Vol 31 No 07     10 Oct  2025

Cross Country Success

Last Wednesday our school cross country team had an important race in Phoenix Park. It was our first race together as a team, and we were all looking forward to the chance to compete and represent our school. When we arrived at Santry Desmesne, we quickly found a spot to put down our gear and started our warm up routine, doing exercises such as high knees, heel flicks, and lunges to loosen our legs and get ready for the race. The girls team ran first and gave it their best effort, but unfortunately just missed out on a medal. Next, it was us - the boys' team. All of us ran really well and gave it our all. With many of us finishing in strong positions, we were able to secure the Silver team medal for being the second best school overall. It felt great to represent our school and especially take home a medal.
Jeremy Rzadek

Form 5 Excursion

Pupils in Form 5 travelled up to the Dublin Mountains this week for a day of adventure, teamwork, and fun. The outing offered a great opportunity for social connection, with plenty of laughter and encouragement as everyone took on the ziplining challenges and enjoyed a scenic hike through the hills.

By the afternoon, pupils returned to school tired but reinvigorated, having learned a little more about their own tolerance for heights and how to face challenges with confidence. Thankfully the rain held off making for an even more enjoyable day outdoors.

We would like to thank the Year Head, Form Teachers, teachers, and pastoral team who joined the trip and helped make it such a positive and memorable experience. Now everyone is prepared to face the challenges on terra firma, ready to jump back into schoolwork with renewed energy and commitment!

Form 4 Cultural Excursion

On 7 October Form 4 pupils visited Dublin city centre for a cultural excursion as part of our Transition Year Programme. We completed three trails exploring buildings and venues of cultural importance across the city centre.

Pupils made their own way to their designated meeting points with their Form Teachers. Two forms started at each location: the Garden of Remembrance at Parnell Square, Bewley’s Café on Grafton Street, and Trinity College Library. Everyone met at 10.00 am and the day finished at 3.00 pm.

We were given three sheets to fill out and we had to take photographs as proof that we had completed each trail, along with answering the questions provided. Between each trail we met up with our Form Teachers before continuing on our way.

The event was both fun and tiring, but we learned a lot about the city centre and its culture. We’re really glad we got to experience something like this, and we’re thankful to the school for organising it for us. A big thank you to all the Form Teachers who came with us and helped throughout the day!
Eva Lei

Leinster Multi-Event Competition

This year, The High School participated for the first time in the Leinster Multi-Event Competition, which included hurdles, long jump, high jump, shot put, 60m, 200m, and 800m events.

Our pupils performed brilliantly throughout the day, showing great effort and enthusiasm in every discipline. Brendan Solarin delivered an outstanding performance, winning every category he entered, except the final event where an injury prevented him from finishing in first place. Despite this setback, he still secured an impressive 5th place overall.  Robert Tallon was also one of the competitors and did very well across the events. 

It was a fantastic day of athletics and our pupils thoroughly enjoyed the competition. Given the success and spirit shown, it certainly won’t be the last time The High School takes part in this event!
Ms Fallon and Ms Hutchinson Edgar

Dance World Cup

Congratulations to Maria Donnellan for her outstanding achievement as a member of Team Ireland at the Dance World Cup in Spain in July 2025. Her  dedication, talent, and hard work have truly paid off.  Keep up the excellent work, Maria!

Senior Film Club

The most recent Film Club outing was a truly electrifying experience — a three-hour, politically charged, comedic neo-western epic about power, race, community, and family, directed by none other than Paul Thomas Anderson. It was exactly the curveball the world didn’t know it needed.

Willa Ferguson (Chase Infiniti) is desperately trying to escape the clutches of her nemesis, Colonel Steven J Lockjaw (Sean Penn), with the help of her father, Bob Ferguson (Leonardo DiCaprio), whose band of ex-revolutionaries reunites to rescue her. Riddled with lies, betrayals, unexpected twists, and “a few small beers,” the film continually builds in intensity until it reaches a spectacular crescendo — an unforgettable car chase. Read on
Haruki Andrews

Leaving Certificate Music Excursion

Recently, pupils studying Leaving Certificate Music enjoyed an inspiring and educational visit to Windmill Lane Studios, one of Ireland’s most iconic recording venues. During the trip pupils learned about music production, recording techniques, and the creative process behind professional studio work.

