Respect and Connect Week 2024 consisted of week-long lessons and activities. lessons on antibullying and friendship were completed in SPHE, CSPE, and DML. Each year, the group had trips, activities, and events on the Thursday during this week where they connected with their year group by working on their communication skills, team building, and problem-solving skills. Each year group enjoyed completing these trips and bonding with their form and year groups. On Friday, students participated in a whole-school activity. Each student joined together to create a human-made Google sign. We finished it off by making a whole-school conga line. See the linked school tweet below. The activity was a chance to be part of something as a school community. This was a successful week for our school community, where we worked together to build friendships, remember the importance of respect, and foster connections in our lives.
1st Year: On-Site Activities
On Thursday of Respect and Connect Week 1st year students fully embraced the spirit of Respect and Connect Week with a series of engaging activities designed to foster a sense of community and friendship. The day kicked off with an exciting treasure hunt, where students worked in teams to solve clues and discover hidden treasures around the school grounds.
Following the treasure hunt, everyone gathered for a vibrantly coloured picnic, showcasing an array of delicious foods brought by the students. Each dish was a celebration of creativity and colour, creating a lively atmosphere that was enjoyed by all. Students also participated in “Get to Know Me” activities, allowing them to share interests and learn more about their peers in a fun and interactive way. This helped build connections and strengthen bonds within the group.
The day was made even more special with a visit from parents and guardians, where they enjoyed treats baked by the students. It was a wonderful opportunity for families to connect and celebrate the sense of community we are cultivating at our school.
2nd Year: Junk Kouture by Ava W. & Una O’L.
For our Respect and Connect activity, 2nd year created outfits out of junk and recycled material. Imaginative and unique outfits were made to fit the theme of “Disney”.
Each team had a model, DJ, creative designer, and commentator. The gym very quickly became a fashion studio as teams began sewing, cutting, and gluing their materials together to create the finished look.
The judges had their work cut out for them! Each outfit was truly fantastic. A sense of anticipation fell over the gym like a heavy blanket as the victorious teams were announced. Extra awards like “best prop” and “best headpiece” were also distributed to deserving teams.
We all came out feeling like winners, having had a fantastic time. It was truly a day to remember!
3rd Year Trip: Dublin City Centre by Amelia L. & Anna J.
On the 26th of September, all 3rd year students had their Respect and Connect Day in Town. We visited many places in town including The Hugh Lane Gallery, St. Stephen’s Green/Merrion Square for a treasure hunt, The GPO, and Moore Street. We were tasked with finding different paintings around the gallery in the Hugh Lane Gallery. In the GPO, we had a tour where we listened and learned about the 1916 Easter Rising. This tour ended with a short film about the Easter Rising which everyone enjoyed! The Moore Street Battlefield tour which Ms. Whelan led was very informative and we all had a great time learning more about the history of the battlefield.
Overall, we think it’s fair to say that everyone in 3rd year had an amazing day out.
TY Trip: Bowling and Cinema by Lara N. & Caoimhe McG. 4.4
For our Respect and Connect Week activity, we went to Omni Cinema to watch Despicable Me 4, which led to lots of laughter from our TY year group. After the movie, we took the N6 bus to Coolock.
Once we arrived, we walked over to the Odeon for some bowling. We split into groups of five, and the fun began. The only downside was that our entire year group couldn’t bowl together.
Our Respect and Connect day was a fantastic opportunity to bond with our classmates and year team. We’re so thankful for our year team’s quick response to the weather and for organising such an enjoyable day out!
5th Year Respect and Connect Week Trip - St. Stephens Green - by Aoife R.
On the 26th of September, 5th-year students went to St. Stephen’s Green to do a scavenger hunt for our Respect and Connect Week trip. We met at the entrance to the shopping center that morning and were sent a form on our Google Classroom. The form was filled with questions like “Who is Mr. McCartney’s favourite Disney character”, and we had to find and take a picture of that character in the Disney shop. We had to take a picture of the most famous landmark at Trinity College, answer questions about where things are located, take a picture of a rose in the Iveagh Gardens, etc. This hunt took us all over Dublin City Centre. Most people were pretty competitive with this, and we all had a lot of team spirit. I had a great time, and I would recommend this kind of trip for any other year groups to do in the future.
6th Year Trip: Higher Options
During Respect & Connect week 6th-year students attended the Higher Options event at the RDS. I found it incredibly helpful in figuring out my next steps after secondary school. The event brought together universities, colleges, and various educational institutions from Ireland and beyond, all under one roof. It gave me the chance to explore different courses and career paths I hadn’t even considered before. I got to attend talks, ask questions directly to college reps, and pick up loads of brochures about different courses—everything from arts and sciences to business and engineering. It was great to get firsthand advice and information. This helped me feel more confident about the decisions I’ll have to make in the coming months. Overall, it was a brilliant opportunity to get a clearer picture of my options for the future. Afterwards, we took the opportunity to have lunch together with our friends which was a lovely end to the day.