This week began with a marching start as TY’s were given a talk by a Lieutenant and Sergeant from the Irish Defence Forces. This entailed learning about the different branches of the army and how to work your way up the ranks, along with the attributes that the army looks for in their recruits and cadets. While this career may not be for everybody the TY’s were enlightened about just how rewarding it can be.

Tuesday came at a running pace as 60 TY students and their teachers ran, jogged, walked, or even scooted the route set out for Run in the Dark. This year, Run in the Dark was run by the Active School Flag class and was a great success. All told we raised €600 for Mark Pollock's mission to cure paralysis. As Mark says ‘There are no individual hero stories, it's about people working together to achieve more’ ’Run for those who dream to walk’. TY’s and the teachers got involved with face paint, lights, and colourful clothes. Enthusiasm was shown by all the OLS TY’s, they really did light up the dark! Everyone received medals for their participation. Staff volunteered their time to make sure everyone was safe and had fun. Some people ran while others walked but everybody completed their 5k and had fun.

On Wednesday the TY lab leaders greeted the 6th class Pius girls for two hours of fun filled science workshops. It was great to see the welcoming 4th years interacting with their assigned sixth classer and we hope to have a few future scientists in the making! Well done and thank you to all who got involved!

Thursday morning dawned with an array of bright colours. The TY’s assisted in creating the human pride flag by wearing green in their hair to support the LGBTQI+ community. The TY Journalism class decorated the GPA to celebrate the community and its members with flags, love hearts, and a wall of fame in conjunction with stand up awareness week. 

TY Interviews were full speed ahead this week from Monday to Thursday with every TY meeting a teacher to show off their e-portfolio and discuss their TY experience so far. This interview was a great experience as the girls got a small taste of what it might be like to be interviewed for a job and answer questions on the spot. It was great to see the engagement that many of our students have in terms of signing up for everything TY has to offer and everybody agrees that they can’t wait for what is to come in the year ahead!

On Friday 4th years along with the rest of the school attended the annual Nun’s Feast day, a tradition that is unique only to Our Lady’s. This wonderful celebration was enjoyed by all and it made it even more special to have the nuns celebrating in person with us this year. Our TY’s participated by making their Anam Cara’s cards and being ceremony readers. What a lovely way to end the week before TY’s go off on their first work experience. 

As we saw from the interviews and all that has been done so far this year, TY is all about gaining experience in different aspects of life. This week 50 lucky students have been allocated a spot to attend the Microsoft Dreamspace which is an immersive, research-based STEM experience for students, to enhance their STEM skills along with expanding on vital skills such as empathy, creativity, ethical decision making, and collaboration. The chosen students will attend three days of training over the course of the year and will be transported to and from the school. We can’t wait to see what the girls get up to!

Next week our TY’s go out into the world of work to experience whatever career they have chosen to try. Just a gentle reminder to all, each day a reflection Google Form will be posted on Google Classroom, this form must be filled out by the end of each day of work experience in order for you to get credits. Aswell as this, please ensure you have your Thank You card (given in pastoral care) filled out to give to your employer on Friday. Best of luck to all and we hope that everyone has an enjoyable experience and learns about their chosen career!

As many of you already know, Junior Cycle results will be released on Wednesday the 22nd of November. We know that our students will be on placement this week. A letter was posted on the app notifying parent(s)/guardian(s) and students that students can collect their results in school from 10 am. If this does not suit, students can access their results online from 4 pm. We are sending the very best of luck and congratulations to all. Well done on all your hard work and for achieving in Junior Cycle.

Finally, a gentle reminder that payment for Zipit is now due and payment for Microsoft Dreamspace closes today,  Friday the 18th. We will see our TY’s back in the week beginning the 28th of November. Until then best of luck with your placements, and we can’t wait to hear all about them on your return!

Many thanks to Kevin O’ Brien for his contribution to the school as chair of the Board of Management for the past twelve years.

Today we celebrated Nun’s Feast Day to honour the Religious of Christian Education who started Our Lady’s School in 1953. We are so proud of our Sisters and the school they have built. Many thanks to the Religion Team and the Music Department for putting together an excellent ceremony.

Stand Up Awareness

It was Stand Up Awareness Week in OLS. This is our LGBT+ support week and it will be our fourth year celebrating it. Our TY Journalism class created a colourful display of LGBT+ flags, quotes, images and a wall of fame which includes numerous celebrities who are part of the LGBT+ community. On Thursday it was #ComeIn day, students and staff were invited to decorate their hair with the colours of the pride flag to show their support. Our #ComeIn board was filled up with messages of support and lockers were decorated with colourful hearts.

Board Games

The Junior House Committee has set up board games which are available in the GPA to play with at lunchtime. 

Exam Prep

In preparation for exams next week all the First Years received an exam survival kit from their year head Ms. Donlon. 

Football

Well done to Aoife Fennell in Second Year who represented OLS in the FAI Schools Leinster U15 interprovincial tournament yesterday.

Defence Force

On Monday the TY Students received a talk from the Defence Forces. They learned how the Defence Forces is structured, what they do such as peacekeeping, how they travel to various countries all around the world and how to join.

Nun's Feast Day

Students have been very busy preparing for the Nun’s Feast Day this Friday.

Anti-bullying Day

Anti-bullying Day was on Monday also. Staff and students wore odd socks to celebrate everyone’s uniqueness. Well done to everyone who participated!

Science Week

It's Science Week! The science department set up a terrific display in reception.

St Laurence's Feast Day

Congratulations to all of the students in House L on St. Laurence’s Feast Day and well done to Isabel Murphy who created the beautiful card and all of the P6 religion class who contributed. 

Run in the Dark

Run in the Dark was run by the Active School Flag class on Tuesday. It was a great success as we raised €600 for Mark Pollock's mission to cure paralysis. As Mark says ‘There are no individual hero stories, it's about people working together to achieve more’ ’Run for those who dream to walk’. TYs and staff got involved with face paint, lights and colourful clothes. Everyone received medals for their participation for completing the 5k by running or walking. Staff volunteered their time to make sure everyone was safe and had fun. 

Please see the attached letter from the Principal in relation to the Junior Cycle Results 2022.