20 October 2023

Admissions to 1^st Year, 2024/25 

The school will accept application forms in respect of incoming first years until 16.00 on Monday, 23 October 2023. All relevant details can be found on our website.

Junior Cycle Results 2023

We congratulate our Junior Cycle class of 2023 on their outstanding results. The Junior Cycle Profile of Achievement, outlining the results of all examinations and Classroom Based Assessments, will be issued to all students in the coming months.

Shine Festival 2023 by Katie O’Connor, Gillian O’Gorman and Doireann Ni Mhaolain 

On Thursday, the 12th of October, Loreto Transition Year and LCA students attended the Shine Festival in SETU. The Shine Festival is in aid of the Shona project. Shona was fourteen when she was diagnosed with a brain tumour. She spent most of her life in a nursing home and died earlier this year due to her illness. Shona’s sister, Tammy Darcy, set up the Shine Festival to empower young women and to raise awareness of the difficulties girls go through while growing up. This year marked the fifth Shine Festival but was the first event without Shona.

When the students arrived at SETU, they had a couple of minutes to look at all the stalls on display before taking their seats for the first speaker. When they reached their seats, they found a gift bag waiting for them, which included sunglasses, wristbands, highlighters, a Shine Festival badge, a notebook, and “The Survival Handbook for Girls.”

The first speaker the girls listened to was Michaela Hayes, who was the presenter of the Shine Festival. She introduced Tammy Darcy, the founder of the Shona project, who welcomed Kellie Harrington, a world and Olympic champion and superstar, onto the stage. Kellie Harrington shared her experiences of overcoming sexism while trying to join her local boxing club and how she persevered until she was allowed to join. Kellie also went into detail about the struggles she faced with drugs and alcohol from the age of thirteen. She greatly inspired the girls and taught them never to give up on their dreams. The fourth speaker was Sheila Kearney, who put the girls in a zen mood with some very calming meditation techniques.

After the girls’ calming meditation, Fionnuala Moran, the sustainability queen, talked to the girls about shopping and creating fashion in a sustainable way. She showed the girls a new and creative bag made from the leather of an apple skin instead of cow skin. Kim McKenzie was the next speaker to address the girls, highlighting the importance of understanding that they are the “Architects of the future.” At 11:50, the creative and inspirational activist Amanda Ade spoke to the girls about the importance of recognizing that everyone comes from different backgrounds and that everyone should support and respect each other for what they have gone through to be where they are today. The eighth speaker was Yemi Adenuga, who starred on Gogglebox Ireland and described to the girls her journey to become the first-ever black woman to be voted into government and how she was looked down upon due to her race and gender. The girls then had a very meaningful talk with Rachel McGovern about how she grew up blind and was bullied for being different. The girls learned a valuable lesson about treating people with kindness.

At 12:30, the girls had an hour for lunch before their final speaker, Cara Darmody, who, at twelve years old, completed the Junior and Leaving Certificate Maths exams to raise donations for autistic people in Ireland to get the help they need from the government. The girls enjoyed a quick dance class from Danspire Official before heading back to Loreto to be collected. An enjoyable day was had by all.  

Report from Inclusion Committee by Roisin Boland O’ Brien (2^nd Year)

The Inclusion Committee met on Wednesday to plan Stand Up Week 2023 which will be marked nationally and in our school from Monday the 6^th of November to Friday the 10^th of November. The group was brimming over with ideas which they shared with Ms. Jordan and with Ms. Pheasey who is leading the event. Our ideas were as follows:

• Ask permission for each year group to wear a coloured jumper to create a human rainbow. An aerial photo will be taken of Inclusion Committee members and Students’ Council and prefects to show our commitment to LGBTQ+ rights. Kirsty will seek permission for this emphasising that it is not a no-uniform day.
• Scatter words and definitions on walls around the school to educate people on the terminology
• Riley, Kinga and Kristy volunteered to create posters to promote awareness
• Aoife volunteered to write a poem to highlight the importance of acceptance around diversity.
• Display bios of famous LGBTQ+ people and their achievements
• Emma Whitty from FDYS will speak to all TYs and members of the Inclusion Committee on Friday the 10^th of November at 11.45 about LGBTQ+ supports in Wexford and the importance of tolerance and acceptance. Aoife suggested that Emma also discuss trans rights as this is quite topical at the moment. Ms. Jordan will speak to Emma about this.
• Pheasey has purchased face stamps, tattoos, and stickers for students to wear to show their support.
• Pheasey shared details of a top-secret project. Watch this space for more details!
• Flags will be displayed in the foyer all week. Group members were asked to bring in their own flags to add to the display.
• Alisha Sheppard will be interviewed for the school newsletter and will share her experiences of life in Loreto as a member of the LGBTQ+ community.
• Walk for Pride in Min Ryan and a bake sale was suggested.
• Students volunteered to make rainbow friendship bracelets to be distributed to students and staff

Students and teachers will work on these suggestions and finalise plans next week so that we are ready to mark this important event on the 6^th of November.

Sporting Updates 

• Congratulations to our equestrian team on their recent success. The novice teams placed 1^st and 3^rd with the open team securing 4^th Thanks to Ms. Martin and Mr. Grace for all their efforts in co-ordinating these activities.
• At the Loreto Swimming Gala, Roisin Lawless took home gold in two competitions. Thanks to Ms. Davey, Ms. Sweetman and Ms. Lawler for accompanying the swimmers and our vocal supporters.
• Well done to Kitty Roche who competed in the U-16 Leinster handball final in Carlow recently.
• The U-16 footballers had a strong victory against Heywood Community School, running out 3 -7 to 2 – 7 victors.

Forthcoming Events 

• Monday, 23 October – 1^st Year Information Meeting and refreshments, starting at 17.30
• Tuesday, 24 October – students return from Barcelona trip
• Tuesday, 24 October – Vent in a Tent for 6^th Year students
• Wednesday, 25 October – U-16 football
• Thursday, 26 October – Politics and Society trip or 5^th and 6^th Year students
• Friday, 27 October – Trick or Treat for sick children
• Friday, 27 October – midterm break begins