Strathearn School Magazine 2022-23

STRATHEARN SCHOOL magazine

PRINCIPAL’S WELCOME

PRINCIPAL’S WELCOME.

As I think back to school life before the pandemic, I am keenly aware that we could never have predicted the challenges with which we would be faced in the following years. This school magazine, however, serves as a testament to the fortitude and resilience that our pupils have shown throughout this difficult time. They have overcome the challenges that confronted them and emerged as empowered young people ready to face the future. We are truly proud of them.

With the enforced Covid 19 regulations, pupils were unable to engage in our extended curricular provisions. As a result of this, many of our normal reports on trips, clubs and societies are unfortunately missing this year. In spite of this, we have endeavoured to restart as many of our activities as possible, and we have even launched some new clubs and societies. The reports and photos that follow will give a flavour of our pupils’ experiences over this last year. You will be able to read about our various sporting successes, as well as special events such as the visit of renowned scientist Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell and the opening of the Jubilee Garden at Penrhyn.

The magazine is a product of the collective hard work of all its contributors. Most of the articles are written by our pupils; many thanks to them for adding their voices to this record of 2021-22. I would also like to thank the magazine’s editor, Dr McBride, and its designer, Mrs Black. Special thanks are also due to Mrs McGimpsey for organising Penrhyn’s contributions.

Strathearn School has a history to be proud of, and over the last ninety years it has educated and empowered numerous girls who have gone on to make wonderful contributions to society. This magazine reflects the talent and potential of our current group of students. I hope you enjoy reading it.

BOARD OF GOVERNORS

SCHOOL .STAFF

PRINCIPAL.

Mrs N Connery MA PGCE PQH

VICE PRINCIPALS.

Mr A Anderson MEd BD PGCE

Mrs N Sinnerton BA PGCE PGDH

SENIOR STAFF.

Mr A Atkinson BEd PGDH

Mr M Stevenson BSc PGCE

Ms S Young BA PGCE DIS MEd

ART.

Miss S Whitla MA PGCE

Mrs E McMinn BA PGCE

Mrs C Rea MA PGCE

BUSINESS STUDIES.

Mrs J White BSc PGCE

Mrs J McDonald BSc PGCE

DRAMA.

Mrs D Ingram BA MA PGCE

Mrs E Bell BA PGCE DipLCM

ENGLISH.

Ms W Erskine MA PGCE

Mrs E Bell BA PGCE DipLCM

Mr C Heaney BA PGCE

Mrs D Ingram BA MA PGCE

Miss S Keown MA PGCE

Dr J McBride MA PGCE

Mr A Scott BA PGCE

GEOGRAPHY.

Mr M Stevenson BSc PGCE

Miss Morrison BSc PGCE

Mrs N Sinnerton BA PGCE PGDH

Mrs L Staples BSc PGCE

HISTORY & POLITICS.

Miss L Carson BA MA PGCE

Mrs J McDonald BA MA MSC PGCE

Mr P Mulligan BA PGCE

HOME ECONOMICS.

Mrs A Blayney BSc PGCE

Mrs A Lennox BSc PGCE

Mrs R Michael BSc PGCE

ICT.

Mrs R Armstrong BSc PGCE

Miss R Newburn BEd PGCML

Miss S Whitla MA PGCE

MATHEMATICS.

Mrs J Anderson BSc PGCE

Mrs R Aiken BSc PGCE

Mrs FE Cochrane BSc PGCE

Mrs L Cozzo BSc PGCE

Mrs P Foye BSc PGCE

Mrs R McKeown BSc PGCE

Ms L Wallace MPhys PGCE

MODERN LANGUAGES.

Mrs J Fielding BA PGCE Ad CertEd, Dip CGD

Mr J Meharg BA PGCE

Ms Y Perdomo Rodriguez

Mrs S Morrow BA PGCE

Mrs J Muldrew MA PGCE

Mrs J Thompson BA PGCE

Mrs N Wilson

Miss A Turner BA PGCE

Mrs E McAllister BA PGCE MUSIC.

Ms J Kimber MA BA ARCM MTD CRE FRPS LIPF MPAGB

Miss R Armstrong BMus PGCE PHYSICAL EDUCATION.

Ms S Young BA PGCE DIS MEd

Mrs B Crawford BEd

Mrs N Grundie BA PGCE MEd Miss S Henning BSc

RELIGIOUS STUDIES.

Mr C Jellie BEd MTeach

Mr A Anderson MEd BD PGCE Mrs R Browne BEd SCIENCE.

Miss J Stewart BSc PGCE PQH

Mrs C Armstrong BSc PGCE

Miss E Foster BSc MSc PGCE

Mrs J D Gray MTeach BSc PGCE

Miss MA Grier BSc PGCE

Miss AM Griffith BSc PGCE

Mrs R Michael BSc PGCE

Miss R Newburn BEd PGCML

Mrs J Robb BSc PGCE

Dr KA Ross BSc PGCE

Ms L Wallace MPhys PGCE TECHNOLOGY & DESIGN.

Mr A Atkinson BEd PGDH

Miss R Newburn BEd PGCML BURSAR.

Mrs M Ferguson BSc CA FACILITIES MANAGER.

Mrs L Foster BEng ADMINISTRATION STAFF.

Mrs J Griffin

Mrs G Hanna Asc IM

Miss A Linden IATI Mrs R Moore

Mrs C Norris MSc BSc

Mrs A White

Mrs L Wright LIBRARIAN.

Dr E Haire BA MA PGCE CAREERS TEACHERS.

Mrs E Bell BA PGCE DipLCM

Mrs R Browne BEd Miss MA Grier BSc PGCE

Miss AM Griffith BSc PGCE

Mr C Heaney BA PGCE

Ms J Kimber MA BA ARCM MTD CRE

FRPS LIPF MPAGB

Mrs L Staples BSc PGCE SCHOOL HEALTH NURSE.

Mrs C Boyd

Ms V Elliott

PREPARATORY DEPARTMENT.

HEAD OF DEPARTMENT.

Mrs B Mawhinney BEd TEACHERS.

Mrs E Andrews BEd CertEd PQH LNEA

Miss GM Boyd BA PGCE

Miss D Clark BA QTS MEd Mrs P Devlin BEd ALCM Miss C Hunter BEd Mrs A McKeown BEd

SIXTH FORM SUPERVISOR.

Miss L Stevenson LLB

LEARNING SUPPORT.

Mrs N Sinnerton BA PGCE PGDH

Ms S Young BA PGCE DIS MEd

TECHNICAL SUPPORT STAFF.

Mrs L Allen

Mrs M Black BA

Miss G Campbell BSc

Mr S Millar HND BSc

Mrs J Shaw BSc DIS

Mr L Turner

CLASSROOM ASSISTANTS.

Mrs K Black BSc MSc PGCE

Mrs M Butters BSc

Ms N Ditty

Ms M Edgar BSocSci

Mrs H Felix

Ms I Jess

Miss M Palmer

Mrs S Vollands

Mrs D Welsh BA Dip IS

PREMISES STAFF.

Mr J Algie

Mr M Paxton

Mr J Gibson

CATERING STAFF.

Mrs V Crymble

Ms T Gibson

Mrs E Madden

Mr J McCluskey

Mrs W McCluskey

Mrs J McConnell

Mr J Miller

Mrs C Nesbitt

Mrs N O’Brien

Mrs V McKinney BEd

Mrs J Walls BEd (Cantab)

Miss A Ramsey BA

ADMINISTRATION STAFF.

Mrs J McGimpsey

CLASSROOM ASSISTANTS.

Miss L King

Mrs J Atkinson Miss S Henning PGCE

EARLY MORNING CLUB.

Ms L Stevenson

Miss M Palmer

Mrs K Black

AFTER-SCHOOL CLUB.

Miss L King

Ms W Frazer

Mrs H Felix

It’s always a very exciting time when we welcome our new pupils into Form 1. In August we were delighted to meet our new girls, and to start the year off with a special assembly in Manning Hall. The girls soon got settled into their form classes and had a great day meeting their tutors, having a tour of the School and learning about how their timetables worked!

Not long into the first term, the year group enjoyed a great team-building day out at Shaw’s Bridge. This was a great opportunity for the pupils to make new friends and learn new skills as they attempted to solve problems together. Despite the weather, they all had a great time.

It has been wonderful to see the return of face-to-face extra-curricular activities in school, and many of our Form 1 girls have enjoyed the varied activities on offer throughout the week. This is a great opportunity for all the pupils to try out new activities and make new friends. I hope that next year we will have all our activities back on as usual, and that everyone will be able to find an activity to get involved in.

I have been so impressed with how the girls have settled in to Strathearn life; it is very encouraging to see how they support each other and how they have adapted to their new school.

As I write this, we are approaching the end of Term 2 and girls are enjoying getting involved with all the House competitions on offer. Many congratulations to all those who have taken part and supported their Houses – from Strathearn’s Got Talent to our famous Bake Off and all the sports activities too. It’s always a great way to meet new friends and discover a new skill!

I wish all the girls well as they continue progressing through the School – keep working hard and get involved!

Miss J Stewart Head of Form One

Well done to everyone in Form 1 for settling in to a new school, as well as getting used to ‘normal’ school life again. You should be very proud of all your achievements!

Back row: Ellis Macleod, Isla Aldworth, Molly Sharpe, Abbie Kerr, Alana Thornton, Nyla Mallon, Alicejane Elwood

Middle Row: Alicia Reid, Victoria Pajak, Emily Magill, Ela Onge, , Jemima Readman, Mia McIlwaine-Wasson, Abi Martin, Lucy Reid, Mrs Armstrong

Front Row: Sadhbh Rankin, Hollie Norris, Ruby Tolland, Rebecca McCreight, Alixandra Whiteside, Martha Petticrew, Tara Kirk-Thom, Molly Spence, Lily Russell

Absent: Katie Moore

FORM 1S.

Back row: Stuti Nandan Mehta, Cacey-Jane Herron, Emma Elliott, Elise Smith, Oriana Wroblewska, Amira Asim, Sophie Blair

Middle row: Paulina Slominska, Annabelle Shaw, Karis Maclean, Lily Templeton, Ellie Martin, Amara Forde, Erin Smithson, Zara Young, Lucy Anderson

Front row: Niamh Coman, Georgia Tate, Nell McClean, Sophie Boyle, Nyla McAllister-Lungu, Oliwia Olszewska, Katie Allen, Rebecca Stewart, Emma White

FORM 1T.

Back Row: Abbie Russell, Cecily Colmer, Isla Murphy, Sofia Horgan, Heidi Moore, Lillie Herron, Katie Livingstone, Rebecca Gook

Middle Row: Ailie Creed, Evie Miller, Megan Brown, Emma Hamilton, Bella De‘Ath, Zuzia Giza, Farrah Kirwan, Kali Hopkins

Front Row: Nina Kerr, Iona Blair, Chloe Burrows, Holly Magee, Jasmine Hossain, Sophie Dealy, Aimee Gray, Ivy McMillen, Alexandra Eadie

FORM 1R.

Back Row: Sophia Boudjemline, Charlotte Cairns, Ella Black, Darcy Brockerton, Phoebe Campbell, Casey Totten, Grace Gilchrist

Middle Row: Sadie Benfield, Shannon Totten, Evie Coburn, Scarlett Watt, Nikol Tracey, Mia Lunn, Sophie Ferguson, Sophia Tomlinson, Mrs McKeown

Front Row: Scarlett Smyth, Heidi Dunlop, Bailey McMullan, Charlotte Acheson, Ella Cousins, Alice Wilson, Ruby McCann, Madeleine Smyth, Cassie Davey.

Absent: Beth Hill

FORM 1A.

Back row: Delphine McGimpsey, Rachel Gallagher, Lola-Mae Douthwaite-Cliff, Maisie Rainer, Giovanna De Caroli Pontes, Riley Hamilton, Sophia Walker

Middle row: Maja Stanislawek, Libby Hanna, Cecily Park, Frances Roberts, Caoimhe Dornan, Monique Nugent, Orla Glass, Ellie Miller, Mrs Cochrane

Front row: Katie Dolan, Molly McCoubrey, Jessica Brown, Anna Dunbar, Megan Stranaghan, Katie Howe, Jahnvi Ganesh, Erin Purcell, Evie Boyd

Absent: Scarlett Kennedy

FORM

an interview with the

HEAD GIRL.

Andra Vladu

Q. What is your favourite memory from primary school?

A. I grew up in a village in southern Romania and that’s where I went to primary school. My fondest memories from those school years are actually about being outdoors. Every single break we would fly out the door to the school yard and run around, playing with pupils from other classes and having a laugh. I also loved playing football. I really thought I would become a professional football player!

Q. What is your favourite memory from your time at Strathearn?

A. I have so many wonderful Strathearn memories that it’s impossible to pick just one! Having a giggle with my friends between classes or after school was a daily treat; dressing up as volcanoes with my friends Ellie and Hannah for Open Day, and learning Spanish by singing

with Mrs Muldrew will always be fun memories. The trip to Berlin at the end of fourth form is a particular highlight. I appreciated the historic significance of the places we visited and the lessons they teach us, and we also had a great time. I came back wiser and with lots of souvenirs, memories and … sore feet. I’ll always remember Mr Bradley’s motto “walking is the best form of public transport”.

Q. What are your extracurricular interests?

A. In junior school I made the most of the extracurricular opportunities offered by Strathearn. I did different sports, participated in debates and sang in the School Choir, acted in plays and participated in mock trial competitions. In recent years, I have been involved in climate action and nature restoration advocacy. As a member of a few environmental organisations and programmes, I advocate for environmental legislation and political actions to tackle the climate and nature crises we face. In School, I’m taking the Eco-Collective this year. We have worked very hard to improve sustainability through improving waste recycling facilities and making our grounds more wildlife-friendly, while also educating the rest of the School on environmental issues through presentations and inviting in expert speakers. Many thanks to the Eco-Collective group, Mr Stevenson and Mrs Gray for all their support.

Q. What do you like to do in your spare time?

A. I love meeting up with friends to go for a walk or to go to the cinema. It’s always nice just to relax with my family and my pet cat. I find that going for walks and being in nature really helps me de-stress and puts any problems into perspective. I also enjoy reading. This year a lot of my reading has been focused on school subjects, but I love to just pick up a good fiction book and get lost in it.

Q. What would you say is the biggest challenge involved in the role of Head Girl?

A. It has been an absolute honour to serve as Head Girl this year. There is a busy schedule of activities to get through, so you need to organise your time very well, work closely with your team and be prepared to find solutions when there are different views on certain initiatives. The Covid restrictions brought their own challenges, especially when it came to organising the School Formal. I am very grateful to the Deputy Head Girls, Ellie Massey and Ellie Van Giesen, for their support and enthusiasm throughout the year. We worked very well together. We are delighted to have been able to serve the School community and pave the way for

the next Head Girl Team. Our special thanks to Mrs Connery and Mrs Sinner ton, as we worked very closely with them and they were always there to support us in our roles.

Q. Do you have any advice for new pupils in Strathearn?

A. We are incredibly lucky to be offered such a diverse range of extra-curricular activities at Strathearn, so I would encourage everyone to make the most of them. Not only is it a great opportunity to have fun and meet pupils from across the School, but I also found that it really helped boost my confidence. The other piece of advice I have is to not hesitate to reach out to other pupils and teachers. We have a great community here, and you can be certain to find someone who will be more than happy to be your friend or help out with anything.

