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The Droghedean

The Droghedean was an annual publication describing the events of the past year in Drogheda Grammar School. Published by the students, it contained reports of the various clubs, match reports, pieces of poetry written by students, trips taken and theatres visited. It also included, reports from the Past Pupils Association, and news about Past Pupils: Where are they? , What are they doing?, Marriages & Births and other items of general interest.

As part of the celebrations planned for the formal opening of the new school, the organising committee decided to commemorate the event by printing a special issue of the Droghedean. Instead of concentrating on events of the last year, it was decided to cover the last 50 years, from headmaster Arnold Marsh time to the present. It is designed to describe how the school has developed over that period and also to give a flavour of the school, its students and teachers. We hope that you enjoy it and that it will provide you with some interesting and enjoyable reading. For some it will jog memories of their time in the school.

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Moments and Memories from the past fifty years and more

Drogheda Grammar School was founded

by Erasmus Smith under Royal Charter in 1669, and the Erasmus S m i t h Schools Act of 1938 had far reaching effects on the path the

school was to take in the

20th century. In particular,

investments held by the Governors were

significantly depleted. This meant that there were insufficient funds available to run the school, and the Governors reluctantly decided to close the school in 1938. On this decision becoming known locally, several residents of Drogheda deputed a representative group to approach the Governors with a proposal to continue the school under the management of the members of the group, subject to agreement on mutually acceptable terms as to the maintenance of the school buildings and the payment of the charges thereon. Agreement was effected and the Governors leased the premises to the “Drogheda Grammar School Committee” in 1939. This allowed the school to continue in operation until 1956, when again it was decided to close the school.

It was at this point that members of the local community, who happened to belong to the Religious Society of Friends , stepped in to save the school, and it was transferred to a Committee of Members of the Religious Society of Friends. The voluntary adoption of the old Grammar School by the Committee happily

resulted in its rejuvenation. The new Committee indicated its intention to run the School on the same lines as other schools run by the Religious Society of Friends i.e. as a co-educational combined boarding and day school.

In 1956, the Committee tasked with the running of the school bought new sports grounds and a house on the Ballymakenny Road called Shamrock Lodge, to complement the existing premises on Laurence Street in the centre of Drogheda. The aerial bucket system linking the quarry on the Collon Road with the cement factory on the river ran directly over Shamrock Lodge. The ground was very level and it was easy to mark out playing pitches for rugby and hockey. A running track was marked out for athletics during the Summer Term, and cricket was also played during this term.

An unusual feature of life for pupils at DGS was the swimming pool, itself being an earlier donation of the Allen family. This was open-air and unheated but was used extensively for swimming

competitions and lifesaving classes. It was a stated objective of the Headmaster at the time that every pupil in the school should be able to swim before they graduated. Most of the training was carried out under the direction of a Mr Dukes.

In 1957 the Headmaster Arnold Marsh retired and Eric Brockhouse, an English Quaker, was appointed in his place. His wife Kathleen took over the management of the girls’ dormitories. Mr. Brockhouse was an accomplished musician and loved to play boogie-woogie on the piano. His son Jeremy was also very musical and played saxophone with a number of local groups during his school holidays. The school thrived under Mr Brockhouse’s direction with the pupil population increasing substantially. It eventually became clear

In 1956, the Committee tasked with the running of the school bought new sports grounds and a house

factory on the river ran directly

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that the school could not develop any further in the confines of Laurence Street. The old building had outgrown its usefulness, and the decision was made by the Committee to move to a new campus.

A development plan was created and put into action. This involved selling the sports grounds at Shamrock Lodge, buying a new site, securing Department of Education funding and support, selling the old premises at Laurence Street and fund-raising for the balance of money required. The Committee Chairman Ken Allen (after whom the new 2012 building is named) spearheaded this effort and in 1956 a new 22 acre campus at Edenview on the Mornington Road was purchased. The old sports grounds were sold to Drogheda Rugby Club (now Boyne Rugby Club).

The development work at Edenview was undertaken in two phases. The first consisted of preparing the sports grounds, installing a gravel-based hockey pitch and moving the girls’ dormitories to the first floor of Edenview house. The second phase involved obtaining Government funding for a new classroom block and borrowing money to fund the dormitory section. This was in the early 1970s, a period of recession, and it proved difficult to sell the Laurence Street premises. As the house was a fine example of Irish Georgian architecture, a preservation order had been secured by the school Committee before it was put on the market. A number of sales fell through but eventually the old school was sold. (This later led to adverse publicity for the school as the new owners demolished the building in the 1980s amid a lot of controversy, but that is another story.) A major fund raising effort was mounted in 1974. Current Board of Management Chairman Robert Berney was invited to become a member

of the Committee and he headed up the Past Pupil efforts in fundraising. The funds raised together with the proceeds of the sale cleared the bank debt.

Eric Brockhouse retired in 1974 and John Siberry, then Vice Principal of Sutton Park School, was appointed as Headmaster. Pupil numbers had now grown to 100 boarders and 30 day pupils. John Siberry’s first major task was to direct the move to the new campus. This he did very efficiently with the assistance of Vice Principal Vernon McMaster, and the school numbers continued to grow under his direction until his retirement in 1986. Just as in Laurence Street, the new school boasted an open-air unheated swimming pool which was always remarkably popular with pupils in the summer months.

The next Headmaster was a departure from the norm. Bob Hopkins came from an industrial background with a high competence in systems and management. He was also an accomplished artist and brought a new interest in the arts to the school. Under his direction computerised systems were introduced for accounts, class room allocation and pupil reports. A new science laboratory and home economics classroom were built in 1987. He retired from teaching in 1992.

The next Headmaster, Richard Schmidt, also a teacher from Sutton Park School, was a past pupil of Drogheda Grammar School. He brought with him a passion for hockey. As well as being an accomplished player himself, he was Manager of the Irish under-18 school boys’ team for a number of years. Richard Schmidt continues today in his role of Principal and has overseen the growth in pupil numbers to the current level of 260. For the last ten years he has dedicated himself to achieving the greatest single increase in facilities at Drogheda Grammar School, bringing to fruition completion of the wonderful new school building.

