Vol 31 No 04     19 Sept 2025

Debutante Ball

Last week, our recent graduates, parents, and teachers came together for The High School Debutante Ball. This event holds great significance as it marks the culmination of six memorable years at The High School. Our former pupils paused their busy schedules to reunite one final time as the Class of 2025. They shared stories of new experiences, friendships, and expressed nostalgia for The High School. Some were pursuing further studies locally or internationally, while others contemplated their next steps or opted for a gap year. Despite varied paths, all were filled with excitement and anticipation for a night among familiar faces. We extend our best wishes to our former puils. Regardless of where life takes them, we hope they hold cherished memories of us just as we will always treasure theirs in the years ahead.

International Cricket

We are so very proud of High School past pupil Orla Prendergast (HSD, 2014-20) who has been named as the ICC Women's Player of the Month for August. The 23-year-old receives the accolade after being chosen as Player of the Series in the home T20I series against Pakistan which her side won 2-1.
She compiled 144 runs and took four wickets in that series and continued her good form in the Women's T20 World Cup Europe Qualifier. She made 244 runs at an average of 48.80 and a strike rate of 127.08 and took seven wickets.
Orla becomes the fifth Irish woman to receive the honour, with Eimear Richardson (August 2021), Laura Delany (October 2021), Arlene Kelly (August 2023) and Amy Hunter (January 2024) also collecting the prize.
Mr Barnard

Touch Rugby Representation

This summer Airmid Devitt O’Byrne was selected to play on the Ireland Touch Rugby Mixed 18s team. The team etched their names into the history books, claiming a stunning gold medal in the 2025 Atlantic Youth Touch Cup, the first gold medal ever won by an Irish junior team.  Laoise Tay who attends The High School and was selected for the Ireland Touch Rugby Girls U18 team, also took part in the tournament. We are very proud of both pupils and wish them well as they continue in the sport. 

The Student Council held their first meeting last Wednesday in the Library. We were delighted with the great turnout and would like to encourage any forms who have not yet elected representatives to do so before our next meeting on Wednesday 24 September at 8.20 am in the Library.

During the first meeting, elections were held, and the results are as follows:

President: Olivia Leonard
Vice-President: Marcus O’Leary
Secretary: Rosalyn Waghorn

Form Representatives

• Form 1: Isla Kennedy

• Form 2: Julia Donnan

• Form 3: Charlie Leonard

• Form 4: Karl Findlay

• Form 5: JoJo O’Connor

• Form 6: Ellie Donnan

We look forward to a great year ahead, working together to represent our school community.

Rosalyn Waghorn
Student Council Secretary
The High School, Dublin

Form 6 Biology Field Trip

Form 6 pupils studying Biology went on a field trip to explore an ecosystem as part of the Ecology curriculum. The rocky seashore habitat at Sandycove was selected as the ideal location for their research.

Equipped with quadrats and clipboards, the pupils eagerly delved into investigating and recording the diverse range of life forms present in this seaside environment. Each tide pool revealed a miniature world bustling with life, from sea anemones to polychaete worms.

The exploration allowed pupils to closely observe various marine species in their natural habitat - from starfish hidden beneath rocks to crabs scurrying about and mussels firmly attached to the rock surface. This firsthand experience revealed  how these organisms adapt to survive in a constantly changing environment shaped by the tides.

Beyond mere observation, pupils collected data using quadrats to analyze population density and document species frequency within the ecosystem. This hands-on approach provided insights into ecological concepts such as predator-prey interactions and competition for resources like food and space.

Overall, the field trip offered invaluable opportunities for pupils to apply theoretical knowledge in a practical setting, fostering a deeper understanding of ecological dynamics within natural environments.

Media Studies

Bee Song

I close my eyes, I smell your colours
Yellow burning like the sun
You give my life all its wonder
But your lose words stung

It seems much clearer now
Like your transparent wings
Without music I don't know how
To give you everything
 
Because I wanna be your flower
We used to be sweet until it turned sour
And tears drip like honey from a hive
Cause I'll be gone before springtime

I'm lucid now, my head is out of the clouds
But I still hear you miles away
Don't take away the crumb of peace I've found
Watching the daisies slowly sway

After autumn, winter rushes in
Bringing an icy fog
I want to survive the season
So I know you love to move on

Because I wanna be your flower
We used to be sweet until it turned sour
And tears drip like honey from a hive
Cause I'll be gone before springtime

I'll never get to bloom in the sunshine
Cause I'll be gone before springtime.