Q. How did you get on during the lockdown?

A. I struggled a little with online learning at the start. However, our teachers worked very hard to deliver lessons that were engaging and ensured we had as normal a routine as possible. Like a lot of people, I took the opportunity to improve my baking skills and I think my friends would agree that I make a mean lemon cake! I also tried to keep healthy by doing the famous Joe Wicks workouts. Taking time to observe the nature around me and continuing with climate advocacy also helped me stay positive. Zoom parties and movie dates were a social life saviour!

Q. What are your plans for next year?

A. Next year I’m hoping to study Biological Sciences, ideally with French. I am super excited to begin a new stage in my life, to study a very interesting course and discover new places and people. I will definitely miss Strathearn, all of my teachers and my friends who have helped me to build a strong foundation for the next chapter.

“

“

I have made lifelong friendships and memories here, and Strathearn will always hold a special place in my heart.

SIXTH FORM

Back Row

Rosie Bonner, Sophie Jordan, Lauren Ayre, Mia Davison, Hannah Stanfield, Amy Major, Megan Stewart, Sarah Ellison, Isabella Todd, Emily Warnock

Fifth Row

Lucy Bole, Evie Gallen, Sarah Lowry, Lilli Boyd, Grace Bowman, Sarah Clark, Martha Gooding, Lauren Lawther, Lucy Chambers, Ellie Dempster, Julia Rawson, Casey Dawson, Aliah McCurry, Jodie Morgan, Alex Graham, Annabel Holden, Rachel Childs

Fourth Row

Abbie Stevenson, Eloise Johnston, Arabella Brown, Nicola Gallagher, Kate McEvoy, Eva McClean, Lara Finlay, Ellie Howse, Alex Coetzee, Amy Mawhinney, Rose Rebbeck, Alex Speers, Zara Rintoul, Emmerald Emerson, Catrina Martin, Seren Evans, Ellie Patton, Amy Titterington

Third Row

Alice Sloan, Khushi Nomani, Rebecca McCleary, Eden Byrne, Tilly Nield, Rachel McDonald, Emma Campbell, Martha Todd, Aoife Moore, Cheryl Watson, Natalya Ricketts, Lily Oxborrow, Freya Adams, Penny Hood, Hannah McGugan, Taylor McCullough, Catherine O’Reilly, Kristanna Clegg, Chloe Boyd

Second Row

Jessica Blair, Holly Darley, Belinda Acheson, Nicole Hanna, Laura Gordon, Ellie Johnston, Ellie Dornan, Ella Baxter, Alice Henry, Molly Elliott, Anna McKinty, Sarah Catherall, Megan Allen, Joanna Carson, Lauren Mooney, Mya Ruddock, Lois Gillan, Erin McConnell, Rebecca Hill, Aiswarya Venugopal

Front Row (from L to R)

Sasha White, Hannah McCartney, Annie Heavern, Rosie Elwood, Zara Hanna, Faith Heyburn, Anna Hughes, Niam h Hanna, Ellie Van Giesen, Andra Vladu, Ellie Massey, Rachel Constant, Sophie Killiner, Gabriella Park, Lara Whitten, Freya Beers, Lauren Farmer, Catherine Welsh, Rachel Lipson

OFFICE BEARERS.

Back Row: Alice Henry, Molly Elliott, Amy Major, Hannah Stanfield, Anna McKinty, Sarah Catherall

Third Row: Niamh Hanna, Lauren Mooney, Ellie Dornan, Ella Baxter, Megan Allen, Joanna Carson, Ellie Johnston

Second Row: Rosie Elwood, Faith Heyburn, Zara Hanna, Anna Hughes, Rachel Constant, Laura Gordon, Sophie Killiner, Lara Whitten, Gabriella Park, Freya Beers

Front Row: Rachel Lipson, Sasha White, Annie Heavern, Ellie Van Giesen, Andra Vladu, Ellie Massey, Lauren Farmer, Hannah McCartney, Catherine Welsh

6th

EVENTS

Form 2 Trip to Palace Barracks.

On a clear autumn morning on 20 October, Form 2 pupils boarded buses from School to take the short journey to Palace Barracks in Holywood. As part of the Personal Development strand of the Learning for Life and Work curriculum, pupils were given an opportunity to experience an exciting day of team building and leadership activities, led by members of the Armed Forces. The aim of the day was to build skills such as working with others, decision making, communication and self-confidence.

Form classes were mixed which gave pupils a muchneeded opportunity to meet pupils from other classes and to make new friends. Activities included living in the field, using ration packs, managing kit and equipment, command tasks, first aid and paintballing. After an action-packed morning, a delicious lunch was provided in the cookhouse, giving pupils another insight into life at the barracks – as well as fuel for more activities in the afternoon!

After all the activities were finished, pupils returned by bus in time for the end of the school day.

“

We would like to thank all the staff at Palace Barracks who made this such a great day and we look forward to returning in the future.

“

Mr Scott

Drama Trip to the Grand Opera House

On 20 January, Drama pupils from U6 and Form 5 teamed up to go on a trip to the Grand Opera House to see The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. We thoroughly enjoyed this play as it gave us an insight into the life of the main character and showed how he was affected by autism. The play was very moving and it took our emotions on a rollercoaster ride. The trip was a great opportunity for us to get into the Opera House after a long break due to Covid. It also allowed us to build relationships with people from other years and get to know everyone better. The trip was a real treat, and also provided a nice break from revision!

Junior Drama Club

The Junior Drama Club was held two lunchtimes a week from October until Easter and was open to pupils from Forms 1 to 3. The attendance was excellent, with roughly 40 – 50 girls coming each week to the Drama Studio. It was wonderful to build relationships with the younger pupils in the School, and I was definitely amazed at their impressive acting abilities! I also had the help of the members of the Drama Committee, who were able to offer their advice and ideas to the girls. For the first few weeks, we began with fun drama games and activities. In the lead-up to Christmas, the girls were split into smaller groups to work on a short Christmas play. After Christmas we focused on the fundamentals of voice, facial expression and movement.

It has been a real joy working with the younger pupils and I would like to thank them all for coming along this year. We really hope that you all continue with a love for Drama throughout your years at Strathearn School

and beyond. When Covid clears up, you will have many more incredible opportunities to use your drama skills in Strathearn events, such as house-plays and School productions.

Thank you also to the Drama Committee, Mrs Ingram, Mrs Bell and Miss Keown for all their help along the way!

Hannah Stanfield, U6

CCF:COMBINED

CADET FORCE

This year the Combined Cadet Force has been getting back up to full speed after the disruption caused by Covid. The organisation was first introduced as an extra-curricular activity in Strathearn in September 2019 as an extension of Campbell College CCF and currently we have over 75 girls from Forms 3 -5 involved. Our hope is that the contingent will continue to grow in strength over the course of the next few years as new cohorts of girls join each year.

Training has been taking place after School, at weekends and during the holidays. This training has involved the girls receiving instruction on drill, basha building, cooking in the field, command tasks, weapon handling, camouflage, concealment, and navigation. The

weekend training initially focused on ensuring that the girls achieved their weapon handling test which then allowed them the opportunity to carry out live firing on the range. Some girls have proved themselves to be excellent shots and we look forward to developing this skill further next year, with the aim of entering at competition level in the future.

The most challenging, but of course rewarding, experience for the girls has been the opportunity to attend camps in February, at Easter and in the summer, some of which have been residential.

Here is a summary of what two Form 4 pupils experienced at the February camp this year.

“

During the half term break we were given the opportunity to go to a Cadets-Camp at Ballykinler, where we participated in a wide variety of activities. Throughout the camp we learnt a range of new, useful skills associated with army life. Some of the activities we participated in included the firing range, weapon handling and battle drills. Some days the weather was great and the sun was shining, but on other days the sky was filled with clouds. Whatever the weather, we still enjoyed every day. We also got to meet lots of new people and to do activities with people we didn’t really know that well.

In term 2, Forms 4 and 5 also had the absolute privilege of hearing from Captain Chandi Preet, a truly inspirational army officer who completed a solo expedition across Antarctica to the South Pole in January 2022.

In the bad weather we got to do indoor activities, such as some basic first aid training and learning about section battle drills. We visited the 100m range a number of times and everyone improved their rifle skills. There had been plans to stay outside under a basha one night, but the weather didn’t permit this, so we had the opportunity to go on a reconnaissance mission that evening instead; everyone enjoyed that. We would definitely love to attend more camps in the future like this one. Many thanks to the Campbell and Strathearn staff who made this trip possible; I think it is safe to say we all had a wonderful time.

In addition to weekly training and camps, our most senior Strathearn cadets (the Form 5 pupils) have completed the National Navigation Bronze Award and the Cadet Forces Instructional Techniques course. They also represented the School on a number of occasions, including Remembrance Sunday at St. Mark's Church and the celebrations of Commonwealth Day at Thiepval Barracks.

Our partnership with Campbell College has also offered the girls the opportunity to be involved with the Pipe Band. Emily Wilson is a very active member of the band as a tenor drummer and Grace Steed has been receiving bagpipe tuition. Emily celebrated success again this year in the National Cadet Pipes and Drums competition as, for the second consecutive year, she was awarded 1st place in the Open Tenor section.

We send our best wishes to our Form 5 cadets who are attending adventure training courses in England over the summer and look forward to hearing about their experiences when we return in September.

“

Ailsa Gallagher and Lita Carson, F4

Strathearn School CCF are thankful to have a great team of instructors from the Cadet Training Team at Palace Barracks, from Campbell College and our own staff: Mrs Anderson, Mr Heaney, Mr Jellie, Miss Newburn, Mr Turner and Ms Wallace.

This has been another busy and interesting year for the Library. Early in the year, pupils were invited along to try out some Library crafts, such as making bookmarks, Halloween Colouring and making book wreaths for Christmas. In the spring, Strathearn entered two teams for the National Literacy Trust’s Reading Champions Quiz. Students met weekly to train and brush up on their book knowledge, and then took part in an online quiz extravaganza. Senior pupils were invited to submit work to the National Youth Flash Fiction competition, and two of our entrants, Kristyn Anthony and Rachel Golden, were highly commended.

For Easter, the Committee created an interactive mystery. We wrote an original whodunnit, in which the Library's Dewey Decimal System went missing and the suspects were narrowed down to three individuals. In a series of videos, our detective interrogated the suspects and pupils had to piece together information to determine the culprit. Well done to everyone who worked out who the guilty party was!

The most wonderful part of the year, however, was welcoming everyone back to the Library for browsing and borrowing, and for reading and relaxing. We also restarted the Library’s popular Book Club. Our meetings were immensely enjoyable and we were able to recommend new books to one another, and to discuss old favourites.

Many thanks to Dr Haire for all her work in making the Library such a welcoming and thriving hub for all pupils at Strathearn.

Rachel Lipson, U6

This year’s School Council meetings covered a wide range of topics. Issues surrounding school uniform were by far the most common thread – and they sparked some of the most passionate debates! Mrs Sinnerton asked reps for their thoughts on making the uniform more sustainable. Some of the most popular ideas were changing to white shirts for all years and expanding the second-hand uniform sale. We also discussed ideas for school trips and fundraisers. Pupils also raised a number of issues regarding the canteen and school facilities, so many thanks to Mrs Crymble and Mrs Foster for taking time to work with us on those.

Looking to the wider community, a group of sixth form pupils welcomed representatives from Belfast City Council to discuss the ‘Belfast Agenda’ development plan. We

also started to look to the future, when Strathearn will hopefully host a meeting of pupil representatives from schools across the East Belfast Area Learning Community.

Chairing School Council has been one of the most challenging things I have ever undertaken. My experience has confirmed my belief that listening to pupils is one of the most important things a school can do. After all, it’s the pupils that make Strathearn what it is.

Amy and I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to School Council this year, especially all our dedicated class reps. You may not always have seen the progress you wanted, but we hope you feel that at least your voice was heard.

Laura Gordon, U6

.PUBLIC SPEAKING

& DEBATING

Pupils took part in a range of public speaking and debating activities this year. In June, the incoming U6 participated in a lively mock G7 debate at the Library via the Citizenship Foundation, under the stewardship of Dr Haire and Miss Stevenson. All those who took part were enthusiastic and gained from the experience, but a special mention to Mia Davison for her negotiating prowess and to Sasha White for her demonstration of leadership skills.

In October, to coincide with the COP26 taking place in Cornwall, Stella Moore and Madalaine Wilson represented Strathearn at a summit simulation at Stormont. Both took on the role of lobbyists for the fossil fuel industry and while Stella conducted negotiations with other stakeholders, Madalaine addressed the summit in the Chamber.

L6 pupils got involved in the Concern Debates programme, and prepared for three online meets for the heat phase of this competition, though not all took place due to Covid-19. Their discussion of whether school strikes were an effective way of managing climate

change was deftly chaired by Ciara Moore, and saw Captain Akhila Dondapati run the team with poise and rhetorical agility. The lively weekly preparation sessions often saw robust debate in the name of team readiness and though everyone benefited from getting involved, the team did not progress to the in-person stage of the competition.

November saw the Soroptimist International Public Speaking Competition heat, in which Sarah Somerville and Grace Steed addressed how supporting the child builds a strong adult and the Black Lives Matter movement. Participation in these events enhanced pupils’ independent research skills, their analytical skills and their communication skills, whilst they managed their academic workload and other extracurricular pursuits.

Well done to everyone who got involved with public speaking and debating this year. It was rewarding to be able to revisit this important area of school life and much was learned that will support the future of public speaking and debating at Strathearn.

Dr Haire

YOUTH .PARLIAMENT

“

Youth Parliament is a national forum made up of democratically elected 11-18 year olds from across the UK. Each young person represents their own constituency and almost all constituencies have a Member of Youth Parliament (MYP) who acts on behalf of the young people who live there. MYPs hold their term of office for two years, during which they work with their local MP and councillors, listen to marginalised groups, organise campaigns, lobby for change and ensure that the voices of young people are heard.

Strathearn decided that this year they would run a candidate for the East Belfast constituency. Upon hearing of the school’s decision, I jumped at the opportunity and was chosen to be our candidate. I’ve been involved with various youth groups throughout my teenage years that all have the aim of promoting youth voice. I’ve worked on many campaigns throughout that time and have learnt so much about the problems that face young people today. Bearing that in mind, I chose three policies that if I was elected I would work on implementing. The three areas I focused on were improving relationship and sexual education, ensuring that young people are included in the Covid-19 recovery process and votes at 16.

Miss Carson and I sought assistance for the campaign and we had no shortage of volunteers from across the

junior and senior school. The voting period started at the beginning of February and ran for two weeks. All pupils in school were eligible to vote, so the campaign team worked tirelessly to spread the word around the school of my candidacy. They created posters, set up social media accounts and helped me record a video in which I outlined my policies.

A few weeks after the voting closed it was announced that I had been successfully elected as the MYP for East Belfast! I was delighted with the result and I’m looking forward to getting to work on implementing the necessary changes. I’ll now have the opportunity to meet with the other MYPs in Northern Ireland at least six times a year, as well as travelling to England to meet with all the MYPs in the UK twice a year. I’m really looking forward to visiting the House of Commons and debating in the Chamber.

I’m incredibly thankful for this opportunity and for the school’s support with my campaign. It was truly a team effort and without the many hands working behind the scenes, I believe it would have been nearly impossible for me to have been elected. I really hope to get the most out of this opportunity and make meaningful changes that have a positive impact on young people in East Belfast.

