Category: News
Alan Quinlan Visit
Parents Association Hazelwood College Invites Mr Alan Quinlan to address Staff & Students on Mental Health.
November 30th 2015
By: Joan Twohill, Secretary.
The Monday morning blues were short lived in Hazelwood College last week, where students and staff were treated to a visit from Retired Irish Rugby Union Player and Positive Mental Health Ambassador Mr Alan Quinlan. Alan is a 2 time Heineken Cup winner and was in fact voted ‘’ Man of the Match’’ as Munster beat Toulouse in 2008 when Munster won the Heineken Cup for the second time. Alan Quinlan was part of the selection panel to play in the 2003 & 2007 Word Cups, retiring from Rugby in 2011.
Alan has spoken many times and has written about his own experiences of Mental Health, depression, anxiety and how he realised the importance of seeking help in his recovery played.
In Hazelwood College, Dromcollogher on Monday 30th November last, Alan Quinlan delivered an inspiring speech to over 600 Students and their teachers, reinforcing the importance of looking after our Mental Health. One could hear a pen drop in the room as Alan spoke of his own personal struggle with Mental Health. He gave some great advice to all of us, for example the importance of shearing our worries and fears with those around us, that we might look great on the outside but we never know how one is feeling on the inside. Exercise, Diet , hobbies, staying away from drugs & smoking all play a huge role in Positive Mental Health Wellbeing.
It is important to take time out to ask the person beside us ‘’ how are you ?’’ Simple but shows we care.
Alan Quinlan’s message with regard to Mental Health Awareness complimented the great work in this area already being carried out by the Students in Hazelwood College and their teachers. The School has entered in the Mental Health Association’s Public Speaking Competitions for a number of years, having won the Limerick County Final three times and making it to the All Ireland Semi Final stages.
This helped enormously to remove the stigma attached to speaking out about mental health, making Hazelwood College a better and safer place to be in for both students and Teachers.
‘’ In life we cannot stop the waves of challenge that we are continually faced with , At times we need help in figuring out how to conquer problems and really the solution is to talk and keep talking and sharing our worries and woes’’ This is a Quote from a Leaving Cert Student, Mary Cussen, who was preparing her speech for the Schools next Debate.
The Parents Association of Hazelwood College would like to take this opportunity to thank Mr Alan Quinlan for his Inspiring visit to our School, to the Principal Mr Brendan Burke and his Staff, for facilitating this visit and we hope that this day will have a long-lasting special effect on us all.
I leave you with a lovely Quote which I came across recently.
‘’Never give up on someone with a Mental Illness. When ‘’ I ‘’ is replaced by ‘’ We ‘’ illness becomes Wellness. – Shannon L. Alder
Easter Raffle
The first fundraising event of Marie’s Spin for Multiple Sclerosis, a Monster Easter Raffle took place in Hazelwood College, raising €658′. We had the pleasure of Colm ‘The Gooch’ Cooper of the Kerry Senior Football Team to celebrate the results of the raffle. Many thanks to the students & staff who purchased tickets and a most sincere thank you to the sponsors of the raffle: Meaney’s Centra Dromcollogher, Dooley’s Supervalu Ncw, Sheahan’s Stores Ncw and Garvey’s Centra Ncw.
Marie is cycling The Wild Atlantic Way from Kinsale to Derry (2500km) in July this year to raise funds and awareness for Multiple Sclerosis. Any individual, group, organisation or business who would like to host a fundraising event or offer support/sponsorship for Marie’s Spin for Multiple Sclerosis, your efforts will be so greatly appreciated. Please contact [email protected], visit Marie’s Spin for Multiple Sclerosis on Facebook and @marie_spin on Twitter.
Left-right: Orlaith Hennessey (3rd Yr), Danielle Ahern (5th Yr), Paula Reidy (6th Yr), Colm Cooper, Sandra Dineen (1st Yr), Aisling Brennan (2nd Yr), Marie O’ Connor & Mr. Kevin Grant!
Marie’s Spin for Multiple Sclerosis
Hi everyone Ms. O’ Connor here,
In July 2016 I endeavour to cycle ‘The Wild Atlantic Way’ as a fund and awareness raising campaign for the Multiple Sclerosis Society. My father has multiple sclerosis and it is from his association with the MS Society that I have seen the wonderful services and supports that are provided, helping people with Multiple Sclerosis throughout Ireland. It is from this personal experience that I find my inspiration to undertake this 2,500km cycle along the western coastline of Ireland from Kinsale to Derry. I am fortunate to have the health and well-being to aspire to undertake this challenge in aid of people who may not be in as fortunate a position.
It is with this challenge in sight that I wanted to let you know about my plans. I would be most grateful of any form of sponsorship, support or advice you may be in a position to provide which will make this endeavour a successful awareness and fund raising campaign for the MS Society. Any form of support that you can provide will be received with a grateful, warm and thankful reception. Tell all your friends and spread the word.
If anyone wants to host a coffee morning or evening/quiz/bake sale or any other wonderful fundraising idea please feel free to undertake any event and I would be most grateful.
If anyone would like to take a sponsorship card please also let me know, it would also be greatly appreciated.
The Monster Easter Raffle and Mr. Finn’s Fun Cycle on April 13th are the first two fundraisers that are being undertaken. The Easter Raffle has been a wonderful success & thank you for your support.
If anyone is shopping in Tesco Newcastle West in the next eight weeks please put your blue tokens into Marie’s Spin for Multiple Sclerosis cylinder.
