Inside this issue Inside this issue: Principal’s 2 Foreword Blast from the 3 Past Integrated Choral 3 Festival Feed Me Seymour! 4 A Celebration of 5 Success Little Shop of Horrors European 6 Blast from the Past Languages Week Science Update 7 Business Studies 8-9 Update Litter Less! 10 Year 12 Work 11 Placements Chaplaincy Corner 12-14 Football Report 15 N.I. Hospice 16 Junior Prize Giving European Languages Week Calendar 16 Business Studies Update Chaplaincy Update LAGAN COLLEGE UPDATE P AGE 2 Principal’s Foreword The Autumn term is underway and we have already experienced some very exciting 30th Anniversary events. Our celebrations started this term with Special Assemblies, attended by a number of original 1981 students. We also welcomed students from seven Integrated Secondary Schools in October, who were involved in Lagan College’s first ever Integrated Choral Singing Festival and there was an excellent turn out of Lagan College families to support our barbeque event. My sincere appreciation goes to the Parents’ Council who have given unstintingly of their time and helped out, not only at this event but also at our recent three-night school drama production evenings of “Little Shop of Horrors”. It has been a busy but exciting start to the academic year. Our new building, rising beside us, offers a beacon of hope for the future. Thank you to all staff, students and parents for managing the significant changes that have taken place on the school site. I hope that all families enjoy a peaceful and relaxing half-term holiday. Mrs A McNamee Principal Nuffield Engineering Bursary Scheme Well done to David McGibbon, Year 14, who achieved a place on the prestigious and competitive Nuffield Engineering Bursary Scheme. David completed his work placement during the summer and gained an insight into the world of engineering, specifically computer programming. LAGAN COLLEGE UPDATE P AGE 3 Blast from the Past! Lagan College kicked off its 30th Anniversary Celebrations in September with a visit from ten of its past pupils from the 1981/1982 year groups. The past pupils were given the opportunity to sit in on Year 8 lessons, have a tour of the College campus and catch up with teachers who had taught them when they were at school. Listening to their stories of life at Lagan College in the 80s highlighted just how far our school has come in the last 30 years and it was great to hear them talk about how going to an integrated school had helped shape their lives. In the 1980s their buses were regularly attacked on the route to school as there was opposition to the idea of children from all denominations being educated under the one roof. It’s a far cry from where we are today, with around 60 Integrated Schools and Colleges in existence in Northern Ireland. The past pupils and their parents really are to be commended, as without their determination and dedication, we may not be celebrating 30 years of Integrated Education this year. Many thanks to all of them for coming to visit us; it really was a delight for our staff and students to have them here. Lagan College Host the Very First Integrated Choral Festival! This was a dream come true for Mrs O Donnelly, Head of Music. She had always wanted to host a non-competitive, collaborative choral festival where the emphasis was on celebration. All the secondary integrated schools were invited; those attending were Blackwater, Hazelwood, Newbridge, Priory, Strangford and Ulidia Integrated Colleges as well as host school, Lagan College. All choirs prepared either one or two songs to sing on their own, after which everyone (233 students in total) performed ‘Why We Sing’ by Greg Gilpin. It was a fabulous, fun day with sensational singing sounds. Friendships were formed and strengthened between staff and students. Thirty-three Newbridge Integrated College students, along with their teacher, former Lagan College teacher Tracy McClean (neé Wilson), and three students from Hazelwood Integrated College, subsequently came to see the school show, Little Shop of Horrors, at Lagan College a few days later. Many thanks to Mrs Donnelly for organising such a special event. LAGAN COLLEGE UPDATE P AGE 4 FEED ME SEYMOUR! In October we held our 30th Anniversary Production, ‘Little Shop Of Horrors’. Many say the Lagan College School Show is one of the most integrated events of our year, bringing together talented students of all ages, backgrounds and abilities to produce a spectacular show. It also brings together staff from many different departments who all work together to produce a fantastic show that is sure to entertain. The show ran for three nights and there was also a matineé performance for students from the local primary schools. Well done to everyone involved it was a thoroughly