Newpark School November 2014 Newsletter

November 2014, issue 43

UNICEF Youth Summit in Dublin Castle On the 19th of September twenty Newpark students attended UNICEF’s National Youth Summit in Dublin Castle. This event marked the culmination of UNICEF’s It’s About US project, launched in Newpark last November with our Skype call to Hanan and Musa, Syrian refugees in Jordan, from A1 in Newpark.

The focus of the project was to ensure young people in Ireland had a say in the UN process to decide on a new set of goals to replace the Millennium Development Goals post-2015.

UNICEF believes that we should have a say in these goals, as they will be the framework from which we make the world a better place. The project spoke to over 1000 students from all over the country (including Newparkers) to see which issues we feel the world needs to prioritise. Based on those conversations a national poll was created with ten different goals. Many of us spent the summer asking other young people to participate and vote for the goals they considered most important. The

goals were: Education, Health, Youth Participation, Climate Change, Environment, Poverty and Hunger, Safety from harm, Life without fear, Equality and Best Start in Life.

The voting ended on the 16th of September and the results form the basis of the Dublin Declaration on Children and Youth 2014.

Four Newpark students, Jenna Binley, Nathan Moore, Rachel Whelan, and Cian Parry presented this document to Minister for Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan ahead of his visit to the UN to meet Secretary General Ban Ki Moon.

Continued on page 15

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On a sad note, Joyce Classon, wife of former Principal Michael Classon, died during the summer after a short illness. Joyce contributed hugely both to Avoca school prior to its amalgamation with Kingstown School and later to Newpark when it was established. Joyce was not someone who enjoyed the limelight yet she worked day and night to support the pastoral wellbeing of all students and staff during her long involvement with both schools. She was pragmatic and someone who got things done without fuss or elaboration. She treated each and every individual with equal respect and did not believe in any unnecessary hierarchies. We express our deep sympathy to Michael and all the family.

As we reach the midterm break you will all be aware from previous emails and the website that the move to the new school is now imminent.

However, the campus will remain a building site in the coming months for the refurbishment of Belfort House (the red brick building), the demolition of D/F corridors and the completion of the building project with the landscaping of the campus in summer 2015.

The move into the new building is something for which the whole school community has waited a long time. The new building will enhance the facilities for teaching and learning for all our students. With this new building comes a responsibility to us all— students and staff (teaching and non-teaching)—to use the new building with care and ensure it is kept in the best state possible for Newpark students in the coming years and decades.

Over the coming weeks we will discuss with students through the Student Council and the Green Schools committee and staff the best ways of ensuring the optimal maintenance of the building. It is the individual responsibility of each student and staff member to ensure that all rooms are left clean and tidy.

We are looking at putting in dual purpose bins into every classroom which distinguish between recyclable and non-recyclable waste. By using these properly we will be contributing not just to a tidier environment and conserving resources but the school will also benefit financially. Individual decisions made by students and staff now impact not just on the present environment but on the legacy to be handed onto the next generation of students.

As the layout of the building is very different to the single storey we are used to, we will need to 2

Mr Derek Lowry

put in place safe methods of movement around the building especially up and down stairs. From a health and safety perspective this will be very important.

Circulation around the building and access to the lockers must be safe for all.

In the meantime, life in Newpark has been as busy, vibrant and diverse as ever. Students have recently been celebrating Maths Week, a group of Second Years were selected for Trinity’s prestigious Walton Club and others have been preparing their submissions for Young Scientist exhibition. Our young visual artists celebrated their latest Creative Engagement project at a national exhibition in Collins’ Barracks. Newpark musicians followed the footsteps of the Beatles in Liverpool and came home to organise a highly successful showcase concert of original music created by students from all years. We had a large group representing Newpark at the Poetry Aloud competition with great success.

Other students proudly developed the work begun last year with Unicef as delegates at The National Youth Summit.

Towards the end of the summer holidays, the cast and crew of A Midsummer Night’s Dream put on a series of magical outdoor performances in St Enda’s Park in Rathfarnham at the invitation of the OPW. In November we look forward to Newpark Theatre Company presenting Juno and the Paycock in The Hunter Theatre. In sports, all of our team sports are off to an excellent start (Second and Third Year rugby players have just returned from a development trip to France) and our cross country athletes have done us proud at the first event of the year in Phoenix Park.

As ever, huge thanks go to the staff involved whose time, energy and effort make all this possible.

Change is an inevitable part of all our lives and in August 1914 it brought tragic consequences to many millions of families across the world. 1914 to 1922 was a very turbulent period of Irish history.

Through involvement in the Great War, the Easter Rising, the War of Independence and the Civil War we can be sure that many families in Newpark were affected.

The depth and knowledge of our understanding of these events can underpin how we view many issues today.

It can contribute to giving us proper perspective and therefore hopefully reduce the possibility of the repetition of so many terrible events of the past. It is therefore essential that the study of History remain a core subject in Newpark now and in the future.

While the history of Newpark itself is—in historical terms—brief, its antecedents through Avoca and Kingston schools go back to the 19th century.

Hopefully we will have the opportunity to reflect on that history over the coming years as we move into a new and exciting phase of the school’s life.

Green Schools Committee

The Walton Club

So far this year, the Green Schools Committee has been working hard to raise awareness about environmental issues in Newpark.

Repak Recycling Week took place from October 13-19, and we would especially like to encourage all students to recycle and reduce landfill. Ireland is currently ranked as second in Europe for recycling, so Repak Recycling Week set out to move Ireland to first place. The Green Schools Committee would like to take this opportunity to help towards this goal in Newpark.

This year, we’re applying for the Litter, Waste and Recycling Green Flag. In Newpark, for every three recycling bins, ten landfill bins are sent out.

Sending out each landfill bins costs money, whereas sending out the recycling bins doesn’t. If we were to reduce our landfill and reverse these figures, it would save our school a lot of money as well as helping the environment!

Last Friday, members of the Green Schools Committee took part in an Eco-Conference in the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Town Hall. The event was hosted by Dean Eaton, the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Green Schools Officer. The day proved to be enjoyable and consisted of games and lectures on current environmental issues.

Just before mid-term break, the Green Schools Committee organised a bake sale in order to fundraise.

We are aware that everyone is looking forward to moving to the new school building, so we would like to make sure that it stays in a clean condition. So, we are in the process of pricing new bins to make sure that the new building stays litter-free and recycling-friendly.

The Green Schools Committee hopes that everyone remembers to take care of the environment in Newpark, and to keep it a green place.

In the middle of September all the science classes were told about a new project that was being run by Trinity College. A group of us went to a meeting with Ms Anderson and she told us more about it.

The Walton Club is a club for people who are interested in science, technology, engineering and maths—or STEM for short. To get in we had to fill out an application form and I was up late putting mine together. We had to say why we liked all the STEM subjects and why we wanted to be a part of the Walton club. Everyone also had to do an assessment test in Trinity, which consisted of mainly maths and problem solving and logical thinking questions. It was brilliant because we only had to wait five days to find out if we had got in or not! Around sixty people in total were chosen. Four of us got in from Second Year in Newpark.

We will be taught by different people in all the areas, from physics professors to maths graduates. It will be very hands on and we will get to use state of the art equipment. We will learn things from computer programming and making/programming robots to problem solving in maths and looking into the world of Physics. It takes place every Saturday from 2-5pm for thirty weeks which is quite a commitment but I’m happy to do it.

We have done a couple of Saturdays and it’s great! I knew it was a once in a lifetime opportunity and was thrilled to be given a chance to participate.

It is really nice to be able to represent our school. I would like to thank the PTA who kindly agreed to pay half of our fees over the year and all the teachers for their interest and support!

Oisín O’Sullivan 2KC

Thanks for the Lunch!

Ms Dempsey would like to thank all the teachers, students and parents who donated on the 16th October, World Food Day in aid of Ndiini School Food Programme (CHY NO 20136).

Janine Dillera 4CB

Everything is awesome!

Lego Club started with a blast this September: Tuesday lunchtime in C5.

The club is well attended by students of all ages creating original masterpieces!! Drop in and check it out.

Pictured here: Chloe Smith’s Mobile Habitat

Ndiini School Food Programme is a registered Irish charity (CHY No 20136) that seeks to provide primary school students in Kenya with daily school lunches. Our lunches are designed to meet the nutritional needs of children. By providing nutritious, cost-effective and sustainable school lunches to primary school students, we hope to improve attendance rates and overall educational performance.

As a result of our school lunch programme, attendance at Ndiini Primary School is close to 100%.

Often, our lunches are the only meal some students eat all day.

See www.nsfood.org to find out more about the charity. Your support is really appreciated. Thank

you.

