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AlexPress December 2025

Principal's Update

Principal's Update - 19 December 2025
Barbara Ennis, College Principal

As we reach the final edition of AlexPress for 2025, there is a real sense of gratitude and pride in all that has been achieved across our College community so far this academic year. From the energy of the classroom to the busy playing fields and the Henrietta White Centre, to the drama and music rooms and all our classrooms, students and staff alike have poured creativity, commitment, and kindness into every week of term.

This edition captures just a snapshot of that work: academic milestones, co-curricular successes, leadership initiatives, and the many quiet moments of support and friendship that define daily life in Alex. 

It also reflects our ongoing commitment to opening doors and widening opportunities, whether through our scholarship programmes, our rich co-curricular schedule, or the many events that bring our community together.

As the year draws to a close, warm thanks go to all who have contributed to AlexPress: our students, our staff - most especially Sarah Flaherty, who curates and crafts each edition - our families who have shared stories, written pieces, taken photographs, and championed the achievements of others. This final issue is, above all, a celebration of you: a community that continues to uphold the best of the Alex tradition while looking to the future with confidence and optimism.

I wish every member of the Alexandra College community a peaceful, restorative break and a joyful time with family and friends. May the holidays bring rest, renewal, and plenty of inspiration for the year ahead.

I hope Santa is good to all of you and that you won't feel like Dumbledore, who says, “One can never have enough socks… Another Christmas has come and gone and I didn't get a single pair. People will insist on giving me books.”

- J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Calamity Jane Orchestra Call

Calamity Jane Orchestra Call
Dr Kalnins

We are looking for Violin, Cello, Guitar, Trombone, Trumpet, Alto and Tenor Saxophone players to join our orchestra for the TY Musical, Calamity Jane. Minimum Grade 6 standard desired. Dress rehearsal on 26 January followed by three nightly shows on 27-29 January 2026. Those interested should contact the Music Director, Dr Kalnins.

 

Update on the STEAM Building

Update on the STEAM Building
Barbara Ennis, College Principal

We are delighted to share the latest news on our new STEAM building — an ambitious and transformative project for the College. The architect’s impression below captures both the location and scale of the completed design, which has now been finalised following extensive consultation.  

Planning permission will be sought in the new year, and we look forward to keeping the College community updated as this exciting project progresses. This landmark development will significantly enhance our educational facilities and further enrich the character of our campus.  

As soon as possible, we will host a series of gatherings at the College to share the full details with parents, students, and our local neighbours. We can’t wait to bring this vision to life.

Architect's Impression of Alexandra College STEAM Building

Upcoming Key Dates

Upcoming Key Dates
Senior School

TY Information Evening for 3rd Year Parents

 Tuesday 13 January at 7 pm
1st Year Parent Teacher Meeting Thursday 15 January from 4:15 pm to 6:45 pm
Oide Programme Support CPD Day; no classes for Senior School Tuesday 20 January
5th Year Parent Teacher Meeting Wednesday 21 January from 4:15 pm to 6:45 pm

 

Christmas Hamper Initiative

Christmas Hamper Initiative
Juliette S (4J)

On Wednesday, the 17th of December, all Transition Year students came together to organise, decorate, and package Christmas hampers. The girls worked hard as a team to create these hampers, each form was assigned specific tasks to ensure the process was efficient, including wrapping and packing boxes. The boxes were filled with many delicious items like pasta, chocolate, coffee, soup, jam and other items. This was a wonderful opportunity for the students to give back to their community during Christmas time while making memories with their classmates too. The finished hampers were then sent to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVP). SVP is Ireland's largest voluntary social charity, which supports people across the country who are experiencing poverty and homelessness. The students were able to make a positive impact in the lives of others and also experience the joy of helping those in need.

A big thank you to our whole school community for their contributions to our Christmas Hamper initiative! We made 56 hampers this year from contributions across all form classes, which will be distributed between Alex Women's Charity and St. Vincent de Paul.

