So the shortest last term possible in the school year reaches its climax in a welter of lethargy. Even though the welcome sunshine of early May ensured that events such as sports day, the staff golf outing, and the first-years' trip to the Aran Islands went off a treat, keeping the exam classes interested is proving to be a daunting task.
The principal urges the staff on a daily basis to "keep them working right up to the end". He frantically makes trips to the local library to round up swotting students only to be told "Mr Ryan said he has taught us all he could and we were better off studying on our own". Mr Ryan is sunning himself as an irate Principal appears with 10 or 12 students in tow.
"Did you give these students permission to study on their own?" he asks testily. Without waiting for an answer, he breezes in the door and is lecturing the class in exam techniques when a sheepish Mr Ryan appears.
Giving a half-day for the annual staff golf outing last Friday was a bit of a risk. Caught in the crossfire of not letting a long-established tradition die and the ire of parents who could only see yet another erosion of the school year, the Principal put the phone on the answering machine, took a deep breath and was first to the clubhouse.
The number of events to be covered is just mind-boggling. Students taking papers in Leaving Certificate art and craftwork had their exams in early May; the first-year teachers gave their charges their first taste of life on the Aran Islands; there was a meeting of parents of incoming first-years; a graduation Mass for the Leaving Certs; Transition Year graduation. Prize night and a staff party have yet to be fitted in, to end all before the official exams begin.
With all the activity, usual grumbles and grouses have been at an all-time low. The principal hasn't got round to interviewing staff about next year's timetable, those who are hoping to get early retirement get hardly a mention, and the vexed question of whether or not there will be two teachers over quota is left to those having their "senior moments" to debate.
The sun brought out the worst possible excesses in fashion for sports day. Mary in shorts captured all the interest of the amateur photographers. Tom felt she should invest in a full-length mirror. Pat would be a short-priced favourite to win a "knobby knees" competition on any foreign beach - preferably minus the army surplus boots!
It was one of those years which had its high and low points as staff say "goodbye" to yet another cross-section of the citizens of tomorrow.
