Five Chile Visitors

This week came the return visit from Chile. You may remember that Kevin went off on a study visit to Chile in the Autumn term, and this week the principals of the schools he visited there came to visit us at Shimna. So that the principals would have the same range of overview, our fellow Specialist Schools Grosvenor Grammar School, Belfast High School and the Model School, Belfast along with fellow Integrated school, Lagan College, all hosted a visit from the group. The principals also mysterously disappeared into Kevin's house on Tuesday to shout at the television! I wasn't invited! A climb up to Dundrum Castle and a swift constitutional along the promenade helped work up their appetite for a meal at Seasalt. Thursday sees them heading back half way across the world. An added bonus is that Sophie, our French tutor, was able to make contacts to help her find a placement for a year abroad next year as part of her languages degree at Queens.

The President Visits

We had a great afternoon. The sun shone and everybody pulled together to create a lovely event. The Board of Governors did the welcoming, Ivor Anderson did the MCing, Matt McComish and Chris Law posed the questions. Clare Gould expressed our appreciation in English and Rachel Robinson in Irish. Kevin introduced the President, and the President did everything else. The Languages Committee provided the tea and buns, Valerie and Joan wore their new uniforms, Gervaise and the President remembered old times. Robbie and the President remembered old places. The rugby players from the careers event called down as did a number of our languages students. Lots of other people contributed in so many ways, and Danella managed us all. clare Murphy managed the links with the careers event and took the photos. Year 8 and 9 had the hardest job, staying patient waiting to wave. Our flower arrangements were amazing. So many people stepped in to do extra supervision, extra cleaning, extra helping each other with uniform, extra chair carrying about and dear knows what all else. There was lots of interesting discussion during the day about nationality, culture, sectarianism, respect for the views of others and the energetic challenge presented to an integrated college by a Head of State. Everyone was delighted that the President tuned in so completely to the message on our boulder. She obviously feels that she has pushed a few boulders up a few hills!