A large group of people, mostly young women, gathered in a room surrounded by numerous gift-wrapped boxes and bags, likely for a holiday or charitable donation event.
A large group of young women in school uniforms gathered around a collection of gift-wrapped boxes and bags, likely for a charitable donation or holiday celebration.
A large group of people, mostly young women, gathered around a collection of gift-wrapped boxes and bags, surrounded by a festive and celebratory atmosphere.
A large group of people gathered in a room, surrounded by numerous gift-wrapped boxes and bags, likely for a holiday or charitable event.
A large group of people, mostly young women, gathered in a room surrounded by numerous gift-wrapped boxes and bags, likely for a charitable donation event or holiday gift drive.
A large group of young women in school uniforms gathered around a collection of gift-wrapped boxes and bags, suggesting a charitable donation or gift-giving event.
A large group of people, mostly young women, are gathered around a collection of gift-wrapped boxes and bags, surrounded by a festive holiday atmosphere.
A large group of people, mostly young adults, gathered in a room surrounded by numerous boxes and bags filled with what appear to be donations or gifts.

Junior School News

This month's Junior School News features Christmas festivities in the Junior School and more!

Junior School News December 2025 

A large group of performers dressed in colorful, festive costumes stand on a stage, with a dimly lit audience visible in the background.

Filmmaking and Drama Update 2025

Filmmaking and Drama Update December 2025
Ms Rycraft

It’s been an exciting year so far for filmmaking at Alex. Our TY Filmmaking students and senior Film Society are hard at work creating short films for the Fresh Film Festival this January, with plans to showcase their work at the Alex Film Festival & Oscar Ceremony in May. 

This year, our intermediate DramSoc students have moved from stage to screen, devising and performing in a short film being produced by the senior Film Society — filming began this week in the school canteen. The students are also working on making some film trailers which will hopefully be ready for entry into the Fresh Film Festival in January.

Earlier this month the Intermediate DramSoc and some of the TY Filmmaking students attended the Fresh Film Showcase at the IFI. Ms. Rycraft had been invited by the Fresh Film Festival to join a panel discussion following the screening of Alexandra College’s award winning film ‘Disconnected’ which won Best School last year. The film was created by then-TY students Niamh Carty (5L), Bianca Busatto Balthazar (5L), Charlie Gorman (5M) & Emily Wrixon (5K).

Ms. Rycraft spoke from her perspective as a teacher, about the importance of filmmaking in schools, advice for schools considering introducing filmmaking and the many ways the process benefits students to share their stories. This was particularly relevant in view of the roll out of the new Leaving Certificate subject, ‘Drama, Film and Theatre Studies’

The visit was a valuable opportunity for our students to watch last year’s winning films and to hear directly from some of the student filmmakers, providing inspiration and insight for their own creative work in the future.

A group of young women in red uniforms standing in front of a building with a film festival sign, suggesting they are attending or participating in the event.
Two young women wearing bright red coats are walking down a street lined with trees and fences in the background.
A crowded theater auditorium with rows of people seated in teal-colored chairs, some holding snacks or drinks, and the walls lined with wooden paneling.
The image displays text on a dark background, indicating the director, editor, and camera crew for a production.
A group of people, some seated and some standing, gathered in a brightly lit room with colorful decorations and modern furniture.
A group of young women gathered around a table, celebrating with colorful decorations and a birthday cake in a cozy, brightly lit room.
A group of people, some wearing party hats, are gathered in a colorful and festive-looking room, with a camera set up in the foreground.
The image shows three people sitting on a stage, with a backdrop of what appears to be a wall or screen behind them.
The image shows a large projection screen displaying the title %22IQ&A%22 with silhouetted figures in the foreground, suggesting a film or presentation event taking place in a theater setting.
The image shows a movie theater screen displaying the Q&A logo, with several people seated in the foreground watching the screen.

6th Year Virtual Art Exhibition

6th Year Virtual Art Exhibition
Ms Clegg

This virtual exhibition showcases the work of our 6th Year Art students for their 2025 mock exams. Each student created two artworks in response to a chosen theme, exploring their ideas through personal interpretation and visual development.

