Senior School International Christmas Newsletter

CHRISTMAS NEWSLETTER December, 2023

MEMOR “TO BE MINDFUL”

Headmaster’s Note This year witnesses the largest groups of International students that we have had the pleasure

of hosting in St Gerard’s School. We have been truly blessed with the rich talents, personalities, and engaging exuberance that each and every one of the students have brought to St Gerard’s.

Each student brings their unique personal attributes so as to leave our St Gerard’s School community enriched as a result of their visit to us. All of our International students are a credit to their parents and

their schools. I am very proud with the manner in which the students have settled into our school and I thank them for their energy and enthusiasm since September.

I have no doubt that the students are looking forward to an enjoyable and fun filled Christmas, concluding

with our Carol Service on 22 December. I wish you and your families a safe and happy Christmas and a very healthy and prosperous New Year!

Oíche Nollag Máire Mhac an tSaoi (1922-2021) Le coinnle na n-aingeal tá

The sky tonight is lit with the

Tá fiacail an tseaca sa

The bite of the frost is in the

an spéir amuigh breachta, ghaoith ón gcnoc,

Adaigh an tine is téir chun na leapan,

Luífidh Mac Dé ins an tigh seo anocht.

candles of Angels, wind from the hill,

Raise the fire and get yee to bed,

The son of God will lie in this house tonight.

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By Lis Aguilar, TY, Mexico

2023

MY EXCHANGE EXPERIENCE

From my short time here in Ireland all I can say to you is that it has been an incredible experience and that everything has felt incredibly new. When I decided to come on this exchange, I hadn't fully grasped the reality. I used to think that leaving to study abroad was a distant event so I forgot about it. But when the day to leave for Ireland arrived, it was surreal. My brain seemed to perceive it as a vacation, a week or two away, and that then I will return home with family, friends, and to my school. However, when the plane touched down, reality hit me. I was about to meet my host family, and the next day, I would start school in a whole new country, literally on the other side of the world.

Everything from the outset was unusual and something I wasn't accustomed to. In Mexico, I had my group of friends, a daily routine, like going to tennis classes, hanging out with my friends, being with my family, and having my parents take care of everything for me. But when I arrived here, it was undeniably strange. I only knew one person, Pablo. I had never felt the need to socialize much before, especially in a new school. Being "the new student" was a completely new experience for me. Imagine trying to make friends while you don’t speak the same language. In my case, I get shy easily, and it makes me nervous. When I'm nervous, I stumble over my words in English or forget the words I know I understand. This experience was a leap out of my comfort zone in every aspect. For example, in Mexico, we had people that help us at home. I thought that was normal, and I assumed it would be the same here in Ireland. But when my agency told me I had to make my bed and organize my things, it was something that may seem normal to all of you, but it was something I wasn't used to.

Being in a new school with new people, in a different country, with a different language, a different educational system, without my family, and not knowing many people is simultaneously exciting and strange at the same time. In my case, everyone keeps telling me, "this year will be the best year of your life," and I genuinely hope it will be. Of course, I have come to Ireland to improve my English, but also I have come to have fun, make new friends, and create memories I will cherish for a lifetime.

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RUGBY IN IRELAND

By Nicolas Viguer 5th Yr, Spain

“ In Spain or in Ireland is that after a match even though we have fought, we always treat each other as if we are one friendly, fun family.”

Is rugby in Spain as good as rugby in Ireland? Right now I don’t have an answer but I can give you an idea from my experience.

Rugby in Spain is not as popular as rugby in Ireland. Before coming to Ireland I played rugby for two years at Valencia Rugby Club, a Spanish team that is among the 8 best teams in Spain in the Under 18 category.

I came here to Ireland to study and play rugby and I have realised that the level of play that I am seeing and the one in Spain are very similar. The plays that each team makes and the style of play are different of course. But the level of each teams are very much the same. The Spanish team would beat St.Gerard’s Senior 3 without any problem. Because the Senior 3 is a team with bad tackling but their plays aren’t bad at all. But the Spanish team would beat them easily. To the Senior 2 and Senior 1 I can’t tell you an opinion but I think a match between the Senior 2 and Valencia would be an even match but I still think Valencia would win the match. But in a game between Valencia and the Senior 1 team the Senior 1 would win the match because they are as big as an elephant and in Valencia they aren’t that big. But I think Valencia would be close to seizing the crown.

