Presentation College principal is proud of class of 2020
‘I’ve never been as proud to be a member of the Pres Bray community,’ said principal Martin Locke on Monday, as outgoing students received their results.
He said that they had displayed incredible patience, understanding and resilience over the past six months, completing their final year in school under extraordinary circumstances.
The former Pres deputy principal was just six days into his tenure as principal at the school, with Mr Gregory having retired at the end of the last school year.
He said that largely, people had reacted positively to their results, with a small number of people disappointed.
‘In the main everyone did very well,’ he said. He was particularly please that the middle group all achieved upwards.
He said everyone attained at the very least a decent level of Leaving Cert, and the efforts of the top students were reflected in their results.
‘Career guidance teacher Mr Donnelly is available by appointment,’ said Mr Locke.
‘ There were none in today (Monday). They will come in small numbers to discuss their results.
‘A lot of parents and students rang to thank us for our efforts over the years, and we received a lot of efforts.’
While it was disappointing not to have the usual buzz of students coming in on results day, Mr Locke said that this was something which was in decline anyway.
‘ The results are available digitally in the morning anyway. So more and more over the past four or five years have been beginning to access them online.’
Mr Locke spoke about the unusual final months of school for the students.
‘We went into lockdown in March, so they’ve missed two opportunities for us to say goodbye and best of luck for the future - one because they didn’t have a graduation in May, and once because of calculated grades.’
He said that all of the current students as well as parents and families have been extremely supportive and are adapting well to change.
‘ They were sent home on very short last March. In the early days of their return we’re getting buy-in from the students already in terms of living alongside the new norms. They have been fantastic.’
He also mentioned the incoming first years, starting secondary school and adapting to the regulations.
‘I’m very proud of they way they have settled in so far,’ he said. ‘ The main thing is that everyone is safe and well this year.’