Madalaine Wilson, L6

“

I’m really looking forward to visiting the House of Commons and debating in the Chamber!

ENGINEERING CLUB.

Anew club was started this year in the hope of encouraging more girls to get into the world of engineering. Throughout the year, we explored many different types of engineering through fun activities with pupils in Forms 1 to 4. We started the year off with civil engineering. The older girls were tasked with creating a bridge using resources such as string, tape and lollypop sticks, competing to see which structure could hold the most weight without breaking. The younger years were given the challenge to see who could build the tallest tower with spaghetti and marshmallows. They also learnt all about the shapes and details that go into allowing a structure to stay standing. We made spinning helicopters for mechanical engineering, and everyone learnt about how different mechanisms can come together to allow something to move as one. That same week the students were also given the chance to see a hand-made model of a Porsche engine. We also explored other fields, such as mechatronics and aeronautical engineering, in which we made gliders and cardboard versions of robotic hands. Hopefully this club can continue for years to come and will inspire girls to get into such an important and fun career.

Catherine Welsh, U6

BUSINESS STUDIES.

BANK OF ENGLAND VIRTUAL TALK

On 13 October 2021, we had the pleasure of hosting a virtual talk with Sir Dave Ramsden, an economist and Deputy Governor for Markets and Banking at the Bank of England. Our speaker talked to L6 and U6 Business Studies students about his career to date and the importance of the Bank of England. The students were able to discuss a broad range of topics during the Q&A. These included the current economic instability young people are facing and future plans for the Bank of England to support the economy post-Covid. We

also discussed the recent rise in the popularity of crypto currency.

In the final part of this virtual conference, our speaker highlighted career pathways for our students into financial roles and the Bank of England. He highlighted the need for greater gender and ethnic diversity within the Bank of England, and hoped that in the future he might have the pleasure of working with a Strathearn graduate!

Mrs White

.CLASS OF 1972

On 31 May 2022, the class of 1972 held our fifty year reunion. Many of us had started in Penrhyn in 1958 and were then joined by new friends at ‘the big school’ in 1965. Twenty-five ‘girls’ from our year, out of sixtyone original pupils, first enjoyed coffee and a tour of the school. No one reading this will need me to tell them how well-equipped the new facilities are at Strathearn. The music, language and science areas were particularly impressive. Many thanks to Mr Anderson and Mrs Sinnerton for showing us around, and to the senior girls who guided us through the building and out to see the superb sports facilities – a long way from the front grass hockey pitch where we played in our beige Aertex shirts, wrap around green skirts, beige socks and black canvas hockey boots! Back then, the ground was undulating (to say the least), and our knowledge of this certainly gave us home advantage! The goals were put up in September and removed after Easter to allow a running track to be marked out. On Sports Day, the four house pennants were run up and down the big tree so we all knew how the house points were going.

This year, about half of us had travelled ‘across the water’ - such is the pull of Strathearn - and there were lots of lovely greetings and catch-ups. We thought of ourselves as a good year, with strong friendships, and we have had a reunion each decade since we left school. We then adjourned to Stormont where we had lunch in the Long Gallery and a guided tour of the building.

Fifty years on and who are we now? Mostly

retired, but of the girls at the reunion, eleven had been teachers, one translator, six medics, one solicitor, one farmer, an interior designer, some businesswomen and two journalists. Katie Griffiths (nee White) is now a published poet, and she read us one of her poems called ‘Moonbather’ from her book The Attitudes which was published last year and can now be read in the Strathearn library! Ruth Davis (nee Rea) volunteers to help Syrian refugees and after a lifetime in Public Health, our former Games Captain, Ann Hoskins, gives much of her time to supporting health charities. Overall, we former Strathearn pupils are outward looking, actively engaged with our society and communities, and have a sense of agency and purpose. We then tried to recreate an old photograph of the school office bearers of 1972 with our Head Girl Gillian Jamison (nee Farquharson) in the centre! The bond from schooldays is strong and demonstrates that a school is much more than the material fabric of a building; it resides in the enthusiasm and ethos of the staff and pupils both then and now.

Honor Wilson

A SPECIAL VISIT.

DAME JOCELYN BELL BURNELL.

In May, Mrs Connery and a group of pupils welcomed scientist Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell to Strathearn. Dame Jocelyn, whose 1967 discovery of pulsars was later celebrated by the Nobel Prize committee, was treated to a tour of Strathearn’s science laboratories. When she called into Dr Ross’s Form Four Physics class, Dame Jocelyn was impressed to hear that our pupils were learning about the concepts that had formed her life’s work. Dame Jocelyn even picked up a whiteboard marker and drew a diagram on the board to illustrate some of the forces that act within our universe.

After a short tour of the school, Dame Jocelyn came to the Library, where she kindly answered some questions from Sixth Form pupils from Strathearn, St. Ronan’s College, Lurgan, Friends’ School Lisburn, Bloomfield Collegiate and Ashfield Girls’ High School. Her thoughtful responses

to the students’ questions gave the assembled audience much to think about. She spoke about her first introduction to science and what she found inspirational in the field of astrophysics. She discussed role models in science for girls and underrepresented people. She addressed the connection between her career as a scientist and her Quaker faith. Dame Jocelyn also spoke about the challenges she faced as a woman in science and reflected on a very enjoyable career at the forefront of this dynamic area of research.

Pupils benefited greatly from hearing from Dame Joycelyn, and incoming Head Girl, Jess Ryan, thanked the special guest. It was an inspiring and memorable afternoon for all. For those girls present, Dame Jocelyn’s example showed that being inquisitive, determined and hard-working can take you far – even to the stars!

Haire

LANGUAGE COMMITTEE.

The Language Committee assembled in September, bringing together some of the A2 modern languages students from this year. We set targets that focused on promoting language learning throughout the school and sharing our collective passion for German, Spanish and French.

In October we brought the aroma of boulangerie francaise to the Miskelly Deli in the revival of the French breakfast for the F1 pupils, with the help of our canteen staff. They enjoyed croissants and hot chocolate for a real taste of French culture.

Members of the committee supported our F3 pupils as they took part in national level competitions with NICILT.

The girls performed extremely well with both teams winning awards for their efforts.

Throughout the school year, we have put together a series of talks and presentations to highlight the importance of learning languages. Members of the committee also represented the school in feedback sessions with CCEA to express our views on the development of foreign language qualifications in NI.

On behalf of the Language Committee, I would like to thank all the staff within the Modern Languages Department, who continue to bring the vibrant nature of language learning to the classroom.

Freya Beers, U6

FRANCOFEST & HISPANOFEST

Bonjour! We are Bea Bell, Emma Hamilton, Ella

to promote some iconic French figures by using their silhouettes and an inspirational quotation associated with them.

Marie Curie, the renowned scientist, was our first choice, as we loved her quotation: ‘On m'a appris que la voie du progrès n'était ni rapide ni facile.’ (‘I was taught that the road to progress is neither quick nor easy.’). Unfortunately, due to Covid-19 restrictions, the competition was not run “in-person” this year. Even so, we created a video to present the products remotely. This included a role play and a promotional video. We were delighted to be awarded first place in the category for best overall stall! We would all like to thank Miss Turner for helping us to make and present these bags. We have all enjoyed this opportunity to develop our language skills together, all whilst having a lot of fun!

We are in F3 at Strathearn and have been participating in a French language competition with NICILT and Queen’s University Belfast called ‘Francofest’. For the competition, we had to design a new, exciting French product to be presented to a panel of judges. As a group, alongside Miss Turner, we decided to design French tote bags with matching facemasks in order

¡H

ola! Our names are Charlotte Howell and Holly Millership, and we are in our third year at Strathearn. Along with Zarina Khan, Zoë Friend and Lucy Andrews, we competed in this year’s Hispanofest competition, hosted by NICILT. The event was due to be held as a trade fair at Queen’s University Belfast, but

unfortunately, as a result of the pandemic, we had to compete remotely and send a video entry to the judges instead.

with featured subjects including Spanish, Geography and Physical Education.

We were assisted by our wonderful Spanish teacher, Miss Turner, who made this idea a reality. She taught us lots of Spanish vocabulary and helped us in pronouncing tricky words.

Our creation was an interactive board game which celebrated successful Spanish brands, such as Desigual and Chupa Chups. The game was also very educational,

We met at lunchtimes on Monday each week to discuss ideas, create our game and script our promotional video, with the final product being produced and recorded in February. Participating in this competition has had many benefits and we know that it will help us stand out when we mention it on our UCAS forms when applying to university in the future. We were lucky enough to win ‘Best Overall Stall’ at the competition, which is an achievement we are extremely proud of. This was a great team to be part of and an amazing experience that we will cherish forever.

Zophia Quigley, F2

Evelyn Stanfield, GCSE Principal's Prize

This has been a busy and eventful year in the Art & Design Department, with a return to full activities in the classroom and a focus on rebuilding practical skills in the use of media that had been disrupted in the Covid lockdowns of recent years.

We are so proud of what our young artists have achieved during this difficult period and we were delighted to receive the news that six of our students from summer 2020 had been selected for the prestigious CCEA True Colours exhibition, usually held in the Ulster Museum. The annual True Colours exhibition showcases the very best work in GCSE and A-level Art & Design from across Northern Ireland. This is a remarkable level of achievement for Strathearn students this year and we congratulate Elizabeth Walker (A2), Jessica Winton (A2), Grace Bowman (AS), Lauren Nesbitt (AS), Juliette Ruelland-Kennedy (GCSE) and Tara Winton (GCSE) on the creative and personal work they created in challenging circumstances. Although the museum exhibition did not take place as planned, the virtual gallery went live in May 2022 and can be accessed at: https://www.ccea.org.uk/true-colours-gallery

Art Club was able to resume in the autumn term and Mrs McMinn and the L6 students helped the junior school pupils who attended to create beautiful felted pumpkins, ceramic Christmas decorations and colourful canvases.

In the winter

were pleased to be able to take art students out on educational visits again and we took groups of GCSE and A-level students for a great day at the Ulster Museum, taking inspiration from the the variety of work on display at the RUA show and using the exhibits as a source for photography and sketchbook studies. We also visited the Queen Street Studios in their new East Belfast premises and were lucky enough to have studio visits and talks from two of their best known contemporary artists, Dan

In the spring term, the Art Dept collaborated with Penrhyn in the creation of artworks for their walled garden area, transforming it into the Jubilee Garden, formally opened in May 2022 by Lady Mary Peters. Penrhyn pupils had visited the Art Dept in Strathearn for a series of ceramic workshops, constructing textured clay pieces inspired by

flowers and insects on their first visit and decorating these pieces with colourful glazes in their second. The second and third form students had then worked in groups to restore and repaint the wooden mural panels, originally created in 2019, and these were replaced into the renovated garden alongside the ceramic pieces, resulting in a beautiful and colourful space for the girls to enjoy.

At the end of a busy year, the success of our senior school artists was celebrated in the annual summer exhibition and it was wonderful to invite family and friends into our department again to see the variety and quality of artwork by our GCSE and A-level students.

Ferguson and Karl Hagan. This was a fascinating insight into the working lives of local contemporary artists and Miss Whitla

Sarah

Joanna Carson

Jodie Morgan, Principal's Prize

Amy Major, Principal's Prize

Lauren Nesbitt

Grace Bowman, Principal's Prize

Ella Simms

Rebekah O'Tiarnaigh

Niamh Hatfield

Anna Nicholl

Tara Winton

Juliette

Ruby Rebbeck

Stella Moore, Principal's Prize

Eliza Chittick

Aisha Moore

Niamh Long

Sarah Xiao

Charlotte Moore

Isla Mitchelson

Sophie Livingstone

Emily Simpson

Georgia Armstrong-Reid

Eve GormanZoe McCausland

Kinga Kloskowska

Cece Buchanan

Lara Johnston, Principal's Prize

Rhiannon Davies Carys Jones

Evie Rutherford

Hayley

Yago

Katie Hinds

Olivia Nesbitt

Clara Waterworth

Miranda Patterson

Grace Anderson

JUNIOR SCHOOL ART.

Iona Blair

Nell McClean

Sophia Boudjemline

Amy Gray

Erin Smithson

Casey Totten

Rebecca Gook

Jamillah Toriola

Emily Barry

Olivia McDowell

Ruby Mahaffy

Olivia Galbraith Catherine Guinane

Aishah Alam

Freya Walker

Rachel Hutchinson Maya Ahmed

Zara Prue Manon Newman

Scarlett Turtle

Anjali Bhat

MUSIC.

We were delighted that it was possible for our Chamber Choir to resume rehearsals this school year. Working within Covid restrictions, the girls were able to perform at both the Carol Service in December and a small-scale evening recital in March. The Carol Service was a beautiful night of music and readings, and was the school’s first musical event after Covid. The choir performed a range of lovely pieces starting with 'I sing of a Maiden' and continuing with 'Angels’ Carol' and, excitingly, 'Carol of the Bells', before finishing with 'A Christmas Blessing'.

After this, the choir prepared for the March Concert. This night, which was filled with solos and duets by U6

students and choral pieces, started off with a beautiful arrangement of 'What a Wonderful World' by the choir. They then performed two pieces showing off their harmonies and blend with 'The Seal Lullaby' and 'Irish Blessing' and then finished the night of music off with 'A Clare Benediction'. A massive thanks must go to Mrs Devlin and Miss Armstrong who worked so hard during the year to keep the choir sounding great and keep everyone having so much fun! Mrs Devlin led the choir every week with Miss Armstrong accompanying on the piano during both the rehearsals and performances. From the staff to the pupils in the choir, every rehearsal and performance brought memories to treasure.

Catherine Welsh, U6

.CHAMBER CHOIR

Back row: Iona Holt, Lauren Mooney, Megan Allen, Cheryl Watson, Tara Winton

Second row: Leah Orr, Anna Hughes, Lucy Bole, Natalya Ricketts, Emily Hanna, Kathryn Finlay

Front row: Chloe Boyd, Rosie Elwood, Amélie Euler, Rebekah Devlin, Catherine Welsh

BARBOUR.

We can’t believe that it has been almost a year since Ellie, Sophie and myself were given the honour of becoming the House Captains for the mighty Barbour. We are very thankful for this opportunity, and we have loved leading the house throughout various competitions and events this year.

When we initially embarked on our journey as House Captains, we knew that it was going to look different to other years due to the restrictions of the Covid-19 pandemic. However, the wonders of technology enabled us to have several online house competitions towards the start of year; these included the gingerbread making competition and the tallest sunflower competition. We want to say a big thank you to the Barbour girls who got involved - especially those from junior school. Although we didn’t win, the house spirit that was evident over a virtual platform was amazing and we know the girls thoroughly enjoyed getting involved.

As the year moved on, we were able to run house competitions “in-person”. The Barbour girls didn’t fail to get involved and put up a fight against the other houses in events such as the detective hunt, dodgeball, badminton and netball. Another event which all the girls enjoyed was the house quiz, prepared by all the house captains. The amazing attendance and impressive intelligence of our Barbour girls enabled the senior pupils to place 1st overall in the Senior House quiz. We want to offer big congratulations to everyone who participated in the quiz, especially the victorious seniors.

Sophie Killiner Ellie Johnston Ellie Dornan

After the house quiz came the talent show. Ellie, Sophie and I channelled our inner Simon Cowells as we had the honour of watching the Barbour auditions. The act chosen was Erin Smithson from Form 1, who played a beautiful piano piece. I want to personally thank Erin for being willing to showcase her talent to the school on behalf of Barbour and to congratulate her for placing a well-deserved 3rd overall! I also want to thank our form class, U6S, who helped us put together an entertaining lip-sync video for the talent show.

