ShimnaNewsBlog

Beautiful People

2009-10-17T06:24:00.000-07:00

A busload of our beautiful 6th form headed off on Thursday to the Hilton Hotel in Belfast for their formal. They all looked magnificent and though Alex Henderson won the fabulous dress award, Callie nearly pipped her at the post - if only he'd kept his dress on!

The Saddest News

2009-10-06T13:24:00.000-07:00

So soon after Mick's retirement party last Wednesday, we heard the very sad news that Mick had died on Sunday. The party was great, and the lovely photos are displayed in the college and that's what we will be remembering. Peace and love from us all to Mick.

Irish Stars

2009-09-06T16:23:00.001-07:00

A*s that is. Our wonderful year 9 students of Irish chalked up spectacular results in their GCSE Irish, and Meadbh in year 11 achieved a grade A in her AS Irish. Well done all. A real boost for all our Irish Medium students.

Celebrate

2009-08-27T14:51:00.001-07:00

Education Minister Caitríona Ruane and Employment and Learning Minister Sir Reg Empey both came to Shimna on A level results day to help us celebrate our most fantastic results yet. We celebrated our third year as NI's first Specialist Languages School with Tanya's place to study French at Oriel College, Oxford. Tanya leaves Shimna with her A level French, GCSE in French and Irish and today she collected a grade A* in German. Other fantastic results include Rachel Skillen winning her place to study Veterinary Science at Nottingham University, Callum Henderson off to Westminster to study television production, Lee McMahon off to study at Paul McCartney's LIPA, Niamh Lindsay off to study English and Spanish at Glasgow University - and so on and so on. Tanya, Callum and Lee were interviewed on Radio Ulster, and Orla O'Connor got to show off her four As on teatime TV.

InnoTaytorWinners

2009-06-29T16:19:00.000-07:00

Luck of the Irish – Ruben Mills, Cade Douthwaite & Aaron Latus
Twist, turn, taste on your tongue - Ellie May Jennings, Faidhnait Brady & Jessica Lauren Taylor
Taco Sauce – Can you handle it? - Thomas Maguire, Eve McAnallen & Tighearnach Murphy Dawes
Smoked Salmon - Lisa McMillan, Katie Graham & Mary Jane Fitzsimons
Chilli Chicken – Can you handle it? - Chloe Park, Callum Stevens & Danny Needham
Salted Sea Food - Conor Wylie, Josh-Marshall Boyd & Michael Cooney
Beans on Toast - Claire Malone, Stephen McClean & Ryan McAnulty
Sweet Chilli Chicken Tubes - Ellen Dennison, Stephen Ward & Matthew Pringle-Rice
Ham & Cheese - Matthew O’Sullivan, Ryan McVeigh & Shannon Kennedy
Chicken & Chocolate/BLT Split pack - Jonathan Mills, Jamie Holmes & Jack Rogan
Popcorn Flavour - Alexander Crory, Josua Bartley & Aimee Forde
Spicy Chicken Kebab - Dieter Cunningham, Ryan Johnston & Ryan Maguire
Ribs in Peking Sauce - Emma Addis, Lauren Sloan, Hannah Croman & Kirsten Diamon

Well done all those winners. Good luck in the main competition!

Midgie Bites and a Tan

2009-06-29T13:41:00.000-07:00

Our intrepid Gold Duke of Edinburgh Expeditioners arrived back this afternoon from their Trossachs five day hike. They did a great job, along with the Limavady High School group, with Shimna into the campsite first every day (well almost every day!). Campbell did a great job organising, watering and minding them all and deserves a gold award too. Very well done all. Look out for a very embarrassing slideshow soon!

InnoTaytor

2009-06-26T13:22:00.000-07:00

During their Moving On day on Tuesday, year 8 were introduced to the exciting InnoTaytor Challenge. On Wednesday they all turned up back to the gym to work in teams on their innovative ideas for new Tayto products. Watch this space for the list of winners whose ideas will go forward to the main Tayto competition.

Sporting Fundraisers

2009-05-29T12:14:00.001-07:00

Amnesty International raised £100.00 at their sponge throwing event, and huge thanks are due to the victims. The Students' Council are still counting their loot, and deserve to have raised a huge amount for the huge effort they put into organising a fantastic alternative element to our sports day. Thanks for: buns; egg and spoon races; sack races; face painting; nail designs; ice pops and all sorts of other things. Trojan effort.

Father Murray Comes Home to Shimna

2009-05-20T13:33:00.000-07:00

Our wonderful Irish department are this year's winners of the Father O'Mhuirigh Cup for Irish. It will be brilliant to have the huge babybath of a trophy back in Shimna. Our winners will head off to Cookstown in June for the celebrations. If you're inspired, have a go at Irish

Conor Honoured as Volunteer

2009-05-07T11:51:00.000-07:00

Conor Poland was awarded second place at this week's presentation of awards to local volunteers. Conor was nominated for his great work with the Lifeboat crew.

Andreas' Chemistry Success

2009-05-05T11:13:00.000-07:00

We have just heard that Andreas Bitter has won a place at the Sutton Trust Summer School in Oxford to study chemistry. Very well done.

Shimna's Oustanding Science Results

2009-03-11T15:50:00.000-07:00

Shimna Integrated College students of A level biology have carried off outstanding results in the fourteenth British Biology Olympiad. Conor Poland won a Gold Medal, Orla O'Connor a Bronze Medal and Sait Can Ozdemir won High Commendation. The students will attend an award ceremony at Imperial College London. 1800 students entered this year's Olympiad from schools across the country and very high scores were recorded. The awards are the icing on the cake for students who are already achieving the highest grades in their A level modules. Biology teachers Joanne Poland and Anne French are very proud of them.

Some Italian Glamour

2009-03-04T10:53:00.001-08:00

Our students of Italian posed for the cameras today in the cause of promoting the Open University YASS scheme through which our students are studying their Italian. V'Cenza and Piera were supported at the photoshoot by their father, and Shimna governor, Victor Cirefice, and by our languages support coordinator, Clare Murphy. That's why it was glamorous - I stayed well out of the photograph!

