The High School  Zion Road  Rathgar  Dublin 6   Tel: 01-4922611   Fax: 01-4924427  office@highschooldublin.com

Transition Year trip to Ulster

After taking two trains and a journey lasting three hours, the TY group arrived at the Ulster Folk & Transport Museum. We had a quick lecture and then began to explore the area which was built to look as if it was about the year 1900.

The people living here had very poor toilets and about four beds per eight people. But they did have very nice sweets! A small sweet shop in the corner sold every kind of sweet from butterballs to rhubarb and custard (they tasted a lot better than they sounded).

The transport museum was next on the agenda. This place had trains and cars from past decades, including old steam engines, tiny train shaped carts we drove people around in and even the "Back to the Future" car.

After seeing it all and eating a few more sweets we went back to the station for another three hour, two train journey, arriving back to a much quieter Connolly Station, tired and full of sweets. Thanks to the staff who organised the trip.

Excellent Certificate examination results

Well done to the Junior Certificate and Leaving Certificate candidates of June 2003. Our Junior Cert. results were the best the school has ever had, beating 2002 by a small margin in terms of the percentage of C or higher grades on higher papers, taken as a percentage of all papers, but with a significant increase in the percentage of A grades.

The Leaving Cert. results were extremely good, beaten only by the class of 1999 in the history of the school. Over the last six years, the points average of our students in the Leaving has increased by approximately thirty points and we remain very substantially above the national average.

Grant to attend TCD

The Erasmus Smith Trust nominates a pupil each year to receive the John Bennett Fund, a substantial grant towards a former pupil's expenses in attending TCD, intended for someone whose financial circumstances would be considered deserving. Applications should be made to the Principal in writing, explaining the circumstances.

Website developments

Our school website continues to grow. We have recently introduced two new sections. In the "About the School" section, there is now a downloads page where school policies and documentation can be downloaded. We have also introduced a section titled "Class Photographs" where all of the class photos of 2002-03 have been posted in colour. Those of 2003-04 will be posted shortly when they have been named. The past pupils network consists of the e-mail addresses of hundreds of past pupils, along with their occupations and some offers of work experience for TY students. Students are invited to use this network to obtain careers advice, while past pupils are invited to join. 

Jake - competitive skiier

Jake has been water skiing since he was six years old. He is a member of Golden Falls Water Ski Club in Ballymore Eustace Co Kildare. He is the Irish national record holder at under 12s for Slalom and Jump skiing. This year he has competed at competitions in Ireland north and south, France and England.

The water ski season runs from April to October with most competitions being held during June, July and August. The sport is very competitive at international level and this demands a lot of training and Jake will try to ski up to ten times each week. This year he has also attended coaching courses under pro coach Ray Stokes from Australia.

Next year Jake hopes to represent Ireland at under 15s which is the next age group in the sport and will compete against Europe’s best. Best of luck with this demanding sport, Jake!

Debs dance

The annual debs dance which is organised by the pupils of the previous Form 6 after they have left school, was recently held at the Court Hotel Killiney and was a great success. Pictured below is Sudhakar Rao and his partner at the preceding reception in the school.

Prize Day and Parents' Evening

The annual Prize Day and Parents' Evening will take place on Wednesday at 8.00 p.m. in the gymnasium (please be seated by 7.50 p.m.) Students attending should wear full uniform. Parents of prize winners have been invited by letter. Other parents are very welcome to attend and should notify the office of their intention to do so. The speaker will be Professor Richard O'Kennedy, Biological Sciences, DCU.

Sport this week

Canoeing

U 16 Wesley Wed 22 Home 3.00

JCT A CBC Wed 22 Monkstown 3.00

SCT King's Worcester Fri 24 Home tbc

Jun B,C Wesley Wed 22 Home 2.00

Jun D Wesley Wed 22 Home 3.00

Min A, 2nd XI Wesley Wed 22 Away 2.00

1st Yr Wesley Wed 22 Away 2.00

3rd XI, 1st Yr Wesley Wed 22 Away 3.00

Cadette A Moville Wed 22 Arena 2.30

2nd Yr training Thursday 23 October at 4.00 p.m.

In girls' hockey the 1st XI beat Alexandra 2-0 in their league match while the 4th XI beat Wicklow 4-0 also in the league. Junior A beat Muckross 3-1 in the league, while Junior A and Minor A won against Kilkenny. 2nd XI drew against Kilkenny. The three 1st Year teams drew their matches against Alexandra. 2nd XI and Junior D won against Mount Anville, Junior B and C drew against Mount Anville.