The Big Night

It was brilliant to see so many of you back for Presentation Evening. You are a wonderful resource for the students coming up behind you. Would you recommend your course? Would you recommend your university? Would you recommend going to university at all? We would love to have you visit before you go back in January, and to talk to the current year 13 who will be going to the UCAS fair later in the Spring term and starting to make up their minds.

Tanya Rescued Me

Rescued me from myself that is. I was Christmas shopping locally as suggested in Shimna's newsletter, and wandered into Painted Earth in my annual attempt to buy something suitable for a relative who is less aesthetically challenged than I am. Tanya Ireland was working there, found me an entirely suitable present and wrapped it beautifully. She has taken the very brave step of holding fire on her perfectly successful career to head back to college to study art. She is loving the foundation course, and hopes to combine work and study through to an art degree. Fortunately, she is still in demand from pervious employers, which should help dovetail a communications and art career. Deirdre has completed her degree in psychology and a PGCE and is teaching in England. Tanya also mentioned seeing Leanne Spiers very striking degree show last year. Networking, networking!

Ciara and Alan

Alan Ayckbourne that is, with our Ciara McClelland in a picture from the Newry Reporter, sent to us from Shimna founding parent, Stephen. Ciara went from Shimna to graduate in Theatre and Performance, and is now studying for a Masters Degree in Drama Therapy. She has been appearing in Scarborough in a new play by Stephen Ayckbourne, son of Alan. Her aim is to set up a touring company and travel the world bringing joy and fun with drama projects into communities and schools. Make sure you include Shimna in the tour!

Stuart's Taking Photos

Stuart Graham called in to collect some of his artwork, and his mother presented the school with a painting by Stuart's grandmother. It was great to see both of them looking well and happy. Stuart is studying photography now, and loving it.

Welcome Sorcha

It is great to have Sorcha back on placement with the drama department. Sorcha is studying drama at Queens Universtiy, and she and our students will benefit hugely from her placement with us.

Lorna and Dettori

Lorna Hall and Dettori Dillon called in to let us know how they are getting on. Lorna is studying art and Dettori, after a false start on another course, is very happy studying ICT. Good to see you.

Home Grown Governor

This month the Department of Education has appointed the very first Shimna OldScholar to our Board of Governors. It's founder student Neil McGrady and we are absolutely delighted to have him. But, Rebecca, doesn't that mean he's your employer!!! - not to mention mine!

Great News for Mountains

I have just been delighted to write a reference for Paul Swail who has been appointed Youth Development Officer with Mountaineering Ireland. As well as being a Shimna OldScholar, Paul has led groups of our students at Ardnabannon and in their Duke of Edinburgh's Award expedition work. There's nobody better, and we are absolutely delighted to hear of this appointment. There will be payback Paul!

Training Successes

We are delighted to receive news of: Emma Cree's success in Children's Care, Learning and Development; Aaron Doherty's success in Customer Care; Chimene Hayes success in Conflict Handling. All of the students are continuing to further their training. Very well done all.

Darren Makes it Good

Darren McAnallen was in with the football club, looks great and is now doing an Access course with the University of Ulster. That's terrific, because he was always full of brains. Best of luck, Darren, and keep us in touch with what you do next.

Ria's for Nashville

Ria Maguire has been getting feedback and support from Nancy Griffiths through the Belfast/Nashville connection. Ria will be heading over to Nashville, and has a promise of recording with Nancy's producer. We always knew Ria's voice and songwriting were fantastic, and now everybody knows. Ria has also just completed a Masters degree, following her first class honours degree in Music from QUB. Talent and brains!

A Scholarship for Jonathan

We have just heard that Jonathan Houghton has been awarded a scholarship from the University of Ulster on the basis of his achievement in the first year of his degree. This is fantastic news, and the accolade is well deserved.

Paul and Happiness

It has been a pleasure to run into Paul Harper, who is still really happy working as a carer. He heads off into a nursing course in September, and plans to build up his academic qualifications at the same time. He is also really happy with his girlfriend of five years. It's just great when a person finds real satisfaction.

Recession Fighting

Really proud of Michael Mullan. Like so many people, the recession has cut off the flow of work, so he is back doing a great job in the Mourne Cafe. That way he stays in employment, builds up experience and a bit of money for his move to London to follow Jonathan Killen into working on the London Underground construction job. It takes real emotional stamina to do what has to be done while we all wait for an upturn. He's also a pleasure to meet as a waiter!

Zoe's Success

Brilliant to see Zoe's graduation photo in the MO. Well done you. What next?

Joeleen's Success

We got a letter from the University of Aberdeen today letting us know that Joeleen Lynch has graduate in History of Art. You will know from earlier posts that Joeleen didn't just do her degree, she took every opportunity to travel and learn and expand her horizons while she was at it. She was also a winner of the Jean Forbes bursary, and I will be delighted to report the good outcome to Jean.

Yo Tracy

Best news of the summer is Tracy Ireland's graduation from the University of Ulster. Tracy's family commitments meant she had to take some time out, and it takes heroic stamina to get back and succeed. We are really, really proud of you Tracy.

Jim to the Rescue

Jim Greene is just the paramedic you would want to rescue you. He is very happy and settled in London. Come and see us sometime.

Congratulations Claire

Many congratulations to Claire Franklin on completing her Certificate of Higher Education in food technology and health at Loughry College, the first stage of a successful career. We are really delighted. What's next Claire?

David at Exploris

David Barr is heading over to work at Exploris in Portaferry. As well and quite separately he has a gorgeous wee daughter.

