Thursday 26 March 2015

Ski Trip 2015



The February half term break has long been associated with the end of Mock Exams and, to a great extent, the beginnings of Spring. For those involved in the Ski Trip over the past number of years this break has been associated with diving into a fairly intense week having had just enough time over the previous fortnight to throw a few things into a bag and catch the bus to Dublin, regardless of what unearthly hour it might be leaving at!
This year it was a pleasant and manageable mid-morning departure on Sunday. A full bus and ‘overflow’ car headed off on the first leg of our journey to a heretofore unexplored destination of Pinzolo, a village beside its better known neighbor, Madonna di Campiglio. 



The group comprised a healthy number of experienced skiers along with a slightly predominant group of beginners. Transition Year were the dominant year group numerically but there were a significant group of 6th Yrs on a post-mock blow-out and some representatives from 2nd Yr.
An early start on Monday morning following a late night of settling in on arrival got the group kitted out and ready to face the first lesson of the week at 11am. This was the pattern of the week with a morning and afternoon lesson for about two hours each. As the week progressed, we had some people availing of some extra skiing between lessons and Pinzolo began to take shape in our minds. It is a relatively small ski area but what it lacks in mileage it makes up for to a great extent in muscle as the red runs have some difficult pitches while the few black runs and some adventurous instructors ensured our experienced skiers were kept interested.

All the experienced skiers had an opportunity to take a day out skiing in Madonna, which substantially extends the mileage, accessible by gondola from Pinzolo. We enjoyed a ski safari around this spectacular resort, returning to link up with the others as they were finishing up for the day.

We enjoyed a largely sunny week. Our first day was overcast and snow fell for most of our last day, making visibility a little difficult and dampening the clothes if not the spirits. The other four days showed the dramatic skyline in brilliant sunshine. We could enjoy the sun at lunch time, unless of course you ordered the pizza, in which case you spent most of your break in a chaotic queue!
Evening time saw the group participate in some typical apres ski activities like swimming and ice skating but we also enjoyed an unusual spectacle with a visit to a pro ice hockey game in the semi-final of a regional cup competition. Certainly a sport not for the faint hearted, it was really interesting to see a ‘live’ game as opposed to watching on TV. The collisions were jarring and most agreed they would prefer to have LUKA on their own team rather than play against him!!
Our talent night might have been short but certainly not lacking in talent. The hotel staff, ski instructers and a few other random guests enjoyed music and song from some seriously talented young people.

All in all, we really enjoyed our first visit to Pinzolo and whatever about future opportunity we all agreed that we would be very happy to return to the area sometime in the future. One thing that makes for happy memories as an adult member of the ski group is a co-operative student body. The students who travelled to Pinzolo were second to none in the manner in which they conducted themselves. Pleasant, chatty, enthusiastic and responsive, they were damned good company and have done the school, families and, most importantly, themselves proud. Thank You, all.







Tuesday 24 March 2015

25th Annual Fashion Show

On the 23rd of October 2014, Villiers School held its 25th Annual Fashion Show.

As always, Hillary Thompson and her models came to our School to teach this year's TY students how to walk and act like professional models on the catwalk for this annual charity fundraiser. This year's charity is Ian’s Trust, a charity that supports families of children who suffer from acquired brain injury.



The 80+ students who participated, practiced over a period of 5 weeks in the School, and eventually modelled clothes from over 15 different shops on the night, as well as from some prominent Limerick designers, including well know past pupil, Caroline Mitchell.

Some of the shops that kindly lent their clothes were Stitch, Tailor of Blue, Dorothy Perkin, Xpose and many more.
All ticket proceeds and money from raffle tickets of €800 was donated to Ian's Trust. 

The show itself took place in the wonderful Radisson Blu Hotel from 8pm till 11pm, ending with two students presenting both the announcer Ms Woods and the head of events, Hillary, with a bouquet each. We all look forward to watching next year’s show and to seeing the production as members of the audience rather than back stage! 

Ryan O’Shaughnessy
TY Fashion Show Committee 2014


                              












Senior Boys' Hockey


Boys Hockey
Congratulations to our Senior Boys' hockey squad who reached the Munster cup final last Wednesday against Ashton School, Cork. Unfortunately we were defeated 3-1 in a spirited performance and hard fought game. Half time saw us 2-1 down and still very much in the game. Luke Cardy being our scorer from a well  executed short corner.
This was our third final in as many seasons and we are hopeful of getting our hands on the cup next season – as we retain the majority of our squad. Plans are already at an advanced stage to travel to Holland pre-season for extra training in August. Many thanks to their coach, George Blackwell,  who has put in many extra hours training throughout the season and to all the parents and students who supported us on the day.     

Thursday 19 March 2015

Junior B Girls Hockey

Junior B squad who played their last game vs. Gaelcholaiste last Friday. Everyone had a superb game and went on to win the match comfortably. Orla Mulvihill, Grace Keely, Hazel Alfred, Sarah O'Connell and Mikayla Kearney were the goal scorers on the day. Well to done to Grace Keely who has been a superb captain throughout the year.


Junior Certificate Business Studies Awards UL

Well done to Sam Clein, Tara Finucane, Chloe Cheung, Amelia Conlon and Reece Gavin who were presented with awards at the recent Junior Certificate Business Studies Awards Ceremony at the University of Limerick.

These awards are presented by the Kemmy Business School and the Business Studies Teachers Association in recognition of outstanding results in Business Studies in the Junior Certificate Exam 2014.

Sunday 15 March 2015

Thomas F. Meagher Foundation Flag Presentation

Villiers School was honoured to be involved in the first ever School’s Flag presentation by The Thomas F. Meagher Foundation. This event took place on March 12th in the Kingfisher Club in Waterford.



The Thomas F. Meagher Foundation aims to promote pride in and respect for the Irish flag and its true meaning for peace on this island. The Foundation is named after Thomas Francis Meagher, Irish Patriot, US army general and Governor of Montana who flew the first Tricolour flag on the 7th of March 1848 from 33 The Mall in Waterford at the Wolf Tone Club.

Almost 300 schools were presented with an Irish Flag which had flow over 33 The Mall in Waterford.


President Michael D. Higgins was guest of honour and he outlined the importance of the Irish Flag
as a powerful emblem of brotherhood and peace.  Mary Kenny was compeer for the afternoon and video messages were heard from Irish soccer captain Robbie Keane.

Deborah Adepoju, Shauna Hanrahan, Tara Finucane and Lauren Fitzell received the Irish Flag on behalf of Villiers School and were accompanied to the Ceremony by Deputy Headmistress Mary Quinn.









Saturday 14 March 2015

BHA Great Debate

Aileen presenting her speech at Royal Holloway, University of London. Saturday, 14th March saw 18 students from across Great Britain and Ireland debate the significance of the Magna Carta in their lives. The array of ideas was vast, well researched, and indeed informative. There is no doubt that all the finalists have embraced history and politics, and that they will be voices of the future which will no doubt instigate progress and change in the area of civil liberties.

http://youtu.be/8o09DBqYkL8

Thursday 12 March 2015

TY's SPEAK OUT


Our TY's in action at The Limetree Theatre on Thursday 12th March, 2015