ST. COLMCILLE’S COMMUNITY SCHOOL NEWS

A Word From The Principal
In welcoming back to school all of our students and staff both new and existing we acknowledge the huge achievement by all concerned of reaching the significant milestone of completing all year groups in the school. For the first time since its opening in 2000 St. Colmcille's C.S. has students in all years and is preparing 6th years to sit the leaving cert in June '05 for the first time in the school's history. We wish them and all our existing students every success in the year ahead and we look forward to both an enjoyable and productive year ahead. I would like to extend a special welcome to our new 1st year students all of whom have settled in so well and also our new members of staff whose talents have already come to the fore in both the curricular and extra curricular life of the school. I look forward to sharing with you the many and varied successes of our school throughout the year here in the Knocklyon News.

Green School Flag Committee
It was with tremendous pride that the 'Green School Flag Committee', a cohort of over twenty students and staff representative of our school community, raised the 'Green Schools Flag' last Friday, the 28th of May. Thus, becoming only the second post primary school in South County Dublin to achieve this award. Dignitaries who attended the momentous occasion included the Mayor of South County Dublin, Máire Ardagh, and our liaison from South Dublin County Council, Ann Marie Fitzpatrick and the chairperson of the school's board of management, Dr. Vincent Kenny.

It has been a long and sometimes arduous journey over the last three years, but the success of the committee can be attributed to the sheer hard work and dedication of the committee members who are to be seen on a daily basis gathering and recycling the vast amount of paper, cardboard, aluminium cans and plastic bottles generated by our school populous. As well as successfully implementing an anti-litter campaign last year and highlighting the need to 'Reduce, Reuse and Recycle' as much of our waste as possible the committee have, more importantly, helped to change
the mindset of many in our school community. It is quite fortuitous that Ballymount Civic Amenity

Centre is only a ten-minute drive away in Cookstown Industrial Estate. It is here that we
recycle all of the scrap metal and wood from our practical rooms, not to mention the tin boxes brought in by many students after the Christmas period. Organic materials from the staff room and the home economics department are composted. Most of the paper used in the school is made from 100% recyclable materials and both students and teachers are encouraged to be vigilant when it comes to paper consumption, especially during exams. All of the toner cartridges used in the photocopiers are returned to the Toshiba plant in the industrial estate near the Square, and ink cartridges are returned to their manufacturers for reuse. Rebatt have also provided us with a battery recycling box, which members of the public are more than welcome to use.

The school tuck shop has also supported the efforts of the G.S.F.C. As well as promoting a healthy eating policy they have reduced the number of drinks products available that are sold in plastic containers. Although much of the committee's work may sometimes go unseen the
management of our school community ensure that it never goes unacknowledged and they have supported all G.S.F.C initiatives from the outset.

Together, with the support of the parents, they have funded the cost of our impressive new flagpoles and the numerous frames for the anti-litter posters that adorn the walls of our building. This has very much been a whole school initiative and without the support of students, staff and parents the G.F.S.C would not be the success it is today. We look forward to initiating our campaign to conserve energy in September in the hope of securing a second Green School Flag in two years. So, it is time to search out those thermals you recycled all those years ago! Once again a big thank you to all those who continue to support our efforts to heighten environmental awareness in the hope that future generations will be able to enjoy The Day After Tomorrow!
(G.S.F.C co-coordinator, Phil Hayden.)

Our Prefects
Last June, our present sixth years along with the staff elected 7 prefects for the academic year 2004-2005. They will take on different responsibilities and duties throughout the school during the year and help make the school a better place. The prefects are: Graham Byrne, Laura McCarthy, Emma Farrelly, Garvin McEvoy, Kylie Moynagh, David Smyth and Jacqueline Sweeney. From this group David Smyth is Head Boy and Kylie Moynagh is Head Girl. The prefects will work until Easter this year when a new batch will be elected from our present 5th Year Group. From now on, our prefects will run from Easter to Easter. We are looking forward to working with them.