Vol 31 No 27    01 May 2026

HSD MUN Conference

On 17 and 18 April, The High School held its fourth annual Model United Nations conference. Hundreds of pupils from twenty one different schools were welcomed on Friday evening to spend the next two days debating global issues from the views of their delegations. The conference opened with a musical performance, setting the tone for the weekend ahead. 

It was wonderful to see months of preparation come together so successfully. The conference ran exceptionally smoothly, a testament to dedication and hard work of the organising team.  Planning and executing HSDMUN is almost a team sport, and a huge thank you is owed to all those from other schools who competed with and against us in any capacity over the weekend. 

We would like to especially thank our adviser, Mr Hart, for his constant support, patience, and commitment to MUN at The High School this year. HSDMUN 2026 was a truly memorable event and we look forward to continuing this success in the years to come. 
Rosalyn Waghorn and Olivia Leonard 

Belong To Quality Mark Award 

On Thursday 26 March, a group of staff and pupils from The High School travelled to the Royal Marine Hotel to attend the Belong To LGBTQ+ Quality Mark award ceremony.  The day marked the culmination and celebration of months of work from the Quality Mark Coordinators, Ms Maher, Ms Phillips, and Mr Tobin, as well as from pupils involved in The High School’s Equality Club.  

The eighteen-month Quality Mark accreditation process seeks to ascertain that a high level of wellbeing and inclusion for LGBTQ+ young people exists within a school.  It focuses on the creation of an inclusive culture and environment, resourcing an inclusive curriculum, and supporting inclusive policies and planning for LGBTQ+ pupils.   

Pupils and staff from The High School were well represented during the ceremony’s proceedings.  Tanya Collier sang “Can You Find It in Your Heart?” prior to the presentation of the awards, while Mr Tobin addressed the attendants about our school’s experience of attaining the Belong To LGBTQ+ Quality Mark.  

The day was one of real celebration which highlighted our school’s commitment to the inclusion of all and its appreciation of the benefits of diversity.  
Olivia Leonard 

Feis Ceoil Success

The High School Orchestra proudly took part in this year’s Feis Ceoil competition which celebrated its 130th anniversary this year. As always the ensemble dedicated many hours to rehearsals, preparing two ambitious and rewarding pieces. The programme featured Danny Boy, arranged by Matt Riley, with outstanding solo performances from Scarlett Xu (violin) and Sean Adetona (piano), alongside the fourth movement of Dvořák’s New World Symphony.

Both works presented significant technical and musical challenges, which the orchestra embraced with enthusiasm. The adjudicator praised the group for tackling such advanced repertoire, noting the musical growth and maturity evident in their performance. The orchestra achieved an impressive second place result, missing first by just a single mark—an accomplishment that reflects their dedication to achieving high standards throughout the year. This success adds to what has been an exceptional year for the ensemble, including a series of competitions as well as a highly successful tour to London.

The orchestra will give its final performance of the year at the Summer Concert on 13 May in The Reynolds Hall. We look forward to celebrating their achievements and to another exciting year ahead.
Ms Phillips

Form 5 Careers

Last week Form 5 pupils participated in an excursion to attend a tour of Trinity College, Dublin which is the top-ranking university in Ireland. After meeting in Front Square we were split into smaller groups of around twenty HSD pupils; these groups were given tours of the campus facilities such as the Arts Building, the Museum building, the Sports Centre, College Park, and more.

While the groups were beginning the tours, a graduation ceremony was happening in Front Square which added to the atmosphere. We were also given other information beyond the available courses, such as the many societies at TCD, for example, the College Historical Society (the "Hist") which was founded in 1770 and is recognised as being the world's oldest student society. Following the tours’ conclusion, we were free to spend more time in Trinity and enjoy its unique atmosphere. Overall, the trip was informative and gave us an insight into what studying at third level is like. 
James Reilly

Uniform Review Update

As previously communicated, Phase II of the uniform review is now underway. Two Board-mandated working groups have been established. One group is focused on exploring possible future changes to the uniform itself (the Uniform Code). The second is focused on current uniform policy and practice, with a view to updating these and addressing identified implementation issues. Both groups are co-chaired and facilitated by Ms Jennie Kirwan, former student and Governor of the High School, and Mr Tobin, Deputy Principal (Pastoral Care).

