Vol 24 No 25     12 April 2019

Junior Drama Triumph

On 4 April a determined group of Forms 1 and 2 pupils performed the play 'Did the Butler Do It?' in the Reynolds Hall.  Both cast and crew alike were full of adrenaline and ready to go when the night came around after weeks of fun-filled and lively rehearsals.  The play centred around the theft of Lady Fitzwilliam's  pearls.  An intrepid police force was set on the case consisting of the blundering Inspector Vector, his faithful assistant Sergeant Pargeant and their police staff/force/men/people.  Also called in to investigate were Mrs Clues a seasoned investigator with a sharp mind accompanied by her trustworthy maid Lilly. This comedy whodunnit left the audience in fits of giggles with catchy earworms stuck in their brains.  On that note this was the first Junior Play to incorporate music in recent times which ensured the audience clapped along enthusiastically throughout.  Thanks to everyone who came to support us.  We look forward to seeing you again next year.
Jake O'Loughlin and Eoin Kelly

Seachtain Na Gaeilge san Ard Scoil

Bhí Seachtain ns Gaeilge 2019 ar siúl timpeall na tire i Mí an Márta.  Bhí an tseachtain dírithe ar chultúr agus ar theanga na hÉireann.  Chun ceiliúradh a dhéanamh, cuireann daltaí na hArd Scoile maisiúcháin Gaeilge suas sna seomraí ranga agus timpeall na hArd Scoile.  Bhí tionáil Gaeilge againn agus chan an cóir  'Dulamán' agus bhí Seren Cunningham ag damhsa.  Rinne na daltaí a lán imeachtaí i rith na seachtaine.  Bhí imeachtaí difriúla ar siúl gach lá.  Mar shampla, bhí comórtas 'Poc Fada' ar siúl ar an bpáirc nua.  Sibéal Davitt a bhí san Ard Scoil ag cúr tús le seachtain na Gaeilge ag múineadh Damhsa ar an Sean Nós leis na daltaí.  Bhí gníomhaíochtaí eile sa rang san áireamh: comórtas crosfhocail agaus tráth na gceist.  Ar an iomlán  bhí seachtain ar fheabhas againn anseo san Ard Scoil.
Jake O'Loughlin

HSD PPU Donation

Many thanks to the HSD PPU who donated generously to the Habitat For Humanity team who will travel to Vietnam during the Easter holidays.

An Gaisce - climbing Carrauntoohil

On 4 April a group of 29 Form 4 pupils and four teachers set off on a trip to Carrauntoohil in Co Kerry.  We loaded our bags and packed into the minibuses in the early afternoon and started our long journey to the hostel in Killarney.  After about 2½ hours, we stopped in Crescent Shopping Centre in Limerick to have some lunch and to buy ingredients for the meals we would be making over the next few days.  We hopped back onto the bus 1½ hours later and continued on  our drive.  Later in the evening we arrived at Killarney International Hostel. The bags were unloaded and we brought them to our rooms along with the sheets for our beds.  Everyone reconvened in the main building after setting up their rooms. We all hung out in the TV room, playing cards and charades, eating snacks and listening to music. People started to get to know each other better and talked to a lot of people they previously wouldn’t have known very well.  Following a fun
evening of games and laughs we were feeling pretty worn out and tired.  At 11.00 pm everyone went their separate ways in order to get some rest for the big hike the next day.  We woke up at 8.00 am on Friday morning and got into our hiking gear.  Gradually people started to make their way to the kitchen to eat breakfast and make lunch for the hike.  The bus picked us up at the hostel and drove us to the base of Carrauntoohil.  At 10.00 am we began to trek up the mountain. As we got higher up the ground was covered in snow.  This caused a small problem as we climbed the Devil’s Ladder which is a very steep section of the climb that was then covered in frost and ice, but once we had passed this area we got to enjoy the snow and the beautiful scenery.  About an hour before we reached the summit we stopped to eat our lunch.  Many photographs were taken here and snowball fights ensued.  The hike continued quickly afterwards and soon we reached the top of the tallest mountain in Ireland.  We took group photographs at the summit and played in the snow before we started planning our descent.  Since there  was so much snow at the top both pupils and teachers had a blast sliding back down the mountain and jumping around in it. The snow started to melt away as we got closer to the bottom and so it was back to walking for us.  The path we had taken up the mountain was too dangerous to take back so it was decided we would take a different but longer path down.  After a long descent we arrived at the minibuses which would take us back to the hostel.  Upon arrival we went to the kitchen to make our dinners.  Despite being extremely tired we still met back up in the TV room for another night of games and music.  Everyone enjoyed an evening of group chatting and bonding.  Reluctantly, we all made our way to bed late in the day and got some much-needed sleep.  Overall, everyone thoroughly the trip.  Everybody made new friends and the whole group bonded.   Every aspect of it was super: the hike, the games, the people; there wasn’t a part of it that was unenjoyable! This trip was by far one of the best parts of the Gaisce program and definitely a highlight of the year.
Cate Dooley

Form 5 Politics Trip

Last week, pupils studying Politics and Society visited Leinster House as part of their course.  Politics and Society is a new Leaving Certificate subject in Senior Cycle that will be examined for the first time at The High School in 2020. The subject aims to develop pupils' capacity to engage in reflective and active citizenship informed by the insights and skills of social and political sciences.  

Form 1 Library Exhibition

Art pupils from Form 1 made some beautiful ceramic pieces this term which are currently on display in the Library.  Drop by and take a look!

NCAD Visiting Speaker

Last week Junior Art pupils enjoyed a visit from past pupil and artist Louise Dukes (HSD, 2009-2015).  She spoke to pupils about creating a portfolio and what it is like to go to Art College.  Louise is currently studying at the National College of Art and Design. She has a strong interest in character design and storytelling.

National Concert Hall Performance

Congratulations to the many High School past pupils who participated in a Russian festival of music with the UCD Symphony Orchestra the UCD Philharmonic Choir last week at the National Concert Hall. They include Ilona Adams, Clodagh Curran, Ritchie Burbridge, and Alex Felle (all HSD, 2010-16) as well as Seán Keary and John Kehoe-Roche (HSD, 2008-14), and UCD Ad Astra Scholar and Grattan prize winner Luke Kehoe-Roche (HSD, 2010-16).