Naomh Pol News Issue 5

Naomh Pól News
Issue 5

Contents
Page 1.
Page 2.
Page 3-10.
Page 11.
Page 12.
Page 13-14
Page 15-16
Page 17
Page 18
Page 19-20
Page 21
Page 22
Page 23-24
Page 25
Page 26
Page 27
Page 28
Page 29-30
Page 31-32
Page 33
Page 34
Page 35-36
Page 37-39
Page 40-41
Page 42-44
Page 45
Page 46
Page 47-48
Page 49-52
Page 53-54
Page 55
Page 56-59
Page 60-62
Contents.
Mr Burns and Mrs McCartan say hello.
Meet our Student Leadership Team.
Yummy Christmas Recipe: Cookies.
Meet our new teacher, Mrs Grant.
Shared Education News.
Showcasing our talented Art students.
Sports News. Girls GAA.
Leon Boswell Summer Adventures.
Behind the scenes of our school musical, Chicago.
Taking care of us all. Interview with our caretaker, Mr Colm Traynor
Teacher’s Pet. Are you their favourite?
Year 8 have been baking some Christmas goodies!
Another delicious Christmas recipe: Shortbread.
Our Trad musicians brought Irish music to Spain.
Did you know we have a 5 Star Breakfast Club?
Our Netball heroes, Rebecca and Maebh have great news.
All the fun at the Formal.
The Art Department and their Roman Holiday.
What’s it like to be a triplet? The Devlin Sisters tell us all.
Another Christmas recipe? Ah, go on! Chocolate Orange Loaf Cake.
Nuacht na Gaeilge.
Enriching Year 13 Lives. An Interview with Mr McKinley.
Anti-bullying Week in St. Paul’s.
Year 14 Gradam Naomh Pól Winners.
Amazing the Space!
St. Paul’s International Projects.
Meet our Library Reading Ambassador, Ava!
Literacy News.
It has been a busy term in the Library.
The DEN’s Day Out.
Full marks for Art GCSE!
Sports News.
(Cover: Casey McQuillan)
1

Mr Burns
I am delighted to be given a chance to write a few words for our
Christmas version of the magazine and it’s been an absolutely hectic
year so far.
Following hot on the heels of the best set of GCSE results we’ve
ever had in the school’s history, we had our first school show in
three years and it was certainly worth waiting for! Chicago was a
sold out hit and the standard of singing, dancing and acting was as
good as we’ve ever seen. Thanks so much to the cast, crew and to
all the staff who made it happen.We’re also continuing to excel in
the sporting field and our teams deserve so much credit for the work
they do in representing the school so well, training after school and giving it their all on
match day. I thank all our sports staff for giving our pupils this opportunity to wear our
jersey and perform at a level of competition that will build their character and teach them so
many life skills.This magazine is an excellent illustration of the talent that exists within our
school and the willingness of our students to showcase all that is positive and life affirming
about being in St. Paul’s. There is a place for everyone in our school. Our pupils love
wearing our famous maroon colours and are proud to say they are from St. Paul’s. I was
delighted to have been able to visit all our feeder schools this month and it was so uplifting to
see the younger brothers and sisters of our pupils, and some for whom, St. Paul’s will be a
totally new experience for their family, all of them getting ready to make the leap forward to
becoming part of the St. Paul’s community. Finally, as we approach Christmas and the season
of goodwill, I want to wish all of you, your families and friends, a very Happy Christmas and
joyous 2024. A big year in so many ways for so many of us. Mrs McCartan, Dr Larkin and
their team have worked so hard to ensure you do so in the company of what is probably our
best magazine to date.
Bainigí sult as a bheith ag léamh an irisleabhair seo. Tá sé lán de scéalta suimiúla, altanna
iontacha agus griangrafanna gleoite.
Mrs McCartan
Welcome to our Christmas edition of Naomh Pol News, designed
and produced by our Year 14 Student Leadership Team. As you all
know, there is a lot more to St Paul’s than the teaching in the
classroom and this edition of the e-magazine aims to show you a
snapshot of the many activities and events taking place on a daily
basis. It includes news bulletins, sports reports, interviews,
jokes…there is something for everyone to enjoy! The variety, creativity, fun and warmth
within these pages represent what being part of the St Paul’s family is all about.
I would like to say a massive thank you to Dr Larkin for co-ordinating the production and
editing of the magazine and for each and every pupil who contributed in any way.
We are also extremely grateful to Mr Ryan Freeburn for his technical support and help in
publishing the e-magazine. Enjoy your read and have a lovely Christmas!
2

Say Hello to The Student Leadership Team!
Aoidín Reel
Hello, my name is Aoidín Reel. I am the Head Girl in St
Paul’s and a past pupil of St. Brigid’s Primary School,
Drumilly. I am currently studying A-Level Health and
Social Care, Religion and Nutrition and Food Science. St.
Paul’s has given me countless opportunities to create happy
memories that will last a lifetime. My favourite memory
throughout my seven years in the school has to be the
choir’s trip to Rome in 2020. I have many fond memories
from this trip such as forming friendships, having fun and
seeing amazing sights. Singing with the choir in Rome is an
experience I will never forget. The music department always has so much to offer – whether
it’s the school musicals, travelling to Rome or staying in after school for rehearsals for choir,
drums orchestra…the list goes on. A piece of advice I would give to younger students is to
always be yourself and do what you love, no matter what anybody thinks! Take on every
opportunity that faces you and work hard. Learn how to balance school with life and enjoy
every minute of it.
Jack McCann
My name is Jack McCann and I am a past pupil of St.
Joseph’s Primary School, Bessbrook. The subjects I am
currently studying for A-Level are Digital Technology,
Business Studies and Digital Technology. I am really
enjoying the content I’m covering this year. My
favourite memory of my past 7 years at St. Paul’s has to
be the trip to Barcelona at the end of Year 10. We visited
many famous landmarks around the city and visited a
very famous theme park called Port Aventura World.
The flight was then cancelled and we got to stay two
extra nights in a fancy hotel! Can you believe it? I have also enjoyed playing football for my
school for the past seven years. Advice I would give to my younger self or any of the younger
students is involve yourself in as many things as possible as you will find you can enjoy a lot
more. I would also advise younger students to keep on top of their schoolwork as it can be
very overwhelming when you have lots to do at once in a very short period of time.
3

Rose Boden
My name is Rose Boden and I am one of the Head Girls
here in St. Paul’s High School. I am a past pupil of
Dromintee Primary School and I am currently studying
Irish, Spanish and Btec Sport. I hope to study Sport and
Exercise Science at John Moore’s University, Liverpool in
September 2023. I have so many wonderful memories from
St. Paul’s, but my favourite must be my President’s Award
experience. We spent three days hiking and although it
sounds dreadful, it was the most amazing experience ever. I
was surrounded by great people and we had such a laugh
when Antoin Magill’s legs got stuck in a massive bog. I would recommend all students to
take part in the Award. I am heading to New York and Salamanca with the school in the next
few months and I am really looking forward to these trips!
My advice for younger students is to have confidence and be yourself! Believing in yourself
is the key to success, alongside hard work and determination. I fully believe that if you set
your mind to do something, you can achieve great things. My parents always told me to
believe in myself - both on and off the pitch - and it has truly been the best piece of advice
I’ve received. Be a leader and stand up for what you believe in! Enjoy your time here in St.
Paul’s. Your school days really are the best days of your life. I can’t believe how quickly
these seven years have flown by. If I could, I would go back to first year and relive it all
again!
Turlough O’Hagan
Hi everyone, my name is Turlough O’Hagan and I am one of the Head Boys in St. Paul’s. I
am a past pupil of St. Mary’s Primary School, Mullaghbawn. Currently I am studying Maths,
Geography and Biology for A-Level. Next year I am hoping to study Biological Sciences at
Queen's University, Belfast.
I would have to say that my best memory of my time at St. Paul’s
is performing in Dublin with the Choir last year and winning Féis
Ceoil. I have been a member of the choir since I came to St.
Paul’s and I have made so many memories. It has been one of my
favourite aspects about school life. This year in February the
Choir is travelling to Rome to perform and I cannot wait.
One piece of advice that I would give to younger students is to
take every opportunity that is offered to you and enjoy your time
here. We’re so fortunate with the number of opportunities the
school has given us throughout our time here. Your time in school
will fly by. It feels like no time at all since my first day at St. Paul’s. So, take every
opportunity you can, make as many memories as possible and I can guarantee that you won’t
regret it.
4

