Theme of the week: Know Thyself: Do as you say, and say what you mean, with kindness.

The whole school participated with a very good heart. It started on Monday morning with a presentation by Dr. Telford, introducing the theme, the activities, and showing a time lapse video of the building of the new skyscrapers on the 9/11 site in New York, as a testament to Larry Silverstein’s statement that he would rebuild the towers because we have “an obligation to our children and our grandchildren”. He said it and he did it.

Philosophy Classes during the week for all pupils dealt with ‘Non-violent communication’: how to use our speech to uplift others, rather than carelessly or thoughtlessly putting others down. It is a big challenge.

Quiet Times dealt with getting to know ourselves better by looking at the three ‘Doshas’ that we are of in various different proportions: Air, Fire and Water- used by Ayurveda medicine.

• On Tuesday from 10am-3:15pm, there were five major activities, held in the Avila Retreat centre and in the School building which all the school participated in:
• Yoga – an expert teacher came in to take one hour Yoga classes.
• Improvisational Drama – one of the best Improv. teachers took one hour sessions based around our theme.
• Art – our Art teacher, Ms Sweeney, engaged the students in self discovery and self expression on the theme.
• A Debate on the Topic “We are only honest when it suits us”, where magically between 55 and 65 students simultaneously in one room debated in groups of eight with two judges with each group! Exciting and engaging.
• Observation Challenge for the remaining 45 minutes took place in the grounds of Avila and the Royal Hospital Donnybrook and environs, to produce some worthy winners.
• The week was very well received by students and teachers alike, and a positive response to the Theme was evident.

Many thanks to all the key teachers and people who helped in the organising of this event…. It was no mean feat.

Dr. Telford,