Ms Margaret Dempsey

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Remembering Joyce Classon Avoca School, Avoca-Kingstown, Newpark Comprehensive – in the academic and institutional history of this saga two names stand out: Michael Classon and John Harris. But a third heroic figure was always there, Michael’s wife Joyce, who died in June this year. She was a pillar of this period of the school’s development, and she was remembered at two funeral celebrations, the first in Portnoo in Co. Donegal, the second a week later in St Brigid’s Church, Stillorgan.

Michael’s longtime colleague, his successor as principal of Newpark, and his neighbour in their hideaways in Donegal, Derek West, spoke to Michael after the Portnoo service; and then as he flew home to Berlin where he is now living he wrote down this heartfelt appreciation of Joyce Classon.

A week later another veteran of the three schools, Philip Hollwey, read it out to the congregation that gathered in Stillorgan.

Joyce Classon was undoubtedly a quiet star in this story.

I remember the flurry of excitement that went around the field, the day of the Avoca school sports, when ‘Mick’, as we called him, came along with his fiancée.

It was an exotic glimpse of another life being led by our popular English/Geography teacher.

A few years later, as senior students facing our final exams, we were given a more intimate glimpse of Classon life, as we were invited for an evening to Brooklawn Lodge, to read the whole of Hamlet, Michael, or Mick, joining the piping squeaks of the Sixth Years, with his mellifluous voice, pure of diction and ever-accurate in his reading. Joyce hovered as a hospitable presence and dispensed refreshments.

Somewhere – or am I dreaming – a baby Caroline cried for mother.

The essence of what I am recalling is the capacity that Michael and Joyce had to welcome people in, to put them at their ease and to share, to break bread with them. Whether it was the bishop of Raphoe or, as in this case, a gaggle of spotty, self-conscious adolescents, Joyce and Michael (very hard to separate the two of them) gladly received them into their home and put them at their ease.

A few years on and, for me, their kindness extended to giving me a job and a home. If Michael was the proactive one in introducing me to a life-long engagement with education, Joyce was the one who ensured that I was fed, had clean sheets, enough pillows and a room of my own. It was 1965 – Joyce was barely thirty and she presided over a burgeoning boarding school, tending to all the domestic arrangements, with that characteristic low-key calm and utter competence. I was barely into my twenties and somewhat awed by this impressive lady.

When I was confined for weeks to bed, with chronic bronchitis, Joyce ensured that I was so well looked after that I was extremely reluctant to finish my illness and convalescence with my parents. I was a bit of a stray in those days and, with that characteristic understated largesse, Joyce took me in and gave me a home. There are others, I know, who would feel the same way. Joyce didn’t tell you that she pitied you or admired you, or thought you were a twit – she just got on with doing what was needful.

And when I’d moved as far as Melfield Lodge (Joyce was instrumental, with Michael, in giving me my first real home) married and become a parent, it was Joyce who made Mary feel at home in that 4

larger unit that was Avoca and Kingstown. While I was immersed in my teaching, and all that stuff, Joyce would gather up Mary and make her a welcome participant in the Classon lunch, with baby Nicholas gurgling beside the table. More practically, she would sweep into Melfield Lodge and gather up the stinking bucket of nappies, odorously lurking inside the door, carry it over to Belfort, the main school building, empty the contents into the washing machine and, shortly afterwards, return with a bundle of spotless, sweetly smelling nappies ready to adorn the posterior of little Lord Nicholas. She never asked for thanks, she just did what she perceived needed to be done.

Wordsworth wrote about ‘little unremembered acts of kindness and of love’. I think Michael introduced me to those lines in English class; when I look back now I realised that Joyce embodied those lines in the way she dealt with people.

Not content with running the practical side of school life, and having time for the young mother stuck in the gate lodge, she made time for the extended family – Michael’s parents, Aunt Nora, Florrie Bigger, Kay O’Donnell. If Michael collected them and drove them, it was Joyce who made sure they were warm and fed and comfortable – more unassuming, untrumpeted ‘acts of kindness and of love’.

She was the supreme home-maker – I think of the series of Classon locations – Belfort, Killiney View, Mullyveagh, Ocean View, and Summy – each one in turn was the warmest, most welcoming of places. I think my son’s picture of her, taken last January in the kitchen at Summy, captures the abundance and the confidence and the warmest of receptions, open to all, and emanating from Joyce’s expansive belief in putting people at their ease, ensuring their creature comforts.

Joyce’s kitchen was always, as Patrick Kavanagh put it, a place ‘where life pours ordinary plenty’. Her goodness and her godliness were set firmly in the virtues of domesticity, hospitality and a limitless, unassuming kindness.

With Joyce there was always a plate of food, a drink, warmth both literal and metaphorical. When a motley crew of us foolishly set out, late one Sunday afternoon of showers, to conquer Slieve Toohey (we didn’t conquer it; we nearly got benighted on the mountainside, facing precipices and possible death-byexposure) and when we returned in darkness, somewhat traumatised, and called to Ocean View to

Portrait of Joyce Classon by Nicholas West, January 2014

collect toddler Rachel, it was Joyce who instinctively divined that we were in quite a state of shock and, rather than telling us what eejits we were to be roaming the risky hills of Donegal, set to providing us with loads of warm comfort food that defrosted us and brought us back to genial life.

I don’t think I can capture Joyce’s wit but, like her mother Connie before her, she could cut through any old guff with a hoot of derision or an acerbic comment. Sometimes that came from a crystal-clear sense of what was right and wrong; sometimes it came from her ironic amusement at the absurdities of pomp.

While she devoted a lifetime to Michael, and was his No. 1 supporter, she gave him quite a hard time when he became wrapped up in the business of the church.

Never malicious, but often capable of some barbs that were both amusing and very much to the point.

Joyce stood for loyalty, family, for humanity.

We will feel her qualities all the more now that we can’t see them.

But Joyce’s heart was like a stone, by no means in the sense of being cold, but as a stone thrown into water that sends ripples that spread out and out and, when they reach the far shore, will surge back towards the centre and then outwards again.

What a wonderful, whole human being Joyce was. We will miss her, with deepening sorrow and increasing admiration, but it will be impossible to forget her.

Derek West, former principal of Newpark

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Cross Country off to a flying start

Phoenix Park was the first Cross Country event of the year. Over twenty Newpark students from First to Fifth Year took part on a very windy day. We started the day with six First Year girls running; all our girls ran a great race and Aoife Grogan was the first Newpark girl home in an amazing ninth position.

The First Year boys’ race kicked off next with ten students taking part in the A race. Again all our students ran really well, with Oisín Kelly, the first Newpark boy to finish, flying home in sixth position.

Finn Larsen in Second Year ran a great race with a sprint finish to come in in 20th position. Lorcan Kelly also held his own in the Third Year race coming in comfortably in fifth position.

The final race of the day was the Senior Boys, with some serious competition in the field. The bad weather picked up during this race with the wind and rain at its worst. However our lads from Newpark still ran a super race with Rory Kelly finishing second in this event, a huge achievement considering he has only just joined the senior field.

Well done to all students that participated in this event. A special thank you to Ms Ormond and Ms Kelly for their help with everything on the day and to Jem Davis and Stephen Hennessy for helping out with the first aid and photography on the day.

Ms Lillian Whooley & Stephen Hennessy

I was really looking forward to doing the cross country race in Phoenix Park. On the day of the race I was quite nervous of doing really badly or tripping up. It all turned out to be great and I ended up coming twelfth out of a hundred or more boys. I was even more proud when I found out that our A boys for Newpark had come third. I want to also congratulate the girls for doing well in their race. All and all it was a great day!!!!!.

Leon Gallagher, First Year I did my first cross country race in Phoenix Park: it was so much fun and there was a great atmosphere.

Loads of people turned up and all the girls on our team did great. I hope to do the next cross country again soon.

Faye Quirke, First Year

Basketball This year we have seven teams taking part in the South Dublin Basketball League. Best of luck to everyone involved.

Training days and times Monday: First Year boys & girls Time: 4 – 5.30/6.00 pm Coach: Ms O’Farrell Tuesday: Second Year and Under 16 girls.

Time: 4.00 – 5.30 pm Coach: Ms Costello Wednesday: Second Year and Under 16 Boys.

Time: 1.30 – 3.30 pm Coach: Dean Rowe.

Thursday: Senior Girls Time: 4 – 5.30pm Coach: Ms Steele Friday: Under 16 Boys.

Time: 4.00 – 6.00 pm Coach: Dean Rowe

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Siobhán Costello, Basketball Co-ordinator

Aviva Win for First Year Rugby

The First Year rugby team have started the season in impressive form winning the Aviva Cup in the shadow of Lansdowne Road. After putting together a string of excellent attacking performances on their way to the final, the boys had to rely upon their gritty defence in order to defeat Marian College in the decider. This is the third year in a row that Newpark have won the cup, and there is a growing feeling that this team has huge potential and many of the players can go on to have great success playing rugby for Newpark.