Alana Grant
Hello, my name is Alana Grant and I am a past pupil of St
Mary’s Primary School, Mullaghbawn. The subjects I am
currently studying for A-Level are Professional Business
Studies, Nutrition and Food Science and Health and Social
Care. I have had the privilege of becoming a member of the
Student Leadership Team this year, which has allowed me to
become more involved with activities throughout the
school. I have made many fond memories over the past seven
years here at St. Paul’s. However, my favourite memory was
getting the opportunity to go to the Gaeltacht in
3 rd year, which is an experience I would recommend to anyone who gets the opportunity as the
Gaeltacht allowed me to make new friends with people from all different counties, who I am
still friends with to this day! If I had a piece of advice to give to any younger students, it would
be to just take life as it comes and don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today.
Antoin Magill
Hello, my name is Antoin and I am a past pupil of Dromintee
Primary School. Throughout my time at St. Paul’s I have studied
many subjects. However, my favourite subjects have always
been those of a creative nature. For my GCSE’s I chose to study
Art, Technology and Drama and this is a decision that I will never
regret. I loved each of these subjects as I was able to be artistic
and creative. For my A-levels I chose to study Sociology which
has taught me all about the different types of subcultures and
norms throughout many societies. I also chose Performance Arts
which has helped me come out of my shell more, both on and off
stage. It has also allowed me to express myself in ways I never
thought I could. Lastly, I chose Business Studies as this is a
subject I would like to study at university after my time here is done. My best memory from St.
Paul’s will always be participating in the President’s award where we explored the Mourne
Mountains and learned about the local flora and fauna. My advice for younger students would be to
be yourself. I spent so many years pretending to be someone I wasn’t, and it wasn’t until I behaved
like myself that I made the best friends I could ask for.
5

Aoife Byrne
Hello, my name is Aoife Byrne, and I am a past pupil of St.
Malachy’s Primary School, Camlough. I am currently
studying for my A-Levels and the subjects I am studying are
Maths, Health and Social Care and Nutrition and Food
Science. These are the subjects I enjoy most and hopefully
my grades will allow me to attend university next year. I
have lots of favourite memories from my time in St. Paul’s
but my favourite was going to Rome with the choir. This
was an amazing trip and one that I won’t forget. I also
enjoyed the opportunity to go to the Gaeltacht for the
summer in Year 9 and Year 10, where I made lots of new friends and got to improve my
Irish. I am a very keen sports person and St. Paul’s offers many activities. I took part in the
camogie, football and the netball team. My advice for the younger students would be to take
every opportunity that comes their way, always work hard, try your best and you will
succeed!
Daniel Shields
Hi everyone, my name is Danny Shields and I attended St.
Malachy’s Primary School, Carnaget and enjoyed my time
there thoroughly. I then attended St. Joseph’s Boy’s High
School in Newry for 5 years and after completing my GCSE
exams there, I moved here to St. Paul’s. I study three A-
Level subjects : Construction, Business studies and Health
and Social Care. I have many great memories from my life in
St. Paul’s so far and really struggle to choose just one
memory that stands out as I make new memories everyday
with my friends and I am visiting New York soon with the
Business Studies Department, so I am sure there are plenty more memories to be made there.
If I could offer any advice to other students, it would be to be confident in everything you do
such as things like school work, group activities and extracurricular activities. I would also
say to enjoy every second of your time here as you don’t realise how fast it will go by.
6

Kate McCrink
Hello everyone. My name is Kate McCrink and I am a
member of the Student Leadership Team. I am a past pupil
of Dromintee Primary School and my A-Level subjects are
Maths, Digital Technology, and Health and Social Care. I
have so many great memories of my time here, but one of
my favourite memories of St. Paul’s would have to be
getting the opportunity to go to London in 2019 with the
dance team. We attended a workshop and a dance class at
Pineapple Dance Studios, we went sightseeing, we went
shopping and we even got to see a West End show. This trip
was such a great experience and it’s something that I will always remember about my time
here. One piece of advice I have for younger students is to make the most of your time at St.
Paul’s! Take full advantage of every opportunity you are given whether it be a club, sport,
activity, or a trip and don’t waste any of these opportunities. I can guarantee it will make your
time at St. Paul’s so much more enjoyable and very worthwhile!
Emma Boylan
Hello! My name is Emma Boylan and I am a past pupil of
St Joseph’s Primary School in Meigh. For my A-Levels I
study Religion, Health and Social Care and Children’s Play,
Learning and Development, all of which I enjoy. My
favourite subject is Religion because the topics that we
study are interesting and varied.
My favourite memory from my time in St. Paul’s is the day
trip we took with the music department to Alton Towers in
3rd year. We flew into Manchester very early in the
morning, which was an exciting experience for us all. We
spent the day at Alton Towers and it was very enjoyable.
My advice for younger students would be to take every opportunity that comes your way and
don’t worry about what others think of you. You can achieve anything you want when you
put your mind to it.
7

Kirsty McCann
Hello, my name is Kirsty McCann, and I am a past pupil of St
Malachy’s Primary School, Camlough. As a year 14, I am
currently studying Nutrition and Food Science, Health and
Social Care and Religion, which I enjoy thoroughly. I have many
significant memories through my time in St. Paul’s, but one
which stands out would be the trip to Rome. In year 11 I was
given the opportunity to visit Rome with the Senior Girls’ Choir.
Everything about this trip was phenomenal but I particularly
enjoyed singing in the Vatican and being able to visit all the
popular landmarks around the capital, even singing at a few of
them. I have enjoyed every minute of my time in St. Paul’s and
I would advise younger students to live in the present and
appreciate every moment. Before entering secondary education, my parents would always tell
me how fast it goes by, and I refused to believe them. Coming from someone in their final
year, my time in St. Paul’s has flown by and I would do anything to be back in first year and
relive it all. I would also tell them to push themselves past their comfort zone and allow
themselves to learn new things by getting involved in as much as possible.
Leon Boswell
Bonjour, my name is Leon Boswell and I am so excited to be writing
this for the first edition of the school magazine this year!! I am a
proud past pupil of St. Peter’s Primary School, Cloughreagh and am
currently studying A-Levels in Biology, Chemistry and Religion (I also
studied AS French if you couldn't tell!). Reminiscing back on my time
so far in St. Paul’s I can happily say I have a lot of joyful memories
but I would have to say my favourite would be attending the Feis
Ceoil Gala Concert in Dublin's RDS Concert Hall last year with the
Senior Mixed Choir. It is truly an incredible experience I will always
appreciate and never forget. I know there will be a lot of younger
students reading this magazine and the one piece of advice I can
give is to try get involved in as many different things as you can
during your time in St. Paul’s, whether that's the choir, our sports team or debate clubs. Try it out! It
is a brilliant way to meet new people and form lasting friendships with both your year group and
others too!
Oisín McDonald
Hi! I’m 18 and I went to Cloghogue Primary School. I’m
studying English Literature, Spanish and Music at A-Level.
You might see me helping Dr Larkin in the Breakfast Club in
the mornings, hanging out in the Music Department, or
sometimes helping out in the DEN. During my time in Junior
School, I made sure to join all the clubs I was interested in
(like the choir and the drama club) because it helped me to
make loads of friends with people that I didn’t share any
classes with. In 2018, I took part in the school production of
‘Beauty and the Beast’ and this year I played the role of Amos
in the school’s production of Chicago, (which is probably the
highlight of my time in St. Paul’s). Some of the best advice I
could give to my younger self and any other younger students would be to join any extracurricular
clubs you think might be interesting, even if you don’t know anyone else there.
8

