1st Year Basketball

We play with the 1st year basketball team and we play in the A division. We have started a tournament with six other teams. This will start in January. We are training very hard now. Our coach, Coach Ciarán, is very good. We are having loads of fun and enjoying basketball so far! By Sean Kearney and Eoin Diskin (IF)

U16 Hurling

St. Joseph’s U16 hurling team won their match against Lusk Community College. This match was part of the Dublin Top Oil Junior League. At half time, Lusk C.C were leading by 1 point but St. Joseph’s had a very strong wind against them. In the second half we were able to turn the game around. Lusk had a player sent off. The final score was 3-8 to 1-6, to St. Joseph’s. Thanks to Ms. Bugler and Mr. O’Brien. Thanks also to Mr. Ryan and Mr. Stephenson for accompanying us to the match.By Shane Reilly (2F)

U14 Gaelic Football

We played St. Mary’s in the Wolftone’s pitch a few weeks ago. When we got off the bust we went to the dressing rooms to get ready. Mr. McCole and Mr. Mathews announced the starting teams. After this we went and completed a very intense warm up. The first half was a great display of strength and composure from St. Joseph’s. Going into half time the score was 2-3 to 2-3. At half time our coaches had a chat with us. We think both teams had the chance to take the lead but in the end the final score was 4-6 to 4-6. Hopefully if we play St. Mary’s again we will beat them! By Tadhg Martin and Conor McGuirk

Junior Rugby

Last week the Junior rugby team played Ardee Community School in Ardee. It was a close game. St. Joseph’s couldn’t come out with a victory as a missed tackle led to a last minute try to Ardee. We gave it our best shot and we are ready for the next game! Thanks to Ms. O’Rourke! - Jack Carley (2R)

Golf

I play golf with St. Joseph’s every year. Ms. Moore and Mr. Farrell run golf in the school. We meet during the year to play against each other. I have a handicap of 6 and I’m a member of Baltray Golf Club. I won golfer of the year with my club two years in a row. - James Fanning (5.1)

Senior Basketball

On Monday 22 nd October the U19 team played Dunboyne in the U19 Northeast A league. We won this match. The U16 team also played Dunboyne but unfortunately they lost. We train Monday, Wednesday and Friday afterschool with Coach Ciarán. We are looking forward to the year ahead!

Littering in the River Boyne: An Issue We Can No Longer Ignore.

The River Boyne is one of the defining natural features in the town of Drogheda. It is a river that has played an integral role in the development and history of our town. Yet it is somehow beyond our capabilities to adequately maintain and keep clean this vital asset in our community. You need only to take a look over any of the bridges spanning the river and you will likely witness plastic bottles, non biodegradable packaging and even the occasional shopping trolley carelessly thrown into this river which not only is an asset to the people of the town, but is a vital ecosystem that is home to several species of animals and plants.The Green Schools Committee in Saint Joseph’s Secondary School here in Drogheda decided to carry out an investigation into the issue of littering in the River Boyne in various locations across the town but it was primarily focused o the area surrounding Mell Football Pitch and Saint Dominic’s Park. On various dates in February 2018, members of our Green Schools Committee travelled down to the river bank and photographed a truly disgusting amount of litter that was present,These photos reflect the complete lack of regard or consideration for others or for the natural life that inhabits the river that is held by some members of our community. But as well as just identifying the problem of littering in the River Boyne we have also tried our best to come up with a series of solutions to the problem.

