Awesome Fundraising

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.