Arts Week
During the week of 23-27 February, we celebrated Arts Week in the school. Our goal was to foster a celebration of creativity and inspire students to express themselves through diverse artistic mediums.
Each morning during tutor time, we ran a "Name That Price: Art Edition" for students to guess the value of an art piece. Well done to the winners of the competition: Aubrey Fitzsimons, 2 Denis Morrissey, Izzy Dunne and Charlotte O'Rourke.
Throughout the week, students and staff were invited to create a miniature masterpiece for our art competition on the theme of My happy Place.All entries will be framed and displayed on the Art room door.
A range of activities took place during lunchtime Art Club throughout the week. On Monday and Wednesday, students had the opportunity to work on their miniature masterpieces for the competition and exhibition.
On Tuesday, February 24th, an educational bird of prey display was held in the art room. Colin Travers showed students how to safely handle and care for the birds. First and Fifth year art students took part in a life drawing session where they carefully observed and sketched the owls. They focused on the fine details of the birds’ feathers and the shape of their bodies. Students also took photos of the birds from different angles and even got the chance to hold the birds. The drawings turned out amazing and really captured how beautiful the birds are. At break and lunchtime, the room was open to other students and teachers, giving everyone a chance to see and learn about the birds. It was a great experience that helped everyone gain a deeper appreciation for birds of prey.
On Thursday, the department hosted a BLAST workshop entitled"Bringing Live Arts to Students and Teachers" in collaboration with Blackrock Education Centre and artist, Kelly Hood.Also, Fifth year Art Students took part in an engaging Eco Willow Weaving workshop, where they designed and created their own beautiful bird feeders. Guided by artist Kelly Hood, they explored the craft of willow weaving, learning how to soak and shape the branches into sculptural forms. The students became hunter gatherers and foraged around the school grounds for interesting foliage, they found daisies, moss, leaves and much more wonderful natural materials. They then wove these into their sculptures, to make their structure inviting and attractive to birds. The students discovered the remarkable versatility of willow as a sculptural material and gained invaluable insight into the creative process of a working artist. The finished bird feeders will be placed outdoors in collaboration with the Green Schools Committee.
On Friday, the Second Year art students took part in a clay workshop as part of their CBA 1 project. The workshop was led by ceramic artist Christien Van Bussel, who showed the students different hand-building techniques and shared helpful tips for working with clay. The students learned how to shape and build their mug and how to add decorative details. Each student designed and created their own unique clay mug. Once the mugs were made, the students decorated and glazed them. Christien is now firing the mugs in the kiln at her studio, which will make them strong and safe to drink from. It was a fun and practical experience that helped students develop their skills, confidence, and creativity.
Arts Week Competition: Winner
Thank you to everyone who encouraged their students to participate in the Arts Week Competition. The winning miniature masterpiece was created by Amelia Cahill in TY.
Quality Mark for Inclusion
On Tuesday, 24 February, CCM received the wonderful news that we have been reaccredited as the first school in the country to get the second quality mark for inclusion. This is down to the work of students, teachers, staff and the school community. It is a formal acknowledgement that CCM is promoting wellbeing and inclusion for LGBTQ+ young people in school through inclusive curriculum, policies and school environment.
Well done to the entire school community as this is an important facet of our commitment to Bí Cineálta and being a safe and welcoming space for all!
BSTAI Awards Ceremony
On Wednesday evening, 25 February, the Business Studies Teachers Association of Ireland (BSTAI) in association with the Quinn School of Business in UCD held an awards ceremony to recognise the students who received a Distinction in the Junior Cycle Business Exam in June 2025.
Along with their teacher Carol Murphy, our students receiving awards were Jack Duffy, Efrain Tharian and Kyle Fitzsimons. Joined by parents, this was a lovely evening for teachers and students to celebrate the hard work and dedication demonstrated by the students. Outgoing President of the BSTAI Ciara O’Riordain reminded students how exceptional their results were with just under 40,000 students completing the Junior Cycle Business exam and only 9% of students receiving Distinction grades.
We are very proud of the students’ success and commitment to their studies which reflects the diverse learning opportunities offered to students here in the school.
Wicklow Student Enterprise Competition
On Thursday, 26 February, four enterprises from Transition Year took part in the highly competitive Wicklow County Final of the Student Enterprise Programme in the Arklow Bay Hotel. Ajay Heywood, Ashwin Murali and Ethan Doyle displayed their personalised golf balls. Tia Keighery showcased her designed and hand painted t-shirts. Conor McVeigh, Rhys Behan and Seán O'Brien exhibited their personalised mugs and travel cups. Oscar Brogan and Lorcan Culbert presented their personalised key rings.
The schedule on the day was packed with guest speakers, Dragons’ Den-style business pitches, negotiation workshops, and interviews with judges, all designed to challenge and develop their entrepreneurial skills. The event concluded with a wonderful awards ceremony, recognising creativity, teamwork, and business innovation. Even though no awards were taken home, they gained invaluable real-world experience, confidence, and the accomplishment of bringing their mini company ideas to life.
Well done to our students for their effort and enthusiasm in setting up and showcasing their enterprises at this event.