There are hundreds of people in your year group and you’re only going to get the opportunity
to meet a couple dozen throughout your time in Junior School - why not spend time taking
part in activities you enjoy, while having the opportunity to make friends with someone you
might share a class with a couple of years down the line at GCSE or A-Level?
Rachel McCabe
Hello, my name is Rachel McCabe and I am a past pupil of
St. Joseph’s Primary School in Bessbrook. I am a Year 14
student and currently study Sport, Health and Social Care,
and Professional Business Services for my A-Levels. I really
enjoy these subjects and hope to achieve high grades this
year to allow me to attend University next September to
pursue a career in either Sport or Business. I am part of the
Student Leadership team in St. Paul’s where I assist in
making sure all pupils feel welcome and supported in
school. Over the past seven years, I have experienced a lot
of fantastic memories which I will never forget! One memory that stands out for me was
going to Barcelona in third year. It was an amazing trip as I was able to explore another
country with a lot of my school friends. I am a very keen sports person and have been
fortunate enough to experience many great opportunities in the school. I was part of the
winning team for netball in second year where we won the double (the only team to have ever
done this in St. Paul’s!). I have reached an Ulster Final with the school Gaelic team and have
attended football All-Stars events. My advice for the younger students would be to always
believe in yourself, dream big and always push out of your comfort zones to make
unforgettable memories! Always believe that you can achieve anything you set out to do
providing you give 100% effort and commitment! It’s very true what they say – “you get out
what you put in!” I encourage everyone to make the most of your time in school and try to
seek out as many new experiences as possible!
Rachel McNamee
My name is Rachel McNamee and I am one of the student
leaders here at St. Paul’s. I am a past pupil of Killean
Primary School. For A-Levels I study Maths, Biology and
Chemistry and I also studied Physics for AS. My favourite
subject is maths and I hope to become a vet in the future. In
school I am also involved in the music department
participating in both the choir and orchestra. One of my
favourite memories of St. Paul’s was taking part in Feis
Ceoil in 2019. Everyone in the senior girls and the mixed
choir got on the bus and went up to Dublin. The mixed
choir got through to the finals and we all stayed in Dublin, got pizza and watched them
perform. If I was to give advice to the younger pupils of St Paul’s it would be to enjoy your
time in St Paul’s. Try and join as many extracurriculars as it is a great way to make new
friends and get exciting opportunities.
9

Róisín Dowdall
Dia daoibh a chairde, my name is Róisín Dowdall, and I am
a past pupil of Killean Primary School. As a Year 14
student I am currently studying Irish, Religion and Health
and Social Care. I enjoy all my subjects, but if I had to pick
a favourite, it would be Irish! My best memory of St. Paul’s
would be travelling to the Gaeltacht with my friends in the
summer and attending Feis Ceoil in Dublin with our music
Department. My advice for a younger St. Paul’s student is
to grab every opportunity that comes your way. St. Paul’s is
the perfect place to try new things, and this will help you
gain new skills and meet new people. Just remember, have confidence and you can do
anything you set your mind to do!
Skye McClenaghan
Hello, my name is Skye McClenaghan and I am a past pupil
of St. Teresa’s Primary School in Tullyherron. When I
attended St. Teresa’s Primary School, my favourite subjects
were without a doubt Music, Drama and English. This most
definitely stayed with me throughout my time in St. Paul’s
and are the subjects I am currently studying at A level. I
have attended St. Paul’s High School for the past 7 years of
my life, making so many wonderful memories that I will
never forget. A standout memory, however, for me would
have to be the 2020 Rome trip with our sensational school
choir. We had the most amazing time seeing the sights of Rome, spending time with our
friends and even getting the honour and privilege of singing as part of a mass in the Vatican.
The choir is returning to Rome in February of 2023 which I am most excited to attend. It will
be a great final trip. Throughout my time at St. Paul’s, I’ve learnt so many valuable skills and
have made countless friends. One thing I will say to any of our younger students is that you
should enjoy every second of your time here. Never be afraid to put yourself out there, try
new things and always show as much kindness and empathy as you can towards others. The
positivity that you put out into the St. Paul's community will always be recognised and will
stay with you through your remaining school years!
10

Christmas Baking
Chocolate Chip Cookies
Ingredients
100g margarine
125g caster sugar
Equipment
Wooden spoon
Mixing bowl
1 egg Small glass bowl
200g flour
fork
1 teaspoon baking powder baking tray
100 chocolate chips baking sheet
• Cream the butter and sugar together with a wooden spoon in a
mixing bowl.
• Beat the egg in a small bowl
• Pour the egg mixture into the butter and sugar and mix to combine
• Add the flour and chocolate chips and mix until you get a stiff
dough
• Divide the mixture into balls.
• Space out evenly on the baking sheets, leaving enough space
between each to allow for spreading.
• Bake in the oven for 15 minutes, until golden brown. Enjoy!
Danny Shields
11

We welcome one of our new
teachers, Mrs Grant
What school did you teach in before joining St.
Paul’s?
I am very proud that I have joined St. Paul’s in my
25 th year of teaching, a job that I love to do. I have
been teaching all boys for the last 24 years and my
previous schools were St. Patrick’s Grammar
School and St. Brigid’s High in Armagh City.
What subject did you teach?
GCSE/A-Level Business Studies, ICT, Prince’s
Trust and Careers,
What do you think of St. Paul’s so far? Are you enjoying it?
I absolutely love working in St. Paul’s as it feels like home to me. I only live 10 minutes
down the road and I have the pleasure of taking my two daughters to school with me every
day. St. Paul’s has a really warm, friendly atmosphere and all the students and staff are a
pleasure to work with. It is great to get the opportunity to teach both boys and girls and I
love being surrounded with the South Armagh accent and the craic is brilliant among pupils
and staff.
What advice would you give to students?
Cherish your time in St. Paul’s, make memories with your classmates, make life-long friends
and you will always look back fondly at your school days as the “best days of your life”. In
20 years’ time, you will reminisce about your time here as a “St Paul’s student” and tell
funny stories about your time at school.
My advice is to:
“Always do your best, go the extra mile and believe in yourself. It is important to have
fun……spend time with your family/friends and try be a teenager with integrity”.
Go raibh maith agat!
(Interview. Aoife Byrne)
12

Shared Education News
In the last few years, Shared Education has been reduced to online contact with no
opportunity for meeting face-to-face, but we are delighted that full activities have returned
this year.
We started this year's programmes with a very successful TBUC (Together Building United
Communities) Camp for our Year 10 students who had never had the opportunity to meet the
students from our partner schools: Newry High, St. Joseph's Crossmaglen. and
Newtownhamilton High School. More than 70 Year 10/11s from our partnership participated
in this programme which involved dealing with issues surrounding reconciliation, team
building activities in Carlingford Adventure Centre and designing a project which would
contribute positively to our community. The students decided that they would organise a
colour run and raise funds for the very worthy charity, Pips Hope and Support. Students
raised more than £1500 and the sponsorship was presented to a representative from Pips
Hope and Support at our celebration event in October.
Class 831 will be participating in our Year 8 LLW Shared Education programme this year.
They have already had two different days full of activities where they participated in icebreaker
activities, team-building activities and important discussions around flags and
symbols. This class will continue on this programme this year with several more workshops
planned.
13