Happy Valentine's Day

2009-02-08T08:49:00.000-08:00

The Sixth Form Council and Parents' Council did a great job running the Valentine's Disco for years 8-10. The parents did a wonderful job decorating the hall, and designing beautiful Valentine's card and stocking the tuck shop with jelly hearts and roses to buy. Michael O'Brien and the sixth form team ran the disco and kept everyone safe and happy. I got so tired by the end of the evening - it's all Gerard McConkey's fault for making the elderly dance - that I put a packet of biscuits into my bag and shut my mobile phone in the biscuit tin. Ryan McQuitty had to rescue me from my own daftness and I am very grateful. A good time was had by all and money raised towards the sixth form formal. Thanks to all involved.

Two MLAs and an MP

2009-02-07T16:34:00.000-08:00

First thing on Friday morning Jim Wells, DUP MLA, was our first visitor. He came in to talk to our A level Travel and Tourism class about his views in support of the Mournes becoming a National Park. Then cam John Mcallister, OUP MLA, who brought with him Owen Patterson conservative MP, Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary, who headed up to talk to our A level politics class. Busy, busy, Busy. Jim Wells remembered his last visit to Shimna, many years ago, when Shimna student Thomas O'Rourke won a poetry competition organised by the National Trust, where Jim Wells worked at the time.

Home Economics at Last

2009-01-25T14:05:00.000-08:00

We have just heard that the Department of Education has agreed the funds to provide us with rooms and equipment for home economics at last! Celebrations! That means the classes already doing home economics already with the microwaves will have the very best of facilities next year, and all our A level students will get the survival cookery classes they need for heading off to university! We are delighted.

Patrick's Gold

2009-01-19T02:40:00.000-08:00

Patrick Poland called in to let us know that he has received his invitation to St James' Palace to be presented with his Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award. Very well done and well deserved.

Academic Achievement

2009-01-08T10:44:00.000-08:00

We are absolutely delighted that Tanya Murray has been offered a place to study French at Oriel College, Oxford.

Languages for Christmas

2008-12-17T12:37:00.000-08:00

Geseënde Kersfees en 'n gelukkige nuwe jaar!
Geseënde Kersfees en 'n voorspoedige Nuwe jaar! Feliz Navidad y un prospero Año Nuevo ; Joyeux Noël et une bonne annéé. Il buon Natale ed un anno nuovo Felice! Prettige kerstdagen en een Gelukkig NieuwJaar! Zalig kerstfeest en gelukkig nieuwjaar! : Boas Festas e Feliz Ano Novo ;: Fröhliches Weihnachten und ein Glückliches Neujahr; Lystig Jul og et Glad Nytt År: Gun Tso Son Tan'Gung Haw Sun; Kung His Hsin Nien bing Chu Shen Tan choctav: Yukpa, Nitak Hollo Chito: Maligayang Pasko at Manigong Bagong Taon!

Wonderful Presentation Evening

2008-12-16T10:35:00.001-08:00

Another milestone was passed in the development of Shimna Integrated College as, for the first time, an OldScholar, Dana Jaber was the guest speaker at our Presentation Evening. Dana outlined what an Integrated Education had meant to her, and told of her experiences representing the UK at the World Economic Forum pre-session in Dubai. Kevin gave a report on the successes of our students this year, and Dana then presented our students with their GCSE and A level certificates. There then followed the presentation of awards in all sorts of areas of achievement in the life of the college. Newly donated awards this year included the Oliver Tobin Award for Irish, won by Caroline McCann, and the HF Law Centenary Award, a particularly impressive trophy, won by Oliver Elshotz. Music was provided by Niomi O'Rourke singing her own composition, Michael O'Brien and Danny White on "Duelling Banjos" and Jeannine Bradley and Niomi O'Rourke on "Chopsticks Variation". The evening finished off with tea and mince pies, and the raffle of the wonderful Gingerbread House built by the A level ICT class, with money raised going to Cancer Research. The evening was a tribute to our wonderful students, their parents and our staff and friends of the college. None of it would happen without organisation by Deborah McDowell. As always, the very best thing about Presentation Evening was the return of our OldScholars from their first term at university, from their Gap Year, from their new career.

Signing for All

2008-12-12T03:08:00.000-08:00

Our British/Irish signing class has been going great guns. We now have an internet mini-course available on the study centre section of our website for anyone else who would like to learn some. Have a go!

Foreign Film Night

2008-12-12T02:53:00.000-08:00

A well chosen "Woman on the Edge of a Nervous Breakdown" gave us an admittedly dark but very funny close to our Foreign Film season. As ever, the languages committee was on hand to serve up tea, coffee, popcorn, biscuits and sweeties. Look out for the next date, on which we intend to branch out east and go for an Eastern European film. Look out for the consultation fliers for a community cinema in Newcastle. Shimna would be happy to host it in its early days, and the Newcastle 2000 Gateway project has space for a cinema in the plans for the swimming pool and community centre.

International Again

2008-12-10T14:43:00.000-08:00

We have just heard that we have passed the first stage of our bid to win the International Schools Award for the second time. Everyone in Shimna contributes to our International Schools work, but Clare Murphy, our wonderful Languages and International Co-ordinator pulls it all together and makes us fit to receive our Award. Thank you Clare.

More First Aid

2008-11-29T07:37:00.000-08:00

St John's Ambulance Brigade Cadet Stephen Polson has passed a weekend residential course in leadership; which will allow him to progress to Cadet NCO in the near future, another Cadet from Lagan College also passed this course. Stephen along with Andrew Polson and new Cadet Dylan Russell passed the Young Life Saver Plus course in the last week. It's really good to keep up with this kind of news of student success outside as well as inside school.

NICIE AGM

2008-11-26T11:33:00.001-08:00

We went up to Hazelwood Integrated College to attend the AGM of the Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education. It was an inspiring night, with an address from Ciarnan Helferty, an Old Scholar of Oakgrove Integrated College, who shared his experience of going on to university from an integrated school rather than a segregated one. He made a persuasive case for the value of integrated schools, and pointed out that it is only later, when you realise there are still so many young people in Northern Ireland who never meet anyone from the other community. The second presentation was by Tony McCauley, who has led our training days in Shimna. He presented his very practical plan for bringing down the Peace Walls in Belfast, with community support. As he pointed out, the Peace Walls in Belfast, and all the other divided towns, have survived the Berlin wall. Within the integrated community, Hazelwood Integrated Primary School has ended up with a Peace Wall right through its grounds. An inspiring night.