6TH YEAR VIRTUAL ART EXHIBITION

A large group of people, mostly young women, gathered outdoors in front of a building with a brick wall and trees in the background.
A vibrant and colorful mural adorns the exterior of a building, featuring abstract shapes, patterns, and a large yellow bird-like figure against a backdrop of brick walls.
Three young women are singing together in a recording studio, with microphones and sound equipment visible in the background.
A handwritten setlist for a musical performance is displayed on a dark background, with various details and information about the event.
The image displays a visual representation of different music genres and their associations with the USA and UK regions, presented on a large screen.
A person wearing headphones and playing a guitar is sitting in a room with a dark background and various electronic devices.
A vibrant and eclectic display of music-related memorabilia, including posters, t-shirts, and other merchandise, fills the frame, creating an immersive and visually engaging environment.
A group of young women standing in front of a stone wall, with a sign for %22Penny Lane%22 visible in the foreground, surrounded by lush greenery in the background.
A black metal gate with decorative designs stands in the foreground, leading to a grassy area with a brick wall and lush greenery in the background.
The image shows a street sign for Penny Lane in Liverpool, with a brick wall and greenery in the background.
A large group of people, mostly young women, gathered outdoors in a park-like setting with trees and buildings in the background.
A decorative red metal gate adorned with festive wreaths and ornaments stands in the foreground, surrounded by a wooded area with bare trees in the background.
A dimly lit underground space with arched ceilings, filled with people seated at tables and a performer on a stage in the center, creating an intimate and atmospheric setting.
A brick house with a sign in the foreground indicating it as the proud home of the McCartney family, surrounded by lush greenery.

LC Music Trip to Liverpool

LC Music Trip to Liverpool
Catherine Leahy (5K)

On Wednesday the 10th of December, the 5th and 6th Year music students travelled to Liverpool, known as the World Capital of Pop. It has earned its title by being the homeplace of The Beatles, whose concept album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band features as part of our Leaving Cert Music course. All the girls were excited for two days filled with music, memories and Beatlemania!

Our first destination was a visit to the Liverpool Beatles Museum. This included an audio guided tour that told the story of the Beatles' rise to fame. We got to see some incredible artefacts from the Beatles' lives including posters advertising their shows, souvenirs from their world tours and even their iconic costumes from the album cover of Sgt Pepper as well as two of the French horns, and the original sheet music signed by all members. This experience heightened our understanding of the band and it was really amazing to see so many famous pieces of history in person such as the Casbah Coffee Club Piano which was also played by the Beatles. 

Later that evening we went to the Liverpool Empire Theatre to watch Matilda the Musical. The show was fantastic and undoubtedly we were all blown away by the talent on that stage, especially that of the young kids.  We were particularly impressed with the production and choreography, it was on a different level!

Day two began with checking out of our accommodation and walking to the British Music Experience. We took a self-guided tour to learn about over 70 years of  the British music scene through extensive collection pieces, instruments and memorabilia. We got to see The Spice Girls original costumes which were designed by Roberto Cavalli, original lyric sheets from Oasis, Coldplay and Adele.  Some of the aural parts of the tour allowed us to listen to the roots of rock and roll and jazz in the States and how it influenced the 1960s music of Britain and beyond.  In the audiovisual screens, we could see the correlations of world history and how it impacted music since 1945.  The tour ended with an interactive experience including a vocal booth, a virtual dance instructor and guided instrument lessons for strings and percussion. We all had so much fun trying these out. 

Next, we boarded the Magical Mystery Tour bus, which would take us around the city for 2 hours to see some of the most iconic and famous places associated with The Beatles. Our guide, Tony, was wonderful, even sharing some personal anecdotes of his connections to the band. We went to their childhood homes, where hundreds of their songs were written and got to visit the namesakes for two of their most famous songs, Penny Lane and Strawberry Fields. It was fitting that our tour concluded with a visit to the famous Cavern Club. The Beatles played 292 gigs here before they really took off.  When we got there, it was no surprise to hear a cover band playing more Beatles songs, it was a lot smaller than we expected and it’s in the basement of the actual building.

Our trip ended with some free time to explore the city, before we made our way to the John Lennon Airport to fly home.

We are all so grateful for the opportunity to go on this trip. It provided us with amazing insights to The Beatles’ lives and their impact on pop music. We had an incredible time and are so thankful for Ms Ross, Ms Qiao and Ms O’Sullivan for travelling and looking after us all. And of course a huge thank you to Ms Ross for organising such a great experience!

TY Market Day 2025

TY Market Day 2025
Ms Martina and Mr Manning

Transition Year students recently took part in an exciting and innovative Market Day, where the girls transformed the school into a hub of creativity and enterprise. Working in teams, students designed, developed and marketed their own businesses, selling a wide range of products to the school community.

From the initial planning stages to pricing, advertising and customer interaction, the students demonstrated impressive teamwork, problem-solving and communication skills. The day provided a valuable opportunity to experience real-world business challenges, including budgeting, competition and customer demand.

Market Day was a great success, with strong engagement from students and staff alike. It highlighted the confidence, creativity and entrepreneurial spirit of our TY students, while also reinforcing the importance of collaboration and initiative. Well done to all involved on a highly enjoyable and educational day.

