met Eireann Meteorologist and RTE Weather Reporter, Linda Hughes visits ETSS Wicklow

On Wednesday, January 31^st 3^rd years and TYs had a visit from Met Eireann meteorologist and RTE Weather reporter, Linda Hughes who gave an interesting presentation on how the weather in Ireland is predicted, the status systems for extreme weather events and how climate change will/is effecting Ireland. A number of interesting questions were asked to Linda such as “do you work individually or in a team?” and “Does Met Eireann offer Transition Year work experience?”. Students learned a lot from the presentation given.

Thanks to Linda for coming to our school and giving us the fantastic talk.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

Bobby Connolly, Third Year

Met Eireann Talk

1^st Year Art Trip

Leigh Anne brought the 1st years on an amazing art trip down to the Wicklow pier to take some fabulous photos and get primary sources for their art exam.

The trip was well organised and the class brought great respect to the school. We had a ball of a time and as much as we had fun we took some phenomenal photos. We got to see a baby seal out in the water it was some people's first sighting of a seal! We all had the best time hope you have a great day thank you.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

Hollyanne Armstrong & Lucas Cai First Year

First Year Boys Football 

The 1st year boys had a very challenging match against Ramsgrange. The first half didn't go well but kept their heads up. In the second half, the boys put in an amazing performance but failed to hit the target. The lads put in a great team performance against a very strong team. Special mention to Callum Nugent who put in a great effort as goalkeeper.

                                                                                                                                               Dougie Bowie and Harry Kavanagh, First Year

Staff Report

Transition Year Updates

Over the last month TY students have enjoyed a new range of workshops and activities each week to broaden their experience in the year and to expose them to different activities and knowledge bases.

When we got back from the break TYs got involved in a dance battle in Hip Hop with Jay Asolo, they explored mental and physical wellbeing with Wolf Academy, explored the science of forensics and cut each other’s hair in barbering and hairstyling with Pink Elizabeth.

Next week, alongside their exams, TYs will undertake an online escape room and work with Stephen Kiernan – author of Motivational Mondays.

There’s lots more to come after the midterm – including Mondello Driving (February 19^th), Berlin, the Gaisce Adventure Journey, the zoo, QQI Level in Barista Skills and much more!

Parents Junior Cycle Maths Session

This week experienced Maths teacher Paddy ran a Junior Cycle maths session for our parents. He provided an overview of the Maths Junior Cycle curriculum, including the units of work covered over the three years of the programme. He also discussed the common mistakes made by students and provided parents with useful websites and online tools to help their child succeed in Maths. Feedback from parents about the workshop was that it provided them with the opportunity to ask questions about the curriculum and what was expected from their child and how to better support them.  Our home school community liaison coordinator Ceire will be posting about more in-person sessions for both Junior and Senior Cycle in the coming weeks. Thanks to all who attended and Maths teacher Paddy for giving up his time for this great new initiative.

                                                                         Back to class with Maths Teacher Paddy

Some clubs and activities on offer for next week are as follows:

Tuesday

• Lunch-time Board games with Dara
• Lunch-time Sports with Andrei
• LGBTQ+ and Allies Lunch Time Club
• Lunch-time School Press Team
• After school Girls Volleyball with Andrei
• After school Girls Basketball with Francisco
• Evening Study 4 – 6 pm

Wednesday

• After school boys soccer training
• After-school girls GAA training
• After school Mixed Volleyball
• After-school Maths Support Centre

Thursday

• Lunch-time sports with Andrei
• Lunch-time Book club
• Lunch-time Origami Club
• After school Boys Volleyball with Andrei
• Evening Study 4 – 6 pm

Friday

• Lunch-time Sports with Andrei
• Lunch-time Lego Club
• Lunch-time Model United Nations Club with James
• Lunch-time Green Schools with Ali

Finally please note that the school will be closed for St. Brigid's day on Monday 6th February and will finish at 2:45 for all students on Thursday 8th February.

Attention parents of Junior Cycle Maths Students!

Are you feeling overwhelmed when trying to help your child with their Maths homework? Do you want to better understand the Junior Cycle Maths curriculum and how to support your child in their studies? Look no further, as we are excited to invite you to our Parent Support Class on Junior Cycle Maths on Tuesday 30th January!