After defeats to rugby powerhouses Blackrock College, Gonzaga and St. Andrew’s, Newpark got back to winning ways by running in seven unanswered tries against St. Paul’s. Although the St Paul’s team were physically bigger than our team, we played with an organisation and aggression that the opposition could not handle, putting together our most complete 15 a side performance of the season so far.

It has been a pleasure working with Fergus and all of the First Year boys this season; there are plenty of matches left in the year, so there is still time for any students to come down and get involved.

Daniel Ludgate, Newpark Rugby

Junior Rugby Players in France

Just before Mid Term a group of 24 Second and Third Year rugby players headed to Soustons in the Southwest of France on a four-day rugby development tour.

One of the participants reports below.

Wednesday 22nd November: We got to the rugby facility at around 6 o’clock and had time for a quick run -out and dinner before going off to find our rooms. I was sharing with David, Luke and Adam, but we didn’t

spend much time in our rooms as we were so busy.

We were woken every morning at at half past eight and after breakfast we would either train or do activities. We did stand-up paddle-boarding in the lake beside the centre which was great fun.

We played two rugby matches while in France, one against The Habberdashers and the other against St. Joseph’s. We had a good win against The Habbberdashers with a score of 52-0. The second match we lost pretty comprehensively against a very good side from St. Joseph’s.

We also went body-boarding at a beach close by where the waves were huge. On the last day, before we went to the airport we climbed Sunshine Mountain which is 905m high. We then went to Biarritz to eat at the restaurant of Jerome Thion—an ex-captain of the French rugby team. The food was pretty good.

Thanks to Mr Adams and Mr Quigley for bringing us on this trip—we all had a great time.

Matthew Jungmann, 2DL

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Original Music

Photographs by Tara McKenna

Original Music concert took place on Wednesday October 15th in the Hunter Theatre. This was a concert showcasing all our student composers’ work, both in song-writing and instrumental music.

Newpark Music Department has set up Music Labs for various disciplines and this night was a culmination of six meetings of the Creative Lab. The first creative lab meeting was held in May 2014 with the homework given to all interested composers to compose two pieces over the summer break for this event.

These labs are intended to be a 8

platform for students to gather and share their experience and expertise with each other—they are student led and completely voluntary.

The creative lab resulted in twenty pieces of music composed and performed for this gig.

There was a wide range of instruments and musical styles and performers from Second to Sixth Year. It was a brilliant success and testament to the many talents our students have in Newpark. There is a call for another event so watch this space for Original Music 2!!.

Congratulations to everyone who took part and shared their talents.

If any student is interested in joining one of the labs please sign up on the music noticeboard in the temporary build.

The following labs are on offer: Bass Guitar / Drums / Ukelele / Ensemble / Creative / Vocal / Guitar / Piano / etc.

Ethel Glancy, Newpark Music

EU Dance Project heads East to Turkey Newpark students are heading off on the third international trip in the EU Lets Dance project. This time eight students and accompanying teachers Fiona ní Fhaolain and Anna Johnston are heading to Bursa in Turkey for five days with our partner schools from Germany, Italy and Turkey. The trip promises to be a rich cultural experience including a chance to watch whirling dervishes, visits to the Great Mosque and the covered bazaar in Bursa and the ancient settlement of Iznik as well as plenty of dance workshops.

Four of the students were on the magnificent Venice trip last year but for the other four this is their first experience of the dance project. Sixth Years Molly McAlister and Kate Whelan have been great leaders in this talented and committed group. Kate has taken on the design work for the project. We decided on We are One as our central message and Kate designed and stencilled this onto big black T-shirts.

Our dancers’ clothes for their dance are very simple: black leggings, coloured docs and these T-shirts.

We considered using either seanfhocail or an Irish myth as the starting point for the new dance piece. In the end, we liked the simplicity and openness offered by the seanfhocail. We looked at lots of them and chose a selection that seemed to lend themselves both to dance and to this international project.

Is fearr obair ná caint (Work is better than talk) Maireann na daoine ar scáth a chéile (We live in each other’s shadows) Giorraíonn beirt bóthar (Two people shorten the road) Ní neart go cur le chéile (There is no strength without coming together) Bíonn siúlach scéalach (Travellers have tales to tell)

The first one might sound a bit curt, but it really appealed to the dancers because we thought of dance as harnessing physical effort and energy in a creative way that could be used to communicate more effectively than words. That simple idea got us all very excited and we decided to throw all our energies into a dance that came from that.

Molly McAlister has developed and choreographed a dance performance in three parts.

The first part is powerful, focused and earthy: the

dancers use their hands and feet as percussion to create the rhythm without using music (“Let’s make noise: lots and lots of noise!” suggested Ms ní Fhaolain delightedly at the first session). In the hiphop section the music kicks in and the dancers become more interactive, combining and unravelling in interesting ways. The salsa part of the dance (in honour of Newpark’s longstanding love affair with salsa) lets the fluid movement in pairs and the sheer beautiful fun of it speak for itself. There’s a growing awareness and engagement with the other dancers during the piece and a sense of their united strength at the end. In Venice the Newparkers were asked to teach everyone their dance: you can see this piece reaching out and inviting people in too. We are One—as it says on the T -shirts!

They have been working extremely hard developing their dance performance over the past months. It’s been work rather than talk right enough.

The dancers were regularly spotted rehearsing in the Home Economics kitchen—hard to find a big enough space in school at the moment! Over mid-term, they had access to proper dance studio space at The Factory (many thanks to Molly’s parents and IMDS) to finalise their performance. Tony Oscar, Cuban musician, dancer and regular visiting teacher in Newpark, joined them to add a street-style Cuban ingredient to the dance.

Over the three trips twenty-three students from First to Sixth Year and five staff members have travelled abroad and all look forward to hosting the other schools in Dublin on the final leg of the programme in the spring.

They have brought Newpark on a fantastic cultural journey over the past two years: so where should we bring our visitors and what should we show them of Ireland? Contact organisers John O’Neill and Fiona ní Fhaolain if you have suggestions or would like to get involved. In the meantime, off we go to a place where East meets West.

Our wonderful dancers have worked so well together, looked after each other and will be great representatives both for Newpark and Ireland. And as Ms ní Fhaolain says: “We will be back full of Turkish delight!”

Anna Johnston

Creative Engagement at Collins Barracks This year’s Creative Engagement project with Artist Mark Garry was presented at the national exhibition in Collins Barracks.

Mark worked with Ms Mulrooney’s Fifth Year art class on a conceptual piece. The students made

drawings and then transformed them into music using old music boxes. They did tree dances and filmed them, then put all of the elements together. When you look at the piece you hear what the drawings sound like.

The video piece had a really positive impact at the show which was well attended by teachers and students from around the country.

Dee Mulrooney, Newpark Art

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Midsummer Magic and Madness

The View from The Audience

From the Director’s Chair

It was a great notion on someone’s part to direct one of Shakespeare’s most charming plays in the lovely grounds of Patrick Pearse’s school near Rathfarnham.

I was lucky enough to catch the production on a late summer evening, the sun was shining and a little wind stirred the branches of the trees, but didn’t chill the audience. From the moment of our arrival at the bottom of the steps climbing up to the door of the house, with a small cheerful band playing at the top of the steps, it was apparent that it was going to be a night to remember.

The introductory scenes were elegantly performed on the steps, very ducal, as they should have been and then the audience scurried off after the musicians and the cast, following the fancies of the play …… over hill, over dale, through bush, through briar, over park, over pale ….

The woods were teeming with enchanting fairies in autumnal coloured clothes, who skipped and danced and laughed and plotted just as we know that fairies do.

And so the plot ravelled and unravelled itself until we came to the closing scenes, everyone back at the house. Happy endings for all: happy actors having given us their best, and happy audience having enjoyed not only every moment of Shakespeare but also of the original and lively way in which it was presented to us.

Thank you all for a splendid evening.

In the last week of the summer holidays, Newpark students recreated their magical performances of A Midsummer Night’s Dream among the follies in St. Enda’s Park in Rathfarnham. This was an incredibly intense and exciting experience for me, and for everyone involved.

When architect James Howley, who was involved in conserving the follies at St Enda’s (and a Newpark parent), suggested this idea I was excited but apprehensive. The prospect of staging a production outside, and in the summer holidays, was very daunting. It was even more frightening for me because I knew I’d be heavily pregnant at that stage.