The working groups are made up of key stakeholders from across the whole school community. They include representatives nominated by the Student Council: Rosalyn Waghorn (Form 5), Karl Findlay (Form 4), Julia Donnan (Form 2), and Sarah-Jane Redmond (Form 1); representatives nominated by the HSD Parents' Association: Ms Sarah Pyle, Ms Victoria Hockings, Ms Chloe Donnan, and Ms Maura O'Brien; and teacher representatives: Ms Shuna Hutchinson Edgar, Ms Missen (Year Head and Staff Representative, Board of Management), Mr Rankin, and Ms Murdoch.

A key driver of this process is ensuring that the voices of pupils and parents/guardians are central to any proposed changes alongside staff concerns relating to implementation. In addition, both groups are mindful of issues such as minimising potential cost implications, the possible need for a phased process of change, and the desire to create a sense of excitement around any changes while also fostering pride in our school identity.

Each group received a briefing based on the findings of the uniform survey and on a framework for change agreed with the Board of Governors . Both groups have now met twice in person and are supported by an online MS Teams space to facilitate ongoing communication. Positive progress is being made and participants have even had a little fun along the way. It is planned that each group will meet once more in person. Additional consultation will also take place with staff and senior leadership. It is hoped that the co-chairs will then be in a position to present a proposal to the Board of Management for consideration at its next scheduled meeting.

The co-chairs are deeply appreciative of the time and effort being contributed by members of the working groups on behalf of the whole school community.
Mr Tobin (Deputy Principal)

Form 4 Excursion

On 25 April Form 4 pupils visited Dublin city centre to attend a two-hour comedy workshop at The Laughter Lounge. We arrived at the entrance at 10.15 am and entered at 11.00 am, along with pupils from St. Mary's Girls School all of whom enjoyed the comedians' jokes.

After finishing at noon, we proceeded to the World of Illusions on Dame Street in groups. We took photographs and had a great time exploring. Once our museum tour ended, we were given free time.

A special thank you to Ms Garland and Mr Malin for organizing this excursion, as well as to the accompanying teachers for ensuring our safety throughout the day.
Eva Lei

Form 4 Irish Excursion

On 15 April Form 4 pupils embarked on an excursion to The Lighthouse Cinema to watch a film titled "Báite" (The Drowned), a captivating Irish-language mystery thriller set in the 1970s. The movie was highly praised for its engaging plot, realistic characters, and charming setting. We are grateful to Ms Quinn and her colleagues for organizing this cinema outing.
Eva Lei

Form 1 Tennis

On 18 April, Form 1 pupils competed in a friendly blitz against Mount Anville and Wesley College. Luckily, there was lovely weather; it was a bright sunny day, perfect for tennis. We all got to play several games of doubles; officially, no scores were kept. However, I think The High School were the winners. Juliette Brassil was lucky enough to win a t-shirt and bracelet. It was a great way to start the season and everyone had a great time.
Isla Kennedy

Leinster Hockey

During the Easter holidays, Hannah O'Brien, Rory Lynch, Philippa Beatty, and Matthew Delaney had a wonderful time representing Leinster Hockey in The Hague. They showcased their skills and dedication on the field while creating lasting memories with their teammates. Well done, everyone!

Form 3 English 

In English class this week, Form 3 pupils had the choice to use AI - or not - when creating a visual guide for one of the short stories they are reading titled The Nose by Nikolai Gogol. The results were as amusing as this absurdist Russian classic tale and will make a memorable revision guide in time for the June examinations.
Ms Burrowes

Summer Concert

The High School Summer Concert will take place on Wednesday 13 May in The Reynolds Hall. All are very welcome to this free event. 
Ms Bourke and Ms Phillips

HSD Honey

HSD honey from our very own beehives at The High School is now available for purchase at Reception wrapped in a beautiful label designed by Carolina Villar. We can only accept cash purchases. The standard jar costs €8 and the small jar costs €3. You are kindly requested to limit your purchase to one large jar per person so we can share the 'golden liquid' with as many members of the school community as possible.
Mr Langrell

Rathfarnham Parish Fête