Prize Day May 2010
Headmaster's Address
Each academic year in the life of any College brings a mixture of the ordinary and the extraordinary. The Academic Year 2009/10 is no exception. Although we are gathered here to celebrate the achievements of students and staff I begin today’s events by recalling the memory of four of our former students who left the College in recent years and who all suffered premature death in the summer months of 2009:
Stuart Mangan – class of 2003
Noel Julian – class of 2005
Thomas Kennedy – 2008
Andrew Walshe – class of 2009
I welcome all of you, Parents, Staff, Students, guests and friends to the College. All of us today share our loyalty to the Institution that is Rockwell. Established in 1864 as the Scotch college we are progressing towards our 150 year anniversary in 2014. In particular, I welcome our two special guests of Honour – Mr Mark Smyth – President of the Past Pupils Union and Mr Paul McNaughton – a former student, current Manager of the Irish Rugby Football Team and a loyal supporter to the College during the last four decades.
This evening, you will hear of many achievements in so many different areas of College life. I believe it is appropriate to begin this review of the year’s work by referring to the academic achievements of the class of 2009. In August we enjoyed a tremenduous set of Leaving Certificate results – 24 students exceeding 500 points right up to the magic 600 points. Two thirds of our students achieved 400+ points and all students achieved the requirement for College entry. An inclusive college which has opened its doors to students from all standards of academic backgrounds – including those requiring resource and learning support, we are proud of these achievements. In September we were contacted by the President of both Trinity College Dublin and University College Dublin to inform us that three of our class of 2009 – Sarah Long, Peter Hannigan and Daniel Binchy had received entrance Exhibition Scholarship to their chosen courses.
During the course of the evening you will hear reference made to Interprovincial successes, Munster Championships, National Awards and International Awards. Behind every achievement, academic and extra-curricular there is the presence and commitment of many different members of staff. The successes emanate not from the fulfilment of any contractual duty but rather from the passion which wants to see young people reach their potential and achieve to the best of their ability.
Remember please – that I am not only acknowledging the work of the teaching staff and the additional commitment of the extra-curricular staff. Rockwell is a community of students and staff. The college is served by over 100 members of staff. They work in classrooms, on the playing fields, in secretarial work, in administration and accounts, in nursing, in pastoral care, in residence, in nursing, in catering, in our study halls and in our maintenance programme. I witness our boarders make their way to breakfast each morning at about 8.00am. I wonder do they realise that there has been a good deal of preparation work before they arrive. The classrooms and study halls they left behind the night before have been cleaned and tidied. The playing fields they race onto each evening have been cut and prepared. The story goes on. Today I publicly acknowledge the work of all those people who, on a daily basis, go to the extra mile to create the order and organisation to benefit our students.
We have had an excellent year. In the depths of an irish recession our residence and classrooms are full with a record number of pupils. We have worked throughout the twelve months to continue our development programme. In this year, we have completed a new Reception Area, a new I.T. facility, a new Lecture Theatre in addition to a continuing major refurbishment programme in residence, in catering, in disability facilities and in the upgrading of the communications, broadband and inter-com links throughout the entire plant. This work will continue during the coming 12 months. Already, we have agreements in place with Architect and builders to continue the college development programme throughout the summer months and beyond. We are also about to invest in an alternative Biomass energy system which will take account of carbon costs and our environmental obligations. Things do need to change and to improve in a complex which is – after all – 146 years old.
We are living in changing times. The year 2009/10 has witnessed a demoralising loss of faith in Church, in state and in the world of the marketplace. It has never been more necessary to offer young people a code of learning and practice which is rooted in the values of honesty, effort and a respect for others. We have been swamped by a culture of greed, entitlement and a desire to achieve celebratory status. The Irish Educational system has many virtues and successes but we need to recognise our failings also. The race for six hundred points must not allow students to forget that achievement brings obligations and that standards are not measured in grades only. We need to promote innovation, independent thinking but also integrity.
Finally, I want pay tribute to the good-humour and the good-will of all our students. Rockwell is not a place of bricks and mortar. The college takes its life – in all ages – from the spirit of its pupils. The fact that we are a happy community of positive people is due mainly to our student population. I thank their parents for their role in that process and for the support you have given us over so many years.