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Drogheda Grammar School: Vision, Mission, Ethos & Values

VisionDrogheda Grammar School - Opportunity to Flourish

MissionTo be recognised as a good and successful school in nurturing the education, growth and development of students.

EthosEvery individual is of value and has something to contribute

ValuesDrogheda Grammar School is committed to achieving the stated Vision & Mission within the accepted ethos of the School by:

• Preparing students for their next stage in education and in life • Uncovering and developing talents both individually and collectively• Achieving excellence in academic, cultural, social development and sport• Perpetuating the traditions of the school

Statement of Faith and ReligionDrogheda Grammar School welcomes students of all religions and none. Religion is not formally taught but spirituality is evident in the school through weekly morning assembly at which ministers of all religions are invited to develop a reflection in the nature of the “thought of the week” based on events or issues that are relevant to the community. There is a reflection room in which students can pursue their own contemplative theme. During transition year there is an opportunity to explore world religions. Although Drogheda Grammar School operates as part of the protestant SEC sector its structure is quite different from most of these schools. The school is owned by a charitable company and it does not have a Patron.

The ethos statement “Every individual is of value and has something to contribute” describes the principles under which the school operates.

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From desk to Chair, a short journey in five decades.

My memories of Drogheda Grammar School started in the fabulous old school in Laurence Street (now the site of the Laurence Street Shopping Centre). It was an oasis of peace and quiet in the middle of the bustling town of Drogheda. The buildings consisted of a mixture of the really old Singleton House and not quite so old stone buildings. Singleton House was considered by many to be the finest example of Georgian architecture outside of Dublin with its oak panelled entrance hall, staircase, offices and apartment on the first floor. Adjacent to it was a marvellous dining hall with its high ceiling; at one end, beautiful windows opening on to Laurence Street and at the other end the garden area.

The girl’s dormitories on the first floor of Singleton House were adjacent to the headmaster’s apartment, a strategic location.

The boys’ dormitories were in the building along Free School Lane. The class rooms were a mixture of fairly modern rooms and very old stone build buildings. The old building along William Street and Free School Lane were split up into science laboratories, gymnasium and hobbies area. It was originally part of the stables. The garden area was a mixture of lawns and flower beds with the school swimming pool at one end and a series of tiered gardens leading to Singleton House.

The Vice Principal Mr Griffin and his wife lived in a flat in the grounds. It was a happy environment for students and staff alike, almost bohemian, in that Headmaster Arnold Marsh and his wife had a very relaxed approach to running the school. Pupil numbers were small and supervision relatively easy. Mr Marsh always took his art class on the lawn (weather permitting). His wife, Hilda Roberts, who was a well-known artist and indeed her fine portrait of Arnold, hangs in the Board Room in Eden House. The school staff included some very interesting teachers: a Church of Ireland clergyman who taught Irish, a French Lady who taught French and an Englishman with one arm who taught Latin. Much to the delight of new students, the one-armed teacher also played the piano at morning assembly. The science teacher, Mr Sexton also taught in the Christian Brothers School and he had his own unique way of teaching. Day pupils were mainly local but the boarders came from all over Ireland and beyond. There were even a few families from Iceland.

My involvement with the school continued through an active Past Pupils Association. We organised events and had Past Pupils v Present Pupils Hockey matches and events at the swimming gala. My wife Adri was also a past pupil and our four children all attended the school. The eldest, Richard, now an accountant, is also a member of the Board of Management.

I was first invited to join the Board of Management in 1974, becoming Chairman in 2000. My involvement with the Board of Management has proven to be very rewarding, interesting and challenging, but never dull! Why, you might ask, did I stick with it for so long? The answer is simple! I passionately believe in the educational model that the school delivers. It is a small school, with few students in each class and we cater for pupils of all abilities. We have exceptional staff who are talented, committed and a pleasure to work with and they deliver an educational programme of the highest standard. The new school provides the opportunity to continue this in a modern and appropriate environment.

Dr. Robert BerneyChairman, Board of Management

Dr Robert Berney was a student of Drogheda Grammar School in the fifties. He was invited to join the Board of Management in 1974, becoming Chairman in 2000, a position that he still holds.

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Notes from the Headmaster

It is always an exciting time when something new arrives on your doorstep. Such a day was August 28th 2012, the first day of the new school year, when students and staff walked through the front door of the major new development at the school. It is certainly a proud moment personally since my association with the Grammar School stretches back for almost five decades. Initially, I was a fresh-faced, nervous third-year day student in 1965 and later a full seven-day boarder. Following graduation, I returned regularly as a past pupil to the annual reunion dinner and hockey match. Subsequently, there were visits as a teacher bringing competing hockey teams from Dublin. A very significant event for me was returning full-time to the role of Headmaster in 1992, a position I have held with pride for two decades.

The school prides itself on the care and attention it gives to its students. For many years, the teacher pupil ratio has been one of the lowest in the country and even through difficult economic times every effort is being made to continue this policy. Since 1975, Eden View House and its extensive grounds have provided an exceptional campus in a safe and tranquil rural setting offering the best of academic and sporting facilities.

Parents and students will always look at school amenities when selecting a secondary school. Drogheda Grammar School never sought this as the primary focus for students. Parents have always chosen the Grammar School for their sons and daughters for both the quality of the education and the level of preparation that allows students to make the best life decisions for further education, personal development and a life well lived. This is still true today. Our new facilities mean that we now have classrooms and specialised areas of the highest quality in a setting which the students fully deserve and from which they can benefit. The tools we have will give both teachers and students the opportunity to meet the ever-changing environment with confidence.

The new Junior Certificate, the increased emphasis on mathematics, science and technology, the importance being placed on improving literacy, numeracy and foreign language skills can all be met by our highly professional staff, smaller class groups and modern facilities. We now have a campus that can easily accommodate 400 students, providing a wider range of subjects without adversely affecting class size. Our current enrolment stands at 255, which is an increase on last year. With the continued support of parents, community and benefactors, we can state with confidence that Drogheda Grammar School is set to continue to grow and flourish, exactly in line with our motto: “Floreat.”

