Category: News

Junior Metalwork Excellance Award

Mr. Shane Brennan, Senior Project Engineer with EirGrid presenting Hazelwood College student Aodan Brennan with a certificate of excellence after his fourth place position in his Junior Certificate (OL) Metalwork, which he completed last June with Mr William Rowan, National Chairperson of the Engineering Technology Teachers’ Association. Aodan was presented with his certificate at the annual ETTA ceremony, which this year took place in the Garage Theatre in Monaghan on Saturday November 16th. Aodan’s certificate was part of the ETTA/Eirgrid Young Engineer and Young Technologist Awards and Aodan’s success illustrates his skill and dedication and promises much in the future.

Silver Steps

Denise Keogh, Hazelwood College Fifth Year student, recently secured second place at the Munster Irish Dancing Championships. Her success meant that she secured qualification for the World Championships in April 2014 in London, where she will face the best Irish dancers from across the globe, will the support of all in Hazelwood College.

Technology takes Hazelwood “Intel” the Future

The aim of ‘Science Week Ireland’ is to promote the relevance of science, technology, engineering and maths in our everyday lives and to demonstrate their importance to the future development of Irish society and to the economy. As part of this, Hazelwood College fifth year Biology students participated in a University of Limerick organised exhibition of science.

Robert Hill’s 3D Cosmic Explorers show with giant glowing gas clouds, black holes and galaxies, fascinated the students, as they learned about the possibilities of life on other planets. Robert Hill stated ‘Astronomy and space themes are fascinating to young people and encourage them to engage with science and maths whilst learning about the size, scale and beauty of the universe in which we live.’ Visually stimulating astronomical images provided an opportunity for Hazelwood College students to discover science on a personal level and act as a catalyst to inspire and motivate them to develop a greater understanding of nature in its widest context.

Intel displayed stands hosting technologies for the future. Many of these technologies are aimed at improving the quality of life for people and in minimising the damage that people cause to the wider environment. Intel have recently introduced a 3-D transistor that improves performance and energy efficiency. Students were able to view a model house that boasts of a home energy, appliances and security management system. This house also has video and motion sensor support systems.

Hazelwood College students came away inspired to pursue their scientific studies, sure in the knowledge that spirit of scientific inquiry can still shape all of our lives for the better and that they too can follow in the footprints of those whose work was displayed in University of Limerick.

Hazelwood College students get up close with the future developments in science during an exhibition as part of Science Week Ireland. Pictured are (left to right) Padraig Lordan, Louisa Dempsey, Tadhg O’Sullivan, Denise Forde Shane Lyons are pictured with Alan Jones of Intel Ireland in University of Limerick.

Hazelwood College Excitement for Science Week 2013!

Science Week Ireland 2013 was celebrated at Hazelwood with the Fifth Annual Primary Schools’ Science Quiz on Thursday, November 14th. All local primary schools were invited to attend this exciting event to promote Science Week. It was wonderful to welcome all of the primary school pupils, teachers, parents and friends who attended on the night. During ten rounds of questioning all of the primary pupils thoroughly impressed with their teamwork and knowledge. Spectacular lucky dip spot prizes and tasty, fruity refreshments were very popular among the eager pupils at the half-time break. As the quiz came to a close, excitement was high as the top three placed teams emerged. In a nail biting finale, there was a tie-breaker to decide first and second place. Congratulations to Killoughteen National School who were overall winners, with Raheenagh coming in second place and Dromina in third place. Thank you and well done to all the teams from Broadford, Feenagh, Ballingarry, Newtownshandrum, Ballyagran, Milford and Dromcollogher who took part on the night and Hazelwood looks forward to seeing you next year!

