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AlexPress January 2026

Principal's Update

Principal's Update - 30 January 2026
Barbara Ennis, College Principal

This week in the College has been full of the spirit of the Wild West - a massive congratulations to the entire cast and crew of Calamity Jane for an outstanding run of performances! We are incredibly proud of the artistic growth, professionalism, and boundless energy displayed on stage; your dedication turned this production into a spectacular success. We would like to acknowledge the work of the students and staff behind the scenes, who have dedicated many hours of their personal time to create this show. Thank you all for the collaborative spirit that allows our community to thrive.

As we look ahead, we are also looking forward to the TY Subject Ambassador Fair next Tuesday 3 February as the 5th Year Subject Choice process commences. 5th Year students will be on hand to share more about Senior Cycle subjects at the ambassador fair next week, allowing TYs to get a better understanding of what subjects they might be interested in. 

We wish our entire school community a restful and enjoyable long weekend. 

Mock Exam Timetables

The mock examination timetables for 3rd and 6th Year students are now available on our website below. Mock examinations commence today, Friday 30 January, and will end on Friday 13 February. 

MOCK EXAM TIMETABLES

CAO Key Dates

As we approach the Leaving Cert, please find some important reminders and deadlines regarding the CAO below:

CAO

  • Closing date for all applications is 1 February
  • Applicants for Restricted courses must include those choices by 1 February (cannot be added later)
  • Students should enter their choices in order of preference, and be sure to check the entry requirements
  • Change of Mind facility will open on 5 May and close at 5 pm on 1 July

DARE/HEAR

  • Students who wish to apply for DARE must submit their CAO application by 1 February
  • Must tick “Yes” to Question 1, and complete Section A by 1 March
  • All supporting documentation for DARE/HEAR applicants must be with the CAO by 10 March at 5 pm

Statement of Application

  • Statement of Application will be sent to all students in May.
  • It is MOST IMPORTANT that all students check that ALL information on this document is accurately recorded. If not, CAO must be notified by students IMMEDIATELY.

HPAT

  • Test dates are 13 - 23 February 2026

Language Exemptions

  • All students with language exemptions from Irish or second languages should check in with Ms Earlie. 

Remember - all deadlines are absolute. Any students with queries should contact Ms Earlie.

Aural Skills Class

Aural Skills Class

We are delighted to offer a new co-curricular aural skills class to music students! This will be a group class for students preparing for RIAM or ABRSM exams at Grade 5 or above, designed to strengthen aural skills and help students achieve higher marks in their exams. The 7-week crash course will include sight-singing, singing back, clapping, listening and identifying intervals and cadences, and other relevant theory components. 

The programme costs €75 for 7 classes from Tuesday 3 March 2026, and takes place on Tuesdays from 1:02 pm to 1:52 pm. Interested students can sign up via the form linked below.

REGISTER FOR AURAL SKILLS CLASS

PancakeDayPosterFriFeb13th2026 (PDF)

ACA Parents Table Quiz

ACA Parents Table Quiz

Thursday 12 February at 7:00 pm, Senior School Concourse

Come along for an evening of fun with some wine and nibbles at the upcoming Parents Table Quiz, organised by The ACA! Parents and staff from both the Junior and Senior Schools are warmly invited — especially as it’s the first time we’re welcoming Junior School families to this fun evening.

Individual tickets (€10) can be purchased via EasyPayments, so you are invited to come individually or in pairs to meet new people in a group of 4. Tables of 4 are also available for €40.

All tickets can be purchased below:

TICKETS ON EASYPAYMENTS

Community News

StPhilips-TableQuizPoster2026 (PDF)

Calamity Jane 2026

Calamity Jane 2026
Ms Brehony

A massive congratulations to the entire cast and crew of Calamity Jane for an outstanding run of performances! Many thanks to all those who supported this incredible production.

