September 2011

Swine Flu Instructions

75th Anniversary - Christmas Concert

FEBRUARY 2011

FASHION SHOW

75th Anniversary

ART AWARDS CHRISTMAS 2011

Programme for 75th Anniversary Celebrations

75th Anniversary Concert -

Church of Our Lady and St. David, Sallins Road, Naas

The year-long 75th Anniversary celebrations of St. Mary's College, Naas, were brought to a wonderful climax with a Christmas concert in the Church of Our Lady and St. David on Dec 18th last.

This was truly a night to remember - a night of of superb music and singing in which St. Mary's choir and orchesrta were joined by four young women, all past pupils, whose voices and music have graced the world's stages to wonderful acclaim.

The Choir, under the direction of Máire Mannion and Karina Irwin, sang superbly. These young singers, trained to a level of sensitivity and interpretation, which one normally associates with top class professionals, gave truly moving performances of "Something told the Wild the Geese" and "The Star Carol". The soloists Caroline Behan, Hannah Crowley and Emily Murray, accompanied by Laoise O'Brien sang "In Dulci Jubilo" in a virtuoso performance beyond their years. Aisling McCarthy's and Clodagh Donnelly's rendition of "I will sing with the Spirit" touched our hearts and souls.

Norah King - already an internationally well known singer - gave us " The Little Road to Bethlehem" and the beautiful "Holy City" by S. Adams, to rapturous applause.

Sharon Sexton, whose recent one woman show had audiences declaring that she was 'a better Lisa Minnelli than Lisa Minnelli herself', sang "Winter Wonderland", and Irving Berlin's "White Christmas" - doing full justice to the pathos and nostalgia that that lovely song evokes.

Looking absolutely beautiful in a gown of shimmering silver with wine red skirt, Celine Byrne sang "In the Bleak Mid Winter" and later gave us that beautiful carol "O Holy Night". We were once again moved to the depths of our being listening to that wonderful, wonderful voice. Celine has the world at her feet now, and there is no soprano, that we know of, coming close to her.

As if we had not had enough of riches from our past pupils, we had Laoise O'Brien's rendition of "Greensleeves to a Ground" on the recorder. This was a tour de force of skill, sensititvity and musicianship, which left her audience breathless.

The young musicians, under the direction of David Lanigan, gave a truly beautiful rendition of "The Wexford Carol". Their accompaniment on the night was utterly flawless and their professionalism and youthful enthusiasm bode well for the future of music in St. Mary's.

The soloists and other artists were lucky enought to have the wonderfully gifted piano accompaniment of Susan Mannion throughout the evening.

It was truly a blessed night and one was privileged to be there.

CELINE BYRNE
Former St. Mary’s music student and choir member, Celine now has a Masters in singing, winning many awards culminating in winning the prestigious Maria Callas International Singing competition in 2007. Celine now performs all over the world both in concert and opera and she has performed for Pope Benedict, several Irish Presidents, and President Obama. In 2010 she released her début album ‘For Eternity’.

SHARON SEXTON
Former St. Mary’s music student and choir member, Sharon has a masters in theatre directing. She has performed in the Olympia, the Gaiety and Cork Opera House and was awarded the Eva Gore-Booth best female performer for her portrayal of Liza Minelli in her one-woman show ‘Somewhere under the Rainbow’ which is currently touring the country.

NORAH KING
Former St. Mary’s choir member, Norah decided to pursue a singing career after graduating in Economics & Maths. Following several years of successful study in London, Norah has toured most of Europe & Asia performing in concert and opera. She often returns to Ireland to perform on the national stage with the RTÉ orchestras and, of course, in her homeplace of Naas.

LAOISE O’BRIEN
Former St. Mary’s music student and choir member, Laoise has a Masters in Musicology & Performance. She studied Early Music in the Netherlands and subsequently performed throughout Europe & Nth America. Laoise is now back in Ireland and lecturing in Recorder & Early Music. Her latest CD is ‘How happy for the little Birds’, is available on iTunes.

CONCERT PERFORMERS

Wednesday 21st September

Assembly Hall 8.00 p.m.

