Shimna News - June 2025

Dear Parents & Carers,

As the term draws to a close, it is hugely satisfying to look back on the past year.

Inside and outside the classroom, there have been many, many highlights. Whether it be in the sporting arena, school trips, performing arts, the Duke of Edinburgh / President’s Scheme or other extra-curricular clubs, it has been wonderful to see students and staff working together. With the significant upgrade in facilities which the new build project has brought, exciting times lie ahead.

Click on the link to see a short film capturing some of the main events.

Review of the Year 

You can also read about the school year in Shimna Scoop. Thank you to Mr Amstrong for his editing work.

The summer examination season ran smoothly. Thank you to Mrs Samuel and Mrs Leavy, as well as our invigilators, for their superb planning and administration. To their credit, our students conducted themselves in an exemplary manner.  We wish all of them well for results day.

It has also been a tremendous year for charitable activity at Shimna. Overall, students and staff have raised a combined total of over £13,000 for a  variety of good causes, including: Daisy Lodge, Newcastle Lions, the Heartbeat Trust, Girl Guides, Write for Rights, MyMy, Mourne Mountain Rescue, Cara Friend, USPCA, the Pantry Foodbank and Cancer Focus NI.

Student initiative was at the heart of nearly all these efforts. I would like to thank our outgoing Year 14 Student Leadership Team, led by Head Girl,  Aurora Milligan, and Head Boy, Oliver Corrigan. You are a credit to the College.

New Build update

The move into our new school was a bracing but ultimately satisfying experience. It was only made possible thanks to the collective efforts of Glasgiven, their various sub-contractors, HMK Project Manager James Gordon, Jim Morgan from the Department of Education and, of course, Shimna staff. I would like to pay a special tribute  to four key colleagues on our team who went above and beyond over that unforgettable fortnight in February: Paul Ferguson, Robbie Mulholland, Margaret Rowntree and Daniel Quinn. Without their efforts, the closure period would have lasted a lot longer.

We also received vital support from the community, with over thirty organisations assisting with the Great Shimna Decant. They included local schools, churches, charities and other groups. Many relationships were established, renewed or fortified along the way.

In terms of progress, our former building has now been demolished and work on the new Sports Hall and changing rooms is well underway. Over the summer, work will commence on reshaping and upgrading the turning circle and upper car park. The main entrance will be closed until the end of August. Until this is completed, all access to the campus will be through the back gate, including on results days. As before, we respectfully ask that vehicles be left in Donard car park. The back gate is not a designated parking area.

We anticipate  the Sports Hall will be finished in early January 2026, with the completion of car parking and landscaping to follow shortly after. More immediately, we look forward to making good use of the new 3G facility in Donard Park, which  should be available for our PE lessons from  the start of next term.

Staff news

At the end of this term, we say goodbye to a number of colleagues. Daniel Allen, Teacher of Chemistry, is moving to Assumption Grammar; Roseanna Gilmore, Head of Religious & Integrated Studies, for pastures new; Mairi McCurdy, Teacher of English, is taking a career break to focus on her MA in Creative Writing; Emma Morgan, maternity cover in English, is starting a PhD at Queens’ in September; and Hannah Fitzpatrick, Learning Support Assistant, is starting a PGCE course in September. 

We thank them all for serving the College with such distinction and wish them health and happiness in the future.

Our new staff will be introduced in the next edition of Shimna News in September. 

Looking ahead to the new school year

After a well-earned summer break, there is plenty to look forward to next year, including our first major production in the new school, The Wizard of Oz. This has now been cast and rehearsals have commenced.

At the start of next term, we will be unveiling our new Year 14 Leadership Team. I am delighted to announce the appointment of Rachel Hodge as Head Girl and Jude Brannigan as Head Boy. 

In September, we will also be moving to a new timetable, which is an exciting development. It will enable us to make more effective use of time during the school day and the upgraded facilities in our new school.

