Old Scholar

Great to run into Leah McAtamney and hear her news. She is in the final stages of her degree in Bio-Medical Engineering, working hard and loving every minute of it. A year off and then a PhD Leah? Good also to see Selena McConkey and her sister setting up in business in Downpatrick. We'll be seeing our Shimna uniform on sale there. Chris Redmond has realised his ambition by gaining PGCE place in Glasgow. He's been building up experience in Edinburgh schools for a year following his graduation.

Off to Spain

Ian McMillan, Janet Moffat, Clare Murphy and twenty eight students landed safely and are already having a great time in Spain while the rest of us struggle towards Easter.

Mathematiques Sans Frontieres Success

Our fantastic mathematicians have again come in the top two teams in the SEELB, and our invited to the prize giving bash at the Ramada Hotel. This is a particuarly wonderful competition to win, because our students have obviously gained the full value of excellent maths and excellent language learning in four languages. Well done all.

English at the Slieve Donard

A further element of our Specialist Languages Programme got underway this week, as our classes began for Polish employees in the Slieve Donard Hotel. The classes are taught by our indefatigable head of German, Ian McMillan. Our classes for parents and friends in Spanish and French continue every week, and its exciting to have the EAL classes underway too.

St Patrick's Celebrations

Shimna was full of St Patrick's events this week, with table quzzes, prize draws, music, dance, leprechauns, theories about St Patrick etc. etc. etc. Our wonderful head of Irish led from the front, with great support from the students of Irish, with some students of French adding their bit. Sarah Mone, our solo dancer, deserves special mention. I wonder if staff member Rebecca Murphy remembers that in 1995 she was that solo dancer as a foundation student celebrating St Patrick's Day in our very first year! Special mention too for all those who achieved Fainnes of various shades from the McCracken School, who visited us on Tuesday, examining students and Ian McMillan in spoken Irish. Next week sees our traditional St Patrick's service in the Irish language, this year in Newcastle Prestbyterian Church. We are very pleased to be back at the Presbyterian Church, for the first time since our carol service there several years ago. Plans are in train now for an annual service there, perhaps at Harvest time. We are very grateful to Rev. Patterson for his help in organising our services.

Hip Hop Collects

A visitor from Childline NI came to Shimna to be presented with a cheque for £400. The money was raised by year 9 students at their sponsored Hip Hop Challenge. Well done to all.

Stars in Their Eyes

Our Shimna heats of 'Stars in Yer Eyes' produced a fantastic showcase of talent among our students. A huge number of students had been auditioned, and only the very best selected to perform on the night. After an impossibly difficult voting process, four of the acts go through to the regional final, to compete for the opportunity to appear at the Waterfront Hall, where Shimna students Lee McMahon, Mark O'Reilly and Nathan Kelly became Northern Ireland champions last year. The four to go through are: Stephanie Mullan and her dancers; Cormac Nellis and band; Caroline McCann and dancers; Johnny Houghton and band and backing singers. Congratulations to everyone who performed, not least the farewell performance of the Freddie Mercuries, Alec Cole, James McCombe and Ryan Doran.

Letter from Alan Johnson

Our Charities Group, who used the occasion of Presentation Evening to do a spot of lobbying on behalf of African victims of HIV/AIDS. On the night, Minister of State Alan Johnson was swept away in his limo before they had time to approach him. However, undeterred, the group sent him the letter they would have presented to him along with a photo of themselves with the huge envelope they had prepared, complete with huge red ribbon. On Friday we received an appreciative letter in response, promising to take the group's argument on board. The letter included a hand written note saying how much he had enjoyed his visit back to Shimna. Alan Johnson was a good friend to Shimna before he was famous, and it's great that he has maintained his interest.