Last week we welcomed Professor Philip McDonagh, Director of the Centre for Religion, Human Values, and International Relations at Dublin City University to address our senior cycle students. Social Action Week!
Working in Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs, as Political Counsellor in London, Philip played a significant part in the Northern Ireland peace process in the build-up to the Good Friday Agreement. He later served as Head of Mission in India (accredited also to Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Bangladesh), the Holy See, Finland, Russia (and the five Central Asian states), and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).
In a broad ranging talk Professor McDonagh spoke most particularly of his experience in peace building initiatives across the world focusing on the value of human relationships and dialogue, and how the interests of future generations must be represented at the table. While much to Ms Donohoe’s delight he spoke of Thucydides! Students were very engaged throughout asking a broad range of insightful questions during the talk – and even queuing up to speak with him afterwards! We thank Professor McDonagh for his time and and our students for their mature interest and engagement in such a complex topic. As one of our teacher’s commented afterwards - the future is in good hands.
The 1st years completed a zombie lab today where they used their scientific methods and thinking to identify patient zero from the zombie suspects. Using measuring skills, pH, observation skills and much more they successfully identified the source of the outbreak!
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The TY Horticulture class were out in the Autumn sunshine planting Spring bulbs using the chaos planting method. This is when a multitude of different spring bulbs (Hyacinths, Daffodils, Tulips, Crocuses, Narcissi) are mixed together and randomly planted so that we have a mixture of flowers and patterns emerging in the spring. It mimics nature and so is more enticing to pollinators and native insects that need the food in Spring.
Stratford is celebrating Maths Week 2026 (12th - 18th October) with daily activities around the school, at breaktimes and in Maths classes! The tutor-time daily quiz is proving to be extremely competitive as each form group tries to solve it and then run to find Ms Matthews in order to win the box of chocolates!
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