MC : Mr. Joe Clancy

Musicians : Shauna Gallagher (6th year), Emma Sargent (6th year), Naoise Gallagher (4th year)

Welcoming Address Mr. Moling Ryan Chairperson Board of Management

Launch of : “St. Mary’s College - 1936 -2011 Commemorative Book and Year Book”

Vocal Duet - Clodagh Donnelly (5th Year) and Aisling McCarthy (6th Year)

St. Mary’s College Yester Years

Past Pupils’ Union Display
Register 1936 -2011
“Road I am Travelling”
“On the Shoulder of the Shoulder..... “
Parents’ Council Presentation
Presentation to pupils of 1936 class

St. Mary’s College 2011

Presentation of 75th Anniversary Logo
Presentation of Wall Hanging

Presentation of Visitors from Mount St. Mary’s, Little Rock, Arkansas

Reception with light refreshments and Birthday Cake

Opening Ceremony of 75th Anniversary

Thursday 22nd September

Forty minute assemblies, one for each year group incorporating prayer service, opportunity to see exhibitions and tree planting. Students will be presented with commemorative badges.

Friday 23rd September

Sports Hall 11.00 a.m. Mass
Celebrant : Fr Paul Dempsey, Chaplain
Address by Sr Peggy Collins, Provincial, Sisters of Mercy

Followed by

Blessing of Sculpture
Sculpture by past pupil Bríd Óg Norrby.

Planting of commemorative tree

Presentation of gift to school by Sisters of Mercy
Art commissioned by Sisters of Mercy and crafted by past pupil Susan Connolly

Lunch in Assembly Hall.

Tuesday 27th

9.15a.m. Table Quiz
11.00 a.m. Obstacle Course competition / soccer tournament / novelty races

12.30 -1.15 DJ and disco during lunch break
1.30 p.m. Obstacle Course competition / soccer tournament / novelty races

3.00p.m. Attempt to break the record for the greatest number of people doing “Rock the Boat”"

UPCOMING EVENT

BEGINNING AT 8PM WITH A GLASS OF WINE OR A CUP OF TEA

- ON DISPLAY YOU CAN ADMIRE

UNIFORMS THROUGH THE YEARS

BIRTHDAY/JUBILEE CAKE PRESENTED BY RECENT PAST PUPILS

'THE ROAD I'M TRAVELLING' - 75 PAST PUPILS SHARING THEIR STORY

SCHOOL REGISTER - HOPEFULLY WE CAN UPDATE DETAILS EG NEW ADDRESS, EMAIL ETC.

'MOVING' - PHOTOGRAPHS ON USB SENT IN BY PAST PUPILS

PAPER CUTTINGS AND PHOTOGRAPHS OF INTEREST

BUFFET MEAL IN THE COMPANY OF YOUR FRIENDS

Changes in St. Mary's

During the summer some work was done on widening the driveway and entrance to make it safer for all. This was partly funded by a contribution from the Parents’ Council, so many thanks to all who have been involved in fundraising activities throughout last year. Space for parking is still very limited so, in spite of the new entrance, we are not in a position to allow pick up/drop off of students inside school grounds for health & safety reasons.

Data projectors have been installed in all classrooms as a result of a Dept. of Communications & Energy grant to extend the use of broadband which was given to 78 primary & post-primary schools last year. Twenty nine laptops and a laptop-charging trolley were allocated to the school also. In the last few days the DES has announced further funding for all second level schools to enhance ICT provision. We look forward to purchasing extra computer equipment and software with this grant.

Photos from the Day

Swine Flu Instructions

HSE logo HPSC_logo

Frequently asked questions: Influenza (flu) information for parents

Seasonal influenza 2010-2011

Version 1.0 6th January 2011

The following advice is for parents of children in all educational institutions, including crèches, childcare, schools, and third level institutions. Unless otherwise mentioned ‘educational institution’ applies to all of the above.

We are now experiencing our annual flu season and, as had been expected, this year the predominant flu virus is the H1N1 virus also known as swine flu. We are now seeing a major rise in people attending GPs and GP out of hours services with flu like illnesses.

Is influenza dangerous?