The Weirdest Trip

2008-11-07T13:18:00.001-08:00

Our A level Travel and Tourism group organised to take our A level Business Studies students on a trip, and they chose Predator Games as their destination. Very weird! How did you all get on?

Nathan Wins

2008-11-07T12:52:00.000-08:00

Remember the NI Stroke Association competition which went out with our last newsletter? Well Nathan Burden won, and now has a DV8 voucher to ease his Christmas spending. Well done Nathan.

Never Mind Jordan, We Saw Ben

2008-11-01T06:56:00.000-07:00

Jordan may have been the life and soul of hypnotism at the formal, but we saw brother Ben leading the YMCA performance in the middle of Newcastle for Hallow E'en. Look to your performance laurels, Jordan.

Fabulous Formal

2008-10-25T12:12:00.000-07:00

This year's formal at the Hilton Hotel was a terrific event. Huge congratulations are due to the organising committee. The ones I know about, because I saw how hard they worked, are Hannah Dummigan, Geraldine Fitzpatrick and Abby McGreevy. Everyone looked gorgeous, and we hope the hypnotised snap out of it soon! Thank you from all the staff for inviting us and for organising such a successful event.

Learn to Sign Week

2008-10-17T12:23:00.000-07:00

Learn to Sign Week restored British/Irish Sign Language to its proper place as one of the languages we offer as a Specialist languages School. Students and staff throughout the college learnt a week's worth of Sign Language. The Signers also raised £150.00 for the British Deaf Association. It doesn't stop there. A full course of Signing classes starts soon after school, and we may even be able to offer Signing as a GCSE next year. It's great to have Stephanie Donnelly back for all sorts of reasons.

World Poverty Appeal

2008-10-17T11:35:00.000-07:00

Students of 10 Commedagh led a powerful assembly today highlighting the problems suffered by one family in Africa who have been visited by Daniel Stansfield of 10C. Five members of the class outlined the problems and the ways in which poverty made those problems so very difficult to solve. A slide show shared visual images which held everyone in the room understand what this family is up against. 10 Commedagh then invited us to contribute to the Smile Foundation which is attempting to gather money to fund the lifesaving operation the youngest member of the family requires. The assembly was so powerful that 10 Commedagh have been asked to make their presentation again on Monday, this time to years 11-14. Well done to everyone who contributed, including form teacher Miguel Navarrete.

Jeans for Genes

2008-10-03T14:16:00.000-07:00

Our annual Jeans for Genes Day began with a special assembly which focused on the reasons why we support this charity. Research into genetic disorders is crucially important in the fight to ensure that future generations can live without the discomforts and disabilities which have blighted previous generations. One of our Shimna families which lives with seriously disabling, genetic disorders very bravely organised this assembly for precisely that reason. Every student taking part paid £1.00 towards the Jeans for Genes charity. Thanks to everyone who took part.

First Aid Expertise

2008-09-28T11:31:00.000-07:00

We have just heard that Orla O'Connor has qualified in the St John's Ambulance 'Total First Aid 'course, having completed her training over the summer. Stephen and Andrew Polson and Tim Knight will attain the St John Young Life Saver course in the next month. All four of our students are founder members of the new division of St John's, and have worked hard to support getting the new venture off the ground. Well done all round.

Not Just Languages

2008-09-26T16:44:00.000-07:00

As well as all the celebrations for European Day of Languages, we had A level maths students off to W5, and A level geography and biology students at the annual sixth form conference, where they met up and worked with A level students from other local schools. Specialism really does mean achievement right across the curriculum.

Very Important Visitors

2008-09-26T16:26:00.000-07:00

We welcomed Education Minister, Caitriona Ruane, to our European Day of Languages. She made an excellent contribution herself, speaking both Spanish and Irish fluently. However, she also met our speakers of German and French on the day. Equally important visitors were four of our feeder primary schools, who took part in and International Storytelling session, performing in French, German, Spanish and Irish for an audience of their teachers, the Minister, each other and our Shimna students. The Minister then had time to call into the huge languages table quiz underway in the hall, where she was full of praise for all the language work she had heard. She had a chance to have a look at the display of European badges and posters contributed by our students, before the prize giving got underway. Enthusiastic answers took us up to bus time. We have a wonderful languages department and wonderful students all round.

International Astronomical Success

2008-09-18T12:53:00.001-07:00

Shannon White has won a certificate in the International Catch a Star competition. She won her award for her project entered into the competition organised by the SEO-the European Organisation for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere and EAAE-the European Association for Astronomy Education. The project involved work across two departments, as students made successful entries in science and in art. Shannon's project called Starry Skies was entered into the category of Catch a Star Researchers, where students had to research an astronomical topic of their own choice and discuss how large telescopes such as those of ESO Very Large Telescope, could be used to make observations to provide new insights into their chosen topic. Students from 30 different countries from all over the world took part - Argentina; Belgium; Bosnia & Herzegovina; Bulgaria; Chile; China; Colombia; Cyprus; Czech Republic; Denmark; Finland; France; Germany' Greece; Hungary; India; Israel; Latvia; Lithuania; Luxembourg; Norway; Poland; Portugal; Romania; Serbia; slovakia; Spain' Sweden; Turkey; United Kingdom.

A Great Great Result

2008-08-15T13:41:00.000-07:00

We have just received a letter telling us that Shimna student Friederike Thomas has achieved on of the top five marks in A level German. Friederike was a pleasure to have as a student at Shimna, and we are delighted that she has received this accolade.

Great Results

2008-08-15T13:29:00.000-07:00

Our year 13 and 14 students received their terrific A level and AS results yesterday. By today, the vast majority of students had been placed on their first choice of course. We are very proud indeed of our students, and wish them well as they head off to their chosen future, or buckle down to fulfil their promise in year 14. As well as the hard work of our students, we salute the hard work of the staff and the support of the parents/guardians.

