Global Issues Week
This week marked global issues week in CCA. We are very passionate about teaching and learning in the areas concerning Global Issues and more importantly exploring what our place is in trying to resolve some of these issues.
On Monday, we were delighted to welcome guest speaker, Clare Sheppard, from Concern who spoke to our 2nd year students. She spoke about poverty, why it exists in the world today, what Concern is doing to combat it and we reflected on how we can take action on this global issue.
On Tuesday we launched our photography competition. Some of our second year CSPE students also designed some top tips to help us in our journey to combat Climate Change. These tips included investing in energy efficient devices, taking showers instead of baths, bringing reusable shopping bags and eating less meat.
On Wednesday we released a video that was created by a focus group of TY students to support Global Issues Week. The video focused on explaining what a global issue was and in particular how climate change and biodiversity should be our top priority. It went through ways on how individuals can help to make the world a more sustainable place.
On Friday we shared carbon footprint calculator where everyone in the school community was invited to find out the size of their carbon footprint and to see how much their actions are affecting the environment.
Throughout the week Jack Neill, TY student, visited all the online assemblies to speak to the students about Global Issues Week. He spoke about different ways to reduce your carbon footprint such as using less plastic, becoming vegetarian for the day, planting trees to filter Carbon Dioxide, switching to a plant based diet and supporting global activist groups. His main message was that people shouldn’t think about whether their action will change the world. Instead they should look at how their actions might encourage others to do the same.
First Year Hidden Gems
Over the midterm First Year students were asked to take some photos on the theme of “Hidden Gems within their 5km”. Students were encouraged when exercising to focus on the beauty of nature in their surrounding areas. There were some fabulous scenic shots taken. Well don’t to all who took part.
Ireland Reads Day
On Thursday 25th February, we celebrated Ireland Reads Day, a new national initiative to celebrate the joy of reading, no matter where you are. CCA took part in the reading challenge and our students, staff and parents were all encouraged to pledge and register their reading time online by taking time out during lunch breaks or after classes. Students were invited to submit their total reading minutes for the day to their tutor with a prize for the best class in each year group that accumulated the highest number of reading minutes.
February CCA book of the month was also released on Ireland Reads Day. Well done to Sophie Hamilton, TY student who was responsible for creating a novel cover for “Paper Towns” by John Green, which can be seen on our social media channels.
CCA is Survivin’
A huge well done to our prefect and peer mentor teams, who with the support of Ms. Lillis and Ms. Miley put together a lip sync video to Bastille’s song “Survivin’”. The students released this as a feel good video to try and spread positivity amongst the school community over the midterm. It received a lot of attention online on our social media channels and even Bastille themselves have praised it. Well done to all involved!