Open Day

We had a wonderful Open Day on 27th January, with many, many visitors. This is a very short post, because a successful Open Day inevitably results in exhaustion. It was great to have students, staff, parents and governors all working hard to share the load. Thanks to everyone who worked so hard, and to everyone who came to see us.

Poetry Prize

Yo! Grainne Tobin, our wonderful head of English has just won the Mourne Observer Poetry Prize, offered in conjunction with the Down Writers' Group and Down District Council. We have a very talented staff as well as students. Also this weekend, there will be a strong Shimna contingent in Belfast to hear Shaun Robinson in performance.

Gateway to the Mournes

Everyone in the college is invited to visit the exhibition of plans and designs for the proposed Mourne Gateway Centre. The Centre is an innovative and exciting project to provide Newcastle with the long awaited swimming pool combined with: an InfoHub for all the local outdoor and environmental organisations; a sports hall; changing facilities for outdoor matches; a climbing wall; a hydrotherapy pool; lots more. Visitors to the exhibition have already suggested a cinema and ICT access and space for a youth club. The exhibition is on display on the balcony above the gym, and includes a folder of architect's plans. Innovative aspects of the project include: the self-cleaning reedbed to service the pool; the 'living roof' which will help minimise the visual impact; the careful design to maximise the impact of the fabulous views; the eco-friendly heating system etc. When you visit the exhibition, you will find a response sheet, and it is really important to the campaigners to have your views. You will also find a box in which to leave your completed sheet. Support for the project is being carefully documented by Newcastle 2000 and will be a huge help in finding support for the project.

Art Commission

As Shimna is one of the first twelve Specialist Schools in Northern Ireland, our A level art students have been invited to submit designs for: a logo for the Northern Ireland Specialist Schools; a logo for the schools with a specialism in languages and the international dimension, of which Shimna is the first. When I find out how to post the logo designs on this blog, you will all get to see them!

Happy New Year

This post is just to get us started.