Chess Club
The Chess Club’s primary aim is to teach students how to play chess and to offer a vital social avenue for students during their lunch time. It takes place in the school library. The club recently received a valuable bursary form the Parent’s Association which will enable them to buy more equipment. It is wonderful to hear the happy, cheerful chatting coming from Rm 103 whenever the Chess Club meet. They also enter various competitions throughout the school calendar and have even secured third place in the All Ireland Championships at Junior level.
Creative Writing Group
The Creative Writing Group meet to chat, collaborate, and discuss projects and literary pieces they may have. In recent years the goal had been to plan and help publish a collection of art and writing, named “The Book”. TY classes have become very involved in this section. “The Book” was launched in the school on 25th of April as part of the Cúirt Festival of International Literature. The Launch night was a fantastic affair that brings staff, parents, students and the wider community together to celebrate the literary successes of our students. Since then, the group has gone on to publish many more versions of this very successful venture.
Cycle Against Suicide
Following a very inspiring talk by Jim Breen, given to a large number of students in Oct 2015, the school decided to apply to become an Ambassador School for this group. An application form was completed documenting all our work in the area of mental health as well as physical including the 5K run by the whole school, we were awarded the status of being an Ambassador School in 2016 (awarded plaque is displayed in front hall ). We hope to renew our status each year in our ongoing work, in supporting their message; " it's ok not to be ok and it's absolutely ok to ask for help".
Green School Committee
The theme of this year’s Green School Committee is “Global Citizenship Litter & Waste". Every two years the theme changes for our Green School’s Committee. Our school strives to highlight the importance of caring for the world we live in. We were the first school in Galway to get “The Green Flag” and have maintained it since! Our dedicated committee organises a wide range of student and staff based activities throughout the year; Action Days, Recycling clothes and bins, Fair Trade Fortnight, Biodiversity and many more.
Health Promotion
In May 2016, Calasanctius College was awarded the Health Promoting Flag by the HSE. This flag was awarded on the basis of work completed and documented over a two year period. A Health Promoting team comprising of teachers, pupils and parents was formed and research into the requirements and needs of the school was carried out. Results led the school to focus primarily in the promotion of mental health in the school. Policies, evidence of extra-curricular activities, projects, all focusing on the promotion of mental health in the school, were all presented. These, along with the completion of a detailed application form, finally led to the school being one of the first in the west to receive the flag. The flag and plaque are on display in the front hall.
Book Club
The Book Club meets for one lunchtime each week. Students are encouraged to read and relax with a cup of tea or hot chocolate. These items are provided for the students. They are invited to bring their own book or to choose one from the library. Every month the students share their opinion of the book they have read with each other during a group discussion. They can also swap books if the wish.
Positive Mental Attitude Group - HEADSTRONG
A group of TY students are part of a Positive Mental Attitude Group in the school. The main aim of the group is to become actively involved in activities/projects which may improve mental health in our school. Their main project last year was to prepare a piece of art work for the Students Leaders Congress for “Cycle Against Suicide”, and they will be very involved in the upcoming “Wellbeing Week.”
Science Quiz Teams
Science Quizzes have been held on a regular basis for years in our school. All 3rd Yr students participate in a Junior Science Quiz with the top four teams going forward to represent Calasanctius in an Inter School Science Quiz, which we have won for the last three years running. A Senior Science Quiz is held during Science week. Two Leaving Cert teams represent the school in the annual ISTA inter schools quiz.
Recycling
Recycling is incredibly important in Calasanctius College. There are various initiatives undertaken by staff to try to eliminate our carbon footprint. In some cases a charity will benefit from our efforts at recycling. The Laura Lynn Foundation Battery Collection is run on annual basis in our college. Unwanted and unused batteries are collected throughout the school. This organisation provides respite, transitional and crisis care for children with life limiting conditions, in their family home. “Children Win, Parents Win, Environment Wins". Source Imaging is a company that recycles our old computers, scanners, ink cartridges and so on. We also offer WEE Recycling of Printers and goods that are offer 250kg for free. Recycling bins are in every locker area and all staff promote recycling.