26-05-2025
Ramsgrange Community School honours students with awards in sport, academia and life-changing projects
As always, the awards ceremony marks a high point in the school year and in opening the proceedings, Ms. Tracey Edwards, School Principal, welcomed those in attendance and spoke of her great pride each year at Awards Day. In particular, this year she highlighted the many ways in which the school's values of Respect, Community and Success, were encompassed by all members of the school community. She put a particular emphasis on the many successes achieved by students in the school across a wide range of areas including sport, enterprise, YSI and Rotary, amongst many others. This was very fitting with the school appearing on RTE's Nationwide that evening, where a group of Transition Year students demonstrated their award winning Jack it Up ramp, which was designed to support their classmate, Jack Wickham in helping him overcome daily challenges.
Awards were given across over 80 categories, which a testament to the many and varied activities which take place throughout the year. Certificates of Achievement were also awarded across a variety of areas, such as Student Enterprise, Spelling, Linguistics and Science to name just a few. The student council of the 2024 academic year were recognised and thanked for their great work, as were the outgoing Meitheal Leaders. The first buzz of excitement rippled through the school as the new Meitheal Team for the 2025 academic year was announced, with 25 incoming sixth year and LCA2 students about to undergo the mentoring role. Awards were also given across many subjects for the best projects in LCVP, Art, Metalwork, Engineering, Wood Technology, DCG, TG, Construction, Needlework, Science, and language subjects German, French and Gaeilge.
The much anticipated Sports Awards were up next, where trophies were awarded to the school's best basketball players, male and female at 1st, 2nd, U16 and Senior categories, as were trophies for the best players in soccer, rugby, ladies football, camogie, hurling and football. The Junior Sports Person Cup was awarded to a second year student, Isabelle Aspel, for her excellence in sport across many codes and for her brilliant approach and attitude to competing, but particularly for how she has displayed her passion for her specialist field of athletics where she has medalled in a variety of disciplines in different competitions for both school and club this year. The brilliant all-rounder, sixth year student, Dan Nolan, was awarded the prestigious Senior Sports Persons Cup. Dan has represented the school for soccer, Gaelic football, hurling and basketball, and was most recently joint-captain of the school soccer team which won the u19 Wexford/Wicklow league.
Excellence in academia was also recognised on the night. Kevin Voinea, a past pupil, was awarded the Best Leaving Certificate Results Shield for 2024. Padraic Barry, a transition year student, was presented with a shield for Best Junior Cycle results for 2024.
Those in attendance heard an emotional and heartfelt speech from outgoing Head Boy, Dan Nolan, and Head Girl, Sarah Assinder, as they shared their favourite memoirs of Ramsgrange Community School, and gave some great insight and parting wisdom to the student cohort. This led to one of the biggest highlights of the afternoon, where the announcement was made for the school's incoming Head Boy and Girl. Ben Cassidy and Aoibhinn Doyle were popular choices after a hotly-contested selection process. They will be ably assisted by Assistant Head Boy and Girl, Evan Brennan and Louise Byrne.
Year Heads then stepped forward to announce the winners of each year's Student of the Year award, while also presenting certificates to the nominees.
The most prestigious award to be presented was left until the end of the ceremony, where the winner is chosen by a vote from students and staff. The very popular winner this year was outgoing Head Boy, Dan Nolan, who demonstrated to others how to be a brilliant all-rounder and a perfect example of the best of Ramsgrange Community School.
'All in all, it was an outstanding day where the many successes and accomplishments of the school community were celebrated,' said a spokesperson for the school.
"We wish all the third and sixth year students the very best of luck in the upcoming State Exams,' they added.