We are delighted to relaunch the Politics in Action programme in the post-covid era. Five of
our Year 11 students, accompanied by Mrs Ann O'Hare, will participate in this programme.
The students involved are Cashel McKay, Caoimhe Quinn, Bailey O'Donoghue, Niall
O'Hagan, Sean Óg Flanagan and Conall Larkin. These students will work with other year 11s
from our partner schools throughout this programme. We also hope that they will have the
opportunity to attend a celebration event marking 25 years since the Good Friday Agreement
next year.
Shared Education is embedded across a number of subjects in St. Paul's. A selection of Year
13 students is involved in a cross-border Eco project. Students in our DEN will also be
participating in a bespoke programme and Art have developed an exciting GCSE programme
in collaboration with 'Amazing the Space'. GCSE Art students visited he Ulster Museum and
got to meet Simon McWilliams who spoke about one of his paintings in the exhibition and
Maggi Bowen who took time to talk about some of the pieces on show.
We are delighted that Shared Education in the Newry and South Armagh partnership
continues to thrive and we look forward to hearing about the friendships developed and the
educational benefits of these programmes.
(Mrs C. McCoy)
What do you call
Santa Clause when
he stops moving?
14
Santa Pause

ART
Ciara Fearon Yr 12 Leah Walsh Yr 12
Faolan Toal 13/89
Sophie Hollywood 13/82
15

Molly McKevitt Yr 13 Clodagh Doran 13/32
Aimee Craven Yr 11
Carla Locke Yr 11
Casey McQuillan 14/50
16

GIRLS GAELIC FOOTBALL
U14 Ulster Champions 2022
The U14 Girl’s became Ulster Champions this year, beating
St. Ronan’s from Lurgan on a score line of 4.04 to 1.08. The
team was led by Captain Eden McArdle. There were girls
from across a variety of Armagh clubs, from Shane O’Neill’s,
Killeavy GAA, Whitecross, Carrickcruppen, Dromintee, and
Bosco GAA.
17

Leon Boswell’s Summer Adventures
Bonjour à tous! This past summer I had the privilege of attending the University of Oxford as
part of their UNIQ French Summer School and it was truly an experience I will never forget.
As I arrived at Oxford Station, I was met by my guide Alex, a first-year student studying
French and Modern Greek. As Oxford is a collegiate system (essentially a university made up
of many different colleges!) I was assigned to Worcester College and this is where I met my
fellow French students, who I can now call friends, from
all over the UK such as London, Liverpool, and
Edinburgh. As I was the only person from Ireland
studying on the French course, I was a bit nervous to
meet everyone, but I realised a lot of other people were
in the same position and I quickly felt right at home. The
first day was pretty casual. I was given my timetable for
the week, took part in ice breakers and explored Oxford
and it was not until the second day we dove into
studying French. Each day we delved into different
aspects of the French language: the first day of classes I
remember delving into Voltaire’s Candide, an 18 th
Century French Novella and whilst I found it
challenging at first I found it exhilarating as I was
quickly able to interpret the text! We also learned about French history and how poems such
as Ballade de celui qui chanta dans les supplices were used as a form of resistance during
periods of war. It was all quite interesting! I have to say my favourite part of learning didn’t
come until day 3 & 4 when I got to learn Russian and Italian. Whilst it was difficult at the
start, by the end of the summer school I found myself being able to form and understand
simple sentences after only two days! Whilst UNIQ was an academic summer school, it was
not all work! Me and my new friends had time each evening to explore Oxford and meet up
with other students studying on different courses and it’s these friends I am still in contact
with today. Despite not applying for French at University, this summer school was one of the
best decisions I made and so I urge you, if UNIQ offers a subject you’re interested in, to take
full advantage of the opportunity.
18
(Leon Boswell)

Chicago
Our School Musical
In rehearsals
Chicago is a 1975 musical with music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb. The 1996
Broadway production holds the record as the longest-running musical revival and the longestrunning
American musical in Broadway history. The West End revival became the longestrunning
American musical in West End history. Chicago is based on a 1926 play of the same
title by reporter Maurine Dallas Watkins, about actual criminals and the crimes on which she
reported. It is set in the 1920s and, in the real-world Chicago was infamous during this time
for murders, usually involving women killing their husbands. The story is a satire on
corruption in the administration of criminal justice and the concept of the "celebrity
criminal". The plot tells the story of Roxie Hart, a woman who is imprisoned for murdering
her lover, unbeknownst to her husband, Amos. In order to be released from jail, she needs the
help of the legendary lawyer Billy Flynn and keeper of the prison Matron ‘Mama’ Morton.
She competes with her fellow prisoner, Velma Kelly, to become the perfect “celebrity
criminal” in Chicago, in order to gain the public’s sympathy and become a free woman. The
character of Roxie Hart is based on the suspected murderer, Beulah Annan. Chicago is most
famous for numbers such as Cell Block Tango, sung by the ‘Merry Murderesses’, Mr
Cellophane, sung by Amos after his wife’s neglect and All That Jazz, the opening number
sang by Velma Kelly, where we see Roxie’s murder of Fred Casely.
(Oisín McDonald)
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For our recently concluded and very successful production of Chicago, we began our
rehearsals for the production in August, in order to ensure we were fully prepared for the
performance. With the expert directing and musical direction of Mrs Lynch and Mr J Murphy
our rehearsals ran smoothly and swiftly. The amount of time and effort that was put into this
magnificent production behind the scenes by the cast, crew and production team was simply
superb. We all took our roles incredibly seriously making sure everything was done to a high
standard so that the show could reach its full potential. We rehearsed tirelessly during school,
after school and some evenings and it most definitely paid off in the end. When it finally
came to the big night, tensions were high and you could feel the nervous, exciting energy
backstage. When the curtain finally went up, the entire cast came to life and performed to the
highest standard. The reviews were amazing, with many people leaving at the end of the
night thoroughly satisfied and invigorated by such a splendid show. When closing night
came, the show was just as splendid as it was each night before. The entirety of the Chicago
team was saddened to see such a magnificent musical come to an end, but we most certainly
will hold it in our memories for many years to come as a strong highlight of our St. Paul’s
experience.
(Skye McClenaghan)
Why does Santa always
enter through the chimney?
Because it soots him.
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Taking care of us all.
Our caretaker, Colm Traynor
Name: Colm Traynor
Occupation: Building Supervisor
Where are you from? Silverbridge
What are your main responsibilities as a caretaker?
My main responsibilities are the opening and closing of the school, along with carrying out
maintenance work and camera surveillance.
What is a typical day like for you?
My day starts at 7am with the opening of the school. I then get the halls ready for assembly or exams.
Most maintenance work is carried out after school, so I would tidy outside the school and perform
gate duties until that time.
What is the best thing about your job?
The best thing about my job is the variety of work. My day is never the same, so I never get bored.
Did you have any aspirations to work in a different sector when you were younger?
Yes, I always wanted to work as a joiner, a job I had until 9 years ago. I loved my role, but sometimes
a career change is good. I decided to switch roles and work in St. Paul’s.
What is your fondest memory whilst working in St. Paul’s?
I got the chance to go to New York with the Business Studies Department in 2017. Great memories to
keep forever.
(Rose Boden)
21

Teacher’s Pet
Mrs Hughes and Molly
Ms Maguire and Chester
Mr McKinley and Max
Mrs Byrne and Buzz
What’s every elf’s
favourite type of
music?
Wrap
Mrs Grant and Archie
(Kirsty McCann)
22

Year 8 Christmas Baking Club
Week 1: Chocolate Chip Cookies
Week 2: Stained glass window biscuit
Week 3: Lemon drizzle cake
Week 4: Chocolate orange loaf cake
Our Year 8s were busy baking with Mrs Byrne!
23

