SENIOR SCHOOL TOUR Day 3 The third day began with breakfast at our hotel before we headed back into Rome to explore the San Callisto Catacombs and the Vatican City. Alberto was our guide, he took us on a tour of the San Callisto Catacombs. These Catacombs are most notable for containing the Crypt of the Popes which once contained the tombs of several popes from the 2nd to 4th centuries. After our guide of the San Callisto Catacombs, Antonio took us to the Vatican City, where we had lunch before entering the Vatican. On the guided tour of the Vatican we got to see ancient Roman sculptures, the Sistine Chapel and St Peter's Basilica. In evening we had an opportunity to explore other parts of Rome such as the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps. This free time gave everyone am opportunity to explore the shops in Rome and taste Italian delicacies. To conclude our day Antonio drove us back for our last night at our hotel before another busy day tomorrow.

SENIOR SCHOOL TOUR Day 2 We started our day with breakfast in our hotel. This set us up for a day of travelling where we were travelling south to Naples to see the world famous Mount Vesuvius and Pompeii. When we reached Naples at noon we were driven up towards the top of Mount Vesuvius, hiking the last couple of hundred metres to reach the summit of Mount Vesuvius. Here we got to see the only volcano on the European mainland to have erupted within the last hundred years. After this we headed to Pompeii where we got to see the ruins of what was destroyed and buried under 4 to 6 metres of volcanic ash in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79. After getting refreshments Antonio drove us back for our second night at our hotel where we had another fine dinner. Everyone was then off to bed to get ready for Day 3 of the 2018 Senior School Tour.

SENIOR SCHOOL TOUR Day 1 It was an early start to the day leaving Blessington before 3 am and flying out from Dublin Airport at 6:30. We arrived in Rome Airport at 09:30 local time. At this point we meet our bus driver for the trip Antonio. After lunch we visited the Colessum. Split into two groups everyone got a tour of the world famous Colessum and a walking tour of some of the other famous sites in Rome such as the Roman Forum. Antonio took us on a 40 minute drive out to our hotel for the trip. After checking in we had our dinner. It was not long before we went to bed to get ready for Day 2 of our trip.

U15 BOYS SOCCER Well done to the U15 boys soccer team who just beat Lusk Community College in the Leinster Champions League Semi Final. It was a thrilling game 1-1 after full time, 1-1 after extra time and Blessington won 5-4 on penalties with the final penalty saved by Michael O'Toole the Blessington goalkeeper.

Yesterday our Junior Boys Gaelic Football team won the Wicklow B Football Championship in Bray Emmets GAA Club. Glenart College Arklow, Coláiste Ráithín and Coláiste Chraobh Abhann Kilcoole participated in today’s blitz. In Blessingtons first game against Glenart College, it proved to be a one sided game. In the first half Blessington built up a lead through a number of points by Jake O’Kelly. Two quick goals by Eoghan Daly at the start of the second half saw Blessington win the game on a score line of 2-14 to 0-02. Up next were Coláiste Ráithín. The first half was tight, but goals just before half time by Jake O’Kelly and two from Robbie Miley saw Blessington build up a lead. Two goals from Cian Somers in the second half and great defending by Thomas Fisher, Christy Mooney, Jack Leitner, Daniel Cooney and Conor Reid saw Blessington win on a score line of 5-10 to 3-02. After two games each, Blessington and Coláiste Chraobh Abhann had two wins apiece. Therefore, this game doubled up as the final. In the first half Blessington were very clinical, with two super goals by Cian Somers, one from Robbie Miley and one from Jake O’Kelly saw Blessington lead by 4-05 to 1-03 at half time. Some super saves by Ryan Willoughby and a goal by Eoghan Daly saw Blessington run out winners on a final score line of Blessington Community College 5-06 Coláiste Chraobh Abhann 2-03. Congratulations to all the players involved and to their coach Mr Kirby. Blessington Squad: R Willoughby, C Somers, T Fisher, JL Morris, C Mooney, L O’Brien, J Leitner, R Miley, C Reid (c), L Sarkauskas, J O’Kelly, L Carey, M O’Toole, D Cooney, E Daly, T Mooney, R Cullen, B Clarke, A Mills, J Hamilton, S Reid.