Richard SchmidtHeadmaster

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The Allen Family Connection

Many of the former students and staff of Laurence Street will be familiar with the name ‘Allen’ from a plaque over the swimming pool recognising the contribution made by Bertram Allen. Not all of them appreciated the value of a bracing swim in an outdoor unheated pool, but few forgot it! This was reinforced by the enthusiasm of the Headmaster, Eric Brockhouse, who enjoyed a pre-breakfast swim himself every day.

Bertram’s son, Ken Allen, was the man who took the helm as Chairman of Drogheda Grammar School in the early fifties when it was threatened with closure. Being a Quaker and a prominent businessman, he had three passions in life: work, family and Drogheda Grammar School. Ken maintained that he had at least one failing: he was a man of action more than words. “Make a decision and get on with it. If you find out you are wrong, you can always reverse it” was his way of operating. Ken Allen really spearheaded the move to Eden View. Laurence Street was past its best and did not have capacity for development and expansion. Ken’s involvement as Chairman of the Governing Body spanned a period of forty years.

The Allen connection moved into a third generation when Ken’s son Charlie became involved as a Board member. Charlie served on the Board in Laurence Street for about 10 years and then took a break due to farming commitments. During this period, Ken’s eldest son Billy became a Board member and was Chairman for a time. Charlie returned to the Board in Eden View shortly after Billy passed away and continues to be a Board member today. In his own opinion, Charlie would say that he is of a practical nature and likes to see things progress. The school’s tradition of being progressive continues. It was true in the forties when the swimming pool was added to Laurence Street and it is true now as the excellent sports facilities complement the tremendous building that is to be named after his father.

Charlie has suggested that his own son Karl will continue the Allen’s practical help to the school as he is currently on the Board of the PTA. The Allen connection continues into the 21st century with the recent graduation of Charlie’s granddaughter, Shelley Allen, to UCD to study Food Science. And Scott Allen, his grandson, is currently in fifth year.

During his involvement with the Drogheda Grammar School, Charlie says that there are several attributes that he feels are really important:

• An acceptance that a school is a dynamic place -- there must always be movement and, to remain relevant, movement and momentum should be forward.

• The sense of community that the school brings to the local and extended area -- on any Saturday morning, there are likely to be hundreds of children involved in sports and games in the grounds and facilities of the school.

• Finally, there are the students: every child is recognised and treated as an individual -- it is great to see children developing and being happy in their progress. For years, those around them have seen these self-same children enter the world as well rounded individuals, ready and proud to serve as members of the community, having passed through the doors of Drogheda Grammar School.

Charlie AllenBoard Member

Charlie Allen has been associated with Drogheda Grammar School for over 40 years. The new school building has been named the Ken Allen building in honour of his father, a former Chairman of the Board.

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Headmasters down the years

1669 Joseph Scott, M.A.1682 John Morris, M.A.1694 Ellis Walker, M.A.1701 John Guilford, M.A.1728 Samuel Clarke, M.A.1753 Rev. Richard Norris, D.D.1789 Rev. Charles Crawford, M.A.1807 Rev. Lancelot Dowdall, D.D. 1811 Rev Hugh Shields, M.A.1819 Rev. George Needham, D.D.1841 Rev. Maurice McKay, D.D.1850 Rev. George Lacey, D.D.1858 Rev. Maynard Goslett, LL.D1863 Rev. Henry Carr, M.A.

1868 Rev J. W. Chambers, B.A.1871 John Whitty B.A.1877 Rev. Frederick Aldhouse, M.A.1922 Rev. F.S. Ferguson, M.A.1939 W. Fleming Thompson, B.Sc. ARCScI1949 William M. Glynn, B.A.1949 Albert E. Maxwell, M.A.1951 Arnold Marsh, M.A.1957 Eric Brockhouse, M.A.1974 John Siberry, M.A., H.Dip.Ed1986 Robert Hopkins A.N.C.A.D1992 Richard W. Schmidt, B.A., H.Dip. Ed

1951 - 1957 1957 - 1974 1974 - 1986 1986 - 1992 Arnold Marsh Eric Brockhouse John Siberry Robert Hopkins

1992 - Present Robert W. Schmidt

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Board of Management

Drogheda Grammar School was among the first schools in Ireland to adopt the new Board of Management structure introduced by the Department of Education. This consists of two teachers, two members of the Parent Teacher Association and four members appointed by the Trustees/Directors. The Trustees nominate the Chairperson.

The Board of Management is responsible for the day-to-day running of the school. This includes the appointment of staff, discipline, implementing the principles described under the ethos and mission statement, curriculum, sports and extra curricular activities, all policy documents and planning.

The School Principal, although not a member of the Board of Management, attends the meeting and reports on the day-to-day running of the school. His responsibilities include the implementation of the policies agreed with the Board of Management, providing leadership for the teachers and creating the school environment which is supportive of the students in their development.

Parent Teacher Association: Drogheda Grammar School Parent Teacher Association (PTA) was primarily created to promote and maintain good communications between the Board of Management, staff, and parents. It also provides opportunities to discuss matters of common interest and to organise activities to promote the welfare of the School and its students.

All parents of current students are eligible for membership. The PTA is composed of a committee of up to 20 members; parent representatives are elected by the parent body attending the AGM in the Autumn; other members include 3 teachers elected by the staff of Drogheda Grammar School, and the Principal. From the membership of the PTA, a Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Treasurer, Secretary and Public Relations Officer are elected.

Meetings occur once a month. The meetings are a forum for discussion on:

a) Needs of the teachers which can be met by the PTA b) Issues that are raised by parents to be discussed and addressedc) Discussions on the information provided by and also feedback given to, the National Parents Council (Post Primary). The PTA is part of COMPASS, a member body of the NPC.

Some of the items the PTA have provided funding for include books, stage equipment, social events for parents, the 340th Anniversary (2009) as well as support and funding for student events such as the Black and White Dance and various parties through the year. The PTA is a forum for all parents to be heard and is part of the teaching and learning process. It also reviews and provides feedback to school policy and procedures as a fully functioning member of the Drogheda Grammar School Team.