They also discovered the rich history of the studio and some of the many world-famous artists and bands who have recorded there over the years. The visit offered a fascinating insight into the music industry and brought classroom learning to life in a real-world setting.

It was a thoroughly engaging and worthwhile experience, and pupils returned full of inspiration and appreciation for the art of music production.
Ms Phillips

Student Council

Last Wednesday a group of pupils from Student Council visited Stratford College for an inter-council meeting. We talked about initiatives we are working on within our own councils, linking with Green Schools and sharing what we had organised from the previous Sustainability Week. We spoke productively about plans for our Councils, alongside looking at collaborating on future projects. We are grateful to have been invited again and will extend a return invitation to Stratford College later in the academic year.
Rosalyn Waghorn
Secretary
HSD Student Council

Table Tennis 

Table tennis sessions are held every Monday after school at HSD.  It is so much fun and a great opportunity to get fit and make new friends. So why not come along and give table tennis a try? 
Ms Jones

Language Assistants

We are delighted to welcome two new Language Assistants to our school this year: Ms Pauline Culmann (German), and Ms Laura Corral Sánchez (Spanish). They will be with us for the full academic year. 

We’re so excited to have native speakers joining our language departments and are sure they will bring great energy and insight to our classes. We hope Pauline and Laura will be happy here: we know that the entire school community extends a warm welcome to them.
Ms Roullet

 PPU Annual Lunch

The High School and Diocesan Past Pupils' Union are delighted to announce further details about its upcoming Annual Lunch.

When: Friday 17 October 2025
Time: 12.30 pm
Where: Stephen's Green Club

Seats are limited to 80 people and selling fast. This event sold out last year! Please book early to avoid disappointment as places are strictly limited.

Buy Tickets here

Our Panel of Speakers

Paul Newman

Paul is a past pupil of The High School and Chairman of DNG. Having established DNG in 1982 he continues to lead the company today. Paul is responsible for much of the expansion of the DNG Group with extensive innovation to the business and industry including the introduction of Sale Agreed boards to Ireland.
Paul is a fellow of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors & the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland and is a member of the Institute of Professional Auctioneers and Valuers.

Dr Patricia Medcalf

Trish Medcalf left HSD in 1983 and completed a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Economics and Business Studies at Trinity College Dublin. On graduating in 1987, she commenced her marketing career in England before returning to Ireland in 1990 to complete a Masters. She subsequently worked with Siemens and with Brand Union (formerly The Identity Business), specialists in corporate and brand identity. Currently, Trish is a Senior Lecturer in Marketing and Advertising at Technological University Dublin, where she is course leader on the Bachelor of Arts programme in Advertising and Marketing Communications. Drawing on her PhD research, she published Advertising the Black Stuff in Ireland 1959-1999: Increments of change [2020]: a study of the relationship between Guinness advertising and Irish society. Outside of work, Trish enjoys spending time on the tennis court, holidaying in France, and tending to her polytunnel.

Rónán Dowling-Cullen

Rónán Dowling-Cullen was appointed Head Boy at HSD in 2015 and studied Computer Science in TCD. While still in TCD he co-founded Bounce Insights, an AI-powered platform that helps companies get better insights into their customers. The software asks customers questions on a variety of topics from purchasing patterns to packaging preferences. This data enables clients to better design, market, and manufacture their products. Rónán was recently named on the Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe Media & Marketing 2025 list.

If you have any questions or issues please e-mail info@hsdppu.com and we will get back to you ASAP!

Form 1 Home Economics

Sponge cake, anyone? Or perhaps you’d prefer to sample some flapjacks? Pupils in Form 1 Home Economics have been cooking up a storm recently, much to the delight of their family and friends! We can’t wait to see what’s on the menu this week.
Ms Toolan

Photography Competitions

Home Run

The postponed Dublin Simon Community’s 42nd Annual Home Run will now take place this Saturday, 11 October at 9.30 am in the Phoenix Park. We look forward to seeing you there.
Ms Hutchinson Edgar

Rathfarnham Parish

Zion Parish

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