No images? Click here Vol 28 No 15 16 Dec 2022 A Christmas MessageTwelve months ago The High School was a very different place. A mask covered every face; screens divided every desk and table. For social distancing reasons half the pupils had no locker to speak of and pupils in Form 6 had no access to the Senior Common Room. Thankfully, normality has returned and the barriers which once divided us seem just distant memories. As we usher in the Christmas season and the New Year thereafter let's take a final glance back at 2022 and celebrate how far we've come. Volleyball All Ireland Semi-finalOn Friday 9 December The High School Volleyball team travelled to Limerick with high hopes of advancing to the final of the All Ireland Competition. The semi finals were held at the University of Limerick; we arrived ready as ever. For our first game we were up against Dunmore Community School who performed strongly and beat us over two sets. Coming into our second game we were looking for redemption. We fought hard and won the first set with a great display of our skills. Unfortunately, we were unable to close out the game and lost the second set which sent the game to a tie breaker. This was a must win moment as without a victory in this game, we would be out of the competition. Both sides were determined to win but in the end, we narrowly
lost. Despite a disappointing day of volleyball, we are now looking forward to our next challenge in the Senior Schools' Cup. Rock-Pop TriumphOne of the most exciting opportunities afforded to pupils in Form 4 is the Rock- Pop show. In this half-yearly module a group of pupils form a band and work towards putting together a 40 minute live show. This term there were the five members in the band. They practised and perfected eight songs over the course of the term, before finally performing them for Form 4. The show included: Layla by Derek and the Dominoes, Purple Rain by Prince, an acoustic version of Take on Me by A-ha, and even a spoken word piece written by the band themselves. The event concluded with a final crescendo to an enthusiastic crowd of Form4 pupils waving glowing lights. Poetry Aloud WinnersThe presentation of the Poetry Aloud 2021 awards took place this week. Poetry Aloud is a national competition which asks entrants from across the country to recite poems from memory. This year’s presentation took place in the National Library of Ireland, with the awards being presented in a room which houses W B Yeats’ personal library. Tirzah Hutchison-Edgar came first in the Senior category and Jake O’Loughlin was runner-up in the Intermediate category. Thank you to Ms Wiggle and Ms Hutchison-Edgar for facilitating our participation in Poetry Aloud. Form 6 Festive LunchForm 6 pupils attended a special Christmas lunch which included a festive meal, dessert, and - most importantly - a donation to charity. Pupils participated in a charity walk before gathering in The Reynolds Hall for food and chat, donning Christmas jumpers to celebrate their last Christmas at The High School. Form 2 Wood TechnologyForm 2 Wood Technology recently finished their Marquetry Clock just in time for Christmas! This craft technique required a keen eye for detail, steady hands, and an abundance of patience. Each pupil carefully cut a variety of veneers to craft an image of their choice. Well done to all! HSD Advent AppealThank you to everyone who has already donated to The High School Advent Appeal for the homeless. There is still time to participate: donation boxes are at Reception. Dried food items, sweets, and new hats, coats, and scarves are especially required. Drop Everything And ReadLast week pupils and staff participated in a literacy event: Drop Everything and Read. It was a super initiative to remind us all of the joy that is to be had between the covers of a good book. Locker ReminderA reminder to all pupils that they should empty their lockers and bring all personal belongings home by the end of the Autumn Term. Rugby Sevens SuccessCongratulations to the Junior Rugby team who won all of their games last week in the Metro Leinster Sevens tournament. Rugby Team of the MonthDates for your Diary
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