Following the completion of a marathon of state exams earlier this year in June, some 1,360 students from across Westmeath received their Junior Certificate results last Wednesday, 10 September.
Having completed three years of post-primary education, there were tears of joy and sadness from many pupils, 665 females and 695 males.
At Loreto College, Mullingar, School Principal Marese Bell was on hand to congratulate the 116 young women who received results. “There were exceptional results from all pupils and I congratulate them all,” said Ms Bell. One Loreto College pupil who was eager to share her results was Jennifer Sheerin from Rathcolman, Mullingar who achieved an outstanding eleven ‘A grades’ in her results. “I tried my best and it paid off in the end,” said Jennifer, who listed Irish and science as her favourite subjects.
Across the Royal Canal at Coláiste Mhuire, school principal, Joe O’Meara was on hand to congratulate the 116 young men who received results as well as their parents and teachers. “The Junior Cert is a fantastic foundation for the Leaving Cert, and those who work hard get the great results they deserve.” Approximately three quarters of those who received results at Coláiste Mhuire have now commenced the two year Leaving Certificate cycle, while the remaining students commenced the school’s Transition Year Programme.
At Columba College, school principal, Margaret Coady praised all of the young men and women who received results. “The Junior Certificate is a significant milestone and we congratulate the students on their achievements,” she said. “These results are important but they are only one indicator, amongst many, of student performance and academic development. The Junior Cert class of 2014 have set high standards of school life in Columba College so we are very proud of them.”
At Wilson’s Hospital School in Multyfarnham, there was a lot of excitement as pupils received their results at 11.00a.m. from the Principal, Mrs. Rosemary Eager, Deputy Principal, Dr. Kathy Finnegan and retired principal, Mr Adrian Oughton. The school was very pleased with the results with many pupils achieving the highest grades in most subjects. Principal Rosemary Eager congratulated all of the pupils “I’m especially pleased for the pupils who attained their personal goals,” said Principal Eager. “These pupils have already commenced their Transition Year course at the school.”
At St. Finian’s College, Mullingar School President, Fr. Paul Connell was on hand to congratulate the 120 students who received results. “The results are a strong foundation for the Leaving Cert exam cycle the students will face in 2016,” he said.
Deputy Principal of Mullingar Community College, Ms. Colette Dunning had a positive report to give on the 72 students who received results.
“We were very very happy with the results and it was great to see a lot of students attempting the higher level papers and getting on very well. Many of the students had worked very hard and had got the results they hoped for.”
Her third year at Mullingar Community College, Ms Dunning remarked that she consistently sees growing improvements in the school. “We are building and growing all the time,” she said.
Eileen Alford, Principal at St. Joseph’s Rochfortbridge congratulated the 154 Junior Certificate students who received results. She said that all their students who worked hard had got the results they deserved. “The results achieved were also attributable to the efforts of their teachers and to the parents,” said Ms Alford. “We were very happy that such huge numbers were doing the higher level papers and we had 65% who took higher level maths,” she explained. “They all did very well and it provides them with a great foundation for the Leaving Cert.”
