Class 2A, under the guidance of Ms. Lorna Simkins, recently concluded their creative writing workshop with author in residence, Malachy Doyle. The second last instalment of Malachy Doyle's creative writing workshop took place on Tuesday, 17th April in the library. Malachy began by reading from one of his books, 'Long Live Paddy the Cope.' In it he told the story of how Paddy the Cope at the age of ten went off to the Lagan for a hiring fair. The students then wrote two pieces.

Read more: Class 2A Completes "Author in Residence" Initiative

Congratulations and well done to the students of 3G and their teacher, Mr. John C. Doherty on organising a very enjoyable and successful celebration Wednesday, 14th December. On the evening before, they set up the stage area in the Coffee Dock and prepared two classrooms for the displays of students' work. As always, the Classroom Assistants were to the fore, making sure all the decorations were in place. Wednesday morning saw the final preparations fall into place and we were ready.

JCSP Christmas Celebration 2011 photo album

Read more: JCSP Christmas Celebration (15th December)

The writer, Mr. Malachy Doyle, is continuing his creative writing workshop with 2A in the library every Tuesday. The students are writing first drafts at the workshop, and then redrafting their work in class. Below is a witty second draft from Dean Doherty 2A.

No Nose
"Boom" said Jimmy as he got hit in the face by a flying shoe which seemed to come out of nowhere. He couldn't think of where it could have come out of but he was on the ground in pain.

Read more: Author in Residence - Malachy Doyle

Junior Certificate Schools Programme is a national programme sponsored by the Department of Education and Science and the National Council of Curriculum and Assessment.

http://www.jcsp.ie

It is a programme designed to help Students who are at risk of leaving school before they have completed The Junior Certificate.

All Students in this school will be entered for The Junior Certificate Examinations at the end of third year. On completion of these examinations they will receive a certificate containing their results. Those students who have participated in the JCSP will receive a further certificate of completion, a record of work done, called a Profile and a School Reference.

Introduced to Carndonagh Community School in 1998 as a pilot scheme with a group of 10 Boys. At present we have 24 students in three designated classes.

School Co-ordinator: Mr. Finbarr Gallagher

Class Groups (2011/12):
2nd Year - 10 boys, 3 girls; Anchor Teacher is Ms. Hannah Hunter and Ms. Lorna Simkins.
3rd Year - 5 Boys, 6 Girls; Anchor Teacher is Mr. John Doherty.

The Anchor Teacher:
Performs the same roll as a Class teacher but He/She would also take their group for RE, SPHE and CSPE as well as their subject area. This ensures that at least 1/3 of the student's week is spent with their Anchor Teacher thus building up a strong relationship. The Anchor Teacher becomes the Daddy & Mammy and will know the child personally.

Designated Class:
The students remain in their designated groups for the core subjects of Irish, English, Maths, RE, SPHE and CSPE but are integrated with the mainstream for the optional subjects. This we find helps the students to bond better as a group, find their own level within the group while having the opportunity to be part of the whole Year group.

Through our Special Needs Department teachers are informed of the individual needs of students on the programme thus helping in the planning of classes.

What Happens in School?
Each subject is divided into small segments called statements. A statement may take a week, a month or longer to complete depending on what part of the syllabus the teacher is presenting. The statement is further divided into targets which the student can cover in one to two lessons. The students can mark off each target as it is completed thus taking control of the speed by which they cover the course. A record of the statements completed by each student is kept to generate an individual profile and at the end of third year this record is submitted to the Department of Education and Science for certification.

For more information check the JCSP Statements link

Students will be presented with their JCSP certification, profile and school reference at a ceremony held in the school library before they sit their Junior Cert examinations.

Author in Residence
A Writer from Poetry Ireland will visit our school over an eight week period in the second term and work with a selected group of students. During this time the students will develop their skills in writing short stories and poetry. It is hoped that this will lead to their work being published in booklet form.

Christmas Celebration
The Celebration this year will be organised by the students of 3G and their teacher Mr.John.C.Doherty. It will be held on Wednesday 14th December from 10.45am to 12.30pm. Parents and Families of our students are invited to come along and enjoy the festivities.

MTW-Number Lines
In preparation for The National Maths Week initiative, students in 2A will undertake to design and produce Number Lines for each Maths room in the school.

