We're the Irish - be very proud!

The newsletter ran a similar story this time last year, in celebration of our national holiday, St Patrick's Day, but, oh boy, do we have more reason to be proud this year!!
The Triple Crown in rugby, a gold medal in the World Indoor Athletics Championships and the top three places in the Cheltenham Gold Cup - all in the same week!! Sure, what other nation would you want to belong to?
We have an influence across the world far beyond the size of our population, one of the most successful economies in the world and we're not even a hundred years old as an independent nation yet. Sure we haven't even started!

Derval O'Rourke wins gold in 60m hurdles
Brian O'Driscoll holds the Triple Crown
Anita O'Leary receives the Gold Cup

An evening with Senator David Norris - a must attend date!!

The High School Parents' Association invites you to an evening with David Norris at 8.00 p.m. on Thursday March 30th in the Reynolds Hall. Senator Norris, apart from being a past pupil himself, is a civil and human rights campaigner, Joycean scholar, member of Seanad Eireann and Amnesty International and former university lecturer. His current concerns include the environment, immigration, asylum and the European Union. Apart from all of this, he is a hilarious raconteur and you are guaranteed a great evening! Open to parents, friends, staff, pupils. Be there!!

Our Trip to sea Life

On Tuesday 14th March 2G and Mr. Gill went to the Sea-Life aquarium in Bray. Mr. McClure had given us a voucher for the whole class to go so we all gave the money that it would have cost to the Simon Community. We raised €125.When we first got there we thought it had closed and tried to get Mr. Gill to bring us to the arcade instead. Luckily the aquarium opened up especially for us. We were delighted. We got to look at lots of fish, like the Finding Nemo cast. We also held a spider crab which could have broken our fingers. We also held a starfish which keep moving in a weird way while we held it. We saw the new octopus and hundreds of baby seahorses which had just been born the night before. We saw a black tipped shark and also a leopard shark. We touched rays in the ray tank but not the sting ray called Ali. Then we went to the padded play pen where Peter and Sam had a fight off and some pictures were taken. Then we went for a walk along the seafront where preparations were being made for St. Patricks Day and had ice creams. On the way back Stephanie fell into a puddle and everyone laughed. We had a great time and thanks to Mr. McClure for giving us the voucher and to Mr. Gill for bringing us out on a double decker bus for only 25 people?!

Stephanie Lodola, Alex Dakin, Tess McCann & Niamh McDonagh

Erasmian - your contribution is wanted!

This year we want to make sure that as much of the High School spirit as possible is put into the forthcoming year book. Every poem, drawing, joke, riddle, comic, photo ...in fact anything even remotely interesting would be greatly appreciated. We want the book to represent the students of high school and to have a little of everyone in it, so if you have any creative work feel free to hand it to Mr. McNamara in C4. Thank you for your co-operation. Sincerely, The Erasmian Team

Right and below: new art murals which have been recently completed at the school

Rockclimbing

Third year pupil, Conor Craig proved himself to be Ireland's leading under 16 rockclimber when he recently took first place in the Irish Bouldering League 05-06. In bouldering, climbing problems of extreme difficulty are set and competitors score points by climbing them in up to three attempts. This years rounds took place in Dublin, Cork, Galway and Belfast. Conor was placed in the top three in all rounds with a first place at Outdoor Adventure Show at the RDS.

St John Passion

The Irish premiere of this wonderful choral work by Karl Stirner will take place at Sandford Church, Sandford Road, Ranelagh on Tuesday 11 April at 8.00 p.m. Three of the four soloists are past pupils of The High School - Elizabeth Hilliard, Eoin Supple, Nicholas McMurry. Entrance costs €15, €10 concessions.

Fixtures and training this week

Rugby
U 16 (L) Kilkenny Wed 22 Kilkenny 3.00tbc
JCT (C) King's Hospital Wed 22 tbc 3.00
JCT, U 14 Bangor Sat 25 Home 11.00
Summer games begin this week. Any pupil who has not given an option to Mr Walker please see him as soon as possible.

Girls tennis
Any girls who are interested in playing on a team this year please come down to the courts on Wednesday 22 at 1.45 p.m. providing the courts are ready. Coaching days are to be arranged this week.