Extra Curricular Activities

A broad range of Extra Curricular Activities are promoted in the school. CCS is renowned for its Basketball achievements and has the distinction of winning ten All-Ireland Titles. G.A.A. is also very prominent. Last  year rugby was introduced and is doing very well. Boys’ soccer is also on the agenda for 2014.

In 2012 Rugby was successfully introduced to the school with both girls and boys initially participating. First Year boys enjoyed some very successful and enjoyable outings.

Students are offered the opportunity to participate in a variety of extra-curricular activities including sport, Quizzes, public speaking, debating, table tennis, Green schools, Student Council. At Senior level students can also participate in the school tour, the GAISCE Programme, Prefects, Mentoring and Leadership Programmes.

Sports Teams and Managers

Listed below are the managers and coaches for the various teams. Anyone of them would be only too willing to advise you of training times and training venues.

Basketball:

Senior boys Joe Henry

Cadet boys Joe Henry

2^nd year boys Joe Henry

2^nd year girls Joe Henry

Senior girls Joe Henry

Cadet girls Pauline Connaughton

1^st year girls Joe Henry

1^st year boys Joe Henry

Football:

Gaelic

Senior James Reidy

Junior Damien Carty

Juvenile Joe Mulhern

2^nd year Paul Gooney

1^st year Paul Gooney

Ladies football:

Senior and Junior Rosaleen Reilly

Ladies soccer:

Senior and Junior Yvonne Hanbury,  Rachel Keane and Alan Kennedy

Rugby

1^st year: Noel Heduan

Gaisce – The President’s Award

Castlerea Community School strongly encourages senior cycle students to participate in the Gaisce Awards. A Gaisce Award – The President’s Award is Ireland’s National Challenge Award for young people, the country’s most prestigious and respected individual Award programme. It is a challenge from the President of Ireland to the young people of Ireland.

Gaisce works on the basis of a personal challenge set by the young person. The award is broken into four main sections

1. Personal Skill– the student picks a skill that they wish to learn and dedicate an hour a week for 13 or 26 weeks to this skill. Students in the past have taken up challenges such as stop-start animation classes, learning to play a musical instrument, learning a new dance skill, cookery classes, first aid and learning to speak a foreign language to list but a few.
2. Community involvement – in this section, the student builds bridges and links in their local community. They volunteer one hour a week for 13 or 26 weeks in places such as nursing homes, charity shops & homework clubs. Students gain valuable experience and realise the importance of being an active member in their community.
3. Physical recreation – students decide upon a physical activity which they will dedicate one hour a week for 13 or 26 weeks. The aim of this is to instil the love of physical activity and then realise the importance of physical activity to their physical and mental health. By the end of the 13/26 weeks students will hopefully continue with this level of physical activity.
4. Adventure journey – In this section students plan, prepare and undertake an Adventure Journey in a group for two days and one night. The students hike or canoe covering a total minimum distance of; 25-35 km walking/ canoeing. They set up camp on their return and cook their meals by camp fire.

Gaisce Awards

President Michael D. Higgins personally sent his best wishes and congratulations to thirty –two Fifth Year and Transition Year students from Castlerea Community School who received their Gaisce Awards on Tuesday evening last. The award ceremony was held at the National University of Ireland, Galway. The students received their well-deserved award from Dr. James Browne, President of the University. Gaisce, the President’s Award is the most prestigious Award in Ireland for young people aged 15 to 25.

In his address Dr. Browne spoke of the wonderful work done by young people. Unfortunately this is not frequently recognised by the press who highlighted the negative behaviour of the minority.

These thirty-two students completed many personal challenges to achieve this award. These challenges included learning a new personal skill, becoming more physically active, contributing to and building connections within the local community and undertaking an adventure trip where they hiked 26km over two days and camped out.

Mr. Patrick G.Callaghan, CEO of Gaisce and Mr. Hugh MacConville, Development Officer for the West were also in attendance. Mr. Callaghan highlighted the importance of challenging young people to strive to do better and become better. He said people are at their best when they are out of their comfort zones. He focused on the importance of decision making and summed it up and stressed that what we choose to do and choose not to do are of equal importance in shaping our lives.

CCS students receiving their Gaisce Awards

Ladies Football

Castlerea Community School participates in the Connacht Post Primary School Ladies football competition at Junior and Senior level. In 2010 Castlerea Community School won the Connacht Junior C competition. Training takes place weekly after school. 1^st year ladies take part in blitzes throughout the year. It is a great way of getting to know students in the different years.