Action Packed Last Week

The last week saw the year 11 complete their first full GCSE in science, and the PE class complete their expedition work over four days at Ardnabannon. Two groups had a brilliant time at Killyleagh watersports centre, banana boating until their mascara ran! Our final assembly was a pleasure" Kevin wore his CWU tee shirt and explained the reasons why a union might decide to choose strike action; Caroline McCann gave an empassioned account of the imprisonment of Presbyterian Evangelicals in Eritrea and our students' contribution to the Amnesty International letter writing campaign; Katriona Kirwan read out her prize winning poem on behalf of a long list of our students whose work is about to be published(see CreativityBlog); Grainne Tobin read out her prizwinning poem from the BBC/WELB competition(see Creativity Blog); Kevin ransacked his repertoire to sing us out with Tupelo Honey, the Beatles and of course ending with everyone on their feet for "Brown Eyed Girl". Then we all ran away.

Lucky Barbecue

Our Parents' Council barbecue for new year 8s was a great success, and we just got packed up before the heavens opened. Burgers and ice cream, and a fantastic science show. Thanks to all of the current parents who made such a successful day for our new students, and gave such a good plug to the Parents' Council.

Fantastic News for our Primary Languages

We have just heard today that we have been successful in our bid for substantial funds to extend and develop our primary languages work. The funds have been provided through the Sharing Education Programme, by Atlantic Philanthropies and the International Fund for Ireland. The project will be led by Queens University, and will run until 2010. We are already offering languages to P6 and P1 pupils in seven of our feeder primaries. The new funding will enable us to bring in additional schools, and also to set up high quality, sustainable links among our primary partners. You will have seen some of the great pictures of primary link events iin the local press. Our staff have loved teaching the primary children, and we have had great feedback from the primary pupils. We are very excited by the enthusiasm locally for language learning and for the international dimension. Watch this space!

What we Raised

The amount we raised for the Underwater Search Team was £300.00, which was a terrific amount given that the fundraising was down to the junior school, as many of our senior students had left to concentrate on their examinations. Well done to the students who organised the collection and the assembly that inspired the collection.