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Our Back to the Future charity is hosting a day out at Causey Farm in Athboy, County Meath, on Monday April 16th for St Louisa’s school Ballyfermot. There are 43 girls from their 5th class joining Ms Clay, Mr Duffy and Mr Cushen on this fun and educational outing. Four girls from TY and four from 5th year will accompany the St Louisa’s girls also.

We will be feeding the Spring lambs/calves/piglets, going on a tractor onto the bog and generally learning how a farm works. This trip is enabled by funds raised from past Fun Days plus the current 6th years’ generosity from their Artisans Day. It is great that we can do some good for a Deis school in our own county. Thanks also to JACA and ACA for their ongoing support of this charity. A report will follow the outing.

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Tá Seachtain na Gaeilge ar siúl faoi láthair in Alex, ar fud na tíre agus ar fud an domhain fiú!  Cuireadh tús leis an gceiliúradh ar an teanga náisiúnta an tseachtain seo caite nuair a fuair Rang Ms O’Brien sa Chéad Bhliain litreacha óna gcairde pinn i gColáiste Ospidéal Mhic Liaim (Wilson’s Hospital) i gContae na hIarmhí. Bhí siad uilig ar bís!

Ansin Dé Sathairn bhí na cailíní sa Tríú Bliain atá ag staidéar na Gaeilge – agus a gcuid múinteoirí – sa choláiste mar bhí a Scrúduithe Cainte don Teastas Sóisearach ar siúl idir 8:30 – 4:00. Bhí siad iontach!

Maidin Dé Luain labhair An Coiste Gaeilge ag an Tionól, agus ina dhiaidh sin bhí ceacht rince líne ag an scoil go léir bunaithe ar an amhrán Gaeilge An Dreoilín, le cailíní an Chúigiú Bliain. Faoi láthair tá an Halla Tionóil maisithe leis na bratacha IdirCheilteacha go léir, bratach thrídhathach na hEireann san áireamh. Baineadh taitneamh as cluichí cainte, tráth na gceist agus as geasrrscannáin Gaeilge sna ranganna Gaeilge, agus i ndiaidh am scoile bhí céilí ag cailíní ón Séú agus ón gCúigiú Bliain le fir óga Choláiste Gonzaga.  Ba léir go raibh aithne an-mhaith ag cuid acu ar a chéile roimh ré! Chabhraigh Coiste Gaeilge na bliana seo caite len é a eagrú.

Gach lá bíonn Raidió Alex ar an aer go díreach roimh am sosa, ar a léann scoláirí ó na bliainghrúpaí éagsúla fógraí an lae. Bíonn comórtas ann freisin – An Gaeilgeoir Rúnda –  agus bíonn ar scoláirí glór an duine atá ag caint leo i nGaeilge a aithint. I measc na nGaeilgeoirí Rúnda a bhí le cloisteáil bhí Rachel an Fáilteoir, Gillian Dean an Leabharlannaí agus Mr Barrett an Múinteoir Ceoil. Cé eile a bheidh ann???

Dé Máirt bhí céilí eile ag na scoláirí san Idirbhliain, an uair seo i Scoil Naomh Mícheál. Arís, bhain gach éinne an-sult as.  Eagraíodh comórtais póstaer ar théama na Gaeilge, na seanfhocail agus Naomh Pádraig, agus bhí comórtas litríochta ann do na scoláirí sinsearacha ar théama an Éireannachais. Beidh na torthaí againn daoibh amach anseo.

Ná dearmad go dtagann An Ciorcal Comhrá le chéile ar an gCéadaoin ,roimh na ranganna, ag 8:15 i Seomra a Dó.

Sin spléachadh daoibh ar roinnt de na himeachtaí Gaelacha a bhí ar siúl againn an tseachtain seo, agus beidh níos mó tuairiscí againn daoibh an tseachtain seo chugainn.  Idir an dá linn, bainigí taitneanh as Lá Fhéile Pádraig, agus bainigí úsáid as an E-Leathanach a scríobhtar san Idirbhliain in Alex chun bhur gcuid Gaeilge a chleachtadh!  Labhair í agus mairfidh sí!

Seachtain na Gaeilge is taking place in Alex, and other events are being held around the country – indeed around the world. We got off to a lively start last week when Ms O’Brien’s First Year Irish Class received their letters from their penpals in Wilson’s Hospital in Co Westmeath. What excitement!

Last Saturday, all Third Year students of Gaeilge and their teachers were in college for the real Junior Certificate Oral Irish Examinations worth a huge 40%. Well done to all!

The Coiste Gaeilge girls spoke at Assembly and this was followed by a lively line dancing class for all given by the Fifth Years to the An Dreoilín song. Many girls seemed to know this already from their summers in An Ghaeltacht. The concourse is currently decorated with the flags of the Celtic Nations, including our own tricolour, given the week that’s in it! Then off to class where language games, short films and quizzes were enjoyed, and after school the Sixth and Fifth Years enjoyed a céilí with the young men of Gonzaga College. (Many seemed to know each other already!) Many thanks to last year’s Coiste Gaeilge for organizing this.

Each day leading up to break-time Raidió Alex takes to the airwaves, with students from the different year groups reading the daily notices ‘as Gaeilge’, beginning on Monday with First Years. There’s also the daily competition “The Secret Gaeilgeoir” where students have to recognize the mystery voice. So far our receptionist Rachel, our Librarian Ms Gillian Dean and Music Teacher Mr Barrett featured. Guess who’s up next?

On Tuesday, the TY girls were invited to another céilí, this time with the students in St Michael’s College. Again, a great time was had by all. There were poster competitions for the junior classes on the themes of Seachtain na Gaeilge, St Patrick and proverbs in Irish, while the senior students put pen to paper for our annual literary competitions on what it means to be Irish. Results to follow.

And don’t forget that you can practice speaking your Gaeilge at An Ciorcal Comhrá which meets before classes on Wednesdays, from 8:15 in Room 2.

So that’s a glimpse at the many events taking place around college this week as we celebrate Gaeilge, our national language, and there’s more yet to come. We’ll have more to report on next week. In the meantime we hope you enjoy the national feast day, St Patrick’s Day, and that you get to use your Gaeilge skills. Have a look at this week’s E-Leathanach, written as ever by the TY classes and their teachers.

