On March 7th, the young men of the Patrician Academy school bank ‘’The Academy Vault’ travelled to Cork City Hall to compete against 49 other schools from around Cork in the prestigious AIB Build a Bank Challenge regional finals. The bank team consisted of 6 members, John Cosgrave- Bank Manager, Cormac Henry- Assistant Manager, Killian Egan- Auditor, Daragh Meaney- Sales and Marketing Executive and John Linehan and Conor Crowley- tellers. Their teacher Ms Anne O’Cal-laghan and AIB Student Liaison officer Michelle McAuliffe also accomp-anied the students to Cork. The students have worked tirelessly since the bank opened in December 2011 to ensure the success and smooth running of the bank and most importantly to encourage saving to the students of the Patrician Academy.

They have held many creative and innovative promotional days such as their ‘Bring a Buddy Day’ and ‘Charity Cupcake Day’ as well as bringing sports stars such as Paudie Kissane and Colm Cooper to the school to help advertise the bank. On each of their promotional days they offered their customers different gifts and goodies that were sponsored by a wide variety of local businesses. All of these businesses were then effectively advertised to their student body via their Bank notice board.

The Academy Vault offers its members a Loyalty Card Scheme which rewards savers for their customer loyalty. They also made available a college information card to their Leaving Cert students that advised them on how to change over to a third level bank account.

The lads emerged victorious from the regional finals with much thanks to their hard work and professional approach to the competition from day one. They arrived at the competition dressed to the nines, each in black suits that were kindly sponsored by Barry’s Menswear. They had an immensely impressive and artistic display and their ability to sell themselves and their bank to the judges contributed greatly to their success. They will now travel to the RDS in Dublin on 25th April to join 19 other schools in the Build A Bank National Finals. A special thank you must be given to all their sponsors, teacher Ms Anne O’ Callaghan, AIB student liaison officer Michelle McAuliffe and most importantly all their loyal savers.

Seachtain na Gaeilge

I rith Seachtain na Gaeilge in Acadamh Phádraig bhí imeachtaí ar siúl ag na daltai chun an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn. I measc na himeachtaí éagsúla bhí na daltaí páirteach i gcomórtais cosúil le Toraíocht taisce, Tráth na gCeist agus Comórtas Postaeir. D’eagraigh Com-hairle na nOg Lá Glas ar an Aoine agus sheinn an grúpa trádisiúnta do na custaméiri i mBanc na hÉireann. Thug Ian Lucey ar son ceaintín na scoile agus an phictiúrlann áitúil tacaíocht agus urraíocht don scoil le duaiseanna .