Hazelwood College

Building Works Update

Things are progessing well with our new extension. Greatly helped by the good weather for the month of October.

Here are some photographs of the progress. Sub foundations for the new buildings were dug and poured to a depth of 2.4m. On top of these foundations the steel formwork for the main foundation ring were laid. Over the midterm break these upper foundations will be poured and completed

At the second location over 300 truck loads of soil have been removed and the base for the new basketball courts and soccer pitch are being laid.

Traffic Management

The safety of the children is paramount during the construction of our new extension and associated site works.

Only staff cars and buses will be allowed onto the campus from Monday 3rd October. Parents/Guardians should park away from the campus and not block the buses. It was never intended in the original design of the school that parents would drive on the grounds of the school. The intention was parents would let their children out of the car in the drop off zone outside the gates and students would walk on the paths into the school and thus not meet any cars.

As there will be a number of concurrent works taking place on site it is necessary to close the access road to the rear of the school to all traffic. The road space in the teacher car park to the front the of the school is to be reserved exclusively for the school buses and to facilitate the turning of these buses. Parents are no longer permitted to enter the staff car park to collect their students and must remain outside the school gates. Parents may wish to consider other collection points for their children such as ‘the square’ in the village.

We accept these changes will cause inconvenience and possible delay especially in the early days as we all get used to these changes, but remember these changes are designed with the safety of children in mind. Parents entering the school grounds and attempting to turn their cars while students are exiting the building will be an extremely risky activity and is not permitted.

New Extension Commencing

Hazelwood College is happy to announce the next phase of expansion at the school will commence construction this coming week on Monday 3rd of October.

Pictured at the recent signing of contracts in the school are top row (l-r) Sean Twomey, Kevin Nolan, Shane Leyden, Kim Jacobsen, Brian Morrissey, Front (l-r) Elizabeth Dolan, Brendan Burke, Tom O’Connor, Eamon Murphy, David Leyden and Chris Casey.

Those present represented the Main Contractor, Conack Construction, Architects Leydan Hassett and Associates, and Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board.

Junior Cert Wood Projects 2016

Junior Certificate Woodwork 2016 Projects

Below are the projects submitted by this years woodwork classes for the State Examinations.

Students had to pick one of the following design briefs and submit a project they felt answered the brief

Coursework – Design and Realisation

Design Briefs – Ordinary Level
1. Design and make a decorative mirror for a child’s room.

The mirror unit should be designed to be wall mounted and must incorporate a theme from a storybook or animated film. The mirror unit should be safe in use, compact and well made. Any templates used should be included in your design folio.

2. Design and make a decorative artefact to celebrate the 2016 Summer Olympic Games.

The artefact should be attractive, compact and well made. It may be wall-mounted or suitable for display on a shelf and should represent a specific aspect of this international sporting event.

3. Design and make an attractive organiser for sketching and colouring equipment.

The artefact should be designed to organise and store a variety of pencils, A4 paper and other relevant materials. The organiser should be well made and appropriately finished. The maximum dimension must not exceed 400mm.

Design Briefs – Higher Level

1. Storage spaces in the home are sometimes located at a high level and are not easily accessed.

Design and make a freestanding artefact which will enable an adult to reach such locations safely. Your artefact should be made from solid wood, with jointing techniques chosen to provide strength and stability. The unit should be designed to be portable and should incorporate an innovative secondary function. The maximum base footprint of the unit must not exceed 500mm.

2. Marking significant historical events is an important element of cultural identity for nations across the globe.

Design and make an artefact commemorating a significant historical event of your choice. The artefact should be elegant in appearance, be enhanced by the use of native Irish hardwoods and should incorporate a range of handcraft skills. Your design should be inspiring and encourage reflection on cultural values. The artefact should be suitable for display on a mantelpiece or shelf.

3. Young people take great pride in their appearance, presentation and image.

Design and make an elegant artefact which will neatly store and display a selection of personal grooming items. The artefact should be compact and designed to rest on a table top. Your design should be inspired by naturally occurring shapes and forms and should accentuate the beauty of skilfully crafted solid wood. The maximum dimension must not exceed 350mm.

Leaving Certificate Construction Studies Projects

Below are the projects submitted by this years Leaving Certificate class for the State Examinations 2016.

The Leaving Certificate course is broken into three sections with 50% awarded for the terminal exam, 25% for a practical examination and 25% for the projects shown below

Junior Certificate Woodwork Projects

Junior Certificate Woodwork 2015 Projects

Below are the projects submitted by this years woodwork classes for the State Examinations.

Students had to pick one of the following design briefs and submit a project they felt answered the brief

Design Briefs – Ordinary Level
1. Design and make a compact desktop lamp for use by a young person in their personal space. The design should be enhanced by the use of native solid wood and should incorporate a facility to hold a mobile phone. All electrical connections and fittings should be included and must comply with current safety standards.

2. Design and make a decorative spice rack to enhance the kitchen area. The artefact should be crafted from solid woods and should be designed to display the spices in an attractive manner. Your design should incorporate a culinary theme.

3. Design and make a decorative artefact to promote a sporting activity in your school or community. The artefact should be attractive and well made. It may be wall-mounted or suitable for display on a shelf and should represent a central aspect of your chosen sport.

