Vol 31 No 15    09 Jan  2026

Happy New Year!

The High School Student Council would like to wish everyone in the school community a very peaceful New Year. Whether you are a Form 1 pupil who has finished your first set of Christmas examinations or a Form 6 pupil preparing for the Leaving Certificate, we hope you had the opportunity over the last two weeks to rest and are ready for a productive term ahead. 

January is an eventful month in the global calendar with a number of important cultural and historical events taking place. Epiphany took place on 6 January, a Christian holiday primarily commemorating the visit of the Three Wise Men to the infant Jesus.

Another significant event is Chinese New Year, which will take place from 17 February to 13 March, welcoming the Year of the Horse - a time traditionally associated with energy, progress, and determination. International Holocaust Remembrance Day will fall on 27 January, marking the 91st anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz while providing an important opportunity to reflect on the past and honour the memory of the Holocaust's numerous victims.

We would like to remind everyone that school will be closed to pupils on 22 January for a staff training day. The United Nations' International Day of Education will highlight the crucial role of education in promoting peace, development, and human rights globally on 24 January.

From becoming an observer at Board of Management meetings to running the Bí Cineálta Anti Bullying campaign, the last calendar year has been a productive one for the Student Council and we are hoping for an even more fruitful 2026! We wish Form 3 and Form 6 pupils all the best as they prepare for their approaching mock examinations.
Eva Lei
Student Council

Carol Service

Staff and pupils gathered at Zion Church to participate in the annual Service of Nine Lessons and Carols on the last day of last term.  There we enjoyed music performed by the school choir and orchestra.  Pupils from various form groups read prayers and poems that shared the spirit of Christmas.  You can listen to their performance here. It was the perfect way to end the Autumn term. 

Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition

Congratulations to all our pupils who entered this year’s Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition - eight projects were registered for the competition this year! Their enthusiasm, creativity, and commitment to scientific inquiry are a credit to themselves, their families, and our school community.

We extend our very best wishes to Abby McGrath and Ava Allen who will proudly represent The High School at this prestigious national competition in the RDS this week. This marks a special milestone as it is the first time in 15 years that The High School has been represented at the Young Scientist Exhibition.

We wish Abby and Ava every success and hope they enjoy this unforgettable experience. Good luck to both pupils: we are extremely proud of you!
Mr Langrell

Her Sport Awards Nomination

We are delighted to congratulate past pupil Orla Prendergast (HSD, 2014-20) on her nomination for Her Sport Athlete of the Year at the Her Sport Awards. Now in its eighth year, the Her Sport Awards celebrate the women who have defined a record-breaking year for Irish sport and recognise excellence, impact, and inspiration across the sporting community.

As Ireland’s flagship celebration of women in sport, the awards honour athletes, teams, coaches, and volunteers who continue to raise standards and inspire the next generation. Orla’s nomination is a testament to her outstanding achievement playing cricket, and her dedication, and influence as a role model for young people in sport. We are immensely proud of Orla and wish her every success at the awards. You can vote for out past pupil here. 

Form 1 Science Cell Models

Pupils in 1F have shown fantastic creativity and enthusiasm in their recent Science lessons with Mr Langrell by producing some impressive models of cells. As part of their learning, pupils created detailed and imaginative representations that clearly demonstrated their understanding of cell structure and function.

The models were made using a wide range of materials, with one particularly memorable entry taking the form of a delicious cell-themed cake, much to everyone’s delight! The standard of work on display was outstanding and reflected both strong scientific knowledge and excellent effort.

Well done to all pupils in 1F for their hard work and creativity—an excellent example of learning brought to life.

National Concert Hall Christmas Concert

Rua Curtis Byrne and Fergus Linehan from Form 6 performed at the National Concert Hall last month as part of the Christmas Choir performance. This annual event brings together talented young singers to celebrate the festive season through music. Their performance at such a prestigious venue was a wonderful achievement and a memorable experience. Well done to Rua and Fergus on representing The High School so effectively at this special event.

Form 4 Subject Choice

On 6 and 7 January, Deputy Principal Ms Connolly, Guidance Counsellor Ms Whelan and Mr O’Sullivan organised an information meeting for Form 4 pupils to support them in making informed subject choices for Form 5.

Teachers from each department attended the sessions with several providing brief introductions to the subjects available within Option Blocks W, X, Y, and Z. In total, pupils were presented with 22 different subject areas, clearly highlighting the wide and diverse range of subjects on offer in our school.

The sessions were extremely beneficial, giving pupils a clearer understanding of:

• What to expect when studying each subject at Leaving Certificate level

• How each subject is assessed (including coursework, practical components, and examinations)

• How different subjects can link to future career pathways and third-level options

This comprehensive approach helped pupils feel more confident and informed when considering their choices for Senior Cycle.

A huge thank you to the Guidance Counsellors for their continued support throughout this process, and special thanks to Ms Connolly for the significant work involved in preparing next year’s timetables.
Eva Lei

Modern Foreign Languages Talk 

Senior pupils recently had the opportunity to hear from three past pupils who spoke about their experiences studying modern languages at third level. The talks offered valuable insight into the academic, personal, and career benefits of continuing with languages after school.

Luke Murphy spoke live from Paris, where he is currently on Erasmus as part of his French and Business degree in Trinity College Dublin. He shared his experience of studying and living abroad and highlighted the opportunities that language study can open up. Ella Byrne spoke in person about her studies in French and Spanish in UCD, giving an engaging account of university life and the skills developed through languages. Callum Gilmartin, who is studying Commerce International with French in UCD, and is currently in Toulouse on Erasmus,  addressed pupils via video, outlining the strong links between languages and business.

The talks were a very worthwhile experience for all involved, and we would like to sincerely thank Ms Roullet for organising this informative and inspiring event.

Form 1 French

Form 1 pupils in French class enjoyed a creative lesson recently, designing bookmarks inspired by the colours and imagery of Christmas, and using French slogans. The finished pieces showcased a strong connection to French culture, with pupils incorporating national colours into their designs. Well done to all involved for their creativity and enthusiasm—excellent work!
Ms Roullet

Senior Debating Success

The Senior Debating team ended 2025 with the last league round debate. It was the last of three debates to see if we get through to the knockout rounds. We got good results just before the Christmas break and we won the debate with a unanimous plus win! We received maximum points for that debate and were placed 18th out of over 160 schools and are now beginning our preparation for our first debate in the knockout round. Last year we got through two out of three of the knockout rounds and lost closely to the team who won the debates, and this year we hope to get further.
Rosalyn Waghorn

Charity Carol Singing

We wish to offer our sincere thank you to the HSD pupils in Form 1 who helped at the Rathfarnham Parish Carol Service on 21 December. Their support and enthusiasm on the day were greatly appreciated and contributed to the success of the event. Thanks to the generosity of the pupils and parish community, a total of €1,431.05 was raised for UNICEF. Well done to all involved for supporting such a worthy cause.

Mock Timetable 2026