A performer stands on a raised platform, surrounded by a crowd of people in colorful costumes, creating a lively and vibrant theatrical scene.
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A group of performers wearing vibrant, colorful costumes stand on a stage against a backdrop of dramatic lighting and scenery.
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A large group of people, dressed in colorful and vibrant traditional attire, stand together on a stage or performance area, with dramatic lighting and a dark background creating a visually striking scene.
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A young woman in a vintage-style floral dress stands in a dimly lit room, with a wooden piano and other furnishings visible in the background.
A person wearing a cowboy hat and tie appears in the foreground, with a dark background.
A young woman in a vibrant red dress is performing on stage, with a colorful backdrop and lighting creating a lively and energetic atmosphere.
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A person wearing a green military-style outfit stands in the foreground, holding a guitar, while a crowd of people in various outfits can be seen in the background on a stage.
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A group of people dressed in cowboy-inspired outfits, including plaid shirts, jeans, and cowboy hats, standing on a stage with a %22Welcome to Deadwood%22 banner in the background.
A group of people, dressed in colorful and eclectic outfits, are gathered on a stage or performance area, with vibrant lighting and a lively atmosphere.
A large group of people, mostly women, are standing together with their arms raised in a celebratory or joyful manner, wearing a variety of colorful and vibrant clothing against a dark background.
A group of people, dressed in cowboy-style clothing, are gathered around a table in what appears to be a rustic setting, with wooden walls and furniture visible in the background.
Two individuals, one wearing a red dress and the other a white blouse and skirt, stand in a dimly lit setting with a lantern in the background.
A performer in a red and black costume with a blonde wig stands on a stage with a red curtain backdrop, striking a dramatic pose.
Two individuals, a man and a woman, are embracing in a dark setting with a blue background.
Two individuals, a man and a woman, are embracing in a dimly lit setting, with the man wearing a cowboy hat and the woman having long, dark hair.
The image depicts a couple dressed in formal attire, with the woman wearing a long, flowing pink dress and the man in a dark suit. They are standing on a stage or performance area, with a blue background suggesting a theatrical or artistic setting.
A lively performance stage with a woman in the foreground wearing a blonde wig and checkered outfit, surrounded by a crowd of people in the background, with a sign announcing %22OPENING TONIGHT FRANCES FRYER%22 visible.
A performer in a flamboyant costume stands on a stage with a %22Opening Tonight Frances Fryer%22 sign in the background, surrounded by an audience.
A group of people dressed in western-style clothing, including cowboy hats and boots, are gathered together in what appears to be a social setting or event.
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The image depicts a group of people in period costumes, with a woman in a white dress standing in the foreground and several other individuals visible in the background, suggesting a theatrical or historical setting.
A man in a suit is standing on a stage, holding a microphone and gesturing with his hands, with a dark background behind him.
The image depicts a scene from what appears to be a theatrical or dramatic performance, with several individuals dressed in period costumes interacting on a stage or set. The foreground features a man and a woman in formal attire, while the background shows additional performers and what looks like a stage or theater setting.
A group of people dressed in colorful, eclectic outfits, including cowboy hats, plaid shirts, and striped dresses, stand together in what appears to be a dimly lit indoor setting.
The image shows two individuals dressed in cowboy-style attire, with one person wearing a red suit and the other in a more casual outfit. They appear to be on a stage or performance setting, with other people visible in the background.
The image shows a group of people dressed in formal attire, including a man in a blue outfit with a yellow sash and a woman in a red dress, standing in what appears to be a theater or performance venue.
The image depicts a group of people dressed in cowboy-style attire, including hats and plaid shirts, gathered around a seated individual wearing a navy blue uniform.
A group of people dressed in various Western-style outfits, including cowboy hats, boots, and dresses, standing together in what appears to be a backstage or dressing room setting.
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The image depicts three individuals on a stage or set, with two women in colorful, theatrical costumes and a man in a casual outfit standing nearby.
A group of people in colorful, traditional-style costumes stand on a stage, with a person in a yellow outfit standing in the center, arms outstretched.
A group of people, dressed in various costumes and styles, gathered on a dimly lit stage, creating an intriguing and theatrical atmosphere.
A large group of people, dressed in cowboy-style attire, stand together in what appears to be a rustic, wooden-paneled setting, with a banner hanging in the background.
A group of people wearing cowboy-style hats and clothing, standing together in a dimly lit setting.
A group of people, some seated and some standing, gathered in what appears to be a dimly lit room or stage setting, with a mix of formal and casual attire.
The image shows a person wearing a red and black costume performing on a stage, with another person in a white dress standing in the background.
A group of people dressed in cowboy attire, including hats, boots, and flannel shirts, gathered in a dimly lit setting with a wooden structure in the background.
A group of people, mostly young adults, are gathered in a dimly lit room, holding a banner that reads %22Express Yourself%22 and wearing a variety of casual and Western-inspired outfits.
A group of people, some holding a banner that reads %22Princes River%22, stand together in what appears to be a dimly lit indoor setting.
A person in casual clothing stands on a stage surrounded by a crowd of people in a dimly lit performance venue.

Call for Kolkata 2026

It’s that time of year again where we are asking you to consider a clear out of any unwanted toys, books, clothes etc. which you might consider donating to our projects in Kolkata!  Each year we bring toys, clothes and basic essentials out to our projects, all of which are very generously donated by staff, students, parents and the wider Alex community and greatly appreciated by those that receive them (all rescued children, street people and slum dwellers).

