Please see a letter from the Acting Principal in regards to adverse weather conditions.

What an amazing day full of outstanding performances!  Today it was the turn of our brass and vocal students. Hollie Hamilton started the day off with a great performance which gained her 3rd place in her class. This was followed by Erin Ashe who was awarded 2nd in the 15-16 brass solo and the brass ensemble who gained 1st place. Amazing results and we are proud of everyone who took part. 

In the vocal classes Lucy Bingham was awarded 1st place in the under 11 solo. In the 15-16 vocal solo Abigail Pye and Daniel Campbell gained 3rd place and Eva Campbell was award 2nd place. In the final class of the day Chloe Gilmore was given 3rd place and Jack Metcalfe was awarded 1st place and overall best vocalist of the day for a stunning performance of Ständchen. 

The overall standard of the performances today was outstanding, and we are so proud of everyone who took part. Well done everyone!

Another excellent day at Ballyclare Music Festival. Jayden started things off for us today in the Under 11 piano solo class and got a well-deserved 2nd place. Then in the under 16 piano solo class we were well represented by Elspeth Purdy, Ruby Cartwright, Eloise McCormick and Lauren Ferguson. They all gave great performances and well done to Ruby who came 3rd and Lauren who gained 1st place. Finally, Hannah Gillespie performed in the under 18 class against stiff competition and was awarded 2nd place. We are very proud of everyone's performances. Well done!

At the end of this morning’s Year 9 and 10 assembly, Mr Nicholl recognised and celebrated the achievement(s) of our Year 10 football team in their recent victory. The boys were invited up onto stage for a raucous round of applause.

The U18 hockey squad had a surprise pizza party this afternoon for Janey (Year 14) and Leah Morrison (Year 12). After eating a lot of delicious pizza and cookies, they played a match and did some shooting challenges.

Both Janey and Leah have represented Ballyclare Secondary on the hockey pitch since Year 8. They will be missed by their teammates and coach Ms O. Good luck for next year girls.

On Friday our U14 Hockey Team were presented with their NEBSSA tournament gold medals. Well done again, girls.

Today our pupils attended the first day of the Ballyclare Music Festival and we are really proud of those taking part. Great performances all round with Jayden and Oliver taking joint 2nd place.

Massive congratulations to all pupils involved in the East Antrim Schools Cup Finals’ Day on Friday. A special congratulations to our Year 10 and Year 12 teams who were successful in winning both of their matches against Boys Model. The year 10's final score being 3-0 whilst the year 12's 8-0.

On Friday we held a special assembly to say thank you to Sam Hagan who is a past pupil of our school. He joined Ballyclare Secondary School in 1965....58 years ago. Sam has happy memories of his school days, in fact he is quoted as saying, “I loved school”. His favourite subject was mathematics. Sam has been a successful businessman for many years, as Company Director of Hagan Leisure Homes.

We are very privileged that Sam has continued to be a great supporter of the school over the years and one of the things he has done for our school this year is to sponsor our U14 rugby shirts. He was accompanied by Jeffrey Ferris, a fellow past pupil.

Some information on the season for the team.....

Ballyclare started their season with the Ulster High Schools’ Sevens Blitz hosted at Ballyclare Rugby Club. Ballyclare defeated Carrick Academy and Ashfield HS but lost to Sperrin Integrated.

Ballyclare Secondary then started their U14 High Schools’ Shield group fixtures against Carrick Academy at home and won.

We then travelled to Ballymoney High School and lost to a late try 21-19 in another excellent match.

Ballyclare played Sperrin Integrated in their final group match needing to win to progress to the Quarter Finals and played exceptionally well to win 41-0.

Ballyclare progressed to the Quarter Finals of the top competition, the U14 High Schools’ Shield, to face a difficult away trip to Drumglass High School, Dungannon. Ballyclare were losing 14-10 at half-time but produced an excellent second half performance to win 41-19.

Just this week Ballyclare then drew Lurgan Junior High School, who have won the competition quite a number of times, in the semi-final. The game was a very tightly contested affair with Ballyclare scoring first. Lurgan replied with a try just before half time to make it 5-5 at the break. Both sides made efforts to get the crucial second score but both defenses held firm. The game ended 5-5 with Ballyclare Secondary progressing to the final by scoring the first try. Well done to both sides in a terrific game, but in particular well done to our team, I am exceptionally proud. Ballyclare Secondary will meet Ballymoney HS in the final on Tuesday 14th March at Meadowbank Arena, Magherafelt.