Possible Solutions To This Problem One solution that the Green Schools Committee came up with was an increase in the financial penalties that are handed down to those who are caught perpetrating this crime. We believe that the current fine of €150 does next to nothing to deter people from carelessly discarding their potentially hazardous waste into the river. We believe that if we are going to properly stop people from ruining this great natural feature, the financial implications need to be severe and have a lasting impact. However, increasing the fines imposed on those who litter is pointless if those who litter are never caught and prosecuted. It is for this reason that we believe that another possible solution for the problem of littering in the River Boyne is an increase in the amount of Closed Circuit Television cameras and litter patrols present along the river bank. These are absolutely vital in tackling issues of littering in any area. People need to know that if they are going to litter than they will be caught, they will be identified and they will face the consequences. Another area that needs to be considered in tackling littering problems in Drogheda is an increase in the amount of adequate waste disposal areas in the town itself, particularly in housing estates surrounding the river. Much of the litter in the River is centred around these estates yet there is little to no means for people to properly dispose of their waste. If there are no bins around, then you might considering dumping that litter in any way you can, which in many cases means carelessly discarding that litter into the big River Boyne. Even in the town centre, there is a noticeable lack of waste bins in many areas and it is no coincidence that these areas are areas with large amounts of litter. Even where there are bins, these are often overflowing which leaves people with little choice but to throw that litter in another place.

A Final Word One thing that we have discovered while researching this problem is that it is not going to solve itself, people don’t just grow out of littering. We need to educate people on the dangerous effects of littering on their communities, we need to pressure our local and county councils and urge them to implement these solutions that we have highlighted and any other that may present themselves. As our town continues to grow and with events such as Fleadh Ceoil na hÉireann coming to Drogheda this August and with the increasing tourism that we have experienced through the Ireland’s Ancient East initiative, the problem of littering in the River Boyne needs to be addressed sooner rather than later.

By Michael Traynor, Seán Carolan and the rest of the Green Schools Committee at Saint Joseph’s Secondary School, Drogheda. We hope to spread this article through our School Newsletter, School Website www.droghedacbs.ie and through local newspapers.

Culture Week: A celebration of Diversity

A rich vein of nationalities permeates our student population with over thirty countries represented in 1st Year alone. These students who hail from countries such as Nigeria, Latvia, Germany and the Philippines are valued members of our school community and at the end of April (23rd to 27th) we will celebrate their contributions. The week will begin with an inter-faith ceremony for all 1st Years to be attended by representatives from our Board of Management, our Parents Association, our trustees E.R.S.T and our sponsors for the week Drogheda Credit Union. Throughout the week students will engage in various workshops provided by Boomerang Youth Café, Give Racism the Red Card and Create School. Fund raising events taking place will include a World Cup Final for 1st Years, a Basketball play-off, Food Culture Day and a non-uniform day. Student works of art, technology and poetry will be displayed whilst language students will deliver presentations. The week will also celebrate the official launch of the Immersion Project and students travelling to India later in the year will deliver a number of presentations on the nature and purpose of their trip.

Not to be left out our teachers will attend a presentation by Lizzy Noone from Worldwise Schools who will talk about development education. All in all it promises to be a noisy week as we come together to applaud all members of our student body.

St Joseph's donate to Drogheda Women's Refuge

A big thank you to all the students and their families who donated so generously to our annual appeal for the Drogheda Women’s Refuge. In addition to your wonderful contributions of non-perishable foodstuffs, toiletries, toys and clothing, €460 was raised by the 6th year coffee morning & raffle and fundraisers in Ms. Flood’s 2nd, 3rd & 5th year classes. €250 was spent on groceries and essentials and the remaining money was used to purchase vouchers. Thank you once again for supporting such a worthy cause. Wishing all our students and their families a very happy Christmas and may 2018 bring many blessings to all.  Ms. Flood School Chaplain.

Rugby Update

Rugby Update :

Our juniors won against Malahide CS in the final game of the pool 56 - 25

Try scorers were

Joe Agbeyomi 2 tries

Alex Hanratty 2 tries

Paddy McGeary try

Stan Goodwin 3 try "hatrick"

Ryan Delaney

Cons by Tadhg Martin and Ben Savage

The Juniors are proving their strength in depth with a comprehensive defeat of a strong Malahide side.

The seniors demolished Malahide 46 -0

Tadhg O'Reilly scored 3 tries

Sean Healy

Conan Carroll

Shane Hickey

Andrew Dalton

Emmanuel Nyarko

Cons by Nathan Sutherland and James Farrell

The seniors put on a fantastic display of sustained power and back line play. The forwards carried superbly and made the hard yards at every breakdown.