Volunteering Artistic Talents
Recently, Ms. McDonough was proud to be invited to a ceremony to mark the opening of an impressive and vast mural covering a surrounding wall of Laytown primary school, Scoil Olibhéir Naofa. Her pride was rooted in the fact that three of Loreto balbriggan’s students, Emma Neurhr, Emilie Molloy and Lucy Brezing had been an integral part of the team that painted the wall. The girls voluntarily of their time during the summer holidays helping the team complete the wall for the school. The artist, Suzanne Deasy and the principal complimented the girls on their willingness to give of their time, energy and expertise during the summer holidays when so much else is going on. Pictured here are the students, in front of the mural along with other local students.
MOTUS
1G and 1J attended workshops this week run by the MOTUS learning group. These very valuable workshops offer help and guidance for teenagers on how to look after their mental health.
On Tuesday all first years were very enjoying their ‘Sports Taster Day’. The students were given the opportunity to experience the many extra-curricular sports available after school.
Student Council.
The student council elections were held on Friday, October 8th. Student voice is very much valued in Loreto Balbriggan and the student council makes valuable contributions to important whole school decisions.
Congratulations to the following students who have been elected to the Student Council.
5th Year
Nelly Okeranien Iyere – 5A
Zara Stafford – 5B
Josica Vintem – 5C
3rd Year
Emily Ryan – 3E
Grace Cohen – 3G
Jessica Chen – 3C
1st Year
Raina McFadden – 1B
Sumeia Lloyd – 1E
Anu Olubajo – 1C
Student Leadership
Congratulations to 2nd year prefects and vice prefects who received their badges today. Wishing them all the best in their leadership role for the year ahead.
Junk Kouture
Congratulations to the creators ‘Draconic Defender’ who competed in the National Final of Junk Kouture on Friday. The final will be broadcast on RTÉ later on in the year.
TY News
This week our Community Links class has partnered up with Balbriggan Tidy Towns on a community project. The students painted over graffiti near Sunshine House yesterday and will be planting trees, bushes and ivy in the next few weeks.
Many TY students participate in the JPIC module on Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation. This module provides students with the opportunity to learn about the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Recently, students created posters and videos on the theme of ‘Making Peace with Nature’, raising awareness of some of the issues relevant to SDG 13: Climate Action. From September 1st- 4th October the ‘Season of Creation , was celebrated. Students reflected on the gift of creation and their place in it. This was also part of an international drive to #ACT4SDGs.
Some of the students’ work can be seen below.
Extracurricular
Sport
Well done to the U19 senior gaelic football team who won their opening match. We look forward to more wins throughout the year.
The first session of an eight week 1st Year GAA blitz took place on Wednesday afternoon.It was fantastic to see so many enthusiastic players on the pitch.
The senior hockey teams began their league campaigns this week, playing against Sion Hill and The Teresian School. Congratulations to Senior A who won their match 1-0. 
Congratulations to Faye McGloughlin, Heather McGloughlin, Moya Teeeling and Emma Hoey, members of the school equestrian team who were placed 5th in the Killossery Interschools competition. The next leg of the competition will continue on Sunday October 17th.
Congratulations to 2nd year Sarah Burke who has been selected on selected to represent Ireland on the national kickboxing team at the 2021 WAKO European Championships in Budva, Montenegro in November. This is a wonderful achievement and we wish Sarah all the very best in the competition.
Music
The senior choir attended a ‘Barbershop Beo’ worship hosted by the Irish Institute of Music and Song on Friday. The students learned all about Barbershop singing techniques with performances with ‘Midtown’ and ‘Lady Barbalade’. The day ended with an amazing outdoor performance.
Bookclub
The first meeting took place today of the Junior Book Club. There was a lot of interesting discussion on the joy of reading and how good literature enhances all our lives. The students will meet regularly to discuss their reading choices.
In Loreto Balbriggan we value the support that we receive from parents to implement the school’s Code of Behaviour, which creates a supportive and just learning environment for all students. Please click on the link below for an important letter from Principal, Ms.McDonough.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1F2gRXGGGGxyBBfpzFxDZktxmG_-5M8PgRAjK5sJGMys/edit
LORETO VIRTUAL CAMINO 2021
The Loreto 200 Virtual Camino challenge is now underway. Loreto schools from all over Ireland are virtually heading off on their Camino journeys together this morning. The challenge is to walk or run the pilgrimage path of Camino De Santiago, which is over 770km. Thanks to everyone for such a fantastic response, seventeen Loreto schools are participating, with almost three thousand students, staff, parents, and members of the wider Loreto community involved. Quite fittingly this year, in celebrating 200 years of Loreto education in Ireland, we have just over 200 teams leaving Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port this morning. A special thank you to our own Ms. Ferris, Loreto Extracurricular Coordinator and to the cooperating teachers in Loreto schools nationwide, who have worked very hard to make this event a success.
Loreto Balbriggan has a large number of staff and students entered in the challenge with approximately 400 participants. While entries for students and staff are now closed, parents are invited to take part in the challenge. The cost to enter the event is 3 euro. Please write your name, daughter’s name and form class, and your email address on an envelope, along with your fee of 3 euro. Your daughter can leave this envelope in the office on your behalf. We can enter a parents’ team into the challenge early next week. Each participant will receive a certificate and a wristband, and there will be prizes for the best efforts throughout the challenge!
