Congratulations to Ciara Redden and Lucy Mullins who recently won the LawSoc Mace debating competition in UCD.

The competition was open to TY, 5th and 6th Year debaters and was run over one day. Debaters are given 15 minutes to prepare debate motions - and there are three initial rounds. High scoring teams "break" to the semi-final and from there qualify for a final.

Lucy and Ciara made it to the final where unfortunately, Lucy was called away from the competition. Ciara had therefore to deliver two speeches in the final on behalf of her team. Impressively, she went on to win the competition by herself. Well done to both girls on their achievement.

Ms Lea

Senior Debates Coordinator

Congratulations to our 1st Yr Student Sian Mc Crohan who has been selected for the Irish Water Polo team. 

Our school would like to acknowledge the fantastic work done by our student Anti-Bullying Ambassadors (ABAs) in organising this year’s wonderful Stand-Up Week. The theme for this year was ‘You belong Here’ and the focus of the week in our school was on being an ally, through kindness and respect for everyone.

Stand-Up Week 2023 was a great success here in Loreto Foxrock, finishing in a riot of colour on Friday 10th when every student in the school wore their year group’s colour to turn our school into glorious Rainbow School for a Day. Our ABAs also arranged a fabulous balloon Rainbow Arch at the entrance to our school, adding further to the bright colour and joy.

Some of the many activities arranged by our ABAs included a badge competition with the winning designs printed on badges and then distributed on different days during the week. Congratulations to Mya Madigan, Lee Reys and Angel Ibi in sixth year, Jessica Holohan in fifth year and Alison Heeney in third year for their wonderful badges.

Particular commendation must go to our ABAs who presented each day of the week, on a different aspect of what being an ally actually means. They also planned a range of educational and fun challenges for the school including a Scavenger Hunt and a Kahoot based on key Stand-Up terms. Our corridors provided a Stand-Up Week Educational Walkabout with definitions of key terms and facts visible everywhere.

Well done to our ABAs on their dedication and creativity and to our whole school community for their support, engagement and enthusiasm during Stand-Up Week 2023.

Edel Browne

A big congratulations to Kate McConnell, Cara Keane, Alison Neville and Eadaoin McClean, all 2nd years. Not pictured but part of the team and playing that day was Laura Russell, 3rd year who recently won the Division 1 Shield with Kilmacud Crokes U14 Football Team. 

Eadoin has been seleted to the Dublin U14 Camogie panel for the coming season, well done Eadoin!

Good luck to our Senior A Hockey team who play in the opening round of the Leinster Senior Cup on Wednesday v Holy Child Killiney. The match starts at 4 in Holy Child and all support is welcome. 

That's a wrap for Readers' & Writers' Week 2023!

Here's a quick recap of this week's events.

Monday - Presenter and past pupil Laura Woods spoke to 6th Yrs about writing for radio and TV.  Author Bea Fitzgerald came to speak to all 5th Yrs and Classical Studies students about her novel Girl, Goddess, Queen.  30 1st Yr students attended The Loreto Literary Festival in TCD.

Tuesday - The opening rounds of the LCF Spelling Bee got underway.

Wednesday - Presenter and journalist Jacqui Hurley spoke to 3rd and 6th Yrs about writing and sport.  Simone Schuemmelfeder told stories to 1st & 2nd Yrs and the Grand Final of the Spelling Bee took place!  Congratulations to 6th Yr Áine who won after a very closely contested final round.

Thursday - We had visits from not one, not two but three wonderful Irish writers.  3rd Yrs had a workshop with author Aislinn McLoughlin, 5th Yrs attended a Q&A with another past pupil, author Amanda Cassidy and 1st Yrs were entralled by Dave Rudden in the Concert Hall.  3rd Yrs also battled it out in a Book Quiz and judging began on the Great Book Bake Off.  Finally, several lucky students found Golden Tickets under their chairs in class and won chocolaty prizes!

Friday - Today was Fictional Friday and our whole-school theme was the Wonderful World of Roald Dahl.  The school was full of Matildas, 3 Little Bears, 3 Little Pigs, Little Red Ridinghoods, Mike TVs, Violette Beauregards, Fantastic Foxes, insects from James' Giant Peach and of course the Witches (aka the teachers)!  Our final speaker of the week was yet another past pupil, Amy Clarkin, who spoke to 6th Yrs about her debut novel What Walks These Halls and finding your path in life when sometimes things go off track.  Finally, all students took part in the Literary Scavanger Hunt to test their knowledge on all things books!

This fantastic week would not be possible without our wonderful librarian, Ms Morrissey.  Huge thanks to her for all her hard work in putting together such an incredible programme for the students and reminding us all of the importance of reading for pleasure in our lives.

Follow all things books and reading that happen in LCF thoughout the year on our Twitter/X account @WellReadFoxrock.