Most people infected with the influenza virus have a mild to moderate illness, but some have more severe illness.
What are the symptoms of influenza?
The symptoms of flu include:

Temperature over 38 ºC/100.4 ºF that begins suddenly and some of the following:

Dry cough
Sore throat
Muscle aches and pains
Headache
Runny nose
Severe weakness and fatigue
Vomiting/diarrhoea (in some cases)

What are the differences between influenza and the common cold?
It can sometimes be difficult to distinguish between the common cold and flu. The main difference is that the symptoms of influenza come on rapidly and are typically accompanied by muscle aches and a fever. The common cold has a more gradual onset and is associated with a runny nose and sneezing. For a full list of differences between influenza and the common cold, please see the table below.

Symptoms	Influenza	Common Cold
Onset	Sudden	Slow
Fever	Characteristically High (≥38oC or 100oF)	Rare
Headache	Prominent	Rare
General aches and pains	Usual, often severe	Rare
Fatigue, weakness	Can be prolonged for a number of weeks	Quite mild
Extreme exhaustion	Early and prominent	Never
Runny nose	Common	Common
Sneezing	Common	Usual
Sore throat	Common	Common
Cough	Common, can be severe	Mild to moderate, hacking cough
Diarrhoea, vomiting	Sometimes	Not associated with the common cold in adults

How does influenza spread?

Flu virus spreads from person to person mainly through the coughing or sneezing of a sick person. Flu virus may also be spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with the virus (for example a tissue or door handle touched by the infected person) and then touches his or her eyes, nose or mouth.

What should I do as a parent?

Two important actions to protect your family

Be aware of the symptoms of flu-like illness and know where to seek medical care. See below.
Teach your children the following good health habits to help stop the spread of germs:
Teach your children to cover their mouth and nose with a paper tissue when coughing or sneezing. If no tissue is available they should cough or sneeze into the inside of their elbow. Be sure to set a good example by doing this yourself.
Teach your children to use a tissue only once and dispose of it quickly and carefully (a dustbin is fine).
Teach your children to wash their hands frequently with soap and water. Be sure to set a good example by doing this yourself. If they do not have access to hand washing facilities give them alcohol hand gel to use.
Teach your children to avoid touching their eyes, nose and mouth.
Teach your children to stay at least 1 metre/3 feet away from people who are sick.
Children who are sick should always stay home from the school. If they have influenza they should stay away from the educational institution for 7 days from the onset of symptoms.
Wash hard surfaces such as kitchen worktops, door handles, etc with a normal household cleaner as the virus can live on these surfaces. Do this frequently.

What should I do if my child gets sick?
If your child gets sick with a flu-like illness as described above you should:

Keep your child at home and away from others as much as is possible to avoid spreading infection to others. If they are sick with flu they should stay home for 7 days from the onset of symptoms.
Give your child simple anti-fever medication such as paracetamol or ibuprofen (NB aspirin should NOT be given to children under 16 years of age) and ensure they drink plenty of fluids.
If you think your child needs to see the GP because they have severe symptoms, remember to ring your GP first.

If your child is in a high risk group for complications of flu contact your GP, even if their symptoms are mild (High risk groups include people with: chronic lung, heart, kidney, liver, or neurological disease; immunosuppression (whether caused by disease or treatment); diabetes mellitus; people aged 65 years and older; children <2 years; people on medication for asthma, severely obese people (BMI ≥40), pregnant women and people with haemoglobinopathies)

Teach your child good health habits, as above.
Ensure that all household surfaces that are touched by hands are kept clean, especially bedside tables, surfaces in bathrooms and kitchens and children’s toys. Such surfaces should be wiped regularly with a household disinfectant according to directions on the product label.

Should educational institutions be doing anything to prevent the spread of influenza?

Yes, like parents, educational institutions should encourage and facilitate everyday actions that can help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses like flu including:

Children should cover their mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. If no tissue is available they should cough or sneeze into the inside of their elbow. Children should use a tissue only once and dispose of it quickly and carefully (a bin is fine). This is known as respiratory etiquette.
Children should wash their hands frequently with soap and water. Where soap and water is not readily available alcohol based hand gel can be used.
Children should avoid touching their eyes, nose and mouth.
Wash hard surfaces such as kitchen worktops, door handles, etc frequently with a normal household cleaner as the virus can live on these.

