Hermione Headlines October 2024
News from The Hermione
by Res Prefects Madeleine Decard (6J) and Fatima Mzhir (6K)
House Highlight - Culwick
Each House in Res is named after Alex Alumna, and this month’s house, and our very first House Highlight - 3B - is named after Florence Culwick. Florence was born on the 4th of November, 1877 and died in August 1929 at the age of 51. Her father was a musician, and she attended Alex, later going on to teach here.
Following her father’s death, Culwick re-established his choral society in 1907, making her Dublin’s very first female conductor. Florence’s legacy carries on both through the Florence Culwick Memorial Cup at the Feis Ceoil, and, of course, through our annual Culwick Choral Competition here at Alexandra College, continuing to support and encourage musicians.
Our House Prefects for Culwick are Catherine and Ruby.
Res Trivia - October 2024
Write your answers on a piece of paper with your full name and drop it in the trivia box at res reception! The winner will be announced on the res Google classroom when we return after the midterm.
- What is Ms Diffley’s dog’s FULL name?
- Who is the Hermione Building named after?
- Which member of staff is studying Food Science in UCD?
Res Halloween Party
On October 22nd, we had a fun Halloween party in Res. The girls played games like bobbing for apples, and made their own toffee apples. Each House was given its own theme, and the costumes were excellent. The House Prefects also hosted a Thriller competition, in which girls formed small groups and performed a dance they choreographed to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.” The House Prefects also facilitated House fingerprint paintings, in which each House’s Halloween theme was filled with the girls’ fingerprints in their House colours. The party was a perfect ending to our first half term in Res this year.
Library Bookmark Making
As you may know, Madeleine began Hermione Library in 2022, and it is now run by Sophia, Ruby, Henri, and Lucy-Jane. This month, the librarians organised a fun evening making DIY bookmarks with goodies and treats for the other girls. The Hermione Library is open multiple nights a week, and any student can borrow books for up to three weeks at a time, so get reading!
New Res Hoodies
We are very excited for the arrival of the new Res hoodies! Boarders are given the opportunity to get specialised hoodies with their name on the back of the hoodie. In addition, the hoodie’s colour will match the house where the boarder lives.
This is a wonderful chance to get your hoodie that’s unique to you and will hold the fascinating memories of your days as a boarder in Alex whenever you wear it. We are honoured to have been given the opportunity to contribute in adding joy and comfort to our boarding house.
October Birthdays
We are very excited to wish every boarder who was born in October a happy birthday. The Res staff and prefects wish a successful year full of joy, exploration and learning to Freya, Michele, Alyssa, Cara, Lara, Hayley, Nancy, Entong, Yvonne, Hei Wan, Veronica, and Tiphaine!
Max's Margin
This is Max, our unofficial Res dog. Max belongs to Ms Diffley - the only person he likes - and he is thirteen years old, likes cheese and rashers, and is the epitome of sass. Max hopes you have a happy Halloween!
October's Res Trips
Croke Park Tour
The girls visited Croke Park, a stadium in Dublin rich in all kinds of history. The stadium is home of the GAA and Ireland’s largest sporting arena. Croke Park also hosts concerts, having previously hosted musicians like Taylor Swift, Coldplay, and One Direction. The arena is also a significant site in Irish history.
Ghost Bus Tour
In time for the spooky season, the girls went on the Ghost Bus Tour, where they were told scary stories about Bram Stoker’s Dracula and the Ghost of Trinity College. The girls learned about mediaeval torture devices, voodoo, and vikings. Perhaps the girls will defend the school with their spook-tacular new knowledge this Halloween!
Bowling Alley and Arcade
For the first weekend trip this month, the girls went to a bowling alley, where they had lots of fun. The girls also visited the adjoining arcade, where they tried their hardest to win games and prizes.
Nightmare Realm
Last Thursday, the senior boarders were treated to a thrilling Halloween excursion: the Nightmare Realm, Ireland’s award-winning Scream Event! These daring girls navigated their way around the daunting mazes and haunted rooms, encountering many ghouls along the way. There were plenty of spine-tingling moments and lots and lots of screams. It was an exhilarating evening and thankfully the girls emerged from the event all in one piece!
