Patrician 2019

Art & Design

A selection of KS3 entrants’ works for the Texaco Children’s Art Competition, 2019

Pupils were asked to create a composition using either oil pastels or watercolour paints depicting a local scene near to where
they live and to include a Dinosaur image within it if possible. This idea was decided upon as the Ulster Museum in Belfast was
simultaneously staging an important exhibition featuring the life size model of ‘Dippy the Dinosaur’ borrowed from the National
History Museum in London.

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Art & Design

Kate McCloskey in the middle of developing
her Oil Pastel Composition for her Final Art
and Design Assessment for Year 8. Certainly
coming on very well! Keep up the good work.

Molly Horan 8Ar with her lovely oil pastel picture which Oil pastel composition by Niamh McIlvar 8Co. Some lovely
demonstrates all the skills necessary to create a great original colour blends and creative textural effects evident in this work.
work of art. Well done! Well done!

A line of young artists all proud to show off their work!
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Art & Design

Showing creativity and diligence creating these original oil pastel compositions in Year 8 Art and Design. Well done girls!

Many new techniques and skills have been learnt doing these lovely oil pastel pictures by Year 8 Art and Design. Skills learned
included choosing colour schemes, blending colours and adding surface patterns and textures.

The Patrician 2019 53

Art & Design

Almost finished! It takes dedication and hard word to develop these great pictures by Year 8 Art and Design pupils.

Beautiful ceramic creations by Year 8 pupils.
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Art & Design

Above: KS3 Pupils having fun creating imaginative tropical undersea world pictures. Also seen are pupils preparing canvases for
acrylic painting during Painting Club at lunch time.

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Art & Design

Eco-Club

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Art & Design

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Art & Design

Year 9 Package Drawing Year 11 Artwork

Daria Sadej.

Ema Svetlaviciute, media experiment.

Megan Quinn, Ema Svetlaviciute, contextual research.
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Art & Design

Grace McCart, acrylic study after Kandinsky.

Year 11 Artwork

Katie Cunningham, fictional characters.

Katie Cunningham, Fantasy Illustration. Grace McCart, Photoshop work.
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Art & Design

GCSE - Aaron McElhinney.

GCSE Artwork

GCSE - Imogen McSwiggan Final Piece

GCSE - Imogen McSwiggan. GCSE - Imogen McSwiggan Detail.
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Art & Design

GCSE - Amy Gormley.

GCSE - Saffron Gribbin. GCSE - Aoife McGuigan.

A prototype
trophy design
made from
eco-friendly
recycled paper.

Close up details of other 3D Design Trophy piece.

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Art & Design

GCSE Artwork

GCSE Art and Design planning and preparation work: Seen here is one pupil Some interesting samples of work from
developing ideas for a ceramics design project as part of her component one GCSE Art and Design, including an
piece. Lovely drawing and colouring is evident here! imaginative book containing a complete
story with illustrations, an original film poster
design, and a package design for a fictitious
local honey producer.

GCSE ceramic develop work.
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Art & Design

Sample GCSE work which includes a mixed media composition inspired
by modern artists and part of an original design for a new stained glass
window.

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Art & Design

Catherine O'Kane, observational pencil sketch.

A2 Artwork

Catherine O'Kane, tonal work.

Catherine O'Kane, 'It's not over 'till the fat lady sings'. Clodagh O'Kane, mixed media study.
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Art & Design

GCSE - Amy Gormley. Dearbhla McTaggart , 'Fragility'.
GCSE - Saffron Gribbin.

Clodagh O'Kane. Dearbhla McTaggart, rose study in oil paint.
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Art & Design

Aine McGlinchey, Triptych 2. Aine McGlinchey, 'Despondency'.

Dearbhla McTaggart. Aine McGlinchey, Triptych .
66 St. Patrick’s College - Maghera

Art & Design

Cliona O'Kane. Cheyenne McNeill, 'Contemplation'.
Cheyenne McNeill.

Cliona O'Kane, 'Temporary'. Laura Jane Diamond, acrylic on canvas.
The Patrician 2019 67

BTEC Construction

Year 14 Construction classes, teachers Mrs Hendy and Mr Henry, and representatives from FP McCann.

BTEC Construction Trip

In February this year the Year 14 Some of the pupils out on site. were successful in earning a place.
Construction classes got the chance Well done to Bronagh Gallagher and
to go to FP McCann Kilrea site for We also learnt of the apprenticeship Ronan Raffery.
a tour around their site. FP McCann programmes that FP McCann is
is the UK’s largest manufacturer associated with, in particular Career
and supplier of precast concrete Encode in which two of our pupils
solutions.

As part of the ‘Science and
Materials in Construction and
the Built Environment’ in BTEC
Construction the pupils learn about
the production and manufacturing
process for construction materials.
The group got to witness first-
hand the quarry where blasting is
carried out to obtain aggregates
for concrete production, view the
batching process and learn how
tests on the strength and workability
of concrete are performed.

