Extra Curricular Activities
'A Positive Learning Environment'
Students at Bunclody Vocational College are encouraged to participate in activities outside of the classroom. These include sports, drama, charity work, projects and competitions.
Charity Initiatives
Throughout the school year students take part in charity walks, bag packing, non-uniform days, selling badges etc. to raise funds for local charities and also for our Lourdes Fund. These charities include the Lions Club, the St. Vincent De Paul and the Irish Wheelchair Association. Last year, two teachers even got their hair dyed in front of the whole school for the very worthwhile Today FM's 'Shave for Dye' Appeal.
Lourdes Fund
Every year, Fifth year students raise a lot of money in order to send three of their classmates as helpers on the Ferns Diocesan Lourdes Trip in May. All the students are entered into a draw and the lucky names pullled out go to Lourdes. We are very proud of our Lourdes helpers and hope to send more students in May. This year's fundraising 'initiative' is an 'Sportsathon', where students will play Basketball for 24 hours!
Sports
All students are encouraged to participate in sports, this year we fitted out a Gym with treadmills, rowing machines and bikes. (There is also a air-hockey table and a pool table). Last year, a company was brought into the school to test out the fitness of all the First years and to give them advice on how to get fit. A number of students also made the weekly trip to Butterfly Farm and learned how to horseride. Many of our students are part of football, basketball, soccer and hurling teams. Our school also brings home a haul of medals from the annual County Athletics Sports Day. The BVC Annual Sports Day is a highlight in the school year. Class groups compete against each other in various activities and the competition is intense.
Music, Art and Drama
In conjunction with the English curriculum, drama workshops are held regularly and students attend plays and performances outside the school. Students take part in their own productions which are televised in the school to much acclaim. There are free music lessons on Wednesday afternoons. We also have, as part of our JCSP initiatives Music and Film workshops for Junior Certificate students, Make a Book Competitions and Make a Bodhrán Initiative. A number of Art students take part in the Texaco Art Competitions and the Google 'Design a Logo' Competition.
Enterprise Competitions
In conjunction with our LCVP, fifth year students start-up their own company, make their products, or sell their service, showcase it at our annual Christmas Craft Fair and then go onto the County Enterprise Finals in the Spring. The school has won the LCVP category of this competition many times with many diverse products such as the 'Wellie Washer' among many more. The participants have to write up a report on their company and present it to the general public and the judges. We are very proud of our success in this competition as we feel that this experience has contributed to the 'entrepreneurial spirit' of many of our graduates.
Young Technologist of the Year Competition
This competition picks out the best Woodwork, Metalwork and Technology Junior Certificate Projects in the country each year, it is judged by the Engineering and Technology Teachers Association. Our students have been awarded first place three times in the last five years. An amazing achievement given the size of our school. A testament to the time, efforts and skills of our students and staff.
School Tours
Bunclody Vocational College has always been known for their school tours. We believe that not only are tours worthwhile for their cultural benefits but, tours also allows students and teachers to spend time outside of the classroom, contributing to the unique atmosphere found within the school . Every year there is a tour organised to go to a premiership match in the UK (with a trip to a museum as well). Oakwood in May was always a favourite, unfortunately, the new ferry schedules do not allow us to do this trip anymore. Other trips include Paris, Edinburgh, Austria, Italy, Germany and Barcelona. We are currently organising a trip to London for October 2012. All students are permitted to go on these trips and are given plenty of advance notice so they can use the school’s Credit Union savings scheme to help them fund the trip. In addition to these trips, Class teachers and Subject teachers organise day trips for educational purposes or in some cases just to enjoy a day out with your classmates such as ice-skating or scaling the heights in Gravity, Courtown.