In the team I’m playing in Ireland the game is more physical than my team in Spain. The style of play of my Spanish team is much more organised than the Senior 3 that is the team I'm playing in right now. But one thing that I always see in rugby and it doesn’t matter if it’s in Spain or in Ireland is that after a match even though we have fought, we always treat each other as if we are one friendly, fun family.

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By Sofia Lanucza.

5th Yr, Mexico

2023

LIVING WITH A HOST FAMILY “A year without parents, without rules, without stops, a year to enjoy and do everything you want.” That is how people paint an exchange year, but honestly it isn’t entirely true. Spending a year away from home and your parents can seem very exciting. Living without an authority that tells you what to do and what not to do. Not having tasks or responsibilities and going out every day.

That is how I was told an exchange year will be, but when I arrived in Ireland from México, after 13 hours of flight, cold hands from the change of weather and tears in my eyes because of all the goodbyes, I did not think that. I remember the nerves I had before coming, the idea of arriving in a totally different country and culture, with a different family, really scared me.

In my experience the host family I am staying with has helped me a lot. They are a very united family, which to a certain extent makes me feel like another member of the family. They are very respectful and kind people, they give me my space but at the same time they let me know that they are there for me. They make me feel loved and lucky, almost as if I were at home. However it does not disappear the feeling of missing your country, friends and most important, your family. But it is true that living this experience will help you be more aware of the things you have in your own country and be grateful for them, as much as your host family teaches you new things, and helps you to grow up.

Personally, I feel that I have become more grateful for everything I had in Mexico because I think I had taken advantage of it. I realised how much it matters to be at the table talking about your day with your family, to spend more time out of home with my family and to live every day to the fullest.

And vice versa, I will enjoy every day with my host family and my Irish friends, because at the end of the day time is running out and the sooner I realise it, I will already be missing Ireland from Mexico.

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BY GUILLERMO CASADO, TY, SPAIN

2023

TY CAMPING TRIP On Wednesday the 13th of September we set off on our camping trip to Lough Dan in Co.Wicklow. I was really excited to know what was going to happen there and if I was going to have a great time there or not.

When we arrived, we set up our tents. Fortunately, it was easier than I expected. Later on, we had lunch, I didn’t have to cook anything because I brought it from home. After a while, we went for a walk by the mountains. The landscape was really beautiful because we could see the lake and behind it loads of mountains. We walked around five kilometres which is not too much. Then, we came back to the camping zone and we made our dinner. With the help of Alex I had a delicious sandwich of sausages and a fried egg. I really enjoyed it! After, some students made a campfire where we stayed for two hours because it was not cold there. At the end of the day, we were speaking and playing music before going to sleep. On Thursday, we woke up when the sun rose at 7 am.

When I woke up I realised that a part of our tent was wet but fortunately my clothes were in a safe and dry place. Secondly, I went to have breakfast with Alex, who was my fellow of tent. We had some tasty toasts with Nutella and I also had a banana.Then we prepared our lunch because we were going to have a really large walk for more than 4 hours. After a while we started to walk and we didn’t stop until 2 hours later. Being honest the landscape this time was not beautiful and the ground was full of sheep’s poop! We made a stop to eat our lunch and then we went back to the camp to prepare our stuff to go home. I was very sad about going home one day early but thinking safely it was the best choice we could make. Our last activity was tidying up our tent and eating a burger our teachers gave us.

I really enjoyed this experience because I met a lot of people and I had a great time with my friends while cooking or doing some different activities. This experience challenged me because we had to sleep in an uncomfortable place while being cold and because we had to cook our own food with gas. I learnt new skills such as cooking with gas and sleeping almost on the ground while being freezing. These skills will help me in the future if I go on a camping trip again or something similar.