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This week, we looked at festivals from around the world and the girls got an opportunity to talk about some of their own festivals in their countries. We also got a chance to try some of Miss Dean’s homemade Brazilian chocolates, which went down a real treat with the girls. We also taught some of our international students a little about St. Patrick’s Day and why we celebrate him on the 17th March. For those already familiar with St. Patrick, some of the senior girls presented on a special Welsh festival similar to our own here in Ireland. Next week, we will be looking at music with a special interest in international songs. There might even be a chance to learn the bodhrán, so come along next Wednesday at both lunch times in the library

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The Alex Trad Band were very busy last week during Seachtain na Gaeilge.

On Wednesday March 14th they went on their annual trip to Clondalkin and Sallins. That morning they gave two performances in the Sacred Heart National School in Sruleen in Clondalkin. In the afternoon the students from St. Laurence’s National School in Sallins joined the Alex Trad Band for a great afternoon of music, song and dance.

On Thursday March 15th they performed for the Junior School in the morning and for the Senior School in the afternoon. On Thursday evening they had their final concert in the GYM where they were joined by staff and students from St. Laurence’s National School in Sallins Co. Kildare. The concert was a great success and it was a great way to end our busy week.

Many thanks to all who took part in these concerts.

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Dates for Your Diary

April

Sunday 8^th        Boarders return

Monday 9^th      School re-opens at 8.45am

Tuesday 10th   Swimming J2

April 12-13^th    Scholastic Book Fair –JS concourse (see below)

 

From the Office

Baby News!

We were all delighted to hear about the safe arrival of Baby Tóla Bannon! Congratulations to Elaine (Ms. Stapleton) and Troy!

 

After School Hockey:

As the hockey season ends now before Easter, the after school hockey classes for J3/J4 with Sophie and Alan end this week.

 

Progress Reports (KGLr – J6)

Reports went home in schoolbags on Wednesday afternoon.

 

After Care invoices:

Ms. Higgins sent the After Care invoices on Thursday, March 22^nd. Please pay promptly – cash, cheque or online through Easy Payments. Any queries, email jsinfo@alexandracollege.ie or phone 01 4704617.

 

 

From JACA

Thank you for supporting our annual Cake Sale today! It was great fun and enjoyed by everyone. A big thanks to all the girls in J6 and their teachers, Ms. Mahon and Ms. Finan, for setting up the event, selling all the items and cleaning up afterwards. We will let you know who won the Best Bakes (Mum and Dad) after Easter!

 

The Easter egg raffle took place this morning during assembly. The girls love a raffle!

 

Easter Cake Box Winners!

 

Well done to all the girls on the magnificent job that they all did on decorating their cake boxes. It was a tough competition to judge. Thank you to our Art Teacher, Ms. Mulcahy, for judging the boxes and to JACA for supplying the prizes. One winner was picked from each class and was awarded a €20 book token.

 

PSW               Lilian Zhu

PSR                 Charlotte Crowe

KGLr              Ettie Farrell

KGUpr            Emma Foulds- Martin

J1                     Meghan Moran

J2R                  Evie Daunt Brennan

J2W                 Mary Paloni

J3R                  Niamh Carty

J3W                 Zahra Tran-Butler

J4R                  Anna Perryman

J4W                 Isabel Mc Keagney

J5R                  Kate Harrington

J5W                 Isobel Baxter

J6R                  Shijin Li

J6W                 Kate Saunders

 

Junior School Library Update

Good news! The main library in the school that is located in the Senior School building will be refurbished over the Easter break to accommodate both the Junior and Senior School students. Interior designer, parent and past pupil, Laura Farrell, will project manage the makeover of the library over the next two weeks. It is thanks to your on-going support and generosity that we have been able to do this project. Every student in the school will benefit from the makeover.

 

Coming soon…….Scholastic Book Fair-April 12/13^th

Get ready! The Scholastic Book Fair will be here in the Junior School the week after Easter. Hundreds of great books will go on sale in the JS Concourse on Thursday, April 12^th and Friday, April 13^th. Remember that the school receives 60% commission in free books from the sale, which will go directly to buying new books for the JS section of the library.

 

Rockjam Showcase 2018

Last Friday, our JS Rockjam bands treated us all to a fantastic concert. The talent of these singers/musicians from J1 to J6 blew us away! Each of the groups of girls composed their own songs. The bands: Seven Rockers, Galaxy Gladiators, VIPs, I Forgot and Electricity all performed two songs for us. Well done to all the girls and a special word of thanks must go to their teacher, Mr. Barry Rycraft.

 

Food Dudes Boost Healthy Eating Programme (April 9-13^th)

Get ready! The Junior School will start the Food Dudes Healthy Eating programme the week we get back after Easter. The programme is designed to increase children’s consumption of fruit and vegetables. The programme is comprised of positive role models, repeated tastings and rewards.

 

Hopefully, by completing the programme, it will encourage our girls to choose more fruit and vegetables for snacks and lunch. It is amazing to us that so many girls don’t touch the vegetables on their plates at lunchtime!

 

Preschool – J2:

16 days of prepared fruit and vegetables in individual portion packs

Stickers and awards for every child

Food Dudes DVDs

 

J3-J6

The older students will be provided with fruit and vegetables for 8 tasting days and will receive awards as well as their Food Dudes lunchboxes.

 

During the summer term, fruit and vegetables will continue to be delivered to the school to help sustain the maintenance part of the programme.

 

Thank you to Ms. Brandon and Ms. Byrnes We will keep you updated on the programme and we need your full support at home too to make the programme successful.

 

Easter Cake Sale 2018

The winners of the Alex  “Star Baker” competition have been announced! Congratulations to Stephen Cushen (Amelia, PS Red) and to Carolyn Butcher (Emma, J3R & Emma, J2W). Thank you to everyone who participated!

 

A huge thank you to all the parents who brought in cakes for the cake sale today, it was a huge success as always.

Have a wonderful Easter break!

 

 

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Overcoming Practical Obstacles

Practical exams can be a daunting prospect, but with the right preparation, they are a valuable opportunity to get marks under your belt in advance of the main exam.

Music

Those taking music should get practising regularly to avoid last minute panic.

After all, the cliche “practice makes perfect” exists for a reason!

If you’re experiencing technical difficulties with your piece make sure to address these with your teacher well in advance of your exam.

