There was great fun and excitement around Presentation Castleisland last week as students and teachers celebrated Catholic Schools Week.
The theme for this year was Living Life to the Full and the school rose to the occasion, organising a number of events throughout the week, culminating in a spectacular flash mob dance on Friday afternoon.
“We decided that this year we would encourage our students to live out the theme,” Religion teacher Ailish O’Connor said that students read reflections over the intercom each morning to mark the thought for the day.
Grandparent’s Day Celebrated
“Two days stood out for us in particular during the week. On Wednesday, Grandparent’s Day was celebrated, and we organised a photography exhibition where the students could share how they have been creative, active and involved and how they have managed to remain connected to their grandparents during Covid,” said Ms. O’Connor.
“Friday’s theme was Moving Forward Together. We see our school as having a great, tight knit community spirit and we wanted to do something which would include the wider Presentation community also.
Flash Mob Dance
“As a result, the religion, PE and well-being departments got together to organise a flash mob dance to the song ‘Blinding Lights’ in the school’s front yard on Friday afternoon.
“The whole school community was involved – all staff and pupils. Some former students even returned for the occasion.
“The students practiced during their PE classes and the staff practiced at every available opportunity at break and after school, much to the amusement of the students,” said Ms. O’Connor.
The video of the school’s dance has gone viral on social media.
Living Life to the Full
Principal Pierce Dargan said that the school wanted to mark the idea of living life to the full with its students by encouraging them to be active and involved, and to express their creativity, gifts and talents.
“It was wonderful to have the Presentation Sisters join us for the event, as the whole school danced, laughed and lived life to full,” said Mr. Dargan.
‘The Heart of What We Do’
“The student experience is at the heart of what we do at Presentation Castleisland. It is important that students enjoy and look forward to coming to school, and go home every day with a smile on their faces.
Catholic Schools Week this year certainly fulfilled that objective for us, and we look forward to organising similar events again,” said Principal Dargan.
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