After much deliberation, and after speaking to the cast and crew, we decided to go for it. Several meetings later and next thing we knew it was August and we had ten days to pull it all together. We chose eight locations for the different scenes, mostly in the forest. First was Athens, which was easy to locate.

The majestic portico of the Pearse Museum was a perfect match. We then took the audience through an avenue of trees with fairies popping up around the place to lead us into the forest.

We were able to create magic in the forest, thanks to the beautiful foliage and the follies and it was here that most of the action took place. It was amazing to have actual trees and stone structures to work with.

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Jennifer Johnston, Author

Coming out of the forest we found suitable alcoves to perform in, culminating with Act Five on a paved area with a backdrop of a beautiful pergola.

I was so impressed with how the actors and musicians adjusted to working outdoors with all the elements, especially the rain and wind. Acoustics, lighting, moving our audience and unexpected audience members (it’s a public park) were huge concerns, but they actually added to the performances, making each night unpredictable and different.

Anna Johnston and the stage crew had the most difficult task of planning how to get the actors, set and props around the park in time, and to the multiple locations. They also had to be ready for all weather conditions, and have various contingency plans in place. I have never been so obsessed with weather, looking at rain radars, and the Norwegian forecast amongst others. Luckily, on the third night when the rain was too much we were able to use the Halla Mór inside, which Patrick Pearse himself used to put on plays with his students.

There are so many people to thank for making this production happen. The list is endless, but here are a few: James Howley for having the idea; the OPW and all the lovely staff at St Enda’s (especially Brian Crowley) for giving us the use of this amazing location and for being so kind and supportive; the Newpark Alumni for all their help; the PTA (Sinéad Shortall, Liz Jordan, Becky Johnston and Clare Hancock) for organising the catering, manning the gates, and the wonderful gala night; Josh and Hayley and their

orchestra for braving the elements and creating magical music regardless of the weather; Dave O’Leary’s beautiful lighting and support; Amy Keating and John Brennan’s fantastic ‘stage’ managing; the many teachers who helped on the nights; the wonderful cast; our patient families and last but not least, Anna Johnston, who actually made everything happen.

This production has been life-changing for me as it really demonstrated the power of Shakespeare and outside performance. Shakespeare didn’t perform inside and also didn’t write his plays to be badly read in stuffy classrooms. Shakespeare’s language is dynamic, powerful and still relevant 400 years later. This production in the open air with live music and energetic performances demonstrated this to be the case. It also showed everyone’s absolute commitment to this production and the complete sense of community that Newpark has. It has been such an incredible experience for my little girl Eve too; she loved playing in the follies and the lovely gardens of the park and of course was fascinated by the fairies.

Two months later she is still singing the fairies’ lullaby every day and quoting Shakespeare. Not many four year olds do that.

All’s well that ends well. The production was a success, the OPW have said we’re welcome back any time, we raised over €1000 for the new theatre fund and last but not least my baby arrived safely three weeks later: Iris Jane Titania. This experience will stay with me and my family forever.

Cathy Devis, Newpark Drama

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Midsummer Magic and Madness

Dramatic Past in St Enda’s The production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream by Newpark Comprehensive which took place in the grounds of St Enda’s in Rathfarnham last August forms part of a tradition of open-air theatre in the Park which stretches back to the time when Patrick Pearse lived and ran his school here.

Pearse founded Scoil Éanna in 1908 in Cullenswood House near Ranelagh and the school quickly established a reputation for the high quality of their dramatic productions. The earliest performances took place either in the school’s theatre or on the stage of the Abbey Theatre and included plays by Standish O’Grady, Douglas Hyde and Padraic Colum. Pearse was also anxious for the school to mount an outdoor pageant and in 1909 he wrote one specifically for his students entitled The Boy-Deeds of Cúchulainn which they performed in the garden of Cullenwood House and later at the Castlebellingham Féis in Co. Louth, in sight of the Cooley Peninsula, the legendary birthplace of Cúchulainn. For Pearse this scenic and historic setting hugely enhanced the boys’ performance and he later wrote how he would always remember the actors ‘in their heroic gear, with their spears, their swords, their hounds, their horses; the sun shining on comely fair heads’. The experience of that day may well have influenced his decision a few months later to move his school to what was then known as The Hermitage in Rathfarnham. The stately 18th century mansion which became the schoolhouse was surrounded by fifty acres of stunning parkland containing dramatic rocky outcrops, a wood, a mountain stream and a highly unusual collection of follies and garden buildings. No doubt Pearse looked at this combination of natural and man-made features and realised that it would be a perfect backdrop for future outdoor productions by the school.

The folly buildings, which formed such a significant part of the setting of the Newpark Comprehensive production, date from the late 18th and early 19th century and were probably commissioned by 12 Edward Hudson, the man who originally built the

house in the 1780s. He and his son, William Elliot Hudson, were amateur antiquarians with a particular interest in ancient Irish field monuments. His interest in the past was reflected in the follies he had built which included an ogham stone, cromlech, a brehon’s chair, portal and dolmen. As the house was called The Hermitage, Hudson also had a hermit’s cave constructed - a theatrical gesture which seems to have appealed to Pearse. He staged several pageants and plays in the grounds, including an open-air production of his play, An Rí (‘The King’) in 1912 which also featured live horses and a chariot!

Pearse’s own interest in the theatre and drama began in his early childhood. In his unfinished biography he recalled games of make believe in which his rocking horse became a heroic steed which he would ride into battle. He later wrote plays for his brother, sisters and cousins to perform for the rest of the family. He was a voracious reader and Shakespeare became one of his favourite writers. While he is now primarily known for his role in championing the Irish language and Irish culture, Pearse and his siblings were also steeped in the English literary tradition.

Years later his former secretary, Desmond Ryan, who had also been a pupil in the school, recalled how during his financial troubles Pearse denied himself any luxury except books, particularly fine editions of Shakespeare ‘He loved his books: … his many editions of Shakespeare, all of which he had watched in the booksellers’ windows, nobly renounced, entered, fingered, steeled himself, fled whole streets away, lingered, wavered, turned back and purchased, radiant and ashamed until he saw the next.’

This love of literature and theatre, which developed in Pearse’s childhood and teenage years, was to stay with him and profoundly influence him in later life. It was central to the activity of Scoil Éanna where Pearse emphasised the importance of fostering creativity and inspiring young people to develop their individual talents. He saw education not as the accumulation of facts to be regurgitated in exams, but as a process which would allow each pupil to become the very best version of themselves. The arts were not simply an addendum to a core curriculum of ‘practical’ subjects. An appreciation of art, literature and theatre were seen as essential tools which would enable his students to live rich, well-rounded lives. Pearse felt that a good teacher fostered a pupil’s natural curiosity and their desire to learn. It was therefore very gratifying to see the enthusiasm and the constant striving for excellence displayed by all of those who were involved in the production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The inventiveness of its production, the imaginative way it engaged with its setting and sense of camaraderie and mutual support displayed by all involved made it a more than worthy successor to the theatrical tradition of Patrick Pearse and his school.

Brian Crowley, Curator of the Pears Museum, St Enda’s

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The Memories

The Rain.

The lights in the forest on performance night.  The Kalinka!  The magic of performing outside with lights  Watching the audience move from scene to scene, mystified and fascinated, especially following the fairies into the forest.  Running half naked through the Pearse Museum.  Doing stage crew on the nights I wasn’t performing—in both cases running around like a lunatic. Pretty stressful but a lot of fun.  Being outside, having the museum there and the audience right beside you while performing all made this a wonderful experience.  How chirpy I was every morning having people I know seeing me running around my local park screaming like a bird ….  The musicians leading the audience through the forest  Incredible pride the night the rain forced us inside to the Halla Mór: what a professional ensemble to show they could make the magic happen anywhere! I reckon Pearse was watching that night for sure.

Thanks to Ciaran Byrne, James Howley and Brian Crowley for photos

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Reciting poetry aloud is definitely allowed!

It’s that time of year again! Students from First–Sixth Year competed in this year’s Poetry Aloud competition in the National Library of Ireland on Thursday 23rd October. A great morning in the National Library was had by all participants and Newpark was expertly represented as usual! All of our competitors recited each of their poems with style and panache! Twelve students from across all year groups enjoyed the day: Hanna Novak, Emily Keogh, Maya Baum, Mia Knowles of First Year, Eoghan Funge, Anna Cheesmore, Molly O’Toole, Samuel Penny and Katie Killarney of Second Year, Gabrielle Gabat and Janine Dillera of Transition Year and Aaron Williams of Sixth Year.

From Shakespeare, to Heaney, to Wordsworth, all poetic styles and moods were conveyed by the students through their chosen poems. Newpark really stood out on the day and all those who took part in the competition should be really proud of themselves.