Practice performing in front of people as much as possible. Family, friends or classmates make a great audience and it will build your confidence.

Remember that you are playing (or singing) music, and expression is as important as technical success.

And finally remember to enjoy performing your pieces, as that is what music is all about!

Home Economics

Make sure you are fully familiar with your whole menu, it is impossible to over practice. Time yourself to ensure you are completing all of your courses within the allocated time.

Review all your recipes and ensure you know all aspects of them.

If possible, assemble all ingredients two days before the practical. If you need fresh products, buy these items the day before, leaving nothing to be bought on D Day.

It’s crucial to remember your hygiene throughout the exam.

Modern Language

Teachers at the modern language department in Alexandra College have guided thousands of students through this practical exam.

Here they reveal their top tips on avoiding pitfalls and flag the areas to focus on, as the big day looms large.

Navigating Nerves

Confidence is key. A positive attitude will greatly help the candidate when it comes to opening that door and stepping onto “the stage”.

Studying sample questions will arm you with essential stock phrases and alleviate any nerves, making your answers as free-flowing as possible

Starting off on the right foot with the examiner is essential. Look the examiner straight in the eye, smile and adopt positive body language as far as possible.

Make sure you know how to address the examiner correctly, using formal language as discussed in class with your teacher.

On the Oral Stage

Listening is as valuable a tool as speaking during an oral examination. If you don’t know what question is being asked of you, it is impossible to answer correctly and completely.

It’s helpful to view an oral exam as a conversation between two people, one that would take place in a real-life setting, so it’s always better to offer a more substantial answer than just “yes” or “no”.

Our teachers recommend keeping answers short but accurate. It is helpful to justify your answer and give some background information regarding the question you have been asked.

Using the correct tense is key. It demonstrates competence and familiarity with the language.

It’s always handy to be able to describe a typical day in your life, a school day, a weekend day, a day during school holidays, as well as your plans for the future.

Prepare and learn responses to topics such as school life, TV shows, movies, your neighbourhood, your family and your hobbies, as these feature in oral examinations regularly.

It’s helpful to listen to a local radio station to tune your ear into the language you will be examined in. Latinofm, radiofranceinternationale.com, deutschewelle are all great choices. Equally, taking some time to listen to songs in the language you are studying aids in immersing yourself in it fully.

Another helpful tip is to watch TV or movies in French/Italian/Spanish/German. You will pick up phrases and words that are used by native speakers, which is always a bonus.

Refrain from using English words, eg. “emmm”, “like”, “OK”, “so”, “well”. Instead, learn the equivalent in the language you are studying. Don’t learn large chunks of text off by heart, this will be very obvious to an experienced examiner.

Never be afraid to ask the examiner to repeat the question or to correct a mistake you have made. Taking initiative is viewed as a positive thing.

Cramming the night before is never advisable but it’s just not an option when it comes to languages. You need to make studying your chosen language part of your daily routine. Languages are different to other academic subjects in this way.

German –  For students taking German, its crucial to have memorised all role plays and picture stories. They amount to 30% of the marks for the oral exam and you should take advantage of the fact that you can prepare them in advance.

French – Our French teachers advise preparing your document thoroughly. Again, this is something that can be tackled pre-exam and being familiar with it will assist in soothing nerves. Prepare your document well. This will greatly assist you in your oral exam.

Spanish – Spanish students should learn all role plays off by heart, as they are worth 30% and are very handy marks to have in the bag.

Italian – If you are studying Italian and do not understand a question, say to the examiner “Puó ripetere, per favore?”. It is important to remember that the examiner can choose to talk to you in a formal (Lei) or informal (tu) register, but you as the student must use “Lei”.

With these tips and plenty of preparation, you should be in excellent shape going into the Oral and Practical exams which will also take some of the pressure off when it comes to the written part of the exams.

The post How to Survive the Oral and Practical Exams for the Junior and Leaving Cert appeared first on Alexandra College.

Actress Rosemary Henderson is probably best known for her turn as Sister Assumpta in Father Ted.

She has also starred in Fair City and a number of films, including A Nightingale Falling. She has written her own play Ruby Tuesday, which has been staged across Ireland.

Critics called the play “charming”, “enjoyable” and “worthwhile”.

Here she reflects on her time at Alex.

What is your favourite memory from your school days at Alexandra College?

I loved Alex and joined the Junior School for sixth class the year we moved to the new building. I remember the shocks we would get from the wire carpet and never being allowed to walk on the new fresh green grass. My favourite memories came from drama classes with Pat McHugh who let us improvise and create sketches and we had such fun.

Which teacher has had the biggest impact on you and why?

I loved Miss Golden who encouraged her deaf uncle to come to be in the audience for our sketches and both of them laughed with tears running down their faces. At a ten- year reunion I was able to tell her I had done a play in the Peacock Theatre, the experimental section of the Abbey. “What was the play?” she enquired, impressed. “Act Without Words by Samuel Beckett.” More tears of laughter!

How do you feel Alexandra College shaped your career path/ambition?

I would say they encouraged my steely determination. I was told it was very unlikely I would make it in the business, and my only hope of redemption was to go to Trinity and get acting out of my system by joining Players. I got a walk-on part in the Abbey in Sixth Year which meant a three-week rehearsal period during school hours.

Luckily my parents informed the school that I would be investing in my career, and would no doubt work feverishly to catch up on study during rehearsals. I was so impressed with my Mum and Dad’s backing that I did a terrific Leaving Cert.

What is the overarching message that Alexandra College gives to its pupils?

I left Alex with full confidence that the world was waiting for my input. I had no knowledge of glass ceilings and was a little disappointed to find that I had to work very hard to carve a niche for myself. But we did get a rounded education and I do think this confidence that if you are diligent and persistent, you will find your path and be in a position to give to others.

What has been the biggest challenge you’ve faced in your career?

In the business of theatre, film and television, I think the main difficulty is coping with the periods in between jobs. I felt unable to work while I was bringing up four small children and my biggest challenge was taking the huge risk to write my own play (Ruby Tuesday) and let people know that I was available for work by doing the work in front of them.

How has the Alumnae Network helped you?

