Vol 32 No 05    02 Oct 2026

'Bright Futures' - Open Evening

On Thursday, 24 September, school lessons finished early as our dedicated 5th Year Monitors geared up to host the annual “Bright Futures” Opening Evening. To keep everyone energised for the busy night ahead, the canteen team kindly provided delicious food for staff, and all the student helpers.

The preparations officially kicked off at 4:15 pm with a briefing led by the Head Girl, the Head Boy, and the prefects. To ensure the evening ran smoothly, our Head Girl created a detailed schedule and duty table for the team to follow.

From 4:30 pm to 6:40 pm, the Monitors worked tirelessly across the campus. They took on vital roles as runners, guided families, and managed car park duty with great professionalism before heading home for a well-deserved rest.

A huge thank you goes out to everyone who contributed to making this important event such a success. We are incredibly grateful to the teachers and staff who readyed their classrooms, coordinated the displays, and spoke to the visiting groups, making it all possible. We also really appreciate the dedicated team of cleaners who worked tirelessly to keep the school looking spick and span prior to the event, and the enthusiastic students who brought each subject room to life. Special thanks go to the Head Girl and Head Boy for their exceptional organisation.
Eva Lei 
Form 5 Monitor

HSD Wins at Dublin City Neighbourhood Awards!

We are absolutely thrilled to announce that The High School has won first place in the Schools Category for the South East Area in the annual Dublin City Council City Neighbourhoods Competition! This prestigious award recognises the incredible dedication, hard work, and environmental stewardship shown by our school community. The competition evaluates schools on critical sustainability metrics, including precinct upkeep, biodiversity, waste management, recycling, and energy efficiency. 

Gold at the World Karate Championships in Japan!

On September 11th Doireann Langley travelled to Tokyo as part of the squad representing Ireland in the HDKI World Karate Championships. The event took place on the 15th in Gotemba - right in front on Mt Fuji. Doireann made it through to the finals of all categories she entered and came away with a gold, silver and bronze medal - an amazing result in a highly competitive field! The event was truly International with representation from over 25 countries. It was fantastic to see all of Doireanns and her teammates hard work pay off. Well done Doireann!

Gold and Bronze for HSD Swimmer

We are thrilled to celebrate the phenomenal success of High School pupil Katie Buckley at the Irish Summer National Youth and Senior Championships organised by Swim Ireland. Katie reached the 'A' final in all seven of her events, ultimately taking home bronze in the 50m butterfly and gold in the 50m freestyle with a fantastic time of 27.35 seconds. 

Well done, Katie, on this wonderful achievement! The entire school community wishes you the very best for the upcoming season.
Ms Jones

National Recognition for High School Artist

We are absolutely thrilled to celebrate a phenomenal artistic achievement by one of our own students. Charlotte Leahy has been shortlisted for the prestigious AIB Young Portrait Prize 2026 at the National Gallery of Ireland! Making the final shortlist for such a renowned national exhibition is an outstanding milestone, and her work is now featured alongside the very best young artists in the country on the official National Gallery shortlist and in The Gloss Magazine. Well done, Charlotte!

National Ploughing Championships

On 15 September, the next generation of farmers—our Form 6 Agricultural Science students—set off for the National Ploughing Championships 2026, held once again in Screggan, Co. Offaly.

It was a fantastic day out, packed with learning and fun, and, despite the overnight rain, there was very little mud! We explored countless informative stands, watched eye-opening demonstrations on farm health and safety and, of course, enjoyed plenty of delicious food—the cheeseburgers were definitely a highlight. Along the way, we collected lots of freebies, including Department of Agriculture keep cups.

We visited a wide range of stands, including Teagasc (the farm advisory service), Bord Bia and Origin Green, gaining insights into the vital work of these government-supported organisations. Among the students’ favourite experiences were the drainage and Irish Army demonstrations, test-driving mini tractors and bobcats, and learning about recycling initiatives at the Re-turn stand. At the Irish Farmers Journal stand, we tried our hand at guessing the weight of a heifer, but unfortunately we didn’t win her.