Maths Games
As most teenagers are comfortable using gaming devices such as Nintendo DS and Sony PSP, We purchased some Nintendo DS last year. Ms.Hannah Hunter plans to purchase some new maths games to add to the existing collection for her 2A maths class.

Maths Laboratory
This is a mini library of Work Cards which are colour coded and graded to suit the individual needs and competency levels of each student in a group. Ms.Hunter is hoping to introduce this initiative with her 2A class.

Science
Having successfully designed and built solar powered boats last year in Mr.Havlin's science class, 2A will be looking into other forms of propulsion this year. Possibly a rocket launch is in the scheme.........

On Tuesday, 24th January acclaimed teen writer, Mr. Malachy Doyle began an eight week creative writing workshop with some of our second and third year JCSP students. He began by reading a chapter from one of his books, Run, Jimmy, Run. Our budding writers were then put to work with an outline and a title - 'No Noses.' Below is a 20 minute first draft from Dean Arrow, 2A.

Read more: Malachy Doyle JCSP Creative Workshop

Under the guidance of Mr. Finbarr Gallagher, the Junior Cert Schools Programme and John Collins (school librarian), CCS Library recently underwent a makeover! As part of the development, the back of the library has become a haven of comfort and tranquility. The JCSP Reading Corner is already a hit with pupils and staff. But it's not all about sitting back with the feet up...the number one rule in the Reading Corner - if you sit, you read!

"The JCSP supports pupils to successfully complete their Junior Certificate in a planned programme, by teaching and learning methods that are comfortable for their needs, which allows them to measure their progress and encourages and rewards their efforts and achievements."
(Mr. Fiorentini, Principal)

"JCSP means accentuating the positive and celebrating achievement. It ensures success as all tasks are broken down into bite size pieces"
(Ms. Carmel Doherty, Deputy Principal and former Co-ordinator)

"The Junior Certificate Schools Programme is a world class way of educating boys and girls who might otherwise leave school early. It is a very enjoyable way of learning. I would have loved this when I was at school"
(Ms. Catherine Monagle, Co-ordinator of Special Needs)

"Being an Anchor teacher for three years with this class has enabled me to establish a very good working relationship with the students. I have been in a position to monitor and encourage their progress from year to year. Many of these students intend to take up one of our senior cycle programmes next year".
(Mr. Paul Browne, Anchor Teacher)

"Being a JCSP Anchor teacher for the last few years has taught me more about teaching than the previous ten years. My class give me a great reason to get out of bed every morning. It's so much fun and rewarding."
(Ms. Lorna Simkins, 2nd Year Anchor Teacher)

Christmas Celebration
We have run this for the past five years because of its success. The Third Years organise it as part of Cross Curricular studies. They send out invites to Parents, Staff and Special Guests. They decorate the Coffee Dock area of the school, assemble a stage and back drops and set up the sound system. On the morning of the Celebration they prepare some of the foods, look after back stage and will introduce all the events taking place. The Second and First Years must perform a song or a play. Students work from term 1 is displayed in the classrooms for all to see.

Céilí
We hold this to coincide with Seachtain na Gaeilge. The second years help organise it. The First year Irish classes print out keywords associated with a ceili and post them around the room in preparation for the event. We use a local chef to come in on the morning of the ceili and help the Home Economic students to bake scones and make sandwiches. Last year out Transition Year students joined in on the day.

Summer Celebration
This is always held in our library as our students would have spent a lot of the three years reading and researching there. Some of the initiatives are also centred here. Students Art, Wood, Metal and Home Economics project work is put on display so that the Parents can see that their children have reached the required standard of the Junior Cert and are ready for the up coming exams.

Events Links
Celebration Presentation - PowerPoint Download | Word Document Download
(to ensure proper download of PowerPoint presentation, save file to computer)

Make a Book
"Drive 2 Arrive" Road Safety in Inishowen was the theme chosen by Ms.Dickson's class. In researching this project the boys made contact with the local accident and emergency response units. They visited the Fire Station and the Garda Traffic Corp and invited the Ambulance Service to the school. They designed a model Hummer in the Art room and made it in the Metal and Wood departments. They carried out surveys and even wrote a short play on the topic. When completed they invited the sixth class boys from the national school to view their work. The absolute highlight for the boys was flying to Dublin from City of Derry airport for the exhibition topped off with Breakfast in Clearys.

