Celebrating excellence at St Declan's College

(All photographs courtesy of Joe Gavin)

Website link: Frank Gavin Photography Dorset Street

Corn Uí Laighin Winner 2022

Alan Sijo being presented with the Corn Uí Laighin by Jo Curran (sister of Seán Ó Laighin).

This cup is presented to the student who receives the best overall results in the Junior Cycle examinations each year.

St Declan's celebrates students outstanding results in the Junior Cycle with Minister Paschal Donohoe TD

The Junior Cycle class of 2022 received their exam results on 23 Novemebr 22 - a full five months after sitting the final exam. The occasion was somewhat overshadowed. In school our Transition year students were away on work experience, our 5^th year students were sitting their term assessments, while elsewhere around the country the rush and preparation for Christmas was in full swing. The media even seemed to forget to cover the story with the usual headlines and news reports.

In many ways this year group had been forgotten amid the State Examination Commission’s bid to ensure that the Leaving Certificate was held and results published.

There was no allowance made in their examinations for the class contact time they had missed out on due to Covid-19 or enforced school closures. Students, very new to the secondary school system, had been plunged into a world of online learning when they had scarcely navigated the transition from primary school. For some that wasn’t even possible as they hadn’t access to a suitable device. They did not benefit from modified courses or a reduction in topics for examination, as the equivalent Leaving certificate students had. Many of the practical elements and CBA’s were excluded – areas where students shine away from the pressures of the exam hall.

In spite of all of this our students faced the challenge admirably.

Therefore, it was fitting last Friday to take time to mark the occasion and honour our students who received the highest grades in the Junior Cycle 2022. Eleven students in total received awards - each student who had scored over 1000 points, the student in each tutor class who received the highest grades and the student in the school who received the highest overall results.

It was very important that this occasion was shared with the parents of the boys. It is with their support and encouragement they have arrived at this point in their educational journey.

The award recipients were as follows:

Students who scored in excess of 1000 points

Tom Collins – 3 Carolan

Chris Roney – 3 Hamilton

Jamie King – 3 Joyce

Chinedum Ogochukwu – 3 Joyce

Ron Mathew – 3 Osborne

Class Winners

Jacob Thayil – 3 Carolan

George Kurian - 3 Hamilton

Matt Rian Dela Paz – 3 Joyce

Shone Saravan – 3 Osborne

Cathal O’Flynn – 3 Rice

Corn Uí Laighin winner 2022

Alan Sijo

Minister Paschal Donohoe

Guest of honour on the day was Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe TD who presented the awards to the boys. Paschal, as a past pupil, understands more than anyone the traditions of the school. Our holistic approach to education and working with each student to fulfil their potential is personified in him. He lives out our school charter each day through the work that he does and his approach to life. We are very grateful to Paschal for taking the time to visit St Declan's and making the occasion unique for the boys and their parents.

Corn Uí Laighin

The Corn Uí Laighin is presented to the Junior Cycle student who receives the top results in the school. It is named after a former teacher, Vice Principal and Deputy Principal of St Declan's College Seán Ó Laighin.

Class winners 2022

Students who achieved the highest results in the Junior Cycle in their class tutor group