On Friday 21st March, A Level Biology and OS Horticulture visited the Discover CAFRE Campus at Greenmount. We had a tour of Agriculture and enjoyed the dairy farm including the maternity ward. Then we headed for different experiences; Horticulture admiring the blooms in the walled garden and an inspiring talk about landscape maintenance from a past pupil. We viewed the horticultural glasshouses for talks on pest control and Hydroponics. Biology headed to look closely at the wet lands and hedge laying at the nature trail and also completed quadrant surveys in the meadows. After plenty of walking and fresh air, a good lunch was required. Thank you to Toni and her staff for their hospitality at #discoverCAFRE.
On Monday this week we welcomed Thales and Royal Navy STEM teams for a very successful fun filled STEM Day.
With Thales our pupils had tremendous fun working with the Sphero Robots as they navigated a series of different challenges posed by the team. Teamwork and peer learning were promoted by challenging our pupils to use their initiative with Experimental learning kits.
With the Royal Navy our pupils had a wonderful time using Snap circuits to make a flying propellor. Teamwork and listening skills were key in the Bridge Building activity, and we were fortunate to have the opportunity to learn about ‘life on a submarine’ with many interesting questions answered. We look forward to the Thales and Royal Navy STEM teams visiting again.
Please find below our Weekly Communication Bulletin for Parents and Carers, and other important information, which has been sent out to you via Sims App.
The Music Department will be holding their annual Spring Concert on Wednesday 9th April at 5.30pm in our school Assembly Hall. We would be delighted if you could join us to support and celebrate what our pupils have achieved this year. Tickets will be £5 for Adults and £3 for Children and can be purchased from the Ticket Source link below. Refreshments will be available after the concert so please stay around and chat.
Ryan Edwards, a Year 12 student specialising in clarinet, and Ashton Preston, a Year 9 student who plays the Snare Drum, are both part of the Band, Pipes and Drums, 1st Battalion Northern Ireland.
The band played at The Theatre at The Mill on Friday evening as part of the Army Cadet Charitable Fund St. Patrick's concert.
The Cadet Band entertained the audience in the foyer and then joined the Band of the Royal Irish Regiment on stage to perform for a packed theatre. The mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey and the Lord Lieutenant were in attendance.
The music department had an extremely busy week last week at Ballyclare Music Festival. It was wonderful to see so many pupils take part and here is a summary of the results.
Day 1
What an amazing start for us today at Ballyclare Music Festival. First up were the Solo String classes. We are delighted that Ella Kidd was placed 2nd in the Year 8 class with Amelia Brown coming a close runner-up in 3rd place. In a very competitive Year 9-10 class Oleh Donstov received a well-deserved 3rd place while is brother Sviat was placed 1st in the Year 11-12 class, with an excellent performance of Meditation from Thais, followed by Annabelle Brown in 2nd place and Lois Bell in 3rd. In the Year 13 and 14 class Lewis Clark gave a great performance and was awarded 2nd place. In the string ensemble class, there was stiff competition, but we rose to the challenge, and we are delighted that the Senior Strings were given 1st place.
Next up was the school orchestra who were awarded 1st place for a great performance of the traditional March ‘Killaloe’ featuring two of our Pipers and an arrangement of ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’.
Later this afternoon, it was the turn of our pianists. We had 5 pupils take part in the Year 9 to 10 class and they all performed well, but a special mention goes to Faith Hamilton who was awarded 1st place and Sarah Lapsley who received 2nd place. Well done to Nathan McAuley who was awarded 2nd place in the Year 11-12 class and Lucy Spence who followed closely behind in 3rd place. Finally, the day was brought to close with the Year 13-14 class in which Elspeth Purdy was awarded 1st place. What a wonderful way to finish our first day at the festival.
Well done to everyone who took part today. We are proud of all of you, and you are a credit to yourselves and our school.
Day 2
Another amazing day full of great performances at Ballyclare Music Festival. Today it was the turn of our brass and vocal students. The day started off with great performances from our brass students with Lily Lorimer and Holly Hamilton both being award 2nd place and Ben Purdy just behind them in 3rd place in the Year 11-12 class. This was followed by the brass ensemble who gave a wonderful performance of a Star Wars Medley which gained them 1st place. Amazing results and we are proud of everyone who took part.
In the Year 9-10 vocal class Lucy Bingham was awarded 2nd place and Phoebe Johnston gained 3rd place. This was followed by the Year 11-12 solo class in which Shannon Dougherty was also awarded 3rd place. The day was brought to a close with the Year 13-14 class. This was an extremely competitive class where all participants performed to a very high standard. We were delighted that Erin Ashe was awarded 2nd place closely followed by Connie Taylor in 3rd.
Again, many great performances today and we are so proud of everyone who took part. Well done everyone!
Day 3
What another amazing day for all our pupils at Ballyclare Music Festival. Today it was the turn of our woodwind and traditional performers. First up was the Year 8 class in which Eevie Steed-Oliveria gained 2nd place and Emma Hegarty was awarded 3rd place. The 9-10 class was very competitive, and we were delighted that both Bethany Douglas and Grace Martin were awarded 2nd place. Next was the turn of the Year 11-12 pupils in which Abi Caldwell was awarded 2nd place for her performance of Forlana and Ryan Edward's was closely behind in 3rd place. In the final solo class Emma Taylor gave a wonderful performance for which she was awarded 2nd place.
In the woodwind ensemble class, the clarinet group were awarded 1st place with a lovely jazzy arrangement of 'Amazing Grace' and our flute ensemble came in a close 2nd.
Next it was the traditional class in which our pipers and drummers dominated. Amazing results with Scott Simms, William Currie and Oliver McIlwaine all being awarded joint 2nd place and Isaac Wylie was placed 1st. Our piping and drumming ensemble brought the day to a close with an amazing performance which led to a well-deserved 1st place.
Again, well done to everyone who took part in the festival today. Regardless of the outcome we are so proud of all of you for taking part and thank you for all your hard work and commitment to the Music department.
Day 4
Friday was our final day of Ballyclare Music Festival. Both the senior and junior choirs performed to a very high standard but unfortunately it wasn't enough to bring home the silverware this year.
We were delighted, however, to find out that the school orchestra received the award for the best instrumental ensemble of the festival, and Erin Ashe was awarded best overall vocal performance of the festival with a bursary of £50. This is an amazing achievement, and we are very proud of you all. Well done!!
Finally, we would like to thank all of those who volunteered during the week, the festival committee and particularly Anne Purdy for organising the event and her wonderful accompanying skills. The festival is a great opportunity for our children to showcase their talents and get valuable feedback from the adjudicator.
Please find below our Weekly Communication Bulletin for Parents and Carers, and other important information, which has been sent out to you via Sims App.
On Friday, the Mathematics department recognised Pi Day as another opportunity to blend learning and a little bit of fun. It is celebrated across the world on March 14th (3/14 – American Notation) and honours the mathematical constant π (pi), which is approximately 3.14. This gives a little appreciation to the importance of pi in mathematics and everyday life as well as an excuse for some sweet treats!
