Vol 32 No 01    04 Sept 2026

Welcome Back!

And so begins another new, and exciting year at The High School.

There have been some changes over the summer, as we say goodbye to former principal Mr Forest and welcome former deputy Ms Connolly as acting principal of the school. We wish her every success in the year ahead.

Ms Bergin and Ms Rugg have retired, having spent 34 and 18 years at The High School, respectively. We sincerely thank them for their kindess and wisdom, and for taking such good care of the thousands of pupils they have taught over the years, and for their dedication to the school. 

Mr Carolan, Ms Murdoch, and Mr Grant have moved on to exciting new positions elsewhere, while Ms Hutchinson Edgar, Ms Fitzgerald, Ms O'Toole, and Mr Hannan have taken leave for the year. We wish them all well in their future endeavours.

A Message to Form 1 

Starting secondary school is a big step. Pupils are beginning a new chapter, and with that comes new subjects, new teachers, new routines and new opportunities. Many pupils were excited, some a little nervous, and perhaps some were wondering whether they would ever find their way around the school! Let me reassure you: they will. Very soon, the corridors that seem unfamiliar will become places where they know exactly where they are going, and the faces around them will become friends and teachers.

The Form 1 team, comprising Mr. Prodgers (Year Head) and the Form Tutors: Dr Budd, Ms Jones, Mr Milosky and Ms Gray, and Mr O’Sullivan (Guidance Counsellor), will be there to help and support you.

As our Form 1 pupils begin their journey at The High School, I would ask that they:

First: be kind.

They will meet hundreds of different people at school. Everyone has their own personality, their own strengths and their own challenges. Treat others with respect. Include people. Look out for someone who seems to be having a difficult day. A small act of kindness can make a much bigger difference than you realise.

Second: be brave enough to try.

They will not be good at everything immediately, and that is absolutely fine. They might struggle with a subject, make a mistake, get something wrong in front of the class or find something difficult. Do not let that stop you. Mistakes are part of learning. Ask questions, put your hand up, try something new and don’t be afraid to say, “I don’t understand.” That is how they grow.

And third: make the most of their time here.

School is about much more than exams and grades. Get involved. Join a club. Try a sport. Take part in music, drama, debating, competitions or whatever interests you. You may discover a talent or a passion that you never knew you had. We have lots of sports and recreation activities here; please choose one of each.

Over the next few years, you will have many opportunities to learn and to grow, but you will also have responsibilities. We expect you to represent yourselves, your families and our school with pride. That means being respectful, being responsible and making good choices, even when nobody is watching.

You are now an important part of this school. We want you to feel safe here, to feel supported here and, most importantly, to feel that you belong here.

If you ever have a problem, remember that you do not have to deal with it alone. Speak to your teachers, your year head, your tutor, a member of the support team or any adult you trust. Asking for help is not a weakness; it is a sign of good judgement.

First Years, you have many years ahead of you, and I hope that when you eventually look back on your first day, you will remember not how nervous you were, but how exciting it was to begin something new.

Work hard. Be kind. Be curious. Be yourself.

And most of all, enjoy the journey.

I wish every one of you a very happy, successful and memorable first year.

So, on behalf of all the staff and students, welcome to our school. We are very happy to have you with us.

Vanessa Connolly
Acting Principal

Well Done to Our Leaving Certificate Students!

A huge congratulations to all of our Leaving Certificate students on their results!

You have all done incredibly well, and we are so very proud of each and every one of you. Your hard work, dedication and perseverance have truly paid off, and we hope you take the time to celebrate this wonderful achievement.

As you begin the next exciting chapter of your lives, we wish you every happiness and success for the future. Whatever path you choose, we hope you continue to believe in yourselves and all that you are capable of achieving.

Well done, and congratulations once again! We will miss you and look forward to hearing about all the wonderful things you go on to achieve.

And remember, if you ever need us, please do get in touch. Our door is always open.

Best wishes for the future from everyone at The High School

Vanessa Connolly
Acting Principal

Sporting Achievements of Current and Recent Pupils

The future of sport at the school is in exceptionally safe hands, with our current student body and recent Class of 2026 graduates enjoying a sensational summer of representative honours across athletics, cricket, hockey, and touch rugby.

Athletics: Senior runner Ewan Kennedy placed 30th as the top Irish U20 finisher at the European Off-Road Running Championships in Slovenia, helping the squad to a top-10 finish. He also won bronze in the Senior Boys 1500m (3:58.67) at the All-Ireland Schools Championships, became the U18 national 1500m champion, and finished second in the 800m at the Dublin Graded Meet. He also won international silver in the U18 1500m (4:03.02) at the Scottish Championships with an Athletics Ireland development squad. At the National Championships this summer, he also placed third in the 1500m U20 race. Robbie Tallon finished joint second in the Senior Pole Vault at the All-Ireland Athletics Championships.

Touch Rugby: At the European Youth Championships in Warwick, Class of 2026 graduate Airmid Devitt O’Byrne won a gold medal with the Mixed 20s Ireland team, while current pupil Laoise Tay represented Ireland with distinction against Europe’s elite youth teams.

Rugby: This summer, Ruby Kirk-Gillham trained twice weekly in pre-season with the Leinster Metro girls squad to prepare for the season ahead.