Dr. Robert Berney ChairpersonMr. Charlie Allen DirectorMr. Richard Berney Director/Secretary of the BoardMr. John MaxwellDirectorMr. Robin Jeffers

DirectorMr. Brendan Lawler Director/Quaker RepRev. Richard MooreDirectorMr. Dave Doherty DirectorMrs. Rosaire KellyDirector

Ms. Marion Coll-BradleyTeacher RepresentativeMr. David KellettTeacher RepresentativeMr. Frank McArdleParent RepresentativeMrs. Fiona FlynnParent Representative

Board of Management receiving the keys to the new building in July 2012.

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Jamming in the ‘80’s

I was a boarding student in DGS between 1981 and 1986. My family lived in the North of Dublin. Back then, Drogheda seemed a faraway place. The Dublin Road was a dark single-lane road. It was punctuated with traffic jams at Swords, Balbriggan, and Julianstown. The turn for the school was easily missed as you passed the Rossnaree Hotel, later to become the Europa Hotel, and now a new nursing home.

As a boarder you appreciated your short week-ends home. In between times you had your tuck. This was food such as homemade cake, cheese, crackers, and maybe even butter (if you didn’t like the catering margarine in the Dining Hall). Tuck was kept in a box. You could build such a box in the woodwork room during weekday evenings as a break from Prep (evening study). Tuck boxes were “hygienically” kept on top of the benches in the boys’ changing rooms. They were occasionally taken down and used as oversized play cubes. During the winter months, the boxes would act as steps to let you get your hands up to the hot water pipes that passed just below the ceiling.

Life as a boarder ran to a noisy script of bells. There was an electric bell in the dormitory block; a big “the war is over” bell at the corner of the classroom block; and a little dainty bell in the Dining Room. Mr Siberry, the Headmaster, lost his sparkle of invincibility whenever he picked that one up. But there were also times of great freedom when there were no bells. On a Sunday afternoon, you could walk out by the river to Mornington for a three mile walk. On a Thursday, you were allowed to travel to town on the day pupils’ bus to spend your pocket money, or, if you had none, just for the change of scenery.

It was a smaller school in 1986. The Assembly Hall doubled as a gym, a function room, and as a stage for the Christmas play. There was one Laboratory for all three sciences. The Computer room started as a desk in the Headmaster´s office (no pressure!) before it moved to a downstairs apartment in the boys’ dormitory block. Computers were only starting then. Most of us were just interested in getting to the start-up menu for Space Invaders and Pacman. Two Germans transcribed the whole program for Pacman onto the computer from a magazine. It took them a couple of weeks but they achieved hero status for their efforts.

For a school so small and compact, it often jabbed and hooked above its weight in matters of sport, particularly in hockey and badminton. These were the dividends of a rigorous games programme, after-school games four times a week, and that was before you added in curricular PE and home and away matches. In summer, the outside pool would be filled. You would bide your time before risking your first dip of the year, but nobody surpassed the Headmaster, who had his daily swim before breakfast.

We are surely disposed to looking back on our memories of school like so many pots of jam sitting on a shelf in some back room. They all seem excellent. But not every pot of jam is a good one. Some did not set, some did not hold, and heck some were not made from great stuff to start with. Nothing can be done with vegetable marrow so making jam from it is doomed from the outset (speaking from personal experience). But if I had to pick a pot from the shelf which best captured my memory of school it would be the one which reads “Unique education, delivered in the great outdoors, by people of patience and understanding, shelf life forever.”Best wishes for the next stage of the journey. Keep making great jam.

TC Smyth

TC was a student in the early eighties. He subsequently qualified as a barrister and solicitor in Dublin and Northern Ireland. He has worked in practice in both parts of Ireland and now lives in Belfast.

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Tucking into those special years

During the long evenings after Prep and before the Junior Cert., when everyone else was still studying and trying to do their homework in the classrooms, First and Second Year boarders were free. We were allowed to use the gym, and one of the teachers would put up the badminton net and play with us until it was time to go back to the dorms. I don’t think any of us appreciated how much effort it was, after a full day of teaching, to supervise six 12 to 14 year olds and ensure all of us were where we were supposed to be at the end of the night. The best were the summer evenings, when we could use the pool. Freezing no matter what the weather, it was a test of courage and stamina to get in and do a full length. Most of our time was spent hovering on the edge, waiting for someone else to get in so we would have to follow suit. Again, the teacher who drew the short straw was left at the side, probably wondering what exactly they would do if one of us got into trouble in the water! In the senior years I remember being jealous of the younger boarders having so much free time, but running the tuck shop and having responsibility for the IR£10 (later €10) takings every night made up for it!

Boarding meant that school and school rules continued all day, Monday to Friday. But after four o’clock, we were part of the school infrastructure too, trusted in senior cycle to use an entire classroom for study: alone, run the tuck-shop without supervision, and put the takings back into the staff-room. We were even allowed into the library, which in those days was part of the dorms, and no one seemed to mind if we unofficially borrowed books and put them back on the shelves in the morning. Some things were frowned upon, though, such as the time a friend ordered pizza and it was delivered to school during supper time. The poor delivery guy stood in the dining hall, completely confused by the wave of laughter that greeted his arrival.

Sixth Years had the ultimate privilege, a common room that was accessible all day, where we could make our own lunch (and leave cream cheese to mould in the fridge indefinitely) and listen to music. The biggest challenge was keeping out the Fifth Years and making the demarcation of seniority clear. At lunchtime, friendships across class lines were suspended: “We earned this!” The old brown (no one knows its original colour) couch was the centre of the room, and it was a race to get there before the rest of the class to ensure a good seat during lunch. Of course, that didn’t matter too much in the evenings. As boarders, we could stretch out over all the furniture, and listen to the day-boarders practise guitar in the break during Prep.

As boarders we had our own world in the Grammar School. After four o’clock, we had the run of the grounds, and we made our own rules and hierarchies. We saw behind the scenes, the kitchens closed down, the dining hall empty and the chairs sagging with relief, waiting for the next day to begin.