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INTERNATIONAL TRIP

By Gabriela Baquer TY, Spain

On Thursday 5th of October, the international students went on a school trip, which was fabulous.

First of all, all the international students took a bus to Powerscourt House and Gardens. We bought some hot chocolate and food, and we started with a short talk about the history. It was fascinating, the house was over 400 years old and the Gardens are the third most beautiful in the world. After the talk, we visited the beautiful grounds and took in the views of the palace,. It is a very handsome building. We also got to go up a very tall tower called the Pepper Pot that the owners used to play in as children. It was fun but I was scared of the height. Later, we walked around the various sections of the garden. It was gorgeous, because it had amazing trees and plants that made everything look like a dream. There was a Japanese Garden, a Secret Walled Garden, a massive water fountain and even a special place where they buried their pets. To end this visit we bought a baguette and some Spanish ham, which I enjoyed a lot.

Secondly, we went to Glendalough, I liked this part of the trip because of the walking with my friends, chatting about interesting things. I had already visited this historic place when I first came to Ireland but it was just as beautiful.

To end the trip, we stopped in a food truck, where I bought hot fries and I shared with my friends and the teachers.

Finally, it was a really good trip, which I would like to repeat, because I had a really good time with my international friends and it was great getting to see the lovely place where we go to school and more of Ireland.

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By Carlos Garcia.

5th Yr, Spain

2023

SCHOOL IN IRELAND AND SPAIN Do you think High School in Ireland is easy? Well, I don’t think so! At least in the fifth year. This is because many things that I am learning in class are new. In addition, I have the extra challenge of learning a different language.

However, I think that it will stop being as difficult in a few months, or at least I hope so!

St. Gerard’s I thought was going to be a fairly strict school, although I could not expect less from a school with such a good image. I was also a little surprised that my uniform is dressed as a suit but from what I understand all the schools in Ireland are the same! Although I don't have as many subjects or homework as in Spain, the exams will surely be complicated because everything we have given in three months will go into six exams during the first week of December. I will still face them with determination and I am sure that I will be able to deal with them.

I would like to study to be an engineer, which is what I would like to do so I am grateful for school my experience in both Ireland and Spain.

Despite the differences between my school in Spain and Ireland. They have lots of similarities. Both schools try to help me achieve my goals. Both schools love sports. Both schools have helped me with my learning such as passing all the subjects and most importantly are preparing me for the most important part of my future, going to a good university. I would like to study to be an engineer, which is what I would like to do so I am grateful for my school experience in both Ireland and Spain.

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BY MENCIA PONTE , TY, SPAIN

MADRID- BRINGS YOUR SENSES TO LIFE! When I get up in the morning I love the way it smells. It's a mix between the smell of freshly made toast, scrambled eggs and my mother's perfume, as she wears it in the mornings before going to work and leaves the house smelling like it. In my opinion, I think that a person's perfume is a very personal scent, as each person wears a different one. As my mother is a very important person to me, I love it when she leaves the house smelling of her perfume.

In the mornings, when I walk out the door of my house, there is a park. Just to the right there is a plant called lavender, which is purple and gives off a beautiful smell. .

Next to the lavender are some red roses. When the smell of lavender and roses come together, they produce an incredible smell. That smell wakes me up in the morning and gives me a lot of satisfaction.

When you walk a few streets ahead, there are some cafes and bakeries. Whenever I pass by in the morning it smells of freshly baked bread and coffee. It makes me feel really good to walk down that street because I always see super happy people with their coffee in their hands and headphones on listening to music.

At mid-morning, the centre of Madrid is full of tourists every day of the year. Every time you walk through the centre you hear people talking in different languages.

You also hear the tour guides speaking in different languages explaining the historical context behind each monument. Sometimes I like to listen to the guides because they say interesting things I didn't know about my own city.

In the evenings, you can see the terraces of downtown restaurants full of people with unique and colourful dishes. It always smells great. There are usually live bands playing songs from my parents' era. Every time I walk past, you can see people singing and dancing of all ages with a smile on their face. It's a very family atmosphere.

