John Francis at the Match

On one of Kevin's regular jaunts to Man Utd, he ran into John Francis White, who is now in his third year at Leeds studying Marketing. Excellent news and very well done. Equally excellent is that his mother, and ex Shimna staff member, Joanne is teaching in Warrenpoint. On the same jaunt, Kevin ran into Jack McStay, and some of their habitual season ticket swapping went on as usual!

Engineering William

William Murphy may be currently earning his keep in Tesco, but he has graduated in engineering from Queen's University Belfast, and keeping his eyes open for the kind of engineering job that will inspire him. Great to see him so happy

Well Done Jamie and Aaron

The Hugh J O'Boyle newsletter this month had Jamie Doran and Aaron Doherty up there with the students achieving their qualifications. It's brilliant to see OldScholars doing so well. Congratulations

Fascinating Stuff from Wills

I'm literally just back last night from a study tour in Jerusalem, amazing place, archaeology is so important there as the two competing religions stake their claim on the place. We were also at the holocaust museum, the section on Nazism was just like flicking through our history notes. Coming out of the museum and walking around Jerusalem and seeing all the Jewish people (obvious because of their headdress etc.) really seemed uplifting, they have bounced backed despite such persecution. The trouble is the tension there is very strong and with all the Jewish buildings with little signs saying 'A gift from ...., your American Friends' it reminded me of the money the U.S. sent to Ireland in the troubles, perhaps unintentionally aggravating the situation by funding one side! I was in Perugia Italy doing survey work with a team of Archaeologists led by Simon Stoddart of Cambridge, in late September. Brilliant experience, I'll have to call into the school one day. I haven't forgot about that little write up I said I would do on history for the website, I'll get it sorted hopefully soon. Just having taken ten days out of term time for this Jerusalem trip I've got work to catch up on. My lecturers allowed me to go and I thought it was just too good an opportunity to miss. I hope all is well with you, I'll maybe see you on Remembrance Sunday

How's Chris Getting On

This is how...Hello from london! Thought i would let you know how i was gettin on. I came into school before i left and didnt get a chance to have a word wif you because you were teaching, although knowing your usual schedule i cant say i was suprised. Its hard to believe that ive nearly been here a month, times has just flown by but i am absolutely lovin it. I hav a crazy schedule at the minute because im going out on teaching placement for four weeks from the 1st November, so at the mintue im usually in lectures from 9- 6.00 or if im lucky 11-4.00 (who says university is all partyin and no work). Even freshers week wasnt easy, we had three days of outdoor persuits and at the end of each day we were given time to work on our first assingment. We wer given a piece of paper, put into groups and we had to come up wif an ice breaker events day for a girl school in south-west london and then we would actually hav to carry out and run the event ourselves for the 120 1st year girls. this happened about two weeks ago and it turned out to be a huge success and i really enjoyed. I'm lovin the lectures at the minute, one of the topics is History of Sport so getting the best f both worlds. Some of the old History skills are coming in handy too, tomoro i have to hand in a 500 word essay of my choice but the main theme of the task is to show your ability to reference. Hope everything in school is going well and im sure ill be in to visit sometime before the end of the year.

Refloating cruise Ships

Two Shimna OldScholars are off to the Netherlands to repair a cruise ship in port. Dominic Mitchell and Robert Imrie are the crew with this particular task in hand. Great to hear of two more with a firm career in hand, particularly in the times we live in.

Sorcha's Success

Sorcha Macken called in today. She graduated from Queens in drama in June and is working two days a week in the Crescent Arts Centre. She is also involved in trying to set up and inclusive drama project for actors of all abilities and disabilities. Great to see her looking wonderful.

Dr Who?

Siun Carden has emerged triumphant from her PhD viva, with the exceptional verdict of 'no corrections'. Siun is of course a founder Shimna student, and her PhD is a Shimna first. We are very, very, very proud of her. What next Siun?

Heather's Continuing Success

While talking to Hannah about her A level choices, I was able to catch up with Heather Edgar's success. After graduating with a 2:1 in Business, and with a commendation in her Diploma in Industrial Studies, she is going on to study for a full time Masters in marketing. Excellent news, and now I need to ring back, because I forgot to ask what Hazel is up to.

The Famous Chimene

Millions of congratulations to Chimene Hayes, who is the Hugh J O'Boyle trainee of the year. Great to see her in the MO. She always was a really smart student, and we are delighted with her success.

Men in a Tree

When I got home from work last night, I found Chris Keag up the oak tree in my back garden, lopping ivy. Given Chris's new career as a tree surgeon, that wasn't too surprising, but in the undergrowth I found Andrew Moore. He is adminning with Grafton until he heads off to study accountancy at UU. Great to see both of them.

Sinead's Success

In the midst of all the job hunting gloom, we were delighted to hear that Sinead McVeigh has been successful at her very first interview and will be teaching from September at Ballee Community High School. Great news!

Cary is my Witness

In case you don't believe me about Slieve Donard, I can cite another witness. I also met Cary Buchanan on my way up. She has one more year to go at St Andrew's and was showing our Mournes to a friend from her course. Michael is in New Zealand, having a great time and keeping his mind off his results. I'm sure he'll get a chance to celebrate.

Aaron, Successful and Gorgeous

On my way up Donard, yes really, I met Aaron Porter, looking particularly happy, well and gorgeous. He has just started his industry placement with an engineering company as part of his ICT degree at University of Ulster. With all the scares on about the death of placements, it is great to hear of his success. Well done, you.

Lots of Visitors

Lots of visitors have been calling in, having heard that Grainne is rejuvenating. Karl Graham, who very happy and about to start his fourth and dissertation year at Stirling, was looking good. As was Donal Ferris, who is continuing his profitable relationship with Tesco by moving to Birmingham, working away for Tesco, and he is at last getting some freelance work in media, so he feels his real career is finally beginning. Great to see you both.