I haven’t used the Alumnae Network as much as I would like, but am certainly interested in becoming more involved. Particularly to invite them to my upcoming plays; Take Off Your Cornflakes in the Dolmen Theatre Cabinteely from 29 January and then on a nationwide tour and Boom by Isobel Mahon (another Alex girl) in the Gaiety from 27 March.

One reason I would like to use the network more is that my own year are completely supportive. It’s wonderful to see them in the audience and meet them afterwards.

As a woman in business what has been the greatest obstacle you’ve faced? And the greatest asset?

Holding my confidence. I can have marvellous ideas but am very porous to the energies of others. I can walk into an audition fully living the part, and see someone in the waiting area who would be perfect for the role, and all my confidence drains away. But, when I remember to hold my own space, be myself and relax, then my sense of fun returns and if I get the job or not, I am happy to have given it a good try.

What advice would you give to a fellow Alex alumna looking to start up in business?

Do what you love. Be your own self. Don’t worry about the competition. There is room.

What is the most important value you were taught in Alexandra College?

Be kind. Friendships can last forever.

What is the best thing you learned from your classmates at Alex?

That we are all so different, and that this is a good thing. There are so many I haven’t laid eyes on since school. I love the reunions. I love finding out what became of them. And some I wish I’d known better in school because they’ve turned out to be wonderful human beings.

The post Alexandra College Alumnae – Success Stories: Rosemary Henderson appeared first on Alexandra College.

Classic café culture mixed with savvy, contemporary menus, Caroline Nelson charms with Nelly’s

Caroline Nelson (class of 1997) was a pioneer of the café revival of post-boom Dublin. In 2009, she opened her first café, Nelly’s, in Portobello and she quickly made her mark with a Best in Dublin award for her brownies. Soon after, she branched out to a location on the Northside, bringing her delicious salads, homemade cakes and general nom nom-ness to Drumcondra. Coming from a hospitality background – her parents, Paddy and Sheila, ran the landmark Terenure House – Caroline combines plenty of business savvy with a remarkable cooking talent.​

Is food/hospitality a good business for women?

The food industry is tough for both women and men; long hours, high pressured environment, hot kitchens, standing all day, late nights. Despite this, there is an amazing sense of comradery and a great social life! But, over the years, in all the kitchens I have worked in, I found the ones led by women to be the most enjoyable. Women bring a sense of calmness to a kitchen. Kitchens can quite often be ego and macho driven and the presence of a woman tends to diffuse this. But the unsociable hours are not compatible with family life, so most of my female chef friends have now left restaurants and moved to more daytime kitchens. I do think that the industry as a whole is changing and it is striving to achieve a better work/life balance for women and men equally.

What inspired your passion for food?

My mum! I was a very picky eater when I was young, I drove my mum mad!  Food and mealtimes were a big part of our family life and my mum is an amazing cook. She cooked every day despite working full time. She always created new dishes which I would reluctantly try. During the summers my brother, sister and I had to work in the pub. I chose the kitchen so I didn’t have to serve customers or pour pints. But I actually began to enjoy the work and was no longer afraid to try new tastes and I started to cook and bake and experiment at home. One particular chef who worked in the pub gave me a book by a famous chef called Marco Pierre White. In it, he describes the day to day crazy life of a chef and I was hooked! I knew I just had to do it. I applied to DIT Cathal Brugha St, got accepted and from day one I knew it was right for me.

What did you learn at Alex that has helped you in being a businesswoman?

On Tuesdays, we had the special assembly where, over the years, different people would come in and talk to us about their industries. It was inspiring. It instilled a belief that you could achieve anything if you were willing to work for it. Miss Ruddock, would often talk about SOE – someone else!  She would say that if something needed to be done, just do it,

don’t wait for someone else to do it for you. Her tagline of “what’s worth doing, is worth doing well” still rings in my ears.  Sometimes I even find myself saying it to my team; if you are going to do something, don’t just half do it, do it as best you can or don’t do it at all. We were also taught the importance of knowledge and that it’s never too late to learn. I have gone back to study for a masters in culinary nutrition. My critical thinking ability has definitely been forged by my Alex education.

Favourite meal/drink?

Warm tomatoes, Iberico ham, olive oil and crusty sourdough with a glass of cold, crisp Albarino on a balmy Spanish evening.

Most inspiring business person?

I think my Dad is my business inspiration.  He and my mum worked so hard together to create successful businesses.  They were 100% behind me when I decided to set up Nellys. It’s tough being a business person, sometimes so hard that you feel like giving up, but, when things get tough I call my Dad, we meet up, I rant, and he reminds me that hard work is the price of success and to stop thinking of the negatives and focus on the positives and the achievement of Nellys and to remember that I am lucky to be working in a business that I love. I know they are proud of Nelly’s and they love popping in for a coffee and cake whenever they are in Dublin. My first female head chef, Eleanor Walsh is also a huge inspiration. She gave me my first head chef job, trusted me with her kitchen and her reputation and always pushed and encouraged me to be the best chef I could be.

Favourite Alex memory?

There are so many! But, I think the best are from my boarding years.  I boarded from first to fourth year and Res was a home away from home. I was lucky to have a sister two years ahead, but the girls in my year were like new sisters. My best friends now are Alex girls. We grew up together. There was a real sense of kindness and respect, I’m sure it’s the same now, but its only really when you leave that you realise what a privilege it was to experience. The Res Christmas parties were always a blast, Great Balls Of Fire on karaoke and a feast of turkey escalope with chasseur sauce served by Miss Raleigh herself!

​

nellysdublin.com

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Ceithleann Ní Chonluain, Class of 2014, has been announced as the 2018 winner of the GradIreland National Student Challenge. The competition to find ‘Ireland’s brightest and best undergraduate’ is organised by Lidl in association with Glanbia, Gradpublicjobs.ie, Ernst & Young, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Orangeworks, the HEA and AbbVie. Of the thousands of undergraduate students who initially entered, sixty were selected to participate in the final day of challenges in Chartered Accountants House on Dublin’s Pearse Street. These challenges focused on the skills which employers look for in potential employees, such as leadership and teamwork, problem solving and communication. View a short video clip of the day here.

As well as lifting the trophy and €1000 top prize, Ceithleann also scooped the Leadership Award.

