AlexPress November 2025

Last summer, we spent three weeks in a lab at UPenn which is an Ivy League University in Philadelphia thanks to the Joan Kearney Scholarship. We also spent a week and a half in DCU with students from Belvedere College and Friends Select school in America. When we were in America we stayed with families from Friends Select and then we also took students in for two weeks last February.

In UPenn, we did experiments and learned how to follow protocols. We worked in groups of two and had mentors who showed us how to do our project. They gave us a lot of independence and space to learn when we were doing the experiments and we also got to work with mice. We had the opportunity to learn about the research that was ongoing in the lab conducted by leading researchers, and it was amazing to see what they are working on. 

During the week in DCU we shadowed Professor Kieran Nolan who gave us insight into his research area. We also got to know the Americans and hear more about the other leg of the trip. The students then came back to Alex for a few days and we showed them around Dublin. 

What we really enjoyed about both experiences was that we were integrated with researchers and their work in a real laboratory. We got to be part of the forefront of research and do experiments and analyse the results. We found it very interesting to see how an actual research lab works and this also helped us learn more about what we might like to study in the future. Aside from the research we had truly fantastic host families who made our experiences really enjoyable.

Thanks so much to all the teachers, the lab and the Joan Kearney Scholarship that makes this amazing experience happen. 

A huge well done to all the students from 1st to 5th Year who took their drama and public speaking exams with The Leinster School of Music and Drama from 21st to 24th November. We had eight examiners in with us, and about 220 students were put through their paces.

Thank you so much to the TY Drama Reps who were here on Saturday to help out, giving up their own time. The Reps were absolutely brilliant! Thanks so much to the drama team of teachers who were all here at the weekend, also.

On Tuesday we were treated to two of our 6th Years performing their poems from the upcoming Certificate exams which will take place on 8th December. The focus for the assembly was on parents and those quiet moments of connection that stay with us forever. Siofra Bulfin Brew (6M) spoke her poem ‘My Father Perceived as a Vision of St. Francis’ by Paula Meehan, and Isobel Johnston (6M) gave a recital of ‘When All the Others Were Away at Mass’ by Seamus Heaney. We told the students watching about the recital that the 6th Years are working on for their exam. The Cert exams are a real reflection of their hard work over 6 years of drama, and we love that so many of our drama students keep drama up for 6th Year.