Mr Langrell guided us to several key exhibits linked directly to our Agricultural Science projects, such as the Teagasc stand. We also learned more about the government’s actions around food sustainability and agricultural policy, and got to see results from other “Soil My Pants” experiments. The many flyers and resources collected will be invaluable for our upcoming projects and exam preparations.

All in all, the Ploughing Championships proved to be an inspiring, educational and thoroughly enjoyable experience. Every student who attended came away with new knowledge, tired feet, a bag full of goodies and a big smile. It’s safe to say that this trip has only strengthened our enthusiasm for Agricultural Science—and we’ll definitely be back at the Ploughing next year in Rathangan, County Kildare.

Junior Rugby Win

Our Junior rugby team delivered a brilliant performance in their final friendly before the competitive season kicks off, securing an impressive 31-15 victory against Presentation College Bray. This fantastic result is the perfect confidence booster for the squad as they wrap up their pre-season preparations.

They also recorded wins over Glenstal Abbey, Bandon Grammar, and St Andrew’s College in pre-season. All eyes are now on the league opener against CBC Monkstown at home on the 14th, and with momentum firmly on our side, we wish the team the very best of luck. All support is welcome!

Meet the Senior Management Team (SMT)

The Senior Management Team (SMT) plays a pivotal role in the leadership and daily organization of The High School. Pictured here from left to right are the staff members who guide our school community: Ms Packham (School Operations), Mr Wilkinson (Teaching & Learning) Mr Tobin (Pastoral Care), Mr Ellis (Finance, Grounds and non academic operations). Our SMT is always here to support our students and families. Communication is key in any successful organisation, so please never hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions or feedback which you would like to share with them.

Higher Options and WorldSkills 2026

 Recently, our Sixth Year students had the opportunity to attend both Higher Options and WorldSkills Ireland at the RDS in Dublin as part of the Guidance Department’s programme of support for students as they begin to make important decisions about their futures. 

The Higher Options exhibition provided students with the opportunity to engage directly with universities, colleges and education providers from across Ireland and beyond. Students were able to gather information about a wide range of courses, entry requirements, college life and the different pathways available to them after The High School. With CAO applications now firmly on the horizon, the day provided a valuable opportunity for students to explore their options, ask questions and begin to consider which courses and pathways might best suit their individual interests, strengths and ambitions. 

Students also attended WorldSkills Ireland, where they were introduced to a diverse range of careers, apprenticeships, further education and skills-based opportunities. The event offered an excellent insight into pathways beyond the traditional university route and highlighted the breadth of opportunities available to young people across areas such as technology, engineering, construction, hospitality, creative industries and many other sectors. 

For many students, the day was an opportunity to discover careers and courses they may not previously have considered. It also reinforced an important message from the Guidance Department: there is no single pathway to a successful future. Whether students choose university, an apprenticeship, further education, professional training or another route, the most important step is making informed decisions based on their own interests, abilities and aspirations. 

The Guidance Department would like to thank our Sixth Year students for their enthusiasm and engagement throughout the day. We hope that the experience has given them greater clarity and confidence as they continue their research and begin the next stage of their post-school planning. 

The future is full of possibilities — and the journey begins with exploring them. 
The Guidance Department  

The High School Table Tennis Club Championship

Who has the fastest serve in the school? Who will survive the knockout rounds? Find out as the highly anticipated Table Tennis Club Championship begins!

• When: Thursday, 15th October at 4:00 pm
• Where: Reynolds Hall

Bring your best game, and let the matches begin!
Ms Jones

Assembly News

At the beginning of Assembly last week, a short message was shared regarding the Senior Boys’ Hockey League match against Mount Temple Comprehensive School. Afterwards, a group of special visitors arrived to share an important message. Gardaí from the local police force advised the senior pupils to engage in safe practices when travelling to and from school. Whether looking both ways before crossing the road or ensuring that those on scooters and bikes followed the rules in place to protect them, the Garda stressed the importance of staying alert and aware when travelling to and from school. It was made especially clear that, as senior pupils, we should set a good example for the younger years to follow. 
At the Junior Assembly on Wednesday, Ms Connolly gave a message about the Junior Science Club and its beginning on Friday at junior lunch. 

Weekend Wellbeing

Don't forget to breath.