Fabulous Formal

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.