Page 110 - The Gonzaga Record 1994
P. 110
Prep School Miscellany
IT HAS BEEN a year of comings and goings. Only a week into the first term
Mrs Crosbie had to take sudden and unexpected leave to nurse her terminally ill
husband Vincent. May he rest in peace. Initially, Mrs Crosbie was replaced by
Mr Liam O'hOrcain and then by Ms Dawn Chapman for the remainder of the
term. Mrs Crosbie was warmly welcomed back in the New Year, when she
never let her personal grief overrule her considerable professional capabilities.
A gratifying feature of the year as a whole was the good-humoured and
invariably constructive manner in which the Prep 3 and 4 boys interacted. The
result of this pupil blending and the relaxed manner in which the teachers
related to the pupils, lent an unusual sense of tranquility and homeliness to most
proceedings, resulting in a pleasant yet purposeful year for all, in which, as the
following articles will testify, much or as much, valuable learning took place
without, as within the classroom.
Yes, a year of comings and goings. We note with sadness and gratitude the
departure of Mrs Egan and Mr Byrne to the Secondary School. As Prep 3 Class
Teacher over twelve years, Mrs Egan has made a significant and lasting
contribution to the life of the school. Two of her outstanding attributes have
been her wisdom in dealing with young boys, as well as her compassion
towards them. While much of Mr Byrne’s work has been outside ‘office hours’
and thus unseen, he has demonstrated a remarkable versatility in teaching a
range of subjects and a capacity to engage the interest and respect of the boys,
who esteem him highly.
As always, parents participated to a significant degree in the life of the School:
through Masses, Functions, Projects, and Fundraising for the Needy. A
particular debt is owed to Mr John Stewart and Mr John Butterly for the
organisation of Games and the training of teams, as well as to the many parents
who turned up unfailingly to fixtures, home or away. To all, many thanks.
This year’s Reading Project raised no less than £530 between the two classes,
to provide equipment for St Joseph’s School for the Deaf, Cabra. Each year's
project has been characterized by a remarkable generosity towards those in
need, mostly shown by the readers of this magazine.
There is much about the life of school to celebrate and enjoy. The following
are just some of the highlights.
Daniel McNelis
102
IT HAS BEEN a year of comings and goings. Only a week into the first term
Mrs Crosbie had to take sudden and unexpected leave to nurse her terminally ill
husband Vincent. May he rest in peace. Initially, Mrs Crosbie was replaced by
Mr Liam O'hOrcain and then by Ms Dawn Chapman for the remainder of the
term. Mrs Crosbie was warmly welcomed back in the New Year, when she
never let her personal grief overrule her considerable professional capabilities.
A gratifying feature of the year as a whole was the good-humoured and
invariably constructive manner in which the Prep 3 and 4 boys interacted. The
result of this pupil blending and the relaxed manner in which the teachers
related to the pupils, lent an unusual sense of tranquility and homeliness to most
proceedings, resulting in a pleasant yet purposeful year for all, in which, as the
following articles will testify, much or as much, valuable learning took place
without, as within the classroom.
Yes, a year of comings and goings. We note with sadness and gratitude the
departure of Mrs Egan and Mr Byrne to the Secondary School. As Prep 3 Class
Teacher over twelve years, Mrs Egan has made a significant and lasting
contribution to the life of the school. Two of her outstanding attributes have
been her wisdom in dealing with young boys, as well as her compassion
towards them. While much of Mr Byrne’s work has been outside ‘office hours’
and thus unseen, he has demonstrated a remarkable versatility in teaching a
range of subjects and a capacity to engage the interest and respect of the boys,
who esteem him highly.
As always, parents participated to a significant degree in the life of the School:
through Masses, Functions, Projects, and Fundraising for the Needy. A
particular debt is owed to Mr John Stewart and Mr John Butterly for the
organisation of Games and the training of teams, as well as to the many parents
who turned up unfailingly to fixtures, home or away. To all, many thanks.
This year’s Reading Project raised no less than £530 between the two classes,
to provide equipment for St Joseph’s School for the Deaf, Cabra. Each year's
project has been characterized by a remarkable generosity towards those in
need, mostly shown by the readers of this magazine.
There is much about the life of school to celebrate and enjoy. The following
are just some of the highlights.
Daniel McNelis
102