During her time in Alexandra College, Ceithleann got involved in Irish and English debating, the Comenius Project for EU Youth, An Coiste Gaeilge, E-Leathanach, the Hope Foundation, Green Schools, Student Council, Speech and Drama, choir, Gaisce, Dublin Student Enterprise Awards and Alex Artisans. She participated in athletics and basketball and was also on the Alex soccer teams which won eight Leinster titles and made it to the FAI Schools’ All-Ireland final. She won the Honor Stuart prize for Creative Writing in First Year, the Louise Crosbie Memorial Trophy for Leadership in TY and the Edith Harrison Citizenship Prize in Sixth Year.

Ceithleann is in her final year in Trinity where she has been studying Politics, Philosophy, Economics and Sociology (PPES).

To read more about the award, click here.

Grad Ireland sat down with Ceithleann to talk about what it was like to win the GradIreland National Student Challenge and how she feels this will impact her CV. You can read that interview here.

The post Alex Alumnae Wins The National Student Challenge Award appeared first on Alexandra College.

Is it at all like St Trinian’s?

We spoke to Fifth Year boarder Hannah Nuzum about her time as a Boarder in Alexandra College.

It’s a long way from Carrigaline to Milltown, but having lived at Alexandra College since First Year, I can honestly say it’s a road well worth travelling.

Having no links to Alex, it’s something close to chance that I’m here at all. If my parents hadn’t become aware of the school due to two girls from my primary school attending, I might have missed out on this incredible environment.

As the only girl in a family of five kids, I think my parents saw the opportunity for me and I was glad they did.

I was really excited, with one older brother and three younger I was happy to get away and have my own space.

Going to a new school can be a challenge for anyone, but generally going from sixth class to First Year, you know a lot of people. But coming across the country to a school where I knew nobody? That was daunting. Luckily, the school couldn’t have done more to put us at ease.

The boarders came up on a Sunday and school started on Monday. On the day we arrived all of the students and parents did icebreakers before we were put into our dorms.

Everyone was going through the same thing and we were so excited to be there that we helped one another through it all.

The biggest advantage was that there were fewer ready-made groups, so we were all one big friend group. InFirst Year we all stuck together, but as we started making friends and creating our own friend groups, we became smaller tighter units.

We moved campus last year, and now the experience is a bit more like being a day student – before then, we’d throw on some clothes, roll out of bed and walk over to school. Now we have to get a bus to campus, which makes getting out of bed more of a challenge!

In First Year, you’re in dorm rooms of four students and for other years it’s rooms of two, then you’re on your own in Fifth and Sixth Year. I had been in a dorm with the same girl since First Year – but now I’m adjusting to my own room, which is nice. Fifth Year can be stressful so knowing you have your own space is helpful. The rooms have everything that you could want, with a bed, a sink, a desk and a wardrobe.

After school, Boarders go home on the bus at 4.00pm and dinner is at 5.00pm. In Fifth and Sixth Year you can study in your room or do group prep. I personally do group prep from 6.30pm – 9.30pm with a 15-minute break.

Far from being the stuffy, uncomfortable place many people think of, our dorms are very comfortable. In the rec room, my schoolmates and I have been watching Friends from the start on the Apple TV. There are three couches, a coffee table and Fifth and Sixth Year Boarders get kitchens on their own floor.

Being away from home for school is certainly a different experience, but the culture, the support and the facilities here make it so much easier.

The post A Day In The Life Of A Boarding School Pupil appeared first on Alexandra College.

‘The Atmosphere In Alex Made Me Want To Challenge Myself – So I Took Up Public Speaking’

When people find out that I am an international boarder at a school in Dublin, they usually ask how I ended up here 18 months ago.

In truth, there are two reasons: first, the Transition Year program in Alexandra College was a huge attraction to me and my family. There is so much choice when it comes to subjects from drama, stage management, culinary arts, film-making, to public speaking and psychology.

Not only do we learn all the core subjects, but we also have more options that focus on our own areas of interest. My parents and I compared Alex with the other schools in Ireland and we found Alex has the most organised TY program.

Secondly, the most important factor in my decision to come to Alex was the reputation of the school – not only is Alex one of the most prestigious schools in Ireland, but it consistently ranks highly in the league tables for Leaving Certificate results.

‘There are great opportunities for us to explore our abilities outside the classroom’

I will always remember 4 September 2016 as the day I started the most amazing journey of my life; heading to Dublin, leaving Hong Kong alone for the first time and taking on this opportunity of a lifetime.

At first, I was frightened of the whole new environment and was shy about meeting people. Fortunately, the school played a huge role in organising activities and group work projects for the international boarders which made getting to know the staff and school much easier.

From someone who landed in Dublin shy and lacked assurance, Alex helped me develop into a more confident person.

It helps that the focus of activities in Alex goes beyond the scope of the core subjects. There are great opportunities for us to try new things and explore our talents and abilities outside the classroom. The broad range of choices gave me the opportunity to learn about myself, my potential and my strengths and weaknesses.

It’s through this ethos that I have discovered a new, if somewhat unlikely, passion: public speaking.

I never did public speaking back in Hong Kong because I didn’t like to talk in front of people, but when I came to Alex the atmosphere made me want to challenge myself and step outside my comfort zone.

So I started to do public speaking in front of my class, then the whole year, and then the whole school.

I don’t think this is something I would have done without coming to Alex, even in my own language.

Boarding

Boarding life in Alex is one of the most rewarding parts of the experience. Being in an unfamiliar city can be frightening and homesickness can be a big problem for international students.

Luckily the staff in the boarding house are caring and understanding of every student’s needs and strive to maintain a happy and homely atmosphere. Personally, I remember during exam weeks when I was frustrated all the time. I put a lot of pressure on myself and I didn’t know who to talk to.

Fortunately, the staff in the boarding house picked up on the fact that I was feeling stressed out – and one lady in particular cheered me up, gave me advice and listened to me. From that day I realised they are not only a staff. They are also counsellors and friends.

‘Some of my friends ask me why I chose to be a boarder and not stay with a host family’

The day-to-day life in boarding school is actually quite regular. After school, we have three hours of supervised study time, and as a fifth year, I have an individual study bedroom. I enjoy having my own space as it gives me a distraction-free space for studying.

Some of my friends ask me why I chose to be a boarder and not stay with a host family.

For me, it came down to the ability to form friendships. My brother stayed with a host family while he studied in Dublin and I felt that boarding would be a better way to create lasting friendships. I have had a great experience living in the boarding house and I feel like we are one big boarding family.