As a small school Drogheda Grammar had, and still has, unique qualities. The time and attention our teachers paid us reflects an ethos that government policy is trying to recapture even as I type. A friend once asked me whether she should send her own children to the school. I told her that if she wanted her children to be people who could think for themselves, and a school where they would be supported to learn independently, then Drogheda Grammar is the school for them. As a pupil I and others were encouraged to pursue our interests in history, language, science and literature through extra-curricular activities, and were supported to do so by the teachers who spent their free time reading over essays and projects. What is often not captured by policy is something that the Grammar has built into its heritage and ethos: inclusion and respect for people and diversity. I was privileged to be part of the multi-denominational and collegiate environment that added so much to our learning at Drogheda Grammar School.

Kate Gillen

Kate Gillen was a five-day boarder at DGS from 1997 to 2003. Based on her Leaving Cert. results, she gained an Entrance Exhibition scholarship to Trinity College Dublin, where she went on to become a Scholar. Kate qualified in social studies with a professional qualification in social work, and is currently working in Child Protection in Dublin North City.

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‘The more things change, the more they stay the same!’Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr

What a difference 36 years make. As I sit in a lovely new office and enjoy the wonderful facilities that have just been built I am reflecting back to the time when I started in a “new building” in 1977. The school had just moved from Laurence Street the previous year and my first requirement was to move blackboards and other items of furniture with Mr. Moore (who had previously taught me in Kilkenny College). Remarkably enough, the last two weeks of August have been spent moving from former to new facilities and, once again, it was with great pleasure the task was completed.

My reason for coming here was very simple. It was the best job offer I got! Part of the reason I got this job was that I was prepared to teach Latin and I still remember the reaction in Assembly when I was introduced as a new Latin teacher. I was replacing Miss Wilkie and we were neither of the same vintage, nor of the same style. My job was to bring to examination any student already studying Latin. There were to be no new classes commenced in the subject. Having completed my first assignment, I happily moved into the area of teaching History. Very swiftly, thirty-six very enjoyable years in the school have passed, including eight of which were spent doing boarding duties.

Some of the more demanding rules and practices in existence in those early years:• Pupils had to wear slippers into the new building to preserve the carpets and tiles. These were

stored near the entrance and the toilets were just inside the main entrance to the school. Obviously, the level of planning was not quite as rigorous and complete as the brilliant new building.

• School boarding consisted of seven day boarding with a half day on Thursday so that boarders could go shopping. Wednesday wasn’t an option as it was a half day closing for shops in Drogheda.

• The School had over 100 boarders and 50-60 day pupils. There has been quite a change since, both in numbers and mix. Two teachers had to do full duty on Saturdays and Sundays. By the way, we also had a half day of school on Saturday and school continued for everybody until the end of June.

• Pupils were despatched to church on Sunday. Suits were mandatory for the boys. All boarders were sent off the premises for a two hour walk on Sunday afternoon, but with no supervision. Another memory was that of the “cross country” run around the roads. Incredibly nobody was ever injured by cars!

• Ski trips have been an exciting and enjoyable mainstay of school trips, with Austria, Bulgaria, Switzerland and now Italy as destinations. It has given me much pleasure and pain (dislocated shoulder) watching students master and enjoy this activity.

My own two daughters attended this school and enjoyed their time here. They entered to the promises of “new” buildings and facilities. Like many students, they passed through before the promises were realised. But look at what has been achieved! It is amazing to see what has been developed. Our school has always been seen as a “happy school,” for students and staff alike, something which was commented upon in the recent Whole School Evaluation report. It is brilliant to see that we now have a building and state of the art facilities which will help us to honour the ethos of the school: “Every individual is of value and has something to contribute.” Hopefully every future student who comes through the school will continue to have this positive, supportive and enriching experience. Some things are worth retaining!

Trevor ElliottDeputy Principal

Trevor has been associated with Drogheda Grammar School for over 36 years and teaches history at the school.

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Reminiscences of a French Teacher

When I arrived in Drogheda Grammar School at the beginning of September 1982, my initial impression was of a small country boarding school with a friendly, family-like atmosphere. Six of the ten teaching staff lived on campus, along with about 75 boarders, a matron, assistant matron, cook, two groundsmen, and the then headmaster and his family. Another 75 day-pupils and four teachers arrived for school each morning. Having attended a co-ed boarding and day school myself, none of this was strange to me and I soon settled in to what was my new home as well as my new job.

In those days, boarders remained at school all term, and in order to keep them gainfully occupied at the weekends there were Saturday morning classes (day pupils had to attend as well), hockey and rugby matches every Saturday afternoon, and morning worship, a country walk and the evening-time “quiet read” on Sundays.

Taking hockey practice was not my ideal way of contributing to the extra-curricular life of the school, so in my second year I started an Arts and Crafts club, and soon after took on the running of the school Library. I spent many happy hours instructing pupils in such fine arts as Fimo-modelling, candle- and jewellery-making, tie-dyeing and macramé-knotting, and helping eager readers choose books from the Library.

My favourite activity, however, was preparing the school choir to go carol-singing in the Town Centre and local nursing homes each Christmas. I think our best performance was Silent Night in three parts, sung one year on the stairs of the old St. Mary’s home on the Dublin Road. For a few years also we borrowed handbells from Trinity College, and ringing carols on those sounded especially seasonal and used to attract great interest in Drogheda. The choir then ended each Christmas term with its performance at the school concert.

My main occupation, of course, has been teaching French (along with some English and German in my early days, and some guidance counselling in more recent times). I always encourage as many pupils as possible to visit France, and those who are brave enough to set off alone on a language exchange benefit hugely. Sometimes pupils return from holidays in France and tell me they were able to interpret for their parents or talk to locals - achievements which complement exam results. I am always delighted, too, when former pupils go on to study French at third level or spend an Erasmus year in France. I still have copies of the French videos we made in the early 1990s to send to French schools as part of an exchange programme - these have now become historical records of the past life of the school.

Three decades on, DGS is a very different place. There are twice as many pupils and teachers, no more boarders (at present - hopefully boarding will resume in the near future) or live-in staff, and a brand new building. I am no longer the youngest member of staff but one of the “oldies,” and Year Head duties have replaced arts and crafts and carol-singing. Despite all the changes, however, the friendly, caring atmosphere remains and that is what makes this school so special.