Winning a Farm Visit

2008-07-25T09:19:00.000-07:00

We have just appeared on the website of the Year of Food and Farming as winners of a farm visit. Our prize is for twenty students to visit a beef farm and to follow the beef to the point of sale. As a vegetarian, I don't think this visit is for me, but it will be fantastic for our first home economics classes which start in September.

James Spotted

2008-07-02T11:51:00.000-07:00

Did you all spot James Dillon in the picture in the Mourne Observer of local young people receiving their awards for their efforts in improving local policing. The ceremony took place at the St Patrick Centre and each member of the Down Advisor Group was thanked for their contributions to the initiative which was established just over 12 months ago. The Police Service's Down District commander, Chief Inspector Brian Hanna stated, "The Down Youth IAG has eceeded all my expectations and it richly deserved the accolade of making it into the finals of the prestigious PSNI Police with the Community Awards." Involvement with the group has been demanding and required a huge commitment, particularly for students, like James, who are also completing demanding A levels.

Oxford Aspirations

2008-06-27T16:18:00.000-07:00

Edward, Bronagh and Tanya headed off with Alicia, Gerard and governor Isobel Jones to Oxford University open days. They were hosted in various colleges, attended a Bach recital, met tutors, watched presentations on interview skills, haunted Blackwell's bookshop and met lots of students currently studying at Oxford. A wonderful time was had by all, and all were very grateful to Isobel for giving her time and expertise.

Boasting

2008-06-15T13:03:00.000-07:00

While Kevin was in Liverpool, Ellen took his place at the first conference of Specialist Schools, and gave a presentation for schools which might consider applying to become specialist. It was a real pleasure to get to boast about all the work our staff and students have done in our first two years as a Specialist School. The warm response is a tribute to everyone in Shimna.

Support from our Sponsors

2008-06-15T12:59:00.000-07:00

We are very proud that our main sponsors as a Specialist School are the Communication Workers Union. Kevin was again invited over to their conference, in Liverpool this time, where he reminded the conference of the origins of the link between the college and the union through our joint response to the death of Newry postman Frank Kerr. The union has again been extremely generous, and the money raised will go directly into our new ICT facilities for languages.

Students at the Helm

2008-06-12T11:09:00.000-07:00

If you had taken a wander round the college earlier on Wednesday evening, you would have been welcomed by Conor on reception. If you had gone upstairs you would have found Chris invigilating a room full of nervous adult students of Spanish, who were slaving over their hot examination papers. It is great to see so many complete the course and take their assessment. I hope that Una Cole was a well-behaved candidate, and that Chris didn't have to intervene to get her to concentrate!

Around Midnight

2008-06-12T11:04:00.000-07:00

I was sitting in school at an unearthly hour of Wednesday night, when a great big coach drew up an hordes of our year 11s poured off. They were on their way home from their day out to Brussels, and full of frites, waffles and dames blanches. Moules anyone? After the students had sorted themselves out and met their parents, the two staff members and all their shopping tumbled off. No self-restraint those two - they claimed the bags were full of fathers' day presents. all the bags? It sounded like a fantastic trip, suggested by the students themselves, who had originally wanted a day trip to Paris, but were delighted with Brussels as a Francophone destination within reasonable reach. I am just consumed with envy!

Celebrity Shimna

2008-06-01T05:40:00.000-07:00

They won't thank me for this blogtitle, but Mark, Rachel, Calum, Tanya and Kevin all had their celebrity moment this morning on Radio Ulster's Sunday Sequence discussing the nature of celebrity itself, and its influence on the current school age generation. They did a great job of putting across a reflective and personal response, distinguishing between celebrities they felt had earned their fame, for example Alan Sugar and Quentin Tarantino, and those who had become famous for being famous, for example, Jade Goody and Katie Price. Good to hear you on the airwaves.

Dr Gallagher Bursaries

2008-05-25T16:58:00.001-07:00

We are absolutely delighted that two of our students have been awarded Dr Gallagher Memorial Bursaries which will guarantee them both substantial financial support for their studies at university. Matt McComish and Natasha Ferris both had to make written submission, provide references about their work and commitment to study and also attend for interview. Both of these students have made a real success of their time at Shimna, and we are very happy to see them win support which will help them continue their hard work and love of their subject at university level. Very well done.

Very High Fliers

2008-05-25T13:28:00.000-07:00

Very, very early on the morning of Sunday 18 May, 8 wide awake students, plus Alasdair Spence and Michael Trotman, met up at George Best City Airport for the Bombardier ‘High Fliers’ event. The free flight was in a Bombardier Q 400 aircraft, which is partly built at the Shorts factory in Belfast, and operated by FlyBe from the City airport. The weather was good, and pilot Alan Reynolds announced that we would fly up the Antrim coast to the Giants Causeway. At 2000 feet all the way there were great views of the Antrim Coast, Rathlin Island , Portrush and Portstewart. For Nathan Mullan, Carrie Mc Alinden and Ryan McQuitty it was their first flight, and they received special certificates. Thanks are due to the parents who got up so early to drive everyone to Belfast. The flights were won by the students in a science competition this year.

Peterson Toscano

2008-05-18T10:45:00.000-07:00

I've just been listening to Sunday Sequence on the radio, to an interview with Peterson Toscano, who is in Belfast for one performance of his one man show. We area very fortunate that Peterson is also coming to Shimna to give workshops for our year 8s - a real coup! Watch the CreativityBlog to see how the visit goes.

Best of Luck

2008-05-09T11:29:00.000-07:00

The very best of luck to all our year 12 and year 14 students who headed off today to start their examination season. You are a wonderful bunch, and we fully expect that you will carry on Shimna's outstanding academic tradition.

Nuestros amigos chilenos

2008-04-30T15:25:00.000-07:00

Hoy hemos recibido a nuestros amigos de Chile. Yo, Kevin, estuve en los cinco colegios en octobre del ano pasado y fue muy interesante. Esta semana han vuelto ellos y les he introducido a cuatro colegios mas. Ha sido una experiencia tan buena pero la verdad es que fue †an fantastico encontrarnos con gente tan amable y perfecta. Vamos a continuar a comuninicarnos con ellos y trabajar jun†os. Somos muy amigos. Newcastle y Chile.