Specific Requirements

  • Footballs (deflated for transport)
  • Small soft toys

Creches

  • Math Copies (medium square)
  • Alphabet games/posters
  • Games-shapes, numbers, birds, animals, vegetables
  • Role play sets e.g. cooking/doctor/nurses/vet sets
  • Puzzle games
  • Flash cards/memory games/story telling cards
  • Mini blackboards
  • Chess/domino/draught sets
  • Arts and craft supplies for children aged 3-6yrs

Hope Hospital

Patients of the hospital are all street/slum dwellers

  • Toothbrushes
  • Soap/shower gel
  • Hair Oil
  • Body oil/Body lotion
  • Shampoo
  • Small Towels/facecloths

General requirements

  • Vitamin C lollipops (many pharmacies will donate these - letters can be obtained from Ms.McCoy if needed
  • Balloons
  • Bubbles
  • Lightweight clothes for children and adults of all ages (male and female)
  • Bibs (0-6yrs)
  • Facecloths, disposable razors, hair bobbins and clips.
  • Anything suitable for arts and crafts- colouring books, picture books, pencils, crayons, copybooks, colourful posters, craft scissors, coloured paper, glue sticks, foam shapes, lollipop sticks etc.
  • Knitting/cross stitch kits – can be given to the adult patients in the hospital, the majority of whom are illiterate
  • Underwear for all ages both male and female
  • Wide elastic for playing French skipping!

The teenage girls love receiving individual gifts, perhaps a washbag filled with things such as hairbrush, lip balm, bath bombs, hair bobbins etc. (ages 9-17yrs)

For Children with Additional Educational Needs (SICW)

  • Games and puzzles with large pieces as many of the children have difficulty with fine motor skills
  • Ring throw games
  • Duplo bricks / building blocks (plastic as wooden blocks are too heavy to transport)
  • Fidget spinners
  • Interactive toys/books and toys that light up/make sounds
  • Art sets with large brushes and large areas for the children to paint
  • Small musical instruments e.g. tambourines, tin whistle, recorder etc

NO LARGE SOFT TOYS PLEASE OR SOILED CLOTHING

Junior School News

This month's Junior School News features the FIRST LEGO League, the Gonzaga Chess Classic, and more!

Junior School News January 2026 

A group of students in school uniforms gathered around a large table, examining what appears to be a detailed map or model displayed on the table.

Alex Music Festival 2026

Alex Music Festival 2026
Ms Qiao

We are delighted to present the Alexandra College Music Festival 2026, taking place 23 - 27 February. We have an entire week packed with unforgettable concerts, competitions, and music-making for all students in both the Junior School and Senior School.

Violin Masterclass with Anne Phelan – limited spaces

We are thrilled to welcome back Anne Phelan for another violin Masterclass on Thursday 26 February. The masterclass is open to all students grade five and above. Each performer will receive insightful and personalised guidance from Anne Phelan to enrich and develop their pieces to the next level. Masterclasses are a great opportunity for the students to gain confidence in performance and gain fresh ideas on musical interpretation, techniques, and performance strategies to enhance their skills with high-profile violinist like Anne Phelan.

APPLY FOR THE VIOLIN MASTERCLASS

Please note that there is a fee of €25 to participate in the Violin Masterclass if your application is successful.

Activities

  • Piano Performance Class for 1st to 6th Years
  • Ukulele Workshop for 1st Years – No ukulele needed.
  • Junior and Senior School Choir Retreat
  • Class Concerts for J1 to J6      
  • Ukulele Workshop for J3 Students                                             
  • Early Childhood Music for Pre-schoolers
  • Piano Concert on Tuesday 24th of February
  • Strings Concert on Thursday 26th of February
  • Teacher’s Concerts throughout the week

If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact Ms Qiao!

Res Round-Up

This month's edition of the Res Round-Up features a trip to Funderland and more!

Res Round-Up January 2026

A group of people, dressed in warm winter attire, are gathered in front of a backdrop depicting a cityscape at night, with a large red superhero figure suspended above them.
A group of young people in red uniforms posing together on a basketball court with a large indoor sports arena in the background.
A group of young female athletes in red uniforms posing together on a sports court with a metal truss structure overhead.
A group of athletes, both male and female, are running on a grassy field with a cloudy sky in the background.
A group of young female athletes in red uniforms standing on a grassy field, with a sports stadium and cloudy sky visible in the background.
A group of runners in red and white uniforms are participating in a race on a grassy field, with trees and buildings visible in the background.
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Sports Report January 2026

Sports Report January 2026
Ms Markinez, Ms Hourihan, Mr Collins, and Mr Groves

Basketball

The U16 and Senior basketball teams successfully completed their league campaigns in December, with both teams qualifying for the quarter-finals of their respective leagues. This achievement reflects the hard work and commitment demonstrated by both players and coaches throughout the first part of the season.

