RELIEF AND JOY FOR LOCAL STUDENTS
TEARS OF JOY welled up in Kennedy College student Joan Quigley’s eyes as she screamed ‘I passed’ in the school hallway, before hugging her parents and classmates.
The emotion of Leaving Cert morning cannot be overstated and in corridors and rooms, in toilets and in car back seats across the district, students carefully opened their white envelopes in anticipation – and, in some cases, in sheer dread – of the results printed inside.
For Joan this was one of the most important days of her life.
‘I am so happy. I worked so hard for this. All I can say to anyone is, don’t stress it, it will all work out in the end,’
Joan said she studied all fifth and sixth year and was delighted with her results, particularly in English and Art. ‘I did very well,’ she said with a beaming, proud smile, adding that she plans to study Hospitality in Waterford. Reflecting on her time in the school, Joan said: ‘It’s lovely. It’s the best school for anyone with the students and the teachers they have here, who are lovely.’
As the rain poured down in torrents, students like Kyra Kelly found solace in their results. The Kennedy College student was delighted with her results, particularly in Maths. The Rosbercon woman plans to study Horticulture at Kennedy College, starting next month.
Wyomi Griffith said she was really nervous going into the school that morning, especially about the higher Home Economics paper, but was delighted with her results.
‘I will miss the energy here and all the teachers and the pupils.’
Campile woman Rebecca O’Connor said she was relieved to get her results and plans to study Arts with a view to teaching.
Principal Suzanne Barrett said she was happy with how the papers were marked.
‘ The biggest confusion is the new marking system,’ she said, adding that all eyes were on the CAO points due out four days later.
She said students are encouraged to sit higher level papers as they are awarded points so long as they get more than 30 per cent.
The new points system replaces the alphabetic system previously in place, and has fewer bands. Where the old system had 14 grade bands, the new marking system has eight bands: H1 (100 points), H2 (88 points), H3 (77 points), H4 (66 points), H5 (56 points), H6 (46 points), H7 (37 points) and H8 (zero points). In Ordinary Level the points are O1 (56 points), O2 (46 points), O3 (37 points), O4 (28 points), O5 (20 points) and O6 (12 points). The LCVP categories are Distinction (66 points), Merit (46 points) and Pass (28 points).
At New Ross CBS, Mateusz Kolodziejczyk said he was a little anxious arriving in his school doors that morning. Originally from Poland, Mateusz completed most of his schooling in New Ross. He achieved a fantastic 545 points and hopes to study Science at Trinity College, Dublin.
He said he will miss his old school. ‘It’s a good school with a nice atmosphere and everyone knows each other. I will miss the people.’
Charlie Giese from Terrerath said he was very happy with his results. ‘It’s a big relief,’ he said, smiling. Charlie plans to study Physics in Dublin. He said he will miss the school camaraderie.
Ryan Tracey said he felt confident going in to collect his results and was delighted that he got enough for his course in Social Care at Waterford College of Further Education. He said he will miss the school. ‘It has a really good atmosphere.’
Principal Pat Rossiter said the 37 students did very well. ‘I am very happy and pleased for the students. They were a hard working bunch. The only bemusement is that we are no longer looking at A1 or A2s, we are
looking at H1s and H2s. It’s a more amenable system. In the past students were trying to get from A2 to A1. This is making life a little easier.
‘ Those who got higher grades had to work very hard for them. The students justified everything we did for them. They all contributed in an immense way to the tone of the school.’
Mr Rossiter said even if pupils are disappointed with their results, ‘ there is no door closed today’.
At Our Lady of Lourdes, Jenny Nowak couldn’t contain her excitement as she arrived into the principal’s office, having said a prayer at the church next door.
When asked by this reporter what was getting her so emotional, she replied: ‘What’s the matter? My whole life is in here!’
Screams of excitement could be heard from the school hall moments later as she discovered she had enough points for her Travel and Tourism course.
Her classmate Shannon Mernagh said she did better than she thought she would and plans to study Business Studies at Waterford IT.
Emma Connick said she was fearful of her Geography results, but was thrilled when she opened her envelope.