Two Newpark students were chosen to go through to the Semi Finals in November; Eoghan Funge and Anna Cheesmore. We wish them the best of luck in learning two new poems! Well done again to all involved and we hope to see you taking to the stage again next year!

All students worked hard perfecting both of their poems and getting ready to recite them by heart in the upcoming heats of the competition. As in past years, Newpark competitors made a big impact on the judges and we know that Eoghan and Anna will do Newpark proud in the semi-finals. Among the prizes are shelves of books for the library, cash for the top winners and the Seamus Heaney Perpetual Trophy.

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An exciting development in this year’s competition is that Poetry Aloud is partnering with The Works, RTÉ Television’s flagship arts show, and RTÉ Radio One’s The John Murray Show on A Poem for Ireland, The BestLoved Irish Poem of the Last 100 Years.

Finalists and winners from the competition this year will appear on The Works reading a selection of Ireland’s best-loved poems.

Let’s hope some Newpark students will be in the line-up! You can also nominate your own favourite poem on the website: apoemforireland.rte.ie When late poet Seamus Heaney won the David Cohen Prize for Lifetime Achievement in Literature, he nominated Poetry Aloud for the accompanying Clarissa Luard Award, and he remarked, “I truly believe Poetry Aloud deserves all the support it can get, because it promotes literature, and, in particular, poetry, widely, intimately and to inestimable effect. But fundamentally, I choose it because it brings poetry into the memory and affections of the young in a way that will make it a lifelong possession and value.”

Although this is still a competition and we wish all participants the best of luck, it is important to promote the idea that once you learn a poem, it is your poem forever. So to the whole school community: read some poetry, choose a favourite and make it your “lifelong possession”!

Amy Keating

MS Readathon There are twenty Newpark students participating in the MS Readathon this year; it runs from the 10th of October to the 10th of November. This great cause gives students the opportunity to do something they enjoy to raise money for an excellent cause. Watch this spot for when we announce how much we have raised.

Deirdre McCarron

Calling All Debaters and Public Speakers Junior and senior debating has begun again this year; it is a great opportunity to allow students to express their opinions on current affairs and to gain confidence while speaking in front of an audience. Coaching is provided to all who attend. If you would like to learn more about debating please speak to Ms McCarron, we will be meeting at Thursday lunchtime after Halloween.

Watch the announcements for location.

Deirdre McCarron

UNICEF Youth Summit Continued from front page

The students asked the Minister to bring this document with him to inform UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon of the views of Irish young people. The Minister was impressed with our presentation and the Declaration; the following week he delivered it as promised.

Ban Ki Moon thanked us for our contribution and sent us a video message for the Youth Summit, which you can watch at UNICEF.ie/ itsaboutus.

National Youth Summit The Summit was a great day, it was fun, informative and really allowed us to participate and learn ways to take action on making the world a better place.

Google, Facebook, RTE, Swansong, Redress and UNITE4Climate Zambian Ambassadors all held workshops in which we created our own action plans for the year ahead.

In the final address Jenna Binley gave a great speech, in which she said, “It is important for young people in Ireland to speak up for children everywhere and take action on issues that affect us especially the most vulnerable.”

Thanks to Ms French for making all of this possible!

TY Highlights from the Youth Summit in Dublin Castle: “When Ban Ki Moon sent us his message to show us that our voices were heard. It made me feel like I can make a change in the world.”

Ella McLoughlin

“The Silent Disco was absolutely bopping, and I loved the ethical consumerism workshop.”

Cosmo Tomkin-Clarke

“Dancing on stage with the Zambians and learning how to use Facebook and CoderDojo to make a change.”

Paul Heywood Jones

“We all wrote a wish for the world on a balloon and then gathered in the courtyard to let them go all at once—it was really beautiful watching those balloons float off from Dublin Castle.”

Abigail Hosey

“I did the Swansong Films workshop about how to get a message across through art. We created different pieces of art about gender studies and put them around Dublin Castle to just get people to stop and think, and they were left there as part of Culture Night.”

Becka Wall

“We made a banner saying ‘Be Aware of What You Wear’ to make people think of the people who made the clothes they are buying.”

Fionnuala Healy

“Jenna’s speech represented our class so well. I felt very proud to be a part of it all.”

Maeve Feddis

It’s About Us The Unicef It’s about Us project was made especially for young people like ourselves. The aim of the project was to give young people of Ireland a voice to speak out about global issues that need to change and change fast so that we can live our lives in a fairer and more sustainable world. My CSPE class began working on the project last November with our teacher Ms French.

We became involved in piloting workshops on the global issues that matter the most to young people.

This year in Transition Year we went as delegates to The National Youth Summit. This summit gave us the opportunity to realise that we as young people can change the world with our ideas. We can make a difference. We can speak out and be heard.

We can and will make this world a better place for future generations.

At the summit we looked at reasons why we need to create a fairer and more sustainable world. We also looked at ways to tackle these issues such as speaking to global leaders. At the end of the day it is down to us as young people to believe in ourselves and and to know that what we pursue today will not just be beneficial for ourselves but for people just like us all over the planet.

Many people our age throughout the world are currently sick, suffering from inequality, poverty, or homelessness, living in unsafe environments, not receiving education or experiencing the impact of extreme climate change. Every single one of these things needs to come to a stop.

I don’t know how we can live in this world knowing that all these things are going on. I know we can’t change every single teeny tiny problem of the world right now, but we can make a start. It has to start with a completely new outlook. From the summit I personally feel informed and empowered that I can help and will. It opened my eyes to see that by taking action we can create a serious change for the world as we know it.

Jenna Binley, Transition Year 15

Pi, Murder and Bingo—Newpark Celebrates Maths Week

Maths Week Ireland took place recently, from 1119 October, and Newpark students and staff got into the spirit with a great variety of activities and events throughout the week.

The week kicked off on Monday when Ms Lawless presented staff with her famous pi cake – a carrot cake shaped and decorated as the mathematical symbol π.

Beautiful as it was, however, it didn’t last long! It was a great start to a busy week with great participation from students and staff.

BIMDAS Bingo BIMDAS Bingo has become a Newpark tradition for Maths Week, and is definitely one of the highlights of the Maths Week calendar. It got off to a rather shaky start this year, however, when Ms Lawless misplaced the key to the cupboard containing all the prizes.

Fortunately the key was found, and after a great recruiting effort from Mr O’Neill the room was soon full of an enthusiastic group of junior cycle students for this intense competition. The students worked in teams, solving tricky maths sums to find the numbers on their bingo cards. There was lots of fun and sweets for all participants in the end. Well done to all.

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Maths Murder Mystery The Murder Mystery was an exciting new event which took place at lunchtime on Thursday for Senior Cycle students. The Newpark mathematical sleuths were called in after Mr Murphy, a maths teacher, was found murdered at a dinner party.

Fortunately there were several clues left at the scene of the crime. Newpark students had to use their reasoning skills and a mathematical technique “proof by contradiction” to try to identify the murderer.

Establishing the motive was the second challenge faced by the teams of detectives. Students used their codebreaking skills to decipher a note left by Mr Murphy.

More scandal was to emerge, however justice was done in the end after fabulous work by the Newpark teams.

First to solve the mystery were Seselia Adamia 6HH, Emma Gordon 6CG, Ethan Hammon 6EG and Alicia Reid 6HH, soon followed by other teams. Well done to all!

Science News

The Daily Question To get into the spirit of the week, each day students were presented with a maths question during registration. The winner was determined in a draw from the correct entries taken at the end of the day.

The winning mathematicians this year were Monday: Jake Bolger 3HG, Tuesday: Sam Cooney 1JH, Wednesday: Oscar Carruthers 2EL, Thursday: Heather Walsh 6CG and Friday: Cristina Sanjuan-Callanan 3CQY. There was great participation all week, unfortunately there could only be one winner each day!

Special prizes, however, go to the following eight students who answered the question correctly all five days: Oscar Carruthers 2EL, Michael Hall 2EL, David Murphy 2EL, Sam O’Neill 2EL, Boris Slyusarchuk 2DL, Saskia Faull 3SO, Robert Meagher 5LR and Josh Williams 5CD. Well done to all participants!

BT Young Scientist Once again lots of Newpark students from First to Fifth year entered into the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition this year. Well done to all who entered: they put in a lot of preliminary work on a range of interesting subjects.

After Mid-Term two students, Jemima Turner and Anna Porter, were selected for the prestigious exhibition. We wish them both the very best of luck.

Check out www.btyoungscientist.ie for more information. Watch this space to hear more about their projects and how they get on.

Scifest Scifest will also be taking place later on this year and we encourage all students with an interest in science to get involved. The closing date for applications is Friday 13th March 2015.

