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Sports Day 2023

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On Wednesday 14th June our PE department held our annual sports day. The sun was shining as we were blessed with some fantastic weather and clear blue skies for the occasion. Students in Years 8-11 took to the pitches to participate in a series of heats in track and field events. It was a wonderful day with strong participation across the school despite the uncharacteristically warm temperatures. Pupils participated and ran with enthusiasm, commitment and desire which are three very important life skills which our PE department teach to our pupils all year!

Students were also treated to a delicious BBQ thanks to Chef Hines and Chef Newnham!! Thank goodness the ice cream van was there for the perfect cool down refreshment after the racing. It really was a wonderful way to finish off what has been a busy year of sport in school.

Thank you to all who help to make the event a huge success and congratulations to all our student and staff competitors!! 

Head of PE Mr Watson was delighted with the day:

‘Sports Day 2023 show-cased the best that Laurelhill has to offer. Not only were our fantastic outdoor facilities bathed in sunshine from start to finish, but all pupils were a credit to themselves and to the College. Races and field events were hard fought with determination and competitive spirit on show throughout and several school records broken. Well done to all of the pupils who participated and congratulations to the winners of the following events listed below.’

100m

Year 8 Girls – Tilly Short

Year 8 Boys – Abbey Coulter

Year 9 Girls – Mia McKittrick

Year 9 Boys – Sam Banford

Year 10 Girls – Ruby Hunter

Year 10 Boys – Fred Patterson

Year 11 Girls – Ellie McIlveen

Year 11 Boys – Arnar Brynjarsson

200m

Year 8 Girls – Tilly Short

Year 8 Boys – Michael Layland

Year 9 Girls – Josephine Haggerty

Year 9 Boys – Harvey Girvan

Year 10 Girls – Ruby Hunter

Year 10 Boys – Fred Patterson

Year 11 Girls – Ellie McIlveen

Year 11 Boys – Arnar Brynjarsson

400m

Year 8 Girls – Riley McDowell

Year 8 Boys – Matthew Gilliland

Year 9 Girls – Grace Campbell

Year 9 Boys – Harvey Girvan

Year 10 Girls – Lucy Woolsey

Year 10 Boys – Jay Borrill

Year 11 Boys – Archie Wiseman

800m

Year 8 Girls – Alijah Johnston

Year 8 Boys – Matthew Gilliland

Year 9 Girls – Grace Campbell

Year 9 Boys – Archie Irvine

Year 10 Girls – Lucy Woolsey

Year 10 Boys – Jay Borrill

Year 11 Girls – Sophie

Year 11 Boys – Aaron Wilson

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Families First NI Award Success for Laurelhill Community College

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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.

 

 

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Exciting New 3G Pitch Facility

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Exciting New 3G Pitch Facility for Laurelhill Community College

 

 

It has been announced this week that approval has been granted for a new 3G football pitch at the Sports Zone facility located on site at Laurelhill Community College. It is fantastic news to hear the development of this new pitch will go ahead. Sport is central to everyday life in school so to have this new state of the art facility will enhance the PE department’s education for all the students of the school.

Head of PE at Laurelhill, Mr Watson, reflected on this exciting decision, ‘I am delighted that this project has got the go ahead. It is long overdue. Having these new facilities will only help to improve both the physical and mental health of the pupils in school and the local community. It will also help to further improve the quality of football provision within the school, ensuring we maintain our IFA Gold School standard. We will be the only school in Lisburn to have a facility like this. I look forward to working with Council to ensure this world class facility is in place as soon as possible.’

The new facility will be not only serve the school community but the wider Lisburn community, providing a 3G pitch for local clubs to train on too. We look forward to the completion of this new facility.