Winter
News 2 0 1 4 As always the term has simply flown by! This year our fantastic Newsletter Team – headed up by Stephanie – has produced what I think is our most exciting and interesting Newsletter ever! A huge thank you to Ben Callan, Lucy Culliton, Tom Deveruex, Harry Dunne, Roisin Farrell, Sarah Lily Lynch, Sam Lynch, Jemima Ramsay and Roisin Treacy. This year the Newsletter Team asked would I agree to be interviewed instead of writing my usual Christmas message
and with some trepidation I agreed! But I needn’t have worried as I was ably interviewed by Roisin and Sam who came up with some very thoughtprovoking questions! So, just a brief word – Thank you, as always, to our amazing Junior School pupils, parents and staff who make our school such a happy place to be. I wish all of the families in our school the peace and happiness of the Christ child this Christmas and we look forward to blessings to come in 2015.
w with An intervierell
Dr. Far
What was your highlight of this term?
This term always has two highlights. Firstly, the very first day of term - welcoming everyone back after the long Summer break. It is lovely to see all of the children (and parents and staff!) looking so well and rested and ready for the start of the new school year. It is also such a delight to meet all of our tiny new Junior Infants – at the outset of their 14 year journey in St. Gerard’s school! And, of course, to greet our new Standard 6 pupils. And the end of this term is also such a special time. Christmas in a primary school is full of wonder, awe and excitement – from our Montessori nativity to the junior classes’ Christmas plays; and from placing toys under the tree for less fortunate boys and girls to our most moving and uplifting Carol Service on the last day of term – when our whole school community from Montessori to Leaving Cert gather together to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas.
What is your favourite time of year? Oh definitely Christmas! I love it!
What do you love most about Christmas?
I love about everything about Christmas! The excitement of Christmas Eve, Midnight Mass, hanging the stockings, Christmas dinner, the smell of the Christmas tree, the crackle of the fire, opening presents, the quiet of the crib, Santa Claus, good cheer........and most of all spending time with family and friends. My Mum was 90 this year and our whole family....including grandchildren (and one great-grandchild!) will gather at home on Christmas night. Christmas is that time of year when just for a short time everything seems right with the world.......
What is your favourite Christmas song?
Can I choose three?! .Driving Home for Christmas, Silent Night and of course O Holy Night sung by Kiri te Kanawa
What are your favourite things to do over the Christmas holidays?
Well before Christmas I love the frenzy of last minute shopping on Grafton Street where the lights are simply spectacular, and of course meeting friends, cooking, baking, wrapping and singing “Messiah” with the choir I’m in in the National Concert Hall. And after Christmas I love wrapping up warm for long walks by the sea.........a day at the races.............sitting beside the fire..... a glass of mulled wine..... old movies on tv......and a good book from the selection which Santa will hopefully bring!.
What was your favourite childhood Christmas present?
I was the youngest of 5 children and on Christmas morning at first light we would rummage through our stockings at the end of the bed. Then, after Mass and what seemed like a torturously long breakfast, we would line up outside the sitting room where Santa had left our toys.. My favourite memory was the year Santa left a red bike with a teddy-bear on the carrier......I still have Ted the bear!
How long have you been working at St. Gerards?
17 years.... I can’t believe how quickly the years fly by!
What is your favourite thing about St. Gerard’s?
It is hard to put into words but quite simply St. Gerard’s is a fantastic place to work. My favourite thing is the spirit of our school.....
staff, parents and children all working together in a happy, kind, caring and educationally progressive environment.
Do you enjoy your job?
I absolutely love my job. I can honestly say that I get up each morning and look forward to the day ahead. You never know what’s in store but one thing is for sure - being with 250 girls and boys all day ensures that there’s never a dull moment and each day is filled with learning and fun!
If you weren’t a Principal, what career would you have chosen?
Ooooh..........there are so many interesting careers out there.........maybe a human rights lawyer or actually politics has always fascinated me!
What was your favourite subject as a child? English and music. I love poetry and I adore listening to music.
What was your favourite sport as a child?
I wasn’t the most sporty girl in school! But I loved netball and swimming.
What was your first job?
I was a primary school teacher in Christ the King Girls’ National School in Cabra – which is in Dublin 7. I had 38 Junior Infant girls and I loved every minute of it!
Where do you see yourself in 10 years time?
Now there’s a question! My Dad used always say “don’t wish one minute of your life away” so I’ll just stay in the moment and be thankful for all the wonderful things that life offers each day...... I am truly blessed to be Principal of such a wonderful school.