Today we celebrated IWD in style in OLS. We hosted Professor Orla Feely, past pupil and newly announced President of UCD, who spoke to the 6th Years about the role OLS played in the pathways she took through life. She told the students to follow their own successes, to open doors for each other and to learn and grow from interactions with inspirational women! Professor Feely was inducted onto our Wall of Inspiration and she, in turn, inducted two current pupils who are inspirational women in their own right - Alisha Weir (actor) and Joy Ralph (international soccer player).

Bhadra Panicker, 6th Year, wrote a beautiful poem to commemorate the occasion (attached below). Musicians Tamzin Hogan, Lauren Duffy and Molly Gorby added immensely to the occasion with their talented performance. Our fourth induction to the Wall of Inspiration today, the Sisters of the Religious of Christian Education - inspirational women who have led the school through changing times and continue to play a central role in school life today.

Minister Simon Harris visited the school today with another past pupil, Dr Mary-Liz Trant, Director of the National Apprenticeship Office, to launch an exciting initiative promoting apprenticeships for women. The Minister addressed TY students who put him through his paces with a fabulous Q&A led by Saibh Gormley!

It was a true day of celebration in OLS today. We asked the community for nominations for the occasion recently and were thrilled with the response. We are sharing three of these with you today in acknowledgement of the inspirational successes of these past pupils (attached below).

Wishing the entire OLS community a happy International Women's Day. We are immeasurably proud of our inspirational women, those who have left the school and those still with us!

On Friday 10th March, BodyWhys will be doing a workshop with 3rd Year students. More information on the organisation can be found at https://www.bodywhys.ie/

The ‘Be Body Positive’ schools programme is delivered to class groups, runs for 70-80 minutes and includes information about eating disorders, self-esteem, and media influence on body image.

TY always has something on and this week was no exception! 

The Great TY Bake Off

On Wednesday a handful of TY students took part in the much awaited second round of the Great TY Bake Off. We made a wide range of tasty treats and a great time was had by all! The competition was very close but congratulations to the overall winner,  Kate Vance who made a gorgeous chocolate cake. Thanks so much to the Home Ec teachers, Ms.Phelan, the judges, and all those involved who organised this memorable event!

The winners are as follows:

Overall 1st: Kate Vance

2nd: Rachel Davis and Ingrid Marron

3rd: Eabha Garry

Showstopper challenge:
Aoife McEvoy, Kate Vance, Matilda Murray, and Isabel Kelly

Subject Choice

Leaving Cert subject choice is fast approaching and this week the TY’s attended an online meeting with their parents. During this meeting, the two guidance counsellors, Ms.Porter, and Ms.Bannon talked to us all about the options for Leaving Cert and how we can ensure that we make informed decisions regarding our subjects. Anyone who was unable to attend the meeting can either watch the recording of the meeting or for any more personal questions feel free to email lporter@olschool.ie or fbannon@olschool.ie regarding information surrounding subject choice or career options. 

Today we spoke to the 5th and 6th years about subject choice. There was a table with students for every Leaving Cert subject in St. Joseph's Hall, and we all spent a while going around to each table and learning about the curriculum, advantages, challenges, and the Leaving cert student’s personal opinions and recommendations about subject choice. We all found this really beneficial, as the subject choice date is very soon. I particularly enjoyed hearing about the agricultural science class, as it really gave me an insight into what studying the subject would be like. Overall, this was really beneficial for the TY students, and thank you to all of the 5th and 6th years involved.

Isabel Kelly 

School Bank

A group of TYs have been working very hard to establish the school’s very first bank for students. Any students over the age of 14 can now sign up for a student account on Thursday the 2nd of March at lunchtime in the GPA. Anyone who signs up will have a Bank of Ireland second level current account set up in their name and will receive a debit card. All students need to bring with them on Thursday, is a form of ID (e.g passport) and the TYs will be able to help them set up their account. We have been very impressed with the leadership shown by the TYs in running this initiative. 