For more i n f o r m at i o n ch e c k o u t

PRISM Maths Competition PRISM is a national competition for secondary school students which takes place each year during maths week. Prism is short for Problem Solving for Irish Second Level Mathematicians. The questions are extremely challenging and demand a high level of understanding of the mathematical concepts learned in the classroom and the creative application of these ideas. A small number of students from years 2 to 6 sat the two exams – Junior Level for 2nd and 3rd years and Senior Level for years 4-6. The Newpark students performed extremely well, with results comparing very favourably with those achieved across the country. All participants should be very proud of their achievement!

Special congratulations go to the top Junior Level mathematician at Newpark, Finn Larsen 2MT, and at Senior Level Ethan Hammon, 6EG. Congratulations to all participants!

Ellen Lawless, Newpark Maths

Have You Signed up for the Newpark App? Newpark has gone all hi-tech with the launch of a new school app.

This platform offers significant opportunities to enhance communication and engagement between parents, students and staff.

Once you’ve downloaded it and completed your user profile, you will receive personalised and timely information relevant to your subjects, ECAs, year group etc.

The app runs on both Android and IOS (Apple) operating systems and can be downloaded for free from either GooglePlay or AppleApp Store.

www.scifest.ie.

The Walton Club Congratulations to the following Second Year students who are participating in The Walton Science Club in Trinity College Dublin: Oisín Sullivan, Katya Lawler, David O’Byrne and Breno Keogh. It’s a Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) club. At the Walton Club members will work alongside STEM experts, in authentic STEM environments at Trinity.

To find out more about what these students will be doing check out http://www.tcd.ie/waltonclub/

TYPE Programme Trinity College are also running a number of science programmes for Transition Year students. Jemina Turner and Alister Tidey have applied to the School of Physics to participate in the popular Transition Year Physics Experience (TYPE).

This programme introduces students to nanophysics and astrophysics. www.tcd.ie/Physics/Outreach

Amber Programme Anna Porter has applied to participate in AMBER (Advanced Materials and BioEngineering Research) programme. It is a Science Foundation Ireland funded centre that provides a partnership between leading researchers in material science and industry. It is hosted in Trinity College by CRANN and the Trinity Centre for Bioengineering.

Karen Clark, Newpark Science

Watch out for Science Week events in Newpark in November 17

Young Adult Fiction: How Far is Too Far?

In September this year I was part of a panel discussing Young Adult fiction at the Mountains to Sea writers’ festival in Dun Laoghaire. The title of the event was Going Too Far? How far is too far in YA fiction? I had taken part in the festival last year as one of the Teen Curators of an interview event with author Patrick Ness and was delighted to be asked back by one of the festival organisers, Sarah Webb. Being an actual young person (!) and an avid book reader I was excited to talk about the books I’ve read.

The panel was chaired by Elaina Ryan (director of Children’s Books Ireland) and included David O’Callaghan (Children’s/YA buyer at Easons), Louise O’Neill (YA author of Only Ever Yours), Sheena Wilkinson (YA author of Taking Flight and Grounded) and myself. On the day of the event, we all met up for coffee and bagels first to break the ice, as we had only met through a few email exchanges over the summer.

Together then we all strolled into the venue, which was in the new DLR Lexicon Library.

After Elaina introduced us to the audience, we briefly discussed the history of YA fiction. David O’Callaghan noted that YA books have existed for a long time, but it’s really only in recent year that they have grown more popular and that the media has begun taking interest. He pointed to the relatively recent separation of ‘teen’ and ‘YA’ in Easons to allow for more grown-up books to fit in there, but in reality these more grown up books already existed and were read by teens. I added that I have been reading the Cherub series since I was twelve, and in one of the books there’s a particularly graphic drug-taking sequence. Admittedly the book had a ‘Mature Reader’ warning label but that’s an extremely vague term and very hard to define. With the Cherub books I was particularly worried by the ‘darkness’ in them and while these books also deal with other gritty issues, I thought it was almost educational. They definitely didn’t paint drug taking in a good light or encourage it so I got to experience a serious issue through the safe act of reading.

In a recent article in the Wall Street Journal entitled ‘Darkness Too Visible’ Megan Cox Gordan argued that YA fiction has indeed gone too far these days, with its hopeless endings and dark themes. She 18

suggests YA authors are normalising serious issues like self-harm or drug taking and may even “spread their plausibility and likelihood to young people who might otherwise never have imagined such extreme measures”.

Personally, I don’t think this warrants censorship of these issues as it is important to be aware of them. If some readers relate to these issues personally it could indeed help them as any reader knows the transformative force a good book can bring about. Of course the presence of something in a book doesn’t imply author endorsement.

And if you do find yourself disliking how an issue is dealt with in a book, this can be a good thing: one of the best ways to grow our own opinions is by reading books we disagree with.

Louise O’Neill added that she’d read Flowers in the Attic when she was younger and that titles of that kind were available to teens then even if they weren’t marketed as YA. She also made the point that teens often do view the world as a dark place which I agree wholeheartedly with. Anyway, just look at the news and you can see stuff that is much worse than what is found in books. At least you know books aren’t real.

Sheena Wilkinson noted that ‘dark’ content can be found in places other than books, for example TV soaps that regularly deal with very sensitive issues. In terms of writing for teenagers, Sheena’s ideal and imagined reader is 14+, even though she knows 12-year-olds may be reading her work. With Only Ever Yours Louise didn’t specifically set out to write a YA novel and didn’t censor herself, but also found she remembered very clearly what it’s like to be a teenager. Part of her book

deals with eating disorders and she tried to strike a balance between not “triggering” problems for readers and being honest. She also pointed out that simply being out in the world can be triggering, with things like celeb magazines and their fat-shaming ‘red rings’ on display at child’s eye level in newsagents and shops.

At least with a book you can put it down, and it’s a safe way of dealing with issues.

David noted that he has seen an increase of new covers of YA books which he called ‘Sexytime for young adults’ and proceeded to rant about how it’s the publishers who ultimately decide if a book is published as YA or not. If they are published for YA then they like to put attractive models on the cover (especially if there is romance in the book) as a way to get young people’s attention. He felt this was an insult to young people as they don’t need to be tricked into reading a book this way.

We then moved on to intended readership.

Louise added that while younger readers than she expected—11ish—have read her book, they tend to focus on the romance elements and not pick up on the more disturbing implications that concern older readers. She feels that YA authors don’t set out to glorify an issue. When Sheena was researching suicide online for one of her novels, she found the amount of unfiltered information available was very graphic and shocking. She suggested that teen fiction can actually create a safe space to explore difficult issues. David sees himself as an advocate for good books and noted that there are too many people with opinions on YA who haven’t even read the books. I agreed: you rarely hear from young adults on issues regarding YA. YA fiction is written by adults, published by adults, reviewed and criticised by adults and even the awards are picked by adults. All these adults are talking about what young people should and shouldn’t be reading without even consulting young people. Do we not get a say in it? Even in this event I was the only teenager among four adults. Believe or not, teenagers are smarter than we are given credit for and are capable of knowing what is suitable for us and what isn’t. I notice that adults often view YA novels as emphasising a teenager losing their innocence while to a young adult it is more about the acquiring of knowledge. We are learning and growing through reading.

Louise was asked by a number of editors to change the ending of her dystopian novel to suit a YA readership and to make her main character ‘spunkier’, but she was firm on both these things. She did tone down certain scenes which were a little too graphic but found that the pared-down versions were actually more

powerful, implying more rather than stating outright.

Sheena spoke about the issue with language in Taking Flight. It is set in the suburbs of Belfast and cursing was very common amongst the youths featured.

Despite being an award-winner, the novel was disapproved of in some schools. Surely if bad language is in a novel for a reason and makes a world more authentic, then if it’s not there it’s more problematic.

One expectation of YA is that there must be some hope in the ending, but Elaina pointed to recent Carnegie Medal winner The Bunker Diaries (Kevin Brooks) and asked the panel if endings with no hope fit within YA. We agreed that if it suits the story then it can fit within YA: when you’re young sometimes things do feel like the end of the world, so hopeless endings can echo back to you and feel very real. David pointed out there are things worse than bleak endings, for instance where the author clearly pulls back from letting anything too bad happen. Sheena spoke about how the rules of the world created in a novel affect how you view hopeless endings: in the case of Louise’s book the dark ending fits the world.

As we came to the end of the discussion, we all agreed that YA hadn’t gone too far and books are a safe space to address difficult and potentially upsetting issues. It would’ve been a little more interesting if we had someone on the panel who did indeed believe that books have gone too far in their material!