BCC EQUESTRIAN BCC Equestrian Team had a great day out at the Interschools final in Mullingar on Sunday. The team wasn’t placed but the team jumped well and gave it 100%, Jessica and Ellie came 6th and 7th respectively in a big individual class of over 30 riders. The team gave a great account of themselves, this was only their second time out, they did the school very proud, they were competing against girls who have been jumping all year for their respective schools. The team would like to thank Heidi Slott Jørgensen their trainer for all her help and support they would also like thank Mr Burke for giving them the opportunity to go out and compete for Blessington Community College. This was the first year that the school competed in equestrian and hopefully the team will grow in strength in the coming years.

TY EQUESTRIAN TY students visited Callaighstown Equestrian Centre in Rathcoole today. Students got experience saddling and grooming horses, riding horses as well as mucking out the stables. The day was finished off with a game of limbo under the horse jumps. Thanks to Ms McCormack and Mr Logan for facilitating the day they also enjoyed taking part in the activities.

CAREERS/ SUSI GRANT Attention 6th Years/6th Year Parents SUSI - the grant scheme is now open for 2018-19 - check your emails or https://susi.ie/ . SUSI is also on Facebook and Twitter. Army recruitment is now open for General recruits in the Army and Navy, Cadets, Air Corps apprenticeships. The closing dates are all different with the first for General Recruits coming up on 22nd April. See http://www.military.ie/en/careers/current-vacancies/

CAREERS Attention 5th years 1. UCD SUMMER SCHOOL (5th-8th June) is now open for booking. Students get a chance to experience in a day, what third level courses are like and meet lecturers and students of those courses. The cost is €35 per student which includes lunch. The cost is €15 for those whose parents are on benefits. These schools get booked up really quickly so if you are interested don't hesitate to make a booking. See https://ucdsummerschool.ie/ 2. Maynooth University also run a similar summer school. This year it runs from 11th-15th June and costs €30. Please see https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/study-maynooth/undergraduate-studies/summer-school Summer School | Maynooth University www.maynoothuniversity.ie Maynooth University is known as a friendly and academically-challenging place to study. See for yourself why over 3,000 students choose this university annually for their undergraduate studies. It is possible to book for more than one day if you so choose. 3. UL have a Nursing Summer Camp which takes place 21-22nd June. it costs €80 and is open to post JC, TY and 5th Year students. See https://www.ul.ie/nm/nursing-and-midwifery-summer-camp Nursing and Midwifery Summer Camp - University of Limerick www.ul.ie Nursing & Midwifery Summer Camp 2018 will take place on Thursday 21 st and Friday 22 nd June. This two-day camp is suitable for post junior cert, TY and fifth year students who have an interest in Nursing or Midwifery as a career choice.

JUNIOR SCHOOL TOUR After four fantastic days in Paris we are on our way home to Blessington we should be there between 11.30/11.45. Thank you to all of the students who represented our school so well over the past few days, we were inundated with complements from the staff at our hotel and at different attractions on how well behaved our students were. Thank you to the teachers Ms McCormack, Fidelma, Mr McGinty, Mr Logan and Mr Jackman for all of your hard work and help over the past four days I'm sure you are now looking forward to your Easter Holidays. Finally thank you to all of the parents without your support a school tour wouldn't be possible. Merci Beaucoup Mr Curley

JUNIOR SCHOOL TOUR Day 4 Everyone was up early this morning at the Kyriad Disneyland for our final day in Paris. We started our day with a visit to the Air and Space Museum. This is the oldest aviation museum in the world and is home to over 150 aircraft and material dating back to the 16th century. We got a guided tour and boarded 2 Concords, a 747 Boeing and a WWII bomber and saw many others. After our visit, we met our coach and travelled to Le Millenaire Shopping Centre for some last minute shopping and lunch. We had a reservation at 3.45 for a self-guided tour to visit one of the world's largest and most famous museums, the Louvre. We took a stroll through the museum to admire a selection of masterpieces including the Venus de Milo, the Wedding Feast at Cana, the Mona Lisa and the Gallerie d’Apollon. We are now on the the way to Paris Charles de Gaulle with Ewan at the helm. Our flight EI529 departs at 21.35 we arrive in Dublin at 22.15 and we hope to be in Blessington at 23.15. We will get the students to text when we leave Dublin Airport would kindly ask all parents to be there to collect their son/daughter.

JUNIOR SCHOOL TOUR DAY 3 Everyone had a fantastic day at Disneyland Paris (so much so that we forgot to take photos) followed by dinner at Planet Hollywood. We are back in our hotel now to rest before another busy day tomorrow.