HIGHLIGHTSHIGHLIGHTS

News from Belfast High School

Issue 40

Nov 2016

Prize Distribution

Prize Distribution was held on Tuesday 25 October in the University of

Ulster. The Guest of Honour was Professor Richard Wilson, a former

pupil and Professor in Cancer Medicine at the Centre for Cancer Research

and Cell Biology, Queen’s University Belfast. Professor Wilson is pictured

with Mrs Gormley (Principal), Mrs Weir (Acting Principal), Aimée Moore

(Head Girl) and Zack McConkey (Head Boy). See inside for photographs

of Special Prize winners.

Dates for your diary

Thursday 24 November

Year 9 Parent/Teacher Meetings

Monday 28 November

Year 12 Parent/Teacher Meetings

w/c Monday 5 December

School Exams

Wed 14 - Sat 17 December

German Markets Trip

Wed 14 - Friday 16 November

Year 13 Work Experience

Monday 19 December

School Carol Service

Tuesday 20 December

Year 8 Christmas Party

Wednesday 4 January

School Development Day

Thursday 5 January

CCEA Top Candidates Congratulations to Lucy Dawson

who was placed 1st in NI in GCSE

Business Studies and to Lucy

Millar who was placed 1st in NI

in GCSE Child Development.

Congratulations also go to Andrew

Barkley, of last year’s U6, who was

placed 1st in NI in A Level

Geography.

Schools’ Cup

Congratulations to the 1st XI on their first round Schools' Cup win on 10

November against Ballymena Academy. Despite 2 goals in the first half

from Ellie McCartney (8 mins) and Charlotte McCartney (30 mins) the

match finished 2-2 and went to penalty strokes which BHS won 4-2 (Ellie

McCartney, Kate McFarland, Annabel McGrath and Amy Logan). Second

round match will be against Rainey (away).

School Production

Congratulations to everyone involved in our school production

of Elf Jr which took place on Wednesday 16, Thursday 17 and

Friday 18 November 2016. All performances were very well

supported and everyone thoroughly enjoyed the show.

European Mock Council Three pupils from the school's Current

Affairs and Debating Society recently

took part in the European Mock Council.

Scott Mulholland, David Lam and Conor

Stevenson represented Croatia in 2 mock

debates which were held in the Senate

Chamber in Parliament Buildings

on 14 October. The boys (bottom right

of photo) showed an impressive level of

confidence as they held their own

against 26 other schools in discussions

about the Transatlantic Trade and

Investment Partnership and the fallout

of Britain's decision to leave the EU. The

event was run by the British Council.

Sailing Success The Royal Yachting Association held

the NI Youth Championship sailing

event at Strangford Lough Yacht Club

last weekend. Despite very challenging

weather conditions 160 sailors took to

the water. A team consisting of five

Year 8, 9 and 10 pupils from BHS

finished in 3rd place, closely behind

Larne GS and MCB. Congratulations

to Amy Armstrong, Daniel Corbett,

James Corbett, Michael Rock and

Hannah Tilson.

Sentinus IT Bursary

Congratulations to Year 14 pupils Stella Reynolds,

Ross Boyd and Owen Edwards who were selected

to participate in a Sentinus IT Bursary Scheme

which included a 4-week computer science research

placement at Ulster University during the summer.

The placement included virtual experimentation and

modelling of physics experiments (namely electronics,

optics, and astronomy) with an environment developed

in Python. The research was presented at Queen's

University Belfast on Tuesday 25 October for the

Crest Gold Award.

First Aid Commendation Award

Congratulations to Year 10 pupil Alex Todd who has been

honoured for saving his dad’s life. When a portion of fruit

became trapped in his father’s airway, Alex leapt to the

rescue, putting into practice some of the First Aid he had learnt

with the Whitehead Detachment Army Cadet Force. Dad, who

felt that he was on the verge of collapse when Alex intervened,

is both grateful and amazed at the clear-headed actions of his son

and understandably proud that his courage has now been publicly

recognised with a prestigious First Aid Commendation.

Colonel David Kane, Commandant of the 1st NI Battalion Army

Cadet Force, pictured presenting that certificate to Alex, is

delighted that ACF training has proved a life-saver. He said, “All

our Cadets learn basic First Aid and it is a popular and rewarding

element of our curriculum. Thankfully, Cadets are very rarely

called upon to put that knowledge into practice in a real life

situation but it is great to know that, should an emergency

situation arise, they have the knowledge and the presence of

mind to intervene until help arrives. Alex showed tremendous

character as well as skill as he helped his father in a fast-

escalating and dangerous scenario. His capacity to stay cool and

recall everything that he had learnt in Cadets is admirable and

we’re all very proud of him.”

Irish Football Association Squad Selection

Congratulations to Year 8 pupil Bryce Gray on his selection for the

Northern Ireland U12 development squad to play in the Mayo Cup

Emerging Talent Football Tournament in October.