Once we got talking I almost forgot that the audience was there and would happily have gone on for longer than the hour and a half! It was great to be able to talk freely about this topic and really explore the different sides. I would definitely recommend reading any of the books mentioned, especially Only Ever Yours, which has been described as a feminist dystopia. It blew me away with its futuristic story which any young reader could relate to. All of the members of the panel were lovely and made me feel very included. I thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience.

Aaron Williams, Sixth Year

Coin your own Word One unusual visitor to the Writer’s Festival was a shed. Admittedly it was Dylan Thomas’s writing shed—but still, how often do you get to meet a shed on a world tour?

Writer Emily Hinshelwood is travelling with the shed and running an interesting competition people are invited to create interesting and expressive new words for the Dictionary for Dylan to be published in honour of the Welsh poet and his love of coining words.

On the day I called in, the latest words to make an impression were ‘mindbleach’ for writer’s block and ‘galleyfrazzle’ for a serious mishap in the kitchen. You can still enter your words online at dylanthomasboathouse.com Be playful, be rhythmic, be onomatopoeic, be brave. This is a chance to invent your perfect word, and see it published.

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The Magical Mystery Tour: Newpark Music Follows the Beatles

We (the Sixth Year music class) are studying The Beatles’ album ‘Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’ in music so we went to Liverpool for three days.

We visited everything there was to visit: The Beatles Museum, The Liverpool Cathedral, The Titanic museum, Liverpool One, an interactive space museum and much more.

The highlight for me was definitely the Beatles Museum. It was amazing. You are given a headset at the beginning so as you are walking around the authentic, exact replica rooms of the Beatles recording studios, the Cavern Club and others like this. You are listening to John Lennon’s sister tell you the story of the Beatles, their rise to fame and eventual split. The last room was an ‘Imagine Room’. It was completely

white, there was a white grand piano in the centre, a guitar, a photo of Lennon and the lyrics of ‘Imagine’ written in silver along the wall. On the opposite 20 wall, there was a big collage of all different, yet

ordinary people with the words “The World Will Live as One’ written at the bottom. I think we all agreed afterwards that the room itself was such a powerful image.

Another highlight was going to see a musical ‘The Jersey Boys” in Manchester, which was about ‘Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons’, a band from the sixties. It was brilliant, very funny and we knew all the songs so that made it accessible to everyone.

Overall, it was a brilliant trip, I enjoyed everything that we did—even the bits that I was initially not sure of were great! If you are ever in Liverpool, definitely go to the Beatles Museum as it is brilliant.

Anna Richardson, 6EG It was three action packed days from the minute we got the plane at 4am Monday morning until our return at 11pm on Wednesday night. Our first visit was to the World Museum, which had an excellent Ancient Egyptian section. I loved seeing all the old artefacts - they even had some well-preserved mummies. For me the most impressive thing was a small piece of a Book of the Dead that was over 5000 years old on display and still legible.

The Liverpool Museum told the whole history of the city. Did you know the Liverpool accent that we know only came about in the last 150 years because of the huge Irish populations in the city? Liverpool Cathedral contains one of the five largest working pipe organs in the world with just over 10,267 pipes. We were lucky enough to get the chance to walk up to the choir balcony, put on headphones and listen to the choir rehearsing: it was breathtakingly beautiful.

The second day was my favourite. We started with the Beatles Museum at Albert Dock. You are

given an audio headset as you walk around, tracing the history of the band and with an emotional finish in the John Lennon room - all white with the lyrics of Imagine on the walls. We had lunch at Albert Dock before the Magical Mystery Tour: a bus tour visiting key places associated with the Beatles.

The tour guide’s commentary was interspersed with their music. We visited the houses they grew up in, places from their songs like Penny Lane and Strawberry Fields and finished up in the famous Cavern Club where the Beatles played over 200 times during their early years.

Last Gig I Went To Watsky On the 28th of September I went to The Academy with two of my friends to see my favourite artist, Watsky.

Watsky is a hip-hop rapper and spoken word artist from America. I had seen Watsky last year too - this was only his second time playing in Ireland.

It was an amazing night. Watsky gave an electrifying performance; the whole place was full of energy as he did one song after another. He also performed some of his slower spoken word pieces which were interspersed with his faster songs. For an hour and a half I forgot all about school and was just enjoying the moment, focusing on this fine night.

Going to school the next day was a little depressing after the amazing night before!

Aaron Williams 6EG

George Ezra

To finish the day we went to Manchester to watch the musical Jersey Boys about Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons. It was definitely one of the best musicals I have seen; the dancing was so slick and the music was all performed to a high standard. Oh What A Night!

On the last day we went to the Titanic Museum—a good majority of the Titanic crew were from Liverpool. It was interesting, emotional and a real eye opener—I strongly recommend a visit.

Afterwards we got a ferry across the Mersey with a lovely view of the city. Later at the Spaceport my favourite part was watching some teachers and students on a camera while they were bumping around in a virtual simulator! Shopping in Liverpool One was a nice way to end the day.

It was a great trip altogether and made me really appreciate the Beatles. Aaron Williams, 6EG

Myself, Siobhán and April went to see George Ezra perform in the Academy on Monday 13th October.

George came out at 9 and opened with ‘Cassy-O’, an upbeat song from his album. He played for about an hour and a half including songs such as, ‘Budapest’, ‘Blame it on Me’ and even a cover of ‘Girls Just Want to Have Fun’. It was incredible! His booming voice sounded even more powerful live over his unique guitar and talented band.

After it finished, we got to talk to the support act, Rae Morris, who was also amazing.

We also congratulated Ezra’s incredible band on a great performance. Then, George himself came out to head to Belfast on the tour bus. Given that there were very few of us around fifteen - there at this stage, we were able to talk to him about the concert and his album. We showed him a cool video we had taken at the gig of him playing and squeezed in for a photo with him. He was really appreciative of us coming and was more than happy to chat to us. Siobhán was even given his plectrum!

Overall, it was the most amazing gig - one of the best (and definitely my favourite) I have ever been to! I’m so glad that we had the chance to go and I know next time he’s playing I won’t even hesitate to buy a ticket, especially if they’re only €17.50 again! To be honest, I wouldn’t mind paying more to see him as he’s definitely worth it.

Anna Richardson, 6EG

TY Arts Collective The Transition Year Arts Collective has created a website to display their own projects and champion the work of other artists around the school. Check it out at www.abstractabsence.wordpress.com 21

News from the Far Side!

The class of 2014 report from their new lives at Third Level

Since their Leaving Certificate results, the class of 2014 have moved on to a variety of exciting things like travelling, working and going on to further education.

Here’s some college feedback from a sample few.

time and I would really recommend that you keep an open mind on going abroad for college.

Niall Sherlock

I’m studying Drama & Theatre Studies at Trinity as it’s quite a broad course that will prepare me not only for acting but directing, writing, producing, technical aspects and academia etc. I do not have to specialise and will come out with a broad set of skills.

It has been very interesting with a lot more reading than expected and much more academically focused than people might imagine. We have just finished our first module, Performance Analysis, and have started Gender and Sexuality studies. The Performance Analysis module included topics like Semiotics, the science of signs and how we interpret them, and Ideology, the study of our subjectivities and how we interpret the world.

I would recommend this course for anyone interested in Drama but not specifically thinking about acting. Be prepared for academic work too. We only have eleven hours, but are expected to do a good bit of reading. If you are not interested in Technical Theatre and are thinking of taking another subject with drama I would recommend that. The only extra classes for people who take drama on its own are two hours of Technical Theatre and two hours of Performance class.

An interesting fact is that the head of the department gives free tap dance classes—they’re great!

I am doing a course called Politics, Psychology, Law and Economics in the University of Amsterdam. I knew from about the middle of Fifth Year that I wanted to study abroad. I picked this course in particular because it is so broad that you can do a lot with the degree. I didn’t want to be pigeonholed into a certain profession or even area of employment, because I didn’t (and still don’t) know what I want to do after college.

I picked a course in the Netherlands because they have relatively cheap tuition compared to a lot of other countries in Europe. Most courses here are €1900 per year, the cost of living in the Netherlands is pretty much the same as in Ireland, except that bars, restaurants, and clubs are far cheaper! I knew Amsterdam was a very vibrant and international city, with a really good way of life – perfect for a student!

It has been fantastic so far. There are only ninety two people in the entire programme. The topics are very interesting and the lecturers are extremely knowledgeable. There is a heavy workload and a lot is expected of you, but that is fine when it actually interests you. Our classes are held in a beautiful old building right in the centre of the city. The students are really friendly and almost everybody has just moved to the city so we’re all in the same boat.

Adjusting to living independently has been a bit of a journey, but I love it. If you come to study in the Netherlands your university will provide you with an apartment automatically (if you agree to their price!) so housing in your first year is not a problem.

