Aquinas Grammar

Changing of the Guard!

ELeneghan — Fri, 18 May 2012 15:03:26 +0000

This afternoon, the Head Boy, Head Girl and their Deputies for 2011-12 handed over their badges and titles to the incumbent Head Boy, Head Girl, deputies and senior prefects of 2012-13.

This ceremony was performed in front of all Year 8s, 9s, 10s and 11s, teachers and classroom assistants. Fr Grant led the audience in prayer and Mr Kelly followed up by giving praise and thanks to last year’s senior pupils for the good example they gave to the rest of the school. The outgoing Head Boy and Head Girl gave a short speech of thanks and these in turn were followed by speeches from the newly appointed head students.

Presentations were given to the Year 14s in recognition of their role as student leaders.

The team for 2012-2013 comprises:

Head Boy		Tomas Flanigan
Deputy Head Boy		Edward Bergin
Deputy Head Boy		Justin Gilmore

Head Girl		Helen Morgan
Deputy Head Girl		Aisling Kelly
Deputy Head Girl		Patricia Magee

Senior Prefects:
		Aideen Murphy
		Arun Murtagh
		Ben McDaid
		Caoimhe McCarthy
		Clare McCrudden
		Connor Dunlop
		Gregory Woods
		James MacSorley
		Joni Gallagher

Leavers’ Mass – farewell and good luck to the Class of 2012

ELeneghan — Thu, 17 May 2012 22:39:48 +0000

The evening of Thursday 10 May saw the celebration of the Thanksgiving Mass for the Year 14s of 2011-12. All students and their parents took a full role in the Mass celebrated by Fr Grant. Senan Magennis’s parents recited the Parents’ Blessing together which was very poignant given that Senan is the last in a long line of Magennis children to have attended Aquinas over the years. The choir and musicians were ably conducted by Year 14 music student, Tiarna Devlin with Patrick Lynch on piano and Catherine O’Neill and Naomi Morris on violin. The Psalm was sung beautifully by Tiarna.

Fr Grant gave a thought-provoking sermon recounting days past with particularly fond memories of the Year group’s Year 8 Mass, seven years ago. Father Colin also reminded the students of the harshness of the materialistic world they were about to enter and the importance of living their lives according to the values of the Gospel.

At the Offertory, each of the Year 14 classes brought their gifts to the altar and their respective tutors explained the significance of the gifts to the congregation. The Mass also saw some of our Year 14 students serving as Eucharistic Ministers during Communion. These students were only recently instituted into the ministry by Bishop Treanor some days earlier.

After Mass, the audience was treated to a Presentation of photographs showing the students as they made their way through all aspects of their seven years at Aquinas. This never fails to raise a laugh!

Finally, the Principal, Mr Kelly made a speech emphasising his genuine fondness for the Year Group. Having taught in a number of schools, Mr Kelly mentioned how impressed he has been by the Year 14s in terms of their care for each other and the good example they have given to other pupils. Mr Kelly also praised and thanked the retiring teachers in the room, Mrs Dolan, Mr McNeill and Mr Devlin (not to mention the retiring non teaching staff, Helen, Anne and Nuala) for all the hard work and dedication they have given the school over the last 18 years.

The evening ended with the Head Boy, Patrick Short and Head Girl, Rebecca Goldsmith, expressing their thanks to the school and their fellow peers for all the mutual support received. Gifts were given in appreciation particularly to Mrs McCool the Year Head, Mrs Dolan, Head of School and Mr Kelly.

Afterwards, everyone enjoyed refreshments in the Mall.

Last time as parents in Aquinas, The Toolan family with son Kevin and Fr Grant

Aquinas Fashion Show

M Feron — Thu, 17 May 2012 09:36:11 +0000

Click image for more details.

Careers Insight Day

jduffy383 — Thu, 17 May 2012 09:21:18 +0000

With the introduction of the Entitlement Framework, it has become apparent that our young people will have to develop their decision-making skills in a careers context earlier in their academic lives. The rationale behind the Aquinas Careers Insight Day was to expose our pupils to a range of employment opportunities and give them the chance to discuss their choices with employers in advance of making decisions about GCSE and Post 16 study. All of our Year 10 and 12 pupils participated in the event and 21 employers delivered a series of interactive workshops. These workshops were designed to provide information on the skills, qualities, progression routes and entrance requirements relevant for particular employment sectors.

