It was a night of celebration for the College on Saturday 20th May 2023 as we picked up FOUR awards for the school and teaching staff.
Families First NI hosted the 2023 Secondary, Grammar and College awards, sponsored by Calvert Office Equipment Ltd, in Titanic Belfast, to recognise schools and individuals who make a difference to the up-and-coming generation in education. We were delighted to receive a nomination in the “School of the Year Country Antrim” category and are delighted to announce we received a Special Recognition Award in this category for the care and dedication our students receive to ensure every child achieves their potential.
Principal, Mr James Martin, was also nominated for “Principal of the Year” and received a Special Recognition Award in this category in recognition for his leadership in school. Mr Martin said “We are delighted to be recognised in four categories at this award event as it is a clear indication of the breadth of talent across all aspects of the school. We are particularly pleased that our school has been recognised in the School of the Year category.”
Two further nominations were made for members of our teaching staff, Head of PE Mr Watson, and English teacher Mr Reuss. Mr Watson received the Highly Commended Award for Teacher of the Year County Antrim. Mr Watson expressed his delighted in winning highly commended in this caetgory, “I have been teaching for 21 years and I thoroughly enjoy my job and I have enjoyed teaching every pupil throughout my years. I am privileged to teach the best subject in the Curriculum (Physical Education) and the subject which can truly change pupils’ lives. I feel my award is not only a reflection on myself and my teaching but on my entire PE department, which I owe a great deal of gratitude.” English teacher Mr Reuss received the Special Recognition Award in the same category, Teacher of the Year for Country Antrim. Humbled by the recognition he said “There’s nothing better in teaching than when students or parents say that you’ve made a difference in a child’s life. It’s the bullseye all teachers aim for, that’s why it was so gratifying to be at Titanic Belfast to receive this award thanking me for role I play. It was a proud moment in my career that I’ll cherish for a long time.”
As we look ahead to the next academic year and celebrate our 50th anniversary, these awards are a great start to the year of activites planned when we will reflect and reminisce at what we have achieved as a school over the past 50 years in the Lisburn community. They are the perfect start to our anniversary celebrations.