In this one-hour class, experienced Maths teacher Paddy will provide you with an overview of the Maths Junior Cycle curriculum, including the units of work covered over the three years of the programme.

Paddy will also discuss common mistakes made by students and provide you with useful websites and online tools to help your child succeed in Maths.

Don't miss out on this opportunity to better support your child's education! Join us for an informative and interactive session with Paddy, where you can ask any questions you may have.

We look forward to seeing you there! To book a place please click on the link below:

https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/parent-support-session-junior-cycle-maths-tickets-803003744817?aff=oddtdtcreator

FRIDAY 26TH JANUARY

                                                                         Student Press Team Report

Transition Year 2024-2025 Information Evening

On Thursday 25th January, our Transition Year Coordinator Robert Mathews gave an incredibly informative talk to some of our current 3rd Year Parent/Guardians and students. Robert went through the plan for the Transition Year of 2024/25, highlighting all of the fantastic modules, workshops, work experience & community care opportunities and the very much anticipated Berlin trip in March 2025. Robert also went through the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) and the Gaisce President’s Award Program which is a really exciting opportunity for future TY students.

There was a big reveal made when Robert went through a planned trip to Iceland in October 2026! The trip is planned for current 1st, 2nd and 3rd years.  Robert and school Principal John are looking for 3rd year Parent/Guardians to join a Transition Year 24/25 planning committee, parents who volunteer for this will be involved in planning events, modules and workshops for the future TY students. If you are a 3rd year Parent/Guardian and interested in joining the committee, please contact Robert or John at Robert.mathews@etsswicklow.ie or principal@etsswicklow.ie .

                                                                                                                                                                  By Bobby Connolly - Third Year

                                                                     Great excitement about the 2026 Iceland Trip!

Tickets For Success!

Again, big congratulations to all our Tickets for Success winners from Christmas: Fionn Stereo Savage from Yeats Class, Zach from TY 1, Jack Doyle from Kehoe Class and Leo from Gray Class were awarded Canteen Lunch Vouchers; Caoimhe from Osborne Class, Harry Tindale from Hyde Class, Chris from TY 1, Ethan Stafford from Yeats Class and Albert Tomu from Bowie Class were awarded Homework Passes; Ayah Mohamed from TY 1 was awarded a Penneys Gift Card; Marija from Collins Class was awarded a Sports Direct Gift Card; Mia Flynn was awarded an Apple Pencil; and Patrick from Yeats Class was awarded a pair of Apple Airpods.

                                                                        Some of our Wonderful prizes last term!

TY Hip Hop Workshop

Jay Asolo came in to teach the TY students about Hip Hop - the origins, the elements and finally some dancing! Hip Hop originated in 1973 in the Bronx, New York City, and was a huge cultural movement that for many people, was a lot more than just music. To be precise, it all began on the 11th of August 1973, when DJ Kool Herc, the entertainer for his sisters party, began to experiment with the music and the turntable. This was later broken in to the different elements of Hip Hop, including DJing, MCing/Rapping, Graffiti/Street Art, Beatboxing, and Breaking (dancing).

                                                                                                                                                                             By Ayah Mohammed - TY

                                                                                           Choreographer Jau Asolo

                                                                                             Staff Report

ROCKMUN 2024!

ETSS Wicklow’s Model United Nations students attended ROCKMUN this weekend in Blackrock College. Representing Mexico, our students debated and developed solutions on international issues such as finance, security, and Human rights. 5th Year Katie O’Connor speech on Adolesence and Mental Health in Conflict regions was received with great response. We are very proud of all our students who attended the conference, well done!

                                                                    Our MUN students representing Mexico!

Our basketball team lead by coach Lucy went today to deliver. You could see the motivation on the face of our lads since this morning. And... THEY WERE RIGHT!!! Hard worked victory brought back by the lads today. Despite being very tired our coach offered a few words:

"Winners!! Our 1st and 2nd year boys basketball team played a blinder today. Patrick Adesola opened the match with a 3 pointer which was closely followed by some excellent play by Jacob Murray and Shaheen Mohamed. We were in the lead by the end of the first quarter. The game was neck and neck the entire way through, but the boys made an impressive comeback in the final quarter, finishing with a 9 point lead. Congratulations to man of the match Oscar Doyle".  ETSS Wicklow sports are growing by the day and the basketball team is putting another brick in the foundation.