Year 8 Christmas Baking Club
24

Christmas Baking
Shortbread
Ingredients
150g flour
120g margarine
50g castor sugar
1 dessertspoon of cornflour
Equipment
Mixing bowl
Sieve
2 foil dishes
Wooden spoon
Method
Cream margarine and sugar in large bowl using a wooden spoon
Slowly add in sieved flour and cornflour
Gather together with hands and place in foil container
Press down mixture into foil container
Bake in oven at 170˚C/Gas 3 for 10-15 minutes until the
mixture becomes pale in colour
Allow to cool, then cut into triangles
(Danny Shields)
What is it called when a
snowman has a temper
tantrum?
A meltdown
25

Our Trad Musicians go to Spain
During Halloween mid-term, many of our pupils who are members of Traditional Arts
Partnership (South Armagh and the St Paul’s Trad Group) travelled to the Creative
Connections Festival in Sitges in the Catalonian Region, Spain. The weather was beautiful
and a great time was had by all.
Year 12 Catherine Cunningham
Year 13 Caoimhe Treanor
Year 14 Mark McDonnell
Year 14 Ellie Quinn
Year 14 Roisin Dowdall
Year 14 Aoidin Reel (Head Girl) all travelled along with 30 others to perform at this
annual festival.
Why do reindeer like
Beyoncé so much?
Because she sleighs!
26
(Aoidín Reel)

Our Breakfast Club wins Five Stars
Environmental Health have awarded our Breakfast Club 5 Stars!!
Oisín McDonald tells us a bit more about the Club.
St Paul’s Breakfast Club is run in the Study Hall every morning before registration begins. It
is a club where KS3 pupils can meet up with their friends and get food and drink before class.
At the club you can find up to 80 students a day eating, drinking, or even just playing with their
friends on the computers that the study provides. The club serves free pancakes, cereal, juice,
tea and more.
However, the club wouldn’t be possible without Dr Georgina Larkin! During the school day,
she supervises and runs the study. However, every morning she goes out of her way to dedicate
her time to ensure the Breakfast Club is running perfectly. Due to the vast amount of people
that come to the Breakfast Club on a day-to-day basis, Dr Larkin has volunteers from Years
12, 13 and 14 to help make sure things run smoothly. Every week a rota is issued by Dr Larkin
deciding which people are on duty each day. These volunteers usually come in from about
8.30am and help in any way they can: serving food and drink, washing dishes or simply just
talking to the younger pupils. As well as the Breakfast Club volunteers, here you will find the
Homework Helpers. Similarly, these are older pupils assigned by Dr Larkin and as their name
suggests, they help the Breakfast Club goers with any outstanding homework which they find
difficult.
The Breakfast Club plays a vital role in our school and is a communal area where people from
both the younger and older ranges of the school can come together with their friends to start
their day. However, the club wouldn’t be possible without Dr Larkin and the continued support
of both pupils and staff alike.
27

Sports News
Netball
Well done Rebecca and Meabh
Year 13 pupils Rebecca Cunningham and Meabh Greene recently
attended Netball NI U17 National Trials and were successful. Good
luck girls in the upcoming training for the U17 European
Championships, which will be held in February 2023 in Newcastle,
UK.
Rebecca and Meabh with Mrs O’Hare Armstrong
What do elves learn in
school?
The elf-abet
28
(Rachel McCabe)

Year 14 Formal
29

30
(Turlough O'Hagan)

The Art Students in Rome
During the Halloween midterm break, the A-level art students went on a trip to Rome. On the
4th of October, they had to be at the school at 1:30 am to drive to the airport and catch the flight
at 6:50. They then flew into the Leonardo Da Vinci airport and got a bus with a wonderful
guide named Maria. They drove through the beautiful towns and countryside of Rome and to
their hotel, Hotel Noto. Once at the hotel, they left their bags and went to get some lunch. After
lunch, they went to the subway station and got a train to visit the Spanish steps. They spent
some time shopping and sightseeing before heading back to the hotel and get ready for dinner.
For dinner, they had pasta, chips and cheesecake. After dinner, they went back to the hotel and
went to sleep as they had an early start the next day.
On day 2 they woke up and got a lovely continental breakfast before heading again to the
subway and going to the Trevi fountain for a few hours. After that, they met up with the guide
for a guided tour of the Vatican. They walked through some amazing museums before they
entered the Sistine Chapel where they weren't allowed to talk or take photos. It was beautiful.
The ceiling was painted as the 7 days of creation painted by Micheal Angelo. It was some of
the most amazing artwork they had seen. Once they left the chapel, they entered St Peter’s
Basilica. It was massive and had many chapels within it. There was so much amazing
architecture and artwork. It was beautiful. Then they had some free time to shop before getting
the subway back home just in time for dinner.
31

On day 3 they got the subway again to Pizzale Flamino, where they had a lot of free time to
shop and explore. They then went to Galleria Nazionale D’arte Moderna e Comtemporanea. It
was a beautiful gallery with amazing art. There were so many beautiful paintings and statues.
Once they were done with that gallery, they then went to another one called MARCO Museo
d’Arte Contemporanea di Roma. This gallery was a completely different style than any they
were used to. There were some very interesting pieces with very beautiful meanings. Once they
finished with that gallery they went again to the Trevi Fountain to see it at night and it was
spectacular. The fountain was lit up and it gracefully showed the beauty and complexity of the
statues. Later that night they went for their final dinner to the Hard Rock Cafe. The food was
amazing and seeing all the instruments and music was so interesting and fun. It was an amazing
final dinner.
On the final day they had another early start as they had to be packed up and ready for their
next destination which was the Colosseum. They got the subway again and met up with the
guide. He then took them on a guided tour of the Colosseum and the gardens around it. It was
stunning and so interesting, especially learning about the history of all the fights that took place.
The tour continued to Orti Farbesiani which had gorgeous views of the city of Rome. As it was
the last day, they got a lot of free time, so they went back to Pizzale Flamino, where they
explored the Gardens of the Villa Borghese and Campo Marzio. Then they all went on their
final subway trip back to the hotel to pick our bags up to then get a bus to the airport. They
made it back to the school very late at about 2 am. It was an amazing trip! They all had so much
fun and saw the most amazing artwork.
What reindeer game do
reindeer play at
sleepovers?
Truth or deer
32
(Rachel McNamee)

Meet The Devlin Triplets
We got the opportunity to sit down and have a chat with St. Paul’s very own triplets! Paula, Eve and
Kate Devlin are identical triplets in Year 11, and they came to St. Paul’s from St. Malachy’s Primary
School.
What subjects have you chosen for your GCSEs? Are they all similar subjects?
Paula: “I’ve picked Child Development, Health and Social Care and ICT.’
Eve: “I’ve picked Technology, ICT and Business Studies.”
Kate: “I’ve picked Construction, Business Studies and History.”
Paula: “We didn’t pick the same subjects for our GCSE choices, but there are a few similarities. None
of us want to stay on in school after GCSEs. We would like to go to Greenmount, but we don’t want
to go to school together either! No way!”
Do you have any other siblings?
Eve: “We have two older siblings, one brother and one sister.”
Do you all have the same interests and hobbies? If so, what are they?
Paula: “Some people would say we are all quite similar in some ways. We don’t play any instruments
or any sports, but we all love farming. We have a farm at our nanny’s house. Our other two siblings
like to farm as well.”
You’re all in different classes in St. Paul’s. Would you rather be in the same class or do you like
being in different classes?
All: “We all like being separated.”
Eve: “We’ve always been in different classes in St. Paul’s. In our primary school there was 18 of us in
our Primary 6 and 7 class.”
Do you all have the same circle of friends, or do you each have different friends?
Paula: “We all have our own friends, and all our friends get on well with each other.”
Do you like being a triplet?
All: “No! It’s annoying sometimes, and I’d like to be more of my own person.”
What is the best and worst thing about being a triplet?
Kate: “The worst thing about being a triplet is getting called Paula all the time! Walking in the
hallways I always hear ‘Well Paula’. Being called the wrong names would probably be one of the
worst things. The best thing about having a triplet is you’re not by yourself all the time. You always
have someone to go somewhere or do something with. I would say we do get on quite well generally.
(Kate McCrink)
33

