Past Pupils Union
DP
16-December-20
Launch of the Mount Sackville Past Pupils Union
At the launch of the Mount Sackville Past Pupils Union, we planted a tree. The Tree planted is a Mountain Ash tree. A Mount Ash produces yellow berries in the Autumn. Yellow is the colour of friendship thus it is truly fitting that in the Autumn, yellow berries will appear on the tree as the school year begins and so many friendships new and old, flourish and grow. The Berries will also symbolise the warm welcome that will be extended to all of the students that have graduated.
It is important to note that the Mount Ash is formally known as the Sorbus Joseph Rock. As Mount Sackville is a school of the Saint Joseph of Cluny Sisters it is fitting and beautiful to plant this tree of yellow berries that is also known as the rock of Joseph.
In discussions with the six past students who make up the new Past Pupils committee, the Principal Mrs Eileen Cuddihy-Higgins, Ms Mary Delaney and I spoke about a Past Pupils Union rooted in the Charism of the founding Sisters.
When we create something in the space of its origin, we don’t always aim to follow the exact same path. Rather, we go back to the original energy of the founding spirit and embrace that energy to move forward.
As with all things Mount Sackville, we blessed our tree and asked God to be with us as we journey on.
God of Creation,
As we gather together to bless and celebrate the launch of the Past Pupils Union, we pray that this tree may serve as a living witness to our commitment to life-long education in faith, hope and love as at Mount Sackville we educate the whole person, in heart, body and mind.
Grant us the courage to continue the work of the Sisters of St Joseph of Cluny that began 160 years ago from the well of goodness that sprung from Blessed Anne Marie Javouhey. Help us to always be inspired by our shared history and delight in its continuation through Christ, your Son, our Lord.
With this tree we wish to remember all of Mount Sackville past pupils: the education they received, the friends they made, the memories they created.
We pray for the humility to revere and respect the tradition as we carry it forward.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
We will work to place out footsteps in the footprints of the Founding Sisters of St Joseph of Cluny; Blessed Anne Marie Javouhey and Mother Pichet, following as well as leading, remaining true as well as creating a new imprint that walks out into the world of 2020 and beyond.
It is no coincidence that last week we celebrated 160 years of Mount Sackville. We also planted a tree to symbolise the growth and love
that has taken place since the beginning in 1860. It is truly fitting that the new Past Pupils Union is launched days after this celebration.
We are excited to embrace the energy from the origins of this place, we are empowered by the Sisters of St Joseph of Cluny to emanate their ways in faith, hope and love. And so, we begin anew, together.
Dr Orla Walsh
Parents Association
10 May 2022
The Mount Sackville annual hockey awards resumed this year and were presented to outstanding players on Thursday May 5th. There are four trophy awards given to commendable hockey players in four categories, 1st Year, Minors, Juniors and Seniors.
These awards are sponsored by the Parents Association and this years honoured recipients were Anna Qiu – First Year Trophy, Clodagh Creedon – Minors Trophy, Siobhan Bernie – Juniors Trophy and Sineád Feely – Seniors Trophy. The Parents Association congratulate these wonderful players and their dedication throughout the hockey season.
Admin
26 February 2024
Mount Sackville Career’s Evening was held on 22nd February from 6pm to 8pm in the Gym Hall. The students were encouraged to explore careers with Parents/Guardians and Past Pupils’ representatives from varied career sectors as well as find more information about third level education colleges at their dedicated stands.
We were so fortunate to have the representatives from across the areas of Business, Engineering, Science, Teaching, Art and Design, Law, Technology and Public Services. The students had a unique opportunity to talk to the Defence Forces Officers, An Garda Siochana Officer, Clinical Scientist, Midwife, Civil Engineer, Process Engineer, Network Engineer, Interior Designer, Medical Physicist, Accountant, Primary School Teachers as well as NCAD, DCU students. The students asked what inspired them to pursue the career in this field, what a typical day in their job looks like and how they managed their work-life balance.
The following colleges also participated in the fair and provided the students with more information on entry requirements, course structures and placement opportunities at their stands:
- Trinity
- UCD
- DCU
- NUI Maynooth
- St. Patrick’s Pontifical College NUI Maynooth
- TUD Dublin
- NCI
- NCAD
- DBS
- RCSI
- Ballyfermot College of Further Education
- Dunboyne College of Further Education
- Inchicore College of Further Education
- Ulster University
This was a wonderful opportunity for our TY, 5th and 6th year students to speak with representatives with lived experience of different career pathways and courses and they really engaged in the conversations and found the fair very informative.
A huge gratitude to all who were involved in organising and volunteering at this year’s Career Fair.
DP
22 December 2020
DP
16 December 2020
Launch of the Mount Sackville Past Pupils Union
On the 14th of December 2020, six members of our new committee for the Mount Sackville Past Pupils Union arrived for the Tree Planting Ceremony to launch this exciting project.
The group were welcomed at reception and brought over to plant a tree to mark the occasion. There was a beautiful plaque laid at the base of the tree which reads “May Our Lives Be Rooted in Love” and the tree was planted.
The group were joined by an array of teachers who are also past pupils of the school. The whole group were invited to add soil to the base and the tree. It was then blessed with holy water from Lourdes.
For many years, the students of Mount Sackville have celebrated the bonds that they have formed at school and enjoy each other’s company in a variety of fashions.
