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

Happy Christmas!

The theme of the annual carol service service, which took place last week, was "A Global Christmas".

The theme was emphasised with selections of music from around the world and also with readings in Latin, German, Italian, French, Spanish, Irish and English.

Well done and thanks to all involved!

Above: decorating the Christmas tree

Junior debating

On 11 November the Junior Debating club held a competition for Form 1. The motion was that "the death penalty should be introduced". Following some very worthwhile speeches, the judges (a panel of "experienced" third year debaters - Katie McCann, Beth Kelly, Joelle Grogan and Eoin Silke) decided that Clare Cryan (1H) should be deemed the overall winner. Clare's speech was very well researched and delivered. Well done to all who took part.

Duff gardens

This years concert took place on Wednesday 10 December at 7.30 p.m. The show lasted 3 hours and turned out to be a great success, especially in raising just under €2,000 for St Luke's Cancer Hospital.

Great talent was seen on stage and future shows shouldn't be lost for choice. We would like to thank everyone in the school who helped make the show a success - all the sixth years involved, all the teachers, the office staff and a special thanks to Mr McMullen.

French quiz

Well done to John McDermott, Craig Rankin, Orla Walsh and Lyndsey Watson who took part in a recent French quiz organised by the French Teachers' Association. A total of 28 teams participated and our team was placed 7th. Félicitations!

Form 6 Simon Community food collection

The Simon Community work with the homeless and are increasingly dependent on voluntary contributions to help them prepare meals. Pupils are asked to bring in a bag of non perishable items (tins, soup, tea, coffee, sugar etc) and leave them in A4. Pupils, staff and parents have shown great generosity in the past and we are hopeful they you will do so again. Thank you.

4G fundraising for the children of Chernobyl

Layne Aston (President of the Student Union of IT Tallaght) visited 4G recently to talk about the children of Chernobyl. Afterwards, 4G decided to hold a couple of fundraising events. First of all they organised a cake sale which took place on November 26th. Well done to all who made, sold and bought the cakes, especially the organisers Holly Warren, Alex Wilson, Sinead Frizelle and Sarah Clarke. It was a great success and raised €130. Others from 4G organised a football tournament which took place over two weeks with 8 teams from Forms 3,4,5 taking part. The competition was very close throughout. Congratulations to Brendan Phelan's team who were the overall winners. Again, well done to the organisers, especially Megan Leonard-Kane, Catherine Alexander and Karl Cabena.

Sport this week

Congratulations to Matthew D'Arcy who has been selected to play in the Ireland Schools 'A' match vs Ireland Youth XV on 29 December at Terenure College at 13.45.

Above: Matthew D'Arcy in action during the cup season last year

JCT A St Paul's Wed 17 Home 2.30

U 14 A,B CUS Wed 17 Home 2.30

U 13 A (L) Wesley Wed 17 Ballinteer 2.30

U 13 B Wesley Wed 17 Ballinteer 2.30

SCT Campbell Mon 29 Belfast 1.30

1st XI Mt Anville Sat 20 Away 10.00

Senior League semi-final vs St Andrew's will take place on Wednesday 14 January at Three Rock Hockey Club.

In girls' hockey Junior A 4 Foxrock 0 and Minor C 4 Foxrock 0 in league matches. Two of the 1st Yr teams drew against Wesley while the Junior B and Minor B won against Rathdown. Well done Julie McRann and Lyndsey Watson who played in all four matches in the Under 18 Interprovincial tournament in Cork. Leinster came 2nd, winning 3 of their 4 matches.

In rugby, SCT beat St Paul's 26-21 and Sligo GS 16-0.