Castleknock Community College

Castleknock Community College, is an Irish community college. Established in 1995, Castleknock is part of the County Dublin Vocational Education Committee.

The college is a co-educational post-primary school catering to an ever-increasing population growth within the greater Carpenterstown area. A comprehensive academic curriculum is promoted in addition to a wide-ranging programme of extra-curricular activities.

History

The First Decade

*College opened on Wednesday 30th August 1995 in temporary accommodation at Hartstown Community School.
*Junior Debating team win the Inter schools Dublin West Debating Competition - May 1996.
*College opens at Carpenterstown Road, Dublin 15 - September 1996.
*Niamh Breathanach, Minister for Education visits the College - December ‘96
*First Science Trip to London - May 1997.
*College Canoeing team enters Liffey Descent - May 1997
*Parents Association hosts The Fashion Show and raised €21,970.50 (£15,000.00) - November 1997.
*School Choir reach the finals of Slogadh – March 1998
*Students visit Torai Island - May 1998
*First students sit the Junior Certificate – June 1998.
*Gold Medal success in Leinster Athletics Championships for Kate and Miranda Ruddock - May 1998.
*Marina Loughney wins a Silver Medal in the All Ireland Swimming Gala in the 200m
*Individual Medley. Marina Loughney and Jennifer Victory selected to represent Ireland and the College in The FISEC games in Spain. July 1998
*Transition Year and Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme (LCVP) launched in September 1998.
*College Relay Swimming team wins All Ireland Finals in Belfast – October 1998
*Adult Education programme launched in September
*"Starsearch" Talent Contest hosted in January 1999. Sinead McCarthy wins the inaugural event.
*College Choir perform in the National Concert Hall in the Co Dublin VEC Festival of Music. February 1999
*Grandparents’ Day hosted by the College in - May 1999
*U14 boys win All-Ireland Basketball Final in Kilkenny - April 2000.
*Transition Years travel to Barcelona March 2000
*European School Tour to Bavaria Germany April 2000
*Girls U14 Basketball win All Ireland Final May 2000
*First Students sit Leaving Certificate June 2000
*Mary Robinson UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Launches the Refugee Solidarity Badge designed by Graham and John Brocklebank – December 2000
*Aoife Ni Mhaoileoin achieves second place in her category at the Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition - January 2001
*Mental Health Public Speaking Team reaches the All-Ireland Final in Trinity College - May 2001
*Leaving Certificate Applied Programme (LCAP) launched - September 2001
*College Basketball teams win three Leinster titles April 2002
*September 2003 school is visited by Chief Justice Minister John Howell
*The Mentor Programme launched - September 2002
*College Relay Team win All Ireland Finals. May 2002
*First Prefects appointed - September 2003
*U14 Leinster Gaelic football Champions 2003 & 04
*David Hopkins (Senior Student) elected chairperson of Dáil na nOg in Dublin. A Fingal County Council initiative to promote political awareness.
*National Finalists in the Mental Health Public Speaking Project 2004.
*Aoife Ni Mhaoileoin represents Ireland in the Physics Olympiad in Amsterdam May 2004, and wins Silver.
*Under 14’s Boys Gaelic football Secure top flight football by winning the Division B. Leinster Final.

Educational Aims

According to the school's [http://www.castleknockcc.ie/ official website] , these are its educational aims:

*To enable and encourage the full growth and development of each student intellectually, creatively, physically, morally and socially.
*To create a caring, safe and supportive environment in which each student will have the opportunity to fully develop her/his aptitudes and talents.
*To promote gender equity, self-awareness and responsible attitudes on personal relationships, while encouraging dignity and respect in all our endeavours.
*To foster consultation and the involvement of parents in the development of school policies, and its social and recreational activities.
*To engender feelings of self-esteem and the creation of sensitive, caring and politically aware members of society.
*To create opportunities for parents and other adults to further their academic or social education by the provision of a community education programme.
*To aspire towards excellence in all areas of work and involvement, thus promoting an image and a reputation for our college, which will command the respect and the pride of the community.
*To be true to our motto "Mol an Oige and Tiocfaidh Si" and thus instill a feeling of self-esteem within all students.
*To provide a pastoral care programme that is central to the life of the college.
*To provide for the cultural and aesthetic needs of the community through the arts.

External links

* [http://www.castleknockcc.ie/ Official Castleknock Community College Site]