The Importance of Being Earnest

Congratulations to all who were involved in this colourful and highly entertaining production of Wilde's classic farce. The newsletter's reporter is still recovering from the scary Lady Bracknell's powerful performance (Tamryn Reinecke).
Surprised by the appearance of Moulin Rouge style dancers at the opening of the play and their polished can-can dance, we knew were in for a quality performance! As the well known plot of hidden identities and confusion over names unfolded, Eoin Silke and Jack Kavanagh performed with confidence the completely different roles of the two male leads - the irresponsible and flamboyant Algernon and the more serious and responsible Jack/Ernest.
Hannah Jennings' Gwendolen was a striking and robust interpretation of the incredibly self-assured and "picky" character. Wonderful accent! The amusing side romance of Fergal O'Connor's simpering rector Chasuble and Joelle Grogan's very stern governess Miss Prism (who turns out to be responsible for the entire confused plot), contributed more than a few laughs in a most enjoyable evening.
It is not possible to mention everybody but well done to the whole cast and crew working hard behind the scenes on sound, light, props, set design, tickets, direction, stage management, etc. Congratulations to Director Ms M. Milne, Student Producers Beth Kelly and Katie McCann and everyone else! And, weren't those stylised black and white set and costumes (inspired by the famous Aubrey Beardsley prints) just fantastic? Well done Art Department!

Transition Year Fair Trade Fair

The very popular and successful annual High School Fair Trade Christmas Fair takes place in the Reynolds Hall on Saturday 3 December 2005 starting at 10.00 a.m. until 3.00 p.m. There will be a chance to buy all sorts of Fair Trade products and gift cards, from Christmas decorations to chocolate to goats to jewellry to household goods to bees and much more. Fair Trade tea, coffee and homemade biscuits will be served throughout the Fair. Last year we sold over €6,000 worth of goods - can we beat that this year?

Non-uniform day

The annual non uniform day is being held this Friday 2 December in aid of the Pakistani earthquake which struck last month killing over 86,000 people and leaving millions without shelter to face the harsh Himalayan winter.
If urgent aid is not received within the next few weeks, it is estimated that hundreds of thousands of people will die of cold, starvation and easily curable diseases such as diarrhea and flu.
All these people want for Christmas is a chance to survive into the New Year, so please help by making a €3 donation this Friday. Only pupils who donate have permission not to wear uniform.
Kit Connolly 2W

Right: Transition Year hillwalk to Djouce - overlooking Lough Tay

Carol Service

Monday December 12, Zion Parish Church, 8.00 p.m., mince pies in school afterwards - all welcome!

Leinster hockey selection

Congratulations to Nicci Daly on being selected to represent Leinster on the Under 18 girls hockey squad in the forthcoming provincial tournament in Belfast in early December.

Sport this week

Girls hockey
Jun D (L) Foxrock Wed 30 Loreto Foxrock 3.00
Jun C (L) Loreto Green Wed 30 Home 2.00
1st Yr A (L) Teresians Fri 2 Teresians 4.00
Sen I, 1st YrB St Andrew's Wed 30 Home 3.00
Sen II St Andrew's Wed 30 Home 2.00
Jun A Foxrock Wed 30 Loreto Foxrock tba
Min A (L) Killiney Sat 3 Killiney 11.00
Min C, Jun C, 1st Yr B leagues tba for Saturday 3
Check hockey noticeboard for Saturday matches vs Alex

Rugby
U 16 Newpark Sat 3 Home 11.00
U 14 A, B Kilkenny Wed 30 Kilkenny 2.30
U 13 A, B CBC Wed 30 Monkstown 2.30

Badminton
U 16 girls Alex Tues 29 Home 4.00
U 19 A Benildus Tues 29 Home 4.00
U 16 B Mercy College Tues 29 Mercy Coll. 4.00
U 19 C St Andrew's Thurs 1 St Andrew's 4.10
U 16 A Benildus Fri 2 Benildus 3.00

Boys basketball
U 16/ U 18 Newbridge Tues 29 Newbridge 4/5.00

Results - well done!
In rugby the U 16 beat Blackrock 14-5. In girls basketball, the Cadettes beat Rockford 23-20, Cabinteely 30-20 and Ballinteer 38-5. The Seniors beat Rockford 38-21 and Ballinteer 66-12. The Juniors beat Muckross 29-11.

Amended mobile phone and privacy policy

Mobile Phone/Camera Phone/Handsets (referred as mobile phone units from now) may be brought into school. Mobile phone units may be used before assembly and during break-times.
They must be powered/switched off in assembly, every class including P.E and Games, and at all times in changing rooms, and during all other formal school activities e.g. clubs and sports. They must remain off between classes. If any pupil is found to have a mobile phone unit switched on during the above times the phone will be confiscated for one week. The parents of the student concerned will be contacted. More serious sanctions will be used for repeat offenders.
Students bring phones to the school at the owner’s risk and High School will not accept any responsibility for loss or damage.
Appropriate use of phones is expected from all students. Any use of mobile phone units to intimidate, harass, embarrass or, which conflicts with the privacy policy will be dealt with under the existing discipline or bullying policies of the school. The school's privacy policy is restated below.
The central value of respect for other people which underlies our code of conduct includes respect for their privacy. It is therefore not permitted for pupils to record or circulate conversations, telephone calls, images whether still or moving or any other private information without the consent of the subject or subjects. This particularly refers to sound recorders, computers, video cameras, still cameras, mobile telephones capable of capturing images and any other similar equipment. Failure to observe this provision will be seen as a breach of the code of conduct and may result in the confiscation of the equipment and the application of disciplinary sanctions. Circulating or publishing (including on the Internet) material recorded without consent with the purpose of humiliating, undermining the reputation of or causing damage to another person, whether considered a “joke” or not, may be considered as a serious breach of discipline and may be dealt with under that section of our code of conduct. This could result in suspension or expulsion from school depending on the circumstances.