Among the organisations which contributed to the day were: Bombardier Aerospace, CAFRE Food Technology, CAFRE Horticulture and Agriculture, Bronagh Griffin of Nineteenthirty Fashion and Textiles, Department of Employment and Learning, The Institute of Civil Engineers , Kainos, Languages and politics, Music technology/sonic arts (QUB), N.I Fire and Rescue Service, NIBEC (The Nanotechnology and Integrated BioEngineering Centre), Northern Ireland Screen, Nursing and Midwifery (QUB) , Physiotherapy (UUJ) , Price Waterhouse Coopers, Sangers, The School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences at QUB, and Warner Chilcott.

We would like to extend our thanks to our local employers for the time and effort they invested in making this event such a great success.

Aquinas netball champions

M Feron — Wed, 16 May 2012 19:34:49 +0000

On Monday 14^thMay 2012, the Year 9 Aquinas netballers were crowned champions of the Rockport Invitational Netball Tournament, winning the Lady Sinclair Inter Schools Cup. Well done to Aoife Murnaghan (Captain), Anna Foster, Ellen O’Neill, Maya McCathie, Rebecca McKegney, Orla Watt, Doireann Sheridan, Moya Kilgallen and Eve Maguire.

Aquinas STEM Young Engineers

M Feron — Fri, 11 May 2012 11:09:36 +0000

The pictures show the Aquinas group of pupils who attended the Design, Build and Fly competition run by Bombardier. The competition took place on Wednesday 9^th may 2012 in W5 Belfast with pupils from around Northern Ireland. The Aquinas group consisted of 6 teams of 2 pupils each with Medb Wills and Nandhilha Ponsailapathy winning 2^nd place overall in Key Stage 3 section. Well done to all the pupils for their hard work and dedication over the past number of months.

Aquinas pupils raise £18,454 for Uganda

M Feron — Thu, 10 May 2012 10:40:58 +0000

This year Aquinas Grammar School’s Trócaire Campaign took a ‘Harry Potter’ theme, and saw the school divided up into four houses. They battled it out over 6 weeks to see which house could raise the most amount of money, and win the House Cup. To raise the money they took part in a wide variety of wizarding events, including talent shows, bun sales, quizzes and Easter raffles. Pupils even took to the street on St Patrick’s Day, selling themed badges to excited passers by.

The school are linked with a region inNorthern Ugandacalled Bar Kawach and Daniel the boy who featured on this year’s Trocaire box lives there. A highlight of the campaign saw the school unite and do a sponsored spin to cycle 4,800 miles, the approximate distance to from Aquinas Bar Kawach, Participants were sponsored by friends and family to cycle for 45 minutes and the event ran from 8am to 5 in the afternoon.

The money raised by Aquinas pupils will set up a link with a community inUganda, and the money raised will help them secure a safe and stable future. A representative fromUganda, Flora Aling, spent the afternoon in the school meeting the fundraising prefects and speaking to all pupils in the junior school. She inspired pupils, and teacher alike, to step up and challenge them to raise more money than ever before. Everyone was so proud when the grand total of £18,454 was announced. Aquinas have also been able to double the money under the UKgovernment agreement to match the total £ for £, under their overseas development programme of aid.

Overall, everyone enjoyed this years Trocaire campaign and the hufflepuff house were deemed the overall winners

Study leave and revision classes for Years 11, 12,13 & 14

M Feron — Thu, 10 May 2012 09:56:25 +0000

Permitted study leave for Year 11 students sitting Modular GCSE subjects can be viewed here:

Year 11

Revision classes for Years 12,13 and 14 can be viewed by clicking on the appropriate link below:

Year 12

Year 13

Year 14

Ministers of the Eucharist

M Feron — Tue, 08 May 2012 11:03:10 +0000

Bishop Noel Treanor visited his diocesan college this morning to celebrate Mass and institute 17 of our Sixth Formers as Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist.

Following the Mass, which was attended by their families and friends, Bishop Treanor joined the students for a special breakfast.

UCAS Personal Statements

M Feron — Thu, 03 May 2012 14:11:55 +0000

Our Year 13 pupils were briefed at a special assembly by Careers staff on the structure of UCAS Personal Statements. Pupils are requested to submit a first draft of their personal statement to their Year Head by the 22nd June 2012. A document and power point presentation which provide valuable information on the university application process and the content of personal statements may be accessed through the links below. If any Year 13 pupil or parent requires further information a member of careers staff will be available by appointment through the school office.

YEAR 13 PERSONAL STATEMENT

YEAR 14 HE BOOKLET