The Sixth Year Graduation took place on Monday the 19th of May in the gym. The sixth year classes are all called after Irish mountains: Errigal, Kippure, Nephin and Brandon. The theme, “Scale the heights and reach for your star”, was chosen with this in mind.
The walls of the gym were decorated with four mountains, representing each class. Photos of each of the girls with miniature bodies were placed on the mountains. They were surrounded by icons representing their gifts, talents and achievements during their time here in St. Mary’s. The banner was decorated with the theme and hung on the back wall interspersed with balloons in the school colours. A presentation of images of the girls and all of their activities and trips was shown to their parents before the Mass began.
The Mass was celebrated by Fr. Richard and began with an opening candle procession. Each girl carried her Graduation Candle into the gym, symbolising the light of learning for each student, while a prayer of Margaret Aylward’s was read out. The Head Girl, Megan Stamp and the two deputies, Eilis Phelan and Leah O’Donnell, and some of their fellow sixth years did the readings and Prayers of the Faithful. In keeping with the theme of mountains, gifts were brought up and placed on a mountain at the altar. These gifts represented all the help and support the girls received from parents, families and teachers as they climbed the mountain of learning to reach their star of a successful future. After Communion a reflection was read which gave meaning to this journey they have been on. The Mass ended on a high note with the beautiful singing of the choir.
The Mass was dedicated to our staff member, Mrs. Claire Bogan, who passed away this spring, and to our retiring teachers: Ms. Murphy, Ms. Aird, Ms. Moggan and Ms. Kavanagh.
After the Mass, Mrs. Lennon and Ms. Murphy addressed the parents, students and teachers. The main awards of the night were given out to the worthy recipients. Certificates and emblems were presented to all of the girls. Megan, Eilis and Leah then spoke to everyone in their valedictory address. Finally, the proceedings ended with an emotional rendition of the graduation song.
As always, we in the Religion Department, would like to thank everyone who helped to make Graduation such a special occasion. In particular we thank: Mrs. Lennon and Ms. Murphy without whose support we could not do it; Ms. Moggan and Ms. Maher for the balloons and letting us use the gym; Ms. Cunningham for the flowers; Liz for printing the Mass booklet; Ciaran and Gerry for setting up the gym; Ms. O’Rourke, Mr. Coll and the choir for their beautiful singing and all the parents and staff who come and celebrate the occasion in such numbers.
Ms. L. Bohan and the Religion Department
