St. Aidan's C.B.S.

St Aidan's C.B.S. is a Christian Brothers secondary school located on Collins Avenue, Dublin. It is beside Dublin City University. Past pupils include Irish Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and former Republic of Ireland footballers Liam Brady , Mark Kinsella

History of the School

Early Years

The school was opened in 1964 in two classrooms of Larkhill Boys National School under the invitation of Fr. Brady, parish priest of Whitehall. Br. Paul Hayes was the school’s first principal. In 1965 the expansion of the school began. Due to new first year enrolments two extra wooden classrooms (‘the huts’) were erected near to the wall in the primary school playground. The year after saw more students and more ‘huts’. This led to cramped conditions in the already overcrowded school. The overcrowding existed in the playground as well as the classrooms, break times had to be coordinated so that they didn’t conflict with one another. In order to have a P.E. lesson the students had to walk to Whitehall Park. Around this time Albert College was moving to Celbridge, leaving a site available for another school which St. Aidan’s was quick to avail of. The government were providing 90% capitation grants to schools to build and expand in addition to Donagh O'Malley providing free education for all, leading to increased numbers. Phase one of the new school was completed in January 1968 and phase 2 was completed by September of that same year.

First Extension

During the 1970s the school building began to undergo serious deterioration causing massive amounts of money to be spent on maintenance. The Department of Education was informed of the situation. An application was made to the Department in 1982 for a new building. The main building continued to weaken. In 1986 the school was offered a Schedule of Accommodation stating the rooms and facilities allowed in the building. A preliminary planning briefing meeting between the school’s planning team and that of the department took place and a site feasibility report was drawn up in 1987. But no more progress was made. Whether to rebuild the school or not was brought up in the Dáil. The Minister for state re – examined the question of rebuilding the school in 1988. In 1989 the school manager, parents and teachers met with the minister for education who promised a reply within 8 weeks. In May 1990 there was still no reply. Eventually, after much hard work from Br. Cashel, then principal of the school a new building was ready for students in September 1995. Although the new school building was ready for students in September 1995, the official opening ceremony didn’t take place until the 18th of the following October. The opening was attended by Minister for Education and Science Niamh Bhreathnach T.D., Archbishop of Dublin Dr. Desmond Connell and past pupil Bertie Ahern, T.D. In honour of the occasion the Archbishop said mass in the hall. Presently there is more development underway in the form of two extra classrooms which will lead to the provision of a lunch room in the main building.

Second Extension

Work began on the second extension in September 2007. This expansion comprises a second building consisting of two classrooms, a small office, kitchenette and a WC although the layout is subject to change. The extension is intended to facilitate the creation of a lunchroom and the shortening of the lunch break. The building, complemented by new paving, is expected to be operational by March 2008. The project, undertaken by current principal Mr. James Reynolds is expected to be followed by further improvements to the school’s infrastructure.

Facilities

One of the advantages of being a recently constructed school is that St. Aidan's is able to provide modern facilities to students.

Science Laboratories

St. Aidan's is equipped with three laboratories: Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Each is equipped with gas outlets to allow the use of Bunsen burners. In addition to the gas outlets, each bench has a sink for health and safety reasons. Each lab has all of the necessary equipment and chemicals needed to carry out the mandatory experiments for Junior Certificate.

Library

The school also has a library fully stocked with books of a variety of types and classifications. These range from classic and modern literature to books which aid students in studying their special topic for Leaving Certificate history. The library is also used for special themed readings in which students are invited to recite or read a favourite work or something of their own composition.

The Demonstration Room

The Demonstration Room is used in a myriad of ways. It is built in the style of a lecture theatre and hosts classes, science demonstrations, talks, debates and visitors such as author Roddy Doyle.

Computer Rooms

There are two computer rooms in the school. They are used for many things including Transition Year projects such as the English Speaking Exam which requires a speech and a PowerPoint presentation; career guidance projects like curricula vitae and CAO applications as well as history research for special topics

Sporting Facilities

There is a gym called the Edmund Rice hall in addition to two full outdoor pitches and two basketball courts. The facilities within the school are complemented by the use of the pool in DCU.

