AIB Build a Bank Challenge – St Mary’s Macroom through to All Ireland
Six Transition Year students from St Mary’s Secondary School – Caoimhe Moynihan, Hanna Donovan, Miriam Murnane, Katie Sheehan, Jessica Buckley and Savannah Hickey with their teacher Arlene O Donoghue and Student Officer Eleanor Hickey will travel to the RDS in Dublin on the 21st of March to compete in the All Ireland of the AIB Build a Bank Challenge.
The girls took part in The Regional Final of the competition in Cork on the 5th of February where they delivered their 4 minute winning presentation on stage to all of the students, bank officials and teachers present and to a team of 3 judges from the AIB. The girls fought off very strong competition, were successful and have secured a place in the National Final.
The AIB Build a Bank Challenge sees a team of six students – selected to set up and manage a bank in the school, getting involved in everything from sourcing new customers and opening AIB accounts to encouraging regular savings and exploring new ways to bank, such as AIB Phone & Internet Banking. St Mary’s Bank this year is based around a Galaxy theme, with their Slogan – “Taking your Savings out of this World!”.
The Build a Bank programme links directly to the Business Curriculum and is an excellent, practical preparation for learning about running a business. Business Teacher Arlene O Donoghue feels that “taking part in this competition is extremely beneficial to the students as they learn : Presentation Skills, Business Plan Development, Marketing Techniques, Leadership and Teamwork, Digital Innovation, Customer Relationship Management, Interview Experience and Finance education. Having a saving facility in the school is a huge benefit to the entire student body as having a bank on site will introduce students to the world of banking and encourage them to plan for their future by developing sound money management skills.” Now in its 16th year, this competition has gone from strength to strength. Congratulations and best of luck to all involved!!!
Bar Council of Ireland
Anna O’Leary, a 4th year student at St. Mary’s, spent a week in the Four Courts Dublin, shadowing barristers with the Bar Council of Ireland.
Transition Year Students
A retreat for Transition Year students in Macroom town took place on Wednesday morning, 31st January, in the Castle Hotel. The speakers were Fionnbarr Walsh, father of the late Donal Walsh from Blennerville and Mrs. Colette Wolfe, mother of Leanne Wolfe who passed away some years ago from being bullied online. Later that evening, Mrs. Wolfe addressed the parents of the three secondary schools in the town.
PsychSlam
Sarah Wynroe, Hanna O ‘Donovan, Nicole O ‘Connor, Erin Leahy, MaryAnn O’Shea and Kate Murray presented their project entitled “Are schools killing creativity?” for a competition in the Psychology Dept. in UCC on Monday 5th February. They won the “Audience Choice 2018” trophy. The delivered their presentation using the Pecha Kucha model. Well done to all of them.
Drive for Life
Pat McNeely of Bayside Services provided a one day 4th year programme on Road Safety. He spoke to them on the impact of different speeds and also showed video clips of serious road accidents to make them aware of road safety. He went through the Driver Theory Tests with them and we hope they will benefit greatly from this programme when they take to the roads themselves.
St. Brigid’s Cross
Daltaí Gaeilge Scoil Mhuire, Clochar na Trócaire, Mhaigh Chromtha ag déanamh Crois Bhríde chun céiliúradh a dhéanamh ar bhanéarlamh na hÉireann ar an gcéad lá den Earrach
St Brigid’s Day is celebrated on the 1st February each year. St. Brigid is renowned for her hospitality, alms giving and care of the sick. This year in St. Mary’s, the Irish teachers helped celebrate St. Brigid’s Day by making crosses in the traditional manner out of rushes. The girls thoroughly enjoyed the experience.