Vol 29 No 24     22 Mar 2024

Happy Easter!

As the Spring term draws to a close, we send heartfelt Easter greetings to our pupils and staff, their families, and all members of our school community.  We hope the upcoming weeks provide you with an opportunity to unwind and recharge before the hectic final stretch of the academic year.  We wish our Form 6 pupils every success as they sit their Leaving Certificate Oral Examinations over the next two weeks.  Enjoy the break: we look forward to seeing you return to school in April, refreshed and enthused.

Junior Cup Victory

The High School Junior A hockey team achieved a significant victory by defeating Muckross Park College 3-2 to secure the Leinster Hockey Association Schoolgirls Junior Cup for the first time in the recent history of the school.  Their hard work and dedication throughout the season have undoubtedly paid off, showcasing their talent and determination on the field.  We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all members of the squad for their outstanding performance and wish them continued success in their future endeavours.

International Women's Day

On 8 March, we commemorated International Women’s Day at The High School. The day began with a coffee morning to raise funds for the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.  The coffee was essential for the busy schedule of activities ahead of us!  In the afternoon, approximately 50 women arrived at the school all of whom were alumnae of the Diocesan Secondary School for Girls which was founded 175 years ago in 1849 and was incorporated with The High School 50 years ago in 1974.  These ladies visited our new exhibition in the Archive dedicated to the Diocesan School before participating in a question and answer session with some current pupils of The High School.  I had the privilege of being one of the interviewers and spent an hour engaging in a very interesting and detailed conversation about their time at Diocesan and education in general.

It was fascinating to observe how much has changed and remained constant over fifty plus years since those pupils attended secondary school.  Initially, it was uncommon for women to attend college or university – usually only one or two girls per year did so.  Most women pursued careers as secretaries, teachers, or nurses.  Despite concerns that the Diocesan identity may have diminished after the incorporation, all the ladies I spoke to expressed satisfaction with the merger of the two schools and admired their successors who attended this co-educational institution.

The mixed school not only provided opportunities for finding partners (of which there were many!) but also offered equal educational opportunities.  Some integration challenges in the newly-formed co-educational school were recounted during the Q&A session.  Participants mentioned learning valuable insights from others' experiences while being surprised by shared experiences among attendees.

Later that day we continued our tradition of engaging in a walk of solidarity in darkness around the local area to demonstrate support for all female members of the community while raising funds for Women’s Aid.  Overall, it was a successful International Women’s Day celebration where every part of our school community felt included!
Ciara Morton

Artists: Lauren Collins, Grace Beatty, Sophia Sparvoli, Ally Thornton, Eve Skelton, Emily McAdam Kavanagh, Rosa Bell-McGaw, Lauren Doyle, Saoirse Reilly, Vivia Belavusava, Ella Daley, Esmé Fowler, Johnny Kirkpatrick, Carla Shirley, Martha Waghorn.  Compiled by Ms Rogers and with special thanks to Alan Phelan and Ms Hutchinson Edgar

Gender Equality Workshop

On 7 March myself and three other Form 5 pupils - Matilda Doyle, Ava Deacon, and Michael Binchy - attended Concern Worldwide's International Women's Day Workshop at the Carmelite Community Centre on Aungier Street.  We met pupils from other schools and learned a great deal about the history of suffrage and women's rights both in Ireland and internationally.  The workshop provided us with the opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations and debates with pupils from other schools as well as with the Concern team. Additionally, it offered creative outlets for brainstorming solutions to important issues while teaching us problem-solving skills and critical thinking.  This helped us understand and critique issues related to gender inequality and stereotyping.  As a result of the workshop, we left with a deeper understanding of Concern Worldwide's efforts in promoting gender equality and gained insight into important issues that affect us all.
Leo Shorten

Metropolitan Senior Cup Win

Congratulations to The High School Senior Cup Team who have won the Metropolitan Schools Senior Cup for the first time in the history of the school.  The High School has qualified to compete in the full Leinster tournament.  We warmly congratulate the team on its achievements and wish all members of the squad every success in forthcoming competitions.
Mr McDermott