‘I will miss the school, the teachers and the atmosphere,’ she said, as her mother Mary Wall wept tears of joy and relief beside her.
Principal Toni Ormond said she was very pleased with the 63 students’ results, saying they reflected the hard work put in over the past two years.
At St Mary’s Kate Dowling from Graiguenamanagh said she was delighted with her results, especially in Honours Irish. She said she thoroughly enjoyed her time at St Mary’s. ‘I’ll miss being with my friends and I really liked my year.’
Deirdre Donohoe from The Rower said she was nervous about her Maths and Biology results, but was thrilled with how she fared. ‘I set a goal for my exams and I achieved it.’
She plans to study Psychology at Trinity. Deirdre said she will miss her group of friends and the cups of tea and chats they enjoyed at lunch in the school canteen.
Michelle Doherty, from Glenmore, said she was delighted with how well she did in Maths, adding that she plans to study Law and French.
Fellow Glenmore woman Cecilia Roche said she couldn’t wait to open her results. She plans to study Music at Cork IT. Cecilia said she will miss the school. ‘I have a really good group of friends and there were good vibes.’
Kate Murphy from St Mullins said she was shaking with fear going in to collect her papers.
‘It’s all over with now so I’m calm. I was surprised and very pleased with how my Maths and English results went.’
Kate plans to study PE and Irish teaching in Cork.
‘I’ll miss it here. All my friends are here. I’ve grown up with these people over six years so it will be a bit challenging.’
Grace McDonald from Graiguenamanagh said she was fine until she got
to the archway going into the school, then panic set in.
She was happy with her results, especially Maths, and plans to study teaching at St Pat’s. Chloe McDonald from the Bannow-Ballymitty area said she was surprised by how well she fared in English and plans to study Business in WIT.
Aoife Molloy from Oldcourt said she was very nervous picking up her envelope. Having evaluated her mock results she had high expectations going into the office for her envelope and understandably was not disappointed by her 601 points. ‘I was really surprised and happy with English, Irish and French. I’m going to take a year off because I didn’t have a lot of time to research courses as I was so busy this past year studying for my Leaving Cert. I will really miss it here.’
Principal John Michael Murphy said 113 students sat their exams at the school, adding that he was very happy with the results. There were some excellent results into the 600s. Mr Porter said the results come down to people meeting their level of ability.
‘Some students went home today and felt disappointed that they won’t get their offer and they may get it on Monday. I am anxious about how the new marking system will work out.’
At Good Counsel College, Billy Wickham was in his work gear picking up his results. Capping off a great year, one which saw his senior school rugby team win the McMullen trophy in March – a first in the school’s history – Billy got enough points to study Agricultural Science at UCD.
The Cloughbawn man, who is working at Quad Attack, said he was happy with how his Maths Paper I and Biology papers went.
Deputy principal Aidan O’Brien said Billy was an excellent school prefect, who made a significant contribution to school life through sport and other endeavours. He said: ‘We would like to think that somewhere in the future guys like Billy will have happy memories of their time here and that they will always have an interest in the place.’
Mr O’Brien said the new marking system should see points go up for some courses.
130 students sat their final exams in the school. Among them was Shane Fogarty, from Clonroche, who said he got what he wanted and plans to study Arts and Maths in Galway. ‘I enjoyed my six years here, and will miss the friends I made and the staff.’
Among the 59 Ramsgrange Community School students sitting their Leaving Cert were friends Áine Whelan, Evelyn Barry and Jane Ryan, who had their hearts set on primary school teaching since childhood. The girls jumped for joy together when they got their results, and will go on to study in Dublin.
Acting principal Tracey Edwards said she recalls one of the girls telling her in her applying to register for the school how she wanted to be a primary school teacher.
Ms Edwards said: ‘These are students who were very focused on what course they wanted from an early age. We had a very, very positive morning and the all round results were excellent. The students were absolutely thrilled with their results and their hard work paid off.’
Ms Edwards said students will be more inclined towards studying higher-level Maths as they accrue points once they get over 30 per cent.