During our trip to Kyrgyzstan we had an unforgettable time with many new friends made, and experiences shared. It was an amazing opportunity. The flight from London to Bishkek was 10 hours long with a stop off in Armenia for re-fuelling. After getting over our jet-lag and getting to know the Kyrgz ways, we set off to the building site and began our work. With Johnny and Jack as our juke-box and the whole team in high spirits, we got stuck in immediately. We surprised and impressed everybody by the amount of work we achieved on the first day and we were keen to keep up our work rate. Every evening we did various activities including a Poker night, and a talent show with acts such as a magic show, with James and his 5 beautiful assistants, Keenan juggling, and Jack, Johnny and Kevin doing a brilliant reinactment of the song ‘Hero’, dressed as super heroes. For dinner we went to a different restaurant every night which allowed us to try many different foods, including cow’s tongue.

The family whose house we were helping to build were lovely and welcoming and the mother said she thought of us as her children. Akylbek, the foreman was also very caring and really looked out for us, and the co-ordinators and translators especially Daniya, Elzat, Sultan and Adi were very friendly and helpful.

A highlight to the trip was definitely our camping trip to the snow capped mountains. We trekked up the mountains on horseback to the shepherd’s house we were staying in. After lunch we had a huge snow fight where Mr McNamara and Mr Malin got destroyed. We horse rode some more and after we had dinner and played charades. All the girls stayed in one room while the boys crammed into a smaller room nicknamed ‘the boiler room’! The next day we climbed up to a waterfall and then relaxed in the hot springs.

On our last day, after we finished the full foundations and concreting of the house, we all sung and celebrated. We had a small party with balloons, bubbles and face painting. The Habitat officials joined us for a lovely lunch, cooked by the family. We then presented the family and the Habitat Office with an Irish flag each, signed by the team. We all received traditional hats and certificates of appreciation.

On behalf of the team, we’d like to thank Ms Watson, Ms Carson, Ms Thorp, Mr McNamara and Mr Malin for all their hard work and time that they put into making this trip so unforgettable. It was an inspirational trip what we will never forget.

Aimée Jones O’Connor, Stephanie Lodola

Any students interested in taking part in a Habitat for Humanity trip next Easter (2009) must attend a short information meeting. Application forms will be available to students at the meeting. Current Form 3 students should meet in B2 on Friday 18 April at 12.50 p.m. and current Form 4 students should meet in B2 on Thursday 17 April at 1.30 p.m. Please note that students must be 16 years of age or older at the time the trip takes place - Easter Sunday is on April 12th in 2009.

D. Thorp

Congratulations to Annalise Murphy (right) who came 5th at the world Laser Radial Championship in Auckland, New Zealand recently. 5th in the world is an amazing achievement for anybody - we are proud to have such a performer in our school!

Irish Heart Foundation non-uniform day

Thank you to everyone who supported the irish Heart Foundation during the non-uniform day last term. The cheque for €2148 was presented to and warmly received by Ms R. Findlater of the Foundation on 1 April. This initiative was undertaken in memory of Mark Cabena, one of our Form 6 pupils, who died in August 2007.

Sport this week

Boys cricket

2nd XI (L) Wesley Wed 9 Home 2.30

Junior (L) CUS Wed 9 Away 2.15

U 13 (F) King's Hospital Wed 9 Away 2.15

U 13 (F) St Andrew's Sat 12 Away 10.00

2nd XI (L) Templeogue Mon 14 Home 2.30

Rugby

The Model United Nations is a student run conference based on the structure of the United Nations. Each delegation represents a country and creates resolutions to problems being currently addressed by the United Nations. This year The High School took part in the MUN for the first time in a number of years.

After weeks of preparation two delegations from The High School went to the conference in The Royal Marine Hotel in Dun Laoghaire, with Sam Clarke-Kavanagh getting the required 12 co-signatures in order to have her resolution debated in committee and Aislinn Coghlan merging her resolution with delegates from other schools.

For the next four days we all actively joined in debate in various committees covering topics such as the death penalty, provision of maternal healthcare, malaria, the reconstruction of the DR Congo.

We all thoroughly enjoyed our first experience of the Model United Nations, with Aislinn Coghlan being awarded distinguished delegate award and Mark Savage being voted best dressed male delegate!!

We would like to thank Ms. Rellis and Mr. Fitzpatrick for all their help and support in this event!!

Aislinn Coghlan and Mark Savage

NCAD success

Congratulations to Helen O'Dea, Daniel Tuomey and Stéphane Hanly who have been successful in gaining places in the National College of Art and Design for 2008-09.

H. Killane

Simon Community - thanks

The Dublin Simon Community has written a letter to the school thanking all those who gave up their time to collect on St Patrick's Day. It was much appreciated and over €3,000 was raised. Well done!!