WebAlumnus Arrives

2008-04-30T10:17:00.000-07:00

Training has taken place today on WebAlumnus, the website for our Old Scholars which will help us gather together news of all our past students. Even within our short history, amazing stories have emerged, and great success. We hope the WebAlumnus site will launch in time for us to start our new tradition of Old Scholars being invited to speak at our Presentation Evening.

Nearly Forgot France

2008-04-23T16:37:00.001-07:00

I nearly forgot to mention two other lovely visitors, from France this time, the work experience exchange partners of our students who travelled to France in February. The girls supported our students in class, and took time out for some sightseeing and shopping in Downpatrick, and met up with Eric Tomassini to cheer him up with a few words in his native French. This link with France is a very valuable one, which will provide opportunities for our students for years to come. Its Chilean visitors next...

Lovely Swedish Visitors

2008-04-19T15:23:00.001-07:00

We had a great time with our Swedish visitors.. They got here on Friday, joined classes throughout the school, and gave excellent presentations about Sweden, a country we didn't know half enough about. The three lovely Swedish staff members took us out for our tea on Friday night, and we heard all sorts of rumours about what the Swedish students got up to! All concerned, however, retrieved their reputation by being at the first bridge on time for a 9.00am start to our walk to the saddle. Donard wasn't a possibility because our visitors had to catch their bus to Dublin. We were joined by Shimna students Mark, Eamon, Conor and David, and everyone made it to the wall despite the bitter wind. We have the photos to proved it. Thanks a million to Martin and Elaine for leading the way, and to Greenhill for hosting our group. Real friendships were made, and real work experience placements floated for next February. We were very pleased to receive a Swedish cookery book and Swedish sweeties as our thank you present, and look forward to a very fruitful partnership with Sweden.

Compliments to Enjoy

2008-04-14T13:12:00.000-07:00

This is a quotation from Dr Ana Kerr of Queens University and the NI Languages Strategy: "I just wanted to take a moment to thank you for accommodating my visit to the school on Wednesday 12 march 2008. Not only was it very informative, it was most enjoyable due in no small part to the manner in which I was hosted by your pupils. the young people made a great impression on me and you would have every reason to be very proud of them. the group a s a whole were welcoming, interested, articulate and helpful giving me some new perspectives on the issue of language learning. Indeed, there were some amongst the group who could serve as worthy ambassadors of language learners here in Northern Ireland! ...Please extend my heartfelt thanks to the young people and staff concerned.

Yo! This makes very good reading, and we are grateful to Dr Ana for taking the time to write.

Great GOML Results

2008-04-03T13:43:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to all our nightclass students who sat French and Spanish exams in Janary. Everyone passed and we are all very proud! Lessons continue on Wednesday nights in French, Spanish and Polish. Enquiries should be made to Clare Murphy via the school office.

We're all exciting

2008-04-02T14:52:00.000-07:00

We are all exciting, waiting for our visit from President Mary McAleese. This is a particularly interesting visit to prepare for within an integrated community. To some of us President McAleese is the President of our country, to some of us she is the President of our near neighbours and to some of us she is the President of a foreign state. We welcome her heartedly in all of those capacities.

Awesome Fundraising

2008-03-16T13:59:00.000-07:00

I'm just getting my head round the scale of the success achieved by the year 11 sponsored silence. The total was heading away over £700.00 the last time I passed the counters. All this fundraising through the soccer match with staff and the sponsored silence has been organised on the initiative of year 11 students through their citizenship classes. The were eager to make some practical use of the lessons they had learned on activism and social responsibility. We know that a third year 11 group has plans in train for the new term, and staff may look forward to having their cars washed. I'll try not to take this fundraising idea personally. Final total and presentation details as soon as we get back.

Happy St Patrick's Day

2008-03-15T11:40:00.000-07:00

We had a great St Patrick's Week, including quiz, treasure hunt, ceili, buns, poc fada, prizes and ending up with a fantastic assembly involving students throughout the college. You'll see details on the other Shimna blogs. We always make the point at this time of year, that our St Patrick's Day celebrations form a parallel with our Remembrance Day commemorations in November. These two points in the year have traditionally been appropriated by one side of our community to the exclusion of the other, and it's one of the privileges of being together in an integrated college to be able to explore the process of sharing both.

The best thing about St Patrick this year is that he has joined himself onto Easter, so that we get two weeks well earned holiday. Enjoy!

Germans in the Forest

2008-02-29T12:33:00.000-08:00

Our students of German have been up in the forest for the last three days, taking part in this year's German immersion outdoor activities residential. They all had a great time, and had a great time, even if the canoeing had to be replaced by a bit of hotrock given the terrible weather on the last day.

Pink Gentlemen

2008-02-29T12:27:00.000-08:00

Today's fundraising event was an invitation to wear pink in support of Action Cancer. Louis and Johnny didn't think they would look good in pink, so they made a fantastic gesture of dressing up in tuxedo - they've never looked better. Thanks to everyone who contributed so generously.

Guilty as Charged

2008-02-24T10:50:00.000-08:00

9 Commendagh and 9 Meelbeg took off to Downpatrick courthouse on Friday to take part in all sorts of legalities. They were finger printed, had their DNA sampled (all finger prints and DNA samples were returned to the owners). Robbie Cars, alias Callum Shields was tried and convicted for his crimes, despite able defence by paul McGuigan. His raucous family, alias Karen Malone and Sambie Lee, among noisy others, had to be removed by the Magistrate, who was real! Lots of other people played lots of other parts. Everyone concerned came home with terrific goodie bags!

Feedback and Plan Forward from Utrecht

2008-02-22T14:13:00.000-08:00

It was great to have a visit from our contacts in Utrecht, with messages from the students who visited us in the Autumn. The students were hugely pleased at our interested in their Muslim heritage, and their lives, often divided between Holland and Turkey. They really enjoyed their visit to our school, and their strongest impression was of very good discipline and relationships. I send back the message that our students had particularly enjoyed the fantastic food from the Muslim meal, and the chance to talk about their islamic studies to Muslim students of their own age.

