AlexPress February 2025
Principal's Update
It's been a bit 'MAD' in the College this week as the MAD Festival of Music, Art, and Drama begins! Well done to our Junior DramSoc on two incredible performances of Happily Never After on Wednesday evening. We are looking forward to many more incredible events next week, including Band Night at Alex, the Patterson Gala Concert, and of course this weekend's DramFest 2025.
Boarding Open House
We are looking forward to welcoming parents and students to our Boarding Open House on Saturday 29 March from 10 am to 12 pm!
This Open House is a great opportunity for prospective boarders to get a feel for our campus and life in Alex.
We also ask that you share the registration details with any of your family and friends who are considering boarding as a part of their daughters’ education.
To join us, please register on our website:
Register for the Boarding Open House
Parenting the Tech Savvy Child Webinar Series
The webinar recording from Week 3 of the Parenting the Tech Savvy Child series is now available at the link below:
Parenting the Tech Savvy Child Webinars
This webinar series by Dr. Richard Hogan of the Parenting and Technology Institute helps parents learn progressive approaches to modern parenting. Upskill and gain confidence to guide and support your child in a positive way to address risks with modern devices and technology and thrive as a family.
AWC Parent Daughter Pancake Breakfast
Alumna Spotlight - Liz Connaughton
Each month, the Alumna Spotlight highlights the journeys of Alex Alumnae, showcasing their achievements and the impact their experiences at Alex have had on their careers and lives. This month we are delighted to feature Liz Connaughton, Alex Class of 1997 and Director of the Bloomfield House Hotel.
ACA Tennis Tournament
It's time to showcase your skills on the court and compete in our Tennis event on Wednesday 2 April at 5:30pm, organised by the ACA! Play Parent v Parent matches, or sign up as a team with your daughter for a match of doubles: Parent + Daughter v Parent + Daughter. Entry cost is €5 for singles, €10 for doubles. Payments can be made at EasyPayments and please register for the event here:
Call for Orchestra Musicians - Oliver!
We are looking for the following instrument players to join the orchestra for the upcoming TY musical Oliver!:
- Clarinet in Bb
- Horn in F
- Trumpet in Bb
- Trombone
- Violin
- Cello
- Double Bass
If you still play an instrument or if you know of a good, experienced player of any of the instruments above, please pass on the info and/or get in touch. A small audition will be held for those interested in joining the orchestra. For more information, please contact Dr Kalnins directly at didziskalnins@
NB: The show dates are 8-10 April, but instrument players must be available for one orchestra rehearsal during the week of 31 March and the two main rehearsals (6 and 7 April).
Community News
MAD Festival 2025
![MAD Festival 2025]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1732805150/alexandracollegeeu/vmepbehb92ywxmbd7r0b/Untitleddesign_1.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1732805150/alexandracollegeeu/vmepbehb92ywxmbd7r0b/Untitleddesign_1.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1732805150/alexandracollegeeu/vmepbehb92ywxmbd7r0b/Untitleddesign_1.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1732805150/alexandracollegeeu/vmepbehb92ywxmbd7r0b/Untitleddesign_1.png","width":1200}])
The MAD Festival is well underway! The Music, Art, and Drama departments have combined forces to bring us 13 incredible days of workshops, performances, activities, and more.
The full events schedule is available here:
DramFest 2025 - Competition Timetables and Important Information
![DramFest 2025 - Competition Timetables and Important Information]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1740656476/alexandracollegeeu/sfnxrzqirgfyplb137ff/DramFest2025.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1740656476/alexandracollegeeu/sfnxrzqirgfyplb137ff/DramFest2025.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1740656476/alexandracollegeeu/sfnxrzqirgfyplb137ff/DramFest2025.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1740656476/alexandracollegeeu/sfnxrzqirgfyplb137ff/DramFest2025.png","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1740656476/alexandracollegeeu/sfnxrzqirgfyplb137ff/DramFest2025.png","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1740656476/alexandracollegeeu/sfnxrzqirgfyplb137ff/DramFest2025.png","width":1820}])
Please find the full competition timetables as well as important information for students and parents linked below:
Evans Art Supplies School Sale
We are looking forward to the Evans Art Supplies school sale in the concourse on Wednesday 5 March!
Band Night at Alex
We are thrilled to announce the brand new Band Night at Alex, happening as part of this year’s MAD Festival! For one night only we have invited bands from schools around Dublin to Alex, including Loreto Foxrock, Loreto Dalkey, and St. Andrew’s. Also joining us is the Rock Jam All Stars! These bands are all rock/pop or indie bands, so we can promise a variety of music to be enjoyed by everyone. If you have friends, siblings, cousins, anyone you know in the schools mentioned, please do encourage them to come and enjoy the night!
Tickets are available every day in the Senior School Concourse at lunchtime or you can get them through Eventbrite:
Not only will you enjoy an amazing night of music, but all of the proceeds from ticket sales will go towards fundraising for Cliona’s, a fantastic Irish charity supporting the families of seriously ill children.