I look back on my 30 years at DGS with great fondness. This school has given me the opportunity to meet many wonderful people from all over the world, and make lasting friendships. Drogheda Grammar School is now nearly 350 years old, and I hope it continues to engage and educate young people for a further 350. As the school motto says - “Floreat!” (Latin, present subjunctive, 3rd person singular) - “May it flourish!”

Dr. Fiona GalwayAssistant Principal

Fiona Galway is a French teacher and Year Head at Drogheda Grammar School. She is also a qualified Guidance Counsellor with a PhD in Education.

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Reflections on the School: A Nun’s Story!

I started working in Drogheda Grammar School a “few” years ago. What a shock I got: boarding duties and school on Saturday! Far from this I was raised; however it was the Irish recession first time around. I lived on campus, I ate on campus and I worked on campus! I started to describe myself as a nun and my accommodation as a monastic cell.

Now as the school moves forward to a new part of its very long history I look back with fondness at my early days in the school and how it has changed. That was the era of seven day boarding, duty one day per week, six weekends per year and the female staff had the pleasure of two extra early and late duties for one of our married colleagues. It was the time of Madame Russell, Maisie, Mary Hoban, Jimmy, Christy and Samson to name but a few of the staff who made living in the school such an interesting experience. There was an intertwining of your personal and professional life that was part of a different time and a different school. I remember the massive snowball fight we organised as an after school activity due to the pitches being unplayable, the Christmas Concerts, the boarders’ “discos” in the dining room, walking to church in Mornington on a Sunday morning. Those are the memories through the rose tinted glasses.

The Grammar School has helped me grow as a teacher: I arrived at the school barely three years older that the sixth years I was working with, a raw recruit ready to change the world, probably not very tolerant and full of ideas about how it should be. I feel that my experiences with students and staff have made me a much more open and definitely a more humble person who sees the fragility of the people I work with. Our school has time for all students and we try to be accepting of the individual spirit and that’s what makes our school special. Our school turns out fine young men and women who are of independent spirit. This is something that I take pride in and I feel makes us unique.

We now embark on a new era in the history of Drogheda Grammar School, not only physically but educationally. There is so much potential for us as teachers to engage our students in creative and enjoyable ways. Technology provides opportunities to bring the world into our classrooms and to engage all our students with the fun of learning. I am so glad that I have the opportunity to be a part of this learning experience.

What I wish for the school’s future is simple. It is that the school as a body holds the individual sacred and that the mutual respect and trust between teacher and student is regarded as the most important relationship. Out of that comes learning and a strong educational experience.

Ms. Sarah MurrayAssistant Principal

Sarah teaches P.E and CSPE and is Learning Support and Resource Coordinator at the school.

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The view from Eden

Some of my colleagues made the transition from Laurence Street to Eden View, but my own arrival in Drogheda Grammar School is more recent. However, there were enough artefacts from the old school to provide a sense of history. I had moved from Glenstal Abbey in East Limerick, and spent a few days following my appointment getting to know the science laboratory. There was one small laboratory back then, which I shared with Vernon MacMaster (the Vice-Principal). We had just three microscopes, and one of them was made of brass!

There was a beautiful brass telescope on a wooden tripod (a legacy from another era, now in the Headmaster’s office). I found a bull’s heart submerged in a bin of formaldehyde. Planning of practical activities was always difficult and it was necessary to be resourceful (the old slaughter-house in Dyer Street provided my Agricultural Science class with an excellent opportunity to see the digestive system of a ruminant!)

Within a few years the Board of Management built a new laboratory. There was new equipment, even a full-size model skeleton which escaped from the laboratory! Many of our students have become scientists, and I feel fortunate to have contributed to their education. The new extension includes excellent facilities for science, and there will be lots of practical activities (but no more ruminant anatomy in Dyer Street!).

Ronnine HancockAssistant Principal

Ronnie is year head to forms 1 and 6 and teaches Science, Biology and Chemistry at the school.

Ronnie with third year student David O’Loughlin who won 1st prize at the ‘All-Ireland Crystal Growing Competition 2012

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Solving the equation for Drogheda Grammar School.

There was always something different about Drogheda Grammar School. I took up my first teaching appointment in 1971 on an interim basis. I finally walked away, as a teacher, in 2005. My area was teaching mathematics and supporting rugby, though my colleagues often suggested my passions were reversed. Initially, I was based in Laurence Street. At that stage, the school was quite run down and little was being spent on it, pending the move to Eden View. Eden View was already in use for the sports grounds and the girls’ dormitories. The older children travelled to and from by bicycle, the younger ones taking the bus.

The majority of the students were boarders. What is true of all boarding schools is that the routine rules. There is a standard pattern to everything and it makes it easier for the students to become accustomed to the school. The Headmaster has a very strong influence on the school and Drogheda Grammar School has been particularly fortunate to have had three long term headmasters during my term: Eric Brockhouse, John Siberry and Richard Schmidt.

Some of the routines provoked unexpected responses. The students were marched off to church services on a Sunday morning. Sunday afternoons were free time, unsupervised walks around the lanes, but there was always a crowd waiting to be re-admitted to the school before the allotted time, not the practice one would expect! Sunday evenings were for reading, writing and quiet times with no games being played. Another unusual activity was that of ‘Scragby’. This was played in the old Balfour Hall when it rained and games outside were not possible. Effectively, it was rugby without rules. Some called it ‘Murderball’. Despite the fact that it looked dangerous, was very intense and played full-on by all participants, there were never any injuries of note.

I recall one particular incident that gave rise to quite an amount of post-event discussion. There was a fire in the music room one evening. It may have resulted from a discarded cigarette butt, but that was never finally determined. The fire brigade was called and the fire was quickly extinguished, with no major damage resulting. The alarm was raised and the students and teachers efficiently decanted to the back of the tennis court as planned and rehearsed, with one exception. One of the more mature female teachers was halfway down the stairs when she realised that there was really a fire, rather than its being a drill. With a surprising turn of speed, she immediately turned on her heel, went back up the stairs to get her fur coat, despite the calls and cries of her colleagues. She looked remarkably well, adorned in all of her finery, standing on the tennis court!

