Vol 29 No 25     12 Apr 2024

Form 5 Agricultural Science

Last month, pupils in Form 5 studying Agricultural Science visited the farming marts and UCD research farm. We met at 8.00 am that morning to have a class and then left on the bus an hour later. We arrived at the mart in Kilcullen Co Kildare and were told some about some of the abbreviations of breeds and other information that would be given about the animals on the board such as weight and age. We also were told about the bidding process and allowed to pop behind the announcer’s desk. We then sat back and watched as the cows were sold and brought in and out of the ring. It was eye opening to see behind-the-scenes activities which helped us learn about cattle breeds through first-hand experience.  Read more...
Saoirse Reilly

Form 2 Hockey Tour

The Minor boys hockey squad went on a trip to Waterford last weekend. We played matches against Temple Carrig School and Newtown School on the way down to Waterford. Then we had dinner at 'Activate' before enjoying a game of bowling and laser tag. On Saturday, we visited Dunmore Adventure for kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding. It was enjoyable splashing everyone and pushing them into the water! The trip was great fun and everyone enjoyed it. Thanks to Ms Gray, Mr Howard, and Mr Fitzpatrick for organizing it.
Jude Lynch and Olliver Diez Corry

Gaisce Hike

Over the past year I have been participating in the Gaisce President's Award. As part of this myself and the others taking part completed the venture part of this award. The requirements were that we completed a hike of a significant distance and difficulty, and cooked for ourselves within a hostel environment. On Thursday 11 April we went home and came back to school for 5.45 pm after a quick meal and a (in my case frantic) flurry of packing. Read more
Isobel Kearney

Leaving Certificate Oral Examinations

I am writing to express my admiration for the exceptional performance of our pupils in the recent oral examinations. The achievements reflect not only their dedication but also the guidance and support provided by you and our teachers.
It is such a positive experience to witness the endeavours of pupils throughout this examination period. Their preparation was evident in their fluency and confidence during the oral assessments. Each pupil appeared to demonstrate a sound understanding of the language, and their ability to express themselves clearly and effectively.

Moreover, I would like to commend our pupils for their punctuality, responsibility, and positive attitude throughout the examination process. Such qualities are a direct reflection of the values instilled by our teachers and the nurturing environment we have cultivated within our classrooms. This was further supported by all the positive comments from all the examiners and the inspectors.

Your commitment and hard work in preparing these pupils has not gone unnoticed.  Your efforts have undoubtedly contributed to shaping these young individuals into confident and capable communicators.  An enormous debt of gratitude is due to Ms Browne and Mrs Jamieson who were present for the duration of the oral examinations and provided fantastic support for all candidates and made this a seamless and positive experience.  Finally, thank you to Ms Quinn, Ms Roullet, and Mr McNamara, who oversaw the allocations of times, managed the examiners and the State Examinations Commission in various languages and situations, and organised the candidates.

Avec tous mes remerciements agus ní neart go cur le chéile.
Mr Miller
State Examinations Co-ordinator

Senior Maths and Applied Maths Competitions

The High School Applied Maths team were very successful in the National final of the Team Applied Maths quiz last Saturday, placing 4th out of 25 teams from around the country.  Congratulations to the team which consisted of Anthony Leonard, Oliver Kendrick, and William Wu. Over the last couple of weeks teams from The High School have entered both the IMTA Senior Maths Quiz and the IAMTA Senior Applied Maths quiz. Both events had many teams competing from around Dublin and the standard in both quizzes was very high.  The Team Maths and Team Applied Maths quizzes were all based on Leaving Certificate material. We entered three teams for Team Maths and one team qualified for the final with a very impressive score of 18/20. We also entered three teams for Team Applied Maths with one qualifying for the final with a score of 40/48. Thank you to Mr Wilkinson and Ms Thorp who made this possible. We thoroughly enjoyed every second of it.
William Zongwen Wu

Senior Chemistry

On Wednesday 20 March Form 5 and 6 pupils studying Chemistry went on a trip to UCD to gain an insight into studying chemistry at college. Upon arrival we were introduced to Demetra Achilleos, the head of outreach at UCD. We were provided with laboratory coats and safety glasses before entering one of the labs to participate in an experiment. The experiment focused on spectrometry, a concept used in labs to identify unknown compounds. We learned about Infra Red and Ultra Violet spectrometry and had the chance to use advanced equipment while practicing essential practical skills for Leaving Certificate chemistry.

During the experiment, we had to identify an unknown substance by analyzing its mass spectrum and comparing it with other known mass spectra for a match. Following the experiment, we toured the science facilities at UCD and had the opportunity to ask questions about studying science in college and the research involved. Overall, it was an engaging trip that will benefit us as chemistry pupils when conducting similar experiments in school laboratories or pursuing science studies in college and future careers!

Form 5 Drama Visit

On Wednesday 6 March, pupils in Form 5 English had the privilege of attending a performance of "Sive," a play by renowned Irish playwright John B Keane. The event took place at a theatre in the city centre and featured Sade Malone as the lead role and Fionnuala O’Flanagan as Nana. The cast included talented Irish actors with John Rice making his professional stage debut. Their powerful performances brought new life to the story, evoking laughter, tears, contemplation, and empathy from the audience.

