Omagh High School
14 Crevenagh Road
NEWSLETTER
Omagh, Co Tyrone
BT79 0EQ
Tel: 028 82242656
April 2013
Fax: 028 82251568
Email: info@omaghhigh.omagh.ni.sch.uk
Website:www.omaghhighschool.org.uk
PUPILS OF THE
MONTH
ENVIRONMENTAL YOUTH
SPEAK COMPETITION
8A - Charlie Beattie
8B - Jake Hannigan
8C - Milan Matecz
OCCUPATIONAL STUDIES
DEPARTMENT UPDATE
9A - Kellie Anderson
9B - Greame McGonigle
9C - Joanne Thompson
10A - Cameron Turner
10B – Danielle Hetherington
10C – Denise Rainey
11A – Shannon Berrabah
11B – Laura Jones
11C – Claire Graham
12A – Catherine Hamilton
12B – Trent Brown
12C – Marion Recana &
Jasmin Steenson
CAUGHT BETWEEN THE TWO
When I was a child I would play all
day,
Like there was no tomorrow.
Watch DVDs and have fun long into
the night.
I would cry if I grazed my knee and
look
Towards my mum to comfort me.
When I am an adult I will look into
the bright future and see what’s in
store.
I will move on and get married; live
happily.
I will take responsibility for things
and look after
Those who look up to me.
Caught between the two; I am too old
for
Cuddles, toys and teddy bears at
bedtime
But too young to know how to
Cope with the world ahead of me.
Scott Clarke 9C
save us pounds, not to mention the
environment”.
Pictured here receiving his certificate
and £20 voucher is Alan Fleming,
Year 10, also in the photo is Mind
reader David Meade, Omagh District
Council’s Anthea Owens and Primary
School finalist Lauren Crozier.
Congratulations to Alan Fleming,
Year 10, who was the winner of the
Omagh District Environmental Youth
Speak competition with his speech
‘The true cost of waste!’ Open to
students across Northern Ireland,
Environmental Youth Speak is an
annual public speaking competition
designed to increase awareness of
environmental issues amongst young
people.
Alan went on to represent the Omagh
District at the Northern Ireland Finals
held in Limavady where he had the
privilege of meeting local celebrity
David Meade, Entertainer and Mind
Reader.
Alan says in his speech “Food waste
is a major issue. We throw away 7.2
million tonnes of food and drink from
our homes every year, the majority of
which could have been eaten. It's
costing us £12bn a year and is bad for
the
environment
too.
By
understanding 'use by' dates and
knowing the best way to store food to
keep it fresher for longer can help
Year 12 OSP pupils attended The
Prince’s Trust Xl Qualification’s
Annual
Celebration
Event
to
recognise the achievements of the
pupils involved. Mrs Lennox,
Miss Domer and Mr McConaghy
accompanied pupils to the Strule Arts
Centre.
Emma
Armstrong,
David Roberts, Kirsi Mortland and
Megan Crozier gave a presentation to
other schools about what they have
studied in Occupational Studies in the
last two years. Megan Crozier won an
I Pod Shuffle during a raffle! Pupils
were then treated to a visit to Omagh
Cinema, where popcorn and soft
drinks were provided. A thoroughly
enjoyable day was had by all.
Year 11 and 12 OSP pupils have
taken part in a ‘Coping Skills’
programme offered by the WELB’s
Youth Centre. Pupils enjoyed looking
at different kinds of challenging
situations and learning the necessary
skills that will help them to cope
effectively with the challenges of life.
A huge thanks to Marion Rodgers and
Julie Donaghy for delivering the
programme and making it an
enjoyable experience for all pupils
involved.
SCHOOL CLOSURE
The school will be
closed on Monday 6
May and Monday 27
May 2013.
RED DAY
On Friday 1 March 2013 Year 10
pupils organised a ‘Red Day’ in aid of
the British Heart Foundation. As part
of the Year 10 Personal Development
curriculum pupils study the Heartstart
programme. This programme allows
pupils to learn and practice basic first
aid skills. They are equipped with
knowledge on what to do if a person
is choking, bleeding, showing
symptoms of heart failure or needs
CPR. The British Heart Foundation
provide many valuable resources to
allow this programme to be delivered
in Omagh High School.
BAKE OFF
Congratulations to all the
competitors
in
the
Omagh High School
Bake Off, in particular to pupils who
reached the final. (see below for list )
The pupils were all dedicated and
hardworking competitors, and they
demonstrated
great skills and
creativity to produced brilliant cakes
and buns on the theme of Easter.
YEAR 8 STEM TRIP
2nd place was awarded to a joint effort
from – Denise Rainey and
Danielle Hetherington in Year 10,
they received £10 and Easter Egg.
First place was awarded to
Jake Hannigan in Year 8; he received
£20 and Easter egg.
Pupils and staff donated £1 to wear
something red on Friday 1 March
2013. This was a huge success, with
£300 being raised for the charity.
Thanks to all who took part! The
house that donated the most money
was ‘Crevenagh’ and all pupils who
donated money were awarded house
points. Prize winners included:
1st - Greta Rukaite 8C
2nd - Lachlan Turner 8B
3rd - Rebecca Lavelle 8A
1st - Rebecca Donnell 9A
2nd - Jake Vance 9C
3rd - Saskia McSorley 9B
1st - Fiona Hamilton 10B
2nd - Rachel Thompson 10A
1st - Zara Hawkes 11B
2nd - Rebecca Crawford 11A
3rd - Catherine McDowell &
Cherith Aiken 11C
1st - Philip Rainey 12C
2nd - Samuel Hamilton 12B
3rd - Aaron Heatherington 12A
Staff winner – Mr Kelly
Well done to all. The competition was
a great success and the HE
department will be holding this and
similar events throughout the school
year.
