There's so much going on at Seamount College, in Co Galway, that it would be crazy to shut it down, writes Orla Glynn
Seamount College has been one of the leading schools not only in Galway but also in Ireland. It is among the highest achievers in the infamous league tables. The most recent one put Seamount second in Connacht and in 20th place in Ireland.
Some of the pivotal activities students from Seamount have taken part in and won include the President's Award and the Young Citizen Awards, both of which were presented by the President, Mary McAleese. Seventy students were awarded Young Citizen Awards for their beneficial work in the school and the community. Of the 70, 15 were invited to an awards ceremony at Áras an Uachtaráin attended by Mrs McAleese.
Students also took part in cookery contests, including the Uncle Ben's Schools Cookery Competition and the Tesco Young Cook of the Year Competition. Last year one of the school's second-year students reached the final five and competed in the national final.
Speech-and-drama classes are offered to interested students and they sit exams annually.
Our school was recently awarded €10,000 by AIB, in its Better Ireland Award, to support its physical-education and music facilities.
This is Seamount College's first year offering transition year. I am one of the 30 students who opted to participate in it. Every teacher has put an enormous effort into making it a success. So far we have attended the Higher Options careers exhibition, at the RDS, and the Galway Film Fleadh, and we spent an activity weekend in the Burren.
We participated in deportment classes and the Junior Achievement programme and received talks from Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind, Galway Society for the Prevention for Cruelty to Animals and other organisations.
Our plans for the rest of the year include a school tour to Paris, next month, and a driving day.
We are also working on Young Social Innovators, the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition, a computer qualification and our school musical, Fame.
I am delighted that I opted for transition year, because I believe that I and my classmates will benefit greatly from it in terms of maturity, development and self-confidence.
The beneficial work our teachers do, delivering a broad education to the girls in the Kinvara community, is clear for all to see. It's also apparent the devastating effect the closure of such a small school would have on its students, teachers and surrounding close-knit community.
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