In the evening, when it's time to go to bed, I love to watch the sunset from my terrace while talking about my day with my family. This time of the day is essential for me as we all eat dinner together after not seeing each other all day. I love the smell of my mother's freshly cooked dinner and the smell of all the flowers on my terrace. For me it is my favourite time of the day and one of the thing that I miss the most.

The smells, colours and flavours stay with you all your life because no matter how many years go by. The moment you feel again what made you happy at the time, it will transport you to memories of the past.

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KING LEAR A REFLECTION

By Tymoffi Korobets, 5th Yr, Ukraine

In the play "King Lear" by William Shakespeare, the main character, King Lear, becomes a tragic hero. He possesses numerous qualities that make him worthy of admiration, but ultimately these qualities lead to his downfall and, hence, tragedy.

First and foremost, Lear is betrayed by his own children, which brings immense disappointment and disillusionment into his life. Nevertheless, he remains selfless, noble, and wise until the very end. However, his pride and naivety result in him losing everything that is dear to him – namely, the love and respect of his children. Not only does he lose his friends and allies, but he also becomes homeless and helpless when his children refuse to give him shelter and patronage. As a result, Lear becomes the most vulnerable and lonely character in the play, and his fate inevitably ends in tragedy.

The tragedy of Lear lies in the fact that he falls from the high point of his nobility and wisdom, becoming a victim of his own mistakes and misjudgments. Tragic heroes typically possess great qualities, but the contradictory nature of these qualities leads to their eventual success and demise. Thus, it can be concluded that King Lear is a tragic hero because his qualities, which initially made him worthy of respect, became the cause of his downfall. Like many other tragic heroes, Lear was a magnificent and sensitive individual, but his pride and naivety veered him off his true course, ultimately leading to his woeful end..

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by Pablo Inchaustegui TY, Mexico

2023

GAMBLING TALK As part of our TY course we have been listening to many talks from people in the community who have important messages to share with us. One such talk was a Gambling talk from a man named Tony O Reilly. He came to our school on the 22nd September to speak to the whole of Transition Year. He talked to us about his experience with gambling and his betting life. He told us the dangers that gambling and betting games can have and the effect of losing those games. The first time he made a bet, he was 16 years old and the bet was successful so he liked it. This one act led him into the world of gambling for many years.

“all things in life have risks even if we cannot see them” Tony started gambling more and more to the point of creating a betting company. It was going so well but he wanted more and he asked for a loan from the bank. The bank gave him the loan and he used it to set up a bet shop in the city. While it sounds good, it was the worst idea for a gambler to own a betting shop. This decision meant he was betting all the time, he couldn’t stop. He thought he would be able to pay back the bank with wins from gambling, but no. Instead, he lost all his money and he couldn`t pay the debt to the bank so he got arrested and taken to prison for 4 years without his wife and daughter.

After that he realised how serious his gambling addiction was and he began to learn about gambling and he started sharing his experience so other people don`t do the same. I think the school invited him because sometimes we do not think before making actions. And one small action can have a big consequence.

From this talk, I learned that all the things in life have risks even if we cannot see them. And also that always family is the most important thing in the world and you must consider them in every decision we make.

This talk was very helpful because it will help me in the future to think before I make decisions and has also made me more cautious about gambling when I am older.

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By Marina Gonzalez, TY, Mexico

2023

SELF DEFENSE COURSE

From Monday 13th to Friday 17th of November,we had the opportunity to take part in a self-defence course. The first day we had the technical part, a half-day talk about all the risks that we can encounter and how to identify dangerous situations.

The instructor, named Darag,h showed us a slideshow that had statistics and records of the dangers that we can encounter on the streets. With the objective of making us aware of them. Examples we discussed were : armed robbery, attacks and assaults. He also showed us videos of real attacks and why attackers choose their victims. We also learned how to identify red flags of strangers that most would most likely approach us in social spaces. These flags were if they were too nice, when they want to bring you to a second location, or they are in your personal space.

This was very interesting and good to know for future.

