Vol 23 No 14    15 December 2017

Focus Ireland

Pupils from Form 3 are completing a CSPE Action Project about homelessness with Focus Ireland.  We are planning to do a sleep-in on the 21 December to get an idea of what homeless people in Dublin experience on a daily basis.  We are not comparing our sleep-in to being homeless but we hope we will raise money for Focus Ireland to provide help to those who need it.  Susie Hall from Focus Ireland came to The High School on 11 December to speak to us about homelessness and she gave us an idea of what people are going through:

• Of the 8000 homeless people in Ireland only 180 are visibly homeless.
• Over 3000 children are homeless - the highest rate in Europe.
• 16 families become homeless each month.
• Most homeless people say the worst thing about being homeless is that no one cares about you. 

Please help us raise money for Focus Ireland through our donation week which runs from 15-22 December.   There will be a non-uniform day in aid of the Simon Community and Focus Ireland on 22 December; the €2 donation will be collected by pupils at the Carol Service. 
Alannah Childs and Orla Bagnall

Wellread Award

The High School was presented with its Wellread Award at Assembly this week.  The award celebrates the strong reading culture that exists at our school.  We enjoy activities such as World Book Day, Shakespeare's birthday and Drop Everything and Read, as well as talks by authors and poets.  It was with great pride and pleasure The High School achieved this award in recognition of our love of reading and books.

TY Enterprise Triumph

Transition Year Enterprise pupils have produced special hats and bottles for sale complete with The High School logo.  They have proved to be hugely popular with pupils and staff alike.  Items can still be ordered in the school at breaks for €8.   A great way to stay warm this winter and a great way to keep hydrated in the summer.  Well done to our bright young entrepreneurs.

International Association For Christian Educators Visit

The High School was delighted to welcome a delegation from the International Association of Christian Educators to visit as part of the programme organized for their annual General Assembly and Symposium which was held in Dublin this year.  The delegates, who represent a wide range of associations from different countries across Europe including the Church of Ireland General Synod Board of Education, met a number of current pupils and were given a tour of the school by the Principal.  The feedback from the delegation both during and after the visit was warm and positive.