Vol 27 No 26     13 May 2022

Mental Health Awareness Week

Pupils in Form 5 collaborated to organise the week and our aim was to spread awareness, positivity, and start important conversations around our mental health.  Each day was centred around the five pillars of well-being.  On Monday our key word was ‘Learning’.  Pupils were greeted at the doors with pamphlets and booklets with useful helplines and information.  At lunch a quiz was run where we all learnt some mental health facts.  On Tuesday the key word was ‘Giving’.  We can give to others in many ways both our time and our support.  At lunch we gave out free hot chocolate, tea, and coffee.  This offered pupils the opportunity to sit down and have a chat over a cuppa - a good and easy way for us all to have mental health check-ins with one another.  Every pupil was also left a compliment in their locker.  Wednesday was ‘Take Notice’ for this we talked about the importance of mindfulness and meditation as good coping skills.  We also ran “Let it Go” boxes where pupils could write what was on their minds then tear up the paper and put it in the box.  Writing is another great way we can take care of our mental health. Sometimes when it’s hard to reach out writing those thoughts down can take the weight off one's mind.  In the evening there was a memory and reflection service which offered the opportunity for the school community to gather together and reflect on the year through music and spoken word.  On Thursday for ‘Connect’ we held a lunchtime concert in The Reynolds Hall where pupils showcased their fabulous musical talents.  Lastly on Friday for ‘Be Active’ there was a card game at the doors to get people moving in the morning.  Then at lunch there was the annual "Just Dance" which undoubtedly had everyone grooving and moving.  Throughout the week Form 5 pupils also spoke at Assemblies and informed pupils of the importance of each day and its activities.  All in all the week was a success and a credit to the Form 5 pupils who collaborated to spread awareness and at the same time have a bit of fun!  The week demonstrated our school community's support for wellbeing and for one another.   We hope the awareness spread this week continues beyond just Mental Health Week, but it’s safe to say the week was a great success.  
Alexandra Lenihan  

Creative Schools Week

Creative Schools Week is a celebration of creativity in schools with a focus on fun, festivities, imagination, and innovation.  The initiative is informed by the Arts Council’s ten-year strategy (2016–25) Making Great Art Work: Leading the Development of the Arts in Ireland.  Leading up to Creative Schools Week and Mental Health Week, the Form 4 Photography class experimented with double and triple exposure photograms in the dark room.  To begin the project we took pictures of our side profiles and cut out the silhouettes as the foundation of our portraits.  Using the dark room in school we were able to expose different objects onto the silhouette to create a design.  Pupils used flowers, leaves, wool, and even toy dinosaurs! It was a unique experience going into the dark room.  Safety glasses must be worn at all times as chemicals are used and red lighting (the only the colour which doesn't affect the photography paper) creates a surreal atmosphere. After our photograms were developed we added designs cut out from various magazines to accentuate the side profile and to add some colour.  Overall it was a fantastic experience!
Jake O'Loughlin

Form 6 Art Portfolios

This year a number of pupils have undertaken portfolio.  They have applied for a range of both PLC and Degree Courses.  As always a huge amount of time and commitment was given to this creative process and the Art Department is delighted to see pupils progressing their study in areas such as Graphic Design, Fine Art , Illustration, and Animation.

Evening of Memory and Reflection

This week members of the school community gathered in The Reynolds Hall to spend an evening of memory and reflection together.  This is a annual opportunity for the school community to gather its memories and reflections on what has been experienced during the preceding year. Through music and the spoken word we brought to mind our feelings and thoughts in relation to what has been lost and what has been gained.  We also remembered significant events that have impacted on us as a school and in society in general.  Some pupils and teachers  performed musical pieces, while others read poetry and passages from scripture.   

Poster Challenge

Pupils throughout the school have embraced their creativity in preparation for Mental Health Awareness Week. Gary Meaney created this set of colourful posters to spread positive messages around the school reflecting the five themes for pupils to consider during Mental Health Awareness Week.  Pupils in Form 4 were likewise inspired, producing a set of posters: they placed cut-out words on coloured paper to create a stunning 3D effect.  

Junior Photogtraphy Interactive Challenge

This term Emily McAdam-Kavanagh had a big idea: to make interactive wall art! The Junior Photography Club have turned the idea into reality and our newest project is now on the walls close to Reception.  The exhibit is called the Picture Playlist.  Over the past few months at lunch on Mondays and Thursdays we have been compiling lists of songs, bringing in props, and taking pictures to create 16 images which are all intended to represent a song title.  Each picture has a Spotify code which can be scanned on the app by anyone that wishes to participate.  It’s a challenge for pupils and staff: try to guess the name of the song and then see if you guessed correctly.  It's charades for song titles if you like.  We hope you will enjoy it!
Emily McAdam-Kavanagh and Olivia Leonard 

Darkness Into Light

Beginning the day with an early start, many crowded into the car park at Marlay Park, filling the dark night with bright yellow T-shirts and chatter.  We began the leisurely walk at 4.15 am strolling into the dark woods as a unit, showing the world that no one is truly alone.  Flickering candlelight brightened the quiet, reflective kilometers as we remembered the people who are no longer here.  As the path before us continued the glimmering, golden sun came peeking over the horizon to meet us just as we crossed the finish line, bringing to a close another Darkness Into Light event - another memory to cherish.
Hannah Hearne

World Karate Youth League

Congratulations to Asha Reen who competed in the World Karate 1 Youth League in Cyprus recently.  Asha started studying karate at the age of 6 and is very keen on the sport.  We wish her every success in future competitions.

Art Exhibition

Ria Czerniak-Lebov (HSD, 1996-2002) is a is a past pupil and current member of staff who is a printmaker and multidisciplinary artist from Dublin.  A full-time member of Graphic Studio Dublin, she works predominantly in etching and aquatint.  Her stunning group show called Sub/Plot will be on display in the SO Fine Art Editions at Powerscourt Townhouse Centre.  In these prints Ria explores the relationship between old and new technologies.  Through a visual vocabulary drawn from cinema, photography, pixelation, and digital glitches she employs traditional print techniques to capture our rapidly changing visual landscape.  The show runs until 28 May.

Form 1 Wood Technology

Pupils in Form 1 have been busy making these colourful bookends as part of Wood Technology.

HSD Parents' Association Summer Social Event

As the school year comes to a close we are pleased to announce that our annual year-end social event will be held on 27 May, so we want to make sure we get a placeholder in your calendars. It is a chance for many of the Form 1 and 2 parents to meet for the first time and give others a chance to reacquaint. The event is usually a great opportunity to connect with other parents and broaden the school community.  The format will be an evening BBQ, using the canteen and courtyard areas to allow for all weathers.  We look forward to seeing you there and are counting on your attendance to make the evening a success.  Ticket prices are being finalised and will be available on Eventbrite or a similar app.  An email from The High School Parents' Association will soon follow with details, so check your inboxes. 
HSD PA Committee

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Ms Burrowes 
Communications Coordinator