Vol 24 No 15     21 Dec 2018

Happy Christmas from The High School

It's been another amazing year at The High School.  We wish everyone a peaceful and joyous Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Senior Play Triumph

Congratulations to the cast and crew of this year's Senior Play, 'Annie', whose performances over the three-day run were exceptional.  The show featured a long list of hit show songs performed live on stage by talented High School pupils. Past pupil Ellen Downey (HSD, 2010-16) assisted with flawless singing arrangements and choreography.  Once again the talent of our pupils has surpassed all imagining and we would like to thank everyone involved who put so much effort into this colourful production.
Mr J Milofsky

Carol Singing

The High School Choir went carol singing at Liffey Valley Shopping Centre last week to support the work of Christian Aid. They managed to raise €345 in total with their beautiful singing.  Well done, everyone!

CSPE Action Project

For our CSPE Action Project we chose blindness as a topic. We devised a route around the school which we walked blindfolded with the aid of a friend guiding us. We then organised a bake sale to raise money for Irish Guide Dogs.  A representative from Irish Guide Dogs came to the school to speak to us accompanied by Zance, a friendly guide dog.  We were delighted to present Irish Guide Dogs with a cheque for €296. It was a most worthwhile experience. 
Ruth Stewart and Aleena Wilson

Jingle Bell Run

Pupils from Form 1 took part in the annual Jingle Bell Run last week.  They dressed in festive attire and won prizes for the best costume.   

Form 6 Christmas Lunch

A special Christmas lunch was held for Form 6 pupils last Wednesday which included a festive meal, dessert, and donation to the Simon Community.  Pupils gathered together in The Reynolds Hall for food and chat, donning Christmas jumpers to celebrate their last Christmas at The High School together.

Form 1 Hockey Blitz

Form 1 pupils enjoyed a festive hockey blitz this week complete with Christmas costumes to celebrate the festive season!  Great fun was had by all.

Form 2 Festive Fun

Form 2 pupils dressed up in form colours to enjoy a morning of fun outdoor activities during Games this week.  They played a selection of novelty games like the sack race, tug-of-war and the three-legged race. They especially enjoyed the dance innovation activity.  It was a wonderful way to bond with friends and teachers alike.

Christmas Swim

The annual Pyjama Swim is a hightlight of the year for The High School swimming club.  Pupils had fun playing games in the water dressed in their colourful Christmas pyjamas!

French Christmas Market

Form 4 French pupils held a Christmas Market last week. With delicious biscuits, cakes, and treats The Reynolds Hall was transformed into an enticing 
patisserie as we sampled a taste of French cuisine.  All money raised will be donated to the Simon Community.

Home Thoughts From Abroad

It is 6o years since I left The High School in order to read Classics at Trinity College, Dublin. Dr Reynolds, then Headmaster, was an inspiring teacher.  Becoming a Scholar in TCD in 1960 – together with Robin Miller, my classmate, and later a teacher at The High School- it was a great thrill to share the celebration dinner with Dr Reynolds who was returning to TCD for his Decadal Dinner.  Another great debt to him was attending my first opera, Aida, with a school party at the Gaiety Theatre. The annual open-air Greek play, in which I appeared three or four times, was the origins of my passion for the operas of Wagner, especially The Ring. It was with some reluctance that I played rugby, but luckily I never advanced beyond the Second XV. Three years at Cambridge University followed Trinity, before I started work.  Five non-profit organisations employed me – from 1967 based in London.  I had many opportunities to travel world-wide with the jobs I did and when I stopped formal employment I became a consultant with some sixty charities over a twelve-year period.  In 1964 I married an alumna of Alexandra College and our children were born in Belfast in 1966 and 1967.  Now living alone again for the last three years, I find myself writing poetry, stunned by the universes in the cosmos, and travelling each year to different opera-houses.
Foster Murphy (HSD, 1952-58)

Christmas Baking 

All this week, pupils studying Home Economics have been enjoying some delicious Christmas baking. Here are just some of their festive creations.