Pictured above is Mr John D’Arcy, Director of Open University Ireland, presenting a Kindle Fire to Year 13 student Olivia O’Hanlon. Also pictured is Principal Mr Oliver Mooney and Vice-principal Mrs Una McNulty. 

The Open University is a regular exhibitor at the UCAS fair, which attracts around 300 schools, colleges, recruiters and gap year companies year for those thinking about what and where to study in higher education. School leavers have the opportunity to meet representatives from universities and colleges in order to find out more about the courses and options available to them.
This year, Upper and Lower 6th pupils from schools across Northern Ireland were invited to participate in a competition to win a Kindle Fire, by correctly answering a series of questions about The Open University.

Olivia was the lucky winner in the competition which received 142 entries. John D’Arcy, Director of the OU in Ireland visited St Paul’s on 15 April to present Olivia with her prize and to meet Principal Mr Oliver Mooney and Mrs Una McNulty, Vice Principal for Standards.

Mr D’Arcy said “We are delighted to award this prize today. Young people aged 16- 21 now form around 8% of our student body here in Northern Ireland, as our flexible, part-time approach is attractive to school leavers as they have the option to work and study at the same time.

Also, for individuals from areas outside the urban centres of Northern Ireland, who may find travel to a conventional campus-based university difficult, the OU’s flexible distance learning approach is also very attractive. The OU model means that people can study where and when they like, via online tutorials and through mobile devices on the move.”

Olivia said: “I am really happy to have won this prize. It was fantastic to learn more about The Open University as a possible study option when I leave school.”

Mr Oliver Mooney, Principal of St Paul’s, said that he was delighted to see how the OU has developed and commented on its great versatility for students of all ages who wish to study to degree level and beyond. He also invited Mr D’Arcy back to St Paul’s to talk to staff about further professional study opportunities available through the OU. Mr Mooney said, “New technology has shrunk the distance in distance learning so that relevant courses are literally at our fingertips.”

Pictured above are the winners of the Art and Design poster competition.

Year 10 Art and Design students have helped to launch Careers Week in St Paul’s. The pupils designed posters to promote the importance of seeking advice and guidance when making their GCSE subject choices. In addition, posters highlighted a wide range of possible future career areas.

First place: Niamh O’Hagan 10/65

Second place: Emily Ward 10/82

Third place: Jessica Ennis 10/82

Highly Commended: Patrick O’Reilly 10/47

Pictured above is Niamh O’Hagan, who came first in the Art and Design Poster Competition, being congratulated by Mrs Siobhan Kearney, Head of Careers Department at St Paul’s.

Pictured above is Emily Ward, who came second in the Art and Design Poster Competition, being congratulated by Mrs Siobhan Kearney, Head of Careers Department at St Paul’s.

Pictured above is Jessica Ennis, who came third in the Art and Design Poster Competition, being congratulated by Mrs Siobhan Kearney, Head of Careers Department at St Paul’s.

Judges Comments:

1st: This poster used a highly creative approach to the compositional arrangement.
There was a good balance of colour and was visually interesting.

2nd: A very close contender for first place. A hair splitting decision. An excellent example of the integration of text and imagery to result in an excellent poster design.

3rd: Using I.C.T as the medium for this poster design, resulted in an eye catching poster design that conveyed it’s message easily to the viewer. It was successful in targeting it’s intended audience.

Highly Commended: From the many ICT posters entered for the competition this one focused on a specialist career. This was one of only a few to focus on the more specialist crafts.

To celebrate World Book Day on Thursday 7th March and St Paul’s wonderful sporting achievements to date, the library is running a ‘Sporting Heroes Art Competition’.

All you have to do is draw a picture of your favourite sporting hero and add a catchy slogan encouraging pupils to read or visit the library.

Year 8 – Design a bookmark

Year 9 – Design a book cover

Year 10 - Design a poster

All entries must be given to Mrs Morgan and prizes will be given to 1st, 2nd and 3rd in each year group category.

Closing date is Friday 8th March.

So why not give it a go and all the entries will form a colourful display in the pupil foyer before Easter!

Pictured above is Principal Mr Oliver Mooney, Occupational Studies C0-ordinators Mr Mc Avoy and Mr Canavan, along with pupils Ciaran Ward, Gavin Coogan and Michael Morgan, Patrick Savage, Jamie Mc Donnell and John Paul Hanna.

The pupils above were successful in the recent National Skills ‘Build competition’ that was held in the Portadown Southern Regional College recently.

