TY Friday Night Takeaway!

Ms O’Brien’s TY Home Economics class made amazing enchiladas today for a Friday Night Takeaway.

Looks better than a spice bag!

First Year Hockey Blitz!

First year students took part in a hockey blitz today at the astroturf. TY GAA Future Leaders students coached and reffed the game as part of their GAA Future Leader module with Mr Cronin.

Well done to all involved!

SHSS Alumnae Link - Paulina Karcz

Welcome to SHSS Alumnae Link!

This is where we connect with past pupils and find out what they’re up to now.

This week we linked with Paulina Karcz who graduated in 2016.

Name and Position:

Paulina Karcz, Scientist in Bio Therapeutic Development API in Janssen Sciences Ireland.

Lives:

Cork and Clonakilty (in the middle of nowhere).

Best memory of Sacred Heart:

Wow I don’t think there is one I can pick! I loved the school experience and everything that came with it: making lifelong friends, learning, taking part in all the various projects and musicals. TY was probably one of my favourite years though. The trip away with school to Cappanalea was 100% one of my favourite memories. Specifically hanging upside down on a 30 foot abseil (Mom went a little pale at this news!). Another one was the musical Voulez Vous (Mamma Mia 1) where we got to perform together as a year and explore every side of the production from art and creating the sets to dressing up on the nights and being absolutely covered in fake tan! From those experiences alone I became so close to so many different people that I hadn’t connected with in the previous years. Many remain my closest friends still and I am always so thankful for those memories!

Another one was our 6th Year graduation where we all came together as a year for the last time. The tears were so bittersweet. Looking back on how much we achieved in the six years and the friendships we made, it is something that was absolutely priceless! Oh, and walking out of that last LC exam like a champ! That was also a good one!

What were your favourite classes?

I loved English, Technology and Art. Anything creative always sparked my interest and still does, but I had an equal love for Biology which I pursued in my college career! 

Tell us about your career progression to date:

I was interested in creative and performing arts ,as well as science , and this was a huge struggle (sorry Ms. Sexton), but I ended up pursuing an Undergraduate in BSc Biological and Chemical Sciences where I specialised in Microbiology in UCC. I graduated in 2020 (what a year that was).

I decided to continue my education immediately and undertook MSc in Molecular Cell Biology and Bio-Innovations which combines both science and business aspect of pharmaceutical industry. The level of difficulty was something to adjust to but it was so worth it in every aspect, despite doing it all remotely because of the pandemic.

I am currently finishing my thesis while working in Janssen Sciences Ireland, a family company of Johnson&Johnson where I support different roles in the lab. 

If you weren’t in the job you have, what would you be doing?

Honestly? Probably travelling! I know myself that if I don’t complete the degrees now, I would struggle to return. Although I love academia, I caught the travel bug and it doesn’t seem to be going away!

Advice you would give your teenage self:

Haha there is lots, but stop trying to control things you have no control over. It is a waste of energy you could be putting into yourself and your development. It will stand to you in the long run!

Favourite quote or motto?

“I don’t even have a pla”- Phoebe Buffay 

and 

“You can achieve anything you want in life, IF you are willing to work hard enough to get it”

Huge thanks to Paulina for taking the time to answer our questions.

See you soon for the next instalment of SHSS Alumnae Link.

Parents/Guardians and Students Information Evening (6th Year), Wednesday 20th at 7pm

An information evening for Parents/Guardians and students of 6th year will take place on Wednesday 20th of October at 7pm via Google Meet. A link for the presentations will be shared with your daughter in advance of the meeting.

2nd Year Basketball Blitz!

There was an exciting 2nd year basketball blitz in the gym today, organised by the GAA Future Leader TY students. The teams were named after Irish counties: Cork, Limerick, Armagh, Dublin, Wexford and Donegal. Limerick won by one point.

Thanks to Mr Cronin, Mr Browne and the TYs involved.

5 weeks to 5km challenge. Run 2 is on this Friday at lunch time.

The 5 weeks to 5km challenge takes place this Friday again with the 2nd of 5 runs taking place. The event will culminate in a 5kn run in November. Students who wish to participate in this run need to run 3 out of the 5 Friday practice/training runs in order to qualify. So bring in your gear and lets get moving!