Christmas Baking
Chocolate Orange Loaf Cake
Equipment
Ingredients
1 large mixing bowl 150g golden castor sugar
1 small glass bowl 150g margarine
1 wooden spoon 3 large eggs
1 fork 150g plain flour
1 sieve 1 tsp. baking powder
2 loaf liners 2 tbsp. cocoa powder
2 loaf tins ½ tsp. vanilla extract
1 skewer 2 tbsp. milk
Cooling tray
Zest of 1 orange
Method
• Preheat oven to 190ºC.
• In a large bowl, cream the margarine and golden castor sugar.
• Gradually add beaten egg and remaining sieved dry ingredients.
• Add milk, vanilla extract and orange zest and mix to a smooth batter.
• Divide the mixture between two loaf tins.
• Bake for 20 minutes (test the centre with a skewer).
• Cool on a cooling rack.
34

Gaeilgeoir na Míosa
Gaeilgeoirí na Míosa for
September/October were
presented with their
certificates and their new bags
full of Irish goodies!
Each of the recipients in Year 8, 9
and 10 were chosen by their Irish
teacher for their commitment to
Irish and the outstanding effort they
made learning and speaking Irish
from September. Comhghairdeas
libh a chairde, maith sibh!
Year 8 / Bliain 8:
Cara Duffy (0808)
Clodagh Rafferty (0814)
Thomas Murphy (0823)
Shane Caherty (0831)
Year 9 / Bliain 9:
Johnny Mooney (0952)
Oisín McCrink (0981)
Katie Mathers (0953)
Smilte Osarova (0969)
Year 10 / Bliain 10:
Suzie Quinn 1068
Emily McArdle 1028
Gráinne McKeever 1094
Shauna Savage 1003
35

After-School GCSE Classes
At the start of the new term, we welcomed 8 new pupils to our after school GCSE class for pupils
from an Irish medium background. Together with their Year 9 and 10 peers, they continue to show
their commitment to the Irish language by attending their after school lesson every Tuesday from
15:30-17:00. Tá muid chomh brodúil asaibh a chairde, maith sibh uilig ar fad!
Niamh Ní Eachaidh, Káelin Mac Uaid, Caoimhe Ní hAmhráin, Orlaith Ní Sheanáin, Callum
Ó Breaslain, Éabha Nic Cathmhaoil, Cianna Nic Cathmhaoil, Lughan Mac Cathmhaoil,
Eimear Ní hAmhráin, Tiernán Ó Seanáin, Conor Mac Rann. Missing from photo; Séadna
Mac Giolla Eoghain.
Club na Gaeilge
Our subject ambassadors, Tiernán Breslin and Eimer Cromie are spending their lunch time
every Friday running our Club na Gaeilge for Year 8 pupils. Join us every Friday in M4 for
cluichí (games,) cairdeas (friendship) and craic! Bígí linn!
36

Interview about Enrichment with Mr McKinley
1. What is Enrichment in St. Paul’s?
Enrichment is an opportunity to broaden the horizons of each and every one
of our students, helping them to achieve at the highest level both
academically and in their talents outside the classroom. Enrichment can be
defined as the action of improving or enhancing the quality or value of
something.
2. Who does enrichment help and what benefits does it have for
students in St Paul’s?
An effective enrichment programme helps all students who participate in it.
Currently Year 13 students are the main focus for enrichment at St Paul’s,
with the aim of helping students with the transition from studying up to ten
subjects in Year 12 to three for A-level in Year 13. Year 13 students are
afforded study periods within their timetable and during these times they
can partake in an activity/course which our staff from St Paul’s very kindly
offer as well as outside agencies. These activities/courses are opportunities
for students to develop their individual skills and qualities and pursue their
interests beyond the curriculum which will strengthen their character and
37

equip them for future employment opportunities, trips abroad, university life
and becoming a valuable 21st century citizen.
3. What enrichments are available in St. Paul’s?
There are a very wide range of enrichment programmes as you can see
from the list below. This is my first year as coordinator of enrichment
and to make it beneficial I based the current programme on student
choice. Future programmes will yet again be driven by student choice.
So, if you feel that there is a programme which should be included in the
future, let me know by email.
Enrichment activities/course currently on offer:
• Sign Language
• Young Enterprise
• Careers Workshops
• Coding and Games Development
• First Aid
• Fitness classes
• Cookery Survival
• Public Speaking Training
• Mentoring – DEN
• Pilates
• Touch Typing Masterclass
• Money Matters Workshop
• Time Management Workshop
• Literacy Support – DEN
• Year 9 Lunchtime Club
• Cookery Supervision
• Couch to 5K
• Charity Fundraising
• Guitar Lessons
38

4. Would you advise younger students to do enrichment?
I would advise younger students who plan to stay at St Paul’s for post 16
study to embrace the enrichment opportunities on offer and to attempt an
activity/course which may be considered outside their comfort zone
which may reveal hidden talents, develop confidence, and learn new
skills which could lead to a career path they never envisaged
5. Lastly, what advice have you for students completing enrichment?
The most important advice I have for students currently taking part in an
enrichment activity/course is to firstly enjoy it and secondly to actively
participate in it. I would advise students to complete the whole
programme for maximum benefit and then to look for opportunities inside
and outside of school to develop further the skills which they have
obtained from the activity/course they are completing and to implement
these where possible in their future endeavours.
As Dr Seuss said “the more that you read, the more things you will
know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”
(Interview: Katie O’Rourke)
39

Anti-Bullying Week in St. Paul’s
At St Paul’s, bullying is a topic we take very seriously because we know it is, unfortunately,
something that can affect everyone. That is why we all make our best efforts to make every
pupil in the school feel important and heard in our community.
Anti-bullying week began on the 14 th November.
The student leadership delivered a wonderful
presentation to all year groups at assemblies on antibullying
and important topics surrounding it, and we
also had an odd sock day for a great start off to this
week! All pupils and staff were encouraged to wear
odd socks to symbolise that we are all different and
that children should be themselves, accepting of one
another and celebrate difference. It was brilliant to
see so many staff and pupils take part and enjoy this
event!
Our Student Leadership Team also
created a Friendship Calendar that was
displayed during registration every
morning, listing small, simple tasks that
could make a difference to someone’s
day.
Year 8 attended a ‘Hip Psychology’ workshop, played ‘People Bingo’ at lunchtime during
‘Friendship Friday’ and had an extended assembly where some students talked about the
friendships they had made since September.
40

Year 13 and 14 then received a presentation from
Trisha, Annalivia and Laura from ‘I am Digital’
group (16 th November) on the importance of what
they post on social media and how it can affect
them and others, an important topic for our pupils
to learn as they grow more independent.
On the same day our year 10s also received an informative and engaging workshop on ‘Healthy
Relationships’. Lots of group work was done and the pupils thoroughly enjoyed debating ideas.
They were given information on what qualities a healthy relationship should have, the signs of
an unhealthy one and the associated dangers with social media. It was a fantastic way to finish
off the week for our pupils!
(Casey McQuillan)
41

