Week 24

Friday 10th March 2023

Hello Everyone

Another week over and gosh the weather was poor last night and earlier this morning. I genuinely do not like snow days – apart from driving early morning in poor road conditions, there is so much time lost for learning and a lot more organisation involved to ensure the health & safety of pupils and staff. It has to be done regardless and today Google Classroom was well and truly utilised. Well done everyone!

As we progress towards Easter, coursework completion, moderation and practical experiments are very much to the fore. Science was extremely busy this week and both PE and Drama are preparing for their moderation visits next week.

Wednesday was International Women’s Day. We celebrated this event with a Girls’ Gamemaker Event encouraging them to explore computer science as a career, and this also coincided with representatives from Mc Aleer & Rushe with good advice about females in the construction industry. On a similar vein, our Year 13 STEM Ambassadors were top notch in supporting and teaching some of our Primary pupils during their STEM ENTHUSE Project.

A fact-finding visit to Eikon Centre, Lisburn, enabled Year 13 students to interact with and gather information on a range of universities and suitable courses for their future pathway. A brilliant opportunity.

Bishop Router (Auxiliary Bishop of Armagh) celebrated Mass for KS3 pupils yesterday in Holy Trinity Church, with our Pope John Paul II Students participating throughout the ceremony. It was a very uplifting service enhanced by beautiful music and singing. Theme for the Mass was: “What does the Lord ask of you, but to act justly, love kindness and walk humbly with your God”. A huge thankyou to Bishop Router and Fr Slater, but also Mrs Coleman and Miss Mc Curry and their respective Departments, and all staff and pupils who contributed in any way to the service.

Finally, the U-14 Girls’ Team had an outstanding achievement over St. Colm’s with a 9-17 v 0-0 win. The Girls now proceed to the Quarter Finals, and we wish them and their coaches the very best of luck.

Look after yourselves and have a great weekend.

Isabel Russell