Leaving Cert Team Building Day

Leaving Cert students went to Ballyhass Adventure Centre today as part of a team building exercise. They had fun at the inflatable water park, practised archery, and even went swimming. They certainly embraced the outdoors.

Thanks to Ms Russell and Ms O’Neill.

Virtual open Evening & First Year Enrolment 2022-2023, Thursday 4th of November.

Calling all 6th class students! A virtual open evening will take place on Thursday November 4th, for prospective first year students wishing to enrol at Sacred Heart Secondary school, 2022-2023. There is a requirement for pre-registration for the open evening. Please see the link below and complete the required fields. Once completed and submitted you will receive your link to join the virtual open evening. 

https://sacredheartclonakilty.ie/virtual-open-night-registration 

Senior Cycle History Tour

Sacred Heart Senior Cycle History students enjoyed a day out of the classroom to explore local events during the War Of Independence/Civil War period. On this beautiful autumnal morning, the budding historians went to the Micheal Collins Centre first, a museum which is run by the Crowley family. What followed was an emotional and thought provoking account of the events that transpired approximately 100 years ago. The students were very impressed with the collection of artefacts on display.

From there, the girls travelled to Rosscarbery to view the scene of an IRA ambush on the RIC station and witnessed the scorch marks that still remain on the footpath from grenade explosions. After a brief visit to the grave of Michael Collins’s mother, the group headed for Kilmichael to observe the scene of the famous ambush just over 100 years ago.

The last stop was at Béal na Bláth where all assembled were provided with a lecture on the scene of The Big Fella’s demise. We would like to thank Tim Crowley, a man who is truly passionate about this époque of Irish history, for such an enjoyable and informative day out. Huge thanks to Mr Daly also.

Study Skills workshop on Learning to Learn for all 2nd and 3rd year pupils

All 2nd and 3rd year students will receive a study skills workshop on learning to learn from Ms. Sexton on Tuesday 12th and Wednesday 13th of October.

First Year Visual Art Design

First year students are creating covers for their sketchbooks as part of their Visual Art Design Strand. These students pictured are from the 1.D class.
Well done to all for your creativity and interesting use of media!

SHSS Weekly Roundup - October 8th 2021

SHSS WEEKLY ROUNDUP - October 8th 2021

2 weeks to MIDTERM! 

Just think! No alarms in the morning, no uniform, no packed lunches, no Friday song (Oh, wait a second! We LIKE the Friday song). Anyway, you get the picture. 

FREEDOM. 

Well done to the Junior Camogie team who were victorious this week against Colaiste Cholm. Commiserations to the Senior team who lost by one point against Coachford on a wet Wednesday. Bravo to all who auditioned for Sister Act, the SHSS musical this year. Fingers crossed!

Et voilà, a roundup of the week at SHSS.

Wettest day of the week: The day of the Senior Camogie match. Ah, stop! It was lashing. 

Best news of the week : Only TWO weeks to Midterm! Yahoo! 

Reminder of the week: Halloween Dress Up Friday is on 22nd October for staff and students. There will be GREAT PRIZES! Go all out, girls! Let’s have some fun.

Heroes of the week: Those who went on a ‘5 weeks to 5km’  run at lunchtime on Friday. After a long, busy, exhausting week at school, they put on their runners and headed off. 

Respect ✊ 

Charmed of the week: Those who went on the outdoor fifth year retreat on the Fuchsia Walk and it didn’t rain! Blue skies and sunshine #blessed 

Highlight of the week: Holly Cairns TD coming to SHSS to record a podcast. Check it out when it’s released. Inspiring stuff. 

#moremná

Cool moment of the week: The first ever SHSS podcast went live on Monday! Featuring Cllr Gillian Coughlan, the Mayor of the County of Cork, it’s on Spotify and Apple Podcasts now!

Artists of the week: First year Art students with their gorgeous sketchbooks. 

Wait a second, did I mention that MIDTERM IS ONLY TWO WEEKS AWAY?

See you next week for the next instalment of SHSS Weekly Roundup. Have a wonderful weekend!

SHSS Alumnae Link - Mrs Noreen Minihan

Welcome to a special edition of SHSS Alumnae Link!

