Welcome Back!

Vol 30 No 01 30 Aug 2024

Welcome Back!

I hope all members of the school community enjoyed a restful and restorative break during the summer months. We have thoroughly enjoyed welcoming your sons and daughters back to The High School and wish them every success for the academic year 2024/25. Ms Browne, Mr Kingston, and Mr Lenehan resigned from their positions at The High School with effect from the end of August. We thank them for their excellent service and wish them all the best for the future. We are delighted to welcome back delighted to welcome back Ms Deacon (Mathematics/Sports Co-ordinator), Ms Fallon (Geography/Geology), Ms Hanley (Special Education), Ms Killane (Subject Co-ordinator - Art), Ms Phillips (Special Education/Music), and Mrs Wilson (Subject Co-ordinator - Geography) to their positions at The High School. We also welcome the following full-time staff and substitute teachers: Mr Grant (Strength and Conditioning/Supervisor/PE), Ms Jones (Chemistry/Science), Ms Larney (Biology/Science), Ms O'Sullivan (Technological Subjects), and Ms White (English). We are fortunate in having the services of an excellent staff who are fully committed to providing the highest standards of academic and pastoral care for all pupils attending The High School. I should like to take this opportunity on behalf of all members of staff to thank parents and guardians for the kind messages of support and encouragement received by my colleagues in 2023/24 which were greatly appreciated by all concerned. We look forward to sharing the benefits of another happy and productive year with all of you during 2024/25.

Mr G A Forrest
Principal
The High School

Hockey Ireland Olympic Representation

This summer The High School was delighted to be represented at the Paris Olympics by not one, but two pupils. Alistair Empey (HSD, 2013-19) and Shane O'Donoghue (HSD, 2008-2011) made the school proud when they donned the green jerseys of Ireland. Shane played on the Ireland Hockey team while Alistair Empey was a reserve. It was a first time for the former, while it is the second Olympics for Shane O'Donoghue, who played at Rio de Janerio in 2016 scoring three goals. In recent days, Shane who is Ireland's record scorer with 124 goals in 224 games, has announced that he is stepping down from the Ireland hockey team. The Ireland forward wore the captain's armband for his final international appearance after helping his team to a 4-0 victory over Czechia in the 3rd/4th place play-off at the EuroHockey Championship Qualifier in Dublin. We should like to thank Shane for the many years he has given to representing The High School at the highest levels of the sport and we wish both our past pupils every success in the future.
Mr Fitzpatrick

World Athletics Success

Congratulations to recent past pupil, Sean Aigboboh (HSD, 2018-2024), who qualified for the 100m semi-final race at the Lima 2024 World U20 Athletics Championships in Peru earlier this week. He finished third in his heat at 10.55 seconds. This is Sean's first major international cap and the first time an athlete has represented Ireland in this competition since 2008. With two years of training under his belt, Sean has only raced five times this year as he was preparing for his Leaving Certificate examinations. Although he did not secure a place in the final, he was delighted to participate in the competition and compete at such a high level. Sean came first in All Ireland Schools Track and Field Championship 100m competition in both 2023 and 2024. Earlier this summer, he clinched bronze in the 100m race at the National Senior Track and Field Championships finishing with a new personal best of 10.39 seconds. It was his first senior outdoor championship and he finished third against the current national record holder. Sean stepping up from competing as a junior athlete into the senior ranks is a huge accomplishment. Looking ahead, Sean is feeling optimistic about the future and is looking forward to the Under 23 European Championships next year. We wish him all the best as he pursues further success in the sport.
Mr Irwin

Cricket Ireland Captaincy

Congratulations to Orla Prendergast (HSD, 2014-20) who played a key role in a victory for Ireland in the first ODI match against Sri Lanka and was subsequently appointed Captain for the second fixture which secured a 2-0 lead for Ireland in the series. We wish our past pupil every success as she competes for further success at international level in the 2024-25 season.
Mr Barnard

U17 Leinster Rugby

Congratulations to Ury Spain, Leo Kilroy, and Edward Duke who represented The High School in the Leinster Schools Rugby U17 summer programme. Additionally, Ury and Leo were chosen to represent Leinster in an interprovincial blitz at the IRFU High-Performance Centre in Abbottstown. We wish our pupils every success in their sporting endeavours this season.
Mr Mc Dermott

NCH Solo Concert

Our recent past pupil and award-winning violinist Daimee Ng (HSD, 2017-23) will present a solo concert in the Kevin Barry Recital Room at the National Concert Hall on Thursday 5 September at 7.30 pm. Experience a journey through violin music across centuries as she performs celebrated classical pieces alongside innovative modern compositions, pushing the boundaries of this instrument. The repertoire includes works by Bach, Ysaÿe, Hindemith, and the late Irish composer John Kinsella. This promises to be an exceptional evening of music. Tickets are now available for purchase here.
Ms Bourke