Piper’s Hill College hosted our annual Awards Night on Wednesday, October 11th. One of the highlights of the school year, this is an evening which celebrates the many achievements of our students. As well as awards for attendance, academic excellence and sporting achievements, many students also received awards for their valuable contribution to the school, recognising their creativity and positivity through all aspects of school life.
We were also delighted to welcome back a number of last year’s sixth year cohort who achieved excellent results in their Leaving Certificate. We wish them all the best in their future studies!
Well done to all our worthy award winners and thank you to everyone who attended, making it an evening to remember!
Piper’s Hill College Student of the Year Award 2016/2017
1st Year: Ava Bowden – 1 Sherkin
2nd Year: Kaitlyn Miley – 2 Joyce
3rd Year: Conor Locke – 3 Hawthorn
3rd Year: Sean Gallagher – 3 Rowan
5th Year: Sebastian Chejniak – 5 Sperrin
5th Year Leaving Certificate Applied Programme: Kaylem Brady – 5 Brandon
Congratulations also to Fraser O’Byrne, the recipient of this year’s Ben Wallace Inspirational Award.
Friendship Week took place in Piper’s Hill College in October, focusing on building positive relationships amongst staff and students and providing lots of opportunities for students to be positive and caring towards each other. Every subject incorporated the theme of friendship in classes this week, from developing friendship charters in CSPE, to friendship poetry workshops in English, making friendship bracelets in Home Economics and team building exercises in P.E.
A Positivity Board featured in the foyer where staff and students could post positive and affirming comments about others in the school. A Bully4u workshop with first and fourth also facilitated discussion and exercises around bullying and strategies for prevention. First years partook in a prayer service as well as bonding activities to help develop and strengthen new friendships while senior students enjoyed a coffee morning on Friday in our school canteen. The week was a great success and no doubt new friendships have been formed!
Continuing our journey with the Edison Project, a Teaching and Learning Club has been established in Piper’s Hill College which hosted its inaugural meeting in September. Thirty members of staff attended, representing a wide range of subject areas and expertise, but one thing everyone had in common was an enthusiasm and openness to trying and experimenting with new teaching and learning strategies. As we trial new methodologies each month, both students and teachers will share their insights and adapt these entrepreneurial strategies for their own classrooms. 
In conjunction with our Teaching and Learning Club, eight members of staff are also involved in the TL21 programme. This is a workshop- based Continuing Professional Development programme for teachers and schools leaders that promotes innovative practice and professional learning communities with a focus on Action Research. We are now at the beginning of our two year journey and look forward to sharing best practice and collaborating with other schools in the locality.
This year has also seen the development of a Teaching and Learning Blog on our school website where teachers and students can record and discuss their ideas and experiences throughout the year. You can follow our journey at http://phcolteachingandlearningclub.weebly.com/
Piper’s Hill College proudly presents
We Will Rock You!
Preparation is now well underway for our Piper’s Hill College musical We Will Rock You, based around the timeless music of Queen. With only seven weeks left until the show, excitement is building amongst students and staff. Between set-building, choreography, rehearsals and production there is a great buzz around the school. This was most evidenced by the enthusiasm and dedication to 80’s Rock on our Non-Uniform Day, Friday 29th September!
We Will Rock You will take to the stage on Thursday and Friday, 23rd and 24th November. Be sure to get your tickets soon as it’s sure to be a sell-out show!
Skills @ Work provides students with a unique insight into the world of work. A number of volunteer employees from a local branch of State Street, a worldwide financial services company, are partnering Piper’s Hill College students on the 5th year LCVP programme. Over five sessions, students are provided with the opportunity to learn about the company and its business and to consider careers and further study options available to them when they finish school.
Sessions in the Skills @ Work programme involve a site visit, CV writing skills, mock interviews, Day in the Life insights and at the conclusion the class present their learnings.
In many of the companies involved in this programme, it is the HR department who conduct the mock interviews and this can be an invaluable experience for young students who would never have experienced preparing for and performing in a professional business interview.
