Best ever examination results - well done!

The Leaving Certificate results this year are the best we have ever had in the school, by a considerable margin. The Junior Certificate results are also very good and comparable with some of our best years.
In the Junior Certificate, 137 pupils presented 1105 papers where different levels are available and 137 papers at common level (CSPE). 922 papers were taken at higher level and grade C or better was obtained in 83% of these. Grade E or less was obtained on 2% of all papers. The percentage of papers gaining a grade C or better at higher level is as a percentage of the total number of papers was 69% - an excellent figure.
In the Leaving Certificate Examination, 2006, 123 pupils presented 856 papers in 21 subjects. 631 papers were taken at higher level and grade C or better was obtained in 86% of these. Grade E or less was obtained on 3.3% of all papers. The percentage of grade C or better on higher papers as a percentage of the grand total of all papers was 63%. All of these indicators are the best performance the school has ever had.
In recent months, newspapers have continued their steady agenda of trying to force schools into contributing to league tables of results. Along with every other body in Irish education, we do not believe raw league tables are a useful addition to educational debate because they isolate only one factor concerning a school. Pastoral care, extra-curricular activities, facilities, trips, codes of conduct, attitudes and whether students are happy at school are ignored by league tables. This is why such tables are illegal. We, therefore, are not going to contribute to the agenda of the media by publishing points averages.
However, we can inform you that we looked at the figures published in the newspapers last year and the points scored by our students compare very favourably with the schools published, and are better than any of the private grind schools and institutes published.
This does not surprise us, as we would have known our standards were that high over the years. However, it does show how poor the tables of college entry figures published by the newspapers have been. When the institutes have been placed near the top of these lists it has been purely because they have large numbers in their classes! Once the tables are adjusted for the size of the classes and turned into percentages, the institutes come way down the tables and below most of the private schools in our sector - certainly well below The High School. Last year this school was the best performing school in the Protestant sector in terms of college entry figures. So, again, well done students and staff!

Above - throwing in at the lineout

Top - Form 6 centre food preparation area

Middle - model-making in Art class

Below - great hockey save

Trinity College Scholar

Congratulations to Paul Webster (past pupil) who was elected as a scholar of Trinity College, Dublin, in May following a series of examinations.

Fair Trade Christmas Fair

The annual Fair Trade Fair takes place this year on Saturday 2 December. Any Transition Year students who would like to be part of the organising team should attend a meeting on Tuesday 3 October (today) at 1.30 p.m. in the Demonstration Theatre A2. More information is available from Mrs Pearce or Mrs Reilly.
C. Reilly

Dublin Simon Community Fun Run

We wish all those pupils who have entered the Simon Fun Run on Sunday the very best of luck. They deserve great credit for giving up their Sunday afternoon. Race numbers should be collected from Mr McClure in A4 before Friday. Late entries for the run are still being accepted.
 

Golf runners-up

Congratulations to our runners-up in the Irish Schools Championship (Eastern District) in Clontarf Golf Club last week.

Fixtures and training this week

Rugby
1st XV (L) CUS Wed 4 Home 2.45
2nd XV CUS Wed 4 Home 2.45
JCT (L) CUS Wed 4 Bird Ave 2.45
U 14 Terenure Wed 4 Terenure 2.45
U 13 A Gonzaga Wed 4 Ranelagh 2.45
U 14 B Gonzaga Wed 4 Ranelagh 2.45
U 13 Newpark Sat 7 Home 11.00
 

Girls hockey
Sen 3 Our Lady's Grove Tues 3 UCD 4.00
Jun A, C King's Hospital Wed 4 KH 2.30
Jun B, Min C King's Hospital Wed 4 KH 3.30
Sen 1 tba Wed 4 Home 2.00
Min B King's Hospital Wed 4 Home 2.30
Sen 2, Min A King's Hospital Wed 4 Home 3.30

 

Girls basketball
U 16 (C) Heywood CS Wed 4 Away 2.00
 

Boys hockey
Jun B Sandford Park Tues 3 Railway Un. 4.30
Senior St Andrew's Wed 4 Away 3.00
 

Results - well done!
In rugby the 1st XV beat Rydal (Wales) 29-0. In girls hockey, against St Andrew's College the Senior 2 drew 2-2, the Minor B drew 0-0 and the Junior B drew 0-0. Against St Dominic's College the Junior A won 1-0 in the league. Against Mount Sackville the Minor A won 1-0, the Senior 2 drew 2-2 and the Senior 3 drew 0-0. The Junior A won 3-0 against Our Lady's Grove. In boys hockey the Junior A drew 0-0 with Wesley.