Political News from Westminster

2008-02-22T14:00:00.000-08:00

Our politics students also had a great time in London, and staff had nothing but praise for the enthusiasm and interest in everything there was to experience.

Poetic News from Spain

2008-02-22T13:55:00.000-08:00

Our contingent in Soria are having a great time. Today is the anniversary of the death of Antonio Machado the poet after whom the school is named which our students are visiting. Staff member Clare Murphy and student Sait Can Ozdemir took part in the commemorations, reading poems at the graveside. This evening Grace Sargent and David Cox will be taking part in a commemorative concert, playing music and reading further poetry. Clare and Sait Can featured on Spanish television.

Everyone's run off

2008-02-16T13:08:00.000-08:00

The International Dimension end of our Specialism has taken off with a whoosh. Students are: just back from work experience in France; heading off to Austria to ski; heading to Soria in Spain on an exchange visit; heading to London to visit Westminster and tackle MPs; filling in their paperwork to head to Poland. That's not including the immersion German group heading to Greenhill, followed by the integration group heading in the same direction. Then there are the twelve students heading to join their partner schools on the Key Programme, based at Kilbroney and Greenhill.

Work Experience in France and Spain

2008-02-12T14:15:00.000-08:00

Just back from a great week in France are Tanya and Rachel. Just setting off to Soria in Spain are David Cox, Grace Sargent, Niamh Lindsay and Sait Can Ozdemir, along with Clare Murphy as support. Helen Crane and Ashlene Fearnon set off on another Spanish opportunity, organised through our Spanish assistant this year. The work experience trips offer a really useful way for our A level students of languages to make real links in their target language and to polish their speaking and listening skills. We wish all our students a safe and happy trip.

St Valentine's Disco

2008-02-10T13:32:00.000-08:00

Our sixth form council along with the Parents' Council jointly organised a St Valentine's Day disco. The organisation was impeccable, and everybody pulled together to give the disco-goers a great night out.

Physics at Home

2008-01-24T09:13:00.000-08:00

Andreas Bitter and Scott Hamill impressed the judging panel and the audience with their presentation ‘Inside an Atom’ for the ‘Physics@Home’ competition held at the Department of Physics and Astronomy in Queen’s University. Teams had to explain a principle of physics using only household items. Scott and Andreas used a soup bowl and a bag of marbles to recreate the discovery of the atomic nucleus. Once the nerve racking bit of actually making their presentation was out of the way, our team could relax and watch the rest of the entries. Schools from across Northern Ireland were represented with topics including ‘Make your own loudspeaker’, ‘Why boats float’, ‘Fun with forces’ ‘It’s magic?’ and ‘The raisin for the bounce’. All agreed it was a fun and interesting day out, and a free lunch to boot.

Look What I Got Next

2008-01-09T13:58:00.000-08:00

Hello,

Thanks for getting in touch with Big Toe. Sorry not to have replied earlier, but I've been off for the Christmas break.

Felan did really well and I'm glad you liked the programme. Please send thanks to all the staff at the school for letting him have the last lesson off so that he could do the recording. He's definitely a voice to keep an eye for in the future and it's good to know that he's got such enthusiastic support!

Best wishes,

Ann

Ann Charles
Assistant Producer | Big Toe Books
BBC 7 | Broadcasting House | Portland Place | London W1A 1AA

Exterminate

2008-01-08T16:05:00.000-08:00

Watch out for the new Dr Who club starting this month - Wednesdays after school. See the posters, or contact Shirley McMillan of our English department. Woo hoo, diddely dum etc.

Look what I got.

2008-01-04T08:39:00.000-08:00

After I heard Felan on BBC7 I emailed the programme, and this is the reply I got:

"Hi Ellen,

Thanks for your email! We all think Felan is great, and we were very pleased to be able to have him on over Christmas. He's very talented and a pleasure to listen to. I'll show your email to the producer who worked with him, too.

Best wishes,
Big Toe Books"

Reindeer Food

2007-12-27T14:40:00.000-08:00

I have just got round to counting up the money raised in a very nice wee fundraising gesture by Fiona McCurry. She packs up sparkly food for reindeer, which those of us with wee relatives buy up and get them to scatter on the lawn. Fiona raised £25.00+, and particularly + what I owed, which I of course had forgotten to hand in, but have now remedied - honest, Fiona.

Fame at Christmas

2007-12-26T09:03:00.000-08:00

Two of our broadcasters were at work over Christmas. Catherine Kelly, our head of drama, had her play broadcast on RTE on Sunday night. I have to confess that i didn't wake up in time to hear djfelan on Big Toe Books at 7.00am on Christmas morning, but 'Listen Again" is a fantastic facility, and as soon as I was awake, i tuned in to hear Felan, beautifully clearly, introduce the show and lead in Richard Briers, who read the featured book, "Beastly Boris".

A Great Last Day

2007-12-21T13:24:00.000-08:00

We had a great last day, with disco by djfelan and djsara, with Bruce Springsteen Lambe and Van Morrison Lambe to round off. Over to St John's Church for the Carol Service, led by Ivor Anderson and Rev. Brian Cadden of Castlewellan. As has become a tradition, our Scripture Union provided a short sketch for us to think about.

Rachel Wins the Big Prize

2007-12-21T13:16:00.000-08:00

We are very impressed that Rachel Robinson has won a photography competition. Her task was to compose a photograph which encapsulates the idea of diversity. She has won herself a digital camera and her winning photograph will be featured in a 2008 calendar. As soon as we get a copy of the photo, and details of the calendar, we'll get the details onto the CreativityBlog.

res nostra

2007-12-20T12:48:00.000-08:00

The res nostra group in school continues to go from strength to strength in it's new one-day format. Twelve year 8 students successfully completed the first two units of the Cambridge Latin Course in one day on Wednesday 19 December, bringing them up to where most first year classes would be at this stage anyway. We will repeat our one-day event at the end of the Easter and Summer terms, and are pleased to have found this way to keep Latin alive as an optional subject at KS3 without infringing on the timetable for other subjects. We are grateful for the support of the Classics Department of Belfast High School and Friends of Classics.

djfelan on Christmas Day

2007-12-14T14:20:00.000-08:00

We have just heard that djfelan will be broadcasting on BBC7 on Big Toe Books on Christmas morning at 7.00am. This is really a fantastic achievement, broadcasting on national radio, and is a great tribute to all Felan's work on our local station, and all the time and effort he has put into training.

