Vol 25 No 10     29 Nov 2019

Science Week

Last week we celebrated Science Week at The High School.  The week began with an exciting demonstration of some fun experiments for pupils from Science Club who created soda snake fireworks. They learned how sodium bicarbonate produces carbon dioxide gas and sugar forming carbon containing ash.  After being lit fireworks begin to smoke and spew out ash resembling a snake via an intumescent reaction.  Later in the week, Form 4 pupils were treated to a thought-provoking talk on future technologies and careers by television and radio presenter Jonathan McCrea.  It was an exciting and fulfilling week for all concerned.
Dr Carol Whitford

Youth Assembly on Climate Change

On Friday November I was lucky enough to be part of the 157 delegates specially selected for the Youth Assembly on Climate Change.  After a rigorous application process and a series of workshops the day had finally arrived.  After a series of introductory speeches, made by some particularly eloquent delegates, we broke off into our five groups.  I was part of the food and farming group and my proposal was one of the top six voted by my peers to be debated at the Oireachtas Committee rooms.  Each of us had ninety seconds to present our idea and we then had ten minutes to answer any questions from the other delegates.  My proposal had to do with urban farming in public spaces.  After an hour and a half of debates and presentations we had a vote.  I didn’t make it to the final two from our group that got to speak in the Dáil chambers.  However, it was still an incredible experience for me to be part of the thirty people that got to present their own ideas at the first ever youth assembly of its kind in the world.  At the end of the day we returned to the Dáil chamber to hear the ten ideas from food and farming, education, economy, environment, and power.  These ten ideas were presented to the Ceann Comhairle as the proclamation of the Youth Assembly.  This proclamation includes policies on refrigeration, importing fracked gas and oil, sustainability classes, media campaigns on climate change, a tax on industrial greenhouse gas emissions, economic endorsement of sustainable products, reforestation campaigns, for ecocide to become criminal law, climate labels on all our foods, and increased industrialization of hemp products.  All in all it was an unforgettable experience and a very successful day.  The youth assembly needs your support! Please follow this link to show it. 
Éle Ní Chonbhuí

Poetry Aloud Finalist

Congratulations to this High School pupil who has qualified for the final of the national Poetry Aloud competition to be held at the National Library of Ireland.  He performed extremely well reciting two poems from memory.  The final of this competition will be held on Friday 6 December. 

HSD Christmas Cards

Art pupils in Form 3 have produced some beautiful charity Christmas cards.  They are selling the cards in batches of ten for €10.   You can purchase a multipack set  containing one of each card or you can buy a set with one print only.  The project is in aid of Crumlin Research and Medical Foundation at Our Lady's Children's Hospital. If you would like to purchase a set of cards, please email Ms Rogers at the Art Department or send an order to C13.  All orders should be submitted by 6 December to ensure that you receieve your cards in time for Christmas.

Senior Drama

Pupils from Form 5 are busy rehearsing for this year's Senior Play which is a production of West Side Story.  Save the dates in your diary: 17-19 December at 7.30 pm at The High School.  Tickets will be on sale during school breaks closer to the date and also at the door.  All are welcome!

Form 4 Business Enterprise

The Transition Year Enterprise group decided to take an environmental approach this year when choosing products that could benefit our school community.  We chose bamboo cups and water bottles.  The use of bamboo means that the products are made from a renewable resource; they are completely reusable and biodegradable resulting in near-zero waste.  These items are of the highest quality and are being sold in an effort to make The High School as plastic free as possible.  The cups are being sold for €6.50 and the bottles that were originally €11.50 are now at the bargain price of €7.   If you would like to purchase our product please contact Mr Fitzpatrick.
Marcus Empey

Senior Hockey Success

The Senior Girls hockey team have been training hard this year since their pre-season trip to Villiers School, Limerick in August.  We lost our first league match to Holy Child School Killiney 3-1 despite leading 1-0 in the first quarter.  Our form returned for our match against Loreto High School Beaufort where we made sure that we came out the better side with a win of 3-1.  It was a great local derby.  St Columba's College has been a tough team to beat this year but we managed to dig deep and come out with a draw 1-1.  Last weekend we played at home against Alexandra College. It was a tough match as we were down 1-0 at half time.  The girls demonstrated their skill and tenacity with a cool 2-1 win. Currently we are joint third in Pool B of the Senior Premier League.  Next for The High School team is the second round of the Cup against Loreto High School Beaufort at home on Wednesday 4 December at 3.00 pm.  We wish the team every success as they progress through the competition. 
Ms Gray

Studyclix

HSD pupils in Forms 3, 5, and 6 and their teachers can now avail of free membership of Studyclix Plus - an Irish educational website for secondary schools.  Leaving and Junior Certificate subjects are divided into topics with past examination questions, mock questions, videos, notes, and learning tools available.  Please see the enclosed image for directions about how to log on to this valuable resource.

150th Anniversary Gala Dinner

The High and Diocesan School Past Pupils' Union is hosting a Gala Dinner to celbrate the 150th anniversary of the school on Saturday 25 January 2020.  We have had a huge response.  Many past pupils from across the decades are planning to attend the dinner.  We have a limited number of tickets available so if you’d like to join us please contact us at hsdppu@gmail.com.  The HSD PPU has a long tradition of carol singing for the residents of the Orwell Nursing Home. The date for this year's event is Monday 9 December commencing at 6.30 pm.  Even if you are not a singer we will need volunteers to play the jingle-bells and other percussion instruments so come and join us!  The committee will be gathering after the event at the Dropping Well from 8.30 pm.   If you would like to receive our newsletters and emails please follow this link.  Alternatively you can email us permission to add you to our mailing list at hsdppu@gmail.com.  We have a growing member base who enjoy keeping in touch and we’d be delighted if you would join!  
Arlene Brislane​
HSD PPU

Christmas Trees

You can tell it is Christmas time when the Scouts begin selling their trees. Many of our current and past pupils are involved with the 31st Rathfarnham Scouts who provide beautiful fresh Christmas trees to many families in the area each year. The trees are on sale at the War Memorial Hall, Rathfarnham from 9.00 am - 9.00 pm daily.  And if you live within a two-mile radius from the Memorial Hall, the Scouts will happily deliver the tree on foot!  Trees start at €35 and the price increases by €10 per size all the way up to €70.

Carols by Candlelight

 The annual Candlelight Carol Service on Sunday 15 December at 7.00 pm at Rathfarnham Parish Church, Main Street, Rathfarnham.  As always, the Senior Choir will have musical treats in store. The collection is in aid of the Alice Leahy Trust.  Afterwards the confirmation group are providing mulled wine and mince pies in aid of the homeless charity the Mendicity Institution.  All are welcome.