Gaisce awards - hillwalking

The third hill walk of the year for Transition Year will take place next Sunday 5 October 2008 in Glendalough. Gaisce award candidates please note. Pupils who were not on the first or second walk should book to go on this one. Places are limited, so you must book early. Booking forms are available from Mr Miller and should be returned to him by Thursday morning at the latest. Photo above - hillwalk 22 September in Co Wicklow.
C Cryan

Biology field study to Botanic Gardens

On Wednesday 24 September Mr Gill’s sixth year class went on a trip to the Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin. The purpose of the visit was to examine the diversity of species in a evolutionary context. It was a lovely sunny day and everyone was in great humour. Highlights of the trip included the cork oak (Quercus suber) from which traditional wine-bottle corks are made and the ancient purple beech (Fagus sylvatica purpurea) colonised by a shelf fungus. We saw squirrels. We also got to see some of the art pieces from the “sculpture in context” exhibition which was running at the time. We marvelled at the parasitic mass of mistletoe (Viscum album) growing high among the poplar tree tops. We also saw carnivorous plants such as the venus fly trap. In the magnificently restored Great Palm House we saw cacti as well as plants such as bamboo and banana. Overall it was a wonderful experience and it certainly planted memories in our hearts forever.
Coilin O’Connell & Conor O’Donnell, 6th

Meeting for Form 1 parents

Reminder that there is a meeting for parents of pupils in Form 1 at 7.30 p.m. on Monday 13 October in the Reynolds Hall. This meeting is to follow up on any policy queries which arise after a few weeks of attendance at school and is also an opportunity to tour the school with the form teacher of the pupil.

Parents' Association AGM

The AGM of the Parents Association will be held in The Reynolds Hall in the school on Monday 6th October 2008 at 8pm.
All parents are encouraged to attend. The Parents Association is involved in supporting the school in many aspects of its daily life and that of its pupils, and the AGM is a useful opportunity to get involved, or at least to hear what the Association has been doing during the year, and its plans for the year ahead. The Principal also attends to answer policy questions.

St Vincent's Hospital careers talks

On Friday 28 September, 28 students from 4th year went to St Vincent's Hospital. We gathered in the educational resource centre at 9.30 a.m. along with students from Loreto on the Green and we had lectures about the following careers - dietician, medicine, nursing, pharmacy, social work, radiography, science, occupational therapy and physiotherapy. We found out the entrance requirements, yearly salaries and what those people do day to day. It gave us an idea of all these careers. It was a very interesting and enjoyable day. I would like to thank Ms T Jones for organising this for us.
Sarah Quirke

Adidas family fun run

The Habitat for Humanity team is currently fundraising for this year's trip to Ghana and we are looking for people to take part in the Adidas family fun run. If interested, please pick up a form from Ms Thorp's room B2. The run costs €7 for children and €13 for adults and is 3Km long. It promises to be a fun day out for all! Habitat for Humanity raises funds to enable a team from the school to travel abroad during holiday time to give up their time to build houses for those in need.

ParentsAssociation grant to orchestra

We are very grateful to the association which has made a large grant to the orchestra to facilitate the purchase of timpani drums and ancillary equipment. The orchestra has been invited to perform in the National Concert Hall in February.

Canoeing

Canoeing, or kayaking, is an exciting and rewarding adventure sport. For many years High School has encouraged pupils to develop their skills in this activity. Many have gone on to join clubs in college and elsewhere and have kayaked in countries around the world. We are lucky to have the Dodder river at our back door as it provides a convenient training facility. Pupils from any year are welcome to sign up for sessions on the Dodder. We also intend to run river trips to the Liffey and farther afield. Times and dates for sessions up to Mid-term break:
Friday 3rd Oct 4.00pm – 5.30pm (Beginners only)
Saturday 4th Oct 9.30am – 11.0am (Beginners only)
Friday 10th Oct 4.00pm – 5.30pm
Friday 17th Oct 4.00pm – 5.30pm
River trip to the Liffey: Wednesday 22nd Oct 1.30pm – 6.00pm
After mid-term break sessions will be held on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Dates and times will be posted in the newsletter. Information and consent forms will be available on the noticeboard in the Technical Block.
VERY IMPORTANT
Pupils must sign up for each session
Places are limited to 12 per session (you may put your name on the waiting list if the session is booked up)
If you sign up you must attend (otherwise you will be wasting a place that another pupil could use)
The staff taking canoeing are Mr.Carolan, Mr. Levis, Mr. O Domhnaill, Ms. Wilson, Mr. C. Halpin (instructor). Coordinator: Mr. C. Cryan

Above - Daniel and Conor James with partners at the Debs reception

Fixtures and training this week

Girls hockey
Jun A (L) Alexandra Tues 30 Home 4.00
Sen 3 (L) St Andrew's Wed 1 Home 2.30
Min B Newpark Wed 1 Away 2.00
Sen 1, Jun C King's Hospital Wed 1 Away 3.30
Sen 2, Jun B King's Hospital Wed 1 Away 2.30
1st Yr A King's Hospital Wed 1 Home 2.15
1st Yr B King's Hospital Wed 1 Home 3.00
1st Yr C King's Hospital Wed 1 Home 3.45
Min A Loreto Bray Sat 4 Home 11.00
Matches on Saturday 4th vs Our Lady's Terenure to be arranged
Boys hockey
Junior St Columba's Wed 1 Away 2.15
Under 13 B St Columba's Wed 1 Away 3.15
Senior tba
Rugby
1st XV CUS Wed 1 Home 2.30
2nd XV CUS Wed 1 Home 2.30
U 16 St Andrew's Wed 1 Home 2.30
JCT (L) Gonzaga Wed 1 Away 2.30
2nd XV, JCT Newpark Sat 4 Home 11.00
U 16 King's Hospital Sat 4 Home 2.30
U 14 Newpark Sat 4 Away 11.00
Results - well done!
In girls hockey, the Senior 1 won 1-0 in the league, Sen 2 drew 0-0 in the league, Junior A drew 1-1, all against St Gerard's. The Junior B won 7-4 in the league against St Wolstan's. Against Mt Sackville, the Senior 1 won 4-0 and the Minor C won 1-0. The Senior 4 drew 1-1 against Our Lady's Terenure in the league. In rugby, the JCT beat St Columba's 31-0 and Carrickfergus Grammar School 29-14 while the Under 13s won the 10 a side tournament with St Columba's.