For anyone already thinking about going to Cork, Limerick, or even Maynooth, you should check out the international programmes. They usually turn out around the same price as moving to another part of Ireland to study. It is a great experience and gives you the opportunity to really broaden your horizons. Also if you do choose to study in the Netherlands there is no bloody CAO system to worry about. The process of applying and getting accepted wasn’t too complex. I had to write a letter of motivation on why I wanted to do the course, a letter about myself, an essay exam on a topic related to politics, psychology, law, and economics and later an interview via Skype. Once accepted I needed six higher level passes in the Leaving Cert. including higher level maths. Most courses in the Netherlands have less strict entry criteria. Ms Crampton was really great in helping me through the application process.

Past pupils Zac Jungmann (2011) and Belle Edelman (2010) are over here too; I’ve met up with both and they are loving it. I am having a fantastic 22

Mark Ball

Eric Jordan The course I’m doing is Computer Science, French and Linguistics at Trinity. I chose to do it because I was really interested in doing computer science but I love languages and would love to be able to travel in the future. So far it’s been great. The stuff we’ve been doing is way more interesting than most things we did in secondary school and the work is much more rewarding. I would advise Sixth Years that the best way to get an idea for what a course is like is to go in to the college and shadow the course for a day. This way you get an idea of what the subject matter and college are like and you hear what the students themselves have to say about the course.

Kristin Nyquist I’m doing a music performance course at California Baptist University in Riverside, southern California because all of the adults in my life told me to do what I love, so I did. So far it’s been very positive. Most of my credits come from playing in groups which is great.

I love the course content and how practical it is. The music building politics have been difficult to get my head around. Sometimes it feels like Glee, which has been both really fun and really competitive. But overall, I love it and I’m glad I’m here. My advice for the Sixth Years is to study abroad! What I’ve found interesting is that Americans are shockingly friendly.

Natalie Pullen I’m studying Fine Art at NCAD this year and so far I’m loving it! We worked really hard to get in, completing the portfolio brief during Leaving Cert. year, but all the stress was so worth it. I’ve always been passionate about art and to have the opportunity to do it all day is such a privilege.

As well as painting, drawing and making all day long, one of my favourite things about NCAD is the friendly social atmosphere. It’s a smaller college so I’ve gotten to know people across all the years, everyone is really open and friendly and there are events on in the college every week. The social life is fantastic. That said, it’s no doss. We’re given a huge amount or work to do and tricky briefs to tackle in a short about of time, so if you’re planning on going here expect to have to work hard to keep up!

Overall NCAD is a really full-on experience; work-wise and socially it takes over your life in the best way possible. I would highly recommend it to anyone wanting to study art or design in Dublin, who’s been putting a lot of work into their portfolio. The very best of luck to anyone submitting a portfolio this year, hope to see you in college next year!

European Languages Day 26th September 2014 Friday the 26 September 2014 was European Languages Day. We decided to hold our own Oktoberfest (ohne Bier!) in school to celebrate the day.

Grace

Hill

4CBR

and

Erika McNerny 4CB

We did face painting which meant painting German flags and pretzels on peoples’ faces and hands.

Students from all years participated and it was good fun.

Thomas

Harkin

4TC,

Jane Shirley 4CBR and Deryn Casey 4CB

Colm Higgins My course: English Literature and Drama studies.

Why: Great career prospects.

What it has been like so far: Drama has been rather good. The drama lecturers are (probably by virtue of them being in the field of drama) a lot more charismatic and entertaining than the English lecturers. I’m reserving my judgment on English.

Advice for Sixth Years part 1: With regards to the leaving cert, (English in particular) I recommend reading some essays on literary theory. Vicktor Shklovsky’s ‘Art as Technique’ is a good place to start.

It helps when criticising literature to have some conception of why anyone would want to criticise literature. You have Shklovsky and the other Russian formalists to thank/blame for modern literary criticism.

Advice for 6th years part 2: Watch Orson Welles’ Othello. It’s very good and more PC than the Laurence Olivier version.

Advice for 6th years part 3: If you’re thinking of studying English, shtall over to Trinity and attend a few lectures.

Anything else interesting?: Yes, I’m currently writing an essay on the symbolism and mythology of mud in Thomas Ostermeier’s Hamlet.

Not really relevant, but interesting: I don’t know if anyone is studying 1984 this year, but if you are there is a rather disturbing connection between Big Brother and my second cousin twice removed, which I won’t elaborate on here.

Many thanks to Cathy Devis for instigating and collating this collection of articles.

It was really fabulous working with the candy floss machine serving our fellow students! The line was very long and everyone really enjoyed themselves.

We also had a chocolate fountain which was the most successful. We sold cups of marshmallows and strawberries which were then drenched in chocolate from the fountain.

Everyone enjoyed their day

and there was a great turn out.

Ben Mayberry 4CBR

I organised ein Fuβball Wettbewerb in the form of a penalty shootout which First and Second Years took part in. Congratulations to the winner, Leon from First Year.

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A Word from the PTA The PTA committee hit the ground running this term with involvement of PTA members in backstage support, catering and ticket sales for Newpark Drama’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream in St Enda’s Park at the end of August. The PTA is always delighted to support the many extra-curricular events that are going on in the school, both financially and from a manpower point of view, and this event was a pleasure to be involved in. The young cast and crew were sensational, and the setting of St Enda’s Park (and House) made it a really unforgettable production. Congratulations to all involved but particularly the amazing production team of Cathy Devis, Anna Johnston, Amy Keating, Hayley O’Keeffe and Josh Johnston and thanks to the PTA members Leontine, Liz, Sinéad and Becky.

Without pausing for breath we were into our next event of the year, the Wine Reception which the PTA hosts for outgoing Sixth Years, their parents and families, before the Debs Ball. This year it was held on 10th September in Kill of the Grange National School as we were still obviously without a venue of our own to host it in. A team of PTA members, led ably by Michelle, decorated the hall and organised drinks and nibbles for about 400 students, staff and guests. It was great to see the students, to hear what they are all up to, and of course to admire the style!!

The AGM of the PTA was held on in Kill of the Grange NS on the 24th September. A small but enthusiastic audience were given the lowdown by Mr Lowry on how the school building was progressing and a short introduction to the work of the PTA and how important it was to get involved! We must have done something right because a large number of volunteers signed up afterwards to join the committee! Having said that, we are always delighted to have more volunteers—send your details to pta@newpark school .ie The first Committee meeting of the year took place in October and saw the election of a new Chairperson, Becky Johnston. Huge thanks need to be given to the outgoing chair, Ian Gemmel who has been inspirational in his commitment to the school and the PTA. The next events on the Calendar are Parent Evenings for the Junior Cycle years, starting off with a social evening for First Year Parents on November 19th, followed by one for Second and Third year parents on Weds 26th

November. The aim of these evenings is purely social, a way of meeting some of the other parents in your child’s year and having a glass of wine and a chat. Further details (time and place!) of these meetings will be sent to the relevant parents by email/text closer to the date.

Hope to see lots of you then.

Two important PTA related events happened towards the end of the summer term.

One was the spectacular Art and Collectibles Auction which was the brainchild of Ross O’Sullivan, a very recent past pupil (2013). Ross contacted the PTA fundraising subcommittee with the idea for the auction and offered his services both as valuer and auctioneer. The fundraising committee, and in particular Sinéad Shortall, worked incredibly hard with Ross and in a very short time frame produced an online catalogue of items and organised the auction which took place in the Royal Marine Hotel on 25th May. Thanks to all the parents, past pupils , teachers and friends of Newpark who donated items, and of course thanks to those who came and bought—all of whom had a great night and went home with bargains galore! The night raised in the region of €6,000 and was such a success that it is hoped to repeat it in the next year or two.

The second event was the PTA Uniform recycling sale which occurred in the last week of May. We have been organising this for the past couple of years and it has been very well supported and is of great help to incoming parents. The key issue is to get the uniform donations (clean and in saleable condition) from the outgoing Third Years before they disappear off to study for their Junior Cert! We will make a concerted effort this year to remind parents by email/text a month in advance and there will be drop off points in the school. Not only do incoming parents benefit but the sale raised over €700 this year—well worth the effort!

With the first stage of the building project fast approaching completion it seems timely to remind people that the Buy a Brick Build a Future campaign is continuing and with one final push we might just reach our target.

Log onto the Newpark School website to buy your Gold, Silver or Bronze Finally a reminder that tickets for the Christmas Raffle will go on sale shortly and the draw will be held after the Carol Service in December. Thanks to all who have donated fabulous prizes and please, please support the raffle by buying tickets yourself and selling to your family and friends!

Becky Johnston

Newsletter edited by Anna Johnston Thanks to all our contributors Please email contributions for the next issue to newsletter@newparkschool.ie

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