This year our chosen house charity was the Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Programme. We chose this charity as we thought it was a very current and important issue which deserves recognition. Thank you to everyone who donated towards the admirable work of this programme.

I would also like to say a massive thank you to Ms Wallace, who devotes much of her time and energy to the house system. I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to be House Captain. It has been a privilege to be a part of this team with Ellie and Sophie; they have been so passionate and dedicated and they were a joy to work with from start to finish. Finally, I want to say thank you to all of the Barbour girls. They have made this year such an unforgettable and joyful experience, and I will take it with me as I leave Strathearn. Go Barbour!

Ellie Johnston

Anna Hughes Megan Allen Rosie Elwood

BOUCHER.

Where has the time gone? It seems like only yesterday when we were given the privilege of being appointed the Boucher House Captain team last May! After a year of a completely virtual house system, we had the daunting but exciting task of integrating online and in-person events. We really needed to adapt our thinking and goals to ensure the best year of House events possible which was safe for everyone involved.

Our first task as House Captains was to help during house athletics in June. It was wonderful to mix with different year groups especially as this was the first in-person house event since Covid struck. House spirit continued to remain strong, with our Boucher pupils showing steely competitiveness. Although we didn’t win every event, we gave the other houses a run for their money throughout the year during competitions including dodgeball, junior and senior quizzes, netball, badminton, and tennis. The House Challenges Microsoft Team has proven to be a fabulous hub of activity, allowing us to hold events such as photography, gingerbread-house building, and sunflower growing!

A new competition held during anti-bullying week this year involved creating a short video revolving around the theme of

“One Kind Word”. Out of all the entries submitted, Boucher won first place, so congratulations to the girls of 2H who put this together! Another shoutout must go to Amélie Euler from Boucher who placed first in Strathearn’s Got Talent 2022. This year, the acts made their debuts on our screens rather than onstage and we were blown away by the talent on display. We are so proud of Amélie for snatching the trophy with her beautiful performance of “La Vie en Rose”!

Our House charity this year was Waakisa; they aim to provide care and support to young vulnerable girls who are pregnant and alone, and to deliver health education programmes to local schools and churches based in Uganda. Around the Christmas period, we organised the raffle sale of a Christmas goodie hamper to raise money for Waakisa. A huge thank you to those who contributed items, staff who bought tickets and to all Boucher pupils who donated so generously at each house event!

Finally, we would like to thank Ms Wallace for her unwavering support and enthusiasm, as well as our fellow House Captains and Deputies. It has been a wonderful year of House events and we wish every success to Boucher and its new House Captain team next year!

Anna Hughes, Megan Allen & Rosie Elwood

MCCAUGHEY.

When Annie, Ella and I were given the privilege of becoming House Captains back in May 2021, we were thrilled to be given the opportunity to lead McCaughey through the coming year of competitions and events. The first event that we captained was the annual day of sport. It was great to be able to get together with the girls in junior school who we hadn’t been able to meet for the past two years due to Covid.

When we came back after the summer break, we got stuck straight into events such as dodgeball, house quiz, netball and many more. Special mention goes to Atlanta Jack who placed 1st in our autumn photography competition. We also had our annual gingerbread house making competition in which Beth King came out on top, giving McCaughey another win.

In the second term, we had the return of the talent show. We had to run it online, but it was still a brilliant event. It was great

to see so many girls eager to audition and participate. Well done to the two acts who represented McCaughey - Grace Gilchrist playing the piano, and Tasha Noble, Poppy Chapman and Ella Riddell dancing (who placed a very commendable 4th). Congratulations to both acts as it takes a lot of courage to perform for the entire school!

We also had badminton and cross-country competitions. Lois Whiteside placed 1st in badminton and McCaughey placed 2nd overall. It was great to see so many pupils from Forms 1-3 out participating in the fresh air and sun during the crosscountry event, and it was even better that McCaughey placed 1st overall!

Well done to all the McCaughey girls who participated throughout the year; we are all very proud of every single one of you, and we hope that everyone enjoyed their year.

Molly Elliott

Annie Heavern Molly Elliott Ella Baxter

Faith Heyburn Joanna Carson Sasha White

Ican hardly believe that it has been nearly a year since Faith, Sasha and I were appointed as Watts House Captains. We were incredibly excited in anticipation of the task ahead of us and had no idea just how much hard work would be involved, but we also didn’t realise how fun and rewarding this year would be. Due to covid restrictions we weren’t sure how the year would unfold but we’ve been absolutely thrilled to see the majority of house events able to go ahead, even if some of them took place online.

Strathearn’s Got Talent was one of my favourite events this year. We held auditions and were blown away with all the House spirit, enthusiasm and talent. After a lunchtime of being thoroughly entertained by our talented peers, we had a hard time deciding who we should enter. In the end, Rachel Brett was chosen to showcase her beautiful piano playing, along with a duet ‘We don’t talk about Bruno’ from Encanto performed by Gigi Tate and Nell McClean. We were immensely proud of Rachel, whose incredible piano piece brought her to second place. It was a delight to give such amazing girls the opportunity to showcase their incredible talents. Well done girls!

This year, Watts girls have been raising money for ‘Tiny Life,’ Northern Ireland’s premature and vulnerable baby charity

WATTS.

who provide support services in both the Neonatal Unit and also within the community. A big thank you to everyone who contributed to this throughout the year.

Throughout the year, Watts also participated in several sporting events, such as Dodgeball, Hockey and CrossCountry. These events highlight the very purpose of the House System: teamwork. The House System at Strathearn is a special part of the school as it offers pupils a great opportunity to get involved in various activities and develop friendship with others throughout their time, regardless of age.

Finally, I would like to thank every single person in Watts, your support and enthusiasm has been brilliant. A special thanks must go to Faith and Sasha, who have been a joy to work alongside. I would also like to thank Ms Wallace for her help and guidance along the way.

It has been a delight and honour to perform this role for Watts. On behalf of Faith, Sasha and myself, I would like to wish the very best to next year’s House Captains! We hope you enjoy it as much as we have!

GO WATTS!

Joanna Carson

SPORT

GAMES CAPTAIN’S REPORT.

After a year of disruption due to Covid, the P.E. department has been busy again with girls taking part in more sports than ever before.

While the school athletics, tennis and cricket season could not take place in 2021, many girls competed for their respective clubs with some exceptional performances. In athletics, Emily Morris and Mackenzie Eager raced well throughout the summer, achieving new personal bests. Emmy Thornton had a great season, earning a place on the Ulster U17 team for the 800m at the Interpros. I have no doubt that Strathearn will have some impressive results at competitions again in the upcoming season. Throughout the summer many girls were also taking part in cricket tournaments, with performances earning them representative places on NCU, Ulster and Irish squads.

Hockey remains as popular as ever in Strathearn, with teams and players from every year group delighted to return to participation in training and matches this season. Personally, my final year of school hockey was the perfect mix of fun and competition. The 1st XI found themselves knocked out of the Senior Cup by a strong team from Banbridge Academy. They then reached the final of the Senior Plate, only to meet Banbridge Academy again in the final. The final proved to be extremely close, with the 1st XI fighting back to grab a 2-2 draw just before the final whistle. The match then went to penalty runs and unfortunately for us, Banbridge just edged in front to take the title. The 2nd XI also made it through to the final of the McDowell Shield, which was also decided on penalty runs, with BRA eventually winning the Shield. The 3rd XI reached the final of the Gibson Cup and were successful in penalty runs after a close match against Royal School Armagh, while the 4th XI faced Ballymena Academy in their cup final, winning 1-0. The U14A team made it through to the semi-final of the junior plate, which they

narrowly lost to Sullivan on penalty runs. The U12s won the year 8 hockey tournament, remaining undefeated throughout the competition. Overall, it is safe to say that it has been a remarkably successful season! Alongside the success of the school teams, there have also been some great individual successes throughout the season. Emmy Thornton and Karis Hamilton were selected for the U16 Ulster team for the Scottish series last summer, coming away with a win. This was a great achievement. A special mention should also go to Jessica Ryan, who was named as part of the U18 Ulster squad this year.

The netball teams got bac k up and running this season. They have been taking part in the Northern Ireland Schools’ Netball League and they have all started well. I wish them continued success as the season progresses. Volleyball was offered as an after-school club for the first time this year and quickly became very popular. We also had a team which represented Strathearn at the U16 Schools’ Volleyball Tournament.

Cross country has always been a successful sport for Strathearn, and this year was no different with both individual and team success at District, Ulster, and Irish level. Emily Morris and Cecily Park ran exceptionally well throughout the various levels of the competition, with Emily placing 4th at Irish level and Cecily placing 6th at Ulster level. The senior team placed 6th at the Irish Schools’ Championships, with Emmy Thornton leading the team home in 10th position. This year, Mackenzie Eager was selected as part of the Northern Ireland and Ulster team for the British and Irish Junior Mountain Running Championships. This was a fantastic opportunity to gain experience at such a large-scale competition.

Our dance teams, led by U6 pupils, performed well at NICMAC and the Junior team came away with a Bronze

Anna McKinty(Games Captain)

medal, which is a super achievement. Our trampoline team qualified for the Zonal Championships in Manchester in February, having been placed 3rd at the regional competition in November. Swimming is always strong in Strathearn, and this year has been no exception with the team winning the Intermediate McMahon Cup. Many congratulations go to Grace Davison, Rosie Whitten and Zophia Quigley, who were selected for the Interprovincial Schools’ Championships.

This year table tennis club was added to the diverse range of sports offered in school. Anjali Singh (Form 3), with her experience of competing at European level, was an invaluable asset to the club. Football club was also revitalised this year, and it was great to have the help of Sarah Tweedie who has lots of expertise and experience due to her place on the U17 Northern Ireland team.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the many staff and parents who have supported us this year. I particularly want to thank Ms Young, Mrs Grundie, Mrs Crawford, Miss Henning, all coaches, and support staff for their dedication, inspiration, support, and for sharing their love of sport with all of us. Without you, our achievements would not have been possible.

“

Anna McKinty (Games Captain, U6)

Zara Hanna (Deputy Games Captain), Anna McKinty(Games Captain), Lara Whitten (Deputy Games Captain)

HOCKEY

The 2021/22 hockey season has been another successful one for Strathearn.

The 1st XI, captained by Lara Whitten, would usually participate in the Ulster Schools’ Super League, but unfortunately that event did not run this year. The team did compete in the Belfast Telegraph Schools’ Cup, but they were beaten by Banbridge Academy in the 1st round 1-0. They then moved on to the Senior Plate, in which they reached the final. This took place at Stormont Pavilion against Banbridge Academy, who had put them out previously in the cup, so the girls were ready for revenge. The girls did very well to come back from 2-0 to make it 2-2 by the final whistle, taking the match to run-ins; unfortunately for us, the final score was 8-7 to Banbridge Academy. Despite this loss, the girls played some great hockey throughout the tournament, and they should be proud of how well they did.

The 2nd XI, captained by Emma Wilson, had a bit of a longer run in the McDowell Cup, reaching the 3rd round where unfortunately they were beaten by Royal School Armagh. This led them to the McDowell Shield, in which they had a successful run to the final which was played at Stormont Pavilion against Belfast Royal Academy. This final also ended in run-ins; the girls had played great hockey throughout the match, but unfortunately for us, they were beaten in this close play off.

A big thank you to Belfast City Airport for sponsoring the 1st and 2nd XI squad for the season with new playing shirts and kit.

The 3rd XI, captained by Kate Hunter, had an excellent season. They won the majority of their Saturday fixtures which is a great achievement. They were also crowned winners of the Gibson Cup for the second year in a row; some of our girls have now won this cup twice, which is a great achievement for them. They defeated Wallace High

School in the quarter-final, followed by Rainey in a close semi-final. They then beat Royal School Armagh in the final. This match also went to run-ins, but finished 3-1 to make Strathearn victorious.

The 4th XI, captained by Ruby Donaldson, also had a brilliant season. They were crowned 4th XI Cup winners after defeating Ballymena Academy 1-0 in the final. They reached this stage by beating Sullivan Upper in the quarter-final, then beating Belfast Royal Academy 4-3 in a tough match in the semi-final. The girls played great hockey throughout the season. Most of these girls were playing their first year in senior hockey, and we wish them well for their years to come.

In Junior hockey, the U14‘A’ XI were unlucky to lose 1-0 to Ballyclare High School in the 1st round of the Junior Cup after putting up a strong fight. They then went into the Junior Plate where they played Cookstown High School, coming away with a 2-0 win. They then played Sullivan Upper, but lost 7-6 on run-ins in the semi-final.

Our U13 teams played regularly on Saturday mornings, and it was great to have three teams representing us at this level. The U12s had various tournaments and matches throughout the year. They played at the annual Year 8 tournament at Grosvenor, in which they were unbeaten with no goals conceded. These are incredible stats for the girls and it was a great way to finish their first year off at Strathearn.

A massive thank you to all the coaching staff who have dedicated their time to us all year long. We really appreciate it! A big thank you also to all our supporters who provided us with great motivation on Saturday mornings and also in finals week.

Molly Elliott, U6

1st XI Hockey Team (Senior Plate Runners-up)

2nd XI Hockey Team (McDowell Shield Runners-up)

Back Row: Karis Hamilton, Lucie McNaught, Jess Ryan, Anna McKinty, Connie Hanna

Middle Row: Ruby Rebbeck, Anna Kirk, Rhiannon Davies, Niamh Hatfield, Sarah Tweedie, Mabelle Wilcox, Zara Hanna, Sophie Hoey Front Row: Rachel McDonald, Molly Elliott (VC), Lara Whitten (C), Tilly Nield, Emmy Thornton

Back Row: Kate Hunter, Angelique Toombs, Sophie Livingstone, Lucie Maskery, Sophie Thomas, Eva Kissenpfennig Middle Row: Tilly Nield, Sarah Tweedie, Anna Cousins, Erin McClure, Mabelle Wilcox, Anna Kirk

Front Row: Eva Ralston, Ruby Rebbeck (VC), Emma Wilson (C), Beth Chivers, Mac Eager

3rd XI Hockey Team (Gibson Cup Winners)

Back Row: Ria Hanna, Anna Cousins, Hannah Dadley-Young

Middle Row: Drea Doudican, Gracie Hamilton, Georgia Thornton, Annabel Harron, Hollie Davies

Front Row: Amy Nesbitt, Cara Murray (VC), Kate Hunter (C), Ella Simms, Mac Eager

Ulster U16 Hockey Team

4th XI Hockey Team (4th XI Cup Winners)

Back Row: Rachel Carson, Rebecca Mounstephen, Rosie Whitten, Florence Rebbeck, Ailsa Gallagher

Middle Row: Lily Richardson, Eva Wilson, Emma Stranaghan, Laura Irwin, Sarah Mavitty, Bella Emerson

Front Row: Taylor Robinson, Anna Mounstephen (VC), Ruby Donaldson (C), Emily Wilson, Ella Hampton

Ulster U18 Hockey Team

Jessica Ryan

5th XI Hockey Team

Back Row: Rebecca Mitchell, Heidi Carter, Amy Boyle, Rebecca Mounstephen, Ruby Emerson, Chloe Kenny

Front Row: Taylor Robinson, Rachel Bowen, Amy Powell (C), Ella Hampton (VC), Cassie Bailie

Emmy Thornton and Karis Hamilton

U14 A XI Hockey Team

Back Row: Lottie Eighteen, Sophie Gordon, Daisy Dorrian, Hannah Minford

Middle Row: Kate Cunningham, Maddie Leathem (VC), Rosey Magowan, Hannah Jackson, Lily Roden, Libby Gorman

Front Row: Kirsty Gregg, Ella Riddell, Hannah Grant (C), Aurelia Mayne, Lucy Andrews

U14 B & U14 C XI Hockey Team

Back Row: Sophie Holmes, Olivia Doyle, Sophie McAdam, Hazel Macpherson, Tasha Noble

Middle Row: Charlotte Howell, Imogen O’Mahoney-Truesdale, Gemma Nugent, Anjali Singh, Eva McGimpsey, Abigail Kennedy, Aurelia Mayne, Grace McCracken

Front Row: Summer-Rose Archer, Naomi Boyce, Susanna Villar, Lily Keane (C), Amelia Magowan, Charlotte Cairns, Hollie Millership

U13 A XI Hockey Team

Back Row: Evie Danaher, Katie Irwin, Mary-Ella Sheals, Scarlett Turtle

Middle Row: Melissa McGonigle, Trudy Kidd, Atlanta Jack, Vanessa Minford, Ella Dobson, Lola Raphael

Front Row: Emily Morrow, Catherine Guinane, Poppy Johnston (C), Lucy Hemphill, Hannah Whiteford

U13 B XI Hockey Team

Back Row: Emily Graham, Abbey Harper, Annabel Pollin, Anna Massey, Josie Carter

Middle Row: Erin Fraser, Sophie McMurray, Tamsin Jones, Anna Irwin, Erin Moynihan, Megan Wilson

Front Row: Emily Morrow, Victoria Bell, Suzy Smith, Grace Bell, Emily Morris.