                                                                                          A Great Victory Boys!

Football News!

FRIDAY 19TH JANUARY

                                                                           Student Press Team Report

Third Year Upcoming Mock Exams 

Third years are currently preparing for their upcoming mock examinations. Mock exams are Pre-Junior Cycle final exams. The mock exams are taking place from February 6th to 9th. Teachers across all of 3rd year are preparing their students in every way to ensure they succeed and do their mocks to the best of their ability! There are many study methods out there for each student’s abilities.

The mock exams provide a great opportunity to give students a feel of what a real state exam is like. The exam subjects include the three core subjects: English, Irish and Maths – all which can be sat in Ordinary or Higher level and all other subjects: History, Geography, Science, Home Economics, Art, Music, Business Studies, Woodwork and Technology which are all taken in common level. Below you can find our Guidance Counsellor, Stacey’s best exam tips & tricks.

                                                                                                                                                                        Bobby Connolly - Third Year

                                                                                                                                                                       

                                                                                             Staff Report

Basketball Success

Our 1st and 2nd year boys basketball team put in a fantastic performance today. Patrick Adesola opened the game with an impressive 3-pointer which was followed by some great shots by Player of the Match Javier Bilbao. Our boys had taken the lead by the end of the first quarter. Shaheen Mohamed impressed us all with his high skill level throughout the game. A special mention goes to new recruit, Oscar Doyle, for his brilliant defensive play. We’re looking forward to the next match.

                                                                           Our Boys Basketball team in Action

Maths Support Centre Open!

The Maths Support Centre has reopened for 2024! It is open to students in all year groups and of all abilities and runs every Wednesday from 1:15 pm to 2:15 pm. This initiative is designed to provide free assistance to all students seeking to enhance their mathematical skills and abilities. This weekly session is an excellent opportunity to reinforce your maths knowledge and boost your confidence in the subject. Join us and let's make maths an enjoyable and rewarding experience!

                                                             Hands on learning in the Maths Support centre this week!

Astro-Pi Competition Update

We are pleased to share that our school is fielding two teams for the Astro Pi competition this year. The central focus of our experiment involves calculating the speed of the International Space Station (ISS). Our teams will be creating Python programs that will be ran onboard the ISS, providing students with an unparalleled opportunity to engage with space science and coding in a real-world context. Last year we had one successful team so this year we are aiming to build on this by having both of our teams successfully complete this challenge.

                                                                          Students using the Python Program

Attention parents of Junior Cycle Maths Students!

Are you feeling overwhelmed when trying to help your child with their Maths homework? Do you want to better understand the Junior Cycle Maths curriculum and how to support your child in their studies? Look no further, as we are excited to invite you to our Parent Support Class on Junior Cycle Maths!

In this one-hour class, experienced Maths teacher Paddy will provide you with an overview of the Maths Junior Cycle curriculum, including the units of work covered over the three years of the programme.

Paddy will also discuss common mistakes made by students and provide you with useful websites and online tools to help your child succeed in Maths.

Don't miss out on this opportunity to better support your child's education! Join us for an informative and interactive session with Paddy, where you can ask any questions you may have.

We look forward to seeing you there! To book a place please click on the link below:

https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/parent-support-session-junior-cycle-maths-tickets-803003744817?aff=oddtdtcreator

 

FRIDAY 12th January

                                                                                  Student Press Team Report

DreamSpace - STEM Passport for Inclusion

Two days down, one to go!

TY girls are a step closer to receiving their STEM passport for Inclusion, having completed day 2 of their 3 day course at the Microsoft Headquarters in Dublin!

We left early morning at 8:45am, and went straight in to learning about coding and using PYTHON, which is a programming language used by many high - profile companies like Netflix and Google. We made our own chat - bots, which if programmed correctly - could almost have mini conversations with us!

