Habitat for Humanity trip to Zambia
The Habitat for Humanity trip to Zambia
over the Easter holidays was a great success. The flight from London was
10 hours long, but upon arrival in Lusaka at 6.30am we were introduced
to our trip coordinators Charity & Lucy and given a tour of the city.
The home we were building was for a family of 4 AIDS orphans who
currently lived with their aunt and her 5 children in a cramped, 1
roomed shack. The team worked like a well oiled machine; moving concrete
blocks, digging foundations, mixing cement, laying bricks and filling
floors were our main tasks. The house we were working on flew up, and
was completed fully by the end of the week. We also managed to build a
second house up to head height that was also for AIDS orphans in similar
living conditions.
Whenever we had spare time we played with the local children that were
onsite all the time watching us work. There were about 30 of them
playing games with us and posing for photos each day. Many of us struck
up friendships with them and were heartbroken when we had to leave. We
also had a great time with the builders Maxwell, Stefan, Paul and our
foreman Daniel who quickly taught us the skills needed.
We experienced many aspects of Zambian culture; we picked up some words
of the local language Nyanja, ate their staple food nshima (made from
maize meal & water) for lunch and were treated to some African songs and
dances. On Easter Sunday we took the day off to haggle in the market and
go to the cinema.
Naturally there were some entertaining moments to the trip as well;
Katie taking a shower fully clothed, Aoife & Laura falling and tipping a
wheelbarrow of cement into a trench, Mr Wilkinson & Mr Carolan doing
wake up in African skirts, some more cross dressing for the talent show
and a few of the teachers singing ‘Creep’ and ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ in
karaoke on the last night.
On the last day we handed over the keys to the completed house to its
new homeowners in the house dedication ceremony. There was much singing,
traditional African dancing and fire eating! We played with the kids for
the last time and then said our goodbyes. That evening we went out for
dinner and received small gifts and certificates of appreciation from
Charity & Lucy.
We arrived back in Dublin late Tuesday night, bringing home ‘deep tans’,
mosquito bites, hundreds of photos and unforgettable memories. It truly
was a life changing experience and on behalf of all the team I’d like to
thank Ms Thorp, Ms Watson, Mr Wilkinson, Mr Carolan and Mr Malin for all
their hard work to make the trip possible.
Two new hockey pitches to be built!
We are pleased to announce that we are in
a position to proceed during the summer of 2009 with the replacement of
both of our current hockey pitches. Two new Astroturf pitches will be
installed, along with necessary ancillary works, for the coming 2009-10
school year. One of these pitches will be built to allow for
multi-activity use (as well as hockey) by all pupils in PE, Games
classes and after school while the other will continue to provide a
competition grade hockey surface. We are pleased that it will not be
necessary to raise funds from parents to complete this project.
There may be some disruption to sports which normally use these pitches
at the end of May or the beginning of September (if a delay occurs in
the project). Everybody is asked to be patient and to look forward to
the great new facilities.
Music awards
Congratulations to Patrick King who won
the Senior Clarinet competition in the Feis Ceoil and was commended in
the Mabel Swainson Pianoforte Award/RTE Lyric FM recently.
Representing Ireland
Well done to James Harding who
represented Ireland in the European Bicycle Polo Championships on Friday
of last week. |
School sports photos
Winter sports team photos will be taken
on Wednesday May 6th for basketball, hockey, rugby, cross country,
badminton, swimming, orienteering and golf. Please ensure that you have
the correct sports gear and that it is clean. If you do not have the
gear you may not appear in the photograph. Photographs will be taken
outdoors if the weather permits, or otherwise in the Gym.
Junior drama production
The junior drama production "Time Twist"
will take place on Thursday 30 April at 7.30 p.m. in the Reynolds Hall,
admission adults €6 and pupils/children €3, pay at the door.
Material held over
Thanks to all contributors to the
newsletter this week. Some material has been held over to allow proper
space for coverage of it.
Fixtures and training this week
Boys cricket
2nd XI (L) Wesley Tues 28 Away 3pm
U14 (L) CUS Tues 28 Home 2.30pm
1st XI (L) St. Columba’s Wed 29 Away 2pm
Juniors (L) Marian Wed 29 Away 2.30pm
Boys tennis
Senior (C) Templeogue Wed 29 Away 2.00
Senior (C) Gonzaga Tues 5 Away 3.30
Girls tennis
Jun B Mt Anville Tues 28 Away 4.15
Min C, Jun B Alexandra Wed 29 Away 2.15
Min A St Joseph Cluny Wed 29 Away 1.00
Sen A Holy Child Killiney Thurs 30 Home 4.00
Min B Woodland Academy Thurs 30 Away 3.45
Sen B Foxrock Thurs 30 Home 4.00
Girls cricket
1st Yr St Columba's Wed 29 Home 2.00
Sen St Columba's Wed 29 Home 2.00
Results - well done!
In boys cricket the 1st XI beat Kings Hospital by 6 runs and St. Andrews
in the League by 30 runs. Juniors beat King's Hospital in the league by
6 wickets.
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