Absent: Zara Gray, Maya Ahmed

U13 C XI Hockey Team

Back Row: Manon Newman, Charlotte Little, Tara Curry

Middle Row: Tamsin Jones, Farah Awwad, Bronwyn Beatty, Katie Barr

Front Row: Emily Morrow, Janie Reid, Anna Massey, Victoria Bell, Grace Bell

U12 A XI Hockey Team

Back Row: Alana Thornton, Ella Black, Rachel Gallagher

Middle Row: Alice Wilson, Ella Cousins, Ellis Macleod, Annabelle Shaw, Sophia Walker

Front Row: Lily Russell, Rebecca Stewart, Nyla Mallon, Alex Whiteside, Katie Dolan

Absent: Nina Kerr

U12 B XI Hockey Team

Back Row: Karis McClean, Emma Elliott, Zara Young, Lily Templeton

Middle Row: Megan Stranaghan, Lucy Anderson, Kali Hopkins, Molly McCoubrey

Front Row: Katie Allen, Hollie Norris, Erin Purcell, Molly Spence, Cecily Park

U12 C & U12 D XI Hockey Team

Back Row: Caoimhe Dornan, Ellie Martin, Isla Aldworth, Darcy Brockerton, Phoebe Campbell, Sophia Boudjemline, Amara Forde

Middle Row: Alicia Reid, Evie Miller, Jemima Readman, Monique Nugent, Libby Hanna, Mia McIlwaine-Wasson

Front Row: Sadhbh Rankin, Alex Eadie, Lucy Reid, Martha Petticrew, Cassie Davey, Niamh Coman, Maddie Smyth

Senior Netball Team

This has been another great season for Netball in Strathearn, with many girls from across every year group getting involved in training every week. The Minor, Junior, Intermediate and Senior teams have all been competing in the NI Schools’ League.

The Senior Netball team got the league off to a great start, defeating Banbridge Academy 31-21. Our Junior and Minor teams also had wins against Belfast High School and Rockport. The Intermediate team had a great season playing against strong competition, including Rockport.

Special Congratulations to Darcy Feeney who has been selected for the Northern Ireland U17 Netball squad; this is a fantastic achievement.

Congratulations also to the following U13 and U15 players who have been selected for the Regional Development squads: Alana Thornton, Ruby Tolland, Ella Cousins, Katie Dolan, Maisie Rainer, Scarlett Turtle, Sophie Gordon and Sophie McAdam.

Interhouse Netball was, as always, a popular and highly competitive competition. Special mention should go to Watts and Boucher House who were the overall winners this year. I hope that this will inspire lots of pupils to get involved in after-school Netball next year.

Thanks to Miss Henning and all the other coaches who gave up their time to take our training sessions and matches. I hope the next Netball season will be just as successful for every year group in Strathearn.

Megan Stewart, U6

NETBALL.

Back Row: Lucie McNaught, Issy Todd, Eva Kissenpfennig

Front Row: Lauren Farmer, Niamh Hanna, Megan Stewart (C), Lauren Mooney, Rosie Hardy

Intermediate ‘A’ Netball Team

Back Row: Libby Nesbitt, Aisha Moore, Heidi Carter, Georgia Thornton, Clara Waterworth

Front Row: Gracie Hamilton, Anna Mounstephen, Darcy Feeney (C), Emma Stranaghan, Rhiannon Davies

Intermediate ‘B’ Netball Team

Back Row: Libby Nesbitt, Rebecca Mounstephen, Katherine Boyle, Grace Hughes, Florence Rebbeck, Katie Mullan

Front Row: Hollie Davies, Emma Stranaghan, Lauren Wright (C), Maddie Wall, Taylor Robinson

Junior Netball Team (League Champions)

Back Row: Grace Hanna, Tasha Noble, Sophie Gordon, Sophie McAdam, Connie Waterworth

Front Row: Susanna Villar, Libby Gorman, Maddie Leathem (C), Rosey Magowan, Kirsty Gregg

Minor Netball Team (League Runners-up)

Back Row: Trudy Kidd, Ruby Mahaffy, Atlanta Jack, Ella Dobson

Front Row: Eva Hand, Emily Morrow, Scarlett Turtle (C), Abbey Harper, Ciara Hampson

Form 1‘A’

Netball Team

Back Row: Charlie Cairns, Alana Thornton, Maisie Rainer, Sofia Horgan, Ella Black

Front Row: Chloe Burrows, Ella Cousins, Ruby Tolland (C), Erin Smithson, Katie Dolan

Team

Darcy Feeney

VOLLEYBALL.

Volleyball is a recent addition to Strathearn’s long list of extracurricular activities. There has been a very strong turnout this year as Strathearn girls were eager to try a new sport, improve their skills and make new friends. Due to the popularity of volleyball, training sessions had to be split in two, creating junior and senior teams. The teams were coached by Callum Grieve and his team of coaches from Giant Leap Sports. Callum is also head coach of Belfast Wolves Volleyball Club who train at Strathearn on Tuesday evenings, and many girls involved in school volleyball also went on to participate in this club.

There have been two U16 tournaments throughout the year, giving the girls an excellent opportunity to face teams from a wide range of schools in Northern Ireland. The first tournament was held in Craigavon LC. The team, consisting of pupils from Forms 4 and 5, won two matches and lost two. This was a great result

as many of the players had only started volleyball a few months prior. The next tournament was also held in Craigavon LC. We entered two U16 teams and again the Strathearn girls performed well in this new sport and gained valuable experience to build on for the future. Thank you to the staff who travelled with us and made it possible to participate.

On behalf of everyone in the Volleyball Club, I would like to thank both Callum and his team of coaches for their great coaching and passion for the sport, and to the PE teachers who go out of their way to ensure Strathearn has the widest range of extracurricular activities possible. Thanks for giving us a chance to get involved in such a new and exciting sport. Everyone who participated in the club has had a wonderful time this year and we are very excited to dive right back into it next September.

Katherine Boyle, F5

U16 Volleyball Team

Back Row: Jenna Shaikh, Alex Picton-Lynas, Maeve Macairt, Maisie McCrea, Isabella Harvey Middle Row: Ruby Emerson, Ellen Eakin, Rachel Carson, Rheanna James, Ellie Burns, Amy Boyle, Georgia Thornton, Harriet Walker

Front Row: Rutendo Mushipe, Bella Emerson, Maddie Wall, Amy Robinson, Katherine Boyle, Cara Logue, Holly Humphreys, Holly Marshall, Anna Reynolds

GYMNASTICS.

Miss Henning has taken Gymnastics club for Forms 1 to 3 this year on Fridays after school. We have been able to practise our gymnastic skills on the beam, floor and vault, as well as meeting others that have the same interest in the sport.

We also do flexibility and conditioning stations to help build up the strength and skills needed to learn new tricks. In recent weeks, we have enjoyed making up and practising group routines together. Anyone is welcome to join and it is a great activity for the end of the week.

Ella Dobson, F2

Aside from schools’ competitions, Strathearn riders were also busy in other disciplines, collecting prizes and ribbons individually. Maeve Clarke (F5) qualified on her horse, Hilton Z, for Dublin Horse Show 2022. This is a great achievement to have qualified from such a big class.

Congratulations also to Eva McGimpsey (F3) for her success in the Connemara Showing and Working Hunter competition at Balmoral. Eva and her pony, Phil, were placed second in this competition.

Louise Brown, F5

.TRAMPOLINING

Northern Ireland Acrobatic Gymnastic Team Rosie Elwood & Anna McKinty

EQUESTRIAN.

Although the ongoing pandemic restrictions continued to impact equestrian events and competitions, Strathearn pupils did have a number of opportunities to compete and represent their school.

The Meadows Equestrian Centre in Lurgan hosted their annual Inter-School Showjumping league in the autumn term. Louise Brown (F5), Laura Dunlop (F5), Eva McGimpsey (F3) and Katy Allsop (F2) competed in this event in the novice, individual and secondary 75cm classes. Despite numerous clear rounds against the clock, they didn’t make podium position this year. Even so, they all deserve congratulations for their efforts. Everyone showed super sportsmanship on brilliantly turned-out ponies, and great fun was had by all.

The Northern Ireland Schools’ Trampoline Championships were held on the 21st of November 2021 in Ards Leisure Centre. Strathearn entered four girls in two different categories. Sophie Wilson, Ella Dobson and Sophie Carson competed both individually and as a team in the novice 7-8 girls category. This was a very tough category with nearly 40 competitors! Despite this, they qualified 3rd as a team for Zonals in England and successfully completed very strong routines. Amy Wilson also competed in the novice 11-14 category placing 1st.

After a few hard months of training, all four (slightly excited) girls set off to Manchester at the start of February to compete in the Northern Zonal Schools’ Trampoline Competition. Each of the girls achieved a personal best which helped the team to place in the top half of their category. Later on, Amy competed as an individual for the second time at Zonal level. She completed two solid routines but unfortunately on the day it wasn’t meant to be, with tough competition from the English schools. Overall, the girls thoroughly enjoyed the experience, especially their trip to the Trafford Centre, and they should all be very proud of themselves.

Amy Wilson,

Sophie Wilson, Sophie Carson, Ella Dobson, Amy Wilson

SENIOR DANCE.

T

he Senior Dance team excelled yet again this year. A team of twelve girls from Forms 3-U6 competed at the Northern Ireland Creative Movement and Aerobics Championships (NICMAC) against many schools across the country. Following the auditions in October, the final team showed their commitment, practising every Thursday after school along with additional lunchtime rehearsals leading up to the big day. As well as the effort put in by the dancers, the U6 leaders, Leah Howe and Zara Rintoul, worked tirelessly to choreograph a dance that allowed each girl to shine. The routine was called ‘Kill the Crown’; this was a challenging number but it was executed brilliantly by the team. We are so proud of this achievement and the hard work put in by each dancer. Special thanks to Miss Morrison for supervising every rehearsal.

JUNIOR DANCE.

Strathearn’s Junior Dance team consisted of 21 talented dancers from Forms 1-3. With many girls auditioning in September, selecting the team proved to be a challenge as the standard was very high. The girls were extremely dedicated to their weekly after-school and lunchtime rehearsals, in which they aimed to perfect their competition routine.

Our dance this year was choreographed by Ellie Dornan and Seren Evans, with help from Amber Brown, Isabella Anderson and Sydney Heatley. We performed to a mash-up of remixed songs, such as ‘Hit the Road Jack’ and ‘Toxic’.

Before Christmas, the team took part in a sponsored silence during school which raised an amazing £600 to put towards costumes and accessories needed for the competition.

On 11 March, the team competed in the Northern Ireland Creative Movement and Aerobics Championships held in Lisburn Leisureplex. The team competed in a very tough Junior Dance section, and absolutely nailed their routine to successfully achieve a bronze medal. We are so proud of how they performed and of the team spirit that they continued to show throughout the competition. The girls had a very enjoyable day watching all the performances and supporting Strathearn’s Senior Dance Team. Congratulations to everyone who participated. Thanks also to the U6 pupils, and to Mrs Crawford and Miss Ferson for their help on the day and supervision during the year.

Ellie Dornan, U6

Senior Dance Team

Back Row: Lily Patterson, Aisha Moore, Sydney Heatley

Middle Row: Leah Howe, Rebecca Devlin, Zara Walker, Aimee Robinson, Charlotte Gorman, Zara Rintoul

Front Row: Honey Bridges, Ciara Moore, Annie Heavern, Sarah Murray, Isabella Anderson

Junior Dance Team

Back Row: Ellie Dornan, Amelia Larmour, Charlotte Little, Ellie Johnston, Poppy Chapman, Monica Mounce, Amber Brown

Middle Row: Seren Evans, Charlotte Gorman, Matilda Brown, Molly Boomer, Megan McCreesh, Caitlyn Davies, Mya Dunne, Holly Jackson, Sydney Heatley

Front Row: Evie Gartland, Jessica Kerr, Abi McCreedy, Isabella Anderson, Honey Bridges, Heidi Dunlop, Molly Spence

Floor: Erin Moynihan

Absent: Jamillah Toriola

Following the suspension of all school cross country competitions during 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic, it was great to have the opportunity to return to a full calendar of events. This year has proved to be another successful one for Strathearn. As in previous years, we have achieved outstanding competition results and seen keen participation in our weekly cross country club. Many thanks to Mrs Harvey for giving up her time every week to commit to coaching and encouraging all members to achieve their full potential, whether that be in competitions or simply to keep fit.

This year, the County Down District Championships took place in Delamont Country Park on 19 January. The weather was favourable and the teams headed off in good spirits on the coach. With the usual tough hill cut out, the course was relatively flat - a relief to all those running! The Mini Girls started off the competition on a high, being placed 2nd overall, a fantastic performance for their first ever race, and thus qualifying for the Ulster Championships. Cecily Park led the team superbly and won an individual bronze medal. Rebecca Stewart and Katie Allen also ran a strong race, being placed 8th and 24th. The Minor Girls kept up the excellent standard, also qualifying for the Ulsters in 2nd place, with special mentions going to Emily Morris and Janie Reid for finishing 2nd and 7th. The Junior team also ran a strong race, being placed a commendable 5th, with Sophie Jess qualifying individually for the Ulsters in a well-deserved 7th place. The Intermediate team also ran well, finishing in 5th place, with Katie Mullan battling for 15th place

CROSS COUNTRY.

to qualify as an individual. The Senior team raced particularly well and qualified in 2nd place, behind an incredibly strong Down High team. Emmy Thornton ran impressively, coming in 4th place, narrowly missing out on a medal. Amy Ellison, Anna McKinty and Mabelle Wilcox came commendable 13th, 14th and 16th places respectively.