Reading Challenge
The class was challenged to read 1000 pages each week for four weeks. After finishing a book each student had to complete a brief report and record the number of words read. The students loved the challenge and got very competitive as the weeks went by. They read a total of 5391 pages. This is what some of them had to say, "Some of us had never finished a book before. We had great craic". "I'm proud of myself for finishing a book...I've never finished a book in my life"."Reading takes a long time".

School Twinning and Outdoor Pursuits
We are fortunate to have The Creggan Country Park and Reservoir only forty minutes from the school. They specialise in catering for school groups. Last year our First Years twinned with Ardee Community College in Co.Louth and invited them to Derry for a day. While there they experienced some Orienteering, Team Building and Water Sports. Afterwards, the class agreed that this had been the highlight of their year.

Reading Corner
We were fortunate to be granted the reading Corner initiative this year. As our library forms a central part in JCSP activities in this school we are always looking for new ways to use the library. Teachers constantlybringtheir classes here toread newspapers and magazines and research projects on the computers. This can leave the main area quite crowded at times. Our plan is to cordon off part of the library with low level partitions so as not to isolate the space. JCSP reading materials will be shelved here so that our students can come in and read at their leisure.

Other Initiatives
Other initiatives that we have successfully undertaken were Word Millionnaire, Paired Reading (with TY students and 2nd Class pupils), Spelling Challenge, Maths for Fun (Parents monitoring), Science (Building a Rocket), ESS field trips, Home Economics (Patchwork and Weaving), Subject Topic Box, Goodie Boxes and Career Guidance.

Reading Corner
Mr. Collins and Mr. Gallagher are currently working on the development of a reading corner within the school library. This will be a designated area where our students can sit and read in comfort. The Reading Corner will be officially opened by Ms.Denise O'Flanaghan and Mr.Mick O'Riordan from JCSP Support Service on Tuesday 8th November.

Student Folder Photographs
We have just purchased a new photo printer. Already Ms. Cassidy's 5LCA's have produced a number of photographic collages of the many student events undertaken by our students last year. These will be displayed in our new Reading Corner.

Christmas Celebration
The Celebration this year will be organised by the students of 3F and their teacher Ms.Marie McLaughlin. It will be held on Wednesday 15th December from 10.45am to 12.30pm. Parents and Families of our students are invited to come along and enjoy the festivities.

Physical Education – Outdoor Persuits
Ms.Catherine Shallow and Mr.Niall McGee have taken their P.E. groups to the Creggan Country Park for Orienteering and Water Sports activities. They are already planning a return trip in the third term as it was so successful.

Maidin Gaeilge
Class 2G will organise a Maidin Gaeilge for the Coffee Dock in Term 2 under the guidance of Ms.Marie Wilhare and Mr.Donal McFadden. Class 1A will also help with the preparations.

Science
Mr.Niall Havlin and Mr.Brian McNally are planning to have Class 1A design and build solar powered boats which they will race against each other for the ultimate prize......which is a secret.

Hand Held Gaming Device
As most teenagers are comfortable using gaming devices such as Nintendo DS and Sony PSP, Ms.Hannah Hunter plans to teach some maths to class 1A using these in term 2.

Spelling Challenge
Ms.Amanda Doherty and Ms.Lorna Simkins are entering Class 1A in a Spelling Challenge where they will have to successfully spell a number of words each week for six weeks. At the end of this the most successful at spelling will go head to head with the top students of the other first year class. The winner will win a school trip for their class mates.

Home Economics – Celebrity Chef
Ms.Caroline Gallagher and Ms.Geraldine McKeown are going to invite a local Chef into their third year classes to give a Master Class Demonstration. This it is hoped will help the students in their preparations for the Junior Cert.

Christmas Celebration
Well done to the students of 3G and their teacher Ms.Simkins on organising another great Celebration. The event started at the new time of 1.30pm in the Coffee Dock with our Traditional Group playing a few tunes. Then Danielle and Shaun got the show going by introducing the first of the Speakers.

[read more]
Christmas Celebration Photo Album

Céilí Mór
Host a ceílí with a snack shop "as Gaeilge" and other activities using the medium of Irish. Class 2F, with their Irish teacher Mr. Donal McFadden, will host the ceílí in March.

Maths Millionaire
Mr. McNally and Mr. Kelly hope to run this initiative in the second term with Class 2F.

Reading Challenge
Ms. McLaughlin and Ms. Simkins are organising this challenge with 2F in January/February.