Six pupils travelled down to the competition and St Paul’s came away with a first place, two second places and a third place. Congratulations to Patrick Savage (11/84) who came first in the Painting and Decorating section and to John Paul Hanna (11/86) who came second in the same competition. Further congratulations to Michael Morgan (11/98) who came second in the tiling section and to Gavin Coogan (12/24) who came third in the electrical section. Hard luck to Ciaran Ward (11/84) and Jamie Mc Donell (11/86) who participated in plumbing and bricklaying respectively. They gave a great account of themselves and just narrowly missed out on prizes.

Pictured above are Year 14 pupils Maeve Morgan and Shane Fegan, who won the International Projects fundraiser ’St Paul’s has got Talent’.

The staff and students of St Paul’s performed to a packed house in aid of St Paul’s International Projects. A capacity crowd were entertained by students and staff who danced, sang, drummed, strummed, recited and whistled their way through the night. All year groups were represented among the acts and the audience added to the success of the night through their encouragement and responses.

In true reality television style the audience were involved in the selection process through filling in a voting slip, with votes being tallied by the organising committee. The top three acts were announced to the crowd – solo singer Sarah Kilgallon (Year 8), Irish Dancers Ronan Magennis (Year 9), Anna McCann, Aine Malone (Year 10) & Ruairi McCann (Year 11) and guitarist & singing duo Shane Fegan & Maeve Morgan (Year 14). The judging panel, consisting of Paddy McEvoy, Maria Wilson, Marion McNamee, Catherine Hughes & Julie Simpson, then decided the overall winning act – with Shane Fegan & Maeve Morgan being announced the overall winners. It was very fitting that these two won the show as both travelled to Romania last year and did excellent work while there. Mr Burns, MC for the night, handed over the trophy and cash prize of £100 to the winning act.

However, this talent show was one with a difference! As usual, St Paul’s goes one step further and not only was the talent of official acts showcased on the night. Year 14 students treated the audience to a surprise flash mob and nobody expected them to jump up from their seats in the crowd to Nathan Carter and then take to the stage with carefully selected songs from Evolution of Dance. This fantastic contribution to the night was enjoyed by all present and serves as evidence of the type of student that St Paul’s produces.

In keeping with surprise acts, the teacher novelty act went down a storm as they performed on stage to Tina Turner and Gangham Style. The entire audience responded as the teachers took to the floor and danced their way down through the hall.

The final aspect of the ‘talent show with a difference’ was the contribution of Kevin Kearney who did a brilliant Elvis routine and got the crowd on their feet, out of their seats and on to the stage to jive the evening to a close.

This event was very successful in creating a great evening’s entertainment for the St Paul’s community and also raising funds for needy places that will be visited when the St Paul’s teams begin their visits next week. A total of £2,851.80 was raised through this event, all of which will go directly to the orphanages, schools, clinics, hospitals etc that the staff and teachers will have the privilege of visiting.

The organising committee would like to sincerely thank all those who contributed to the event in any way, staff and students. Special thanks also goes to Marty McCone who looked after sound on the night, past pupils who sponsored prizes and Dan Gregory’s who donated the tuck shop for the night.

Videos of the Acts performing.

Year 14 Flashmob

Staff Novelty Act

Act 1

Act 2

Act 3

Act 4

Act 5

Act 6

Act 7

Act 8

Act 9

Act 10

Act 11

Act 12

Act 13

Act 14

Act 15

Reigning Champions

The Acts.

Rooney O’Malley’ dancers, who opened the show as they were the reigning champions.

Photos of the Acts performing.

Pictured above is Principal Mr Oliver Mooney, offering his congratulations to student Emily Shields, who represented An Mullach Bán and won first place in the solo singing competition at the Ulster Scór na nÓg finals that were held in Derry recently. 

Pictured above is Principal Mr Oliver Mooney, offering his congratulations to students Aoibhín McGuinness, Leanne McGuinness, Amy Bannon, Ciara Savage, Aoife Malone and Ciara Murphy, who represented An Chrois Bán and won first place in the Céilí dancing competition at the Ulster Scór na nÓg finals that were held in Derry recently. 

The Senior Prefect team at St Paul’s High School, who co-ordinated the recent Anti-Cyber Bullying Campaign received two hundred and fifty entries from students across junior and senior school. This was an excellent response and evidence of the effectiveness of the campaign in its aim to improve awareness about the negative impact that cyber bulling has on young people.

The winners received cinema and iTunes vouchers, with the highly commended entrants receiving well deserved selection boxes. The entries ranged from the setting up of a website, to video recorded scenes, to posters and poems. Mrs Fearon, Head of Year 14, praised all the students in their efforts in contributing to the competition and hopes that they enter again in November 2013.

Pictured above, are winners from the Anti-Cyber Bullying Competition, being presented with their prizes by Head Girl, Afreen Ahmed and Senior Prefect, Michelle Morgan.