Picture 1: The 2013 winners of Hazelwood College’s Annual Primary Schools’ Science Quiz were Killoughteen N.S. who are presented here with their prizes. Pictured (left to right) Hazelwood College Principal Mr Brendan Burke, Brian Foley, Ciara Murphy, Cora Dowling and Niamh Foley, Mrs Eana Kearney (Principal of Killoughteen N.S.) and Ms. Marie O’ Connor (Science Teacher in Hazelwood College)

Picture 2: Raheenagh N.S placed second in the Hazelwood College Primary Schools Science Quiz with Mr. Brendan Burke, Ms, Aine Breen, Ms Maura Kelly, Daniel Cunningham, Fergal Lane, Ide Collins, Aisling Magner and Ms. Marie O’Connor.

Picture 3: Dromina N.S placed third in the Hazelwood College Primary Schools Science Quiz with Mr. Brendan Burke, Ms. Marie O’Connor, Sean O’Connell, Keith Falvey, Katie Moynihan, Megan Grufferty and Ms. Betty Coughlan.

Comet ISON – What will happen?
Watch Live Here Today from 18.00 – 20.30 GMT.

Even further update Now I t appears the comet may have in fact survived despite what most scientists in world initially thought. If it did it could be visible in the night sky in about two weeks time on the return leg from the sun

Solarham.net said about the commt Thursday was a day full of excitement and also many questions in regards to Comet ISON. The eyes of sky watchers around the world were tuned into a number of space weather websites wondering if the sungazing comet would survive its close encounter with our star. Comet ISON brightened throughout the day as it neared the sun, with a long dusty tail visible behind it in both LASCO and STEREO imagery. When it came time for the predicted perihelion (closest approach to the Sun) at 18:44 UTC, initial indications were that ISON did not survive the intense solar atmosphere and burned up. Comet ISON was declared dead by many. After a few hours had passed, what appeared to be a fragment of the comet re-emerged in both LASCO C2 and STEREO Ahead coronagraph imagery. Did ISON survive? Imagery and video below appear to support that scenario. More updates to follow regarding this event. Stay Tuned!

***Update*** So it would appear unfortunately that ISON turned out to be no match for the heat of the Sun and went with option 3 and disintengrated as can be seen clearly in the third slower view on the video below

Live streaming video by Ustream

A comet that left the outer edge of the solar system more than 5.5 million years ago will pass close by the Sun later today. Comet ISON, as the object is known, will become visible in Earth’s skies in the next week or two if it survives.

“There are three possibilities when this comet rounds the Sun,” said Donald Yeomans, manager of NASA’s Near-Earth Object Program Office.

1)”It could be tough enough to survive the passage of the Sun and be a fairly bright, naked-eye object,”
2) The Sun’s gravity could rip the comet apart, creating several big chunks.
3) if the comet is very weak, it could break up into a cloud of dust.

Comet ISON is due to pass 1.2 million km from the surface of the Sun at 6.37pm today. At that distance, the comet will reach temperatures approaching 2,760 degrees Celsius.

Scientists estimate that ISON needs to be about 200 metres to survive its close encounter with the Sun. The most recent measurements indicate the comet is more than twice that size and perhaps as big as 1.2km. The comet was discovered last year by two amateur astronomers using Russia’s International Scientific Optical Network.

Venice 2013

Hazelwood College Students on a recent trip to Venice, Italy

Picture 1: Pictured on the recent Hazelwood College school tour to Venice enjoying the sights of St Mark’s Square are (left to right) David Fenton, Mariah Culloty, Ayesha McSweeney, Sharon Roche and Alan Scanlon.

Picture 2: Taking a Short Break! Hazelwood College students (from left) Rachel Collins, Selina Kiely and Julia O’Doherty enjoy a rest during a day of site seeing in Venice

Picture 3: All Smiles: Hazelwood College students Rebecca Duggan and Áine Fitzgibbon enjoy their school tour to Venice.

Picture 4: Hazelwood College Ayesha McSweeney, Mariah Culloty and Sharon Roche are pictured enjoying their school tour to Venice.

Picture 5: Lean on! Hazelwood College’s Mr Danny Sheahan joins Conor Greaney and Billy Donegan as they enjoy the sights and sounds of Venice.

