The past few months have been testing times for all of us. You had to deal with the uncertainty of the Leaving Cert which up to March 5th had been your main focus. You were among the first schools in the country to experience “self isolation”.You took to distance learning overnight and I must praise you and your teachers for the effort that was put in right up to the announcement that the L.C. exam as we know it was to be cancelled.
While “Mad May” is usually stressful for everybody, it was also the month when Leaving Certs in particular began to value their time in the “Monastery”. Great commitment went into winning various events on the Sports Day. Whose team would win the Tug of War or the overall Sports Person of the Day?
There would also be the begging and cajouling to practice the singing for the Graduation Mass. However, this was going to be the year where I had no fears, you are great musicians, you have proved that you can sing and are always cooperative and enthusiastic. There would be the worry of missing classes because Senior Teams were in too many finals; and when to play so that the “County lads” were allowed participate. Orals, project deadlines, broken printers, IT issues, lost files and memory sticks, Ag Sc monitors visits, LCVP exams, Construction practical’s, the list was endless…
You have missed out on the social experiences and the fun of the last weeks in the CBS, but you have been spared the long summer preparing for an exam that would in no way resemble the L.C. exam previous classes experienced. You are playing your part in helping to keep people alive by following the HSE guidelines. Stick with it, continue to be patient and kind to one another and to your parents who have supported you over the past months.
I would, along with all the Teachers and Staff in the CBS, wish you all well and we are delighted to share a Video of Memories with you to enjoy on your Online Graduation and Awards evening. We hope you enjoy it. We look forward to having a “real” Graduation Mass (including singing!) and celebration at the end of the summer when hopefully restrictions will have eased. I have no doubt that things will work out for you and you will enjoy better times ahead.