After the success of the District Championships, Strathearn’s qualifying teams and individuals set off to the Ulster Schools’ Championships at the City of Belfast Playing Fields at Mallusk. First up were the Mini Girls who came a very commendable 8th place, with Cecily Park leading the team in 6th place overall, putting out an excellent performance for her first ever Ulster Championships. The Minor Girls’ team came a creditable 9th place with an outstanding individual performance by Emily Morris, who came 2nd, qualifying individually for the Irish Championships. Sophie Jess and Katie Mullan bravely competed in the Junior and Intermediate races individually. They didn’t let that intimidate them and both put in good performances around the challenging course. Sophie Jess finished strongly in an excellent 17th place in the Junior race. Katie Mullan achieved a very commendable 45th place, doing Strathearn proud in the Inter Girls’ race. The Senior Girls were the team of the day, finishing in 2nd place overall, with Emmy Thornton leading in a phenomenal 4th place, followed closely by Mac Eager finishing in an excellent 15th place. Mabelle Wilcox put out a great performance, achieving a solid

30th place and Amy Ellison, Anna McKinty and Alice Browne also ran impressively, finishing 39th, 42nd and 56th. The girls came away with their well-deserved silver medals and qualified for the Irish Championships.

The Senior team, along with Emily Morris, returned to Mallusk Playing Fields on 12 March for the Irish Championships. First to run was Emily, coming out the star of the day, achieving an incredible 4th place against the best in the country. Last to run were the Senior team, who did Strathearn proud. First to finish was Emmy Thornton in a very impressive 10th place, followed by Mac Eager coming 45th, who ran extremely well considering she was running with girls older than her. Next up were Mabelle Wilcox and Eva Kissenpfennig, running strongly to claim 55th and 60th place. Amy Ellison and Alice Browne put in their best efforts, placing a commendable 63rd and 65th respectively. Overall, the team finished in

Congratulations to all members of this year’s cross country club! Whether training to compete for the school, or just running for fun and to keep fit, every member has put in significant effort and improved throughout the year.

Well done girls, and good luck for the forthcoming season. I’m sure you can achieve even greater successes and continue Strathearn’s excellent reputation in cross country.

Amy Ellison, U6

Senior Team (District & Ulster Runners-up)

Back

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Intermediate Team

Junior Team

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Minor Team (District Runners Up)

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Mini Team(District Runners Up)

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Table Tennis Teams (Ulster U19 & U13 Runners-up)

Table Tennis is becoming more and more popular amongst Strathearn’s pupils. We have a number of enthusiastic players who come to the club every week, and I feel privileged to coach them all. Many thanks to Ms Young who has played an instrumental role in the making of this club, and to Mrs Armstrong who assists with coaching every Thursday. I have played table tennis for Ireland a number of times in various different countries, and last year I represented the Ireland U15 team at the European Youth Championships in Croatia. It is very exciting that I can share my passion and experience of playing this sport with the girls at Strathearn.

In the last few weeks, we have had the opportunity to have Jing Yi, an Irish National coach and Commonwealth representative for table tennis, with us in Strathearn. Many thanks to Jing Yi for the fantastic role she has played in promoting this sport in our school. This year, we entered three teams for the Ulster Schools’ Championships and the girls trained very hard for the event. The U15 team finished in a very commendable 5th place, and the U19 and U13 teams both finished a brilliant 2nd place in their competitions. Table tennis has really grown this year in Strathearn, and I am looking forward to seeing it develop further in the coming years.

Anjali Singh F3 & Ireland U15 Team

TABLE TENNIS.

Back Row: Ruby Love, Amy Boyle, Katherine Boyle, Ellie Johnston, Scarlett Turtle Middle Row: Zoe Friend, Ella Black, Lauren Wright, Anna Spence, Alana Thornton, Nyla Mallon, Caoimhe Dornan Front Row: Catherine Guinane, Libby Hanna, Amelia Magowan, Anjali Singh, Megan McCreesh, Abi McCreedy, Rachel Bryson

BADMINTON.

The badminton club was back in full swing this year, and we had lots of success. It has been lovely to see so many new and returning faces coming to join us on Friday afternoons. The club has been busier than ever! This fantastic turnout each week has enabled both a junior and senior team to be formed.

The junior team consisted of Eva Wilson, Ruby Love, Lauren Wright and Bella Emerson. They played very well with wins over Coleraine and Ballyclare High School. However, Royal and Prior proved too strong and the girls lost out on a place in the final after a tough match. They all really enjoyed their experience playing for the badminton team and look forward to more training and matches next year.

Lois Whiteside, Kathryn Finlay, Cara Murray and Sophie Thomas made up the senior team this year. The team of L6 pupils played in the Ulster Schools’ Badminton League at Lisburn Rackets in November. The team faced very challenging matches against Friends, Royal and

Prior and Wallace. They put up a great fight, taking the match down to points against Wallace and losing narrowly to Friends and Royal and Prior. It was a fantastic experience, and the day provided many good matches for the girls. They look forward to playing in the league again next year.

In Inter-house badminton, Lois Whiteside from McCaughey won the Wilkinson Salver for a second year. Well done Lois!

We would like to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you to Mrs Cozzo, Mrs Crawford, Mrs McKeown and Mrs McDonald who dedicate their time on Fridays after school and at matches in order to make this all possible.

Everyone has loved badminton club this year and we can’t wait for it to start again in September!

Kathryn Finlay, L6

Senior Badminton Team

Back Row: Cara Murray, Lois Whiteside

Front Row: Sophie Thomas, Kathryn Finlay

Junior Badminton Team

Back Row: Eva Wilson, Ruby Love

Front Row: Bella Emerson, Paige Hawthorne, Lauren Wright

SQUASH. I

t was great to have competitive squash back on the menu after a gap of almost two years. The 2021/22 season started in September. There was a lot to be played for as the Strathearn contingent of Hannah McGugan and I were hoping to retain our positions from the 2020/21 season as No. 1 and No. 2 in a competitive Ireland circuit.

This was to be Hannah’s last full season as a junior after representing Ireland at every age group since the age of 11. Hannah won the Connacht, Munster and Ulster U19 Junior Opens along with the Irish U19 Junior Open, putting her at No. 1 in Ireland for U19 girls. She also had a tremendous tournament in the Irish Senior Nationals, losing to Breanne Flynn in the final - a huge achievement and a promise of what is to come as Hannah starts to compete seriously at senior level.

After all her hard work and training, Hannah was selected to represent Ireland as the No. 1 girl in the European U19 Junior Team Championships 2022 in Eindhoven, Holland. Hannah and her older sister Emma have led the way in squash at Strathearn. They are amazing sportswomen and have been outstanding competitors throughout their time here.

We wish Hannah all the best as she leaves Strathearn for pastures new, and there is no doubt that she will continue to excel as she plays at university and beyond.

As for myself, I won the Leinster U19 Junior Open and was Hannah’s supporting act at all the other events on the Irish Junior Circuit. I secured the second spot on the Ireland team to go to the European U19 Junior Team Championships 2022 in Eindhoven, Holland. I also went to the European Junior Individual Championships, which were held the week prior to the team event. We were hoping to follow on from our Silver Medal two years ago in Europe but after losing our top boy player due to injury, Ireland placed 6th in the 2022 European U19 Team Championships, beating Denmark, Czech Republic, Netherlands and Belgium on our way.

We would love to see more girls at school playing squash - it is great fun, really good for fitness and it opens up so many opportunities to compete at many different levels. Pupils who have left school in the last few years continue to enjoy the sport as they continue their studies.

Ireland & Ulster U19 Team

Ireland & Ulster U19 Team

Sophie Thomas,

Hannah McGugan

Sophie Thomas

SWIMMING.

After a long three-year wait, the Strathearn swimming team made their comeback at the Swim Ulster Senior Schools’ Cup and Championships 2022. On Saturday 5 February, 21 Strathearn pupils from ages 12-18 made their way to Bangor Aurora.

First up were the junior girls, aged 12-14. To start the day of racing, Katie Allen and Cecily Park, went head to head. It was close, but Cecily just got the touch by less than half a second. Next up was the 100m breaststroke. Katie Allen was up again, along with Rachel Clark, Riley Hamilton, Tasha Noble and Zara Prue. All swimmers completed great swims and achieved personal bests.

The 100m butterfly saw a close race between Eva Hand and Sophie Jess. Both girls qualified for the finals, with Sophie placing 10th and Eva just missing out on a medal coming fourth. The shorter distance events finished with the 100m freestyle, in which over 150 swimmers took part. This included Rachel Clark, Riley Hamilton, Kali Hopkins, Sophie Jess, Vanessa Minford, Heidi Moore, Tasha Noble, Cecily Park, Zara Prue, and Janie Reid. Well done to Tasha Noble who qualified for the final and placed 8th overall. The 200m individual medley finished off the individual swims for this age group, with Eva Hand and Vanessa Minford taking part. Eva put in another great swim, just missing out on a place on the podium, coming fourth once again. However, Eva, and her team of Tasha, Sophie, and Janie, still had another opportunity to come home with some silverware in the relays. After an unfortunate disqualification in the medley relay, pressure was high for the freestyle relay. The girls managed to stay focused and come home with a silver medal – an excellent result!

Next up were the intermediate girls, consisting of Rosie Whitten, Grace Davison, Eva Lappin, Zophia Quigley, and Lucy Wills. Grace had a clean sweep, placing 1st in the 400 freestyle, 100 freestyle and 200 individual medley. Zophia also came home with quite a few medals round her neck, placing 1st in the 100 backcrawl and 2nd in the 100 butterfly. Rosie also had an intense schedule of 400 freestyle, 100 butterfly and 100 freestyle. After a hat malfunction in the 400 front crawl, Rosie came back with a point to prove. With her hat staying on this time, Rosie picked up a silver and a bronze. Well done to Lucy who made the final in the 100 front crawl and 100 backcrawl, just missing out on

a medal position. It is no surprise that the relay team of Rosie, Grace, Zophia, and Lucy won by a length in both races and came home with the McMahon Cup for the overall Intermediate Girls Champions.

Finishing off the day were the senior girls. This included Lara Whitten, Alice Browne, Faith Heyburn, and Rachel Childs. Lara, Rachel, and Alice all went head to head in the 100 backcrawl, with all three qualifying for the final. It was a close race that came down to the touch, but the final rankings were Rachel 4th, Lara 5th and Alice 8th. Faith took on the 100 fly herself, but it was clear she had it in the bag. After putting her head down in the final 5 metres, she gained herself a bronze medal.

To finish the individual swims of the day, Alice and Rachel took on the 100 front crawl. Alice narrowly missed out on a place in the final, coming 11th. Rachel placed 3rd in the heats but pulled out of the finals to focus on the big race of the day…the relays. With a team full of backcrawlers, the medley relay proved quite challenging. Nevertheless, the team came 2nd in both races. Well done to everyone and a massive thank you to the teachers involved in organising and supporting us at the competitions.

Special congratulations to Rosie Whitten, Grace Davison and Zophia Quigley, who were selected to represent Ulster at the Schools’ Interpro gala in Dublin on 20 March. With a team involving these three dynamic swimmers, Ulster came home with the cup. To celebrate, and recover after a long day of swimming, the swimmers went to Nando’s - the recovery of champions!!

Keep an eye out on the TV for Ards swimmer Grace Davison, who achieved six Consideration Times for European Youth Olympic Festival and two Consideration Times for the European Junior Championships.

Lara Whitten, U6

Swimming Teams (Ulster Intermediate Champions)

Swim Ireland

Performance Pathway Squad

Ulster Schools’ U17 Team

Swim Ireland

Squad

Back Row: Tasha Noble, Rosie Whitten, Grace Davison, Lucy Wills, Alice Browne

Middle Row: Eva Lappin, Heidi Moore, Zara Prue, Rachel Clark, Zophia Quigley, Vanessa Minford, Faith Heyburn, Rachel Childs

Front Row: Katie Allen, Eva Hand, Sophie Jess, Lara Whitten, Riley Hamilton, Cecily Park, Kali Hopkins

Rosie Whitten, Grace Davison, Zophia Quigley

Davison

Quigley

Football club runs on Tuesday lunchtimes for girls of all ages, and it has been very exciting to see so many girls attend each week. Whether they had previous experience or were brand new to the sport, each player has shown an enthusiastic approach to each session. Every week, they learn a variety of skills such as passing and dribbling through a range of drills and activities.

I would like to congratulate Annabelle Shaw (F1) who has been selected for the Regional Excellence Programme, following a set of trials in January. This is an exciting opportunity to train with experienced coaches which I hope she enjoys.

Personally, I have had a busy year playing in the Northern Ireland Under-17s team. This year, I travelled to Serbia for the first set of European Qualifiers against the hosts, Spain and Iceland. Later I was selected for the trip to Israel for more European matches against Luxembourg, Israel and the Faroe Islands. These were incredible experiences that I will never forget.

I would like to thank Mrs Michael, Rebekah O’Tiarnaigh and Sophie Hoey for helping out each week.

Sarah Tweedie, L6

NORTHERN CRICKET UNION U17 & SENIOR TEAM

Lucie McNaught and Sophie Thomas

NORTHERN CRICKET UNION U15 TEAM

NI U17 TEAM

Sarah Tweedie

CRICKET.

Amy Boyle, Eva Wilson and Katherine Boyle

The Ulster qualifying round of the Irish Schools’ Championship took place at Antrim Golf Club on 5 April for the Juniors, and at Kirkistown Golf Club the following day for the Seniors. Strathearn was represented by Nyla Mallon, Vanessa Minford and Chloe Nelson for the Junior team. The Senior team was probably unique in that it comprised three Girls’ Captains of local golf clubs Royal Belfast, Bangor and Clandeboye - Ruby Rebbeck, Lucie McNaught and Aimee Blair.

Although both days presented challenging conditions, our teams adapted well. The Seniors finished 6th and the Juniors finished 7th in their respective age groups. They just missed out on clinching a spot in the Irish Championships, but these are two young teams so the signs are good for Strathearn’s golfers in future years. Very well played to all those who took part. Happy golfing!

Lucie McNaught, L6

MOUNTAIN RUNNING.

TEAM Mackenzie Eager

PENRHYN.

STRATHEARN PREPARATORY DEPARTMENT

Our school governors, through the Penrhyn Committee, led by Mr Robin Masefield, continue to support all aspects of the Preparatory Department’s development. We are always planning for improvement and the interest and support given by Mrs Connery is invaluable.

To celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, we have invested in the creation of a Jubilee Garden. This area will provide an attractive and stimulating outdoor learning area for our girls. The development of this new facility has provided the opportunity for an excellent cross phase ceramic art project with Strathearn Art Department.

Life in Penrhyn is exciting, happy, and fun; we have been as busy as ever. Our vibrant Preparatory Department continues to thrive and in recent months we have welcomed many new pupils to our school.

In September 2021, we welcomed Miss Diana Clark as our new Prep 6 teacher and Mrs Jenny McGimpsey as our new Penrhyn Office Administrator. Ms Wendy Frazer has also joined the Penrhyn After School Staff.

Over and above the aim of academic excellence, a Penrhyn education provides our pupils from Prep 1 to Prep 7 with valuable opportunities in sport, music, and drama.

To give you an insight into the vibrant life of the Preparatory Department, I invite you to explore our various articles, photographs, artwork, reports, stories, and poems.