A crowded indoor space filled with people in festive attire, including red and white costumes, gathered around tables and engaging in various activities.
The image shows several people gathered around a table, engaged in what appears to be a collaborative activity involving electronic devices and decorative elements.
A crowded indoor space filled with people in traditional costumes, with decorations and flags hanging from the ceiling, creating a lively and festive atmosphere.
The image shows a group of young women in red and white uniforms gathered around a table, engaged in what appears to be a craft or sewing activity, with various decorative items and materials visible in the background.
A large group of people, mostly wearing red uniforms, are gathered in a crowded indoor space, with a piano visible in the foreground.
The image shows a table covered in a red cloth, displaying various items such as jewelry, seashells, and a box labeled %22Mermaid Treasure%22. The background appears to be a room with wooden paneling.
A crowded indoor space with people in red and white uniforms, a grand piano, and various decorations and banners visible.

Res Round-Up

This month's edition of the Res Round-Up features the annual Boarder's Christmas Party, a trip to the cinema, and more!

Res Round-Up December 2025

A group of people dressed in colorful, festive costumes, including Santa Claus, are gathered in what appears to be a lobby or reception area with a large painting on the wall.

Fresh Film Hothouse Programme

Fresh Film Hothouse Programme
Ms Rycraft

The Hothouse program is funded by Fresh Film, RTE and Screen Ireland that supports upcoming filmmakers through guidance, training support and funding.

Catherine Cannon (6L) from the Senior Film Society was the lead actress in a new Hothouse film ‘Taylor Fay’ written and directed by Cian Conachy, who won best director at Fresh Film Festival 2024. Catherine met Cian through her involvement in the Fresh Film Festival, and the film was made in the last few months. It will premiere in the Dublin International Film Festival in February and will then be available to watch on the RTE player.

Best of luck to Catherine!

A young woman is seen holding a smartphone, capturing a video or taking a selfie in a dimly lit room with a lamp and furniture visible in the background.
The image shows a stage with performers in colorful costumes, including a person in a long white dress, against a backdrop of curtains and lighting equipment.
A smartphone camera is mounted on a tripod, capturing a person sitting in a cozy, colorful room with various decor and signage visible in the background.
A group of diverse individuals, including both adults and students, posing together in what appears to be an educational or professional setting.
A group of young people, likely a sports team, posing together in a gymnasium setting with a basketball hoop visible in the background.
A group of young female tennis players posing together in a gymnasium setting, with a basketball hoop visible in the background.
A group of smiling women, some wearing sports uniforms, posing together in what appears to be a sports facility or gymnasium.

TY Pickleball

TY Pickleball
Ms Martina and Mr Manning

Transition Year students recently took part in an engaging Pickleball introductory session, where they were introduced to one of the fastest-growing sports in the world. The session focused on learning the basic rules, skills and techniques of the game, including serving, rallies and court positioning.

Students quickly developed their hand-eye coordination, teamwork and communication skills while enjoying a fun and inclusive sporting environment. Pickleball proved to be accessible to all ability levels, allowing everyone to participate and build confidence on the court.

The introductory session was a great success, promoting physical activity, cooperation and enjoyment of sport. TY students thoroughly enjoyed the experience and gained valuable insight into a new and exciting game.

Thank you to the DinkingHub for all their time and effort in introducing Pickleball to the TY students. 

Sports Report December 2025

Sports Report December 2025
Mr Collins and Mr Groves

Football

Date

Team

Venue

Opponent

Result

Type

  

03 Dec 25

Girls-U18A

Away

St Kilians

Won : 5 - 0

League

  

12 Dec 25

Girls-U17A

Home

Loreto Foxrock

Won : 3 - 2

League

  
16 Dec 25 Girls-U15A Away Presentation Kilkenny Lost : 1 - 2 Regional Cup  
17 Dec 25 Girls-U18A Home St MacDara's CC Won : 5 - 0 League 5 - Anna Lily Farrelly (5J) 2 - Blathnaid Conroy (6K)
18 Dec 25 Girls-U14A Away Gorey Community School Won : 2 - 0 Regional Cup 2 - Rachel H (1R)

 

Hockey

Senior Hockey  

All our Senior teams will resume their league campaigns after Christmas; it will be a busy January. Sadly our Senior 1s bowed out of the cup losing at the quarter final stage 1-0 against Mt Anville. Our Senior 2s finish off pre-Christmas with an away trip to Muckross as they sit 4th in the league. Senior 3s rounded up their games with a 3-0 defeat to St Andrews after they had picked up 2 wins in November . They will resume in 3rd with a great chance of making the playoffs. Senior 4s have 2 wins from 2 after a great 2 nil win against Wesley last Saturday. 