There is a stereotype about boarding schools that they are some kind of stuffy prison. But after one and half years of boarding life, this is not the reality. There is a generous amount of freedom – your family is just a little bigger.

My experience as an international student has made me grow into a more independent, confident, globally-minded person and it changed my perspective on life.

I will never regret or forget the positive growth I have achieved here – and there’s plenty more to come.

The post Day in the Life of an International Student appeared first on Alexandra College.

Dates for Your Diary

Monday 16th – JACA Committee Meeting 7.00pm

Tuesday 17th – Swimming J2

Wednesday 18th

• AIJS Athletics Tournament (J4/5/6)
• Eason Spelling Bee County Final 11.00am
• J4W visit St. Michael’s House

 

Thursday 19th – RC Class – J6 Confirmation 11.00am (J5 will sing at mass)

Friday 20th 

• J5/J6 Author workshop – Dave Rudden 9.15am
•  AIJS Music Festival in Rathdown 1.30pm (JS Orchestra) – leaving 12.45 and returning at approx. 3.45pm

 

From the Office

Updated Date Lists:

An updated date list for the rest of this school year and a term date list for 2018/2019 was sent home in school bags last Monday.

 

Prep/After Care invoices:

Invoices went home just before the Easter break. Please pay promptly. Any queries, please email jsinfo@alexandracollege.ie or call Ms. Higgins at 01 4704617.

 

Update on Daffodil Day:

Thank you for your support for the Irish Cancer Society just before Easter. €400 was raised by the girls selling items in the Gym and then Aoife Connolly (J6) and her mum, Caitriona, went over to the Swan Centre and raised another €400. Well done!

 

Eason Spelling Bee Winner!

Congratulations to Margaret Dunshee (J6R) who won the annual school Spelling Bee this year. Almost 60 students from J5/J6 competed in the event. Margaret will go on to represent Alexandra College in the next stage of the competition, the Dublin County Final, in the Red Cow Hotel next Wednesday, April 18th. We wish her all the very best next week!

 

Scholastic Book Fair

There was great excitement as the Book Fair arrived at the Junior School on Thursday morning! The bookcases were filled with lots of wonderful books for all ages. The school receives 60% commission in free books from the sale, which will go directly to buying lots of new books for the JS section of the library.

The school library was refurbished during the Easter break and it looks fabulous! A huge thank you to interior designer, Laura Farrell, (parent/past student) for all the work that she did on the library in the last few weeks. All of the students in both the Junior and Senior schools will use the library.

By reading more books and taking the comprehension quizzes through the Accelerated Reader programme, we have seen a steady increase in reading levels across the classes. The importance of daily reading and understanding cannot be over-emphasised.

Thank you for the great support you always give to the Book Fair – we will let you know that amount that we raised in free books next week.

Our Favourite Book Characters

As we missed World Book Day due to the snow, the girls and their teachers had lots of fun dressing up as characters from their favourite books today. As you will see from the photos, we all had a great day!

Food Dudes Programme

This super programme got underway this week – so far, there is great enthusiasm all round for the fruit and vegetables. The items are delivered fresh to the school each morning and the Food Dude Reps deliver them around to all the classrooms. The girls are making a real effort to try everything, which is good to see. They will be awarded prizes (stickers, pencils etc.) for eating the items each day. They are watching short videos in their class on the importance of eating lots of fruit and vegetables each day too. Many thanks to Ms. Brandon and Ms. Byrnes for coordinating this programme.

 

Sports Update

Our J5 and J6 students really enjoyed a Master Cricket Class from the Irish Ladies’ Cricket team this week. The Irish Ladies’ team shared their expertise with our girls.

The post Junior School News – 13th April 2018 appeared first on Alexandra College.

Just before we broke up for our Easter holidays, our TY students brushed up their many talents and shaped them into one glorious theatrical production, the TY Show! This year we chose to do a show which was only released for amateur performance last summer, and which had been first produced in London in 2015. In fact, we heard over the holidays in a tweet from one of the writers, that we were the first school to take on the production.

‘Crush’ is a pastiche of all those wonderful schoolgirl stories from Malory Towers to Saint Trinian’s and set in the swinging sixties. It takes place in an all-girls boarding school, which had been founded on the belief of educating girls so that they would take their rightful place in society. Dame Dorothea Dosserdale’s Academy had been taken over by the evil Miss Bleacher who wanted to educate the girls to become better wives and mothers! Needless to say, the students were having none of it and so the premise of the plot was set. Amongst the intrigue of the uprising was a sweet story of unrequited love, a move to the side of right for three of the girls and a wonderful dream sequence set in an underground club run by a French maid and Marlene Dietrich!

Some really super musical numbers and a cracking script made it one show that we will never forget.

The TY girls were responsible for the whole production. They were divided up at the beginning of the year into a number of different teams. There was, of course, the cast, but also the stage crew, the set designers and painters, the props team, the costume crew, the marketing team and the techies. All of the girls were part of this production and all were equally responsible for the wonderful resulting show that entertained us on all those nights.

I do need to mention a few of the girls who worked tirelessly behind the scenes. That is not to say they were more important than anyone else, but rather their work needs to be acknowledged. In the scenic art group, the incredible portrait painted by Alannah Nethercott (now proudly standing in my classroom), in the props department and the particularly beautifully organised props table by Ava Barry. In costumes, the dogged determination, creativity and focus of Olivia Harrington and backstage the amazing management abilities of Julie Ryan and Lelia Moloney. There was one other student who acted as my assistant director throughout the whole process and really rose to this challenge, and that was Cliodhna Coakley. Well done, ladies!

As director of the show, I am indebted to the wonderful team of teaching staff who worked with me. Niamh Parkes our musical director, Clodagh Rycraft our producer, Molly O’Cathain our designer and Katie Charles and Ellen Fitzpatrick our choreographers. Thank you too, to the staff members of the band and our brilliant 2^nd year Kate Kim who played with them. I am also very grateful to the teachers who helped out on the nights of the show as ‘cast nannies’, and front of house, in particular to Katie Fanagan who gave us so much support.

Lynn Brehony

The post Transition Year Musical ‘Crush’ by Maureen Chadwick and Kath Gotts appeared first on Alexandra College.