In the site office, we learned the
theory of concrete production,
had an insight into the day to
day operations for such a large
company and learnt of the career
opportunities offered by FP McCann.

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Careers

Earn As You Learn

‘Earn as you learn’ is a phrase that you hear quite often PwC, Deloitte, FP McCann, Doherty Accountants, Errigal
nowadays regarding career opportunities for young Contracts, P Keenan and Heron Bros. These 12 students
people. Apprenticeships as a career path are one route have been selected from across NI and have faced tough
which has been increasing in demand within the College. competition to secure their apprenticeships due to the
This year we have our highest number of pupils to date high calibre of applicants. We are very proud of each and
in Year 14 who have been offered apprenticeships in the every one of them and we wish them all the best for their
fields of Accountancy, IT and Computing, Engineering future career.
and Quantity Surveying. These apprenticeships are with Missing from photo; Aoife Higgins.

Queen's Pathway Programme

Cait McCloskey and Thomas Morren have been
successful in securing places on the Queen's Pathway
Programme following on from the success of Dylan
McLaughlin. Cait will follow the Business pathway and
Thomas the Computer Science pathway.

The benefits of completing the programme in their
relevant specific pathway is that they will receive a
guaranteed conditional offer of a place at QUB in their
specific Pathway course stream. They may be also
eligible for an offer reduced by up to two A level grades
(or equivalent) below the standard entry offer to QUB,
depending on their performance on the programme.
Finally, they will receive support of £1000 bursary
awarded during their first year at QUB.

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Careers

Careers
Convention –
March 2019

This year we once again hosted our Annual
Careers Convention which was attended
by a number of universities and colleges
across the UK as well as a breadth of local
companies keen to build awareness of the
career opportunities that exist within their
workplace. It was a very worthwhile event for
all those that attended and hopefully will help
them make more informed career decisions.

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English

Year 13 Trip to the
Heaney Centre

As part of their A.S. study of the poetry of Niamh and Kaitlin rocking the duffle coat look.
Robert Frost and Seamus Heaney, the Year
13 English Literature class visited the Heaney
Centre HomePlace in Bellaghy in February.
Pupils attended a lecture in ‘The Helicon’
theatre, browsed the exhibition and participated
in a special workshop focusing on their A.S.
examination.

It was a great day out and provided all pupils
with a deeper appreciation and understanding
of Heaney as both a person and Nobel prize-
winning poet often regarded as one of Ireland’s
greatest ever writers.

Finding their ‘Personal Helicon’, the A.S. ladies get creative when completing their own group poems.
The Patrician 2019 71

English

Wicked Young Writers Awards

By the Willow's Neck from the bullet wound in her flank- crimson streaks
blossoming from it and painting my clothes. I stroked
I loved her. I’ve loved her since the first moment I laid eyes her back and cradled her there, like a tired infant, in the
on her. Those elegant movements as she loped to meet meadow, by the willow’s neck as I hushed her pitiful cries.
me by the Willow’s Neck at sun-high, and how she would The colour began to slowly drain from her eyes as she
stay with me ‘till the bitter essence of nightfall polluted gazed at me- heartbroken and afraid. But I told her not to
the heavens and veiled the skies in its tranquilising be afraid. It was okay now- I was here. Nothing would hurt
embrace- hiding us, together, away from the worries and her anymore. A kick or two of her legs, a sharp spasm and
disturbances of a smoke-stack existence. Oh, how we jerk- and she melted away. Away from this Earth, away
would lie side by side in the crippled stems of the sun- from this life. But not away from me. No- never. She was so
kissed meadow and contemplate the prospect of a distant peaceful after that.
renaissance- a glorious rebirth into a new life; one where
materialistic desires mattered not, a life where we could You would’ve thought she was sleeping, and, in a sense,
continue to lie here for just a fragment of a moment more, she was, as the grass nursed her carcass and softened her
not giving any thought to our worriment’s and melancholic fall.
troubles. We would meet here, in this meadow, beneath
a golden sky as the stars showered through the cosmos, I still see her every day, though. She is as beautiful as ever-
and from there, my love for her only continued to grow- maybe more so, now that she permanently resides above
ravenous. Tempestuous. Merciless. my mantelpiece, the rest of her gorgeous pelt adorning
my floor. I loved her, I became addicted. Who ever thought
The more I thought about her, the more my desire to have blood would taste so sweet?
her grew. I wanted to keep her with me forever- I wanted
her to be mine. She was beautiful, after all. I could hardly Aoife Doherty 10Bi
be blamed for my interest.
The Vaccine
Then came the hunger, as love managed to manifest itself
into a grotesque amalgamation of greed and envy. The It all started with the deer. A mystery virus that made them
gnawing, tormentuous hunger that clawed itself up from aggressive and cannibalistic swept the nation. But no one
the nethermost pits of my stomach to the back of my throat, really cared. At least, no one really cared until a hunter
threatening to congest it at a moment's notice. Hunger. shot, killed and ate one of the deer that was infected. That
It was the hunger. The hunger. The hunger. Blame it on was the spark that hit the kindling, becoming a deadly,
the hunger- the natural bloodlust that every human, no dangerous, disastrous fire that spread like -well, it spread
matter how much they try to feebly deny it, contain in every like wildfire. You see, the effects it had on the deer were
fibre of their being. Humans are capable of one thing. amplified ten times in humans – it was the beginning
Genocide. I tried to ignore it, to push the thoughts away of the end. Catastrophically contagious. Tremendously
and to suppress them in my already scrambled mind- a treacherous. Infinitely injurious. The apocalypse I had seen
masquerade of denial and lugubriosity. so often in movies had become a harsh reality.

