Leaving Certificate Results 2008

St. Als was among the schools which produced a student whose score in the Leaving Certificate 2008 was 600 points… with 175 points to spare! Another excellent year of academic achievement.

25% of St. Als students achieved at least one A1 grade.

Notably, in the following Higher Level subjects, 100% of students achieved an Honours Grade: Maths, Physics, Applied Maths, Chemistry and History.

44% of Leaving Certs in 2007 gained in excess of 400 points, 23% in excess of 500 points.

Junior Certificate Success in 2008

• One student achieved 10 A Grades
• 11 students achieved 9 or more Honours Grades on Higher Level papers

Notable Distinctions won by St Als students

• St. Aloysius is the only girls’ school to have won the prestigious Team Math Award
• The Rotary Club Young Chef Competition winner in the Cork region is a St. Als student. We wish her luck at the next level
• The 2008 Bank of Ireland Student Award Scheme Cork Region Senior Academic Award was won by a St. Als student
• The 2008 Science Olympiad Senior Bronze Medal Winner was a St Als Girl.
• 2007 Gold Medal for Informatics at the Dublin City University Science Olympiad. Place on Irish Team at the International Olympiad for Informatics in Croatia.
• Special Merit Award in the Texaco Children’s Art Competition 2007
• 2006 Trinity College Dublin Secondary Schools History Essay competition was won by a St. Aloysius student
• 2006 University College Cork Faculty of Law Essay Competition, top prize was won by a St. Aloysius student
• Cork Credit Unions Senior Quiz 2006
• Feachtas All Ireland Irish Language Quiz Winners 2005 & 2006, Runners up 2007.

Cúrsaí Gaeilge / Tráth na gCeist

Gaeilgeoirí den Scoth
Feachtas? What’s that? You might well ask! The word means Campaign, as Gaeilge, but it is also the name of a dynamic organisation which promotes the use of the Irish language among young people. Qualifying rounds for a National Irish Quiz are run in December, for the Southern Region. The two teams which qualify head to Dublin for the All-Ireland Quiz Final. This is held during Seachtain na Gaeilge in March each year.

The St. Als. team are seasoned campaigners, who, travel to Dublin to do battle with Gaelscoileanna and any other scoil to come their way. Their success has been phenominal. In the academic years 2004-2005 and 2005-2006, our girls have carried off the trophy, beating each year on a average 23 other hopeful schools along the way. Team members have all received Gaeltacht Scholarships and vouchers for their efforts. Hopefully this success will further their love for and knowledge of the Irish language. Some of these girls have participated successfully in the Radio na Gaeltachta quizes with Séan Bán Breathnach.

Debating

The St Als. Debating Society welcomes students of all levels and encourages participatioon in debating events at local and national level. The school enters teams in th famous Philosoph Debates and other comperitions for Debating and Public Speaking. In 2007 the St Als Junior team won the First Year Debating League for Cork City Schools

Quizzes

Credit Union Quiz Winning Senior Team in 2006-2007.
Thomas Crosby Holdings Quiz Competition, all-Ireland semi-finalists and finalists.
St Als regularly participates in the Pfizer Chemistry Quiz and the Team Math Quiz, the only girls school to have held the coveted trophy.

Sport

St. Als students enjoy success in many sports.It is firstly a Camogie school. Students are also offered Basketball, Ladies Football, Tennis and Table tennis.

Environment

The Green Flag Award is an award for schools which has been devised by Cork Corporation. Its aim is to increase environmental awareness and to promote good waste management strategies amongst students.

The St Aloysius School Council

The School Council is well established. It consists of representatives of each year in the school. The Council is run in a business-like manner and there is a meeting every week to discuss issues of interest to the student body. Other issues which a member wants to bring to the council’s attention may be dealt with at the meeting as well. There is a link teacher, whose enthusiasm and dedication is very much appreciated by the students. It is the aim of the School Council to improve student life. The School Council would appreciate receiving any helpful suggestions or ideas any student may have.

Science Week

Science Week encourages students to get involved in activities which further an interest in science. During this week activities take place in the school labs and students travel to other venues too. Science quizzes are a feature of this week

Transition Year News

Transition Year students played host to the students of the Swedish College Under Sail who arrived in Cork on Wednesday 3rd October on board SwedenÕs biggest tall shipthe Training Ship Gunilla. Thirty four girls and ten boys have lived and studied on the ship for three months. A programme of events over two days included an exchange of information on Sail Training opportunities in Ireland and Sweden, learning greetings in Irish, Norse, Swedish and English. Stuents also sat in on classes in Physics, Biology, English and Business. Cultural activities included Music, Camogie and a Céilí.