Junior Hockey

Our Junior wins picked up a great 3-1 win over Rathdown last Saturday leaving themselves second in their league group. They will kick off their Cup campaign after Christmas at home to Kilkenny. Junior 2s scored a great win over Wesley this term to get them up and running. They will only have 1 more league game after Christmas. Junior 3s had a great 3-0 win over Foxrock and will have 2 more games post-Christmas. Junior 4s had no games this term but will resume with 2 games post-Christmas. 

Minor Hockey

Minor 1s progressed to the next round of the cup with a great 1-0 win over Loreto Dalkey. They will play Muckross in the next round after Christmas. The Minor 2s produced a great performance in torrential rain to draw 1-1 away at St Gerards this term. Minor 3s picked up a great 2-0 win away to Foxrock last Saturday. Minor 4s had a good draw away to a St Wolstans first team this term. 

1st Year Hockey 

The 1st Years will wrap up their 8v8 campaigns this week with our 1st Year 1s and 1st Year 3s playing in finals in Rathdown this Wednesday. Our 1s, 2s and 3s all progressed out of their league groups with the 1s winning all their games.  The 1st Years will now move to an 11v11 league in January. Our First Year 1s have drawn Santa Sabina in the cup.

Full results

Date

Team

Venue

Opponent

Result

Type

29 Nov 25

Girls-U14A

Home

Loreto Dalkey

Won : 1-0

Regional Cup

29 Nov 25

Girls-U14C

Away

St Killians

Draw : 3-3

League

02 Dec 25

1st XI

Home

Mt Anville

Lost : 0-1

Regional Cup

03 Dec 25

Girls-U16A

Away

Mt Sackville

Lost : 0-1

League

06 Dec 25

Under 16 B

Away

St Andrews

Lost : 0-2

League

06 Dec 25

Girls-U16B

Away

St Andrew's College

Lost : 0-2

League

06 Dec 25

Girls-U13A

Home

St Andrew's College

Won : 3-3 (AET)
7-6 (PEN)

League

06 Dec 25

Girls-U13C

Home

Wesley

Won : 5-1

League

10 Dec 25

3rd XI

Away

St Andrew's College

Lost : 0-3

League

10 Dec 25

Girls-U13B

Home

Kilkenny College

Lost : 0-3

League

10 Dec 25

Girls-U13C

Home

Kilkenny College

Draw : 1-1

League

11 Dec 25

Girls-U14B

Away

St Gerards

Draw : 1-1

League

12 Dec 25

Girls-U13A

Away

Loreto Foxrock

Won : 3-2

League

13 Dec 25

4th XI

Home

Wesley College

Won : 1-0

League

13 Dec 25

Girls-U16A

Away

Rathdown

Won : 3-1

League

13 Dec 25

Girls-U14C

Away

Loreto Foxrock

Won : 1-0

League

13 Dec 25

Girls-U13A

Away

Rathdown

Draw : 0-0

Friendly

13 Dec 25

Girls-U13D

Away

Mount Anville

Won : 2-0

League
16 Dec 25 2nd XI Away Muckross Draw : 0-0 League
17 Dec 25 Girls-U13A Neutral The King's Hospital Lost : 0-3 X8s League Final
17 Dec 25 Girls-U13A Neutral Kilkenny College Won : 2-1 League

Gymnastics Update

Gymnastics Update
Mr Warren

Congratulations to Louisa McQ (3R) on winning the Trojan Gymnastics Cup, Balance Beam, gold medal in the Advanced group at their recent Annual club championships.

A person wearing a black jacket and holding a medal around their neck stands in a room with colorful equipment and furniture.
The image shows a person wearing black athletic shorts with a Nike logo, standing in front of a blue background.

Equestrian Update

Equestrian Update
Mr Warren

Congratulations to Rebecca E (3H) and her horse Silver, who represented Alexandra College at the recent Inter Schools equestrian event at Boswell Equestrian Centre. We look forward to seeing more participation in the future!

A person in a red jacket is riding a white horse over a jump in an outdoor arena, with mountains and trees visible in the background.
A young woman in a red jacket stands next to a large white horse wearing a bright red blanket, with a scenic mountainous landscape visible in the background.