Orchestra Trip to Prague

On a rainy Sunday afternoon on the 16th of March we departed Dublin for the Czech city of Prague, instruments and all. On our arrival we met our tour guide, the very entertaining Martina who brought us to our hotel. Having settled in, we departed the following morning for our guided tour of Prague City. That evening saw our first performance of the trip in a local school where we saw their school orchestra perform followed by our own performance which was very enjoyable.
The second day we went to Terezin Concentration Camp, north of Prague. We were in rural Czech Republic and Losovice, where we performed our second concert, was typical of the Czech villages we had passed on the motorway. A heavy snow fell as we arrived and we had a vigorous snow fight in which Ms. White got hammered although Mr. O’Hanlon and Mr. McBride were impressive!
The third day was the trip to the beautiful Prague Castle and other places of interest in the city centre although the weather was freezing. That evening we had a trip to the ice-rink. There was lots of falling over and unsteadiness, mainly from the teachers! After that the teachers serenaded us with renditions of the Backstreet Boys and the Jackson 5.
The final day in Prague was spent in the museum of Communism (we will never complain about small things again!) and in the city centre on a shopping afternoon, a welcome chance to pick up some last minute presents.
Our trip was a huge success and we would like to thank Ms. White, Ms.Killane, Mr. McBride and Mr. O’Hanlon for all their help, organization, good spirits, encouragement and without doubt entertainment throughout the trip.
MarkHorgan, Alex Dakin

Tomi Reichental visits The High School

We were privileged to have Tomi Reichental, whose grandson Josh (both pictured below right) is in Form 4, visit the school recently to talk about the Holocaust to pupils from Forms 4, 5 and 6. Mr Reichental was born in Slovakia and sent to Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in 1944 at the age of 9. Thirty-five members of his family perished and he survived with his mother, aunt and brother. He has lived in Ireland since 1960.
"I could not play like a normal child, we didn't laugh and we didn't cry. If you stepped out of line at all, you could be beaten up and even beaten to death. I saw it with my own eyes."

Shakespeare's birthday in the library

Thank you to all members of the library committee who helped to organise the Shakespeare's birthday celebrations. Also, thanks to all of the teachers and classes who came to help us to celebrate.
Amy Deverell, Aimée Bannister (library committee pictured below right)

Challenge rugby match

Past pupils of The High School vs past pupils of Wesley College (AIL level) - Wednesday 30 April, Donnybrook, 7.30 p.m. All students, staff, parents etc are welcome to attend and support. Be there!

Annual staff vs parents cricket match

This will be held on Monday 12 May at 5.30 p.m. Refreshments will be served. Any parent who would like to play, please contact Mr Colin Rogan at 086 837 5724. New players are most welcome!

Better Parenting Ireland

The above organisation is holding a series of seminars in the RDS on Saturday 10 May. The range of seminars covers everything from new borns to teenagers. One of the speakers will be Dr Patrick Ryan who will discuss the secondary school years and issues such as sex, drinking, drugs, smoking, peer pressure, and personal safety. The cost is €45 per seminar. For details log on to
www.betterparentingireland.com
or Lo Call 0818300207

Fixtures and training this week

Girls cricket
Jun St Columba's Tues 29 Away 3.15
1st Yr St Columba's Tues 29 Away 3.15
1st Yr Muckross Thurs 1 Home 3.15
Junior Muckross Thurs 1 Home 3.15 Girls tennis
Jun A, Sen B Rathdown Tues 29 Away 4.00
Min A Mt Anville Tues 29 Away 3.15
Min B Mt Sackville Wed 30 Away 2.00
Sen A Mt Sackville Wed 30 Home 2.30
Sen B Sion Hill Thurs 1 Home 3.00
Min A Our Lady's Terenure Thurs 1 Away 2.30
Sen A Mt Anville Thurs 1 Away 4.10 Boys tennis
Junior (C) St Columba's Tues 29 Home 4.00
Boys cricket
U14 (L) St. Andrew's Tues 29 Home 3pm
U13 B (C) CUS Wed 30 Home 2.15pm
1st XI (L) Skerries Wed 30 Away 2pm 1st XI (L) St. Michael's Wed 7 May Home 2pm
Results - well done!
In boys cricket, the U14 beat Kings Hospital by 6 wickets.