This week, in honour of Sacred Heart’s 80th anniversary, we connected with Mrs Noreen Minihan who graduated in 1949.

Name and position:

Mrs Noreen Minihan (née Lenehan), retired Principal of St Joseph’s Infant Boys’ School, President of Tidy Towns, founding member of the Clonakilty Convent of Mercy Past Pupils’ Union, and philanthropist.

Lives:

Clonakilty. 

Tell us about yourself: 

I was born on Pearse Street in Clonakilty, upstairs over where Betty Brosnan’s café is now. My mother’s name was Betty Brosnan. My father died when I was 4 months old. He was one of  the first guards to come to Clonakilty in 1923, just after Irish Independence. The barracks that time was where Crowley’s chemist shop is now, because the main barracks had been destroyed in the Troubles. When I was seven, my mother married again. I went on to have two sisters and three brothers. One sister died as a baby, and the other married a man in the Royal Navy and was stationed in Hong Kong. She came back to Clonakilty when she was pregnant with her second child, but died the day after it was born. I took the eldest - the little girl who was a year and nine months - and I thought I’d have her for a long time, but when the father remarried, he took her back. I found that very hard.  We’re close now though. 

I have six of my own: three boys and three girls. They’re lovely. As the saying goes, they’re very fond of you!

Leonora, the eldest, is teaching in Paris. Patrick lives outside Clonakilty. He was in the bank, then he retired and he does consultancy now. John did IT. Karen practised law for ten years and then changed course and moved to Schull. She’s now involved in writing and drama. 

Miriam is an ophthalmologist in London and Michael did IT.

I have sixteen grandchildren and we’re very close. The whole lot of us have gone on holidays together. One time, we went to a huge house in Provence with a swimming pool. The whole lot came: my children and grandchildren. It was gorgeous. I loved it. Another year we went to Carcassonne.

My husband, Michael, got sick in 2008. We had just come back from Paris. He went in to look at a match on the television while I was ironing. Then, he went up to bed, and when I went up to put things in the hot press, he called me and said he had a ferocious pain in his head.  It turned out to be an aneurysm. He lived for just over two years afterwards in the hospital here. They were more than fantastic.  I used to go up twice a day and I’d help to feed him: in the morning and the evening. I value that time now. It was great to be with him. We celebrated our 50th anniversary party in 2009. It was amazing. I said we weren’t having any 50th anniversary because I would hate photographs with that dull look in his eye. Then, one evening I was babysitting for my son, John. I had been above that day in the hospital, and found Michael looking great. So,  I got out the phone and I rang all over the place. I called Abacus Catering, and the following Saturday we had Mass and a lovely party above in the hospital. Crowds of friends came and we got lovely photographs, and his eyes were as clear as could be.

Tell us about your schooldays:

I attended the Convent of Mercy Primary School.  We used to finish in mid-July for the summer. Classes ended at the end of June, but we would stay on for two weeks learning algebra and geometry with the nuns. I entered first year at SHSS in 1945 and graduated in 1949. Some of the nuns there at the time were Sr Benedicta, Mother Brendan, Sr Genevieve, Sr Conleth, and Sr Eugenius. There were also lay teachers: Ms Door and Ms Gould, and Ms Purcell. Ms Gould and Ms Purcell became nuns afterwards. They were well into their forties when they entered. 

Sr Benedicta was very dominant - a real disciplinarian, but had the children’s interest at heart.

 When I was at school, there was Sister Lorenza and she used to run the Children of Mary. When we were about sixteen or seventeen, we were made Children of the Angels and we got a green ribbon. Then in our final year of school, we were made Children of Mary. Every Sunday, after 10am Mass, there was a meeting here at the convent and we’d have prayers and instruction. Great friendships were made.  

During the month of May, the whole school would start where the primary school is now and go down to the gate, then go up and around the convent grounds for the May Procession.We’d say the Rosary, sing hymns, and stop above at the graveyard and pray for the dead. All the hymns were to Our Lady.