Pupils who reached the final were;
Year 8
Rebekah Hewitt
Rebekah Jones
Richard Kerr
Philip Cashel
Jake Hannigan
Vladamir Dat-ay
Year 9
Joanne Thompson
Serena Sherrard
Years 10
Denise Rainey
Danielle Hetherington
Fiona Hamilton
Year 11
Nathan Morrow
Ryan Moore
Year 13
Kellie Duffy
Christine Allen
A group of 39 Year 8 students
attended the STEM Launch at South
West College in Dungannon. Whilst
there they spent time in a selection of
fun workshops including, a 3D
Theatre experience, Wallace and
Gromit style animation, digital facial
animation,
forensic
science
investigation as well as trying out
some cool games using iPads. The
highlight of the day however was
meeting the mystery guest Titan the
Robot, who has worked alongside
many famous artists including
Riahnna, Will Smith and Jackie Chan
to name but a few.
A very
educational and entertaining day was
had by all.
‘BREAK A LEG!’
Three students from Omagh High
School are attending auditions for the
Belfast School of Performing Arts’
production of ‘Les Misérables.’
Tamara Doherty, Amy Ewing and
Grace Monteith will have the
opportunity to audition on the main
stage at the Grand Opera House in
April, and if successful perform at
this prestigious venue in August.
The Drama Department at Omagh
High School would like to wish them
all the best for the audition.
ME
My name is Jenna or Jen. It comes
from the trees, whistling in the wind
in the vivid sky.
My name sounds gentle and soft like
heaven’s fluffy clouds.
My name is sky blue, like a clear
summer’s day with the rays of the sun
beaming down on me.
It feels smooth and joyful and makes
me smile.
If my name was a number it would be
eight, because even numbers make
me feel safe. Eight is lucky for me.
If my name was an animal it would be
a sheep because I really adore them
and it is so exciting caring for them.
My name, Jenna, makes me feel
energetic and thoughtful.
I am one who is up for a laugh, who
loves the sound of the wind beating
against my window and the feeling of
my teddy bear ‘Jessie’ because it is
soft.
Who dreams of having my own flock
of sheep.
Who is good at caring for my
animals. Who fears the blast of
mighty thunder and the lightning
striking.
Who cares about loved ones and
friends. Who will someday attend
Agricultural College.
I am Jenna Gibson.
OMAGH HIGH TEACHERS
ATTEMPT TO ‘CRACK THE
EGGHEADS’.
Excitement was high before Easter at
Omagh High School when a team of
teachers from the school featured on
the BBC Quiz Show Eggheads and
challenged the BBC’s resident team
of
professional
quizzers,
the
Eggheads.
The ‘Giant’s Cause’ as the team was
called, made it through the BBC’s
gruelling selection process and
successfully completed an audition,
held in Belfast. The team were then
invited to film their episode in the
BBC studios in Glasgow in May last
year. The team were delighted when
they got to meet their quizzing idols,
including Judith Keppel, who was
famously the first person in the UK to
win a million pounds on “Who wants
to be a Millionaire?”
The local team valiantly battled
against the Eggheads in Politics,
Sport, Music and Science; actually
managing to take out one of the
eggheads, but sadly a very tricky final
round saw the Eggheads victorious.
The five strong team were captained
by Mrs Burns, Careers Teacher and
included Mr Kelly, a Science teacher,
Mr
Duffy,
History
Teacher,
Mr McConnell, ICT teacher and also
Mrs Somerville who now lives in
England. What viewers of the show
will not realise is that there is also a
reserve team member standing in the
wings; and on this occasion it was
Mrs Simpson, former Head of
Science at the school, who was
standing by, ready to step in, in the
event of any mishap. The result of
the battle had been a closely guarded
secret until the show was aired.
Mr McConaghy, said “We are
extremely proud of the staff and their
performance in ‘Eggheads’. Knowing
the staff and their individual talents I
suspected that they would get through
the local audition and we all started to
dream of ultimate victory in the actual
TV show. Although the team didn’t
defeat the Eggheads they represented
themselves, the school and indeed the
local area with distinction.”
The team all agreed that taking part in
the show was a great experience;
getting a chance to go through the
audition process, meeting the
researchers, going behind the scenes
of a BBC show and getting the ‘star
for a day’ hair and make-up
experience. Of course the highlight
for all the team was to meet the
Eggheads and the show’s host
Jeremy Vine. The team are still keen
quizzers and intend to continue with
their passion for facts and trivia, so
Eggheads look out, who knows where
their quizzing talents may lead them
in the future…. watch this space!
SPORTS NEWS
Congratulations to Lachlan McLean
Year 11 - he has been chosen to
represent Northern Ireland in the
Under 15 Army Cadet Football team,
he will be playing teams from
England, Scotland and Wales. Good
luck and well done Lachlan.
Laura Jones Year 11 has been
selected to play for NI Under 15
Football Team. This is a great
achievement
and
takes
much
dedication and hard work. Her big
tournament took place over Easter.
Over the Easter Holidays William
Donaghy in Year 11 travelled to
Malta to represent Northern Ireland
Under 16 football team in a number
of international matches. They faced
the Under 16 international teams from
Cyprus, Greece and hosts Malta.
A
fantastic
achievement
and
experience for William and we wish
him every success future matches.
WORDS OF WISDOM
The difference between a successful
person and others is not a lack of
strength, not a lack of knowledge, but
rather in a lack of will.