Junk Kouture

A fabulous display has been created this week by the Junk Kouture class. Students now have a chance to admire the beautiful designs and hard work that went into this year's entries. Each member of the Junk Kouture class should be very proud of themselves as we are of them, and best of luck to all as the judging for the competition begins.

Fame Set Design

Well done to all the students who signed up to volunteer with the set design for our highly anticipated TY musical Fame. The girls will begin painting the backdrop very shortly under the guidance of Ms. Maguire. 

What’s on next week?

Next week is a busy one for the TYs. All TY1 students must complete documentation for their development day that is on google classroom and return the form to Ms. Phelan before Wednesday the 11th of March.

Seachtain na Gaeilge is next week and with Ms.Kinsella and the 5th years the TY Coiste reps have helped to make it as fun as possible! On Wednesday during Irish class, all the TYs will take to the floor to participate in the rince-a-thon! They will also participate in a Tráth na gCeist! To follow this, there is a Seo Faisin taking place on Friday last class. The TY Irish classes have turned into design studios as over the past week the fourth years have been travelling back in time to put together outfits from the 1960’s-2000’s! We can’t wait to see what everyone has come up with!

The Advanced Barista Course will take place next Thursday. The TYs will have the opportunity to put the barista skills they learn into practice straight away as they will be hosting a coffee evening after the course in Room 10 for parents attending the Swap Shop. We are very excited to see our TY baristas in action and have no doubt that the parents will be blown away by the lovely coffee! All parents are welcome!

Trips 

All students who are going to Barcelona in April must keep an eye on their google classroom as updates and important information will be posted over the next few days. In addition to this, there is a meeting for students and parents being held via zoom on March 22nd. It is vital that everyone attends. 

Applications regarding Kenya were due this week, on the 2nd of March. Best of luck to everyone in the application process and we look forward to seeing all the good work that our students will do in Kenya in 2024.

A reminder that the trip to ZipIt will take place next Wednesday after school. Only students who have paid will be heading to Tibradden. We look forward to seeing the photos of the very adventurous TYs zipping through the trees!

Once again we hope everyone has a lovely weekend and comes back ready and enthusiastic as a week of Gaeilge, fashion shows, ziplining, and coffee making entails!

Saibh Gormley and Maria Hennelly 

Contributed to by: Ciara O’Loughran, Aine Ryan, and Isabel Kelly

World Book Day 

The school had numerous events to celebrate World Book Day on Thursday. Each First Year student was given a free World Book Day book to take home and a book token. At lunchtime the library ran a book quiz. Well done to Anna, Helen and Sarah in First Year who came out on top in first place! Our big competition of the day was “Design a Bookmark”. Congratulations to Julia in P1 for winning first place with her beautiful painted bookmark!

To access your own book token please click the pdf attached. This digital book token can be used in any bookshop until 26th March 2023. Happy Reading!

Past Pupil Success

Please note that this will take place virtually via Google Meet on Monday 13th March at 5pm. The link will be shared on the day.

Many thanks.

A reminder to all TY students and parents/guardians to join us online for this session at 5pm today.

Link: https://meet.google.com/ewg-otvk-qbc

Parents and guardians are invited to bring a piece of clothing in new/good condition and go 'shopping' for something someone else has brought.

The Swap Shop will be on in the GPA on Thursday 9th March 5-7pm. 

All Clothes left over at the end will be donated to SVP.

This is the worldwide invitation for International Women’s Day 2023: Imagine a gender equal world. A world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. A world that’s diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A world where difference is valued and celebrated. Together we can forge women’s equality. Collectively we can all #EmbraceEquity. Celebrate women’s achievement. Raise awareness about discrimination. Take action to drive gender parity. IWD belongs to everyone, everywhere. Inclusion means all IWD action is valid.

In OLS, we will be celebrating IWD and look with pride and interest to our valued alumni for inspiration! We are calling the OLS community to nominate past pupils who inspire/have inspired others through social/economic/cultural/political/other achievements. If you wish to nominate a past pupil we can celebrate this IWD, please email their name, their year of graduation (approximate will do!) and a brief explanation for your nomination to admin@olschool.ie.

Many thanks!