Gradam Naomh Pól Award Winners
Fiachra Ó’Dúill
The Gradam Naomh Pól Award is given to students who distinguish
themselves in activities outside of school. Our Year 14 award winners tell
us a bit about themselves.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN PLAYING HANDBALL?
I’ve been playing handball all my life, my father played it, he really was the driving force
behind my handballing career. I entered my first tournament when I was 5 years old, it was
an u11 competition, making me the youngest member ever.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT HANDBALL?
I like the fact that all the pressure is on me and I have no one to blame but myself if I lose the
game.
DO YOU HAVE TO TRAIN HARD?
I definitely have to train hard to be at the top level of handball. This would consist of 3-4
handball sessions a week plus countless hours of running and stretching to be at peak
performance. I also play football and a bit of hurling and soccer, which is also part of my
training.
WHAT WAS THE PROCESS OF MAKING IT TO THE ALL-IRELAND FINAL?
To play in the Ulster’s you must win your county championship, the person I was to play in
the county picked up an injury and could not fulfil the fixture. Then on to Ulster’s with 2
rounds and then a final against the best handballer out of every county in Ireland. I defeated a
boy from Monaghan in the final. In the All-Ireland semi final I played a former All-Ireland
champion. I knew myself that I had to be in top form, which thankfully I was, this ultimately
led me to win in a comfortable fashion.
HOW DID YOU DO IN THE FINAL?
In the final I faced a player I’ve never played before from Cork. I adapted well tohis style of
play ultimately dominating the final with a comfortable win.
42
(Emma Boylan)

Gradam Naomh Pól Winner
Dominik Szablonski
I interviewed year 14 student Dominik Szablonski, on completing his second Sentinus
Research Academy Project in the Young Innovators 2022.
We started our interview by Dominik telling me what Young Innovators is? ‘Young
innovators are one of the largest events of its kind in the UK and provides a showcase for
students to show the wealth of creativity and innovation which exists in schools and colleges,
basically like a big Science fair.' Dominik explained that one of the top prizes was a trip to
Texas, USA to attend the International young innovators competition.
Dominik’s project was on ‘heart disease prediction focusing on Logistic Regression.’
I asked Dominik what had sparked his interest or inspired him to study this topic?
Dominik said his interest in this research project was sparked when he was placed with a
company called SENO that inspired him to use bioinformatics, and this is the application of
tools of computation and analysis to the capture and interpretation of biological data.
Dominik also used logistic regression which is a statistical learning model that generates the
probability of certain events happening and in Dominik’s research project of ‘predicting heart
disease’ logistic regression was used to determine the probability of heart disease
occurring.Dominik presented his research project at Queen’s University Belfast to his peers
in the young innovators. Some of which were doing their research projects on Astro physics
and engineering. Dominik presented his project to a judging panel in Queen’s University, and
they assessed how effective Dominik’s research was.
Dominik’s advice for future students looking into research projects is to be on the lookout for
any work experience in your chosen field. Dominik explained it does not have to be science
related like his project it can be anything you feel passionate about, and it will go well.
Dominik said the research project really helped him with his thinking skills in school because
it helped him to think more critically about his schoolwork.
(Roisín Dowdall)
43

Gradam Naomh Pól Winner
Mark McDonnell
When did you start playing?
I started playing the banjo when I was 8 years old
Who/what influenced you to start playing the banjo?
I was encouraged to start playing Irish traditional
music as I grew up with music on both sides of my
family. Many of my friends from a young age
started along with me encouraging me to attend
classes every Thursday night and play along as a
group, later forming our Scór group.
What awards have you received from playing the
banjo?
Every year I participate in different feis’, winning a
variety of awards through solo playing and awards
in all underage group levels. I have taken part and
received awards in the Armagh and Ulster Fleadh.
This year I placed 3 rd in the ulster fleadh u18 solo
banjo competition. Through playing as part of the
Scór group for my football club Mullaghbawn we have become Ulster and all Ireland
champions in the Ceol Uirlse competition.
How many rounds did it take to reach the All Ireland Scór Final?
We played in 4 stages to reach the all Ireland final, starting at Armagh scór where we
competed against our local clubs, we then played in the ulster semi-final leading onto the
Ulster final were we became ulster champions. On the 12 th of November we travelled to
Mayo to compete against groups from all over Ireland were we placed 1 st .
What is your favourite thing about playing the banjo?
I love playing along with my friends and attending group practice every week. I love the
sessions and the craic involved.
Who is your biggest influence?
Some of my favourite banjo players are Aislinn Fegan, Miceal Mullen and George McAdam.
(Aoidín Reel)
44

Amazing the Space programme
Amazing the Space is a youth and education programme run by Co-operation Ireland which brings
together students from neighbouring schools to work on a joint good relations project. Since 2016
Amazing the Space has involved over 10,000 students in youth-led initiatives that provide young
people with a voice in peace and friendship-building across Northern Ireland.
Yr11 Art & design students have linked up with students from Newtownhamilton High School and
Newry High School. The initial part of this programme involved a visit to the RUA exhibition with
Newtownhamilton High School. The group enjoyed very interesting and informative guided tour by
Maggi Bowen and were delighted to meet artist Simon McWilliams and to listen to him talk about one
of his pieces that is currently on show in the exhibition.
The students are now preparing for and looking forward to two workshops in the early Spring which
will be led by local artists Lauren Scott and Julie Scott.
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The staff and students of St Paul’s High School are fully committed to promoting
and developing the school’s outreach agenda. The school anticipates and promotes
educational and charitable relationships, which ensure that pupils have opportunities
to make a positive contribution to the local and wider community, including the
global community.
Would you like to shape future St Paul’s International Projects? Have your say by
joining the St Paul’s International Projects Google Classroom using the QR code
below.
46