For more information see Parents Area
Congratulations to Fifth Year student, Megan Callan who was presented with a full scholarship to study the Irish language during the summer term. Megan will attend the Bun an Inbhir Gael Linn Gaeltacht in Co Donegal. She was presented with her scholarship by the mayor of Kildare Mr Ivan Keatley, in the Council Chambers. Megan is looking forward to attending the summer college in County Donegal. Comhghairdeas leat Megan.
Pictured below is Megan receiving her scholarship from Mayor Ivan Keatley.
First year pupils attended the Gaeltacht in Ráth Cairn, Contae na Mí from the 5th-7th of May along with Ms. Hills, Mr. Sharkey and Mr. Fearon. Pupils were treated to lessons my native speakers and enjoyed a trip to causey farm. All the teachers want to thank the pupils and their parents for their exemplary behaviour and participation. Maith sibh.
Seven Leaving Certificate class groups graduated from Piper’s Hill College on May 25. Their time in the college was celebrated in style in front of a packed audience in the foyer. A rendition of the song, Let’s be Young, from the students backed by the school choir got proceedings underway. Habiba Omar welcomed everyone and spoke movingly about her and her fellow student’s time in school and the sense of joy and expectation everyone feels as they embark on their new lives. This was followed by opening prayer led by Father Alex Kockatt. Students displayed symbols of their experiences in school depicting sport, academic progression, friendship and shared dreams. A very touching Ceremony of Light followed, members of the school community, teachers, parents and students each delivered a reflection on their hopes and thoughts for all the graduates. Prayers were read by Ana Maria Matei, Amber Masters, Brian Boland, Fraser O Byrne, Megan Duggan, Sarah Ogedengbe, Alan Halpin, Niamh Winders, Faith Aboderin, and Victoria Osarbo. James Delahunt read the final reflection of the evening which was followed by the Offertory procession led by Josh Mc Connon. Father Alex brought this part of the evening to a close with a final blessing and prayer.
This year, graduation included award presentations and there were numerous awards given out under different categories such as, Valuable Contribution and Academic Achievement. The awards were presented by management and Year Heads who also gave a flavour of the year group under their care and the individual award recipients themselves.
The main award recipients were:
Piper’s Hill College Senior Sports Person 2016 – 2017, Conan Doyle
Student of the Year Award Traditional Leaving Certificate, 2016 – 2017, Fiona Behan
Student of the Year award Leaving Certificate Applied, 2016 – 2017, Emie Kisombe
Principals Award Piper’s Hill College, 2016 – 2017 Traditional Leaving Certificate, Aoife Byrne
Principals Award Piper’s Hill College, 2016 – 2017 Leaving Certificate Applied, Shane Byrne
Mr O Connor Principal concluded proceedings by thanking parents, guardians, teachers and all other staff in Piper’s Hill College who played a role in the education of the students who were now graduating. He reflected on the transient nature of second level education and the challenges that young people face in life. The night was drawn to a close with a special mention of thanks to the Religion and Music departments who played a huge role in making graduation evening very special.
Pictured: Shane Byrne and Mairead Fennessy
The 2016/17 Academic year has seen unprecedented success in the sporting and cultural arenas for Piper’s Hill College students. Among the notable successes this year were
- Crowned All Ireland Senior Girls Golf Champions
- Lauren Walsh was All Ireland Senior Golf Individual winner
- Boys U-14 Midlands league Basketball winners
- Girls U-14 Midlands League winners
- The U-16 Boys Basketball team won the Midland league and were runners-up in the All-Ireland final
- The boys U-17 Midlands Soccer winners
- Camogie U-16 League winners
- In GAA the U-18 boys won the South Leinster “C” League
- Regional Winners of Liam Moloney Junior debating trophy
The bar has been set high for our students next year as we anticipate another trophy leaden year!
L-R Photo Sean Gallagher( Debating),Daniel Kane ( U-14 Basketball), Jack Maguire (U-16 Basketball), Lauren Walsh( Golf, Irish international),Isabel Gorey (Golf), Fiona Behan (Golf), Paul Farrelly (Senior GAA), Luke Doyle ( U-17 Soccer), Jenny Cahill ( U-16 Camogie), Kaitlyn Miley (U-14 Basketball)
©pipershill2016