Ryan's Success

2:1 in Business and ICT from Liverpool Hope. More fantastic news. I be pressing his relatives form news - Ryan O'Hare that is!

Kathryn's Success

A 2:1 in English Literature from Leeds University. Fantastic news. Taking time now to chill out. More when we know.

Matthew's Dream Job

Matthew Denvir's first love was always media studies, and he now has a job in the Eclipse cinema complex in Downpatrick. He is looking forward to opportunities to move onto the projection and technical side. Well done Matthew.

Very Sad News

This is the first time that I have had to pass on such very sad news. Everyone who knew her will be very sad to hear of the death of Kady Carolan, aged just twenty five. There was a huge turnout of Shimna contemporaries both at the wake and at the funeral. Kady died from complications of the diabetes she had lived with since age eleven. The only comfort is that Kady has such a large and supportive family who will be able to comfort each other in their bereavement.

Dana's Baby

Dana has had a baby boy, Yusuf, in Jordan and is very well. The family
are flying out in three weeks. A small gift 'from all at Shimna.' Her husband is called Khalid. We need to find out what people in Jordan do about surnames after marriage. Lovely news.

Well Done Mark

Delighted to meet Mark Rogan and hear that he is nearing completion of his ICT course, and has taken the opportunity to take level 2 English at the same time. New year he hopes to train in a trade, probably joinery. Very well done, and keep in touch.

Malaika on FaceBook

Rwanda Shaw called in with fantastic news of Malaika. She has found great success with her piano, guitar and singing, and is heading to college next year in Leeds to study music. This is fantastic news, and we are very proud of her. I gather she has lots of gigs on Facebook. I need to work out how to look, but the rest of you will all know. Great to see Rwanda too, and to hear that she had kept up her two Shimna languages in her current school.

Jamie's Progress

Jamie Doran also started with Hugh J O'Boyle's in September 2009, and is training in Horticulture with the ‘Royal County Down Golf Club’. Jamie is also on the TFS Programme. Jamie is enrolled with ‘Greenmount Agricultural College’, and we have arranged for him to follow a course in Green-keeping.

Jamie has already passed his VRQ in Customer Service, VRQ in Conflict Handling, and NOCN Level 1 Award in Service Sector.

Jamie’s employer is delighted with his progress, as are his tutors in O’Boyle’s and so are we in Shimna.

Andrew Forges Ahead

we have had the following fantastic report on Andrew Law and he forges ahead with his business and his business qualifications: Andrew is following an NVQ Level 2 in Administration, and has managed to apply his knowledge from the course to his work environment. Determined to modernise the shop through his training, he has introduced Broadband, as well as setting up a website for the business. Andrew has also put the accounts on a laptop, applied SAGE accounts, and introduced e-banking for staff wages. Our Assessors have observed his progress at work and in the Training company, and he is well on target to completing his qualifications. Andrew is a pleasure to train, and is a great mentor for his classmates and new students.

We are delighted and hope to be in touch for a case study for our current business students.

Keep in with Emma and Anna

Pat Lenny met up with Emma Small, and found that she has already qualified as an Accounting Technician and is well on her way to being a fully qualified accountant. Anna McKee is also heading that way, having graduated in accountancy, and now working towards Chartered status. Well done both.

Success for Hannah

News today from Hannah Dumigan, who has just received her acceptance into Stranmillis University College to study primary teaching. This course at Stanmmillis is very oversubscribed and the entry requirements are tough. Hannah will have had to prove herself in terms of interview and additional experience as well as her excellent A levels. Very well done, Hannah.

Reunion Brewing

Next year, our foundation students, the students from our very first year, will have left Shimna ten years ago - of course a few of them have turned up back at Shimna again! There is definitely a reunion brewing, and the best way to contact everybody seems to be Facebook, so watch out for details Facebookers, and get ready with suggestions.

Ciaran Cares

Ciaran Mahon is now a community carer, with a great reputation for helping people in the early stages of a progressive illness, when they still find it annoying to need care. Its great to hear that Ciaran is happy working in a role where that great big personality will benefit him.

Ria in Nashville

Our Ria is in the Belfast Nashville Festival programme, with a CD launch at Dukes. Look her up.

http://www.belfastnashville.com/home.html

Chris Flies In

Tall dark handsome stranger in our front hall turned out to be our very own Chris Wilson. Chris joined our foundation students in sixth form, and did us proud, achieving A levels in business, geography and technology and winning an RAF flying scholarship. The last I had heard of him he phoned to say he was just down from his first solo flight. Chris went on to join the Military Police, and is now chief engineer in charge of two large premises in London where he now lives. If I did a double take when I saw him, Eileen Tate could be heard screaming in the next street when she recognised him. Eamonn Burns also called in. Later that afternoon, after Chris and his girlfriend had gone, Pat Lenny told me he had seen someone in the distance, leaving the school with a very gorgeous companion, and he couldn't quite see who it was. Make sure you give her the compliment Chris. And keep in touch.

Charlotte, Stephen and Chris

This is always a great time of year for seeing OldScholars with longer holidays than we have, just before they head off again for university. Stephen and Charlotte both love Lincoln, Stephen studying architecture and Charlotte art, and Chris Byrne loves his Product Design degree at Queens. Really good to see you all, and its great for our current students to hear recommendations and details of places and course they might not have thought of.

Anna with Subtitles

Anna Hunter was among the scruffs at the Tobin/Cardin annual scruffy party. Anna looks very relaxed and happy working on subtitles at the BBC. Brother Freddie is working away in an ICT post in London, financing his passion for photography, which will be his real career direction.