Just before break, we were given a short tour of the building. Everyone was amazed - the Microsoft building has a music room, sleeping pods, and a well-being room where you can get massages and nails done!

We also learnt that Microsoft buildings in different countries have different themes, which relate back to unique aspects of the country! The Microsoft building we went to is based around the fact that Ireland is an island - so some of the inside is built with materials that make it look like a ships port or dock.

After break, we learned about AI, and the advantages of and disadvantages of AI. We also learned about Deepfake, and the harm it can cause… Overall it was a great day, and everyone is looking forward for the last day of the course!

                                                                                                                                                                                      Ayah Mohamed - TY

                                                                           TY Girls enjoying their trip to Dreamspace

Charity 80KM 

https://www.autismassistancedogsireland.ie/fundraisers/katieoconnor16281

                                                                                                                                                       Bobby Connolly - Press Team Editor

Student Council Welcome Back Message

The Student Council are delighted to welcome everyone back to school - after a great two weeks of rest and recharge.  We’d like to remind students that all suggestions to the student Council are welcomed, and that we promise to try our very best to achieve as much as we can in the coming months.  We’re looking forward to starting back to school and continue working hard for the student body!

                                                                                                                                                                      Chair of the Student Council                                                                          

                                                                                             Staff Report

New Clubs @ ETSS Wicklow

A new Table Top Club officially kicked off today with Caitlin. Students held their session zero, designed their character stats and came up with a plan for their games. The games officially begin next week. Well done to all involved and we are excited to see the results over the coming weeks.

                                                                       Students Enjoying a New Lunchtime Club!

1st Year Football

                                                                                 1st Year Boys Football Team

Parent Staff Association Meeting ~ Thursday 18th January

All parents and guardians are welcome to join us for our first PSA meeting of the new year next Thursday 18th of January from 7-8pm.  Our meetings allow the opportunity for parents, staff and school management to discuss and offer valued feedback on school policies, general issues of interest and the aims and objectives for the school year.  We encourage parental participation in these discussions as well as involvement with other school activities and much needed fundraising.

                                                                                                   Join our PSA!

Some clubs and activities on offer for next week are as follows:

Monday

• Book Club with Grace and Sarah
• Lunch-time sports with Andrei
• After-school Boys (Senior and Junior) Basketball with Lucy

Tuesday

• Lunch-time Board games with Dara
• Lunch-time Sports with Andrei
• LGBTQ+ and Allies Lunch Time Club
• Lunch-time School Press Team
• After school Girls Volleyball with Andrei
• After school Girls Basketball with Francisco
• Evening Study 4 – 6 pm

Wednesday

• After school boys soccer training
• After-school girls GAA training
• After school Mixed Volleyball
• After-school Maths Support Centre

Thursday

• Lunch-time sports with Andrei
• Lunch-time Book club
• Lunch-time Origami Club
• After school Boys Volleyball with Andrei
• Evening Study 4 – 6 pm

Friday

• Lunch-time Sports with Andrei
• Lunch-time Lego Club
• Lunch-time Model United Nations Club with James
• Lunch-time Green Schools with Ali

FRIDAY 22nd DECEMBER

Please see our Winter Newsletter 2023-2024 !

FRIDAY 15TH DECEMBER

                                                                                          Student Press Team Report

Animation Studio Trip

The Enterprise in Animation students visited Brown Bag Films’ Smithfield studios yesterday, 14th December. This wonderful opportunity was kindly organised by student Thomas Howe’s aunt Clare Parsons, a former employee of Brown Bag. COO Cathal Gaffney generously met with students and provided an engaging and inspiring presentation about the studios creations, organisation and origins. Cathal spoke with students individually about the business side of the industry as well as the creative aspects at length, answering all students’ questions with great care and consideration. It was a truly valuable and enjoyable experience for all students and staff alike!

                                                             Our Animation students enjoying their trip this week.

School Report

Parent Wreath Making Workshop

Parents also enjoyed a lovely festive Wreath Making workshop with our HSCL Ceire, where they were able to enjoy some mince pies and coffee while they created some amazing door show stoppers. Well done to everyone on your beautiful creations! Ceire looks forward to welcoming parents into the school in 2024 for some more exciting parent events!