Antarctica

Antarctica the ice continent

Where the wind blows Penguins roam the island Mountains everywhere

Freezing cold weather

Not many animals can survive the climate there Blizzards…snow blizzards, to be precise

There are still many facts to be discovered

The whole continent is basically an ice desert Explorers from all around the world have gone there

In fact, Antarctica is amazing! If you ask any polar explorer, I’m sure they would agree…

By Ursula Slevin

Antarctica The Ice Continent

The wind that blows,The snow that falls,The freezing weather,Brave explorers!Harsh conditions,An interesting ice desertA deep, deep sea,The blizzards and glaciers are not for me,The mountains And the sea surrounding this place,The penguins and sealsAnd killer whalesYou can get frost biteYou must be carefulIt’s pretty but dangerousAnd so, I will never go thereNow you know!

By Alice Ritchie

In P4 we study a topic on Polar Exploration. We learn about Sir Robert Falcon Scott, Roald Amundsen and we focus on Sir Ernest Shackleton in particular. There was huge excitement when it was announced that Shackleton’s ship, The Endurance, had been found. On 5 March 2022, The Falklands Maritime Heritage Trust confirmed that the Endurance22 Expedition had located the wreck of Endurance, Sir Ernest Shackleton’s ship. It was crushed by the ice and sank in the Weddell Sea in 1915. The Endurance was found at a depth of 3008 metres in the Weddell Sea one hundred years after Sir Ernest Shackleton’s death. In line with our whole school Literacy focus on poetry, we set about creating poems about Antarctica and about this magnificent discovery.

We used various media to present our artwork including collage, print making, charcoal and finger painting. We ‘met’ Sir Ernest Shackleton on a virtual visit, and we watched news coverage of the Endurance discovery on our new classroom Clevertouch Panel board.

To give a flavour of what the girls did, we have included some of their poems below.

B Mawhinney, Head of Department

Shackleton’s Ship

The Endurance is Shackleton’s ship. It sank in November 1915. I can imagine what Ernest Henry Shackleton felt like. Sad, nervous and a tiny bit scared they might not make it back alive! It didn’t get eaten because no under water animals can eat it. They have found it! The Endurance has been found! It is so exciting! Divers and underwater robots found it. The boat, an ice – breaker ship, called SA Agulhas II found it. The people must be very, very happy and proud to have found the Endurance. The ship was found in the Weddell Sea in Southern Ocean Antarctica. It was a very special ship; it was found 5th March 2022. It is 100 years since Sir Ernest Shackleton was buried. I love the end of this story.

By Augusta McCausland

Back row: Sophia Blair, Anna Ritchie, Scarlett Childs, Ava Sweet

Front row: Rachel Chacko, Emma Bell, Alexandra Savage

Seated on floor: Sophie Nelson

.CLUBS

PIANO

In late September 2021, I started back at Penrhyn after being away for over a year due to the pandemic. I was welcomed by a lovely new piano room, redecorated with a new carpet, blinds and stool! During the pandemic, I was proud of the girls who availed of the new ABRSM Digital Performance exam, which involved submitting a video of a performance of four consecutive pieces.

Thank you, parents, for your patience and superb camera work during our Facetime lessons! In September 2021, I was overwhelmed by the numbers of pupils enrolling for piano lessons. There certainly are some budding musicians!

The P3s and P4s have enjoyed playing tunes on the black keys, making up lyrics and playing with a backing track. They have also enjoyed learning note names, time values and even playing with hands together!

The P5s, P6s and P7s have composed pieces and have played duets, which is excellent for developing skills such as listening sympathetically, co-ordination and team work.

Thank you so much, parents and siblings, for your support and to my stoical pupils for their cheerfulness, enthusiasm and hard work during difficult times.

P Williams

AFTER-SCHOOL CLUB

Our fun-filled After-School Club runs every day from 2.00-5.45pm. Full-time and par t-time sessions are available for all years, and can be booked through an application form or by request. After-School Club provides opportunities for the girls to engage in arts and crafts, role-play and to socialise with friends. We have a wide range of arts and crafts, in which the girls can use their imaginations to create their own masterpieces. As well as this, girls can engage in planned activities each week. The girls in Prep 4 and above are able to complete their homework. We also have access to a great outdoor space where the girls can take part in outdoor games and have some fresh air after a hard day’s work in school!

L King

After-School Club Co-ordinator

SPEECH AND DRAMA

Speech and drama provides an opportunity for each girl to improve her communication skills, expand her imagination and think creatively. The classes aim to foster an appreciation of literature, poetry and drama while building self-confidence and self-esteem, creating confident and motivated individual learners. The interaction necessary for drama provides an arena where the girls can develop team working skills. The Lagan Festival of Speech and Drama produced very successful results.

The girls also have the opportunity to enter the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA) examination and, as I anticipated, the last set of results were truly outstanding.

J Armstrong

SINGING

It has been an absolute delight to get singing classes up and running again this year. Girls from P4- P7 have a weekly group lesson where they have been enjoying singing together again, as well as developing their confidence to perform in front of others. The girls have worked hard at their technique and performance styles in a variety of songs, and thoroughly enjoyed participating in Holywood and Belfast Music Festivals.

P Devlin

P5 HOCKEY

Ava Sweet, Emma Bell, Rachel Chacko, Lucie Frame, Sophia Blair, Alexandra Savage, Scarlett Childs, Bella Houliston, Isabelle Jones, Ava Williams, Charlotte McKenna, Layla Corry, Libbie Gordon, Anna Ritchie, Aoife O’Connor, Sophia Wilson

Sophia Bennett, Annie McIlwaine, Rain Akpojivi, Jemima Agbaje, Olivia Tanney, Lexi McSherry, Freya Brand, Scarlett Bennett, Rachel Booth, Darcy White, Freya Bevan

HOCKEY CLUB

This year we had another fantastic turnout at hockey club with 28 P6 and P7 girls attending training on Tuesdays after school.

The girls competed in friendly matches with the Form 1 pupils, which allowed them to practise their skills before the Ulster Hockey Qualifiers tournament.This year we had two teams entered in the East Belfast Heats of the tournament. Both teams put in fantastic performances, with the Penrhyn 1 team gaining wins against Methody, Gracehill and Penrhyn 2.

The girls played with great enthusiasm and finished 5th overall out of eight teams.

SWIMMING CLASS

The girls from P2 to P7 have been enjoying the amazing swimming facilities at Lisnasharragh Leisure Centre, where they go for swimming lessons weekly.

ULSTER TENNIS

CRICKET

Cricket club proved popular again with a large number of girls across P6 and P7 attending training in the summer term.

The girls were able to practise and refine their batting and fielding skills, which were then put into practice during matches. Many thanks to Strathearn for allowing us to use their sports facilities.

Crawford

Back Row: Sophia Blair, Jessica Kerr, Alexandra Savage, Layla Corry Middle Row: Holly Johnston, Ava Sweet, Lucie Frame Floor: Scarlett Childs

Aryia Pringle Quinn

This year’s cross-country team was made up of 7 girls from P5-P7: Lucie Frame, Layla Corry, Jemima Agbaje, Freya Bevan, Rachel Booth, Issie Hazel-Agar and Emily Morrison.

The team travelled to the Henry Jones Playing Fields to take part in the Flahavan’s Primary Cross-Country Championships. The girls ran an excellent race in cold conditions and finished in an impressive 4th position, just outside of qualifying for the overall finals. As an individual, Freya Bevan from P6 finished in 6th place and qualified for the finals.

P1-P3 Sports Day

This year the sun shone brightly on P1-P3 Sports Day. With restrictions in place, the sports day took place in class bubbles and although parents were unable to attend, the girls competed with great enthusiasm and determination. For many this was their first time competing in a school sports day and they all had a thoroughly enjoyable morning. Our thanks go to Mrs King for assisting with the running of the event.

P4-P7 Sports Day

Due to the restrictions in place, P4-P7 Sports Day took place during class time this year. Nonetheless, the girls took to the event with great team spirit and enthusiasm. The girls competed across a wide range of events including the 75m sprint, longjump, tennis ball throw, inter-house relays and 600m. Many thanks to Strathearn Senior School for allowing us to use their facilities. Our thanks also go to Miss Scott and Mrs King for assisting with the running of the event.

B Crawford

Results

P4

50m- Rosanna McGimpsey, 50m Obstacle- Rosanna McGimpsey

P5

50m - Freya Bevan, 400m - Freya Bevan, Tennis ball throw - Lottie De’ath, Long jump - Olivia Tanney

P6

75m - Scarlett Childs, 600m - Lucie Frame, Tennis ball throw - Sophia Blair, Long Jump - Lucie Frame

P7

75m - Cecily Park, 600m - Cecily Park, Tennis ball throw - Nyla Mallon, Long Jump - Maisie McCrea

McGimpsey

Up

Hazel-Agar

Bevan

Up

Pringle-Quinn

Frame

Childs

Park

Charlotte Acheson

Bevan, Lucie Frame,

Back Row: Lucie Frame, Emily Morrison, Issie Hazel Agar Middle Row: Rachel Booth, Layla Corry, Jemima Agbaje Floor: Freya Bevin

On 22 March, Penrhyn pupils were invited to Strathearn to take part in a “Potted Sports Day”. This occasion was to raise funds for the new Jubilee Garden planted at Penrhyn.

The event was split into two sessions, with P5-P7 competing first and P1-P4 in the second session. The girls were divided into ten teams and completed ten different sporting activities.

These ranged from Hockey to Hoopla, Football to Fitness. The girls received points for their team each time they completed a task. The team with the most points at the end were deemed the

winners and received a prize from Mrs Crawford. The girls all thoroughly enjoyed the morning and demonstrated great team spirit and enthusiasm.

Many thanks to the GCSE PE class from Strathearn who assisted Mrs Crawford with running the event.

P1.

2021. WELCOME TO P1!

We had fun with the Autumn leaves in the Penrhyn garden!

2021.

SANTA VISIT

On 15 December 2021, we had a very special visitor in the P1 classroom. Santa Claus arrived to talk to the girls and listen to their Christmas wishes.

We sang songs together and he left with a promise to bring the special presents for the girls on Christmas Eve.

We all waved him off with a very merry ho, ho, ho!

FEBRUARY 2022.

P1 PRINCESS PARTY

On 11 February, the P1 girls had a Princess Party to celebrate the end of the class topic on Fairy Tales. We enjoyed dressing up, dancing, playing games and watching a Princess movie. To add to the magic, we also had a Princess cake at break time, which the girls really enjoyed. A fun time was had by all!

Tatiana Readman

Victoria Beattie

Luisa McDade

Ella Cairns

Poppy Gregg

Freya Hughes Summer Young

Jessica McGimspey

Harriet McNally

P2.

On 8 October, we had a Yellow Day. It was a non- uniform day, and we had to wear a yellow piece of clothing or a yellow accessory. We brought in £2 for a charity called Young Minds. Young Minds is a charity that helps people with mental health issues.

It was fun seeing the teachers wear yellow as well as the pupils. We chose yellow because yellow is a happy colour, and it radiates joy. Yellow day was really good fun, and I would like to do something like it again.

Lucie Frame, P7

As par t of our PDMU topic, “Marvellous Me”, Angela told us all about how she celebrates Chinese New Year with her family.

We pretended to make dumplings using play dough. Then we completed a special 2D shape challenge to make a dragon. We listened to beautiful Chinese music as we worked.

2021.

On 2 December, P2 performed our Christmas play which was called ‘Ralph the Reindeer’. The P2 characters were Ralph, Santa, Rudolph, the elves and the reindeer. Rudolph was too sick to guide the sleigh, but Ralph the reindeer, along with his friends, saved the day! Everyone enjoyed singing, dancing and acting in the play. Mrs Connery said we were superstars!

Harriet Beevors

Grace Toman

Grace Horner

Lena Wilson

Cordelia Roberts

Aisha Quinn

Sophia Morrow

Charlotte Campbell

Hope McCormick

Aisha Quinn

Ella McKinney

.P4

DECEMBER 2021. CHRISTMAS PLAY

The P4 girls performed a Christmas play called ‘Sugar Plum’ in the Penrhyn Assembly Hall on 2 December. The play was about an extremely naughty elf called Elvin, who kept playing tricks on Father Christmas. He even broke Sugar Plum’s magic wand and it was all a disaster until Santa saved the day and gave Sugar Plum a new wand. We all enjoyed getting dressed up in lovely colourful costumes and getting our make-up done. The girls all performed very well with superb acting and singing and Mrs Connery congratulated us all on our great performance. It was so much fun!

Poppy Fraser and Grace Robinson

On two Tuesdays in March, we went to the Strathearn Art Department to prepare for an exciting project for our new Penrhyn Jubilee Garden. On the first day we made flowers using clay, by carving out the shapes and making lovely patterns. When we returned two weeks later, we painted them. It was super fun and exciting and everyone enjoyed themselves. Autumn McGurnaghan and Emma Wilson

MARCH 2022. OUR DAY OF ART AT STRATHEARN CERAMICS WORKSHOP

Today we walked over to Strathearn to do some creative Art. When we went in, we had to sit down and listen to the Art teacher. After that she passed out cut-out paper flowers. Then she passed out clay.

She told us to feel it very carefully with our hands. It felt cold because of the moisture. Then we put the flower on top of the clay. Next, we used a pen or pencil to shape the clay into a flower. Then we used different types of tools to do the centre of the flower.

Last we did a unique design on the petals. We had to walk over to the art teacher and say we had finished. She put it in the kiln to dry. Then we washed our hands and I said thank you so much and we walked out of the room to go to the canteen.

INTERACTIVE ZOOM CALLS

This year in P4, one of our topics has been famous people. We have had some zoom calls with some of these famous people, including Elizabeth Fry, Mary Anning and Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton. Sir Ernest Shackleton told us about his story. He was born on 15 February 1874 and died in 1922. He brought 27 men on his ship called the Endurance to the Antarctica, but it got caught in the ice and crumbled in the cold weather. He was able to save his crew by drifting on sheets of ice until they were rescued. We were able to ask him lots of questions and interview him in his character! It was really interesting.

Zara Goldsbrough and Peggy Hirst

We have been enjoying the many different virtual visits we have been able to access and interact with! These have included “visits” from Florence Nightingale, Ernest Shackleton, Queen Victoria, Elizabeth Fry, and also ‘Mark the Science guy’ and the Mini beast workshop! The girls enjoyed the experiences and learned so much from them.

Yasmin Lucas

P4.

It is Spring

Colours of Spring just brighten my day

Just think of colours come right this way

Yes, it is Spring come and see The garden is changing its winter clothes Spring is putting away its winter suits It is Spring and the garden is changing its style The garden is changing its colours

Putting away its dark colours Now it wraps itself in green shoots Spring is wonderful!

The sun is shining on my face

A warm feeling comes my way That’s a sign of Spring today

When you wake up it’s bright It’s like you’ve finally turned on the lights Brighter nights are in my heart making me happy The weather can twist and bring April showers When the evenings are brighter, we have fun Just open your eyes and you will know it is Spring

What beautiful colours fill my head…

The different tips of coloured bulbs pop out in the sun Spring is the time of year when bluebells twirl And blossoms blow in the wind

The soft wind is blowing against my face Lazy hedgehogs come out of hibernation Gorgeous lambs start to run around the field

I think the world grows happier I grow happier

There are singing birds a beautiful song to hear Chirping until nighttime I love Spring When I woke up today I felt something new I realised

It is Spring!

A group poem

Peggy HurstAnnabelle Roberts

Augusta McCausland

Alexa Burns

Winter Forest

In the winter forest there are beautiful creatures, From sleepy bears to chirping robins, You will find badgers underground and hopping hares, And lots of lovely creatures.