One of the drama team staff in Alexandra College, Molly O’Cathain, who joined us in the middle of last year, has recently heard some very exciting news. Her theatre company Malaprop, has been invited to perform their two Edinburgh Fringe/ Dublin Fringe Fest. Plays; ‘Love+’ and ‘BlackCatfishMusketeer’ at the Camden Peoples Theatre in May. This is part of Culture Ireland’s GB18 programme, designed to promote Irish Arts in Britain over the year.

They have also been awarded the Romilly Walton Masters Award for another of their plays: ‘Everything Not Saved’. This is just the third year, the Walton-Masters family is supporting a performance in The Centre Culturel Irlandais, by an emerging performer or group working in the areas of experimental theatre, music, dance, film or visual art. This award from the CCI will see them take their play to Paris.

Lastly, they have been commissioned by RTE to make a short film, which has been given a very short production timeline. This film has to be written, designed, edited etc by the middle of May. They are one busy theatre company.

Molly, was earlier in the year listed in the Irish Times as one of the 50 Irish people to watch in 2018, I think she is proving them right!

We are so happy for her and very proud to be her colleagues.

The post Great Success For One of Our Talented Drama Teachers. appeared first on Alexandra College.

Four Fourth Year and four Fifth Year students went to Causey Farm last Monday. We went to help supervise St. Louise’s Primary school (5th class).

We saw lots of animals, including a goat named Lulu, some lambs and calves.

The highlight of the day for the girls (and us) was the bog jumping! Almost everyone got in to enjoy it, with many plastered to the waist with mud. I’m really glad that we had the opportunity to go and help brighten up other people’s day.

Written by Iseult Law (4O).

The post Back To The Future – Causey Farm appeared first on Alexandra College.

Over the Easter Break, five Transition Year students, Katie Sheehy, Iseult Law, Rachel Lee, Olivia Harington and Anna Mahon, attended St. Andrews International Model United Nations (SAIMUN). We joined students from the UK, Germany, Turkey, Italy, Morocco, Saudi Arabia and many other countries to discuss some of the world’s most pressing issues. Each team had to represent a UN member state, and adopt the views and opinions of their chosen country. Our team was representing Switzerland. In each team, one person was part of each committee. Every committee discussed different topics, for example, there was the special political committee, the environment committee and the special conference on women.

We spent weeks leading up to the Easter holidays preparing. We each wrote a resolution on one of the topics that our committee was covering. These topics range from surrogacy to trophy hunting to the civil war in Yemen. In the resolutions, we stated out countries opinions on the issue and then stated what we think the UN should do about it.

We spent the weekend before SAIMUN together, going over our resolutions and shopping for formal clothes. None of us has any idea what to expect in the week to come.

The first day was lobbying. This is where we got a chance to talk to other delegates and discuss our views and opinions on each topic. We were also able to ‘merge’ our resolutions with people who had written similar resolutions. Most of the day was spent finalising our merged resolutions and at the end of the day, we all submitted our finalised resolutions.

On the second and third day, we debated within our committees about all the resolutions that had been submitted on the first day. Then, we voted on whether each resolution should pass or not. As these days went on, we realised that it wasn’t as serious and scary as we originally perceived it to be and we began to make new friends from all over the world. At the end of the day, each committee voted for one resolution to be debated in the general assembly.

On the fourth and last day, we had the general assembly. This is where every committee came together to debate the resolutions from all committees. This day was a lot of fun.

We really enjoyed our time at SAIMUN. It was a great experience and we came out of it with new friends, lots of inside jokes, and a better understanding of the current problems being faced across the world.

The post St. Andrews International Model United Nations appeared first on Alexandra College.

Dé Sathairn seo caite, d’fhreastail grúpa daltaí ón 5ú agus ón 6ú bliain ar an mórshúil ‘Beo‘ sa chathair le Ms.Swan agus An Máistir Ó Conluain. Ba mhórshúil é Beo chun ceiliúradh a dhéanamh ar an teanga. 125 bliain ó shin cuireadh tús le hathbeochan na Gaeilge. Ar an ábhar sin is é 2018 Bliain na Gaeilge.

Bhuaileamar le chéile ag Cearnóg Parnell chun tús a chur leis an bparáid agus shiúil muid leis na mílte eile go Cearnóg Mhuirfean (Merrion) ag cantaireacht agus ag comhrá as Gaeilge leis an bpobal Gaeilgeoirí ó fud na tíre, idir óg agus aosta, agus le Gaeilgeoirí as tíortha eile, Ceanada san áireamh. Bhí na mílte daoine ann agus muid ar fad ag ceiliúradh ár dteanga. Bhí an dea-aimsir linn freisin.

Ag Cearnóg Mhuirfean, bhí ceolchoirm ar siúl ar an árdán mór, agus bhí daoine cáiliúla ann cósúil le Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh, Eoin McDermott agus gan dabht Uachtarán ná hÉireann Michéal D. Ó hUiginn. Bhí grúpa Alex chun tosaigh sa slua nuair a thug sé óráid iontach is lán gaelach, agus bhí radharc iontach againn ar na bannaí ceoil ‘Delorentos’ agus ‘Kíla’. Bhíomar an-bhróidiúil as an bpáirt a ghlacamar san ócáid Ghaelach seo, agus bhaineamar an-taitneamh as an lá!

Last Saturday a group of Fifth and Sixth Years from Alex joined Ms Swan and An Máistir Ó Conluain in attending the ‘Beo‘ event in Dublin City Centre.

This was a parade and concert to celebrate the Irish Language. 125 years ago saw the beginning of the revival of Irish. For this reason, 2018 is being regarded as Bliain na Gaeilge/ Irish Language Year. 

Parnell Square was the meeting point and we paraded along with thousands of other language enthusiasts along O’Connell St and on to Merrion Square, singing and chanting and chatting ‘as Gaeilge’ as we went. The crowd was made up of people of all ages, but mostly young people and they came from all parts of Ireland, and indeed from other countries such as Canada. And we were blessed with the weather

At Merrion Square, the big stage hosted speakers such as Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh, Eoin McDermott and of course President Michael D. Higgins. The Alex group was right at the front and we listened as he delivered a highly spirited speech in praise of the Irish Language and its community. He said you don’t have to be fluent to enjoy Gaeilge. Just use what you have!