Once, when the empyrean above indicated a Shepherd’s It’s been going on for about a month now and miraculously,
warning, I snuck out just before the break of dawn to my family has stayed safe. My parents are extremely
meet her. With me I carried an instrument of eradication, paranoid and always have been: it’s a good thing they
gleaming silver in the sun's ill glow. I trekked through bought a house with a WW2 bomb shelter in the back
crepuscular woodland thickets and over unforgiving garden and kept food stocked in it. The problem is, there’s
jagged peaks just to see her again. I was looking forward only a month’s rations in here. Sorry – was. I was on my
to our reunion- I learned to lock eyes with her alluring phone earlier this morning, trying to think of a solution
chocolate ones, as they glistened with unspoken songs when I got a notification. Our local newspaper had just
and poems of old. posted an article. And when I read the title, it was a
godsend. A miracle. The hose to extinguish the roaring
I remember aiming my gun- butt pressing against my flames. Pharmacists have developed a new drug which not
shoulder blade at a set angle, left arm resting comfortably only cures the virus, it prevents you from catching it! I was
on the fore-stock of my rifle, my right hand poised on the nearly on my knees, shouting ‘Hallelujah!’ when I realised
trigger. In one swift movement I was positioned, arms something – my parents are against vaccines.
extended before me as I peered through the scope- my
eyes trained on her. Her alone. And then like that, gone. A Goddamn it.
millisecond of hesitation and a lifetime of commitment.
So here we are – I’ve been thinking this over for about
It was a pity, really, I thought, as I held her limp form in my two hours and I still have no clue on how to convince my
arms, rocking her to sleep as blood seeped relentlessly parents that this wondrous cure isn’t a thinly veiled way to

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make the apocalypse even more chaotic than it already frantically, uncontrollably. What was happening? Was I still
is. At least they only discovered the anti-vaxxer Facebook dreaming? How do I make this stop? These questions
group after I was born and fully vaccinated; I’m fortunate to hysterically brewed in the cauldron of my mind as my
be alive and not infected with measles or mumps or polio. vision slowly blurred. The last thing I heard was a raspy,
I’ll tell them as it is – there’s a drug that not only cures this high-pitched voice before I collapsed to the wooden floor.
cataclysmic catastrophe that is the virus infecting over 65% “Elphaba”
of the population, it prevents you from ever contracting it.
How could they refuse this medical miracle? Out of instinct, I sat myself upright, my neck cracking in
the process. What had happened? My head started to
“Are you serious?! We’re in the middle of a literal zombie bang and ring as if someone was bashing it up against a
apocalypse and you refuse to let me take the cure for concrete wall- the pain was agonising! With one hand on
the disastrous disease that caused it?” I’m disgusted. my temples and another positioned on the edge of my
Appalled. Disappointed – but sadly, not surprised. And I bed, to help stand myself up. I walked idly and unsteadily
can’t even sneak out, go to the nearest doctor’s office, and towards the large mirror across the room, hoarse, harsh
get it anyway: I’m only fifteen. Never have I hated my own whispers filling my head like an army barging through the
parents as much as I utterly despise them right now. Even if door.
vaccines cause autism, would they rather a dead child than
autistic one? It’s my body, so it should be my choice! “She’s wicked!”

