TY Musical: Nutley Avenue
Halloween Costume Day
Hospice Coffee Morning
Wellbeing Survey
Tanzania Trip
South Africa Exchange: Expression of Interest
UCD School of Physics TY Event
Halloween Costume Day
A huge thank you to all the boys for getting into the spirit of Halloween and showing off their spooky, creative costumes! From (...ahem) fang-tastic vampires to spine-chilling zombies, your participation made the day a howling success.
Hospice Coffee Morning
A very special thank you to everyone who came out to support our Hospice Coffee Morning. I’m delighted to announce that we raised a fantastic total of €2984.69!
Your generosity will make a big difference, and we couldn’t have done it without your kindness and support.
Wellbeing Survey
As we near the end of the first academic block, Mr O'Brien would like to remind you all to fill out the Wellbeing Survey on Google Classroom.
Please take the time to complete it honestly, as your feedback will help shape how we plan the rest of the school year.
Tanzania Trip
Thank you to everyone who applied for the Tanzania trip. The first round of offers has been published, and letters of confirmation will be sent out shortly.
For those waiting on other trips, offers for Boston, Austria, Camino, and the Tall Ships adventure will be made after the Mid-Term Break.
South Africa Exchange: Expression of Interest
Exciting news! We have been presented with an incredible opportunity for St. Michael’s TY students to participate in an exchange programme in Pretoria, South Africa. I’ll be speaking with the International Exchange Programme Coordinator at St. Alban's College in Pretoria next week: St. Alban's College website.
At this stage it is still unconfirmed and details have to be fully ironed out but we are looking for expressions of interest from four families from St. Michael's College who would be willing to host and care for four St. Alban's boys selected to participate in the exchange.
The St. Alban's students are aged between 15 and 16 years and are scheduled to arrive in mid-April and return in early May. In return, boys from STMC would travel to South Africa in mid-May and return at the beginning of June. They will be accompanied by Mr. Conor Byrne, who himself participated in this same exchange during his time in secondary school.
The aim of this exchange is to provide an immersive experience of South African school life, sports, and culture. Your son would attend classes with his host student, gaining firsthand experience of the South African educational system. He would also have the opportunity to participate in sports, particularly hockey and rugby, and will attend a major fixture against rivals from Johannesburg—St. Benedict's—on June 1st. Additionally, there will be golf and tennis league fixtures during their stay.
During their time in South Africa, the STMC boys will be expected to keep up with their schoolwork from home through accredited online courses. The boys will be given time during the school day to complete these tasks.
In terms of accommodation, boys will stay with borders at the school hostel during the week, experiencing life as part of the hostel community. Over weekends, they will spend time with their host families. If hosted by day students, they will commute daily with their host, giving them a blend of school and home life experiences. For more information, you can view some videos related to the hostels at St. Alban's here: St. Alban’s College accommodation.
Host families are crucial to the success of this programme, as they will not only provide accommodation but also help introduce the students to South African culture and heritage. Host families are expected to cover the costs of outings to local attractions such as the Union Buildings, the Apartheid Museum, and Pilanesberg Game Reserve.
The only expenses involved for your son would be flights to South Africa (approximately €900 with one stopover) and any additional pocket money he may need. Flights are currently available through our tour operator with some additional costs.
This exchange promises to be a transformative and unforgettable experience, offering your son not only academic and sports opportunities but also an immersive cultural experience in South Africa.
For the St. Alban's College students coming to Ireland, they will need to have their own rooms and be provided with family meals. Similar to the Boston Exchange, we encourage host families to introduce the boys to Irish culture through various activities and experiences during their stay.
I understand that the timing of this exchange overlaps with other trips, but we felt it was important to offer this rare and unique opportunity. If you have any questions or would like further details, please do not hesitate to contact me: acopeland@stmc.ie
Thank you for your consideration, and I look forward to hearing from those who are interested in hosting.
UCD School of Physics TY Event
The UCD School of Physics is hosting a fantastic online event for TY, 5th, and 6th Year students interested in Physics. You’ll hear from top researchers on topics like Medical Physics, Quantum Physics, Astronomy, and even Ireland’s first satellite, EIRSAT-1.
Parents and guardians are encouraged to book a spot for students—just be sure to double-check your email when registering!
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