Safer Internet day celebrated in style in Presentation Secondary school, Castleisland
Workshop: Abril Calzado,Sarah Mason, Amie Pidgeon, Sophie Walsh
Safer Internet day is globally celebrated to promote the safe and positive use of digital technology amongst young people and this year’s theme was “Together for a Better Internet”. It is promoted in Ireland by Webwise, an online tool for teachers, parents and students to assist with online safety. The campaign was led, in Presentation, by Safer Internet Ambassadors Ava Flaherty and Cáit O Mahony.
The pair are no strangers to Webwise as they are members of the Webwise Youth Panel, representing young people’s views on the issues that affect them online. During this year’s workshops, Cáit and Ava shared very valuable information with her peers about the dangers lurking online and how to avoid them. All students were delighted to engage in activities which highlighted the dangers, encouraged each student to think about their own online behaviour and debate the issues surrounding the use of the internet, in particular social media. Online sharing of pictures, cyber bullying and peer pressure were also covered in the workshop.
Ava and Cáit also designed a workshop specifically for Primary school pupils which was presented to 5th and 6th pupils in Muire gan Smál primary school.
“Apart from the peer led workshops, Sergeant Tim O Keeffe and Garda Aidan O Mahony provided valuable information to students on Internet safety and what to do if issues arise.” according to Annette Leen, ICT coordinator.
“Safer Internet day in Presentation is going from strength to strength each year due to the dedication and leadership skills of our students. We are looking forward to next year’s Safer Internet Day already!
 Back row L to R: Cáit O Mahony, Orlaith Buckley, Katie Walsh, Jennifer Culloty, Aoibhe Hickey, Zara O Connor, Aine Murphy, Ava Flaherty Front row L to R: Aoife O Leary, Ciara Cahill, Clodagh Coffey,Sophie Walsh |
 Garda Aidan O Mahony, Cáit O Mahony, Ava Flaherty, Sergeant Tim O Keeffe |
Presentation Secondary and St. Patrick’s Talent Show January 2020
Aisling Shire, Hanna Herlihy, Emma Buckley, Caoimhe Dairo
Presentation and St. Patrick’s Secondary school students hosted their annual talent show in a packed Presentation school hall on Thursday 30th January. Many students made their debut as singers, dancers, actors, poets and musicians on stage and are already talking about next year’s show.
Presenters, Kate O Connor and Darragh Kelly, both TY students, introduced all the acts with professionalism and panache and all the painstaking practice certainly paid off for all concerned.
The show opened with a traditional Rambling House Scene which is going from strength to strength every year. Our talented students from both schools put in a lot of practice to put together a great production of traditional music, song and dance, entertaining the “Bean agus Fear an tí” as the enthusiastic audience clapped along.
The students promised variety in abundance and they didn’t disappoint; with stellar performances from solo singers, Hannah Herlihy, Cillian Butler, Micheál Nix, April O’Connor, Alannah O’Leary and Siobhan Brosnan and 1st year`s rendition of the “Cup Song”. Accompanied by our accomplished musicians, Eibhlís Brosnan and Kelly Ann Nix on keyboard, Alannah O Leary, Micheál Nix, Padraig Heffernan and Jack McCrohan on guitar and Ciarán Crowley on accordion and spoons!
This year`s show had a particularly international theme with the 1st and 2nd year students performing a song and dance routine to the French song “Tous les Garcons” and the Spanish song “Vivir mi vida”. Antonella Vidakovic also delighted us with a Croatian Majorette number!
A great variety of dances were performed by girls from 1st to 3rd year including modern hip-hop, country & western, Rock `n Roll from the musical Grease and Sophie Walsh captivating us with her gracious ballet “Cinderella”. Featuring strongly this year across all year groups from 1st to 6th year, were our talented local Irish dancers performing the Brush dance, Polkas and an originally choreographed finale dance that put Riverdance to shame, all expertly choregraphed by Mrs Mary Philpot.
There was story-telling in many forms including Katelyn Curtin recounting a very amusing story about an Iomadán and his hat, poetry renditions of The Chewing Gum and Playground blues from the 1st Year boys and Ian O`Neill`s moving Tribute to Leonard Cohen. While showing off their acting skills, 3rd year and TY students from both schools, filled the hall with laughter performing comical sketches based on the popular TV shows, Dancing with the stars, Family Fortunes and Brooklyn 99.
The show came to a close with all students returning to the stage to sing out Jason Mraz`s “Have it all” Principals Ms. Katherina Broderick and Mr. Denis O’Donovan thanked all students and teachers involved for making the sell-out show a resounding success. Well done to all and don`t forget to book your tickets on time for next years’ performance!
 Katelyn Curtin |
 Alannah O’Leary and April O’Connor |
 Eibhlis Brosnan on the harp |
 Scenes from the Rambeling House |