“You must understand that you’re our little girl and we “She’s a witch!”
want what’s best for you. And we’re your parents, so it’s
our choice until you’re eighteen,” argues Mum calmly, as if “Elphaba!”
she’s gone over this a thousand times. She has. I’m still not
buying that nonsense. If she truly wants what’s best for me, I tried to ignore these false truths as I tossed my raven
she wouldn’t be putting me at risk of catching this vicious black hair back to see what had become of that irritating
virus. I groan. But all of a sudden, a spark ignites in my itch at the side of my neck. I gasped in horror. At the right
mind. I’ll just wait a few hours… side of my neck lay a green blotch, burning and growing
like a despicable, vile, little parasite. I doubtfully, slowly
“Mum?” I’ve got to stay calm, no smile, no giggles, no moved my left arm to touch the horrific hindrance.
giveaways. A straight face is what I need to pull this off. Our
printer’s cooled down – she won’t suspect a thing. I gasped in shock. A flooding of images burst through the
gates of my mind: a young woman in a pink dress, small,
“Yes,” she answers. Ok, I’ve got the documents, puppy dog imp-like people singing & large winged creatures that
eyes and a sugary sweet smile ready to go. looked similar to a monkey human hybrid of some sort. Did
I know them? It felt like I did, but at the same time they felt
“I’m really sorry about the argument we had earlier, so I completely non-existent to me, almost as if they existed in
printed off a contract so the family never argues about some parallel universe.
medicine again.” Fluttering my eyelashes should work.
When I removed my hand from the blotch, I noticed that
“Aww, how sweet. Of course I’ll sign it, darling.” Yes! She’s now the green parasite had completely taken over my
signing it: I’m finally free from the shackles that tie me right arm and was moving upwards towards my face. The
down to a fireplace. Her eyes widen as she realises what room was spinning rapidly like a never-ending spinning
she’s signed – a consent form for the zombie vaccination. I top, my head, again, banging and ringing as if it was hit on
snatch the forms out of her hands and run laughing all the concrete; only this time it was true. I just wanted all this to
way to the doctor’s office. Rejoicing, I walk on in and ask stop!
for the vaccination my parents fear so much – the injection
doesn’t even hurt. I collapsed onto the wooden floor once again; my mind
must have been playing another cruel, manic joke on me
Aoife O’Donnell 10Ag as the woman with the pink dress appeared out of the blue
(or pink, whatever way you want to put it). The moment she
Story for Wicked Competition saw me she rushed to my aid, as if we were familiars.

I woke with a start, sticky beads of sweat trickling down my “Elphaba!” she lifted my head to her lap, to get a better
pale forehead. It had all felt so real, the adventure, the rush view of me. I could only remember one thing after I passed
of it all, the screams. It had felt more like a memory than a out completely:
dream…
”Who’s Elphaba?”
As I sat myself upright I could feel an irritating itch at the
side of my neck. Moments later the itch escalated into an Caoimhe Mc Closkey 10Ag
immense heat almost as if my body was burning me from
the inside out. The pain intensified; like a flood, it raced ‘The Broken Mirror’
down towards my right arm as it began to shake rapidly,
Every day I gazed into that broken mirror and it had the
same result. Every day I looked at a beautiful stranger.

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English

Every day I looked at her features and wished they weren’t moment it became body racking sobs, sobs that I couldn’t
there, that I hadn’t done what I did. Why? Why was I such a control. Sobs that weren’t for me and my failed life but for
fool? Why did I do it? Why did I throw the tremendous life my family's and maybe, just maybe, if I had stayed they
God gave me away? I did it because at the time it wasn’t would still be here. At that moment I realized that their
enough. The roof over my head wasn’t enough. The minute deaths wasn’t her fault but my own. Me, myself, and I. That’s
bits of food weren’t enough. The adoring, compassionate what they say after all… no that’s what SHE says…
yet underprivileged family wasn’t enough. My life wasn’t
enough. I wasn’t enough… Eimear Turner 10Cd