Then we got to enjoy songs in Irish by the well-known groups ‘Delorentos’ and ‘Kíla’. We’re proud of the part Alex played in this enjoyable celebration of our language and we very much enjoyed the day!

To read more about the event and see more photos from the day, click here.

To read the Irish Times article about Beo, click here.

The post Beo sa Chathair (le hEllen Browne) appeared first on Alexandra College.

Dates for your Diary

Monday 23rd – J3/J4 Fun Swimming Gala 11.00am Castle Park

Tuesday 24th

• J5/J6 Fun Swimming Gala 11.00am Castle Park
• J2 and some J3 Speech and Drama exams

Wednesday 25th – AIJS Table Quiz (J5/J6) – 2 teams will attend

Thursday 26th – J4 School Trip – Recycling Centre

Friday 27th – J3 classes visit Titanic Museum in Belfast

Saturday 28th – JACA Social Evening – Westin Hotel – 7.00pm

From the Office

Prep/After Care invoices:

Invoices went home just before the Easter break. Please pay promptly. Any queries, please email jsinfo@alexandracollege.ie or call Ms Higgins at 01 4704617.

Lunch Card Top Ups:

Lunch cards are running into arrears again! Please make sure to keep your daughter’s lunch card topped up – Daily €4 (KGLr, KGUpr, J1) €4.20 (J2-J6). Top up online through easy payments or send cash/cheque into Ms. Higgins in the JS office. The older girls can top up their cards with cash on the card machine in the Dining Hall.

Scholastic Book Fair – Thank you!

Thank you all again for the fantastic support you all gave to the Book Fair last week. The girls loved buying the books and our sales total came to an amazing €5000! We earn 60% commission on those sales so that means that we have €3000 to spend on lots of new and exciting books for our school library. Thank you so much for your on-going support for the Book Fair.

Eason Spelling Bee Finalist

Well done to Margaret Dunshee (J6R) for representing the Junior School so well at the Dublin County Final of the Eason Spelling Bee competition. Margaret competed against 70 other students from all over the county. We are all very proud of her!

Texaco Art Competition Art Winner

Congratulations to Millie Hartwell in J3W. She won a special Merit Award for her entry into the Texaco Art Competition, which was called “My Little Sister Edie Rose”. Well done, Millie!

Piano Competition Winner!

Well done to Rana O’ Sullivan in J3R – she won 1^st place at the DIT U10 Piano solo competition this week and was awarded a gold medal.

Green Flag Award!

We were delighted to receive the news from An Taisce on Monday that Alexandra College Junior School has been awarded another Green Flag Award. Congratulations to all the members of the Green Schools Committee and to Ms. Stapleton and Ms Mulligan for all the hard work they put into achieving this. The Green Flag will be presented to the school at a special awards ceremony in May. After that, we will have our own Green Flag ceremony here in the school. This is a whole school programme, so it is a great accomplishment for everyone in the Junior School.

Sports Update

Swimming Galas – Castle Park School, Dalkey 10-12pm

J3/J4 – Monday, April 23rd

J5/J6 – Tuesday, April 24th

The girls will leave at 9.15am and return at approximately 12.30pm

The post Junior School News – 20th April 2018 appeared first on Alexandra College.

The ‘Artisans Market Day’ event at Alexandra College is a super way for students to channel their creative talents.

This initiative teaches them about food production, marketing, budgeting and highlights the general business skills involved in setting up a food enterprise.

The 2018 Artisans Market takes place on the 28th of April, from 11.00am – 2.00pm and is supported by The Joan Davies Foundation.

Our Transition Year students have been divided into four groups, each forming a company that will sell their delicious produce at the Alexandra Artisans Market.

This year we can look forward to tasting food from:

• Itty Bitty Burger Bar
• The Sweet Show
• The Sbread Shack
• Ko Fu

Each of the four companies are asked to donate a percentage of their profits to a charity of their choice, which also teaches them about corporate social responsibility.

The event is inspired by the Taste Council and Bord Bia initiative ‘The Future is Food’ which challenges second level students to create an enterprise based on fresh food. The purpose of participating is to provide the pupils with an active learning experience. Students participating experience what it is like to work as an Artisan food producer, developing and producing a food product, while working with established Artisans who act as mentors and guides.

The TY students in Alexandra College set up food companies each spring. They must research and choose their own products and suppliers, and even grow their own vegetables and plants in our poly-tunnel here on the Alex campus. They then design innovative and exciting recipes which are always received well by customers at the Artisan food market.

Alexandra College Alumnae have generously provided funding to help the pupils present a very professional business to the public.

We hire marquees and source cooking and catering equipment; meanwhile, kitchens all over Dublin are transformed into busy (and messy!) food production hubs.

Like all good projects, it is necessary to acquire funds to help the students’ prepare for the day and to run the Artisan Day event – all of this can be very costly.

The hire of the equipment needed to facilitate the four companies is the bulk of the expense but other costs are also incurred. From a marketing budget to prize money, Alexandra College are looking to seek sponsors who would like to support the annual event. This event is highly valuable in teaching the TY students valuable business skills. The College wants to keep on growing the event, reaching new heights of success each year.

Students are encouraged to embrace the challenges along the way with optimism and creativity, and their parents/guardians assist by offering practical support.

In order to understand the concept of artisan food, the pupils visit a selection of farmers’ markets and speak to suppliers of vegetables, fruit, bread and a diverse range of food products.

We have found that this leads to students forming excellent relationships with artisan producers as they negotiate with them, cutting deals and agreeing ondelivery dates.

Early on the morning of Market Day, the marquees are erected in the quadrangle and the students prepare their stalls to be ‘customer-ready’ by 11.00am.

The practical skills of growing and harvesting fruit and vegetables, setting up an actual company, marketing and financing a company and ultimately preparing a community market day will stay with the pupils for the rest of their lives. This project contributes hugely to the holistic development of each individual student who takes part in the Transition Year Programme.

Final awards are presented to the girls on their TY graduation night on 16th of May.

So it’s aprons at the ready for what promises to be a delicious day out!

 

If you are interested in becoming a valued sponsor of the event please contact Rebecca Connolly (rebeccaconnolly@alexandracollege.ie).

Alexandra College and particularly the TY students would be very grateful.

 

Below are some photos from last years Artisans Market Day

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