BOARD OF MANAGEMENT AWARDS NIGHT 2011

An Awards Night that pointed to the holistic nature of education in St. Mary’s College, Naas was held on Friday 4th February.  This is an annual event and tribute was paid to the award winners from the sixth year class of 2009/2010.

The overriding criterion for consideration for these awards was the girls’ ability to use their many talents.  While academic achievement was also taken into account, so also were artistic accomplishments, sporting prowess,  courage in the face of adversity, personality and overall effort.  At an enjoyable ceremony held in the school staffroom, Board of Management Chairperson, Moling Ryan and Principal, Marie O’Neill, spoke of the honour these girls brought to themselves, to their families and to the school . They are to be heartily congratulated and are living proof of the school’s ethos, which encourages both talent and effort.

The girls who received awards were Emma Aherne, Chloe Campbell, Jennifer Courtney, Orla Fitzpatrick, Roísín Flanagan, Ruth Healy, Caroline Hill, Orla Keenan, Sinéad Keohane, Clíodhna MacSweeney, Amy Nolan, Amy O’Kelly, Aoife Rafter, Aoife Rice and Aoife Sheehy.

This year, to mark their exceptional contributions to the school, special presentations were made to Sr. Anne Doyle and Phil Dunning.

Sr. Anne served as a teacher in St. Mary’s  in the 1970s, then spent some years working as a missionary in her beloved Kenya.  Fortunately for us she returned as a teacher in 1986 and was appointed principal in 1987. Extraordinarily hard working and inspirational as a principal, she truly led by example.

Phil Dunning worked in the school for 35 years, thirty one of those as vice-principal.  Her kind, gentle and caring nature was always there as a support to all the school community.

The ceremony was attended by the recipients of awards and their guests, by members of the Board of Management, the Parents’ Council , the Past Pupils’ Association and by the Student Council.  Present staff and retired staff were all well represented.

The beautiful music throughout the evening was courtesy of harpists Shauna and Naoise Gallagher.

Marie O'Neill, Sr. Anne Doyle, Phil Dunning and Moling Ryan	Past and present Principals and Deputy Principals

6th Year 2009-2010 Recipients of Board of Management Awards