When I first met her she was… well, she was thoughtful, Secret Envy
incredible and when she smiled at you, it was like her smile
was just for you. Newsflash. It wasn’t. We would work all Miserable. Dejected. Pessimistic. Why does she do this
night and all day, soon, without even knowing so I was to me? Why does she do this to anyone? As I glance at
falling down the rabbit hole. Her rabbit hole. She said that my phone, the tears streaming out of my disconsolate
my family was unhealthy for me. She said that I couldn’t eyes- the heavy rainclouds in my insufferable mind let
trust them. She said that they were holding me back. She loose their turbulent nature, I read over the cruel, nasty
said that there was only two people in this world that I messages she haunts me with; it feels as if it is the first
could trust. Her and the person in the mirror. Before long I time that she torrentially teased me. I dare to say- the first
was eating it up like an obedient dog. Her dog. My family time that she bullied me. My tears are like a lake, filling up
were inconsolable; that was the last time I saw them when with water to the point of them flooding. Crying as I lay my
they gave me a mirror. A broken mirror. They said it showed phone down I hear her voices yell at me, making fun of me;
how they saw me. Broken and shattered but not broken. without the realisation that it is all in my mind… My “odd and
When I went to meet her that fateful night I was more obnoxious”, “horrendous and hideous” mind as she would
thrilled and eager than heart wrenched. I waited at that call it…
train station for hours. Four hours twenty-three minutes and
49 seconds. Not that I was counting. It then hit me. It me *****
like a tidal wave with a vengeance. For me. A vengeance
for me. I know it’s a cliché but I really didn’t see it coming. Why is she like that? She is so peculiar and disliked by
In that moment, no in them few months I knew her I was everyone; who does she think she is? I text her, repeating
incredibly selfish; I didn’t think of my family, of my friends, I to her these facts every day, and so that she will know to
only thought of me. Like she told me too. Me, myself and I. stay away from me and my prevalent, popular, predominant
That’s what they say… group of friends. She always puts on a depressed, down-
hearted act, all so that people will feel sorry for her. Ha-
The walk back was extensive and exhausting, all I could ha! Who would feel remorseful for her? Not me anyway…
think, as the tears flowed silently, is that it must have been Facetiously, I text her asking “Why do you think anyone
a mistake that she wouldn’t leave me. Or would she? That cares about you?”. It is exceptionally pleasing to put her in
tiny seed of doubt was creeping up again but I pushed her remote place. She is like a desert; unaccompanied, and
it to the furthest point in my mind closing that forbidden everyone despising you. Her and her odd and obnoxious,
thought train that was close to driving over the edge. horrendous and hideous mind. She is so odd sometimes-
Slowly, I pushed open the red wearing door, as the hinges all the time I mean… Unthoughtfully, I “remind” her that she
groaned in protest; expecting to fully see the same normal should move away to somewhere else, somewhere where
heartbroken family that I had abandoned. When I walked in some other outlandish person may like her. As if anyone
I saw my mother first stabbed at least twenty times, then I would… As if anyone could…
saw my older brother barely recognisable and as I walked
into the living saw my father drooped over the sofa, one *****
gunshot to the heart. Point blank. It was execution style. It
wasn’t until a few drops of blood, which at first I thought She seems to have no caring consideration for anyone
was water, fell on to my shoulder. On auto-pilot I look up other than her and her “friends”. They hate her. They
and see the name of my supposedly best friend written in despise her (their words are like daggers, piercing through
blood… her ego), but it is because she is popular; it as if they are
clinging to her just for the followers and likes… She always
That was the last thing I remember before I woke up in thinks it’s funny to torment others. She always thinks it’s
a cell… they told me that I was the prime suspect in my amusing to ridicule others. I have school now, I abhor it. Her
family's murder. Too shocked to even flinch. Four days later and the “popular” girls, loving the fame; who does she think
she came to visit me. I thought she was going to save me; she is? She always says that everyone is not her level. She
but no she said that I was a failure, she said that I didn’t is a peacock; always showing off her talents to others. Only
belong in her hive of bees. I didn’t say a word. When she difference between her and a peacock is that the animal
left they took me back to my cell, my cell mate told me actually shows its true colours.
that the detective that booked me in left a mirror. A broken
mirror. Before I even knew it I was crying and with in a She is sitting alone again- yet another annoying act of
sympathy. The other loners fall for it and try to comfort her

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and her worries; I would have masses of worries too, if I “Marie, sit back down, you will not go through with this”.
were her. Oh, how she wishes she was like me! Appealing I knew he would say that, he's been so protective ever
and attractive, rather than looking like an inconsequential since my sister was killed due to the war. “What choice do
insect every single day. Amusingly me and my friends’ we have? Our people are dying as we speak. This war has
question what she looks more like: an unethical monkey to end and it will end with me”. You can see his anger; we
or a chilling cow; it’s a fun game to play. My astounding are but animals trapped in a human’s body cursed with
friends always agree with me on everything I say, meaning the burden of the war from our ancestors. “Very well, it's
I’m always right! Sometimes we even like to share our settled, I will show you to your room”, Kira says and I follow
answer with the class and let her know what she needs to her.
improve on. We are considerate. We are sympathetic. We
are generous. We tell people the secrets to our popularity Marie Waron descendent of Mary Waron is to be married
status. off to Kia Aron descendent of Katrina Aron. Before the war
our sister clan changed their name to Aron to symbolise
She always teases me in front of the class comparing me the divide. I heard stories of Kia from my sister. I was 13
to an animal of her choice; normally a cow or monkey. when she died; now six years later I am the bride of the
It’s not fun. It always makes me tear up… Disappointed. son of her murderer. Well she was killed by a solider but
Secluded. Despondent. This won’t end up her way - unlike Kia's Father was behind the attack on her. “Your Highness”
most things. She is the one who ‘controls’ the class. She called one of my maids. “I have come to inform you that
demands all the attention to herself… you will be meeting with his Highness tonight”. I thanked
and dismissed her. I sigh as I say to myself in the mirror
Sometimes though, I do get isolated… After school I go “let’s get this over with”.
home to my maltreating family- expecting to get a slap for
being a disappointment… I always think of how auspicious “I hope you found the dinner delicious” Kia says, while
she actually is: loving family, kind friends, caring home. I looking at me; he is not at all what I imagined him to be
always wonder if she realises, she is so fortunate. like. “Yes thank you”, I can't bring my eyes to meet his. “I
would like to inform you that the wedding will be in 2 days”
Sometimes, I do get isolated… After school I go home to my he mentions as he rises from his seat. “Look, just like you.
dreadful face, expecting to let the tears flood from my eyes I want this war to end, I'm tired of seeing my people suffer,
in disappointment… I always think of how auspicious she I am willing to make this work to bring the sister clans
actually is: all the money in the world, the comeliest looks together once again!” He holds out his hand as a kind of
in our school, the expensive car she has. I always wonder way to show a pact if I shake it. “I am willing to work with
if she realises, she is so fortunate… Then I am reminded you too”. As I grasp his hand to shake, I too want this war to
of the enjoyable things in my life: family, friends, a caring end so if he wants the same thing then this will make things
home… All the things she doesn’t have. easier.