UK Youth Parliament

Year 11 pupil Josh Scott, the UK Youth Parliament East Antrim representative, travelled to London on 11

November for the UKYP annual sitting in Westminster. The group observed 2 minutes silence as an act of

remembrance on Armistice Day before 5 hours of debating began in the House of Commons. The devolved

issue selected to campaign on was ‘A Curriculum to Prepare Us for Life ‘and the national campaign selected

was ‘Votes at 16’. Josh voted for both of these and campaigning shall begin soon.

Congratulations to our Year 14 Biology

Debating Team (Liam Phillips, Tristan

Cuthbert, Aimée Moore, Sam Courtney and

Carl Mullet) who defeated Dromore HS in the

semi-final of the Belfast Health & Social Care

Trust Student Health Debate. At the final, to

be held at Stormont on 29 November, the team

will be opposing the motion ‘It is time to stop

screening for breast cancer.’

Debating News

Congratulations to Year 13 and 14 pupils Fergus Wright,

Meghan Reid, Yana Ford and Ross Gallaugher who were

invited to participate in the inaugural Women’s Aid

ABCLN Debate against Ballymena Academy. The de-

bate, held at the Braid Centre, Ballymena, was to raise

awareness of domestic violence and abuse.

Year 8 Form Captains

Congratulations to our newly elected Year 8

Form Captains:

8P Alex McCalmont, Leah Browne and

Adam Bennett

8Q Emily McConway and Declan McAuley

8R Naomi Higginson and Kyle Leighton

8S Erin Bennett, Lara Brines and

Emily Loughrey

8T Annie Lyness and Lee Walker

Year 9 Form Captains

Congratulations to our newly elected Year 9

Form Captains:

9P Katharine McMurray

9Q Katie Lunn and Saul McCoubrey

9R Jenna Elliott and Benjamin Kayes

9S Ruth Morrow and Oliver Watson

9T Jana McQuillan and Stuart Johnson

School Council

Following election day on Wednesday 19 October,

our School Council for 2016-17 has been elected:

Chairmen: Sam Courtney and David Wilson

Year 8: Vanessa McAlister and Lee Walker

Year 9: Aimee Cobain and Cameron McIlwee

Year 10: Anna Gordon and Ross Johnston

Year 11: Reuben Bolton and Josh Scott

Year 12: Katie McClean and Ethan McConkey

Year 13: James Brown and Dakota Reid Bamford

Year 14: Ross Boyd, Oliver Bruce, Jack Close,

Jack McKaig, Scott Mulholland and

Liam Phillips

Prize Distribution 2016

Congratulations to all our Special Prize winners for the academic year 2015-16. A full prize list is available

on the school website.

Harry Adair Cup

Tom Rafferty Ronald Brown Award

Elen Taggart

Christie Cup

Katie Kirkpatrick J Devine and Kirkwood Prizes

Andrew Beattie

Netball News

Belfast High School is well

represented at NEELB U19

level with 8 girls selected

for the squad of 22 - Hannah

Craig, Yana Ford, Emma

Haley, Amy MacIntyre,

Megan O'Rourke, Sacha

Perry, Selin Tezcan and

Eva Zacharopoulou.

Road Safety Bus The Translink Road Safety Bus

visited the school on Monday 24

October for all Year 8 pupils. The

visit highlighted safety issues

associated with the use of public

transport. Using a range of videos

and education packs, the safety

officers brought issues such as

vandalism and its effects to life.

Ferris Cup

Tristan Cuthbert Jonathan Fisher Cup

Alex Barnes

Hamill Cup

Ciaran Barnes Dr Harte Latin Prize

Darcey Wilson

Kennedy HE Prize

Lucy Millar Lindsay Prize

Dakota Reid Bamford Malcomson Prize

Gemma Martin

Becky McKay Cup

Charys O’Rourke

McNie Music Shield

Megan O’Rourke McCormick Cup

Emma Haley

Audrey Murray Trophy

Patrick Stocker Musgrave String Cup

Erin Peel

N’Abbey Arts Cup

Holly Topping Patterson Cup

Jamie Kirk

Donaghadee Bowl

Form 8S

Emma Hanna

Charlotte Lock

Governor’s Trophy

Extreme Physics Team

Thorpe Music Shield

Amy Cosgrove Third Year Cup

Rose Dykes Shield of Merit

Niamh Wait

Wilson Shield

Talula Reid Bamford Liz Young Cup

Rachel Topping Louise Logan Cup

Laura Johnson Victor Lyness Cup

Andrew Huey

Rugby News

Our U13s hosted a team from Trent College, Nottingham at the end

of October. Both teams played well but BHS finished strongly and won

the match 25-15. Try scorers were Daniel Clarke (2), Jack Norton (2)

and Kody Teeney-McClintock. BHS team captains Stuart Johnson and

Cameron Bamford accepted a plaque from Trent Captain Billy

Ickeringill. Also pictured is MOTM Jack Norton.