Kristabelle Anele

Photo credit: Finn Murphy

Dublin Juvenile Cross Country League 

I recently started running with Dundrum South Dublin Athletics Club (DSD). My first race was a 3000m cross country run, which is part of the Dublin Juvenile Cross Country League. I won the first race last weekend, and completed the 3k in 9 minutes and 30 seconds. I was delighted with my win and I am looking forward to the next few races. 
Ewan Kennedy

International Chess

This year the 2025 World Youth Chess Championship for the U14, U16, and U18 categories (girls and boys) will be held in the coastal city of Durrës, Albania, from October 3 to October 13, and one of your pupils, Conor O'Reilly, will be there, to represent Ireland! This prestigious event is expected to gather over 1,000 participants, including the world’s most promising young chess talents, coaches, family members, arbiters, and officials from more than 100 countries. This event is a significant opportunity for Conor to showcase his skills and compete on an international stage against top young chess players from around the world.The championship is organized by the Albanian Chess Federation (FSHSH) under the auspices of the World Chess Federation (FIDE).  We wish Conor the very best of luck in the competition!

Form 1 Geography

This week in Geography class with Ms Gray pupils brought volcanoes to life! Some recreated dramatic eruptions using fizzy drinks, while others got creative in the kitchen, serving up volcano cakes and lava bakes. Who knew plate tectonic could be so delicious?

Form 3 Home Economics

Last week pupils in Form 3 baked scrumptious red velvet cakes during their Home Economics class. They honed their piping skills using butter cream icing with impressive results. Delicious!
Ms Bergin 

Junior Guitar Club

Every Thursday during Junior Lunch pupils who love music gather in M1 to play the guitar. Guitar Club offers a fantastic opportunity to appreciate music, make new friends, and master an instrument. The future of live music at The High School looks very promising!
Mr Carolan and Ms Phillips

Form 1 Hockey

Our Form 1 pupils enjoyed playing their first hockey blitz wearing The High School colours last week. Their games against Alexandria College were lots of fun, and all teams gave an excellent performance. Well done, everyone!
Ms Jones

The High School and Diocesan Past Pupils’ Union

This year's High School and Diocesan Past Pupils’ Union annual golf outing will take place on:

Date: Friday, 3 October 2025
Venue: Rathfarnham Golf Club
Time: 14:00 – 16:00 (Timesheet in operation)

Competition Details:

• 18 Holes Singles Stableford

• Three Balls Only (preferred format)

• Open to all Past Pupils of both The High School and the Diocesan School for Girls

• Separate competitions for Men and Women

Entry Fee:

• Golf only: €40.00

• RGC Members (golf only): €10.00

• Dinner: Available on request (as per menu)

Prizes to be won:

• Old Boys Cup & President’s Prize (Men only)

• The High School & Diocesan Golf Challenge Cup & President’s Prize (Women only)

• The Bunberry Cup – 16+ Handicap (Men) and 24+ Handicap (Women) – All Past Pupils

• Nearest the Pin & Longest Drive (Men & Women)

• Visitors’ Prizes (Best Scores, Men & Women)

We warmly encourage all Past Pupils to join us for what promises to be a fantastic event.

To register your interest, please contact:
John Gillis

HSD PA AGM

We are pleased to invite you all to The High School Parents' Association AGM to be held on 24 September 2025 at 7.00 pm in the Demonstration Theatre at The High School.  We will follow the usual agenda as well as leaving time for Q&A at the end, which will involve the Chairperson of the Board of Management, Principal, and Senior Management Team who have agreed to attend on this occasion.  We look forward to seeing as many of you there as possible.
Peter de Lacy
HSD PA

The Secondary Education Committee (SEC) grant makes significant funding available to children from a Protestant faith to attend a second level school of their ethos. The SEC relies on parents knowing about the grant and applying for their children. The 2025/26 SEC Grant Application process is now closed. Applications for the 2026/27 SEC Grant will open in October 2025. Information on how to apply for the grant is available at www.secgrant.ie.

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