                                                                          Parents enjoying a festive class!

Community IT classes Offered by TY Students

Since September TY students have been offering one-to-one IT lessons to members of our school community. Participants have learned how to make the best use out of their electronic devices, as well as how to download and use the latest apps and.  These popular classes will continue to run in the new year and if you are interested in booking a space please contact Fran at reception@etssswicklow.ie or 040433060.

Bhí lá iontach againn Dé hAoine seo caite ar Gaeilge24. Is éard is Gaeilge24 ann ná lá ar a labhraíonn gach duine Gaeilge. Rinneamar póstaeir, aclaíocht agus d'fhoghlaim gach duine cúpla focal nua. Buaicphointe an lae ná an siúlóid cois trá gan amhras, nuair a chuardaigh na daltaí Gaeilge amuigh sa saol mór. Ba bhreá an suim sa teanga a léirigh ár ndaltaí nach ndéanann staidéar ar an nGaeilge freisin!

                                                            Cody Grove (5th Year) teaching Maths Class through Irish                                                                  Our Students enjoying a social walk 'as Gaeilge'.

Maths Problem of the Week Initiative 

Every week, during tutorial, students tackle a "Problem of the Week". This initiative was put in place by our maths department late last year and is designed to provide our students with an ongoing opportunity to improve their problem-solving skills. All problems are linked to the maths curriculum and are aimed at getting students to think mathematically. Each student is rewarded with tickets for taking on the challenge, and these tickets go into a raffle which is drawn at the end of each half-term.

                                                                                     Solution to follow next Week!

Careers Week

Students are looking forward to careers week next week, which has been put together by our guidance counsellor Stacey. Guest speakers will speak to students about a variety of different career paths including HR, marketing, apprenticeships, technology, the medical fields and business while representatives from colleges are also invited in. 

Some clubs and activities on offer for next week are as follows:

Monday

·       Book Club with Grace and Sarah

·       Lunch-time sports with Andrei

·       After-school Boys (Senior and Junior) Basketball with Lucy

Tuesday

·       Lunch-time Board games with Dara

·       Lunch-time Sports with Andrei

·       LGBTQ+ and Allies Lunch Time Club

·       Lunch-time School Press Team

·       After school Girls Volleyball with Andrei

·       After school Girls Basketball with Francisco

·       Evening Study 4 – 6 pm

Wednesday

·      After school boys soccer training

·      After-school girls GAA training

·      After school Mixed Volleyball

·      After-school Maths Support Centre

Thursday

·       Lunch-time sports with Andrei

·       Lunch-time Book club

·       Lunch-time Origami Club

·       After school Boys Volleyball with Andrei

·       Evening Study 4 – 6 pm

Friday

• Lunch-time Sports with Andrei

• Lunch-time Lego Club

• Lunch-time Model United Nations Club with James

• Lunch-time Green Schools with Ali

Finally just a reminder to parents and guardians that the school will close at 1 pm on Friday 22nd December for the school holidays.

Friday 8th DecembeR

Student Press Team Report

The winter fair was really brilliant, there were lots of stalls with students from across all years selling different things.

Although most of the stalls were students, there was also other people who came in to the school as well. These people were mainly adults selling Jewellery, more baked goods, sweets, handmade items and more. These stalls were a huge success. The school of ETSS Wicklow was decorated very festively with Christmas decorations covering the corridors, hall and classrooms.  The winter fair started at 4.00pm with an autism friendly quiet hour before opening to the general public until 8.00pm. We would like to thank everyone inside and outside the school for all of the hard work in the organisation of the fair, with all of the help we brought the great evening together.

                                                                                                                        Caoilfhionn McLindon & Caoimhe McGrath Yeates, 1st year 

3rd Year Science CBAs

3rd year science students have started their CBA 2’S. The science CBA 2 is called ‘Science in Society Investigation’. The CBA has 3 sections students must follow – Initiating research, Communicating findings and Evaluating the information to respond to the chosen question. The question students research and answer must be based on one of the following topics: technological application of science, an application of science that affects human health, an application of science that has an effect on the environment or an application of science that has an effect on society. We look forward to seeing what CBA’s are produce