Curriculum CSPE
CSPE
CSPE (Civic, Social and Political Education) is now a Junior Certificate Subject, compulsory for all students. The CSPE curriculum includes an action project as a core component of the course. The action project encourages students to take action and investigate an issue of interest to them. The issue must be related to the concepts of the CSPE course and can be topical, and/or of interest to the local or school community. In the Sacred Heart School, many CSPE action projects have been undertaken, including a fashion show, a talent show, a funfair, and an ice-cream sale, all to raise money for local causes. Other projects included a trip to the Drogheda Recycling Centre, which related to the environmental aspect to the curriculum, and a tour of the Dail, meeting local T.D.s which related to the section of the course on democracy.
Who Wants to be a Millionaire?
St. Barbara's class organised a fun afternoon for the students and staff, by hosting their own version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire? They organised this event as part of their CSPE action project along with the guidance of their CSPE teacher Ms. O'Donnell. Many students and teachers participated in this event as contestants and it was thoroughly enjoyed by both staff and students alike. The contestants were able to ask the audience, go 50-50, and phone a friend in their endeavours to answer the questions. The class raised an impressive 1573 euros for St. Vincent de Paul as a result. Well done girls.
CSPE Trip to Leinster House
The third year CPSE students went on a trip to Leinster House on Thursday 26th November. They attended a tour of Leinster House and got a chance to observe proceedings in the Dail chamber and in the Seanad. They met two local TDs, Thomas Byrne and Fergus O'Dowd. They also met the newly appointed senator James Carroll from Monasterboice. They had a chance to chat with Mr. Enda Kenny, leader of Fine Gael, and Mr. Dermot Ahern, Minister of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. They saw many ministers during their trip including Tanaiste Ms. Mary Coughlan, Mr. Noel Dempsey (Minister of Transport), Ms. Mary Hanafin (Minister of Social and Family Affairs), Mr. Willie O'Dea (Minister of Defence), and Mr. Eamonn O'Cuiv (Minister of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs).
Second Year Funfair
St. Martha's class organised a funfair for Sport's Day, as part of their CSPE action project . They were aiming to raise money for the Drogheda Animal Rescue Centre. The Funfair inolved lots of games and activities fortune telling, face-painting, ball throw, go fish, a raffle, and sponge throwing at the teachers! They prepared all the stalls and activities themselves as a group and encouraged and promoted the funfair around the school. They presented a cheque for 1000 euros to a member of the Drogheda Animal Rescue Centre after after the event.
St. Flora Scream for Ice-Cream
St.Flora's class organised an ice-cream sale in the school as part of their CSPE action project entitled Scream for Ice-cream. The girls sold ice-cream cones to staff and students at lunch time in the kitchen, and their sale was very successful. They were raising money to benefit a village Tanzania in the east coast of Africa.
Fundraising for the Bubblegum Club
St. Fidelma's class decided to raise money for the Bubblegum Club as part of their CSPE action project. They organised a raffle to win an Ipod Touch and many other great prizes in the school, and sold a variety of sweets in the school shop which they re-named The Sugar Shop, to raise more money. The Bubblegum Club is an organisation which sends children and teenagers with long term illnesses on holidays. The class raised 800 euro and presented the cheque to Mr. Peter Harris the founder of the organisation.
St. Margaret's Talent Show
St. Margaret's class organised a school talent show on Friday 19th of December to raise money for the Drogheda Animal Rescue Centre, as part of their CSPE action project. Many of the girls in the school volunteered to take part. There were singers, ribbon gymnastics, baton twirling, dancing, a concertina player, and the Scared Heart cheerleading squad. A raffle was held at the interval with some great prizes.
The judges, Ms. Mullins, Ms Madden and Headgirl Keeva Gilchrist selected three finalists; Eve Murray, Grainne Kimmins and the Ridikulous dance crew. The students then had to vote for the first, second and third place positions. The votes were then counted and in first place was the Ridikulous dance Crew, second place went to Grainne Kimmins and third place went to Eve Murray. The St. Margaret's class did an excellent job organising the show, and many of the students were involved with presenting, hair & make-up, sound, designing the programme, decorating the gym, researching the charity and lots more. The girls raised 1,500 euro for the Drogheda Animal Rescue Centre. Well done girls.
St. Madeline's Fashion Show
St. Madeline's Class put on a Fashion Show as their CSPE Action Project. The classn awed students and staff alike, when their fantastic fashion show took place on Wednesday 14th May in the Gym. As part of their CSPE course, they prepared and planned every part of the show in order to complete an action project aiming to raise money for Abacas and The Women's Refugee in Drogheda. The girls sourced many outfits from local stores such as Pamela Scott, Vera Moda, Pepe Jeans, Protocol and Dunnes Stores. A catwalk was built especially for the occasion, and our student hairdressers and local makeup artists came on board to beautify the lovely models. A raffle ws held with some great prizes at the interval. Both students and teachers became models for the afternoon much to the delight of the audience. The girls managed to raise a whopping 2000 euro for their causes. The fashion show was a hit and very much enjoyed by the other students and staff. Thank to Ms. O'Donnell, CSPE teacher who guided the girls and helped them make this day a success.
3rd Year students visiting the Dail 2007
2nd Year students visiting the Drogheda Recycling Centre 2007
2nd Year trip to the Dail
St. Fidelma's and St. Fiona's classes visited the Dail in May as part of their C.S.P.E. curriculum. They were accompanied by teachers Mrs. Shanahan and Ms. Coyle. They observed the Dail in session and got to witness outgoing Taoiseach Bertie Ahern giving his last addresses to Dail members. They received a guided tour around the Dail and the Seanad and found it to be a very worth while experience.