A lot happens in Drogheda Grammar School, quietly and efficiently. Teachers’ representatives were invited to sit on the Board ahead of many other schools and the Pupil Councils were among the first in the country. I was invited to sit on the Board of Management and am still happy and honoured to do so. The new school is something to be especially proud of. It is a great boost both to students and staff and there is a joyous and optimistic enthusiasm about the school, since the upgraded playing fields went in and the building works properly commenced. One final link with Laurence Street: John Siberry, then Headmaster, asked me if I could manage a chisel and hammer. I could. We removed the stained glass window from the Chapel in the basement of Laurence Street, the Bole Memorial window. It was stored for nearly forty years. It has now been installed in the reflection room in the new school. For me, it is a symbol of what is best about the school: something that you might not notice that has a very real meaning for a number of people and becomes part of the fabric of the school, both contributing to, and becoming part of, the life of every student that passes through. It is a joy to be part of a new beginning that sets the school on its route for the next century.

Rev. Richard MooreBoard Member

Richard Moore was a teacher in the school for more than 30 years and is a current Board Member.

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Rock Steady: Just a quick four decades

I trained and qualified as a Geologist. I was working in that field, so to speak, when a friend asked if I could fill in for a couple of months. This was April, 1962. I happily walked through the doors of Drogheda Grammar School, in Laurence Street as it was then, and didn’t emerge until 2005, when I retired.

It was a different world and a different school then. The majority of students were boarders and the school was smaller, so you got to know every individual student extremely well, both in class and outside of class. Over the years, the subject range that I thought expanded and included Geography, Science and Mathematics. Outside the classroom, I was frequently found involved with rugby.

Even when I started in Laurence Street, the talk of moving was on-going. The old building was not in the best of health. Student numbers were increasing. It would have needed an awful lot of money to put it right. Besides all that, the site was not suitable for expansion. You could not add any facilities without destroying the amenities. As I remember it, Billy Allen Snr was very involved in the on-going review and progression of the move.

Once the facilities became available at Eden View, John Griffin and his wife looked after the girl boarders. Demand had increased significantly when the Masonic Girls School in Dublin closed and this swelled the numbers of Drogheda Grammar school quite considerably. In no time at all, we were extending Eden View. This included new laboratories, a business organisation room, storage and an electric switch room. It meant additional facilities for the primary sciences, junior mathematics and physics. It meant that we could have even smaller classes. The main drive was always to focus on the abilities of the students rather than the curriculum or the examinations. To an extent, this may well have been a fore runner to the later principles of applied subjects as adopted by the Department of Education.

Eric Brockhouse was Principal from 1956 to 1974, so a lot happened under his watch. He was followed by John Siberry, who resigned when his wife contracted terminal cancer. The next principal was Bob Hopkins who had a great interest, love and passion for the Arts and they thrived while he was there. Richard Schmidt followed quickly and he has been there since. During my time there, I sat on the Board as the Teachers Nominee for some time. The Board was different than most groups I have had experience with in that the Quaker ethos of consensus applied. It frequently meant that decision making was extended or deferred, because no vote was ever taken. There were plenty of interesting students, all brilliant in their own right. Martin de Witt attended the school as a boarder. Often, he and his brother returned from their holiday trips home to Holland on cargo ships from Rotterdam to Drogheda. He went on to become a Professor of Geology in Cape Town, South Africa. He retains the distinction of being the only individual who sent me mail postmarked ‘Antarctica’.

There were a myriad of incidents that gave great pleasure. The Christmas play was always adventurous and played to a very high standard. I remember when the play “Androcles and the Lion” was played, the young man required to utter the line ”Who dares to strike a brother Christian” got a tremendous response to his inadvertent error when he asked “Who dares to strike a Christian brother?”I recently paid a visit to the newly built school, had a walk around and met my former colleagues. The facilities are excellent. What was actually most gratifying for me was to note the number of teachers still there from my time. There is a backbone of teachers which will ensure continuity of the ethos of care and attention for the individual student. It augurs well for the future.

Vernon McMasterFormer Vice Principal

Vernon McMaster joined the school in the early 1960s on a temporary basis and retired over 40 years later. He lives with his wife in Skerries and retains contact with his former colleagues.

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We provide at wide range of after school activities in which we encourage all students to participate. Our after school activities enable students to get involved in sports and various activities outside the classroom structure. These activities allow students from first year through to sixth year the opportunity to develop a good teamwork ethos and help develop strong friendships.Our current list of extra curricular activities are as follows:

Athletics Garden Club Badminton Girls Keep Fit Basketball HockeyCar Mechanics Homework ClubChess Club Speech and DramaChoir RugbyComputers Self DefenceCooking for Fun SoccerCumann Comhra Volleyball

Sports and Societies at Drogheda Grammar School

SKI TRIP

Report by David O' Loughlin (2W)

On the 12th of February, our team of 19 students and three staff set out from Dublin Airport on an epic voyage to spend a week skiing in the rugged terrain of the Swiss Alps. Some had been before and knew what to expect. But for most of us, it was an entirely new experience.It was a two hour �ight and an equally long bus journey to the resort. Those of us who had never been before, were wide awake, buzzing with excitement and anticipation. The journey seemed to take an age, as the bus twisted its way up narrow mountain lanes and circled a never ending supply of roundabouts. We stayed in the ski resort of Haut Lac, in a beautiful old convent hospital. It was a world apart from the daily grind of bells and classes.

Every morning, we rose to stunning scenery, the snow covered mountains stood high above the valley on all sides. We ate breakfast bulked out in the many layers that we wore skiing. Then we headed down to meet our instructors and be briefed for the day ahead.We travelled by train to the slopes and returned by the same means. We were skiing in the resort of Gstaad. We travelled up and sometimes down the slopes by a variety of lifts. The main lift up was the gondola. We travelled using this, up to the mid-station and for the �rst couple of days this area of the slope was our base of operation. For lunch each day, we took the gondola up to the top station. After a few days, we transferred to the chair lift from mid-station. Once at the top of the chair lift, if we wanted to head higher, we took the T-bar or the Button lift.