Lucy Kelly 10Cd Later that night Kia walked me back to my room, we talked
a bit about ourselves and about our thoughts on the war
A sister's pact and about what life would be like without it. Suddenly
he turns to look at me and for the first time that night I
Centuries ago our land was filled with peace and harmony. look straight in to his eyes as I'm overcome with sudden
The Aron Clan of Fire and Air and the Waron Clan of Water nervousness. “Thank you for tonight, it was a lovely
and Earth, ruled side by side as the strong leaders of our evening”, I say, my voice probably shaking from my nerves.
realm. That was until one Clan turned against the other, “The pleasure was mine” he says as he takes a bow. I
chaos and disorder raged throughout the land. The four curtsy back at him and disappear in to my room. I slouch
followers of the sister clans slit, the mermaids and the on my bed as I have one question left in my mind. Could
fairies followed the Waron Clan. The trolls and the pixies I really be falling for him? The blush overcoming me as I
stayed and followed the Aron clan. Now as I stand before overthink it.
everyone, I am forced with a decision that may bring peace
once again. *****

“Do you Marie?” I hear, as the question echoes in my Now, when I think about that night we first met, it makes me
mind... feel nervous for this moment in time. “Do you Marie take
this young man to be your lawfully wedded husband?”. I
“I do”. pause, as I gaze into his hazel eyes, I look around to see
peace and harmony, home at last. All creatures together:
***** no fighting or shouting just silence. “Do you, Marie?” I hear,
as the question echoes in my mind...
Well here we are sitting on enemy land in front of Kira,
Princess of the Aron clan. My Father in a rage for what she “I do”.
had just suggested. “Enough!” I shout as I rise from my
seat, Lucy Bradley 10Au

“I, Marie Waron, next heir to the throne accept your The Patrician 2019 75
proposal!”. My Father and Kira looked at me shocked.

Geography

Giant’s Causeway Fieldtrip

In September 2018 all Year 10 pupils travelled to the Giant’s
Causeway as part of their study of Earth Structure. The boys and
girls experienced a tour of the Causeway itself and learned about
its formation from the tour guide. Pupils also had the opportunity
to visit the various interactive displays in the visitor centre to learn
about the mythology as well as the geology.

76 St. Patrick’s College - Maghera

Geography

The Patrician 2019 77

Geography

Aberdeen Angus Youth Challenge competition

This is the first year that the College has offered GCSE Below is an extract from the organisers:
Agriculture. When the class heard of the ABP Aberdeen
Angus Youth Challenge competition they were eager ‘We were completely overwhelmed by how excellent you
to participate, as the prize was five Aberdeen Angus were and the amount of work you had put in was a credit
6 month old calves! Four boys in the class decided to to your group and your leader. Sadly, on this occasion, your
enter: Eoghan Birt, Donal McShane, Ben McNally and project was not selected as one of the finalists. Having
Aaron Ferris. said that, you should be aware that we were extremely
impressed by your group and you should be very proud of
For the first stage of the competition, the boys had to your display in Loughry College. Getting that far in itself
produce a video explaining to ABP why they wanted to was no small achievement.’ - Northern Irish Angus Producer
enter the competition. From this, they progressed to an Group.
interview stage, where they were interviewed by a panel
of judges and asked about their plans for a research Well done boys!
project, and what they would do with the calves if they
won. The boys got through this stage and reached the
semi-final of the competition! For this part they had
to produce an exhibition stand, demonstrating their
research on farm health and safety, and on the Aberdeen
Angus breed itself.

