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

Music Festival success

Congratulations to Robert Farhat who won no less than three competitions at the Inter Schools Music Festival which is held annually at Wesley College. Robert was successful in the piano solo, chamber music and Under 16 violin competitions. Well done to all the other entrants for their hard work and enjoyment of the festival.

The orchestra (photo below) was placed joint second this year in a competition of very high standard. The standard of the orchestra competition has been steadily rising over the last few years as school orchestras have grown in size, confidence and technical ability.

Visit of Chicago school

The band and chorus of the Latin School of Chicago will be visiting The High School tomorrow, Wednesday 10 March. They will perform a variety of modern American and world music in the Reynolds Hall from 12.15 to 1.15 p.m. Form 6 and three classes from Form 1(1D, 1H, 1OH) will attend. We regret that space does not permit more pupils to attend (the visitors number over 100!). All pupils will be expected to be in neat uniform and to welcome our guests courteously throughout their performance. The school is currently on an Irish tour of a number of schools.

Fundraising for St Luke's cancer hospital

Congratulations to the winter swimmers who raised €1,432 and to Duff Gardens organisers who raised €1,800 for the Friends of St Luke's Cancer Hospital. 

Maths olympiad

Congratulations to Una Ni hEagartaigh who has been selected in the Dublin area to proceed to phase 2 of the UCD olympiad training programme for the International Mathematics Olympiad 2004.

Junior A - cup winners

Congratulations to the Junior A girls hockey team who have won the Leinster Cup competition for the second year running, and to the team coaches Mr P. Fitzpatrick, Mrs G. Mellon and Ms C. Ritchie. Main coverage and photographs next week when Form 4 have returned from work experience.

This was a tough match, with incredibly strong defence needed in the second half, and the team provided it. We are proud of you!!!!

Fairtrade fortnight

We are in the middle of Fairtrade fortnight at the moment. More and more people are realising not just that we should give producers in developing countries a better deal but that we can. Irish people are increasingly looking for the Fairtrade label and it is to be found now in most supermarkets as well as in specialist shops such as Oxfam. The most common products being bought are tea, coffee, chocolate and fruit, with gifts on sale at certain times of year. In 2003 Fairtrade coffee sales grew by over 60%.

So - over to you - ask for Fairtrade in cafes and shops. If it is not in stock ask them to get it. The school recently began purchasing large quantities of Fairtrade products for everyday use.

1D - The David Copperfield experience - World Book Day

On Thursday the fourth of March, Ms Burrowes’ first year English class performed a play of David Copperfield in the library. After studying the movie in class, Ms Burrowes separated us into groups, and each group then had the task of editing a certain part of the novel.

Miraculously, on the day we managed to stage an enjoyable performance for 2S, along with assorted teachers and staff. Nobody seemed to mind the forgotten lines, although many were confused by the accidental reincarnation of Clara Copperfield. Thanks a million to everyone who came to watch us, to Ms King, to Mr Prendergast for taking photographs (I want them burned!) and to Ms Burrowes. Although she takes no credit, the play wouldn’t have been possible without her. Last but not least, well done to the dedicated, hard working, Oscar-worthy cast!! (Okay, I may be a little biased.)

Visit of Fiona Murdoch

Also in connection with World Book Day, author Fiona Murdoch (Able Lives and Victor Bewley's Memoirs) visited the school and addressed classes. Fiona is the great-granddaughter of Ernest Bewley who bought the land on which High School now stands in 1900. He called it Danum, the Roman word for Doncaster, where the family came from. The produce of the Danum farms was sold in the famous Bewley's Cafes.

The Principal, Fiona Murdoch and Mr Irwin

Junior debating

Well done to all who took part in the junior debating competition last Thursday. The motion was that there are too many rules in school! The motion was defeated and the overall winner was Eva Richardson McCrea (1H). Eva spoke against the motion, her speech was well prepared and excellently delivered. The other speakers were Clare Cryan, Coilin O'Connell, Sarah Corbin, Rory Simms and Michael Metoudi.

Public speaking competition

The Dublin University Women Graduate Association held a public speaking competition for girls under 15 in Trinity College recently. High School entered a team made up of Beth Kelly, Katie McCann and Sarah Corbin. In the competition the team only had 30 minutes to prepare their speeches. The team performed very well, losing out to a very strong team from St Columba's. Our sub-team of Eva Richardson McCrea, Ellen O'Cleirigh and Clare Cryan look forward to taking part next year. Thanks to our supporters - Eoin Silke and Joelle Grogan.

Under 14 boys basketball - league winners

Congratulations to the Under 14 boys basketball team who played both semi-final and final of their competition yesterday and won both. We don't have all the details as the newsletter goes to press but we will return to this report next week. Well done!!!!

Sport this week

U 13 A,B CUS Wed 10 Bird Ave 3.00

U 14 A,B Clongowes Wed 10 Home 2.45

JCT A (C) Newbridge Tues 9 Barnhall 3.00

1st XV plate semi-final vs Wesley Thurs 11 Home 4.30

U 13 A,B Terenure Sat 13 Terenure 11.00

Best of luck to Minor C in their final against St Raphaela's at 12.00 in Three Rock today. Well done in winning against Loreto Dalkey after extra time in the semi final. Well done also to Junior B who won 2-0 against Wesley in the quarter finals of their competition.

In rugby, 2nd XV beat Belvedere 19-12 in the league. In boys basketball, the Under 14 have reached the semi-final stage of the regional competition.