Cyprus Integrates

We had two very interesting visitors from Cyprus, Yiannis Georgiou, Head of English, and Karen Mason, Deputy Head. Borders are coming down in Cyprus and our visitoring teachers from a Greek Cypriot school are looking at ways to integrate the Turkish Cypriot students who are now choosing the school. They came to learn about integration from us, and we certainly learnt from the situations they shared with us. They travelled on to conference at Queens University, looking at integration in interface situations. We look forward to hearing about their progress.

International Report to BoG

To round off our international work experience this year, Niamh Lindsay, Rachel Cleary and Clare Murphy reported back to our Board of Governors on two of our trips: Niamh reported on the trip to Antonio Machado College in Soria, Spain; Rachel Cleary reported on the exchange with the Lycee Amiral Ronarc'h in Brest in Brittany, France. Clare gave an account of how she and French teacher Janet Moffett have built up the relationships and arrangements which made both of these trips such a success and so important for the future.

Lessons from Auschwitz

Rachel and Bronagh have returned, not to say recovered, from their day visit to Auschwitz. Bronagh has also been to the follow-up meeting, and both students have formulated plans for their portfolio, which will be accredited by the University of Hull. The two students plan: a minisite for the college website; an assembly for September to launch the 'Lessons' to our new students; lessons which they will lead with the incoming year 8s, focusing on anti-bullying and diversity as well as ensuring that our new students know what happened at Auschwitz; a display of the younger students' work, either in college or possibly in Newcastle Library. Lessons from Auschwitz offered an opportunity which was exciting and chilling all at once, and the girls hope to use their experience to make a real contribution.

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!

St Patrick's Week

St Patrick's week has been a great and versatile success. Year 8 galumphed around their ceili, year 10 quizzed and year 9 hunted treasure. Year 13 screened Irish short films, and there were buns for sale at break in the Irish room. The buns were advertised in Irish, so monoglots got none! The third in our series of film nights featured the Irish language, all organised by the 6th form languages committee. The Poc Fada takes place on Friday, and our money's on Alicia.

and Robbie Keenan managed to turn out for the staff soccer team as well.

Against Guantanamo

Shimna Students Lead the Protest Against Guantanamo

Five students, Oliver Elsholtz, Claire Gould, Daniel Quinn, Riona Mageean and Peter McEvoy, representing the Shimna Integrated College branch led the Amnesty International protest marking the sixth anniversary of US detentions at Guantanamo Bay. The Belfast protest was part of a world wide demonstration campaigning to close the US run prison camp. 1000 parliamentarians, including 33 from the Northern Ireland Assembly, have signed a petition calling on the US to shut the prison camp and to stop secret detention; this petition was presented to all members on the US congress on Friday 11th January. The Shimna students led dozens of Amnesty activists, all dressed as Guantanamo inmates in orange boiler suits and face masks, together with ‘US camp guards’ who shouted orders to the ‘detainees’ and forced them to assume stress positions used at Guantanamo Bay. Principal Kevin Lambe said, “ Our branch of Amnesty International is run by students themselves, and holds a very special place within the ethos of our college. I am very proud of the students who have played a lead role in a well organised demonstration on an issue about which they feel very strongly.”