Physical Education
Mr. McGee and Ms. Shallow will take Class 3G on an outdoor pursuits/orienteering day in Creggan Counrty Park, Derry in term three.

Practical Subjects
In home economics, Ms. Gallagher will do a crafts module with Class 2F in the third term.

Reading Corner
Mr. Collins and Mr. Gallagher are currently working on the development of a reading corner within the school library.

Summer Celebration 2010
Class 3G will be presented with their profiles and certificates on 19th May at 7.30pm in the school library.

Student Folder Photographs
We are awaiting the arrival of our new photo printer with which we can produce photographic collages of the many student events being undertaken this year.

Well done to the students of 3G and their teacher Ms.Simkins on organising another great Celebration. The event started at the new time of 1.30pm in the Coffee Dock with our Traditional Group playing a few tunes. Then Danielle and Shaun got the show going by introducing the first of the Speakers.

Mr. Gallagher the programme Co-ordinator said a few words.....well a few less than last year. This was followed by Ms.Doherty our Assistant Principal who matched Mr.Gallagher for economy of time speaking. Both speakers marvelled at the work that all the students and teachers had put into this show and thanked the Parents and Staff for their continued support of the Programme.

Niall then introduced our Guest Speaker, Mr.Karol Doherty, a past pupil and current Paraolympic Athlete. Karol spoke about his time in CCS, the direction he took in life after leaving school and the changes he had to make after an accident that has now confined him to a wheelchair. All along, Karol has made continuing education an important part of his life and sees it as a means to achieving his many goals.

Then the students of class 2F along with their teachers Ms.McLaughlin and Ms.Simkins performed 'Caught by Christmas' which was hugely enjoyed by the entire gathering. This was followed by Mr Karol Doherty presenting Certificates of Achievement students from both classes.

Class 3G then did a comic sketch, 'The other side of 3G' which had us all laughing. There followed tea/coffee and refreshments which were beautifully presented by our Classroom Assistants. Parents were free to wander through the classrooms and view the work our students had been doing this term.

The Celebration ended with our musicians playing us out with a few more lively tunes.

2F 'Caught by Christmas'

Class 3G ‘The Other Side of 3G'

Céilí Mór
Host a ceili with a snack shop "as Gaeilge" and other activities using the medium of Irish. Congratulations to Class 2G and Ms. Simkins on organising a very enjoyable Céilí on Tuesday 28th April in the Arás. They spent the morning in the Home Economics room with Chef Jim Fletcher baking scones and making sandwiches. Mr. John Grant returned to school 'for one day only' to perform the role of Fear an Tí.

Céilí Mór 2009 Photo Album

Keywords
Students are challenged to learn keywords and keyspellings across subject areas over a six week period. Parental involvement is an element of this intervention. Materials are available to support the initiative.

Make Your Own Opoly
By using and adapting the "Make Your Own Opoly" starter pack (which is based on the " Monopoly" board game) teachers can construct and develop their own personalized, contextualized and localized board game to generate interest in Maths and Numeracy among JCSP students and to enhance the students' understanding of maths and Numeracy.

Physical Education
This initiative is to encourage schools to participate in Outdoor Education. The subvention would allow students to participate in one of the following activities: canoeing and orienteering.

Practical Subjects
This initiative will provide opportunities for schools to develop creative strategies around the teaching of Home Economics.

Reading Corner
Reading is an essential component of all subject areas so why not make it a visible component as well? To instill in students an awareness of the importance of reading, classrooms can provide an environment in which reading is clearly valued. This initiative can be used to create a library reading corner with shelves that have books on a variety of topics, targeting a range of reading levels and provide a wide range of genres, both fiction and non-fiction, including such reference books as dictionaries, thesauruses, and encyclopedias etc. Bean bags will also be a feature of the reading corner.

Subject Topic Box
With this initiative schools have the opportunity to source and purchase topic books and resources related to their individual subject areas. This will be relevant to all subjects e.g., Materials Technology Wood, Home Economics, History, Geography, Religion etc.

Summer Celebration 2009
Congratulations to classes 3G and 3H on completing their Junior Certificate School's Programme. They were presented with their Profiles and References at a reception in the school library last Thursday evening. There to make the presentations were their Class Teachers Mr. Paul Browne and Mr. John C. Doherty together with Mr. Paul Fiorentini, Principal.

Summer Celebration 2009 Photo Album