Lusk CC Press Team - Halloween Update

Article on Senan Brookfield
​- 3 Picasso

In the water for the win
By Hariharan Senthilkumar, 3Einstein 
 
A huge congratulations to Senan Brookfield 3Picasso on some great wins in the areas of rowing and swimming at the Liffey Descent and three swimming galas this month. Senan has won several medals, including 2 golds, 1 silver and a bronze. We caught up with Senan and asked him about his wins.
  
Senan has been kayaking since he was 7. He began his kayaking career in scouts. He advanced through the levels and is currently at level 3, although his skills are at level 5. He told us he went on the playboats, which are a type of boat used in white water, and developed his skills at the arches in Malahide. He is very proud and happy with his gold medal from the Liffey Descent, which is a kayaking competition that takes place on the Liffey. He told us ‘I was a bit surprised by my gold in the Liffey Descent’. He also won a silver and a bronze in kayaking. 
  
Senan started his career in swimming when he was 4 years old. He has been doing swimming lessons until about a year ago when he joined the Swim Team at Gym Plus. He completed his first swimming competition and won gold. He tells us that he was very surprised and extremely happy with his achievement in swimming as well. 
  
We wish Senan all the best in his career in swimming and kayaking and look forward to seeing him one day on TV at the Olympics, holding a gold medal.  
  
 

Grace Daly (1 Ashe) Talking Politics

​As the Halloween break draws closer, there is one thing that is all over the news – The Budget for 2025. Grace Daly in 1 Ashe explains how the budget affects us as students, and as a school.

1. Free books:
All secondary students will have free books up to Leaving Cert level. This means they do not have that as an expense returning to school each year, plus the school has control over the books you receive.
There are also no costs for Junior and Leaving Cert students for their exams this year.

2. Phone pouches:
€9 million of the national budget will be spent on mobile phone wallets/ pouches. Many people believe this money has been misspent because every school already has rules to implement mobile phone policies and safety. This is a huge waste of money as it could be spent on SNAs, equipment for science, sports, music and much more. Some schools even need building repairs.

Public reaction to this has been quite negative with many people believing the €9 million pouches are “A complete waste of money at a time when children with special needs can't get a school place as most schools are looking to recruit more SNAs.” “It is not the school’s responsibility to control phone usage. Parents need to step up and take responsibility too.”                     

Illustration by Aurora Leahy, 1Markievicz
​

Halloween Fun Facts

Tricks or Teats ???

With the midterm fast approaching everyone is thinking of how they will spend their week off school and of course, what they will do for Halloween. Halloween is a time when we dress up and go out trick or treating, sit in watching Halloween movies and of course, indulge ourselves with our favourite snacks and treats. If you like chocolatey treats that you can bake at home yourself this mid-term, we have you covered. Holly Hayes, Sam McGaffey and Oisín Kane show us how to make the most delicious Halloween cupcakes that taste so good it’s scary!

First Things First
Make sure you have the following ingredients before you begin!
175g/6oz Self Raising Flour
150g/5oz Butter or Margarine (room temperature)
150g/5oz Shamrock Golden Caster Sugar
2 Eggs
Few drops of Goodall's Vanilla Extract
2 tablespoons Water
9 Chocolate biscuits
Filling
Chocolate pieces or chocolate spread
Icing
225g/8oz Icing Sugar
150g/5oz Butter or Margarine (room temperature)
2 tablespoon Cocoa, sieved

Then follow 10 simple steps to make these delicious Halloween treats.
1. Preheat oven to 190°C/375°F/Gas 5. Line cupcake tin with paper cases.
2. Crumble 3 of your chocolate biscuits in a bag and carve the rest into the shape of graves.
3. Put the flour, butter/margarine, sugar, eggs, vanilla, and water into a mixing bowl and beat until smooth.
4. Put a spoonful of dough into the base of paper cases.
5.Place a piece of chocolate or drop teaspoons of chocolate spread/Nutella on top, then top with another spoonful of dough.
6. Bake for 20-25 minutes until risen and springs back when gently pressed.
7.Cool on a wire tray.
8. When cool, beat icing ingredients together and spread on top of cupcakes.
9. Then add your crumbled chocolate biscuit on top and push gently into the chocolate icing.
10.Then add the gravestones and your cupcakes are ready to be eaten.