Cricket: Gethin Kelleher earned selection for the Ireland U17 Men’s high-performance tour to Yorkshire for developmental fixtures against English academies. In regional action, Aisling O’Kelly helped the Leinster U19 Women’s team to a 7-wicket victory over the North West. Cricketing brothers Ethan Clarke (Leinster U19s) and Eli Clarke (Ireland U15s) also represented their regional and national teams with distinction over the summer.

Hockey: Pippa Beatty starred for the Leinster U18 Girls panel, scoring an open-play goal in the second minute of the Interprovincial Championship Final to help secure a 2-1 victory over Ulster and claim the silverware. Fionnán Coyle played against Ulster, among others, with the Leinster U21 Boys hockey team.

We are immensely proud of Ewan, Robbie, Airmid, Laoise, Gethin, Aisling, Ethan, Eli, Fionnán, Ruby, and Pippa for their exceptional sportsmanship, drive, and dedication. Congratulations to you all!

If we have accidentally omitted anyone from our sports round-up, we sincerely apologise. Please get in touch with the details so we can feature their achievements in next week’s issue.

HSD Alumni Sporting Success

Hockey: Two alumni represented Ireland on the world stage at the 2026 FIH Hockey World Cups in Belgium and the Netherlands. Midfielder Mia Jennings featured prominently in the Green Army's Pool C campaign.  Ali Empey also lined out for the Men's Green Machine, scoring a brilliant second-half goal off a penalty corner rebound against world number three, Australia. Evan Jennings reached a historic milestone by earning his first international cap for the Men’s National Team this summer.

Cricket: Following world-class, match-winning performances for Ireland at the 2026 ICC Women's T20 World Cup, Orla Prendergast has established herself as one of the finest cricketers today. The ICC officially announced that Orla has skyrocketed into the Top 10 T20I All-Rounder Rankings, where she is currently ranked tied for 4th in the world.

Athletics: Representing Ireland at the 2026 European Athletics Championships in Birmingham, sprinter Seán Aigboboh showcased his talent against Europe's elite by delivering a phenomenal series of performances to successfully book his place in the 200m semi-finals.

On behalf of the entire school, we extend our massive congratulations to Seán, Orla, Mia, Evan, and Ali. Your hard work, sportsmanship, and phenomenal achievements have done our school proud!  

Past Pupil Book Launch

During the summer, I went to a book signing by my favourite baker, Alice Kelly, who has just released her first cookbook. Alice is a former pupil of The High School who graduated in 2022. Some people may know her as @FromScratchBakery, a professional baker and content creator with more than 5 million followers across her social media accounts. She has come a long way since her days studying Home Economics at The High School!

I was delighted to meet her in person after watching her videos many times and trying her recipes myself. Some of my favourite recipes in her cookbook are the Lemon Curd Cheesecake, Tiramisu Cake, Brookies, and Ooey Gooey Cookies. I would recommend that anyone who loves baking try these great recipes.

You can now buy her book at all good bookshops, but the exciting news is that Alice has agreed to visit The High School soon for a book signing. So, if you would like to attend, please send Ms Burrowes a message on Teams Chat, and maybe you, like me, will be lucky enough to meet Alice, and get a signed copy of this great book!
Eva Lei

A Good Heart: Cricket Ireland and Irish Heart Foundation Unite for Heart Month

This september, past pupil and Ireland cricket star Orla Prendergast has partnered with Cricket Ireland and the Irish Heart Foundation for Heart Month. The initiative honors her late father, Mr Prendergast, who was a beloved, long-serving teacher at our school, following his sudden passing from cardiac disease in 2025.

This campaign holds an incredibly special place in the fabric of our school, as Orla's mum, Ms Bergin, also recently retired from teaching at The High School. To get involved you can:

Outstanding Musical Achievement

We are delighted to share that at the start of the summer High School pupil Jaden Yao won the Feis Ceoil 2026 Senior Strings: Double Bass Competition!  We believe he is the youngest winner of this competition in Feis history.  Jaden also reached the final of the Rhona Marshall Cup, where he received a VHC (Very Highly Commended). We are immensely proud of his dedication and hard work, and we warmly commend and recognise these outstanding achievements.

Weekend Wellbeing

A calm mind brings inner strength and self-confidence, so that’s very important for good health. – Dalai Lama

Culture Night in Rathgar

The High School Senior String Quartet will perform at Zion Parish Church on Culture Night. What a wonderful opportunity to hear this amazing ensemble play live in the beautiful surroundings of this quaint Victorian church. Admission is free, and the performance begins at 7:30 sharp.

New Beginnings at The High School

Take off
High above the clouds
Engines roar

Holding my head high
I am ready for this new adventure
Greatness is ahead. The only
Home I have ever known

So far behind, drifting through the
Clouds
Hearing the sound
Of the wind
Oh how I hope it goes well
Leaving my old life behind for new beginnings.
By Alessia Mason (Form 1) 

Want to be a HSD News Reporter?

If you have a passion for writing, and are considering a career in journalism, we would like to hear from you. We are putting together a team of school reporters and podcasters to write on school events and activites, sports and competitions to feature in various school publications. Poets and creative writers are also very welcome.  So if you want to gain some real world experience and to see your work published, please get in touch with Ms Burrowes via MS Teams chat, or drop into A3.