I did step-dancing when I was young and I kept it up when I was a teenager. So, if there was a concert I’d be invited to step-dance. There would be small concerts, all the way from Ballinascarthy to Kenmare. There was a Father McCarthy here in Clon. One time, he was running a concert in Kenmare, and he wanted people from Clonakilty to go. I went down along with Denis Twomey, a brilliant pianist from Skibbereen,  and a singer called Michael. I can’t recall his surname.  Anyway, Michael had the most gorgeous voice and Denis would play the piano. When Michael sang ‘Sparkling Eyes’ and Denis played the piano, nothing else mattered only to listen to them!

Best memory of school:

I  enjoyed being at school. I loved the kindness of the nuns, particularly Sister Brendan. 

Sr Brendan knew how busy my mother was in the shop so she suggested, in my Leaving Certificate year,  to bring a second lunch. Then, when the other girls went home at 4pm, I stayed on. Sr Malachy from the kitchen made me a cup of tea, I had my second lunch and I studied until 6pm. She knew that Mammy would be looking for me, to do messages or to go to the creamery for butter. I’d be called on to help in the shop.  The nuns wanted me to have an education. They were determined that their girls would have a job. They never stopped. They had lots of contacts, maybe in other convents, and the three jobs they always wanted were teaching, nursing and the civil service. Some of the girls left after the Junior Cert, some went to England to do nursing. 

I would hope that each girl in the school finds the job that they like best. It’s a long life and it’s great to have a job that you like and look forward to.

Tell us about your career progression to date:

I went to Mary Immaculate Training College in Limerick in 1949 to become a primary teacher. At that time of course not everybody had a phone at home so my grandmother went down to the local shop and used the phone to ring me to say that there was a job going out the country:  in Knockskeagh. That time you were eighteen going on thirteen, so I said, ‘What do you think, Nana?’ and she said, ‘I’d take it.’

So, when I finished my training, I started my teaching career in Knockskeagh. I spent four and a half years there, cycling to school each morning. I spent the next forty years teaching in the boys’ school: Scoil na mBuachailli. At that time it was an old school, and I had 56 boys in the class - Senior and Junior Infants together. I had seating for 38 and the rest sat on the floor, and they alternated. They all got on very well. Then we moved over to the present school and in 1996, the senior boys joined on to the back of our school. It’s all one now. 

For almost forty years, I prepared the boys for First Holy Communion. It was a great privilege and I loved it.  

I actually taught for 45 years. When I retired from teaching, I was asked by the diocese to go around visiting schools as a ‘Diocesan Visitor’. We called ourselves ‘The God Squad’. My daughter is married over in Paris and one year, Michael and I were over in Charles de Gaulle airport, showing our passports, and there was a moving stairs with a big line of people and next thing I heard, out of the blue, ‘Mam, Mam! Look at the holy lady!’. You can’t go anywhere!

I loved my job. I retired in 1996. I cried every week that last year, but I wasn’t long retired when a local priest asked me to sub in Kilmeen school, and I taught all the time until 2008 when my husband got sick. It was great to be a sub because if a child came in and said that there was a milk carton down the toilet, I’d say: Tell the Master! It wasn’t my problem. That’s why I loved it so much.

 What does Sacred Heart mean to you? 

I was always involved with the convent in general. In 1968, Mrs McCarthy decided that we start a Past Pupils’ Union.  Bunty O’ Regan was the first President and I was the Vice President. 

From then on we organised dances and various activities and lectures, as it was a very energetic Past Pupils’ Union. For instance, the present Flower Club started with flower demonstrations. We brought people out from Bandon and they showed us how to arrange flowers. Sheila Gilbert was very involved. We brought a lady called Cliona Clayton down from Cork and did house furnishings. We ran fashion shows. We gave all the funds to the school or else we bought something for the school. We did a lot of fundraising that time.

We also started the Past Pupils’ Union in Cork. They’re stronger than us now and they have a meeting every year. We go up to it. Ms Brosnan goes up to it and she reports on what’s happening. Sr Benedicta, up to the time she got ill, never missed it.  

We also ran the Debs dances. They started around 1968/1969. The Debutantes were dressed all in white and it was beautiful. Michael Minihane and Jack Power would arrive from Skibbereen to take photos. 

What does Clonakilty mean to you?

