15 May 2020

Reflections for 6^th year students – by Ms. L. Jordan 

The heron can stand silent for hours in quiet water, waiting and watching and scanning the water for small fish. They embody silence and stillness as they stand and wait. Hour after hour, day after day the heron can stand and stare, focused, concentrated and still, watching as you watch them. As you watch the heron it can bring a silence, a stillness, a calmness. The heron can become our teacher reminding us to take time to be still.

Over the past two years, all of you as 6^th year students have not had much time to be still as you have engaged in school life, study, and different exams to the best of your ability. Over the past two months you have continued your work while the world has faced a pandemic like none of us have witnessed before. Your lives have been filled with highs and lows and much confusion as you listen to the news each day. Now you have placed your pen down and closed your books over and all you can do is simply wait to see what will happen next. Like the heron, you need to be calm, simply wait and be still. Nobody knows what the future holds but, in the meantime, in this present moment, allow yourself to simply be. Embrace the calmness and knowledge that you have done all you can do for now. Place your trust in God that what is for you, will not pass you. Be still now, in this moment as you wait to see what the next wave of life has waiting for you.

 

BE STILL NOW

I walked along the western shore
One bright November day
I watched the heron watching me
And thought I heard him say

Just be still now
Wait a while
And let life come to you
Just be still now
All your dreams
Are on the breezes passing through

I walked along the city streets
And wished that I could fly
I saw the heron by my feet
And thought I heard him say

Just be still now
Wait a while
And let love come to you
Just be still now
All your dreams
Are on the breezes passing through

Just be still now
Just be still

© Luka Bloom IMRO/MCPS

God, thank you for all you do for me. You have guided me all these years in secondary school, and I pray that you continue to be with me as I head into this new time in my life. I pray that I continue to feel your presence and have your strength with me as I head off into my future ventures. I ask for your guidance and discernment as I face complicated decisions and grow into the Christian you desire me to be.

I also ask that you bestow your blessings and love over my friends and family as we go through a time of transition. I ask that you keep us safe. I ask that you make sure we feel loved and protected. Lord, I ask for the words to let them know they are cared for and that I appreciate them.

And Lord, I thank you for being here with me in this time. I do not know what the future brings, but you do. I pray for the confidence to go after your plans for me with all my heart. I thank you for giving me the opportunities to fulfil those plans.

Amen.

Amber Flag / Cycle against Suicide – report by Ms. Kelly

I hope this message finds you all well, safe and above all…. happy!!

As you know, we at Loreto are passionate about helping to break the stigma around mental illness and about promoting positive wellbeing and mental health.

As such, we earned our Amber Flag this time last year from Pieta House.

Furthermore, during this academic year, we have worked hard to cover the themes from Cycle Against Suicide School’s Programme, for which we will get an award whenever things get back to a more normal state.  These are two accomplishments of which we should be extremely proud!!!

I write today with two messages:

1. Firstly, I want to express a huge thank you to all of the students and teachers who worked so hard on the Amber Flag/ Cycle Against Suicide Committee this year. Without the hard work of the members, we could not have carried out our themes as well as we did. I want to especially thank my Guidance colleague Ms. Foley, for always having such wonderful ideas and creativity and for helping the committee so much. I would also like to mention especially our 3 Student Ambassadors; Eileen Roe, Breda Murphy and Tiarna Jones for leading the committee all year. You have been brilliant, girls. Well done and thank you for helping Ms. Foley and I.
2. Secondly, I want to say a huge well done to any of you (and your families) that took part in Darkness Into Light last weekend. I am very proud that you continue to support mental health events during the school closure and during the uncertainty we find ourselves in. We are all in this together and Darkness Into Light definitely mirrors our aim in our Cycle Against Suicide Programme: It is ok to not be ok and it’s ok to ask for help. Darkness Into Light also mirrors our aim to break down the stigma surrounding mental illness.

Here are some beautiful pictures shared with me from students from all different year groups. I will also ask Ms. Kennedy to share these on our social media sites.

Finally, may I draw your attention to our Guidance Counselling section of the school website where you will find a host of mental health tips and advice.

https://careersportal.ie/careerguidance/office.php?school_id=707

I hope you all continue to stay safe and well!

Ms. Kelly

Well done, Cara!

Well done to  Cara Kelly in 1^st year who decided to do a poster to show her support for the frontline workers, a very thoughtful gesture.

School News in Brief

• Class assemblies will conclude next week when Mr. O’ Shea, Mr. McGinnity, Ms. O’ Reilly and Ms. O’ Donoghue, through the wonders of MS Teams, will meet 2^nd year students. All 810 students in the school will have been invited to such meetings by that stage with a very high percentage opting to attend. Well done to all.
• Booklists for 2020/2021 have been posted on the school website.
• All TY students have received details of their option subjects for Leaving Cert.
• The Board of Management meets next Tuesday, 19 May.
• The proposed school calendar for 2020/2021, subject to Covid-19 restrictions, will be posted on the school website next week.
• The Students’ Council continues to meet through these difficult times via MS Teams.
• The process of selecting Head Girls for 2020/2021 will commence in late August when, hopefully, there is a definite date for the re-opening of the school.