"Sive" was first performed in 1959 in Listowel, County Kerry. The play explores the challenges faced by a young girl named Sive who is pursued by an older man in rural Ireland during the 1950s when matchmaking was fading but still prevalent. Despite initial rejection from the Abbey Theatre due to its themes "Sive" became a success upon release.

Watching the play unfold before us was both enjoyable and enlightening; it provided context for language that we may not have fully grasped previously. With timeless messages about power and love while offering insight into rural mid-nineteenth-century Irish values "Sive" remains relevant even today.

Our special thanks go to Ms Forder and Mr Milofsky for organizing and accompanying us on this memorable outing.
Saoirse Reilly and Ava O’Brien 

Student Council

We had a very busy spring term in Student Council, including a visit from Stratford College Student Council. After a tour of the school, pupils from both of our schools had insightful and meaningful conversations surrounding topics of mutual interest. We discussed how both of our schools run our Student Councils, brainstormed ideas for student wellbeing, bonding and mentoring programs, and compared how we run extracurricular activities like Drama societies and Coding Clubs. We also discussed what our thoughts were on the new Leaving Certificate Subjects, namely Drama, Film and Theatre Studies and Climate Action Studies. The meeting between the Councils left both sides with a mutual feeling of kinship and we were also able to learn from each other in specialised areas such as Green Schools and Themed/Cultural Weeks.

The experience was a valuable one for both parties and opened a friendly dialogue between students from both schools. We ended our meeting with cordial student conversations over delicious snacks prepared for us by culinarily gifted members of our Student Council. It was a wonderful experience and we look forward to working with the Stratford College Student Council again on future projects!

We also had a successful meeting with management that allowed fruitful discussion on topics such as subsidized sanitary products, vape alarms, gender neutral bathrooms, and school self-evaluation targets. Other topics we worked on in the Spring Term were issues relating to girls sports, toilet cleanliness, toilet twinning, a prospective new school coat, and International Women’s Day. We also linked with the Parents' Association, meeting the old and new representatives who have similar issues to us. Looking forward to the summer term, we continue to meet bi-weekly. If you have any issues, we strongly advise you to talk to your class representative! The Student Council represents your voice, so make sure you are using it.
Leo Shorten and Ciara Morton

French Poster Competition 

During our French class, we are studying different types of houses and their interiors. Each pupil was tasked with designing a poster showcasing their ideal home complete with labelled rooms and furniture. The posters were evaluated by Ms. Lally's Form 2 pupils, and the top four entries were awarded Easter eggs as prizes.
Ella Percy-O'Brien

Form 5 Careers

Recently all Form 5 pupils participated in a mock interview with specialists from various fields as part of their careers class. Pupils prepared a Curriculum Vitae and cover letter, which were reviewed by the professionals, along with a questionnaire. The goal was to simulate a real-life job interview experience outside school. We were required to dress in 'smart attire' appropriate for our chosen professions and we received positive feedback on their stylish outfits. The interviews proved highly beneficial for those who secured work experience opportunities over the summer while everyone received feedback on our interviews that can be applied to future meetings. The entire event, which was organized by Ms Whelan, served as a valuable learning experience in preparing us for life beyond secondary school and college.
Daniel Moane

Senior Film Club

Before the Easter break, The High School Senior Film Club held a competition to predict the top four awards at the Oscars 2024. The ceremony took place on Sunday, March 10th. Cillian Murphy won the award for Best Actor, with "Oppenheimer" being a strong favourite for Best Picture and its director, Christopher Nolan, taking home the award for Best Director. The unexpected moment of the ceremony occurred when Emma Stone beat Lily Gladstone and Sandra Hueller to win Best Actress. Form 5 pupil Nicholas Loghin successfully predicted all four categories and received a beautiful book on world cinema history along with an Easter egg. There was also a broader pupil competition where a prize was awarded. The staff competition was won by Mr Deane.

Leinster Water Polo Representation

HSD pupils Carla Millar and Daniel Collins have achieved a remarkable feat by earning places in the Leinster Under 15 and U17 Water Polo teams, respectively. They represented Leinster at the National Aquatic Centre in Dublin during the recent Interprovincial Tournament, run by Ireland Water Polo, which is governed by Swim Ireland. Best wishes to them for continued success in their water polo pursuits.

Form 4 Careers

Before the Easter break, Form 4 pupils were given the opportunity to visit the DCU campus in Glasnevin. We made our way there independently. Rush hour traffic is no joke, especially when taking the bus. I barely arrived on time, but luckily encountered very little traffic for the last stretch. In front of the Helix on campus, I met everyone else. The campus was highly appealing and boasted a couple of claims to fame (it was the location used for the popular show "Dancing with the Stars").

We were led into one of the lecture halls where we learned more about what this university has to offer, from virtual reality laboratories to all of its clubs and societies. Meeting student ambassadors also provided us with a better understanding of student life there (and where to find the best food).  They were all very helpful in addressing questions regarding course hours and entry requirements. Finally, we were taken on a grand tour! We had a glimpse of common areas for students as well as facilities like the gym. It was undeniably an enjoyable day out. Myself and many others are now considering DCU as an option whereas we might not have before.
Isobel Kearney