At the semi-final they had to discuss their research and
future plans with a variety of members from CAFRE,
Livestock & Meat Commission NI, Food & Drink NI, Ulster
Farmers Union, Young Farmers Clubs of Ulster, Irish
Farmers Journal, Northern Ireland Meat Exporters, a vet
and agri- industry experts. It was a very busy day, and
the boys were highly commended by everyone on their
excellent exhibition stand! Unfortunately, the group did
not make it to the final to receive the calves, however
they really enjoyed the experience and have had great
opportunity to practice their presentation skills.

78 St. Patrick’s College - Maghera

Geography
QUB Summer School

Year 10 Maghera Year 14 pupil, Conor McAteer was successfully granted
Public Realm a place on the Queens University Belfast summer
school within the School of Social Sciences, Education
A selection of Year 10 pupils were invited to Maghera and Social work in June 2018. This three-day course
Leisure Centre to express their views and opinions gave Conor the opportunity to sample lectures in these
on Maghera Public Realm. Pupils listened to various disciplines at QUB to give him a taste of university
presentations by architects and planners on how the life. Conor found this a very valuable experience and
public space in Maghera is going to be used and met other pupils from various schools across Northern
suggestions to solve the traffic and parking issues that Ireland to share ideas and experiences.
exist here. Pupils made some very valuable suggestions
that were going to be taken back to the Council for Photograph Winners
further discussion. This was a fantastic event which
gave pupils a voice and the opportunity to make their The Geography Department organised
input into real life planning decisions. a photography competition for 10Cd
in Term 1. Pupils were asked to take
a photograph of a place that was
meaningful to them and to write 100
words to outline why it was important.
Great entries were received from 10Cd
and on the Open Day in January, P6
and P7 pupils voted for their favourite
photograph. The winners were
Tiarnan Gallagher who came first in the
competition, followed by Joe Mallon
who came second and Adam Mc
Laughlin who came third.

L-R are Joe Mallon, Adam Mc Laughlin
and Tiarnan Gallagher (all in 10Cd).

The Patrician 2019 79

Geography

Year 11 River Study

Year 11 pupils enjoyed their annual
GCSE River Study at the Altalacky
Burn near Moneyneany in June 2018
after their exams were complete.
This study accounts for 20% of their
final GCSE grade. Pupils go to the
river to gather data on the width,
depth, velocity and bedload so that
this can be analysed and interpreted
in the classroom. While the data
collection can be challenging this
study is one we very much look
forward to each year.

80 St. Patrick’s College - Maghera

Geography

Year 13 Plant Succession

Year 13 pupils travelled to Banagher Forest and Benone Beach in October
2018 to complete their plant succession study as part of their Unit 3
exam. At AS Level, we study nutrient cycling and energy transfer in
relation to a deciduous forest case study therefore Banagher Forest is the
perfect location on our doorstep to visualise the structure of a deciduous
woodland. In the afternoon, we travelled to Benone Beach to gather data
to help explain the process of plant succession on the sand dunes.

The Patrician 2019 81

Geography

P7 Taster Day

Pupils from St Brigid’s, Mayogall and
St Mary’s sampled some geography
lessons with Mrs McGuckin in June
2018.
Pupils learned about the continents
and oceans of the world and used
balloons to represent their global
position.
A great afternoon of fun for all!

82 St. Patrick’s College - Maghera

Geography

World Town
Planning Day

In November 2018, AS and A2 Geography students
attended World Town Planning day in the University of
Ulster at Jordanstown. This event was organised by Dr
Gavan Rafferty who is a past pupil of our school. Our
pupils liaised with students of the degree course and
pupils from other schools to take part in workshops based
around the sustainable Development Goals.
This event gave students an insight into the Town
Planning course as a possible career option for them in
the future.

The Patrician 2019 83

Geography
Year 10 Design a Creature

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Geography

Year 10 Belfast Zoo Visit

Mrs McGuckin invited Belfast Zoo and a
few of their friends into school to meet with
Year 10 pupils during their study of Tropical
Rainforests. We were also delighted to have
past pupil Damien McPeake back with us as
part of this workshop. Damien is currently
studying teaching in Stranmillis College and
was on an ‘alternative work experience’ with
Belfast Zoo. Damien assisted the Zoo Ranger
with the workshop and brought creatures
such as a snake, a bearded dragon and a
tree frog amongst others for the pupils to see
and touch. Some Year 14 pupils paid a visit
too but just weren’t as confident holding the
creatures as our brave Year 10 pupils!
As part of their study of Tropical Rainforests,
pupils had the opportunity to create their own
creature that might live in the rainforest and
decide on the adaptations that it may have.
Their ideas were amazing as can be seen
from the samples!

