The Grad!

Thank you all for your lovely comments on the last post.
The parents got together and in just 3 days, a committee planned and put together a most wonderful Graduation Day.

It kicked off with breakfast at one house, followed by a Barbeque at another house. Up until this week, the weather here was as cold as winter and we had the heating on. But Mr. Sun showed up this week, and it has been glorious! Perfect BBQ weather.

Hubby volunteered to cook hot dogs and to help out, and he took a few photos.

For Wednesday night, the committee booked a hotel ballroom, and we had  a really beautiful celebration of/for these young adults. They were all dressed up and looked fantastic! They were very well-behaved, there were some great speeches and musical performances by the students. Here she is making a speech about the Head Boy and Girl! No notes, just talked ad lib! I was one proud Mama!

 Each student was presented with a Dublin Crystal keyring with the school logo engraved on it.
Another highlight was the arrival of the Heineken Cup, but that was lost on me, I didn't recognise it!! All the fathers were queuing up to have their photo taken with it after the formal proceedings.

It all worked out very well, and it was a lovely experience to see how a group of parents worked together and put their kids ahead of everything else. It restored my faith in humanity.
I'm still not sure where things stand as regards the school, but the memories from Graduation Day and night will stay with us for a long time.
I forgot to bring my camera with me, and this was the best of the pictures of the 3 of us we could get. I've tried to enhance it a bit with Photoshop, but the best I can say about it is that She looks well in it!

Blowing in the Wind

I've been trying to do a post for almost 2 weeks now, with these few pictures I snapped with my phone, during the long walks I've taken to clear my mind.

It's been a really tough couple of weeks.
There has been a lot of trouble at the school where my 2 younger kids attend, and it's been difficult to get my head around a post. Or anything else, as a matter of fact.

First the 6th years (this is their final year) held a "rave" in their common room, barricaded the door, played loud music for an hour (and missed class) and danced. As "end of school" pranks here go, it seems fairly harmless, but they did expect the common room would be taken from them as a punishment.

Then other goings-on emerged, of fruit peel being thrown in the direction of the deputy principal, and name-calling, then some "social media" posts.

The situation quickly escalated, some students were expelled, some suspended, and last night we got a TEXT telling us that classes have now been terminated for all of them, and their Graduation ceremony (planned for next Wednesday) has been cancelled. The actions of a few have had huge repercussions on many.

Needless to say, they are upset, we're upset and worried. They sit their Leaving Cert in 2 and a half week's. Many of them are too wrapped up in it all to do any work, spending their time checking the latest news. They're a bit like the kites in these pictures, being blown around by the wind!

So, this morning I woke with a splitting headache. I never get headaches, and couldn't tell you the last time I had to take paracetamol. But today I did, then I went for a long walk in the park. That somewhat cleared my head, but I came home to a list of emails from parents planning a "Graduation Ceremony"- they're having a meeting tomorrow for all parents of 6th years, but to be honest, I don't think I'll go, because I can't take much more of this. In any case, I have neither the time nor the energy to help in organising such a ceremony.

I haven't decided yet whether I will go to the Grad, assuming that it takes place. That will be up to my daughter. Other than being in the Common Room during the "rave", she has done nothing wrong, yet she has lost her last day at school.
She has always got on extremely well with all her teachers, yet she won't have the opportunity to say goodbye and "thank you"  to them.  Through her 6 years at the school, she always said "Thank you " to the teacher at the end of every class; in her own words "I treat them like human beings". That makes me feel so proud!

Now I feel lost, sad.  As a teacher, some of my instinct is that there must be stuff that we don't know, that a head wouldn't terminate classes without good reason. But then who would terminate classes for an entire year, by text, at 8.00 on a Friday night? And why are the entire year being punished for the actions of a few? I hoped they would find a way that didn't involve such a sad ending.

                                              (the start of the "Wicklow Way" in Marlay Park)
Any thoughts?

a lazy post

I'm really, really tired this week.

Been thinking about a new post, but just couldn't come up with anything, then Kerri had a beautiful photo with a cute quote and , hey ho! here's a post!

This fridge magnet was given to me by my dear friend Cee, who lives in Brussels. I think of her every time I open my fridge! It says "there is nothing better than a good friend, except a good friend who brings chocolate", and she always brings the most delicious Belgian chocolates, but even if she didn't, I would be delighted to see her. She's been living in Brussels for 10 years, I see her about 4 times a year, we talk and email every couple of weeks, but I still miss her very much, and look forward to when they come home, whenever that is!
The first photo is edited, in sepia with camerawesome. I really like that app a lot!

 I do not like the new blogger, how do other people feel about it?
I had already turned the bottom photo in my files, but for some reason blogger has decided to post it in the original form?????