Rachael and the Byrnes

Great to see Rachael, and catch up on news of all the Byrnes. Rachael herself has completed her course in Travel and Tourism, and hopes to move on to study Event Management, which we know she would be brilliant at. Richard is in the middle of his Sports Studies course and loves it. Shane is in his third year at university, and also loves it, and has Jenny completed her business course and hopes to continue her studies. Killian - get in touch - I forgot to ask about you!

Smartypants Donal

Look what Smartypants Donal has done, added a Followers strip on my blog!  I am so old and daft I have no idea how he did it!  Join him.  It would be great to see more of you.  Don't forget the OldScholars link on the Shimna homepage.  Sign on there too for long term contact even when I blog off into the distance.

Stephen's Back

Spotted sunbathing on our pitch, the erstwhile familiar form of Stephen McLaughin, rubbing it in that he has finished for the year with his architecture course at the University of Lincoln, and we still have more than a month to go!

Welcome to the Next Redmond

News from Scotland of the birth of Benjamin Alex Redmond, son of Chris and his wife Becky.  We are delighted.  Niamh and Jennifer head off this weekend to meet him.  Daniel is doing well on his applied medical sciences course, and already making plans to head to Scotland himself to college.

Fiona in Beijing

Fiona Elsholt is exhibiting her art work in Beijing next month.  Fabulous

Great News from Clare

Clare Hamilton Bryce rang in today to tell us the great news that she is now holding offers from Dundee University and the University of the West of Scotland - spoiled for choice!  Make sure you let us know your final choice and have a brilliant time whichever it is.

Who's He?

Of course we recognised Donal Ferris who called in on a week home from Luton - though it did cause a double take!  Donal graduated last year, and, smart person that he is, has taken up the offer of management training with Tesco while he continues to suss out employment opportunities in more creative fields.  Donal had the wit to transfer his Tesco post in Newcastle over to Luton when he went to university, and has therefore an excellent record of regular employment.  He is also about to shift north to Manchester, and will be able to take advantage of another Tesco transfer.  He also looked healthy, happy and gorgeous!

Aaron's Catering Success

I also got news from the Hugh J O'Boyle stand about Aaron Doherty.  He is now very happy on his training course in catering.  I looked up the O'Boyle's e-news and found that he has clocked up full attendance and already has his Level 2 Award in Food Safety for Catering.  I'm really pleased that he has found what he wants to do and is enjoying the course.  I just as pleased to hear that he has kept up his commitment to Amnesty International, and has been doing some awareness raising among staff and fellow students.  Yo!

Recycling Old Scholar

We visited the careers fair in the Slieve Donard Hotel today, and met up with a Shimna Old Scholar, Aaron Hawthorne.  He showed us where he works at the back of the hotel in the impressive recycling plant.  He works at recycling the food waste from the hotel, processing the waste into fertilizer for the hotel gardens.  The plant also deals with all the cardboard waste.  We were really impressed, as food waste recycling is something we have only started to think about for Shimna's kitchens, and our wonderful cardboard recycling scheme is no longer operating.  Aaron has invited us down to visit the plant, and we will certainly be taking him up on the invitation.  Great to see you looking so well Aaron.

Basque Country and Argentina

Jane Lugea is now working on a PhD at Queens University, spending lots of her time in Argentina.  Aisling Kearney is working in the Basque Country.  We certainly have high flying and wide ranging OldScholars.

Daniel Doing Well

Daniel Quinn called in from the University of Ulster to collect his A level technology project, which turns out to be very relevant to his sports Technology course.  He is looking good and thoroughly enjoying his course.

Open Day Visitors

It was great to meet Leanne Arterton and Laura Rutledge have a look around on Open Day. The girls just wanted to see how things had changed. I have to get back in touch with them to make sure I have the details of what they are doing now.

Two Cheerful Visitors

It was a real pleasure to see Patrick McMullan and Barry Cousins at the hatch. Patrick is thoroughly enjoying his engineering course at Queens, and even finding parts of the course easy. Barry has now decided to apply to university this year, and is very happy to be doing so with his good grades behind him. He set off with a bag full of prospectuses, knowing he would have the pick of plenty of courses whose requirements he has already met. Both of them were grinning!

Patrick's Gold

Patrick Poland called in to let us know that he has received his invitation to St James' Palace to receive his Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award. Very well done, and well deserved.

Laura's PGCE Success

Laura O'Hare has built on her excellent degree in German and Spanish, her experience teaching in Madrid and Dublin, her classroom assistant experience in Shimna to win a PGCE place at Liverpool Hope University in primary language teaching. The course includes teaching practice in Spain, and will leave Laura in an excellent position to join the drive to encourage language learning for children from the youngest age.

Rachel Full of Plans

Rachel O'Rourke served me in Nearbuy, and she looks really happy and is full of plans. She has been offered a place at Liverpool Hope University to study Early Childhood Studies after which she plans to do her PGCE and teach nursery and KS1 children. She says she is really happy that she took time to make her career decision and didn't jump at her first idea.

Hi from Sinead

Hi to all the staff at Shimna !
This is Sinéad McVeigh. This is just a wee note to let you know what I'm doing at the minute. I graduated in June 2008 from University of Ulster (Coleraine) with BA Honours Degree in Applied Languages: French and Spanish with a Diploma in Area Studies. I am currently working in a business in Newry called The Natural Baby Resource where I speak French and Spanish to our european customers. I will be attending many tradeshows throughout Europe promoting products. Thanks to Anne Clark and Margaret O'Boyle for their support during school. I miss you all.
Sinéad xx