Introducing Reading Ambassador, Ava Hughes from 08/67, our new Year 8
Student Librarian.
Ava has been in her role for the past few months, and she volunteers in the library before
school and at lunchtime. She is a wonderful addition to the library staff and is learning new
skills every day. Perhaps a future Mrs Morgan!
Q. How are you enjoying your first term in St Paul’s?
A. It is amazing! I am enjoying all my new subjects, and everyone is so kind.
Q. What are your favourite subjects?
A. I love English, especially when we go to the library. I also love to cook so Home
Economics is another favourite subject.
Q. Why did you want to be a Student Librarian?
A. I have always loved reading since I was very young and as I go to the school library
every day, so why not?
Q. What does the role entail?
A I can issue and return library books using the Eclipse System. I answer the phone if
Mrs Morgan is busy. I also help out with Library events such as Open Day and this year I
will be dressed up as Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz. I am looking forward to World Book
Day and volunteering at the Book Fair in March.
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Q. If you could take 3 books to a desert island, what 3 would you choose?
1. Grandpa’s Great Escape (I might get some ideas to escape!)
2.Private Peaceful as it is a moving story about the First World War
3. Any one of the “My Story” Series that give you an idea of what it was like to live in
a certain period of history through the eyes of a teenager.
Q. What do you love about reading for pleasure?
A. I love to find a really good book and immerse myself in the story to escape reality and
memorise the story so I can think about it in detail
Q. Do you have any pets?
A. I have one dog at home called Alfie and he is a Scottish Terrier Mix
Q. If you could go anywhere in the world, what county would you visit?
A. I would love to visit Finland as my dream is to go skiing!
Q. What advice would you give to encourage our pupils to read? Reading always opens
your mind to new things. You don’t even have to buy a new book – just go up to the library as
all the books are free. Mrs Morgan will help you find the right book and you will never look
back!
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Literacy News!
Celebrating Literacy Week 3 rd -7 th October 2022
Literacy is always central to everything we do in St. Paul’s. We feel it is vitally important to
raise awareness; to highlight the value of reading and promote the importance of making
reading part of our daily routine. We welcome and greatly appreciate the annual celebration
of author’s, illustrators, and books to help inspire and encourage reading for pleasure
amongst our pupils.
Throughout Literacy Week we were fortunate to have lots of exciting and special events
organised. We had Literacy Doors, Word of the Day, daily DEAR Time for our KS3 pupils, Word
Conundrums and Riddle Competitions, to name but a few.
Literacy Week Celebrations:
Monday 3rd October
This saw the English Department, Literacy Support staff, Mrs Hughes,
and Mrs McKenna together with our school librarian, Ms Morgan,
colour their classroom doors with powerful synonyms so to highlight
the vast array of language that we have at our fingertips. This also
introduced our daily ‘Word of the Day’ that always generates such
great conversations during Form class registration, in addition to the
promotion of our daily year group and staff competitions in the form
of conundrums and riddles. Thank you, as always for your
contributions and for always embracing these events.
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Tuesday 4 th October:
We had Red Day to promote the message to our pupils that it is important to ‘Be Well Read’.
This was a very exciting day as Years 8 and 9 dressed themselves in their choice of red attire
to advertise the importance of reading for their growth and development. We always
embrace the idea that there’s nothing better than losing yourself in a good book! Making time
to escape, if only for one second, transporting yourself to another world. I believe we also
managed to send this very powerful message to our wider community as we shared on social
media, the sea of red, chanting “Be well read!”
Wednesday 5 th October:
This marked our Promotion of our annual Year 10 Twist on A Tale Competition. This year the
theme was ‘Represent’ where we had an array of many wonderful entries from pupils writing
about who they believe were under-represented in literature today. Very well done to all
involved! We look forward to the results and to receiving our certificates from Pearson UK.
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Family Reading Night
We offered the opportunity and encouraged families to
take the time to read together. This was organised for
our KS3 pupils resulting in many lovely photographs
being sent in via Google Classroom. We had some lovely
and even ‘interesting’ photographs…we even had family
pets getting involved! We hope that this instilled and
fostered a love of reading in your household. In addition
to inspiring you, we hoped to inspire you to read
together, to encourage growth and development.
Thursday 6 th October:
On the 6 th October we celebrated National Poetry Day! In our English classrooms, pupils
completed lots of exciting activities that focused on a love and appreciation of poetry. We
always value our annual celebration of wonderful works of poetry.
Thursday also saw the annual launch of our Halloween Poetry Competition by Ms Morgan,
our wonderful school librarian. This is an incredible event that offers our Year 8 pupils the
opportunity to show off their creative and imaginative skills. As a result, many exceptional
poems were produced, and fantastic prizes were won!
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Friday 7 th October:
Our final day of celebrating our love for reading! We asked you to wear your choice of hat to
school and what fantastic arrangements we did see! “Hats Off to Reading!” resounded along
our corridors. This proved to be a very exciting day for all pupils in Years 8 and 9 as Ms Morgan
also organised the fabulous Book Buzz event, which enabled every pupil in Year 8 to receive
a brand-new book of their choosing. Both these events certainly reinforced a very powerful
and strong message: reading is a vital part of our development, and we should always value
the opportunity to read a good book.
Here at St. Paul’s, we are a ‘Reading’ school, and we choose to embrace and promote our love
of reading at every given opportunity. We look forward to celebrating with you all again next
year!
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It has been a busy term in the Library!
Roald Dahl Day
Book Buzz
Halloween Poetry
BBC 100 Years Roadshow
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54

ICE HOCKEY
By Oisin Ager & Daniel McParland 10/71
On Friday 25th November, the students from the DEN attended an exhibition hockey match
in the SSE Arena.
I cannot describe in words how good the whole day was, but I will try. This was the first
time many of us had been to a Hockey match.
We got to see an amazing and competitive game between the Quinnipiac Bobcats vs
Dartmouth Big Green. The players were pushing each other, the tackles were ferocious, and
the scores were so exciting to see.
The atmosphere was so intense. There was very popular music playing and between the 2nd
and 3rd quarter someone brought a cannon that shot out subway sandwiches.
The drive there may be a bit long, but it was worth it. The best bit about the day was that the
Bobcats won the match. This was the team we were supporting. I give this hockey game a 10
out of 10.
55

Full Marks at GCCE Summer 2022
Congratulations to Ines Martin on achieving full marks in Art & Design. Ines is studying Art
at AS level and we look forward to more exciting work from her as the year progresses.
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Full Marks at GCCE Summer 2022
Congratulations to Sophie Hollywood on achieving
full marks in Art & Design. Sophie is studying Art at
AS level and we look forward to more exciting work
from her as the year progresses.
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Full Marks at A level Summer 2022
Congratulations to Rachel McKeown on attaining full marks in A-level Art & Design. Rachel is
continuing to study Art at the University of Ulster. We know she will excel there and look forward to
her end of year exhibition
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Full Marks at A level Summer 2022
Congratulations to Shaun on attaining full marks in A-level Art & Design. Shaun is currently
completing his A2 Physics and Design and Technology and we are delighted that he continues to visit
the Art Department regularly and is enjoying Art in his free time through producing amazing wood
carvings.
59

Boys Gaelic Football
In St. Paul’s, we are very passionate about Gaelic Football and it is a key sport throughout
our school. Our school has been very successful in competitions over the years and has won
many trophies and competitions. Recently our U19 have started their McLarnon campaign
and play their 2 nd group game on Wednesday 30 th November against Magherafelt.
Our 5 th years have had an amazing run so far and have reached the semi-final of the Danske
Bank Ulster Schools Rannafast competition. The boys played St. Patrick’s College Maghera in
the quarter final beating them with a score line of 1-9 to 1-6 and will now play the winners
of either St Colman’s College.
Rannafast Team and
Coaches
60

KS3 Soccer
Year 9 Soccer Champions 2022!
The St. Paul’s Year 9 soccer team are the new Northern Ireland Schools mixed 9-a-side
champions of 2022 after Zach Campbell scored the winning goal in the final against
Glengormely High. The team of both boys and girls travelled to Mallusk playing fields in
Belfast to take part in this prestigious tournament. In all their 8 games the St. Paul’s team
played in, they didn't concede a single goal. Players involved in this fantastic team were
goalkeeper Connor Trainor, defenders Danielle McParland, Jack Wallace, Alfie Brown, and
Niamh Muckian. Midfields including Shane Toner, Charlotte Havern, Emma Toale, Eoin
Mallon, and Sophie Rock, whilst the attacking line consisted of players Joe McCabe, Cadhla
Falloon and Zach Campbell.
Our winning team and coaches
Mr McKinley and Mr Caldwell
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Our Year 8 soccer team also claimed victory when they were crowned champions of the
South Down Schools 8-a-side blitz at Cheney Park Bandbridge. The squad have now
successfully qualified for the ‘Finals Day’ tournament which will take place in the New Year.
On the day the St. Paul’s Boys performed brilliantly and credit must go to the defenders of
the team, Oisin Cribbin, Tom Stanfield, Harley Bann, Cian Kelly and goalkeeper Finn
McKeown who only conceded 1 goal in the entire tournament. There were excellent
performances by the midfielders Darragh Rigley and Cathal Hughes. The goal scorers of the
tournament included, Callum Keenan, Sean Óg Quinn, Malachy Noade, Ruairi Collins and
Brian Caldwell, with Brian grabbing the winner in the final against Kilkeel High.
Year 8 Soccer team
(Jack McCann)
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Naomh Pól News
PRAYER TO ST PAUL
Oh glorious St Paul, by your prayers and example, enable me to
become a better person. More considerate towards others, more
honest with myself, more faithful to God.
Give me the courage to accept the pains and problems of this day,
always rejoicing in the Lord.
Through my prayers may I be ‘rooted in love’, always loving God in
fidelity to Sunday mass and daily prayer; always loving my neighbour,
especially my family and friends.
Make me patient and kind, never jealous or rude. Give me the
strength to trust, to hope and to endure whatever comes.
May I always know in my heart what you taught so well; that there
are only three things that last – faith, hope and love and the
greatest of these is love.
Amen