Academia

Junior Certificate

St. Aidan’s offers Junior Certificate and Leaving Certificate courses and the Transition Year Programme. In addition to the mandatory English, Irish and Maths, for Junior Certificate, St. Aidan’s offers Business Studies, History, Geography, Science, C.S.P.E., S.P.H.E., French, and Religion. There is also the choice of practical subjects: Woodwork, Technology, Technical Graphics, Music and Art.

Transition Year Programme

The Transition Year Programme that St. Aidan’s offer contains a wide variety of subjects and activities. It contains all of the subjects that appear on the Junior Certificate Syllabus including all practical subjects. However the manner in which they are taught differs to the Junior Certificate with much emphasis placed on research and presentation. The activities undertaken by Transition Year students include learning to dance in preparation for a competition and numerous trips throughout the year including Connemara, Newgrange, the National Museum of Ireland and Barcelona. Students also take part in a student – run mini company which is then brought to a trade fair. Another option is the YSI (Young Social Innovators) or Formula 1 in which students construct a gas powered car and enter it in races and there is also the possibility of Robocup which sees students building a robot and travelling to such places as Bremen and Atlanta.

Leaving Certificate

For the Leaving Certificate students must continue to study English, Irish, Maths and Religion with most opting to study French. Students may also choose to study Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Business, Accounting, Economics, History, Geography, Construction Studies, Technology, Art, Music as well as the LCVP Programme. The school has known notable success in Leaving Certificate results including Shane Reilly who got six A1s in 2006.

Extra Curricular Activities

Sport

Sport plays a big part in the life of a St. Aidan’s student; there are two PE classes per week along with extra curricular sports. The school has known particular success with athletics and water polo, both coached by the energetic Mr. O’Neill. In athletics St. Aidan’s has won best school in all competitions so far this year. In water polo St. Aidan’s won the All Ireland Cup in 2007 and retained it in 2008. Hurling has also known successes including the senior team, coached by Mr. James Carmody narrowly missing out on winning the All Ireland ‘B’ competition. This year the junior basketball team, coached by Mr. Richard Gill have made it to the final of the schools competition.

Debating and Public Speaking

Public speaking mainly takes place in each of the junior years, there is a competition within each; every class selects its best speaker by way of a semi final. The final then has a representative from each class. Students, in general, choose their own topic on which to speak. However censorship is a common hindrance. Competing in external public speaking events has largely been limited to the Mental Health Ireland competitions although participation in this arena is likely to cease. St. Aidan’s has known significant success in debating competitions in recent years. Students David Doyle, Karl Elliott, Ben Griffin, and Anthony Madden have all reached the quarter finals of the Denny Schools Debating Competition; a feat unmatched by nearby schools. Success has also been marked in the AIB Phil Speaks Competition where in recent years Andrew Linn won the junior competition and David Doyle came second in the senior competition in a grand final where half of the debaters were St. Aidan’s students. In 2008 the competition saw its greatest numbers with over 1,000 students taking part and St Aidan's was well represented by Andrew Linn, and Karl Elliot taking second and fourth place, respectively. In 2007 Transition Year students Karl Elliot, Andrew Salter and Craig O’Hare reached the Leinster finals of the European Parliament Schools Debating Competition and received a special commendation from adjudicator Eileen Dunne. The students are aided in their endeavours by coach Mr. Tim O'Connor as well as Mr. Oliver Deneher.

Robocup

In 2006 and 2007 St. Aidans Students Andrew Jordan, Kevin Reilly, Eoin McCormac and Aaron Kennedy won the Irish Robocup competition. In 2006 this allowed them to proceed to the international competition in Germany and in 2007 Atlanta in America

The Robocup was held in Bremen in Germany in 2006 and Atlanta in 2007

External links

* [http://www.staidanscbs.com/ Official St Aidans CBS website]