Nagle Community College Deputy Principal Nicholas O' Keeffe and Year Head John Murphy on their way to deliver engraved medals to Leaving Cert students to mark their graduation day.

Doorstep surprise for Nagle pupils

Students from Nagle Community College reacted with a mixture of happiness and surprise, with a few tears from some parents, as Deputy Principal Nicholas O’Keeffe and Year Head John Murphy called to each of their homes to hand out a special medal made to remember their secondary school days.

The medal was engraved with each pupil’s name, the school crest and the year, and was accompanied by a letter from Principal Jim O’Sullivan.

Mr O’Keeffe told the Cork Independent: “It was great seeing their faces when they opened the door, it was such a surprise for them. Graduating is such a momentous occasion and the graduation organising committee wanted to do something special to mark the occasion during these strange times.

“They were shocked and surprised when they saw us and there were tears from a few parents, too. It was so well received by all of the students and the feedback from both students and parents has been great. They weren’t expecting it at all and we had a great response from the students which made the day very special.”

Mr O’Keeffe and Mr Murphy handed out the medals on the morning of their virtual graduation. With help from Fiona Liston, the home school liaison teacher, Principal Jim O’Sullivan and Chairman of the Board of Management Terry Shannon, staff made the day a memorable occasion for the sixth year students and their families.

Mr O’Keeffe said at their usual school graduations, students can bring their parents or siblings, but as this year’s graduation was being live streamed on Facebook, it could be watched by extended members of the family and friends.

“I know a few families had it connected to their television so all the family could sit around and enjoy the occasion,” added Mr O’Keeffe.

“There was an animation of staff and students, messages and reflections from students, staff and parents, as well as a montage of photos that we put together of the students from when they started in first year up until now, which was lovely to see.

“There was up to 400 people watching it on Facebook as it was happening and now it has thousands of views as people can still watch it on the school’s Facebook page. It was a fitting send-off in these times,” he concluded.

Meanwhile across the city, Mayfield Community School also recently marked the end of the school year by creating a graduation video for sixth year students. The video included messages from acclaimed author Louise O’Neill and ‘Young Offenders’ stars Hilary Rose and Shane Casey, as well as David Flynn from the Happy Pear, school staff and Father Robert Brophy.