Vol 31 No 10     14 Nov  2025

Parents' Evening and Prize Distribution

On Wednesday 22 October our annual Parents’ Evening and Prize Distribution returned with much anticipation celebrating a new year of prize winners at The High School. The evening opened with a warm performance by the orchestra setting the tone for the event. We were welcomed by the Chairperson of Board of Management by way of introduction to the distribution of prizes. Each pupil came up to receive their prize for various different achievements to the sound of great applause. We also were treated to a lovely performance by the Choir. The Old Boys' Cup and Jean Scott Trophy were presented by a representative of The High and Diocesan School Past Pupils’ Union. To conclude, there was another performance by the award winning Orchestra which signified the end of the formal part of the evening. Afterwards, there were refreshments for everyone involved. Congratulations to all prize winners on their wonderful achievements.
Matthew Whyte
Head Boy

Act of Remembrance

The High School commemorated all those who died in conflict during the twentieth century in an Act of Remembrance last week. In particular, the service of at least 476 past pupils who volunteered during the First World War and Second World War (of whom a total of 99 were killed) was marked in a short ceremony held during Assembly. Separately, the Principal (together with the Head Boy, Head Girl, Deputy Head Boy, and Deputy Head Girl) represented The High School at the national Act of Remembrance, which was held in the presence of His Excellency the President of Ireland at St Patrick’s Cathedral on Remembrance Sunday. You can learn more about past pupils of The High School who died during the First World War here.

Stand Up Week

Cartoon by Lauryn Doyle

The High School was particularly colourful last week as pupils and staff sported rainbows to show their support for LGBTQ+ community during Stand Up Week 2025.  An annual occurrence at The High School, Stand Up Week is dedicated towards fostering an inclusive, supportive, and welcoming school community for all pupils, regardless of gender or sexuality. 

The week saw a number of events take place from music and face paint to a “Pride Tree”.  Thea Moran and Lauryn Doyle made beautiful posters to advertise the events held during the week, and Oisín Gabbett O'Kelly delivered informative Assemblies on the importance of supporting others.  A non-uniform day—in which every pupil was encouraged to dress colourfully—was held on Wednesday which raised €892 for Outhouse.  The Outhouse LGBTQ+ Centre is a charity that advocates for equity and justice for all LGBTQ+ people while providing essential services, connections, and support to improve the well-being of everyone in the community.    

Stand Up Week is a demonstration of support and a reminder to celebrate LGBTQ+ young people in all their diversity throughout the year.  We are grateful to all the pupils who helped out during the week and to the LGBTQ+ Quality Mark Co-ordinators - Ms Maher, Ms Phillips, and Mr Tobin - for organising and facilitating the week.
Olivia Leonard

  Form 6 Pink Run

On Tuesday 21 October Form 6 pupils participated in a 3-kilometre run to raise funds for Breast Cancer Ireland. We believed it was crucial to raise awareness and funds for this cause. Each of us wore an item of pink clothing, symbolising Breast Cancer Ireland's colour. The route took us from the front gate of Danum, along the Dodder, and back again. At the end of the run, sweets were distributed to all participants as an incentive for future charitable activities. While some pupils ran competitively, others opted to walk. Nevertheless, participation was key during this event. Not only did we manage to raise €220 for Breast Cancer Ireland but also fostered unity among our year group through this activity.
Mr McNamara

Form 6 Geography 

Recently, the Leaving Certificate Geography classes embarked on their field study trip to Shankill Beach. We were a little apprehensive despite enduring a few particularly wet Geography classes testing our equipment outdoors. However, the weather proved to be in our favour as there was no need for any of our rain gear.

Upon arriving at Shankill Beach and after a break for warm drinks, we felt rejuvenated and ready to begin our work. It's uncommon to visit the beach on a Monday in October, so we were thrilled to be there. Although testing for erosion on Shankill's cliff initially seemed daunting, our Geography teachers quickly reassured us and with some practice we felt prepared. We divided into teams and commenced our tasks.

Throughout the day, we measured the height and slope of the beach profile, sketched landscapes (with assistance from Ms Jones's dog), and examined rocks. Some team members even took advantage of the opportunity to inadvertently paddle while testing the waves at the shore! While our primary goal was experimentation, we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves by engaging in conversations and laughter with classmates.

The day was incredibly enjoyable and has significantly enhanced our readiness for both the Leaving Certificate project and examination. Experiencing first hand what we have been studying in class not only piqued our interest but also provided immense benefits. A heartfelt thank you goes out to Ms Wilson, Ms Gray, Ms Fallon, Mr Rankin, Ms Jones, and Ms Delany for their invaluable help and support throughout this experience.
Emily Farrell

Junior B Hockey

The High School Junior B team played their debut game yesterday against St Dominican's College and suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat.

SCT Rugby Victory

The Senior Cup Team at The High School recently won its match against Ardscoil na Tríonóide by a score of 40-33. On the 5 November, we kicked off our second Leinster Senior League match of the season on our home grounds. Although both teams were closely matched, we pushed through by making strong runs and working as a collective. Our team had worked really hard during our previous training sessions with our coaches Ava, Poppy, and Fiona. This exciting win - featuring tries scored by Elisa MacGabhann, Joanne Aigboboh, Jane Aigboboh, and Siobhán Layte with Maya Neely kicking five conversions - has brought us through to the league playoffs in the upcoming weeks.
Esmé Fowler

Mock Presidential Elections

As part of their CSPE studies, pupils from 3HH and 2MS organised and reported on their own mock presidential elections, giving both senior and junior pupils a hands-on experience of democracy in action.

