Events this term:

• Friday 29th January, Davis College staff and students and Mallow College of Further Education staff took part in the Trocaire ‘Emergency Earthquake Appeal’ for the people in Haiti. Thousands of lives have been torn apart by the earthquake in Port-au-Prince. The Student Council organised a non-uniform day for Friday 29th January, and the staff of both school campuses had a coffee morning to add their support to the fundraiser. The total raised amounted to €1,617.03, we thank the staff, students and parents for your generous contributions.  The money was presented to Janet from Trocaire who gave a talk to the students and representative staff on Thursday February 11th.

• Thursday 11th March – As part of the pastoral care initiatives of the school and promoting positive mental health, Joe McGrath from Blue Rose Theatre in Dublin presented a two-man Anti-Bullying play called “Stand and Speak” to 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 5th Year students. It dealt with the complicated issue of bullying. Students found this a very thought provoking workshop and equipped them with confidence to ‘stand and speak’ if this was an issue for them or for others.

• Mallow Sports and Leisure Awards 2010 took place 5th March at Springfort Hall, Mallow. This magnificent awards night celebrates its 20th anniversary this year.  It celebrates all that is good in Mallow, from sporting achievements, to youth awards, and others through involvement in many community based organisations. Every nominee is a winner in their own category having been nominated by their peers is evidence of this. We wish to congratulate five students from Davis College, who were nominated by the school for their outstanding contribution they have made in the sporting and youth categories. Of the five nominees from Davis College, three were outright winners, so well done on this outstanding success. The nominees and their achievements are:

Youth Awards Category 2010
Winners
Arminas Balevicius: Arminas was selected to play for the U21 Lithuanian National Soccer Team (October 2009), he has played for College Corinthians U17 team. Won Cork schoolboys Munster Championship and All-Ireland National Championships. A member of Davis College Basketball Team. Arminas is also a member of the Munster FA Team.
Patrick Maher: Patrick has been involved in Athletics since 2003 and has achieved a lot at school, National and European levels. He competes this year to defend his titles. Patrick’s dedication, commitment and passion for the sport is evident by his enthusiastic, relentless training six days a week. His successes:
2009/10:          Irish Junior Indoor Champion Athletics 400m                                                                                                    2009/10:          Irish Junior Indoor Champion Hurdles 400m                              2009:              Irish Schools Senior Championships Hurdles 400m                     2009:         Made the standard for the European Youth Olympics
Also Patrick was 2nd Celtic Games 2009 & 3rd European clubs 2009
Seoighe Kearney: Seoighe was nominated and made it to the last twenty for Pramerica Community Spirit Award 2010. Awarded the Silver Gaisce Presidents Award for her work with the Irish Cancer Society. Has been a youth volunteer with the Niall Mellon Township Foundation for the last two years. This work involved going to South Africa and working in the township for a week. Seoighe has been extremely involved in fundraising activities in her transition year for the ISPCA, Lourdes and street children in Calcutta. She was a youth volunteer and helper to the sick and invalids in Lourdes in 2008/2009.
Seoighe has represented her school in the BT Young Scientist 2009. She came 2nd in her category with the project entitled “Public Reactions towards Teenage Fashions Styles”. Seoighe is currently working on her Gold Gaisce Award; this involves volunteering in the community. She visits a lady who suffers from Alzheimer’s on a weekly basis.
Also well done to other nominees: Mark O’Connell (Handball) and to Davis College Spike Ball Team who won the Munster and All-Ireland Championships in 2009 and who defend their titles this year.

• Friday 19th March, Transition Year students welcomed Pat McMahon, Co-Founder of the VARANASI children’s project in the city of Veranasi in India. Pat gave a presentation to the students on the aims of the programme, which seek to provide the basic humanitarian needs to vulnerable young children and their families. Davis College is twinned with Veranasi as one of our International outreach programmes that help provide much needed funds. The carol service at Christmas in the school raised €250, and Transition Year students will organise what will be an annual fundraising event after Easter. You can help in this project by prayer and by your financial support.

• Parents please note an upcoming Parent’s  Night that will take place on Thursday 22nd April at 7.30p.m. at Davis College. Mr. Joe Heffernan (a noted Counsellor and Psychotherapist who has a weekly programme on C103) will present a workshop entitled “Enhancing Self-Esteem in Your Child”. This is a night not to be missed and promises to be a great evening for parents. Tea/Coffees and light refreshments will be provided.

Finally, I extend to you all Easter blessings of the Risen Christ: May the Good Lord be always close to you, bestowing the gift of peace and his Holy Spirit. May Mary, the Mother of the Lord, obtain for you from Jesus, her Son, lively faith, steadfast hope, and abundant love. amen
Fr. Brendan Mallon, School Chaplain.