TESTING TIMES AT WICKLOW SCHOOLS
LAST WEDNESDAY marked the beginning of the 2017 Leaving Certificate examinations in Wicklow and indeed across the country and in each school, the air of anticipation was palpable.
Groups of students nervously entered the exam halls in Wicklow, Arklow, Rathdrum, Blessington, Baltinglass, Dunlavin and Carnew to sit the final tests which conclude their second level education. It was a particularly special year at Glenart College as the first group of Leaving Certificate pupils commenced their exams in the new state of the art school campus.
It was the first year that principal Louise Kearns was in charge and she said that the entire school community was thrilled to have such a beautiful and fit for purpose building at their disposal.
‘The students are all very well prepared and the staff have done a great job. We can see the nerves on their faces as they come in every morning but that it only natural. It is our job to ensure that they have a nice and calm atmosphere in the school once they arrive and that they are relaxed heading into the exam centre.’
In the first few days after the exams started, some of the Arklow students conceded that they were still very nervous going into each new exam. Brendan Murphy said ‘they are going well enough so far’ while Nathan Wolohan said that the students were prepared for the format of the Engineering paper.
‘We are told during the year what to prepare for and the format stays the same.’ The Bray Wanderers player has been afforded some time off training to focus on his studies but after school he hopes to commence a third level sports course in Carlow.
Daniel Downey said that the exams were going ‘okay so far’ and said that he is hoping to get into quarry work once the summer commences.
Alan Bracken has his eye on an Engineering course after school and, as Glenart College is the only school in Arklow offering the subject, he is certainly in the right place.