3HH conducted their election with pupils from Forms 4, 5, and 6, researching the candidates, preparing campaign materials, and managing the count. When the ballots were tallied, Catherine Connolly secured a decisive victory on the first count with 73% (108 votes), followed by Jim Gavin with 16% (23 votes), and Heather Humphreys with 11% (17 votes). Out of an electorate of 420, there was a 36.4% turnout, with 5 spoiled votes and a quota of 75.

Meanwhile, 2MS ran their own mock election for junior pupils just before half term. After researching the candidates and learning about how elections work, they oversaw a lively and well-organised vote. Once the count was complete, Catherine Connolly again emerged as the winner with 58% of the vote, followed by Jim Gavin on 24%, and Heather Humphreys on 18%. An impressive 51% turnout showed great enthusiasm and engagement from the class.

Both events demonstrated excellent teamwork, research, and communication skills. Well done to 2MS and 3HH for their efforts, and to all pupils who took part in these fun and educational projects.

Form 4 Art Skills Excursion

Recently pupils studying Art visited the Black Church Print Studio in Temple Bar - one of only two artists’ print studios in Dublin. During the visit, we enjoyed fascinating demonstrations of etching and screen printing and even got to see some of the traditional printing presses, each weighing over a tonne!

The studio manager explained the process of copper plate etching, where acid is used to etch an image into the plate. This was especially interesting for us, as we are currently exploring a safer version in class called drypoint etching. We ended the day with a well-deserved treat at McDonald’s, which was the perfect cherry on top of a fantastic and inspiring trip!
Abby Kelly

Bursar's Report

This summer marked the completion of our three-year core classroom refurbishment project, with a further 10 classrooms upgraded. This final phase concludes a significant investment programme totalling approximately €1 million, dedicated to enhancing our teaching and learning spaces. The project was completed on time and within budget, and I would like to sincerely thank all parties involved for their efforts in delivering this work within the very short summer window.

In addition to classroom upgrades, we also enhanced several shared spaces. New outdoor pergola, team dugouts and seating areas were installed across the campus, and painting works were carried out in the corridors, canteen, and The Reynolds Hall. We are especially grateful to our Patron for the resurfacing of the car park and the installation of new pathways, which represent a further material investment in the campus. This work has also improved drainage in the car park, resolving a long-standing issue at the corner of the site, a welcome development for the entire school community.

We are now entering a new cycle of campus planning to address future facility needs, and I look forward to engaging with the school community throughout this process. Thank you to everyone for your continued support of the school.
Mr J W T Ellis
Finance and Estate Bursar

Form 4 First Aid

In Form 4 pupils did a First Aid course with trainers from Heart Safety solutions. We learned about first aid techniques and various ways to save lives in situations like cardiac arrest or choking. Pupils were taught how to use a Defibrillator/AED effectively to potentially save someone's life. This course aimed to equip us with essential skills in case of emergencies. Additionally, the paramedics demonstrated how to properly bandage individuals with arm or head injuries who are bleeding. We wish to express our gratitude to the paramedics for visiting The High School and imparting crucial knowledge on Emergency First Aid. Special thanks also go out to the teachers for organising this valuable learning opportunity.
Eva Lei 

Jigsaw Club

Love puzzles? Come join The High School Jigsaw Club! We meet during junior lunch on Mondays and Thursdays in The W B Yeats Library. We just finished our first 1000-piece puzzle, The World of Jane Austen, and we’re already excited for the next one. New members are always welcome — come relax and piece with us!
Ms Wiggle
W B Yeats Librarian

Maths Week 

During October, The High School celebrated Maths Week. We had fantastic prizes on offer including board games, marker sets, books, origami sets, and plenty more all kindly sponsored by Terenure Office Supplies with thanks to Mr Prodgers for sourcing them! Activities throughout the week included Daily Maths Puzzles for both Juniors and Seniors, a Maths Treasure Hunt from Ms Finnegan, and Poster competitions. All in all, we enjoyed a very successful Maths Week 2025! 
Ms MacGowan

Senior 2 Hockey

The Senior 2 hockey team achieved an impressive victory in their match against St Columba's College on Wednesday. The players showed great skill, teamwork, and determination on the field, resulting in a well-deserved win for the team. It was a memorable game. The away match will take place after Christmas. This week's performance showcased their hard work and dedication to the sport.
Ms Gray

Junior A Hockey

The Junior A girls performed admirably by securing a victory against Drogheda Grammar with a score of 2-1 in the Cup competition. The team showed great skill, determination, and teamwork to achieve this impressive result. Congratulations to the Junior A girls on their well-deserved success! 

Chess Club Success

From 3-16 October, Conor O'Reilly represented The High School and Ireland in Durres, Albania at the World U18 Chess Tournament. He scored 4 points out of the 11 rounds, managing to beat two FIDE Masters (a chess title from the Chess Federation) and two other players. Out of the eleven people he played against, eight were FIDE Masters and one was an International Master. Well done, Conor!
Ms MacGowan

Noticeboard