The Launch of this Union will serve to formalize those arrangements and ensure that when students leave the school, they will enter into the world confident in the knowledge that a large support network of contacts awaits and welcomes them.
The Union will be made of a six-person committee consisting of the following roles:
- Chairperson: Jessica O’Neill
- Secretary: Sophie Boucher
- Social Media Executive (Weekly Instagram): Emily O’Neill
- Present Pupils Liaison (Careers Fair for students): Aoife Sullivan
- Fundraising Convenor (Fun Run coordinator): Grainne Hawkes
- Events Executive (Annual Reunion organizer): Eadhaoin Downey
It is our hope that together we can arrange a number of events in the years to come that will foster relations and keep our community alive and strong.
We are so looking forward to seeing how this community develops and evolves in due course!
Parents Association
12 October 2021
The Mount Sackville community collected over three thousand euro for the Cluny Sisters of Haiti, following the devastating events of August 2021.
Haiti, a country still not fully recovered from the earthquake of 2010, endured another earthquake in 2021 on August 14th, followed by tropical storm Grace on August 16th. In response the teachers, pupils, parents and alumni of Mount Sackville raised funds in September to assist the Cluny community in Haiti.
“Hope for Haiti Hike” a sponsored walk was organised in the Phoenix Park, along with a collection by the students during morning drop-off. Crowd funding via a “Gofund Me” page enabled the school’s alumni to offer a contribution, and the Parents Association also provided a donation for this worthy cause.
This particular earthquake, occurring during Covid and following political events in June, has devastated Haiti resulting in many deaths, 13,694 homes destroyed and 30,000 families affected. The Sisters of Cluny are helping victims, and are working with other agencies and organisations such as the Sisters of Charity of St Louis.
Sr Myriam, Haiti Province wrote “ It is difficult and dangerous to get relief supplies by land but we manage. Contributions raised enable the supply of tents, clothing, food, clean drinking water, medicine and cooking utensils, later these funds will help with rebuilding.”
The Cluny Sisters are grateful for the continued generosity of students, staff, past-pupils and parents of Mount Sackville, who following the Earthquake of 2010 provided financial assistance and on-going awareness of their situation via events such as 6th Year Parent Lunch, fund campaign and the 2017 Annual Parent Lunch.
A special thanks to the facilitators of this year’s initiative Sister Maeve Guinan, Mrs Eileen Cuddihy- Higgins, Dr Orla Walsh, Ms Julie-Ann Somers, Mr Adam Puszczewicz, the Senior Prefects and Christine Farrell Crotty in helping the Cluny Haiti Sisters.
DP
05 February 2021
Sr Agnes Reilly, former Principal of Mount Sackville died last night.
Sr Agnes completed her own secondary school education in Mount Sackville and then went on to graduate from UCD. with a B.SC. degree and a H. Dip Ed. She held posts in Ferbane and Stafford and served as Principal of Mount Sackville from 1975 to 1989. She also served as Provincial of the British Isles.
On a dreary October morning in 1987, I approached the entrance to Mount Sackville for the first time. That morning I was greeted by Sr Agnes Reilly. She offered me tea, apple tart and brown bread in the convent parlour and within an hour of that first meeting, she had offered me a job.
Sr Agnes was one of the kindest people I have ever met. She was a formidable lady, someone who encouraged everyone to do and be their best. She gave heart and soul to Mount Sackville. Sr Agnes exuded compassion, care and consideration for staff and students particularly when life dealt them unexpected blows.
As a woman of faith, she created a school community where prayer, liturgy and reflection were given prominence. As a woman of hope, she offered Mount Sackville students a solid academic foundation in life with Science, Languages and the Arts valued in equal measure. As a woman of love, she supported and nourished a school community where everyone was valued and encouraged to reach their full potential.
Sr Agnes was as likely to be found having tea with the President as she was cleaning the floor on the language corridor. She did everything with grace and style. Sr Agnes quite literally changed the course of my life, she gave me confidence, consolation, and courage in equal measure.
Generations of Mount Sackville past pupils owe so much to her influence. In Mount Sackville we stand on the shoulders of so many Sisters of St Joseph of Cluny who like Sr Agnes gave of their immense talent and skill to educate and empower young women to take their place in a world much in need of the Faith, Hope And Love that lies at the core of Cluny Education.
Puisse-t-elle repose en paix
Mrs Eileen Cuddihy-Higgins
Principal
Parents Association
24 January 2021
“Stress and Anxiety in Challenging Times” – Stella O’Malley
The tailored talks entitled “Stress and Anxiety in Challenging Times” were presented via Zoom and Stella, whose alma mater was Mount Sackville, provided thought provoking advice, interspersed with her gift for storytelling.
Stella O’Malley is a mental health professional, best-selling author, public speaker and a parent with many years’ experience working in counselling and psychotherapy.
According to Stella, anxiety is the most common mental health issue in Ireland today, and is often contagious and so can infect the whole family. Anxiety is often described as an over-estimation of the danger and an under-estimation of ones ability to cope.
“ Stella gave a wonderful, informative talk, and lots of super advice to us all, I could have listened to her wonderful advice all evening! “ Parent feedback
Stella is a regular contributor to the Irish Independent, the Sunday
Independent, RTE, Newstalk FM and Today FM. Her bestselling books include “Cotton Wool Kids”, “Bully-Proof Kids” and “Fragile”.
“Stress and Anxiety in Challenging Times” – Mount Sackville Presentation