The High School  Zion Road  Rathgar  Dublin 6   Tel: 01-4922611   Fax: 01-4924427  office@highschooldublin.com

A Form 5 pupil meets the Minister

I was invited to the launch of the pamphlet "Schools and the Equal Status Act" on 29 September. I did my work experience last year with the Equality Authority, and during my time there I attended meetings where the document was being prepared. During these meetings I was asked to contribute to the discussion. The launch was held at the Department of Education & Science and was attended by the Minister for Education & Science, Noel Dempsey, T.D., Karen Erwin and Niall Crowley from the Equality Authority. The media were present, interviewing and photographing people. The event was covered by RTE, TV3 and Today FM.

Form 6 biology trip to Ardkill bog

On Thursday 18 September, all 6th year biology students, accompanied by Mrs Dowsett, Mrs Geoghegan and Mr Gill, went on an ecology trip to Ardkill Bog, Co Kildare. Ecology is an important part of the Leaving Certificate course and the day was spent on the very dry bog learning to identify typical bog plants and animals, examining their adaptations to this unique environment and exploring their inter-relationships. The fieldwork techniques employed included the construction of both profile and belt transects. Before a hard day collecting data on the bog, we were treated to tea and scones in Enfield.

Uniform reminders

Please note that winter uniform comes into operation on next Monday 13 October. From that date all pupils must wear school jumpers to and from school and while in school. If a particular classroom is too hot on a particular day, teachers have the discretion to allow pupils to take jumpers off while in that classroom. Please also note that full uniform must always be worn while coming to school and going home, including plain black outer jacket and black school shoes.

Synod prizes

Congratulations to Evanna Mills, Andrew Howell and Christine Rorke who received certificates of merit in the synod examinations in R.E. Evanna was also awarded the junior division prize of €20 for her entry.

Date for your diary

Prize Distribution and parents' evening Wednesday 22 October 8.00 p.m. - parents of prize winners and staff are automatically invited. Other wishing to attend, please telephone the office. Pupils attending wear uniform.

International literacy day

On Monday 8th September 1P went to the library to be told that it was international literacy day. When we got there Mrs King greeted us and when the whole class was there she told us about some famous Irish poets such as W.B Yeats who wrote poems such as ‘The Sally Gardens’, which was later turned into a song. James Joyce was a famous Irish writer. His works include Ulysses, which were his most famous piece, the Dubliners and Finnegan’s Wake. J.R.R Tolkien was an amazing English writer who created the magnificent The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit and The Silmarillion. The Lord of the Rings has become three very famous films. Jane Austen was England’s finest female author with such pieces as Pride and Prejudice, Emma, Mansfield Park and Sense and Sensibility. Another English author, famous for his romantic novels about 19th century English rural life e.g. Jude the Obscure and the Mayor of Casterbridge, was known as Thomas Hardy. Last, but not least was Oscar Wilde, a famous Irish playwright at the turn of the 20th century. One of his plays was The Importance of Being Earnest. Mrs King showed us a couple of books by some other Irish writers. Some of the books were out on stands and others were in a glass cabinet with pictures of the writers and a few of their books. It had books from the 17th and 16th centuries.

Concern debates

High School will take on Colaise Bride in New Road, Clondalkin on Monday 13 October at 8.00 p.m. on the motion "Overseas Aid is by-passing the poor of the developing world."

Sport this week

SCT, 2nd Wesley Wed 8 Home 3.00

JCT A,B Wesley Wed 8 Ballinteer 3.00

U 14 A,B St Columba Sat 11 Home 2.00

1st XI Kilkenny Wed 8 Home 1.30

Jun A Kilkenny Wed 8 Home 2.30

Min B Kilkenny Wed 8 Home 1.45

Jun C (L) Muckross Sat 11 Away 11.00

Jun B Mt Sackville Sat 11 Away 10.00

2nd XI Mt Sackville Sat 11 Away 11.00

3rd XI Mt Sackville Sat 11 Away 12.00

1st YrF, MinC Mt Sackville Sat 11 Home 9.00

1st YrL, MinA Mt Sackville Sat 11 Home 10.00

1st YrM, MinB Mt Sackville Sat 11 Home 11.00

Senior St Andrew's Wed 8 Home 3.15

Cadette A Loreto Balbriggan Wed 8 Portrane 3.00

1st Year training will begin on Thursday 9 October at 4.00 p.m. weather permitting

There will be a hillwalk on Sunday 12 October to Tonelegee in the Wicklow Mountains leaving High School at 9.30 a.m. sharp and returning at approximately 4.00 p.m. Pupils from all years welcome - book early!

In rugby, the SCT beat St Andrew's 39-11 in the league, 2nd XV beat St Andrew's 29-12, JCT beat St Andrew's 13-11 in the league, Under 14 beat Wesley College 27-25, Under 14 B beat Wesley College, 34-5. Congratulations to Matthew D'Arcy, David Lee, Peter Burns and Ben Leonard-Kane who have been nominated for Leinster schools trials this week.

In girls hockey, 1st, 2nd, Jun B, C and Minor A, B, C won against King's Hospital. Minor A, Jun B and 2nd XI won against Our Lady's Terenure, while 1st XI and Junior C drew. Hat tricks were scored by Nicky Daly on 1st XI, Valerie Sexton on Minor A, Ellen O Cleirigh on Minor B and Alison Meeke on Minor C. In boys hockey, the minor team beat St Andrew's College 6-0 last Friday.