25 November 2022
Junior Certificate Results
Congratulations to all of our TY students who received their Junior Cycle results on Wednesday, 23 November. In the face of Covid – 19 challenges, we commend them on an excellent set of results. We also extend our gratitude to their teachers for guiding them through their three years.
November Exams
Yesterday marked the conclusion of the November exams. Reports in respect of these exams will be prepared in the coming weeks. We thank all students for their cooperation throughout the exam period.
Wellbeing Day
Today, Friday, 25 November marks our annual Wellbeing Day for 6th year students. Organised by our Guidance Department, the day consists of numerous activities, ranging from upbeat and energetic Samba Drumming and Dance Fitness to quieter workshops like Mindfulness, Yoga and Art Therapy. There will also be a very beneficial workshop on Nutrition.
Equestrian Success
We congratulate 6th Year student Taylor Peare on her recent equestrian success. At events in Germany and Belgium, Taylor has competed against many strong competitors. Representing her country, Taylor finished second in her round, behind one of the strongest entrants from the UK.
Diverse Voices
An important job of the Inclusion Committee is to give everyone a voice. Sometimes we might unintentionally overlook the voices of those from a minority group and miss a valuable chance to learn more about our wonderfully diverse school community. In this new regular feature, we hope to share the interesting stories of students from diverse backgrounds.
Name: Aoife Byrne
Age: 13
Year: Second Year, 2.1
Home: Castlebridge
Favourite Food: Pasta
Favourite TV Show: Heartstopper from Netflix
Favourite Subject: History
Favourite Hobby: Horse riding
What I Like about School: The diversity of the school population
Inclusion Committee:
I joined this committee because I wanted to help people express who they really are. In my primary school, it felt like everybody wanted to be the same and they were afraid to show their differences. I want to help people celebrate their differences.
Aspect of Inclusion:
I feel most passionate about the LGBTQ aspect of inclusion. I’m part of the community myself. People are often mistreated simply because of their sexual orientation, and this may go unnoticed by people who aren’t members of the community. An example would be parents not wanting their daughters to be friends with us or refusing to meet us simply because we’re members of the LGBTQ+ community.
Stand Up Week:
I have mixed feelings about the week.
Some people in my community feel it’s lovely to see the flags displayed and to have teachers start a positive conversation about the meaning of the week. It’s an opportunity for everyone to learn. For example, we heard this week that an alarmingly high number, 76% of LGBTQ+ students, do not feel safe at school in Ireland. I don’t feel this is an accurate reflection of our school which is mainly open. Unfortunately, I am aware that this is not the case in every school and this needs to be addressed.
But others feel like there is a danger that the week could just be tokenism if people go back to behaving in a negative way once the week is over. The aim is to make the school a happier and safer place for members of my community, where they can openly talk about their partners without it being a big deal, where they can openly express themselves and be who they are without having to analyse or explain. And to be able to do that every week of the school year, not just Stand-Up Week.
My Message LGBTQ+:
Our sexual orientation shouldn’t have any impact on how we are judged as people.
I understand that people might feel afraid of saying the wrong thing or using the wrong terminology but if people are open to learn, nobody will judge them for mistakes made about flags of phrases.
Treat people with respect. If you don’t like their way of life leave them be, but don’t judge.
