18 May 2018

 School Events

1. Our annual Sports Afternoon takes place today. We are very appreciative of the organisational skills of TY students and the P.E. Department in making this afternoon such an enjoyable experience for the school community.
2. The School Prizegiving Ceremony takes place in Rowe Street Church on Monday next, 21 May.
3. Next week is a very significant one for our 6^th year students

• It is our hope that the 6^th year students will draw both comfort and strength from their Retreat in Glendalough from Tuesday lunchtime to Wednesday evening, 22 and 23 May. We thank the teachers in the Religious Education Department for organising this event.
• The staff and I look forward to hosting breakfast for the 6^th year students in the school on Thursday morning, 24 May at 9.15.
• 6^th year parents are invited to join the staff and students at the Leaving Certificate Graduation Ceremony that will be held in Rowe Street Church under the direction of our Religious Education Department and Chaplain, Fr. Jim Fegan, on Thursday, 24 May at 7.00 p.m.

“Strive to be Happy” – article by Head Girl, Carla Fusciardi Wallace

It has come to the time of year when we open our school journals and marvel at how few days remain in the school calendar. For many students, this may evoke a sigh of relief as the holidays are within touching distance. For others, it marks the coming of exams, whether they be summer exams or state examinations. Regardless of what the coming weeks will bring this time gives us the opportunity to spend lunch on the grass, play sports with our friends and to appreciate the little moments.

Life at school is incredibly fast paced. Our minds are busy and we often neglect our appreciation for one another. Over the past eight months each one of us has grown, both staff and students. We have made positive impacts on our school community and on the lives of our peers. We must continue to remind ourselves that what we learn outside the classroom is just as important as what we learn within.

As a 6^th year student it is easy to be consumed by the level of work that the Leaving Certificate demands. Advice is often given to us on how to maintain balance, or to gain perspective on this period of our lives. Last week we were addressed by Bishop Denis Brennan. The advice he gave us contained a sincere message that is not only relevant to the life of a Leaving Certificate student, but indeed every member of our school community.

Bishop Brennan emphasised the words “My Future is yet to be Written” –  the title of the winning piece of artwork in the 2012 Texaco Art Competition. The picture depicts a young girl, peering from behind a blank sheet of paper. In every moment of our lives we are that girl; looking beyond our past and often uncertain of what lies in the future. Bishop Brennan used this message to impress on us a feeling that we are singular individuals who define our future. He then concluded his kind wishes by making reference to the poem ‘Desiderata’ by Max Ehrmann and encouraged us to read it in order to inform how we write our future.

The poem outlines many aspects of life but also contains simple and universal messages such as, to “Be yourself”. The poem recognises the obstacles that challenge us but concludes on a positive and hopeful note;

“With all its sham and drudgery, and broken dreams,

It is still a beautiful world.

Be cheerful.

Strive to be happy.”

It is that message that we must remember – “Strive to be happy”.  We can find moments of happiness in every day and it is so important that we do so.

So, now that our days in Loreto this year are numbered, make moments and memories that you will enjoy and appreciate our school for more than the academic education that it provides. Importantly, appreciate the people around you and write the future that you want.

Athletics Report

 

A large group of students represented Loreto Wexford in the Annual Loreto Athletics event in Santry last Thursday.  We had great success on the day and were awarded 2^nd Overall Best School in the event.   All students competed very well to gain overall points for the school to achieve this.  The medal winners were:

Eimear Halpin (1^st year) 1^st Discus, 2^nd Hurdles,

Sinead O’Reilly (1^st year) 2^nd 500m,

Rachel Power (3^rd year) 2^nd Javelin,

Zara Power (5^th year) 1^st Shot Putt,

Ruth Devereux (1^st year) 2^nd Javelin,

Emma Carr (2^nd year) 2^nd Long Jump and 3^rd 200m,

Amy Forde (6^th year )  1^st Discus and 2^nd Shot Putt,

Aisling Kelly (3^rd year) 2^nd Long Jump and 1^st 100m,

Kiera Dempsey (1^st year) 2^nd 80m,

The senior Relay team of April Keeling (3^rd year), Aisling Kelly (3^rd year), Rachel Power (3^rd year) and Liadh Dwyer (4^th year) came 3^rd.

Congratulations to all who took part and we look forward to our big trophy arriving in the next week.

South Leinster Athletics Day 1

Some of our athletes were out again on Friday to compete in the South Leinster Athletics in what were at times terrible weather conditions.  Sinead O’Reilly (1^st year) won the Minor 500m style and her sister Roisin in 3^rd year added to the gold for the family by winning the Intermediate 1500m Steeplechase.  Eimear Halpin (1^st year) won the Minor girls Discus and Eimear Fortune (1^st year) was 3^rd in the Minor 800m.

Congratulations to all these students who will go onto represent the school in the Leinster finals.

South Leinster Athletics Day 2

 We had another rewarding day at the Athletics in Waterford last Thursday.  Aoife O’Connor was 1^st in the U.16 Long Jump and 3^rd in the 200m. Liadh Dwyer was 2^nd in the Inter 80m Hurdles.  Aisling Kelly won the Inter Long Jump and was a close 2^nd in the 100m.  Danika Gilshinan  was 3^rd in the Inter 800m. Roisin O’Reilly got a second Gold in the 1500m.   Amy Forde was 2^nd in the Senior Hammer. Zara Power was 3^rd in the Senior Shot Putt.  To top off the day, the Inter Girls 4 x 100m Relay team had a fine win with a clear gap between them and the team in 2^nd place. This team consisted of Liadh Dwyer, Rachel Power, April Keeling and Aisling Kelly.

We wish all the girls the best of luck in the Leinster’s next week.