enjoyable and very entertaining production! Co-Operation Ireland All Ireland Choral Competition Lagan College Choir got through to the Regional Finals of the All Ireland Choral Competition. Unfortunately they were unable to compete as the date conflicted with the opening night of their school production - maybe next year. SEELB Awards For Outstanding Achievement Anna Scott, from Lagan College, was awarded the SEELB Arts Award for her outstanding Achievements in music. She will be receiving her award in November. Congratulations, Anna! LAGAN COLLEGE UPDATE P AGE 5 A Celebration of Success Lagan College celebrated student success at their annual Junior Prize Evening in September, proudly watched by parents, staff, governors and guests. Special Guest of Honour at this year's event was Cecil Linehan, founding member of the All Children Together movement. An array of awards were presented including those for: Excellence in Effort, Academic Achievement, Outstanding Service and Sporting Achievement. Mrs McNamee spoke of achievements and successes throughout the year and the audience listened to Mrs Linehan’s comments and encouraging words. The audience were entertained by the Junior Group and the Junior String Trio before enjoying refreshments at the reception afterwards. LAGAN COLLEGE UPDATE P AGE 6 Diversity Assembly Lagan College’s 30th Birthday Celebrations were kicked off on the 23rd September when we hosted a European Breakfast for invited guests from the European Commission, Belfast City Council, Queens University and Stormont. It was followed by an Assembly on Diversity in the College, also attended by our Year 10s. Many of our students took part and we particularly celebrated the part played in the College by our students who speak languages other than English at home. We planted bulbs to celebrate the small seeds planted 30 years ago when the College opened its doors. There were prayers and readings on the theme of celebrating difference and the video “Diversity Alive”, featuring some of our newcomer students, was shown. This was a really special event, organised by the Modern Languages Department but reflecting the unique ethos of our school. Well done and thanks to all who participated! Miss A Bell Opportunity Europe ‘Opportunity Europe and Beyond’ is organised by Belfast City Council and the European Commission Office in Northern Ireland with the support of the Department for Social Development. In its eighth year, it brings thousands of students to the city to find out more about working, studying, travelling and volunteering abroad. As usual, Lagan College students signed up with great enthusiasm. A group of 30 Year 10s and 8 Year 13s took part in a range of workshops including taster sessions in Polish and Italian, European Volunteering, salsa dancing and performing as a Chinese dragon. There were stalls offering delicious food from all over the world and DJ Pete Snodden from City Beat hosted the quiz. To our delight, the Lagan team was runner up and goody bags were won by its five members. All in all, a great day out that highlighted the importance of Modern Languages in the school curriculum and the vast range of skills and opportunities offered by the study of languages on the world stage. Aine MacParland LAGAN COLLEGE UPDATE P AGE 7 Science Club Sparkles Back! Science Club has commenced again this year with new members from Year 8 and returning members from Year 9 and 10. We have already had lots of fun launching our balloon rockets and we fizzed for Halloween with sparkles and explosions. Everyone in Years 8 – 10 is very welcome to join us Every Wednesday, 12.55pm in Sc3 Eat your lunch and arrive quickly! Year 11 Chemists are Blown Away! The chemistry trip to Enniskillen was a great experience for all who took part. Although the weather was against us, we were prepared for the worst. As we set off on our trip, we heard that it had been sleeting in Enniskillen. This was particularly worrying for Francis as he had forgotten a water proof coat! When we arrived, the weather eased off and we got some time in the caves. Unfortunately, the amount of rain the previous day had raised the water level in the caves and, as a result, some of them were flooded. We were not able to go on the boat tour but, all in all, it was a very good experience. We then went on a limestone walk which was over as soon as it started due to the wind that nearly blew Andy down a mineshaft. After this, we had our lunch. Well, most of us had lunch as Miss Wells and Mr Carleton had no lunch ,so we set off to the nearest shopping centre where Tony sat on a child’s train. Despite the unfortunate weather, the trip was very enjoyable and I would recommend it to anyone who has the opportunity to go to the Marble Arch Caves.