Please LIKE and SHARE the Facebook page if you are so inclined ;-)
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: Marie’s Spin for Multiple Sclerosis
Twitter: @marie_spin
Online Donation Justgiving: https://www.justgiving.com/Maries-Spin-4-Multiple-Sclerosis/
(The Multiple Sclerosis Society of Ireland: Registered Charity-CHY5365)
Hazelwood College Parents Association
Our Annual Hazelwood College 45 Drive Fundraiser, hosted by the Parents Association will take place in the College on Good Friday Night March 25th 2016 next @ 8.30pm.
This annual 45 Drive Card night is in its 27th year of continued success in raising funds which have been given back to benefit and add quality education to all our students over the years in Hazelwood College.
- As a result of your continued support over the past year we the Parents Association recently hosted a visit from Mr Alan Quinlan Retired Rugby Union Player to speak to all students and staff of our College on Positive Mental Health. This unprecedented visit was greatly appreciated by Students and staff, and its aim was to remove the stigma attached to speaking out about mental health issues, and to get us all talking.
- We were also privileged to host an excellent workshop for Parents of all students attending Hazelwood College titled ‘’ Supporting our children through second level Education’’ presented by guest speaker, Mr Noel Brosnan. This workshop was attended by over 120 Parents on the night who found it to be very beneficial.
- We aim once again to provide Yoga classes to those who will be sitting their Leaving Cert exams in 2016 to aid and empower students in the fields of relaxation and breathing techniques which will help with coping skills required for destressing and exam pressure.
I hope we have provided you with an insight into how your continued support is utilised by our association in supporting Parents and Students of our School, and it is our aim to continue this work into the future.
Our School is the sole provider of second level education in this area where there are 350 families attending.
We ask for €20.00 per Family to purchase 4 tickets for the upcoming 45 Drive please, tickets enclosed, and all tickets returned will be entered by March 11th will be entered in a draw on the night.
Dates for your diary: Bag Packing Centra March 18th and 19th Volunteers can contact myself on 087 7559667 or Helen Pierce 087 2126124
5 K Fun Run/Walk April 24th.
Your Support is greatly appreciated.
Yours Sincerely
Joan Twohill Secretary 087 7559667
Meet the Association:
Chairperson : Mr Pat Brennan, Secretary Ms Joan Twohill, Treasurer Mr Tom O Callaghan, BOM Reps: Mr John Molyneaux, Ms Betty Cotter, Committee members: Mr Dan Joe O Callaghan, Mr. Liam Reidy, Ms Carmel Walmsley, Ms Helen Pierce, Ms Maura Heenan, Ms Miriam Magner Flynn, Ms Fiona Dore Buckley, Mr Liam Quaid and Ms Mary Madden.
New Leaving Certificate Subject at Hazelwood College for 2016:
Politics and Society
This new subject will be offered in our school to students going into 5th year in September 2016. Hazelwood College is one of forty-one schools selected to pilot the subject which will be examined in the Leaving Certificate 2018. The subject will be available to fifth-years in the remainder of the country’s 730 second-level schools in September 2018. Politics and Society has been introduced to the Senior Cycle curriculum by the NCCA. It will qualify for CAO points in the normal way. Teachers and students will work with key themes and ideas in the social and political sciences. They will apply these to their schools, to the local environment, as well as exploring how they apply in the wider world. It is offered at both Ordinary and Higher level. The assessment will include a citizen project (20%) and a written exam (80%). It will be useful for the study of politics, sociology or other courses such as law, anthropology, philosophy, education studies, media studies, and many more.
Last Chance to Vote
Today is the last chance to vote for Ellie’s Google4Doodle. If you have not already voted please do so now to help Ellie win a €5000 Scholarship and a €10,000 grant for the school.
Please share this post on twitter and facebook.
Safer Internet Day 2016
Today is Safer Internet Day 2016.
This annual event is being celebrated around the world. Last year over 100 countries worldwide, including all 28 countries of the European Union, celebrated Safer Internet Day. The aim of Safer Internet Day is to promote safer and more responsible use of online technology and mobile phones, especially among children and young people across the world.
2016 is the 13th edition of the event and the call to action for this year is “Play your part for a better internet”.
Here’s just one of the highlights from last year’s Safer Internet Day campaign – an anti-cyber bullying rap created by the GMC Youth Crew.
More information on Safer Internet Day can be found here: Safer Internet Day Website
Doodle4Google
Hazelwood College sixth year student Ellie Stone (left) with her Art teacher Ms Maria Curtin (right) are pictured with Ellie’s Certificate of Recognition and her entry into the ‘Doodle4Google’ competition. Ellie’s entry reached the top fifteen in the Transition Year, Fifth Year and Sixth Year Category in this national competition, which had several thousands of entries. Overall, Ellie’s entry is in the top seventy five out the entire competition. From this stage, Ellie’s progress is dependent on a public vote. Those who wish to vote for Ellie can do so from now until the 14th February at Doodle4Google If successful, Ellie will win a €5,000 college scholarship and a €10,000 grant for Hazelwood College. Best wishes from all in Hazelwood College to Ellie.
To Vote for Ellie click here: Doodle4Google
Sixth Year Music News
Hazelwood College class are pictured with Stuart O’Sullivan, one of Ireland’s most famous pianists, after a concert they attended at St Mary’s Cathedral, Limerick, which was conducted by Peter Barley. The concert and talk on Mozart’s Piano Concerto No.23 in A Major will be beneficial to the students, as the piece is on their Leaving Certificate curriculum. A performance such as this is invaluable to the students understanding of a complex piece and all agreed that it was a beneficial day out!