Design Briefs – Higher Level

1. At mealtimes the table can be cluttered and short of space. Design and make a portable and compact artefact to aid in the utilisation of space at mealtimes. Your solution should hold everyday mealtime items and make them easily accessible to those dining. Your artefact should incorporate design elements that contribute to an elegant centrepiece.

2. The transition from winter to spring is one of great change, renewal and hope. Design and make a decorative artefact which symbolises these themes. The design and realisation of your artefact should demonstrate a range of handcraft skills. The artefact should be suitable for display on a shelf or mantelpiece.

3. An elegant wooden feature can be functional whilst enhancing an entrance hallway. Design and make an attractive wall mounted artefact to hold three coats. It should also incorporate a storage facility for some additional small items. The handcrafted artefact should be slimline and should evoke a theme of your choice. Your design folio should show evidence of how your theme was developed.

Leaving Certificate Construction Studies Projects

Below are the projects submitted by this years Leaving Certificate class for the State Examinations 2015.

The Leaving Certificate course is broken into three sections with 50% awarded for the terminal exam, 25% for a practical examination and 25% for the projects shown below

Leaving Certificate Construction Studies Projects 2014

Below are the projects submitted by this years Leaving Certificate class for the State Examinations 2014.

The Leaving Certificate course is broken into three sections with 50% awarded for the terminal exam, 25% for a practical examination and 25% for the projects shown below

Click on any image twice to see fullsize

Woodwork and Construction Studies Department Projects

Junior Certificate Woodwork 2013 Projects

Below are the projects submitted by this years woodwork classes for the State Examinations.

Students had to pick one of the following design briefs and submit a project they felt answered the brief

Design Briefs – Ordinary Level

1. Design and make an artefact to store and display items of jewellery in an attractive manner.
The artefact should be hand-crafted from solid woods and should be able to accommodate a range of different jewellery items. It should be pleasing to look at and be lightweight and sturdy.

2. Design and make an attractive clock for use in your home.
The design should be unique and be inspired by a major sporting event of your choice. The clock should be compact and elegant in appearance and should complement its surroundings.

3. Design and make a small footstool suitable for use when playing console games.
The footstool should be well proportioned and should incorporate a facility to store a minimum of six games.
The maximum dimension of the footstool should not exceed 400mm.

Design Briefs – Higher Level

1. Wood is a natural tactile material that encourages a child’s exploration of their environment.
Design and make an attractive educational toy suitable for use by a young child. The toy should incorporate a device or mechanism to aid the child’s sensory development through play. You should demonstrate clearly how you addressed health and safety issues in your design.

2. Many young people admire iconic figures who inspire and motivate them in their lives.
Design and make an artefact that could be presented to such a person or group and which reflects their inspirational and motivational characteristics. The artefact should be enhanced by the natural beauty of complementary solid woods.

3. Wooden items of elegant proportions, which portray the inherent beauty of this natural material, enhance any home. Design and make a slimline wall-mounted unit to safely store a range of first-aid items.
The unit should incorporate hand-crafted joints and should harmonise with its surroundings. It should include a small removable facility for essential items for use in the event of an emergency.
The maximum dimension of storage unit should not exceed 450mm.

Facelift for Dromcollogher Centrepiece

Dromcollogher Tidy Towns, Hazelwood College, the local Credit Union and others recently joined forces to carry out a major facelift to the garden centrepiece in the town’s square.

The feature which has been part and parcel of Dromcollogher for over forty years is now decked out with new benches and floral features for locals and visitors to enjoy. The old benches had gone into disrepair and had been taken but now the Tidy Town in association with the woodwork department in Hazelwood College have arranged for the installation of spanking new seating. “We were approached by the Tidy Towns Committee and the school were very happy to have another link with community and it was an opportunity for the woodwork department to show our skills and the students to have something to represent their work,” explained Jonathan Fealy, woodwork teacher at the school. The three benches were hand made by the students from good quality hardwood ash, finished in decking oil for weather protection and installed on concrete bases. The stu-dents have been involved in making the benches for a couple of hours a week since last November. “We are very proud of our input into the development and we have had plenty messages back to the school commenting on how well they look and on the quality of the students’ work,” Mr. Fealy said.

It is an uplift for the centre of the town and was a great community effort, it adds more to the focal point in town according to Tidy Towns Committee member Frank Brudair. “It was really the strands of the community pulling together, while it was the Tidy Towns idea, it would not have been possible without the Credit Union coming on board and providing some very valu-able financial assistance. The Dromcollogher Carnival Committee also gave a donation towards the work,” Mr. Brudair said. Some very tasty floral features have been provided adjacent to the benches and for this Mr. Brudair expressed his thanks to local florists Eamonn Villiers of Coun-try Fresh and Rita Ruddock for their sponsorship and for the planting in the Square.

The development is only part of the bigger project that the hardworking Tidy Towns Committee have planned for enhancing the town. “Every town and village is vying with each other to look the best and put its best foot forward. Dromcollogher is a proud town and we like to do our best. It is a long term project but when people are working together, the support of schools and local families helping out, it shows what can be done with a small bit of effort,” Mr, Brudair concluded.