The second day we had the practical part of the workshop that lasted the whole day. The same instructor taught us manoeuvres that we can make to damage the possible attackers. The most important thing to me was learning how to stay calm and manage my emotions in dangerous situations. We learned that it is really important to know what the attacker wants, such as your valuables. If it’s your valuables, then you should give it and try to escape, but if they are trying to hurt you, defending yourself is the optimal choice.

We learned techniques like the hammer, elbow and knee punches, head shots and how to get out of situations when somebody puts a gun on you, when they have a stabbing weapon and when they pull your hair. The most important thing in these situations is to never get on the ground and to maintain your balance.

We also got the chance to practise our fighting skills one versus one. It was a lot of fun getting to fight our friends.

To finish, on Friday, we reviewed what we did on the week and had a little exam about the things we learned.

The exam consisted of doing all the exercises we learned on Wednesday, 50 of each, and in between them we sprinted to the other side of the sports hall and did some physical exercises. It was burpees, sit ups, abs workout and push ups. This was really tiring but we had a lot of fun.

Overall, I loved this workshop because I think the things that we learned will be important and I will remember them my whole life. I’m happy that I got the opportunity to take part in this experience.

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By Santiago Miranda, TY, Mexico

2023

NELSON MANDELA A SIGNIFICANT LEADER Nelson Mandela, born on July 18, 1918 in the tiny town of Mvezo in Umtata, then part of the Cape Province of South Africa, would become one of the most emblematic figures of the global struggle against apartheid. His story was marked by a strong commitment to justice, balance and the pursuit of a united and democratic South Africa.

Mandela's early life has been marked by the cultural and social dynamics of South Africa. Mandela's commitment to justice was initially evident in his career as he actively participated in anti-apartheid occupations and ultimately became a founding member of the African National Congress (ANC).

“ Mandela's essential journey encapsulates the battle for justice, balance and human dignity” Mandela's release from prison marked a defining turning point in South Africa's narrative, laying the groundwork for negotiations to dismantle apartheid and establish multiracial democracy.

In a historic moment, Nelson Mandela took office as the first black president of South Africa on May 10, 1994.

In short, Nelson Mandela's essential journey encapsulates the battle for justice, balance and human dignity. From his early anti-apartheid activism to his presidency and post-presidential occupations, Mandela's legacy is an unwavering commitment to the beginnings of democracy and human rights. The Nelson Mandela effect extends far beyond the borders of South Africa and leaves an indelible mark on the universal quest for a more just and equitable world.

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By Alex Queralto, TY, Spain

2023

MY F1 RACING DREAM Driving is my passion. The reason is because my father does rally races. He drove the Dakar rally, the last time he drove was in 2020. The Dakar is the most difficult rally competition in the world, but when he was young he completed lots of different rally races and he won a lot of them.

I started karting when I was 7 or 8 years old but I stopped karting because of a mean coach who shouted at me until I was 13. Then, I started doing races when I was 14. I had my first race in València. I was so bad that in qualifying I came in last place, but in the race I advanced past 5 people. I really loved it. It gave me such a thrill! Then 3 months later I had my first European race.I had to go to Spain to train and I did well in my practice races, even when it rained, like in Ireland,I was fastest. Overall, I was in the top 12 and then the top 8. Every weekend I trained and I was faster and faster so the next year I Won my first race of the year.

After this success, I went to the Spanish championship in Valencia and I made top 11 in the race. It is my best race up to this moment.

Here in Ireland I don’t compete in races because I am so far from Spain and my father said to me that school is my priority this year. But when I am older I want to be a professional driver. I think I am good enough to make a living being a driver.

However, the reality is that it is a very expensive, dangerous and difficult industry and one that many people also dream of being the best at.

Hopefully, one day you will see me driving F1remember me!!

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Stimulus Responses Brave- The Movie Students have been working on descriptive writing this term. They have been studying techniques of alliteration, similes and using a range of adjectives to describe images and scenes. Students were asked by their teacher Ms Eastwood to write a descriptive paragraph about the image to the left, from the Disney movie, Brave. Below are excerpts from their wonderful work! Well done everyone!