 Pictured above, are winners from the Anti-Cyber Bullying Competition, being presented with their prizes by Head Girl, Afreen Ahmed and Senior Prefect, Michelle Morgan.

Pictured above, are students who were highly commended in the Anti-Cyber Bullying Competition, being presented with their prizes by Head of Year 14, Ms Christine Fearon.

Pictured, are students who were highly commended in the Anti-Cyber Bullying Competition, being presented with their prizes by Head of Year 14, Ms Christine Fearon.

Pictured, are students who were highly commended in the Anti-Cyber Bullying Competition, being presented with their prizes by Head Girl Afreen Ahmed and Senior Prefect, Michelle Morgan.

See below for the winners and highly commended:

Winners:

Mairead Campbell, Roisin Campbell and Megan Tavey 08/91 – 3D Poster

Amy Thorne, Katie O’Hare, Aoife Millar and Natasha McCann 08/27 – Video recorded scene

Chloe Prigent 11/84 – Poem

Anita Dennison 12/59 – Set up website

Highly Commended:

Cliodhna Tierney, Lauren McDonald and Maureen Byrne 08/91 – Group poster

Sarah Kilgallon, Aislinn McParland, Maeve McShane and Eimear O’Brien 08/27 – Video recorded scene

Gareth O’Connor, Shea Trainor 08/91 – Poster

Cathal Martin 08/70 – Poster

Rose Duffy 09/38 – Poem

Aoife McCabe 11/84 – Poster

Kieran Craven 10/92 – Poster

Orlaith Donegan 09/38 – Poster

Pictured above are St Paul’s students, pictured alongside joint winner Sabrina Reel, who were presented with an Excellence in Volunteering Community Service Award at the Southern Health Trust Awards Ceremony. Also in the picture is the Health Minister Mr Edwin Poots, and Chairperson of the Southern Health and Social Care Trust, Ms Roberta Brownlee.

The 12 students have completed over one thousand volunteering hours between them, which is a fantastic achievement. Well done to all involved.

The girls involved in the award are: Orlagh Feehan, Catherine McElvanna, Andrea Shannon, Emma Hetherington, Dara Quinn, Sabrina Zerai, Emer O’Reilly, Natasha McCabe, Rachel Kane, Cliodhna Treanor, Catriona Gallogly and Marie Claire Crilly

 Pictured above is the St Paul’s team that represented Year 8. Katie Burns, Sarah Kilgallon, Fionntan Evans and Mairead Campbell are pictured with Kids Lit Quiz Master, Wayne Mills.

Twenty one schools participated in the Kids Lit Quiz in Belfast this year with the quiz master again being Wayne Mills, who comes from New Zealand every year to host the quiz at Wellington College.

The format of the quiz meant that there were one hundred questions asked, with them being split into ten rounds with ten questions asked per round. The questions were based on children’s literature.

This year St Paul’s had two teams entered, one team represented Year 8 and another represented Year 9.

The students that represented Year 8 were Mairead Campbell, Katie Burns, Sarah Kilgallon and Fionntan Evans and the students that represented Year 9 were Amy O’Hanlon, Aimee McAllister, Jay Murphy and Niall Campbell. The teams were accompanied by the school librarian Mrs Morgan and and English teachers Miss McClinton and Mrs Campbell.

This year the winners were Methody College Belfast and they now go on to represent Northern Ireland in the UK finals in Coventry. The winners from the UK final will represent the UK in the world final in Durban, South Africa.

St Paul’s did happen to pick up an award as Amy O’Hanlon’s inspired Hunger Games idea ‘Katniss Everdeen‘ meant the teams went on to collect the BEST MASCOT award.

  Pictured above is the St Paul’s team that represented Year 9. Amy O’Hanlon, Aimee McAllister, Jay Murphy and Niall Campbell.

Pictured above is Year 9 pupil Amy O’Hanlon, who picked up the BEST MASCOT award for her inspired Hunger Games idea ‘Katniss Everdeen’.

Pictured above is staff members Mrs Campbell and Miss McClinton, along with a member of staff from another school. 

Pictured above are students who were successful in the Newry and Mourne Environmental Calender poster Competition. Also in the Picture is Vice Principal Mr Jarlath Burns and Art teachers Mr Brendan McArdle and Miss Leanne O’Reilly.

Year 9 pupil Dearbhail McCullough was a winner in the competition and she received her poster returned to her framed, along with a £50 voucher for Eason’s.

Students, Daniela Janikova and Aisling O’Brien in Year 10 and Chea McArdle in Year 8 received certificates for their work being highly commended.

Well Done!