Music lessons

The College arranges lessons with peripatetic Music teachers and we have some availability for September.  Please contact Mrs Fitzpatrick, Head of Music & Performing Arts, if you wish to apply. 

Summer reading

There is no denying the power of reading, both in terms of the educational value and the positive impact it can have on our wellbeing. With that in mind, our Literacy Coordinator Ms Curran has set a reading challenge, encouraging  our students to read for a minimum of 20 minutes a day over the summer, with the target of reaching 1,000 minutes by the start of next term. 

Click on the link to find a Book Tracker. Students who would like to take part should fill in the tracker and submit it to Ms Curran at the start of next term. Prizes will be awarded to the most avid bookworms!

Here are some ideas for reading material 100 fiction books all children should read before leaving secondary school. The https://schoolreadinglist.co.uk/ is another valuable source of ideas.

For the more adventurous, you can find competitions at https://poetrysociety.org.uk/competitions/foyle-young-poets-of-the-year-award/ and https://creativewritingink.co.uk.

Film-making competition  

And, for any budding film directors out there, our first ever film competition has been launched.

For students who would like to take part, the theme of the film is ‘Summer Stories’. It can be a solo piece or a group effort. A prize of £100 will be awarded for the winning film.

Find out more here 

We are very proud of our Shimna uniform, which reflects our values and identity. As we look ahead to the new school year, there are no changes to our Uniform Policy for September 2025.

Our uniform continues to offer students a degree of choice, and we are fortunate to have five local suppliers who provide key uniform items:

• Bingham’s, Newcastle

• Holmes, Kilkeel

• McKenny’s, Castlewellan

• Pricewise, Downpatrick

• Rhoda Stewart, Ballynahinch

Unbranded items such as white shirts, school grey trousers and school grey skirts may be purchased from other retailers.

Please note

• PE bottoms including shorts and leggings must be navy; black PE bottoms are not permitted

• Footwear must be plain black with no white or coloured markings on the uppers or heels. Converse footwear is not permitted.

We appreciate your support in helping students present themselves smartly and consistently.Students may wear flat studded ear and nose jewellery, which must be removable. No other facial jewellery is permitted. Rings must also be removable, especially during practical subjects for safety reasons.

We very much welcome donations of pre-loved uniform and sports kit.

For information on free school meals and home-to-school transport assistance, please visit the Education Authority website: https://www.eani.org.uk/parents

On a separate note, please notify us immediately in the event of changes to contact details or medical Information pertaining to your children.

 Key dates next term                         

23 July - 11 August College closed  (inclusive)                                    

Thursday 14 August Sixth Form Results Day

Thursday 21 August GCSE Results Day

Thursday 28 August Year 14 Leadership Team training

Friday 29 August Year 8 and Sixth Form Induction 

Monday 1 September First day of College year for all students 

Thursday 2 October Gordon Wilson Lecture - Guest Speaker: Judge Howard Morrison

Tuesday 14 October  - tbc Annual College Celebration 

Friday 17 October P7 Day ( College closed to students )

Friday 24 October Half-term break starts ( 3.30 pm )

Monday 3 November College reopens for second half of term

Monday 15 December Presentation Evening ( last year’s Year 12 & Year 14 )

Weds 17 / Thurs 18 December The Wizard of Oz

Friday 19 December End of term

The full calendar for 2025-26 can be found on our website. The programme of Parent & Carer Consultations will be published at the start of September.

If your child is in Year 12 or 14 and moving on from Shimna, we wish them all the very best in the future. We very much hope they will keep in touch - https://www.shimnaintegratedcollege.org/oldscholars

Finally, thank you for your ongoing support, including those of you who have been able to contribute to the Parent & Carer Council, for example to our festive fundraiser last December. This mutually supportive relationship between the College and home is at the heart of our ethos.

Best wishes to you all for a happy and restful summer. 

Steve Pagan