In the picture, I can see a girl with curly ginger hair and a long light blue dress. Behind the girl, there is a big brown bear with small eyes and a large neck. Also, behind the bear there is a black horse with a white stripe in the middle of his face. It has three little brown bears on a brown blanket on the horse’s back. In the landscape there are lots of beautiful trees and flowers. At the back of the picture is a big castle and in front of the girl there is a small river running through the forest that is full of rocks.

Olivia Poinsot 2nd Yr, Spain

Jaime Fuentes 2nd Yr, Spain

Merida has with her a bow and arrow, walking along a path that seems magical with a lot of vegetation of different colours, mysterious creatures and a pretty river that gently passes by its sides.The sky is like a gem with a pink and purple colour and white fluffy clouds behind. Far far away we can see two small mountains with a beautiful green layer. Behind her there is a really big and brown bear with white sharp nails and his face has an air of confusion, as if he doesn't know what's going on! His fur seems to be super soft, like the one of a teddy bear. Behind is an impressive and majestic horse. On his beautiful black fur he is carrying three cute baby bears in a big blanket, maybe with the intention to sleep.

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“The forest is quiet, there is a little breeze with the smell of the wet, long grass and sweet, colourful flowers. The river runs fast and the water is as clear as ice, you can see little silverfish swimming.”

Matteo Pierdant 2nd Yr,Mexico

I see a red-haired girl walking with a bow and some arrows in a colourful forest with a lot of flowers of different colours. There are a lot of big green trees and a small river. There is a lake as big as a giant behind the girl, with many boats. The boats have large white sails. There’s also a big brown bear following the girl and a white and black horse carrying three small baby bears. They are sitting on a blanket looking frightened. The girl looks like she is curious and is following the glowing blue gems as she walks slowly through the forest.

Merida is a beautiful girl, she has curly hair and red hair, she has blue eyes, and she has a bow. There is a bear and a horse next to her. The bear looks very soft and friendly. The place where they are is very beautiful, there are many colours, flowers and trees. The place seems very calm, it seems like a place you can go whenever you want to relax and be at peace. You can tell that they are going on an adventure and they are having a great time. The bear looks confused and at the same time is playing with something and the horse looks tired, as if he doesn't want to walk anymore.

Sebastian Vega 2nd Yr,Mexico

Renata Robles 2nd Yr,Mexico

In the image we can see a big brown bear behind a beautiful princess with blue and ginger hair. In the forest on the right is a scary witch with a lot of flowers around her. On the left behind the bear is a beautiful black and white horse with three baby bears on his back. In the back of the photo on the right, there is a big old castle. Beside the castle is a beautiful blue sea with boats in the sky. There are big pink clouds.

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“A big, brown, hairy, fancy bear follows the red curly hair girl, making a lot of noise with her big and heavy paws in the fresh mud”

Paula Moral 2nd Yr,Mexico

It is a sunny and cloudy day. The forest is quiet, there is a little breeze with the smell of the wet long grass and sweet and colourful flowers. The river runs fast and the water is as clear as ice, you can see little silverfish swimming.

A young girl with messy, red curly hair and a long night blue dress is carrying an elegant bow and some long arrows while she walks through the forest following a tiny, bright blue light floating in the air.

A big, brown, hairy, fancy bear follows the red curly hair girl, making a lot of noise with her big and heavy paws in the fresh mud. The bear is wearing an elegant tin and golden crown with an emerald in the middle.

Behind the bear there is a pretty and fluffy dark horse that has three little bears on his back wrapped in a blanket and looking with curiosity at the blue trickling lights. You can see in the distance big Viking ships in the calm and salty ocean.

In the image we see a lot of things but the main thing is Merida, the girl who has red hair. She is wearing a green and beautiful dress, and we think she is going to hunt because she has a bow with arrows on her back. Behind her we can see a big, brown bear with very soft hair and a crown like a Queen. The bear seems like it might protect Merida. Behind the bear, we can see a brown horse with a white nose and three little bears sitting on its back. The place seems like a very natural place with green grass, flowers, rocks, trees, wood and a castle in the background. Also when we see the picture we imagine that the place has a very good smell because of the flowers and the river. The river runs free with a relaxing sound, as nice as music. At the very back of the photo we can appreciate some ships that are kind of battleships that are arriving into the castle.

