LORETO GRAMMAR PRINCIPAL PAYS TRIBUTE TO ANOTHER OUTSTANDING YEAR OF ACADEMIC SUCCESS
Loreto Grammar Principal pays tribute to another outstanding year of academic sucess
A LARGE attendance at the Loreto Covent Grammar School's recent annual prizegiving heard Principal Grainne O'Hanlon pay a glowing tribute to the academic success and achievements the school continued to enjoy throughout the year.
Special guest on the evening was Cathy Joyce, a past pupil who has been working in Industry as a Chartered Engineer, whom Mrs O'Hanlon described as a 'a woman of her time doing much, doing good and doing it well'.
Also deserving of a special mention was pupil Claire Gallagher who received horrific eye injuries in the Omagh bomb.
"Claire is one person whose presence and courage, determination and strength has left us all stilled in admiration and taught us through her daily quest to rebuild her life that we are always learners. No award would ever encapsulate all that you have inspired in others and all that you have achieved," said Mrs O'Hanlon.
Claire's parents, Marie and Seamus, then received a small token on behalf of all the parents and families for the 'commitment, love and example set to support daughters to reach their goals'.
Mrs O'Hanlon also spoke of the 'strong Loreto tradition' citing truth, justice, freedom, sincerity and joy as its core values. She added that the school is challenged with a mission to give contemporary expression to these values as it strives for excellence in its relationships, structures and systems.
"Our focus is to cherish equally our young people, and in partnership with their parents, to help them value and develop their heritage of faith and culture. We strive to liberate, empower and motivate the girls to use confidently, creatively and generously, the talents with which they have been gifted," she said.
On the academic front the pupils yet again excelled in both the GCSE and A Level examinations. Sixteen subjects were offered at GCSE level for which 138 girls sat 1,238 examinations. Almost 44 per cent of grades achieved were *A or A. Sixteen girls obtained nine straight Grade *A's or A's and two girls, Aideen Campbell and Caimhe Tierney, achieved Top Grades in Northern Ireland.
Welcoming the A Level class of 2001 home for Christmas, Mrs O'Hanlon described their achievements as 'exceptional'. She said; "We are delighted at the large number who have returned this evening, not only from other parts of Northern Ireland but also from England, Scotland and Wales".
Your achievements were exceptional and I would also like to offer my congratulations to Caroline McCarron and Sharon McElroy who were awarded special scholarships by Trinity College Dublin for their outstanding achievements at A Level.
Of the 142 girls entered for 421 A Level exams, 100 per cent achieved at least one A Level and almost 50 per cent achieved three A Levels at A-C grade. Thirteen girls obtained at least three or more A Levels with a grade A.
And three students, Laura McCann, Aisling Hagan and Maura Slevin, secured Top Grades in Northern Ireland and the UK at A Level.
Turning to the recently published Burns Review on Post Primary education, Mrs O'Hanlon said that, despite its possibilities, she is disappointed at the 'disregard' for child centred approaches already operating in successful academic schools.
"I urge parents of children from P5 down and Primary School Principals to look carefully at the report and the Collegiate ideas. Post Primary admissions and the criteria regarding geographical location may close rather than open doors," she said.
Concluding her address, Mrs O'Hanlon championed the characteristics and qualities that have been affiliated with the Loreto tradition for many years.
"We are a strong faith community, we maintain open and meaningful lines of communication with parents and families of the children with whom we have been entrusted and through our outreach programmes we encourage the pupils to experience their present and future places in our communities," she said.
A LARGE attendance at the Loreto Covent Grammar School's recent annual prizegiving heard Principal Grainne O'Hanlon pay a glowing tribute to the academic success and achievements the school continued to enjoy throughout the year.
Special guest on the evening was Cathy Joyce, a past pupil who has been working in Industry as a Chartered Engineer, whom Mrs O'Hanlon described as a 'a woman of her time doing much, doing good and doing it well'.
Also deserving of a special mention was pupil Claire Gallagher who received horrific eye injuries in the Omagh bomb.
"Claire is one person whose presence and courage, determination and strength has left us all stilled in admiration and taught us through her daily quest to rebuild her life that we are always learners. No award would ever encapsulate all that you have inspired in others and all that you have achieved," said Mrs O'Hanlon.
Claire's parents, Marie and Seamus, then received a small token on behalf of all the parents and families for the 'commitment, love and example set to support daughters to reach their goals'.
Mrs O'Hanlon also spoke of the 'strong Loreto tradition' citing truth, justice, freedom, sincerity and joy as its core values. She added that the school is challenged with a mission to give contemporary expression to these values as it strives for excellence in its relationships, structures and systems.
"Our focus is to cherish equally our young people, and in partnership with their parents, to help them value and develop their heritage of faith and culture. We strive to liberate, empower and motivate the girls to use confidently, creatively and generously, the talents with which they have been gifted," she said.
On the academic front the pupils yet again excelled in both the GCSE and A Level examinations. Sixteen subjects were offered at GCSE level for which 138 girls sat 1,238 examinations. Almost 44 per cent of grades achieved were *A or A. Sixteen girls obtained nine straight Grade *A's or A's and two girls, Aideen Campbell and Caimhe Tierney, achieved Top Grades in Northern Ireland.
Welcoming the A Level class of 2001 home for Christmas, Mrs O'Hanlon described their achievements as 'exceptional'. She said; "We are delighted at the large number who have returned this evening, not only from other parts of Northern Ireland but also from England, Scotland and Wales".
Your achievements were exceptional and I would also like to offer my congratulations to Caroline McCarron and Sharon McElroy who were awarded special scholarships by Trinity College Dublin for their outstanding achievements at A Level.
Of the 142 girls entered for 421 A Level exams, 100 per cent achieved at least one A Level and almost 50 per cent achieved three A Levels at A-C grade. Thirteen girls obtained at least three or more A Levels with a grade A.
And three students, Laura McCann, Aisling Hagan and Maura Slevin, secured Top Grades in Northern Ireland and the UK at A Level.
Turning to the recently published Burns Review on Post Primary education, Mrs O'Hanlon said that, despite its possibilities, she is disappointed at the 'disregard' for child centred approaches already operating in successful academic schools.
"I urge parents of children from P5 down and Primary School Principals to look carefully at the report and the Collegiate ideas. Post Primary admissions and the criteria regarding geographical location may close rather than open doors," she said.
Concluding her address, Mrs O'Hanlon championed the characteristics and qualities that have been affiliated with the Loreto tradition for many years.
"We are a strong faith community, we maintain open and meaningful lines of communication with parents and families of the children with whom we have been entrusted and through our outreach programmes we encourage the pupils to experience their present and future places in our communities," she said.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/0918
Published Date: 10-Jan-02
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