Following this success, the basketball program has now progressed to the next stage, with the 1st and 2nd Year teams beginning their league competitions. We wish them the best of luck as they start their season and continue to build on the strong performances of all age groups.

Basketball

Date

Team

Venue

Opponent

Result

12 Jan 26

Girls-U15A

Away

The Teresian School

Won : 32 - 14

12 Jan 26

Girls-U13A

Away

The Teresian School

Lost : 18 - 20

26 Jan 26

Girls-U15A

Neutral

St Louis

Lost : 10 - 40

26 Jan 26

Girls-U13A

Neutral

St Louis

Lost : 7 - 41

 

Cross Country

Well done to Lily-Kate McCarthy (6L), who won the senior women's DCU Invitational! Our Minors placed 4th, Junior placed 7th, and Inters 4th at the competition on 14 January.

East Leinster Cross Country

Well done to all those who qualified for Leinsters at East Leinster Cross Country: 

Lorena B (1S) + Niamh G (1B) in Minors

Olivia B (3H) - Inters

Lily-Kate McCarthy (6L) - 3rd in Seniors

Senior Team came 3rd - Lily-Kate McCarthy (6L), Isabella Horkan (5K) + Cara Holmes (5J)

Minor Team came 2nd - Lorena B (1S), Niamh G (1B), Leah H (1B), Sofia G (1H), Ellie-Rose A (1R), Ruth B (1R), Labhina K (1B) + Annabelle P (1H)

 

Football

1st Year League v Loreto Foxrock, won 3-2

2nd Years v St Tiernans, lost 

1st Years v Stratford College, won 3-0

Football

Date

Team

Venue

Opponent

Result

Type

13 Jan 26

Girls-U15B

Away

St Tiernan's

Lost : 1 - 4

  

13 Jan 26

Girls-U14A

Home

Loreto Foxrock

Won : 3 - 2

League

23 Jan 26

Girls-U14B

Home

Stratford College

Won : 3 - 0

  

 

Hockey

Our Junior 1s, Minor 1s and 1st Year 1s all advanced in their Cup competitions. 

Our Minors now play Mt Sackville at home in the Quarter Final.

Our Juniors play Rathdown away in the Quarter Final.

First Years play Mt Sackville away in Round 3. 

Congrats also to our Junior 1s and Minor 3s who have progressed into the League quarter finals. 

Hockey

Date

Team

Venue

Opponent

Result

Type

07 Jan 26

Girls-U14C

Home

St Andrew's College

Won : 2-0

League

12 Jan 26

4th XI

Home

Rathdown

Lost : 1-3

League

13 Jan 26

Girls-U14D

Home

St Dominics Cabra

Won : 2-0

League

14 Jan 26

2nd XI

Home

Kilkenny College

Won : 1-0

Friendly

14 Jan 26

Girls-U16A

Home

Kilkenny College

Won : 0-0
3-2 (PEN)

Regional Cup

16 Jan 26

1st XI

Away

St Andrew's College

Won : 2-1

League

19 Jan 26

Girls-U16D

Home

Muckross

Won : 3-0

League

19 Jan 26

Girls-U14A

Home

Muckross

Won : 1-0

Regional Cup

19 Jan 26

Girls-U13D

Home

Our Lady's Grove

Won : 1-0

League

21 Jan 26

1st XI

Away

Holy Child Killiney

Lost : 1-3

League

21 Jan 26

Girls-U14A

Away

Temple Carrig

Lost : 2-3

League

22 Jan 26

Girls-U13A

Away

Temple Carrig

Won : 5-0

League

23 Jan 26

Under 16 B

Away

tbc

Lost : 0-1

League

24 Jan 26

2nd XI

Home

Wesley College

Lost : 0-1

League

24 Jan 26

Girls-U16A

Home

Loreto Dalkey

Won : 1-0

League

24 Jan 26

Girls-U16B

Home

Mount Anville

Lost : 0-2

League

24 Jan 26

Girls-U13B

Away

St Andrew's College

Won : 4-1

League

26 Jan 26

Girls-U16D

Home

Loreto Stephens Green

Won : 4-1

League

26 Jan 26

Girls-U13A

Away

Santa Sabina

Won : 3-0

Regional Cup

27 Jan 26

Girls-U16A

Home

Kilkenny College

Won : 1-0

League

28 Jan 26

Girls-U13B

Away

St Raphaela's

Won : 5-0

League

28 Jan 26

Girls-U13D

Away

St Raphaela's

Won : 5-1

League

28 Jan 26

Girls-U13E

Home

John Scottus

Won : 6-0

League

29 Jan 26

1st XI

Home

St Gerards

Lost : 0-2

League