Libe Suarez 3rd Yr, Spain

Santiago Rangel 2nd Yr,Mexico

In this picture we can see a beautiful and brave princess called Merida. She has got long, ginger hair and big, blue eyes like diamonds. Merida is wearing a large, blue dress with some gold drawings on it. Behind her there is a big, brown bear with really long nails. The bear looks scary but I think he is nice because they are walking together. Behind the bear, there is another animal, this animal is a black horse, it is not too big. The horse seems soft. On the horse's back are three baby bears resting and relaxing while they are walking.

They are wearing a brown blanket, maybe they are wearing this because the air is cold. In the background we can see three big boats with square white sails sailing on a large blue lake. To the left of the lake there is a really gigantic castle made of old orange stone, it might be the place where Merida lives. Around them there is a lot of nature with tall trees, lots of pink and blue flowers and there are small stones too. This picture is really colourful because of the green plants, the colours of the flowers and the blue of the lake. I really like this picture. It makes me feel relaxed and calm.

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“It is full with lots of beautiful flowers that feel like they could smell like honey even a thousand miles away”

Liova Estrop 2nd Yr,Mexico

The clouds have a pink colour and the sky is a beautiful purple colour.

The forest has a lot of trees and flowers.I can see a big, beautiful castle.I can also see a very pretty horse. It is black and he has 3 little brown bears sitting on his back. I see a big brown bear in front of the horse, in front of the bear is a beautiful girl. She has curly red hair, and wears a green dress. She has a big bow made of wood for hunting. The river is small and blue, Ican see a big ocean that is also as blue as a sapphire. I can see a small ugly house belonging to the witch.

In the image above, it seems like the weather is really wet, cold and fresh.

The river is quite small, but it refreshes the area and makes it look green and grassy. It is full with lots of beautiful flowers that feel like they could smell like honey even a thousand miles away. It is filled with trees, rocks and little creatures. There is a very big scary bear, with so much fur and very bad breath. It seems like it is an Irish viking village. We also know that the bear is a mother, because there is a horse that has three small bears. There is a girl with a very big and strong bow. She has curly, red hair. She is wearing an aqua dress, like the ocean, with a beautiful silky fabric. In the background you can see some big boats that are arriving at the island. The girl’s ginger curls are all messed up and look really spongy and fluffy, like candy floss .

Her horse on the other hand has very short and silky black hair.

Jessica Jimenez 2nd Yr,Mexico

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A word from Ms Donovan

In late August we warmly welcomed twenty-three students from around the world to join our school community- and what a wonderful four months it has been getting to know each student. Our international cohort for this school year have made a significant impression on their peers and teachers. Friendships have been formed which will last a lifetime and all students are working hard at developing their English and actively engaging in a new curriculum and learning experiences.

Each year I am impressed by the young men and women who embark on this international student adventure and the determination, dedication and vibrancy they each embody. And this year my admiration continues to grow. I have been particularly encouraged by the excellent contribution to sport that our students have made on the hockey pitch, rugby and soccer fields and tennis courts. Even in the gruelling, cold winter evenings the students are training and playing hard in representative matches for the school, for which they should be highly commended!

Also noteworthy, is the collegial atmosphere that the group have created among themselves, with each student continually showing solidarity, kindness and support to one another. They are doing themselves and their families proud.

We have had many special moments and trips so far, enjoying cultural tours, Irish Christmas traditions and many a cup of hot chocolate alongside conversations with friends!

I must thank all of their Heads of Year, teachers- especially Ms Eastwood-, coaches and support staff for supporting and welcoming them into our school over the past few months.

I hope you have enjoyed their reflection pieces and gained just a snippet of their experience since August! I look forward to sharing with the remainder of their Gerard’s journey with you in our June Newsletter. I hope you and your families have a merry Christmas and a 2024 filled with health and happiness.

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