Stars ensure graduating class of 2020 get a very special send off

SOME WELL-KNOWN FACES SEND MESSAGES OF GOOD LUCK TO THE CONVENT PRIMARY SCHOOL MALLOW SIXTH-CLASS PUPILS

THE graduating class of 2020 from the Convent Primary School in Mallow were given a very pleasant surprise to mark their final days in national school courtesy of some of Ireland’s most familiar faces.

As has been the case for thousands of pupils across the country, the COVID-19 restrictions denied the Mallow pupils the opportunity to celebrate the end of a significant chapter in their young lives in the company of their friends, teachers and families.

Instead, the school decided to host a virtual graduation ceremony, inviting pupils to showcase their personal highlights during their time at the school – with sixth-class teachers Julie O’Connor and Aideen Buckley pulling out all of the stops to ensure that it would be a truly unforgettable celebration.

“Pupils and staff were treated to an exciting and heartfelt showcase of the pupils’ journey through primary school, beginning with their time in junior infants right through the various stages of their time in Convent Primary. The pupils showcased their wonderful and unique talents and skills, having submitted individual pieces of work and videos representing their many achievements and accomplishments,” said Mrs O’Connor.

“From poems, stories and songs to gymnastics movements and art displays, the pupils highlighted how lucky the school community are having been afforded the opportunity to work with and engage with some of the brightest and best that Mallow has to offer,” added Ms Buckley.

School principal Mrs Sheila O’Connor explained how, using their contacts, the duo also cast their nets far and wide to get a plethora of Irish celebrities to send personalised congratulatory and good luck messages to the graduating pupils.

The list of those sending messages reads like a veritable ‘who’s who’, with RTÉs Ryan Tubridy; Irish international rugby player Rob Kearney; Olympian

Rob Heffernan; Pa Sheehy and Sorcha Durham from the band Walking On Cars; actress Amy Huberman; former pupil Demi Isaac Oviawe and fellow ‘Young Offenders’ actor Alex Murphy; authors John Boyne and Judi Curtin; and disability rights campaigner Joanne O’Riordan among those sending messages to the school’s Facebook page. Another compilation video shown during the ceremony contained personalised messages from Crystal Swing’s Derek Burke; past pupil and Miami-based talent director Sarah Lucy; RTE/TG4 presenters Eimear Ní Chonaola and Siún Nic Gearailt; and a generic message from Uachtarán na hÉireann Michael D Higgins.

“As the children missed out on their final days at school and did not have an opportunity to say a proper goodbye to friends and teachers, we felt it was important to do something online to celebrate their time here with us,” said Mrs O’Connor.

“The response was just amazing, The pupils, their parents and staff loved the whole thing, and it really was a very special way to mark a major milestone in the children’s young lives. The special messages from all of the celebrities was the icing on the cake,” she added.

Former Convent Primary School pupil, actor Demi Isaac Oviawe, told the graduating class of 2020 “secondary school is the best craic ever. You’re gonna meet so many new friends, go on so many new activities, and mature so fast”.

Olympian Rob Heffernan said: “I want you to embrace secondary school and have an open mind. “It can be a little bit scary but it is also really exciting because you are going to meet so many new friends and have so many opportunities to do things that you like. “Best of luck and keep driving on.”

Ryan Tubridy told the pupils: “I hope you’ve had a gorgeous time at school, I hope you’re happy, I hope you have made friends for life and have good memories. Take care, and be brilliant”.

Pa Sheehy from the band Walking On Cars: “Listen to your heart and go that way career wise, whether you want to be a teacher, a doctor, a pilot – whatever it is, you go for it. Go in with an open mind, make new friends, enjoy it”.