Swirling worms and black beetles living underground, The world is white and in the forest it is snowing so gently as we speak, It is warm inside but the old stone cottage is frozen solid.

It was abandoned for a long time As if no one ever lived there, It has a creaking gate and overgrown walls, There used to be an old woman living in it But she left a long time ago.

There’s a storm now coming and hailstones are falling, A gust of wind blows across the forest, It’s getting colder and colder And the rain is wetter And heavier.

By Ruby Keating

A Christmas Poem

Sleeping in the cold dark night,Fields of sheep spreading their zzzzz,Special of all children

Lying in a manger, Full of joy,Shepherds on their way,Following a shining special star,Animals making noises,And shepherds dancing with glee ,Amazed and shocked but full of joy,Lying sleeping in a mangerWas the Son of God.

By Emma Wilson

Willa Redman

Ella Burnside

P5.

The Best Day I Could Ever Imagine!

At 7:30 I woke up in a very soft and comfy bed and watched a movie in 3D. It was amazing! I had eggs, crispy bacon, toast with Nutella on it and pink Lucozade. I can’t describe how delicious it was.

I wanted to wear ripped jeans, a belt and a white crop top. My hair was in space buns and I wore white Air Force shoes. Then I looked out the window and I saw a lovely beach with white sand and crystal-clear water and all kinds of sea animals. I went downstairs and saw Ariana Grande and Sofia Carson. I felt like I was having a dream. I pinched myself and nothing happened, so it wasn’t a dream. They asked me if I wanted to go shopping and I shouted at the top of my lungs, “Yes!” We went to Gucci, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Forever 21, River Island and Starbucks.

Then we flew to the Maldives and met Kylie Jenner, my best friend Sienna, Dua Lipa and Emma Watson. So, we went to the restaurant, Nusselt. I got a T -bone steak and chips. Those chips were very crunchy and delicious. For dessert we had Turkish ice-cream and a Sundae Special. We went back to the hotel and we were having a sleepover. We watched ‘ChangSe and the Ten Rings.’ It was so good! We ate popcorn, Haribo sweets, chocolate and drank Shirley Temples. Then we had a pillow fight! We might have broken some things, but it was okay. We tried on all the things we bought. By the time we finished trying everything on we fell asleep. It was a long day, but it was the best day ever!

Catherine Quinn

The Best Day, Ever!

One day I woke up feeling like it was going to be the best day, ever! First, I went downstairs, and I did my usual skincare routine. Then I got my mummy to take me to Maud’s ice-cream place. When we arrived, I had an enormous ice-cream sundae!

Then we went to a rollercoaster park! It was so much fun! After that I went skydiving with my best friend, Rosanna and it was just as much fun as going on a rollercoaster or getting ice-cream for breakfast.

I flew to Paris after that and I even saw the Eiffel Tower! Then I went shopping and I went to River Island, The American Candy Shop, New look and Claire’s. On the way back I went to Starbucks and had coffee. It was delicious! I was so happy. Then I went to the park for a bit of relaxation.

By the end of the day, I realized that life isn’t always about having nice things, it’s about being happy, healthy and especially, being cared for and loved. I learned that day, that everyone should be more grateful for everything they have.

Arianna Beattie

Rachel Cairns

Catherine Quinn

Rosanna McGimpsey

P5 Wind Farm

Erin Sweet Issie Hazel-Agar

P6.

We made balloons for Mental Health Week. The theme was ‘Growing Together’, so the balloons represent the people that help us grow to be a better person.

The people who are most likely to help us grow are our family members, since they have helped you grow your whole life. It’s always good to try and help each other grow to be the best person you can be.

Mental Health week is so important for everyone because it helps us realise we can be a better person and help others to be better people too!

Freya Brand and Annie McIlwaine

Recently it was NI Science Week. We had booked an interactive zoom for it. ‘Mark the Science Guy’ told us about different types of movement energy. He told us about Rube Goldberg, an inventor who made the simplest things difficult and humorous.

Mark showed us a Rube Goldberg machine that he made himself. The goal for this was to pop a balloon. We found this very fascinating and hope to have it again!

Jemima Agbaje and Sarah Bryans

Sarah Matchett

Lottie De’Ath

Lottie De’Ath

Sarah Matchett

Ava Dunlop

Ayria Pringle Quinn

P7.

On 8 October, we had a Yellow Day. It was a non- uniform day, and we had to wear a yellow piece of clothing or a yellow accessory. We brought in £2 for a charity called Young Minds. Young Minds is a charity that helps people with mental health issues. It was fun seeing the teachers wear yellow as well as the pupils. We chose yellow because yellow is a happy colour, and it radiates joy. Yellow day was really good fun, and I would like to do something like it again.

Lucie Frame

On 25 February, we pretended to be in school in Victorian times .

Mrs Andrews and Mrs Mawhinney put a lot of effort into making the day perfect and other teachers did so too. The whole class did an excellent job to keep up the acting for the entire School Day.

For Victorian Day, each girl dressed up as a Victorian school child. Not everyone dressed up as a girl; four girls dressed up as Victorian boys which was a very novel idea! The class also had to bring a Victorian snack. Girls brought in apples, cheese and crackers, jam sandwiches and digestives. We also wrapped our snack in crunchy brown paper with white string securing the parcels.

On 2 February 2022, there was an important guest in our class. This was Queen Victoria in the modern world - well, she was a very good actress! As Queen Victoria was a queen, she spoke in a very posh voice. We learnt that she was part German, even though she sounded English. After her childhood, she thought if she was to be a Queen, she should sound more English. Queen Victoria said that she was very lonely when she was a child. Queen Victoria was funny because she kept saying “Prince Albert, he is my husband” which gave the impression that she loved him very much. Queen Victoria read a little bit of her diary to us which was very interesting. She mentioned the Great Expedition. She also talked about some of the inventions that were made and said she wasn’t always the first to try them. We weren’t actually there - it was via zoom. This zoom call was interesting and fun. I will always remember this day.

Izzy Jones

When we got into school, we went to the ICT room for a hand inspection which would have happened every day in a Victorian school. Then we went into the classroom in a strange manner. Every time the teacher hit the old handbell, a girl entered. The first class we did was arithmetic which was one of the three R’s (the three R’s were reading, arithmetic and writing). For Maths, we chanted the times tables, and wrote them out on black slates with slate pens. We then did Geography on an incredibly old map, and we learned about the British Empire. Unfortunately, I got the dunce’s hat just because I made a mistake, which was very unfair!

Queen Victoria

Who was She?

Queen Victoria

When did she

There

What happened during her reign?

What

Heading out for break the usual chatter and buzz from the girls returned to normal but the moment the teacher came out it was silent once again in the single-file line. The day became slightly more daunting as a strict, serious, no messing teacher came through the door and that teacher was none other than...Mrs Mawhinney. Mrs Mawhinney watched us toe the line and chant our five times tables!!

After lunch, we got to write with ink pens. These were slow to use as you had to keep dipping them into the ink. Throughout

the day we had talks about getting a husband and growing up to be a ‘proper woman’. Art was really funny because while we were drawing Queen Victoria, the teacher went round and commented on our art. She said, ‘What is that? An eye? Is there a marble on her head?’ A few people even got their art torn up and people got told off for laughing.

When we were in the middle of writing lines the teacher told us to put down our pencils and then she declared that Victorian Day was over. We had been sitting up tall all day, so we asked if we could slouch a bit in our chairs.

So, in conclusion, I can see an enormous difference between a Victorian school day and my school day. I’m really happy I'm not in the Victorian times and really glad for all my kind and supporting teachers. It reminds me of how lucky I am to have friendly teachers and really kind friends to in school!

Bella Houliston

MARCH 2022. OUR TRIP TO STRATHEARN

In March, all classes from P1 to P7 went over to Strathearn. The P7s were told to create clay butterflies and the other classes created flowers, leaves and sunflowers. This took place over 2 days so we had enough time to make the butterflies.

First, we were given out square clay. The teacher gave us a piece of paper shaped like a butterfly so we could use it to cut out the shape with a clay knife. We were given pens and pencils of different kinds. Most were the same but some were different and we were told to share with the people beside us. We were also asked to make a design with pens and pencils. I made mine with lots of detail.

A week later we went back to Strathearn and were told to paint the butterflies, but it was hard. I only had red, pink, purple and blue but I mixed colours to make lots more!

The reason we did this was for our Jubilee Garden. I was excited to be part of this event.

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 2022

International Women’s Day is celebrated all over the world. The day is dedicated to celebrating the lives of women. In the past, women were underestimated by men. People believed that a woman couldn’t do a man’s job. This is called a stereotype. An example of a stereotype would be, ‘Women should be in the kitchen.’ This is an awful saying because women should be free to do whatever they want. In the past, many women would have liked to become doctors or engineers. But at the time these jobs were considered to be a man’s job. Even if a woman studied well and got a degree to become a doctor or engineer, they would be rejected just because they were a woman. Women weren’t even allowed to vote but luckily that changed thanks to the brave suffragettes who fought for this right.

Nowadays, society has changed, and women and men have equal rights. There are many women who have done great things in society and there are many great women role-models who have inspired young children to follow their dreams. On International Women’s Day we talked about how women should have equal rights. We were also on a zoom call with Mrs Andrews’ sister who told us about her work as an army officer. She inspired a lot of us to follow our dreams and showed us that women can do whatever they like!

Rachel Chacko

Jessica Kerr

P7 ART.

Ava Williams

Jessica Kerr

Libbie Gordan

Natasha McMullan

Sophia Wilson

Charlotte McKenna

.WORLD BOOK DAY

The P1 girls had great fun dressing up for World Book Day on 3 March. They had to dress as a character from a favourite book and perform a “Show and Tell” to the class. The costumes were super, and the book reports were most entertaining. Well done, P1s!

The P2s had fun dressing up and creating art work of their favourite characters for World Book Day.

WORLD BOOK DAY.

On 3 March, we celebrated World Book Day. We had lots of fun dressing up as our favourite characters from books, and the teachers all dressed up too! There were so many different characters in our class, such as Harry Potter, Mary Poppins, ‘Thing One and Thing Two’, Fantastic Mr Fox, Disney princesses and lots more! We did fun activities about books, like writing descriptions about our characters, designing a new cover for our favourite book, and making bookmarks. Mrs Devlin also read us lots of stories. At break time and lunch time, it was exciting to see all the different costumes from the other classes. It was such a fun day!

Yasmin Lucas and Anaya Asim

Recently it was World Book Day and our class dressed up very creatively. Olivia and I dressed as Galadriel from the Lord of the Rings and Amy Fleming from Heartlands. We did wonderful activities like writing about our characters and made a book about a day in the life of P6. We had so much fun and we can’t wait for next year.

Rachel Booth and Olivia Tanney

Every year, the whole school from P1 to P7 take part in World Book Day. It is a day when everybody dresses up as their favourite character from a book. It is held on the first Thursday in March. The P7 pupils went outside to take a photo of the whole class in their costumes. My favourite costume was Alex’s costume. She dressed up as the Christmas Pig but she was actually just in a Percy Pig costume! I dressed up as the girl version of Draco Malfoy from Harry Potter. For our work, we completed a comprehension on David Walliams. We had to create and upload a video presentation on a favourite book or character to Google Classroom.

We also went outside in different groups to get our pictures taken. If you were dressed up as someone from Harry Potter, you went in a group with them. I really enjoyed my last World Book Day and I’m really sad I won’t be able to do it in Penrhyn again. Farrah Taylor

.JUBILEE GARDEN

Our exciting Jubilee Garden, planted with a myriad of colourful plants and shrubs, adds a rainbow of happiness to Penrhyn. The girls had great fun planting the class flower beds and completing their ceramic designs. The design includes a magical fairy walkway, a decked outdoor learning area and new raised planters.

Lady Mary Peters officially opened the gardens on 17 May 2022. This special event was attended by special guests including Mrs Anthea Smyth, who was representing Dame Fionnuala Jay O’Boyle CBE, Lord Lieutenant of Belfast.

Penrhyn Assembly Hall was beautifully decorated for a delicious morning tea, and our guests enjoyed P4 Choral Speaking and a lively performance by Penrhyn School Choir.

B Mawhinney

MUSIC.

HOLYWOOD FESTIVAL.

On 20 January, the singing girls took part in Holywood Music Festival in the musical theatre classes. We had been practising very hard at our different songs. Before we got up on stage we were feeling a bit nervous but then we felt really relaxed and happy when it was over. We enjoyed seeing everyone’s performances. In the younger class Elena Kelly came second and in the older class Farrah Taylor and Jemima Agbaje got joint second place. Mrs Devlin was very proud of us all for singing so well!

Willa Readman, Willow Young and Elena Kelly P4

BELFAST MUSIC FESTIVAL.

On 10 March 2022, I took part in the 113th Belfast Musical Festival. Lots of other Penrhyn girls entered from Prep 7, Prep 6, Prep 5 and Prep 4. I was singing ‘Wouldn’t it be lovely’ from My Fair Lady. I felt nervous while I was waiting in the crowd but once I started singing all my worries went away. It was quite a big audience of mums, dads and music teachers, as there were thirty-eight competitors in my class! I really enjoyed participating in the festival and hope to do more in the future. It was lovely to have my friends sitting in the front row cheering me on. I won a highly commended certificate. The other Penrhyn girls who won certificates are Amelia Maze, Sarah Bryans and Sophie Wilson. Amelia won the second place certificate, Sarah won a highly commended certificate and Sophie won a commended certificate.

Lottie De’Ath,

Elena Kelly Farrah Taylor

Amelia Maze Aryia Pringle Quinn

Sarah Bryans

Lottie De’Ath

Jemima Agbaje

Sophie Wilson

.P1

SENIOR PLAY.

CHARLIE & THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY.

IIn January , the P7 pupils started working on this year’s P7 play, which was ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’. I was a narrator, along with Sophia W, Rachel, Natasha, Izzy and Layla. Emma was cast in the role of Willy Wonka and Sophie was cast in the role of Charlie Bucket. For the preparation of the play, we had to paint and make props and make sure that they all fitted onto the stage. We had to wear black tops and leggings most days of the week and black dance pumps. We weren’t able to do the play in the big hall in Strathearn due to

GCSEs and Covid restrictions, but I still really enjoyed doing the play in the Penrhyn hall.

We got a professional film photographer to film the play and hired a massive star cloth for the background of the stage. As soon as the music started, I was really excited and a bit nervous. I think it was a really good play overall.

Libbie Gordon

Mr Bucket Scarlett Childs

Mrs Bucket Clara Hannah P7

Grandma Josephine Valentina Danielli P7

Mike TV Ava Sweet

PERSPECTIVE.

Perspective - Looking forward while thinking back

Let’s begin…….

We can look at this two ways

Let’s balance, both have value

One looking back with a telling tinge of sadness;

Like blue watercolour seeping to its drying edge

Or

Looking forward perched on a stone turret surveying….

On the horizon I see

A precious path of positivity and my ocean of opportunity

My time in Penrhyn is over and I must move on I’ll always remember even though I’ve gone…..

I have loved so many things about my time here; My memories are bursting fresh treasured and held dear

I know each stair and path and room;

The special buildings the sound of the bell……..

The names of my teachers, my friends I know so well

I take with me wise words and advice for my new way

I’m ready and I’m prepared

I am, I know

Only look back to see how far you’ve come…… Penrhyn your job is done;

I’m ME!