Prize Day

Prize Day took place recently and the guest speaker was Mr Kieran O'Connor, Group Chief Executive of Freightwatch, one of Ireland's recent entrepreneurial success stories. In the last six years, Mr O'Connor has grown this company to employ over 1,800 people in 20 subsidiary companies in 12 countries worldwide. In his speech, which was very well received by the assembled pupils, staff and parents, he related how this had sometimes involved himself driving for 18 hours a day for five days in a row, work which he felt one of his previous careers as an army officer in Lebanon had equipped him for. His experiences there had included having a gun pointed to his head!
He spoke of his six life principles, with a strong emphasis on the necessity for good planning:
Be passionate in everything you do
Believe in yourself
Take calculated risks
If you fail to plan, plan to fail
Never take anything for granted
Learn by your mistakes

The Principal's speech concentrated on how we as individuals can influence the conduct of business so that as well as acknowledging the profit motive business can operate within an ethical framework. He mentioned some initiatives which operate within the school, such as the Fair Trade Fair and the supply of Fair Trade products by the school throughout the year, for example, all of the tea and coffee served in the school is Fair Trade. This means that the producers are guaranteed a stable market with a small price premium and are not subject to the predatory practices of some multinational corporations which seek to ensure that producing communities are continually impoverished in the interests of low prices. Mr Duffy emphasised how such initiatives can only succeed if individual consumers continue to demand such products.
Choir and orchestra performances were greatly enjoyed and everybody adjourned for supper in the dining hall afterwards.
Thanks to everybody who helped to prepare this occasion - grounds and caretaking staff, office staff, catering staff, teaching staff, prefects, etc. Particular thanks to Ms Saville who organises the Prize List and gathers the prizes together with Mrs V. King's assistance.

Mrs C. Duffy, Mr K. O'Connor, Mr L. Ruttle (Chairman), Ms T. Jones, Mr B. Duffy

Construction Studies projects

Biology in the Botanic Gardens

As part of our study of botany, Mr Gill's 6Z biology class visited the Botanic Gardens on 17 October. We started with a stroll by the Herbarium and through various gardens arranged by plant family, by habitat and by characteristics; the poisonous plants were a highlight! Having also visited the Burren last year, it was fascinating to see an artificial Burren environment containing some of the plants we found there.
On the arboreal side, we saw poplars, yews, oaks and maples of all kinds, in beautiful open parks. We rounded off the trip with a tour of the Great Palm House where we saw palms, banana trees and other tropical plants, as well as exotic orchids and venus fly traps. All in all, it was a thoroughly educational and enjoyable trip for all involved. We would like to thank Mr Gill for driving us there and back, and also for being an excellent tour guide through the many and varied sights of the Botanic Gardens, from sculptures to squirrels, and laurels to Latin quotations!
Eoin Silke, 6

New Parents Association committee

The following were elected at the recent AGM to serve on the committee:
Alan Browning, Peter Cabena, Caroline Cantan, Ken Farrell (Hon Treas), Eamon Flaherty, Niamh Harty (President), Angela Harding, Brian Hunt (Hon Sec), Ian MacKay, Eileen O’Driscoll, Bernie Quirke. Committee members may be contacted by telephoning the school. The office staff will pass a message to the appropriate committee member.

Fixtures and training this week

Girls hockey
Jun A, C St Gerard's Wed 8 Home 2.30
Jun B, 1st Yr St Gerard's Wed 8 Home 3.30
Sen 1, Min C St Gerard's Wed 8 St Gerard's 2.00
Sen 2, Min A St Gerard's Wed 8 St Gerard's 3.00
Sen 3 Dominican Wicklow Wed 8 Away 2.00
Jun A (L) Killiney Sat 11 Away 11.00
Matches vs Muckross on Saturday will also be arranged - see noticeboard
 

Boys hockey
Jun A St Andrew's Fri 10 Home 4.30
U 14 St Andrew's Wed 8 Home 1.30