Educational institutions should put up posters on respiratory etiquette and hand hygiene and ensure that children have access to suitable hand washing facilities. Posters can be found on the HPSC website as indicated below.

Is there a vaccine against seasonal influenza?

A vaccine is an injection which prevents a person getting a particular disease. It works by strengthening the body’s immune system. The vaccine must be given before the person is infected with the disease.
The flu vaccine for the 2010-2011 influenza season covers the strains of flu that are currently known to be circulating in Ireland, including pandemic (H1N1) 2009 (swine flu) which is the predominant strain of influenza circulating at present. Vaccination is recommended for people at high risk of complications.

Who are the high risk groups that should receive seasonal influenza vaccine?

1.All those 65 years and older.
2. Adults and children over 6 months of age with any of the following: chronic illness requiring regular follow up (e.g. chronic respiratory disease including cystic fibrosis, moderate or severe asthma, chronic heart disease, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, chronic neurological disease, diabetes mellitus, haemoglobinopathies, chronic renal disease, chronic liver disease, chronic neurological disease including multiple sclerosis, hereditary and degenerative disorders of the central nervous system etc).
3. Pregnant women and women up to 6 weeks post birth who are not in a medically at risk group and who have not already received pandemic (H1N1) 2009 vaccine (can be given at any stage of pregnancy). Pregnant women in medical risk groups should receive this year’s seasonal influenza vaccine whether or not they received pandemic influenza vaccine.
4. Those who are immunosuppressed due to disease or treatment including those with missing or non-functioning spleens.
5. Children and teenagers on long-term aspirin therapy.
6. Children with any condition (e.g. cognitive dysfunction, spinal cord injury, seizure disorder, or other neuromuscular disorder) that can compromise respiratory function, especially those attending special schools/ day centres.
7. Those with morbid obesity i.e. Body Mass Index ≥ 40.
8. Residents of nursing homes, old peoples’ homes and other long stay facilities.
9. Healthcare staff including those on clinical placement. All pregnant health care workers should be encouraged to get the seasonal flu vaccine (even if they received the pandemic vaccine last year).
10. Carers who have direct patient contact.

Are there medicines to treat influenza?

Yes, there are medicines known as anti-virals that can be used to treat flu. However, as most cases of influenza will be mild, anti-viral treatment will only be necessary in a small proportion of cases. Doctors will assess each case but the following groups are the ones most likely to require treatment with anti-virals:
• Patients who appear to have severe symptoms or
• Patients who are in defined high risk groups as above.

Further information

Posters:
http://www.ndsc.ie/hpsc/A-Z/Gastroenteric/Handwashing/Posters/
http://www.hpsc.ie/hpsc/A-Z/Respiratory/Influenza/SeasonalInfluenza/Infectioncontroladvice/File,3599,en.pdf

Guidance on seasonal influenza:
http://www.hpsc.ie/hpsc/A-Z/Respiratory/Influenza/SeasonalInfluenza/

FEBRUARY 2011

On February 1st, as has been the tradition in St. Mary's for many years, the First Years had their retreat. The day began with an Assembly which included a presentation of the history of St. Brigid and her contribution to the Irish people. Following this all were dispatched to classrooms for various activities such as sacred dance, art and creativity and meditation. Then at mid-day all First years returned to the Assembly hall for the traiditonal making of St. Brigid's crosses. Following lunch, the meitheal team had a session with each of their classes and the day concluded with Mass in the Assembly Hall.

First years making St. Brigid's crosses on 1st February 2011

St. Mary's Students win Art Awards

Seven students from st. Mary's were prize winners in the Kildare Youth Services Christmas e-card art competition 2011.

Kildare Youth Services recently held a prize giving ceremony in St. Mary's

Congratulations to the prize winning students and to all the students who entered the competition.

Special thank you to Ms. Burke and Ms. Doyle who supported and encouraged their students to enter the competition.

WINNERS IN KYS CHRISTMAS E-CARD ART COMPETITION