Weekly Message from the Principal - Kindness
20-December-19
Last week, young Felix Burke and his Mum Claudette drew my attention to a fascinating story that was told on Live line on Friday the 6 th of December and developed into Monday the 9th of December.
The story was about a lady who was saved from drowning by a young English man called John Eldred in 1954, this young lady was 20 years of age. This act of kindness and bravery resulted in this young lady dedicating her life to save others as she became a nurse. Not only this she had a lovely big family who are still based in Tipperary and some in America.
The reason why her daughter wanted to tell this story was because this act of bravery and kindness has resulted in her mother having her own family and every day before she died she thanked this young English man for what he did all those years ago. She wanted the listeners to realise how this selfless act had changed her mother’s life forever and as a family they would forever be grateful for the man called John Eldred.
Please see the link to this fascinating and uplifting story.
I always remind staff in school that our boys will not remember every single test score and percentage of their exam, BUT they will always remember how they were treated, and one small act of kindness can have echoes that are endless.
Therefore, as a Senior management team on behalf of Mr. Cormac McAleer and myself, we would like to thank the parents, staff, teachers and most importantly the boys for all you have given us this term. We have been privileged to witness great songs, look over fantastic stories, smile at the phenomenal work completed in copybooks and sign off on great Christmas reports.
However, there are some special moments that will stay in my memory forever. I would like to personally thank young Andrew McGovern, William Foley and Thomas Obando-Doris for how well they have settled into the routines and structures of the Breakfast Club.
I would like to thank Mr. James Purcell in Senior Infants for raising much needed funds for the protection of Great White Sharks. Thank you to Taran Harris in First Form for asking about my sore hand and wishing me a good day along with Bobby Quinn for giving me one of his special diamond shells from his trip to the beach.
Thank you to all of Second Form for the dignity and respect shown at your recent Enrolment Mass. To young George Lyne thank you for asking me if I wanted one of his cakes from the recent Father Gavin Cake Sale and the rest of his classmates for how well they have settled into their new class and school.
Thank you to Sebastian Brewer for the phenomenal dinosaur costume at the Focus Ireland Fun Run and his classmates who protected him from falling over.
Thank you to Max Raingill in Fifth Form for empathising with a Scotsman when we were thrashed by Ireland in the rugby World Cup to Ariston Xourafas and his army of volunteers selling the Christmas glasses.
Finally thank you to all Sixth Formers for being the leaders in our school for running the Breakfast Club, organising the Focus Ireland Fun Run, assisting in the school shop to helping during playtime as Junior Leaders.
We wish all Willow families a peaceful, joy filled Christmas and we hope you find time to enjoy family during the festive break.
Love is a very strong emotion that can stop sad people from feeling sad. You can even give love when people aren’t sad. Love is a gift.
Maurice Nelligan, Saint Kevin’s Third Form