Clonakilty is like one big family, it’s so easy to love it. It’s easy to get involved in things and I feel bad when I say no. I’m President of Tidy Towns. I help to run a Bingo on Monday nights for funds for the Community Hall. I’m one of the founding members of the PPU. I also run a lottery for the hospital for funds. I’m busy all the time really. Church Gate collections. The upkeep of the Grotto. Cork Simon Community. In 2013, the Clonakilty Convent of Mercy Past Pupils’ Union organised a very successful gathering at the new Convent of Mercy for the ‘Clonakilty 400’ celebrations. Every year, I write a long Christmas letter to my friends and relations all around the world. It’s handwritten, about 25 pages in length, with news of the family and of Clonakilty. I photocopy it and send it. Now, it has a huge readership.

Advice you’d give to students today:

1. Do your evening study, every single night. Then you’ll enjoy your exams because you’ll know the answers. I would really and truly say that. 

2. When you’re at school, look at the Leaving Cert students the day they get their results. See the joy and the sorrow, and remember that that will be you one day. 

Favourite motto:

If I can help somebody as I pass this way then my living will not be in vain.

Thank you to Mrs Minihan for taking the time to answer our questions. It was truly a pleasure to feature such an inspirational lady. 

See you soon for the next instalment of SHSS Alumnae Link.

Clonakilty 400 celebrations

SHSS Podcast with Holly Cairns TD

Holly Cairns TD kindly agreed to take part in the SHSS Podcast today. TY students, Cáit O’Mahony and Aoife Godwin Coombs, interviewed the Cork-South West TD about her political life, her future plans and her schooldays. Holly is the second guest in this new student-led podcast which will be available soon! Keep an eye on the SHSS social media #shsspodcast

SHSS Welcomes Holly Cairns TD

‘For things to change, you need to be able to vote and make noise’

Holly Cairns TD came back to Sacred Heart today to speak to fifth and sixth year students about the importance of voting. She urged the girls to register as soon as possible as every vote counts in an election. She told the students that they have ‘a voice’ and to ‘use it.’ She also added that ‘people power works’.

Her team, Tara and Richard, handed out forms for the girls to fill out.

SHSS would like to thank Holly for visiting us today.

5 weeks to 5km Friday Run gets started

Well done to all the students who started the “5 weeks to 5KM” challenge today at Lunch time. The event is open to all 1st,2nd,3rd and TY students and all students from those year groups are welcome. Next Friday is day 2 of 5, so keep it up. Thanks to Ms. Lonergan and Mr. Walsh for helping with the organisation.

TY students are all "cooked up"

The Friday morning culinary skills practical is always a favorite with the TY students. As Autumn gets its grip on our weather, one would have to go far to find a better antidote for the change in the season……………..……………..vegetable soup!

Junior Camogie team victorious in opening game.

Well done to Mr. Mulcahy and the Junior camogie team who recorded an emphatic victory over St. Mary’s of Mallow in the Junior camogie championship today in Ahamilla. It is wonderful to see the school games taking place once more. SHSS has a proud tradition of camogie and the interest and passion is there to see with the school entering no fewer than 3 Junior camogie teams into competitions this year!

Hard luck to the Senior Camogie team, who were narrowly defeated yesterday by 1 point after extra time, in the county championship. Hopefully they will have luck on their side in the Munster championship.

Fifth Year Retreat

Fifth years enjoyed a retreat yesterday around the Fuchsia Walk. The day was mostly fine for the girls as they walked the loop. It was a lovely break from the classroom.

Thanks to Ms Holland, Ms Harte, Ms Harrington and Ms Moloney. Also big thanks to Imelda.

5 Weeks to 5km Challenge is calling you!

SHSS has a challenge for you! As we emerge out of Covid and as our extra Curricular actvities get going once more, we have set a challenge for all our 1st, 2nd 3rd and TY students. Run 5km in 5 weeks time! It’s the 5 weeks to 5km challenge!

The 1st run will commence on Friday 8th of October at lunch time. That is, 12.25pm for 1st and 2nd years and 1.05pm for 3rd and Ty students. All students need to complete a minimum of 3 runs out of the 5 Friday lunchtime runs, in order to qualify for the final 5km run that will take pace in early November. There are Medals for all finishers! So get up and get going for the 5 weeks to 5km challenge!