Welcome P7s

2007-11-30T13:54:00.000-08:00

we had a wonderful P7 day, with a a chance for P7 pupils from our feeder schools to experience a post-primary school day. Every primary visitor had an opportunity to try out seven subjects, with an emphasis on the subjects that aren't always part of the primary school day: media studies: ICT; new languages; workshop technology; basketball - as well as some of the more familiar subject, such as maths, RE; art, music It was great to see so many P7s whom we already know through our Sharing Education Programme teaching languages in our feeder primaries. a really happy day.

djmcmillan is at it too.

2007-11-26T15:50:00.000-08:00

djmcmillan is piloting a languages slot on a local station. Details of our famous presenters as soon as i find out where to tune in to.

djfelan and Big Toe books

2007-11-26T15:42:00.000-08:00

djfelan has been head hunted by Big Toe Books, a radio programme broadcast on BBC 7. Felan was a guest on the programme last year, and the producer was so impressed with Felan's radio presenting skills that he has been invited back to take part as presenter in new pilot programmes. Recording starts on Wednesday 28th.

Geography Winners

2007-11-21T14:54:00.000-08:00

There was hot competition for top honours in the Year 8 geography competition. Competitors presented their designs for a tourist leaflet for Newcastle. Class winners were as follows: 8b Ian Nikolaus and Lucy Lakin; 8C Sian Ogle;8D Erin White; 8M ryan Cairns and the overall winners is Sian Ogle. Copies of the leaflets go off to our European Studies partner schools: St Angela's Ursuline Convent, Waterfors; Cheyne Middle School, Kent; St Cecilia's College, L'Derry; Ysgol Uwchradd Bodadern, Wales.

Sputnik Success

2007-11-17T09:58:00.000-08:00

Conor Cuthbertson won himself a prize close to his heart in the recent science competition organised to celebrate the anniversary of Sputnik. The prize of a skateboard ramp was awarded in recognition of the design expertise and scientific understanding exhibited in Conor's winning design. Is somebody going to get me a picture?

Award Success

2007-11-16T12:05:00.000-08:00

Our wonderful Students' Council was presented with the Dermot Curran Young Achiever Award. Our representatives, Chris, Marie and Matthew took part in the enterprize challenge and picked up a very useful £250.00 for the college, and a pile of prizes to share with the rest of the Council. Hosted by UTV's Business Correspondent, Jamie Delargy, the Awards event recognises outstanding individuals in Down District who have demonstrated the entrepreneurial spirit and determination needed to achieve success. The programme kicked off with an opportunity for all attending to express their creativity with Shell Livewire and the chance to win an iPod MP3 player. Jamie Delargy spoke on the value of enterprise, and was followed by an awards ceremony which incorporated Down district Schools Team Awards, South Eastern Regional College Award, Down Business Centre Graduate Award, Invest NI Award as well as the over all 2007 Dermot Curran Young Achiever award. The Students' Council has been working hard on their assembly for Anti-bullying Week, and it will give great publicity to their work when they also present their Award to the college on Monday 18th November. The Students' Council hopes that you have all had a look at the new noticeboard at the front hall, and will send your views to the Council via your form reps.

A Prestigious Nomination

2007-11-15T14:30:00.000-08:00

Great news today, that our Students' Council has been nominated for a Dermot Curran Award, and have been invited to the awards ceremony in Downpatrick tomorrow. Our Students' Council will be represented by Chris Leneghan, Matthew McAvoy and Marie O'Halloran. We wish them the best of luck. the nomination is well deserved for the work they, and fellow Students' Council members have done to revitalise the student voice. Look out for the new Students' council notice board and get in touch through the message box. anti-bullying week is coming up and the Students' Council will be making a presentation in assemblies.

Salsa, food and all kinds of languages

2007-11-14T15:31:00.000-08:00

A group of our students got the chance to return to their Salsa obsession when they headed up to St George's Market to the languages fair Opportunity Europe. Also on offer were workshops in languages we haven't tried yet, food from all sorts of places and meeting lots of other linguists.

Taking Over the Airwaves

2007-11-11T10:57:00.000-08:00

The launch of Wills McNeilly's rescued yacht was featured on BBC Radio Ulster last week. He gave a great account of the rescue by the Mourne Underwater Rescue Team, raising the model yacht from the depths of Castlewellan Lake. Between Ian McMillan, djfelan (see comments) and Wills, we may be taking over the airwaves.

Facing Homelessness

2007-11-05T15:51:00.000-08:00

The Simon Community came in to work with each of the classes in our year 9. The work was all the more powerful because of the input of people who have experienced homelessness. The was a really important visit, which gave everyone huge amounts to think about.

Famous, talented staff too

2007-11-05T15:37:00.000-08:00

Anybody else hear Ian McMillan's terrific first broadcast? We really have a very talented staff.

Gorgeous Staff and Parents Too

2007-10-28T16:49:00.000-07:00

but don' worry, your secrets are safe from blogs! but a good time was had by all at the DNA gig on Saturday. Lots of devils and witches in evidence for Hallow E'en, and the bands were great - DNA and the devilish one. German teachers and air guitars aren't really a secret .......

German Writing Links

2007-10-27T06:00:00.000-07:00

On Monday 29th, we join an exciting Comenius link with Germany. One of the best things about the link is the involvement of ex-Shimna teacher Dr Matthew Martin, who now teaches in St Mary's University College. He is a fantastic teacher of writing, and it will be wonderful to have him involved with our students again. The project will mean that we can draw the English language in to our Languages Specialism, which already includes French, German, Spanish, Irish, Polish, Russian, Turkish and, soon to come, Italian.