Picture 6: A View From a Height! Hazelwood College students back row (left to right) Eamonn Shanahan, Colm McMahon, Rebecca O’Connell, John Cremin and James Donegan, join front row (left to right) Darren White, Sinead Coleman, Katie Cunningham, Nollaig Wright and Dylan Kelly with a tall new friend in the course of Hazelwood’s Venice Adventure.

Picture 7: Hazelwood’s Sinead Coleman, Mariah Culloty and Katie Cunningham enjoy some rest and relaxation during their school trip to Venice.

Picture 8: Hazelwood College students (left to right) Niamh Ryan, Sharon Roche, Ayesha McSweeney, Mariah Culloty, Aoife O’Mullane, Edel O’Sullivan and Caroline O’Flynn arrive at the wild life park during the course of their school tour to Venice.

Picture 9: Hazelwood College students and staff pictured during the Hazelwood College school tour to Venice.

Minding Our Mental Health in Hazelwood College

Hazelwood College’s Mental Health of Ireland Association Public Speaking Competition team after their recent victory. Pictured (left to right) are Ms Geraldine Murphy Reidy (coach), Ellen Condon, Maria Cremin, Mary Cussen and Aaron Walsh.

Hazelwood’s Transition Year Public Speaking Team, Mary Cussen, Aaron Walsh, Ellen Condon and Maria Cremin were victorious against Colaiste na Tocaire, Rathkeale and Scoil Íde & Iosaf, Abbeyfeale. The Mental Health Association of Ireland hosts a public speaking project each year which encourages young people to discuss positive mental health. Issues including depression, self-harm, cyber-bullying, suicide and poor mental health are discussed along with raising awareness on how to deal with these problems during adolescence in today’s society. Hazelwood are now through to the next round of the competition where they hope to talk their way to the top again!

Money for Jam

Hazelwood College Fifth Year Home Economics’ students Sharon Carmody (left) and Catherine Corbett (right) sell Organic Berry Jam for Bothar’s ‘Money for Jam’ project. This project is designed for students to use their skills, honed in school, for the benefit of some of the poorest people on the planet. Sharon and Catherine are pictured here on the night of their recent Parent/Teacher Meeting.

Vote for Clare Fehin:

6th Year student Clare Fehin has reached the final 10 from 0000’s of entries in the Female Leaving Certificate Student category at the Hot Press Write Touch Journalism Contest

The winners will be receive an internship in HOT PRESS, to be arranged at their leisure during the Spring or Summer of 2014. Plus, they’ll receive a €250 cash prize, a Certificate of Achievement from The Write Touch and Hot Press and an ALCATEL ONETOUCH IDOL ULTRA – an essential gadget in any journalist’s toolkit! They’ll also have their winning entry published in HOT PRESS, a significant achievement that will enhance the CV of any young writer.

Click Here to Vote For Clare Fehin

Voting ends Thursday at midnight

***Don’t forget to click the link in the confirm email your receive after voting or the vote will not count***
Thank you

Holocaust Survivor Bears Witness at Hazelwood College

Holocaust survivor Tomi Reichental visited Hazelwood College last week and spoke to History students about his experiences of growing up in Slovakia in the 1930s and of enduring life in the concentration camp at Bergen Belsen. Throughout the ninety minute talk, Tomi spoke of the horrors that he had witnessed, the loss of forty of his relatives, the disrespectful burial of his grandmother’s corpse and the betrayal of members of his family by those they had live alongside and been friends with. Despite this and the horrors he witnessed firsthand as a child, Tomi also spoke at length about the courage and bravery of those who attempted to shelter him, including the local parish priest, who treated Tomi’s family and other Jewish families with respect. Tomi inspired awe in how he described his mother’s determination to get both Tomi and his brother Nicholas through their ordeal.

Students heard of vile crimes of the Nazis and those who collaborated with them, but also of Tomi’s father who escaped from a moving train and how he came to live in Ireland. While Tomi’s talk concerned the past, his message for students was directed towards the future. He warned them about the dangers of using scapegoats and about the importance of tolerance and the dignity of the individual, while his own story since 1945 suggested that even in the worst of circumstances, it is possible to find a way to have a happy life again.