Whether you know someone performing or not, it’s sure to be a great night, and we’d love to see everyone there. Your support will make a real difference to this incredible cause!
Patterson Gala Concert
Monday 10 March at 7pm
Join us for what we hope will be an unforgettable evening at the Patterson Gala Concert. The grand finale of our highly anticipated MAD Festival will be set against a backdrop of glowing candlelight.
Performing on the night, we will have the Junior and Senior School Orchestras, Alex Nós,
the Junior and Senior Choirs, our talented Jazz Band, competition winners, and many
more ensembles showcasing the remarkable talent at Alexandra College.
We are also thrilled to be joined by art student Sunny Yang (5J), who will be capturing the magic of the evening through her beautiful pencil drawings.
Tickets will be on sale every day at lunchtime in the Senior School Concourse or from the
Junior School office. They are €15 for adult and €10 for student.
We look forward to seeing you there and sharing this special evening with our entire school community.
Junior School News
This month's Junior School News features our celebration of one hundred days of school, St. Valentine's Day, and more!
MAD Festival Launch - A Creative Celebration at Assembly
On Wednesday 26 February, the Senior School, along with the Music, Art, and Drama representatives from the Junior School, gathered for a special assembly to mark the launch of this year’s MAD (Music, Art, and Drama) Festival.
To celebrate the occasion, 2nd Year Art and Drama students brought iconic artworks to life in a captivating live performance. With creativity and collaboration at the heart of the festival, their performance transformed the stage into a living gallery, blending visual art and theatrical expression in a truly unique experience.
The launch set the tone for an exciting festival ahead, filled with opportunities to showcase and celebrate the incredible creative talents of our students. Stay tuned for more MAD Festival events in the coming weeks!
Hermione Headlines
This month's edition of the Hermione Headlines features World Book Day, a trip to Butler's Chocolate Factory, and more!
The Subtle Undertones at The Purty Kitchen
Alexandra College Rockjam Band ’The Subtle Undertones’ performed at the Purty Kitchen in Dun Laoghaire on Sunday, Feb 9th. They performed two songs; 'Snap out of it’ by Arctic Monkeys and ‘Paradise’ by Coldplay. The band consist of singer Carina B (3R), Tito B (3R) and Lucy M (4O) on keyboards, Louisa Kenna (5L) on guitar and Amy C T (3H) on drums. The group is directed by Mr Rycraft.
The band's next performance will be at the Alex Band Night on 5 March - tickets are available here.
Sports Report February 2025
Soccer
1st Years v St Mary's Glasnevin won 6-2
1st Years v Stratford College, 3-3
Minors lost their cup quarter-final v Kingswood CC (last year's All-Ireland Champions) 3-2
Cross Country
Well done to our Junior team, who came 2nd qualifying to all-Ireland's at Leinster Cross Country, as well as Olivia B (2H) who finished 9th and qualified individually!
The team consists of: Olivia B (2H), Julia B (2B), Mollie C (1R), Charlotte S (2S), Clara D (2S), Caoimhe H (2S), Nicola W (2S), and Lara D (1B)
Hockey
Well done to Minor 1s, who have advanced to the semi-final of the cup after beating Mt Sackville 1-0, and will play Holy Child Killiney this Friday in the Semi -Final at home at 3pm (all support welcome).
Minor 1s lost their League Quarter-Final on Tuesday by 2-1 to Muckross. Minor 4s take on St Wolstans this Thursday in their league quarter-final.
Senior 1s are into a League Semi-Final after beating Mt Sackville in their final league game 6-1. The semi-final will be next Wednesday at 1pm away to St Gerards. All support would be most welcome. Senior 1s lost their Plate Quarter Final to Muckross 1-0 on Tuesday.
Basketball
Best of luck to our Minor and 1st Year teams, who are through to the league quarter-finals vs Maryfield after coming out of their pool!
Alex MUN Team at ROCKMUN
On Friday 7th and Saturday 8th of February the Alex team for Model United Nations (MUN) competed at the ROCKMUN event in Blackrock College. Over a day and a half the team debated topics such as the question of herbicidal warfare, preventing the militarisation of outer space and access to mental health services in conflict zones. The teams did very well and a congratulations to Ciara H (4R), Lily H (4O), Zoe P (4R), Alex O'D (4R), Savannah Gordon (5L), Amy C. T. (3H), Emily W (4J), Aisha Madar (5J), Allegra Hogan (5J), and Lorinne P (4O) for their involvement. The team would like to thank Mr. O'Connoll for his time and assistance in attending the event too.
2nd Year Art Trip to the RHA Gallery Dublin
The 2nd Year art students took a trip to the RHA Gallery on Tuesday 11 February to explore the contemporary art exhibition on display, including work from a variety of artists like David Smith and Robert Ballagh. The students examined, discussed and sketched artworks of their choosing up close with what felt like a gallery to themselves. It was an enriching experience full of inspiration and new perspectives. Accompanied by Ms Clegg and Ms Jones, the trip will pose great influence as they begin their CBA1 in the coming week.