Metropolitan Junior Cup Victory

Congratulations to The High School Junior Cup Team who have won the Metropolitan Schools Junior Cup for the second consecutive year.  The High School has qualified to compete in the full Leinster tournament. Congratulations to the team for their accomplishments! We extend our best wishes to all squad members for success in upcoming competitions.
Mr McDermott

Vinnie Murray Cup Final

Photo: Alex McLean

Recently, The High School Senior Cup team faced St Fintan's High School in the highly anticipated Vinnie Murray Cup final.  The stands were filled with supporters proudly wearing the school colours, their enthusiastic cheers filling the air as soon as the team entered the field.  Alex Bowen, Evan Kelleher, and Milo Lavelle scored tries, while Leo Kilroy and Alex Bowden successfully converted two tries and a penalty kick between them.  Despite a disappointing final score, the team battled until the very last whistle, while supporters continued to cheer on the players as they received their well-deserved medals.  Throughout the season, the team brought immense joy to the school community.  We are grateful for their dedication and talent which led them to face Blackrock College in the Leinster Senior Cup – a first for our school in many years.  Witnessing their journey has been an exhilarating experience for the hundreds of supporters who watched them from the side lines.

Seachtain na Gaeilge

Bhí Seachtain na Gaeilge ar súil an tseachtain seo chaite agus seachtain eachtrúil a bhí ann. D’imríomar a lán spóirt i rith na seachtaine. Ag tús na seachtaine rinneamar an puc fada sa rang Gaeilge, agus bhí craic iontach againn. An lá dar gcionn d’imríomar cluiche peil ghaelach mór ar an bpáirc haca. Bhí thart ar fiche duine ar ar an dá fhoireann ach bhí an cluiche an-spraoi!  Chomh maith le seo, bhí cúpla ceolchoirm beag ar súil le linn tionóil na maidine. Chualamar an chláirseach, angus bhí cúpla duine ag seinm agus ag canadh amhránaí traidisiúinta freisin, mé féin san áireamh. Chualamar dánta as Gaeilge le linn tionól na maidine freisin. Bhí céilí ar súil sa halla maidin amháin i rith na seachtaine, agus rinneamar an balla Luimnigh.  
Finn O'Fóghlú

Form 3 Excursion

Last Thursday Form 3 pupils visited Alive Outside in Kilruddery Estate.  We were divided into two groups, with one group participating in Hell and Back while the other engaged in Lazer Tag, Bushcraft, and Archery.  Hell and Back provided great fun for everyone, filled with obstacles and challenges along a course that spanned over 5 kilometres; leaving everyone exhausted afterward. The second group delved into Bushcraft activities by building forts and roasting marshmallows.  In Lazer Tag, they were divided into two teams competing against each other.  Some of us left early to make it back for to support our Senior Rugby team.  All and all the day was loads of fun and we all enjoyed it.
Tain Kracen Wallace, James Dreyer and Finn Kracen Wallace

Form 1 Hockey Tour

Recently, the Form 1 hockey squad went on a tour to Cork.  The first match we played was against Scoil Mhuire.  The HSD A team won 2-0 and the B team tied 1-1.  After that we travelled to the second match against Bandon Grammar School. Unfortunately, the A team lost 1-0 having held our opponents off until the last quarter but on the upside the B team won even without a goalkeeper!  When the matches were over, Bandon Grammar School provided us with a delicious dinner in their canteen.  After that, we travelled to Clonality Park Hotel to check-in.  We went in groups to the swimming pool and had a great time.  Then we had an hour to relax before heading to the cinema to watch Bob Marley's "One Love."  After the film, we went straight to our rooms and went to bed.  The next day we had breakfast at the hotel and after that, we went for high ropes, zip wire, climbing wall, and 'the drop.'  Then we set off back to Dublin but stopped at Cashel for a meal at McDonald's.  We arrived back at The High School around 3:40 pm.  All in all, we had a great time on our first overnight hockey tour.
Ella Percy-O'Brien

Leinster Senior Schoolboys Cup

The Senior 1 Boys hockey team competed in the cup semi-final last week against St. Andrew's College.  Despite the unfavourable outcome, we extend our gratitude to all the coaches and players for their dedication to the sport throughout this year.