'Strive for Five' Attendance Campaign
As part of an attendance initiative, CCM ran the 'Strive for Five' attendance campaign from the 2nd to the 6th of March 2026. This year, the school has presented monthly perfect attendance awards, and this initiative is an opportunity to emphasise the benefits of positive attendance within the school. The attendance rates in the school continue to be strong and are above the post-primary average, ETB average, DEIS, Non-Deis and Wicklow Averages.
To launch Coláiste Chill Mhantáin’s ‘Strive for Five’ Attendance Initiative, the First year students and their Fifth year mentors were rewarded for their excellent attendance this year with a pizza party. To reward and celebrate the improved attendance rates over the last few years, the best class on each side of Second, Third and Fifth also received a pizza party.
The first year students have an attendance rate of over 92%. Well done to all of the students on their excellent attendance and such a positive start to life in the school. This is a result the work of the students, teachers and parents in supporting positive attendance in the school.
Lourdes Pilgrimage Training Day
On Saturday, 28 February, a group of Fifth year students attended Blackrock College for a training day in preparation for the annual Lourdes pilgrimage in September. We met students from other travelling schools and heard stories about this once-in-a-lifetime trip.
The lemon cake at the lunch break went down a treat and the students thoroughly enjoyed the moving prayer service at the end of the day.
Thanks to the students for their attendance and we now move onto the next stage of the pilgrimage planning.
Growing Initiative
We have a large Growing Initiative getting underway at CCM. We are extremely lucky to have a huge growing resource/garden on the school property. It is a rarity, and the school intends to make full use of it on a regular basis Monday-Friday until the end of May 2026. Potential awards to target include a Sustainability Action Project; a Sustainability Climate Action WCC and a Farm to Fork project JCSP Project. Than you to Ms Garde who is leading the initiative and keeping us up-to-date with developments with a regular Keep Going and Growing blog.
Last week the TY students were a fantastic help, they unloaded bags of manure into the planter beds outside, sowed our first set of chitted potatoes, cleaned up excess dirt around the planter beds etc. Thanks to Mary Hanmore (parent) for helping out these last few weeks. The explanation in the safe use and names of gardening tools was a fascination for many, with many of the students keen to use the wheelbarrow, builder's shovels, spades and hoes with many different jobs to suit all preferences. Liz McCawley (parent) kindly donated lots of seeds from Brittas Bay Primary School, the students helped with shelling peas, and beans from last year's generation to use as our new crop for this year; these will be sown into our Fabaceae bed, as part of our crop rotation pest avoidance strategy.
From an organic food perspective, we are germinating lettuce seeds, tomatoes and peppers (thanks to Catherine Clulow's first year group on Wednesday), rocket, and chives. From a nature restoration regenerative perspective: we sowed Holly seeds from last year's Holly berries, and native disease resistant Ash from a 150-year-old Ash tree at home and, as Ash trees are dying all over the country, we will be able to donate these out.
We may be able to have a 'CCM Farmers market' donation table outside school on a Wednesday for free food and seedlings this will come online soon, offered on a first come, first serve basis to all.
Polytunnel
Our First year science students have been busy out in the CCM polytunnel, getting their hands dirty and preparing for the season ahead. Last week’s job? Sowing scallions and setting the stage for the spring. From soil prep to careful seed spacing, it's all about learning by doing and watching science come to life, one green shoot at a time. The polytunnel is an extension to the laboratories, an outdoor classroom to connect concepts learnt to real world context- we opened with discussions about photosynthesis, what plants need and tied this in with our current chapter on human health- noting how gardening/farming is good for both wellbeing and growing nutritional vegetables to include in our diets.
Green Go Day
We will be a holding a 'Go Green Day' for all students and staff on Friday, 13 March, in aid of our charity partner this year, Laura Lynn Foundation. All students and staff are asked to wear green on the day and donate to this worthy cause.
Sixth Year Agricultural Science Trip to Airfield Estate
A group of Ms Garde’s Agricultural Science class travelled to Airfield Estate and farm for an immersive farm visit on Wednesday, 4 March 2026. This is a 38-acre estate in the heart of Dundrum, Co. Dublin, were we studied the cacti glasshouses which belonged to the original Overend sisters of Airfield, the walled ornamental garden with a range of Espalier and Cordoned fruit trees, and Irish Yew. There was a range of herbs for use in the restaurant with planting displays of scallions, grape vines, green manures plantations; all tying into the organic principles of the farm.
In a short time, we managed to see Shorthorn Cattle, Jersey and Aberdeen Angus Cattle in their sheds feeding on silage, all still indoors due to the inclement weather of late. Some of the cows were being milked, so the students were able to witness the milking process, had a chat with farmer John, and could then see the milk being sent over to the pasteurization tanks. They told us that the farm is a closed system were everything gets used from farm to fork; (including the creamy milk from the Jersey herd goes to the added value product of making their local ice-cream).
Other animals present on the farm were the Oxford black and sandy pigs; four sisters with beautiful red coats basking in the sun, there were Conal and Sarah, the two retired donkeys, some lovely Jersey calves, Jacob rams, sheep and lambs. We were unable to see the chickens as they were quarantined due to the bird flu. It was a wonderful trip, with 15 students from Sixth year and perhaps an educational respite from the classroom, and a rejuvenation to focus on their final studies and months in CCM.