Athlone teachers proud of students achievements

Nearly 15% of girls at St Joseph"s College, Summerhill, scored over 500 points in this year"s Leaving Cert and all 100 who sat the final exam passed. Two statistics that were most pleasing to Vice-Principal, Liam Nally as the students collected the all-important results on Wednesday last, a day he admitted is a nervous one for teachers as well, as they reflect back to their own Leaving Cert experience and on the expectations of the class of 2008 for their futures. 'I"m delighted it is all over, it"s like we are sitting it too. It really brings it all back to you,' he commented, adding that he"s delighted the hard work of the 100-plus students at the school had been rewarded. 'Really it"s like a six-year pilgrimage for them and it"s fantastic to see it pay off. We"re over the moon for them. Nearly 15% got over 500 points. To get over the 500 is some achievement. Our Head Girl Bríd Curley, who received an Academic Award earlier in the year received the highest of this year"s class.' But Mr Nally was quick to point out that there were fantastic results across the board as the girls achieved their own personal potential whether that was 300, 400 or 500 points. He also singled out the six students who completed the Leaving Cert Applied (LSA) or the alternative Leaving Cert for special mention, 85% of whom achieved distinctions. 'It is great for them and like all of the students we wish them the very best in the future.' Over in St Aloysius College Principal Micheál Ó Faoláin declared himself 'very pleased' with results this year remarking that the classes achieved high levels of points totals. 'There were four sets of 6A"s at higher level, a substantial body of results for a small school. A very good work ethic this year is reflected in the results. Really, all credit must go to the students, teachers and parents,' he said. A concern nationally about the results in science subjects and maths was shared by the St Aloysius College principal, who said the trend appeared to be that they were making some science subjects like biology more 'difficult' although he commented that one student scored an A1 in Chemistry this year at the school. As a result he warned that students could turn away from science to plump for the other subjects, where it is perceived to be easier to get points. 'I have a fear the powers that be will put them off doing science subjects. It is cause of concern. The numbers doing Physics and Chemistry has decreased in the last few years,' although he added over that time Agricultural Science had grown in popularity. Mr Ó Faoláin admitted Maths has 'posed a problem' for the last few years, adding that ordinary level has been 'problematic' for some students, however he concluded that it was a difficult problem to solve. Describing the Leaving Cert as 'intense and emotional time', he appealed to students not to be hasty and reflect on their grades, looking at all the options. 'If students are only getting their second or third choice and wondering about repeating. I can tell them, students (repeats) added anything up to 200 points this year. Certainly it is possible to add to your total if you repeat there is no doubt about that,' he concluded, adding he wished the best of luck to all of their pupils in their future endeavours.