Formal Gorgeousness

2007-10-26T15:41:00.000-07:00

This year's formal was terrific. Staff were honoured to be invited and thoroughly enjoyed themselves. The smooth running of the evening was a tremendous tribute to the hardworking formal committee and everyone who pitched in. Matt was an amazing compere, and the awards a hoot. As always it was great to see everyone back together again and to catch up with the news.

A Milestone in Expedition Terms

2007-10-19T12:50:00.000-07:00

This weekend our Duke of Edinburgh's Award Silver group complete their expedition, and for many of the group, this will mean that they have completed their Silver Award. This expedition also marks the end of Joanne Anderson's time as leader of our Award Scheme. Joanne set up the scheme in the college when she first came to teach at Shimna, and she and Jess have been the driving force behind generations of successful Award holders. It is very appropriate that the baton now passes to ex-Shimna students Paul Swail, for the expedition section and Rebecca Murphy for the other sections. Joanne and the Award scheme have made an enormous contribution to the college, and we are very excited that Joanne's retirement from this aspect of college life coincides with news of a Gold Award presentation coming up soon for Naebh Dunn.

Taking Charge of Europe

2007-10-19T12:35:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday, Mark O'Reilly, Tanya Murray, Rachel Cleary and Stephen Lowry chaired the meeting of the Mock European Commission at Stormont. Shimna has previously taken part in the Commission in the role of Germany in 2005, Leichtenstein in 2006 and took on the ultimate challenge of the chair this year. A huge amount of research and effort went into the preparation, and our students bought with them a dose of confidence, preparation and chutzpah to carry them through. Word has it our students did a great job, with the debates starting slowly, and building up to really challenging argument. Very well done to all, including Janet Moffat and Clare Murphy who supported our students in taking on the role.

Delicious Islamic Dinner

2007-10-19T12:31:00.000-07:00

A minbus full of Shimnites set off for Killough for the Islamic dinner, courtesy of our visitors from Utrecht. The word today is that the food was fantastic, and the Islamic craic equally good. Everyone seemed to report that Hanan had a particularly good time. The rest of us wonder why that was! Clear grounds have been established for this link to continue. We would love to get to Holland on a return visit sometime, and learn some Dutch as well as Turkish.

Friends from Utrecht

2007-10-16T14:43:00.000-07:00

We hosted a fascinating visit from a group of twelve students and four staff from a school in Utrecht. The group included students from families who have settled in Holland from other countries such as Turkey and Morocco. The group is spending the week in the Kinderhaus in Killough. Our students worked with their visitors on a Holocaust project, which included planting bulbs as part of our Holocaust Memorial. The group's cook discussed with us the foods available in our canteen which the Muslim student in the group would and would not eat. Next came 8B's first ever lesson in Turkish, as part of our feature on Turkish as our language of the term. It was a real boon to have real speakers of Turkish to take part in the lesson. Kemal and Sait Can Ozdemir, who live in Turky during the summer had an unexpected opportunity to practice their language and to support the group and 8b. The afternoon comprised a forest walk, with Newcastle looking its best in the sunshine. Our staff and students are now invited to a special Muslim meal, prepared by the group's chef, in Killough on Thursday. The meal will be particularly interesting for our group of Islam scholars who completed thier GCSE in Islamic studies last year. A very fruitful visit for all.

Red Hot Chile Blog

2007-10-09T10:37:00.000-07:00

Just back from my trip to Chile on Sunday. I was one of 19 principals from Great Britain and N Ireland to be chosen to take part in a leadership project linking with Latin American and Carribean countries. The trip was really amazing. I visited 5 post primary schools in two days, one in Santiago, the capital, two in Linares which is a four hour drive from Santiago, and two in Talca, a large town athree and a half hour drive away from the capital. After the visits, all the principals of the schools came to Santiago where there was a three-day conference on leadership, delivered by me and a primary school principal from England who had linked with 5 pjrimary schools and whose principals also attended the conference.

Visiting the schools was truly an eye-opener, with 45 students per class and buildings in a serious state of disrepair. However, the principals and staff were amazing, showing great dedication and determination despite conditions, as were the students who were really open, friendly and interested. The plan is to link my five schools with schools in N Ireland, with the principals visiting the schools next Spring. There is a huge discrepency between private education for those who can afford to pay for it and public education for everyone else. The day before General Pinochet, the military dictator, left power, he brought in a law which effectively enshrined the privileged place of the private schools and disadvantaged public schools. There is currently legislation going through parliament which will attempt to redress this imbalance.

While I know that I will get little sympathy, the schedule was extremely tight and the travelling exhausting, but it was totally worthwhile. Highlights included the people, who were wonderful, the scenery, and in particular the Andes, the food, with meat and fish to die for, and the visit to the house of Pablo Neruda in Isla Negra. Neruda was a Nobel Prize-winning poet who is still adored by Chilenos, which says a lot about Chile's culture. Evidence of Chile's bloody recent history is everywhere and on one evening I witnessed a demonstration outside a former torture house of the Pinochet regime, during which the disappeared "los desaparecidos" were again remembered.

I am looking forward to the visit of the principals next year and to developing links with our new-found friends and colleagues in Chile.

Languages Classes

2007-10-09T10:22:00.001-07:00

Our programme of language teaching has begun, with French and Spanish underway. There will be English classes for Polish people, and Polish classes for the rest of us. Later in the year, there will also be outreach language classes for the parents and local communities of the many primary schools in our Sharing Education Programme.

European Day of Languages

2007-10-09T10:17:00.000-07:00

I was so sorry to miss European Day of Languages, and loved seeing the picture show on the modern languages webpage. The salsa dancing looked terrific.

While I was gone

2007-10-09T10:14:00.000-07:00

I was away from college for sad reasons for the last few weeks. Thank you to everyone for the comfort and support of cards and flowers and licquorice and chocolate and lasagne and soup and home made bread and toffee and emails and texts and phonecalls. I felt very hugged and am profoundly grateful. Since I have been back, I have found so many things that students and colleagues have just stepped in and done for me.