Naomh Pol News Issue 2

The Hughes Murphy Quiz
There is nothing quite like healthy competition to get spirited students motivated. As
our Year 13 and Year 14 students prepare to embrace the challenges of university life
and later the highly charged workplace environment, the need to embrace healthy
competition is crucial.
The Hughes/Murphy challenge quiz provides a taste
of such healthy rivalry. Whilst the quiz has always
been light hearted and fun the winning team
undoubtedly delivers a sting to their opponents upon
lifting the trophy. How embarrassing or even
excruciating it is for the Year 14s to yield their
position as the super seniors to their juniors! Year 13
pretenders relish the opportunity to expose the
weaknesses of their challengers and glow in the admiration of their followers. And as
for the Year heads… well there have been a few unfounded accusations thrown between
Mrs Hollywood and Mrs Hughes in the past. But those jibes have always been expressed
in the best possible taste!
The quiz was conceived as a way to encourage students in senior school to showcase
their wide range of general knowledge. It provides an opportunity for our students to
experience competitive interaction and teamwork and it provides a platform for some
of our quieter students to shine. All of the participants who have taken part have really
enjoyed the experience.
When the quiz first began it was named the Year 13 vs. Year 14
Senior Challenge Quiz. On the Year 13 panel, an amazing young
student, and former head boy, Peter Hughes, faced an equally
talented opponent on the Year 14 team, Miceal Murphy. Tragically
neither of those incredible young men lived to fulfil their dreams.
The two boys are remembered with deep fondness by all the staff
that knew them. Out of respect for their memory the name of the
quiz was renamed after them. It is now the Hughes/Murphy Quiz.
The quiz has always followed the same format. It is loosely based on University
Challenge. Team members ‘Buzz in’ to answer a starter question for ten points, 3 follow
up questions are each worth 5 points. A final rapid fire round creates excitement and
often delivers a nail-biting finish. Mr Burns has always hosted the quiz; his energetic