The �rst two days of the holiday were tough going. It was dif�cult to master the �rst steps of skiing, but by the third day, it was the best thing in the world. The movement of the skis became almost second nature as we glided down the hillside. The large and very, very deep snow drifts deposited by the heavy snowfalls every night were great at absorbing the occasional slip. Under the safe guidance of the instructors, a group of beginners, who had never skied before, were skilfully mastering most of the slopes. Over the course of this holiday, we went from never skiing before, to being able to ski at a grade three level. It was the opportunity of a lifetime and one I wouldn' t have missed for the world. Roll on next year#

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1. The Irish Wheelchair Association demonstrating sports with students

2. Ski trip to the Swiss Alps3. Students at careers day in Croke Park4. Transition Year trip to Jordan

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The Bole Memorial

The new building includes a reflection room which features a stained glass window that was originally installed in the old school building in Laurence street. The school moved from Laurence Street (now Laurence Street Shopping Centre) to Mornington Road in 1976. Pending a suitable location, the window was stored in a safe place.

This stained glass window is called the Bole Memorial named after Bobbie Bole, a student at the school who died in 1942. It was commissioned by parents and friends and was created by the famous Harry Clarke Stained Glass Studio in the 1940s.

Now this unique, historical stained glass window has taken its place once more at the heart of Drogheda Grammar School where it can be admired and appreciated by our present students.

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Write and Inspire - Derek Landy

Derek Landy was a remarkable individual with a tremendous capacity to express his creativity through the written word. This was initially recognised whilst he was at Drogheda Grammar School and won the Caltex award for creative writing. Subsequently he went on to become a best selling author.

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Drogheda Grammar School: Recent Awards and Achievements

1. Boyne Valley Honey Book of Kells National Art Competition. Drogheda Grammar School student Josh Joyce won first place in the secondary school category. Photo attached of Josh Joyce with his winning entry.

2. David O’Loughlin won 1st prize at the All Ireland Crystal growing competition hosted by DCU.3. Drogheda Grammar School student Sadhbh De Buitlear Kearney had her article published in the

May issue of Brainwave’s magazine Epilepsy News of her BT Young Scientist Exhibition project on epilepsy.

4. Drogheda Grammar students win Mid-Ireland Girls-Only Chess Finals 2011

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DROGHEDA GRAMMAR SCHOOL. . . THROUGH THE DECADES

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Johnny Logan with teacher Richard Geoghegan and Headmaster Richard Schmidt at the Johnny Logan concert organised by the PTA in the Boyne Valley Hotel

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The New School Building officially opened in October 2012

Drogheda Grammar School is set in a beautiful rural location just outside Drogheda. This ensures that the students are studying in a safe, secure and peaceful environment, away from the usual distractions of an urban environment. With Drogheda Grammar’s holistic approach to education, the school sets out to cater to the needs of each individual student. Subject choices are developed around students’ choice and abilities. There is an extensive range of extra-curricular activities available to students, providing them with the opportunity to develop and become confident in all areas inside and outside of the classroom. Whether it is team sports, group activities like speech and drama or individual interests such as music or singing, students are supported to develop into well rounded, confident individuals.

The new modern classrooms have interactive white boards and overhead projectors to ensure the best learning environment for the students. All classrooms have computers with high speed internet and dedicated computer suites with the most up to date equipment.

The additional facilities allow the school to offer robotics. With the new state-of-the-art technology room students, can be assured they will keep pace with the cutting edge of new developments within the industry.

The new school has a Library and Learning Resource centre staffed by a qualified librarian, a dedicated 6th year study centre and a senior students reading area with computer access

The campus includes: • Large classroom block with modern computer rooms, technical drawing rooms, science

laboratories, art and craft room, home economics room, Library/Learning and Resource Centre• Spacious dining room and modern catering facilities• 6 tennis courts• 5 playing pitches for hockey, soccer & rugby• Astro turf pitch (floodlit)• Large gymnasium with 4 badminton courts and full size basketball and volleyball courts.

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Drogheda Grammar School: past, present and future.

From the outset, Drogheda Grammar School was built for a specific purpose: the education anddevelopment of young people in the context of their own abilities and the communities that theylive in. Since its foundation, those involved in the management and running of the school have had the privilege and pleasure of seeing many young people grow and mature to makeexceptional and outstanding contributions to public life. Considering it is such a small school,what is even more remarkable is that many of these individuals have made a difference on aworldwide scale.

More importantly, there are hundreds and thousands of former students who have gone on tolive lives of happiness and fulfilment with their immediate families, friends and communities.These are the true success stories of Drogheda Grammar School and this is its legacy. This is thevery essence of the ethos of the school which firmly believes that “every individual is of valueand has something to contribute”. What is frequently overlooked by those who have not had theDrogheda Grammar School experience is that this ethos extends beyond the students to includeparents, teachers, directors, support staff, members of clubs, groups and societies that usethe facilities and members within the wider community. One individual, associated with theschool for over half a century suggested that the school is the best kept secret in Drogheda.

Anyone associated with the school for an extended period of time, whether pupils or parents ofpupils, becomes acutely aware of the fact that the school has a life and existence of its own, onethat will outlive all of us. The current extension of services and facilities is a simple testament tothe fact that there will always be parents who value an education which encouragesindependence of thinking and freedom of spirit: it is the growth and development of the individualstudent, within a nurturing and caring community that best contributes to a life well lived. Everyaction within the school is geared towards enabling the students to flourish, both for the benefitof themselves and their communities.

There will be challenges, further growth and development for the school in the future. If you consider that Drogheda Grammar School has an ethos that is of value and is worth preserving, take steps to get involved.

Check out the school online at www.droghedagrammarchool.ie. Better still, drop by and pay us avisit. Whether you are parent, pupil or community member, past, present or prospective, please beassured that you will be as welcome as a member of the family that is Drogheda Grammar School.

Lawrence Street 1960’s

DROGHEDA GRAMMAR SCHOOL

1669 - 2012

Eden View 1976-2012

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New Building 2012

The Droghedean

PAST PRESENT FUTURE