The Patrician 2019 85

History

Tyre Cot Cemetary. There are 12,000 buried here. We flew to London Gatwick from Belfast International
Airport. From here we boarded a coach heading to the
History Trip to France Eurotunnel. Once we had arrived in Calais we stopped for
food and headed to what would be the first of many war
Battlefields. memorials. It was here we learned that German prisoners,
86 St. Patrick’s College - Maghera who died in the hands of the Allied armies, were buried
along with British and French soldiers; treated no lesser
than the rest. Next stop was the Menin, in the city of Ypres,
which bore the names of 56,000 soldiers whom, to this
day, have no known resting place.

The next day we set off early in the morning to learn
about many battles of WWI and how they have been
commemorated. However, two really stood out from
the rest. These were Langemark, a German cemetery/
memorial, and Tyne Cot cemetery, the largest
Commonwealth grave site in the world. Langemark was
so different from previous memorials we had seen. This
memorial was made from dark basalt and decorated with
large looming oak trees making the area quite dark and
gloomy.

Tyne Cot however, is made from the iconic white granite
of the Commonwealth graves. There are 12,000 soldiers
buried in Tyne Cot, 70% of whom are unidentified. There

History

Orginal trench.

are a further 34,000 names of soldiers who were never
found surrounding the cemetery.

On Wednesday, we headed to the Thiepval Memorial to
the Missing of the Somme, which is a memorial to 72,337
missing British and South African servicemen who died in
the Battles of the Somme of the First World War between
1915 and 1918, with no known grave. Next we headed to
Thiepval forest, which was where the 36th Ulster Division
was posted during the Battle of the Somme. It was here
we learned about their brave charge along the German
frontline, where they suffered great casualties. They were
the first and only division to make their objective on the
1st of July. We got to walk through the forest where the
British trenches lay, which now have been restored by the
Somme Association. Overall it was a great experience and
one which we will remember for a long time.

Luke McElhinney 10Cd and Killian Mallon 10Cd

The Patrician 2019 87

Home Economics

Year 11 Occupational Studies Patisserie and Baking

A selection of pupils portfolio work throughout the year.

88 St. Patrick’s College - Maghera

Home Economics

The Patrician 2019 89

Home Economics

GCSE Food and Nutrition Practicals 2018/19

Year 12 Food and Nutrition pupils produced a 3 course meal based on the title set by
CCEA on Iron Deficiency Anaemia.

Maeve McGilligan. Caitlin Gormley.
Olivia Mullan. Lorcan MacGiolla Fhiondain.

Meghan Fleming. Chloe Kavanagh.
90 St. Patrick’s College - Maghera

Home Economics

Caitlin Tohill. Matthew Downey.

Saidhbhinn Scott. Caoimhe Tohill.

The Patrician 2019 91

Languages

European Day of Languages 2018

The College held events
to mark European Day of
Languages on the 26th of
September 2018. These
included a competition for
pupils in Years 8 to 10 to
design a poster for their
form room doors. Each
class was designated a
country in the EU. Well
done to all the tutor
groups for taking part!
It was great to see the
College looking bright
and cheery with a great
deal of European flair
around the buildings. There was
even quite a bit of healthy rivalry among the Form Teachers.

On the 26th students were invited to an event in the Assembly Hall
in which they took part in quizzes, found out about Europe and
Languages, were photographed against the green screen and even
won spot prizes such as afternoon tea!!!

We hope to see everyone looking even more European in
September 2019 when there should be more activities to take part
in…Brexit permitting!

92 St. Patrick’s College - Maghera

Languages

The Patrician 2019 93

Learning Support Centre

James shows off his
Cookery Skills

Essential Skills RE Competition

The following pupils were successful in OCN NI
Essential Skills Examinations

Declan Mc Eldowney
Tiarnan Mc Erlean
Tiernan Butcher
Tiernan Butcher
James O’Neill

Tiarnan Mc Erlean
Emma O’Donnell
Tiernan Butcher
Tiernan Butcher
James O’Neill

Years 8, 9 and 10 pupils entered a competition for ‘Catholic
Schools Week’. They had to design a poster representing
Catholic Schools. Each pupil produced a beautiful poster that
was displayed in the school foyer. The winners were Patrick
Convery (Year 8), Tiarnan Millar (Year 9) and Patrick Stokes
(Year 10).

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Learning Support Centre

Wool Craft Club

LEXIA

Lexia enables students of all ages and abilities to master essential reading skills. It delivers a highly personalised learning
experience where exercises adapt automatically, according to individual need. Pupils have access to the program in school and at
home and are encouraged to reach their target minutes each week. Pupils show off the certificates they achieved this year. Well
done everyone!

The Patrician 2019 95

Learning Support Centre

Belfast Zoo Visit - Year 10

Geography Competition

Pupils created 3D representation of the Water Cycle. Senior Teacher and Eoin Donnelly and Callum Hughes, winners
Geographer, Mrs McConnell selected the winners of the competition. of the Geography competition.

96 St. Patrick’s College - Maghera

Learning Support Centre

Pupils examine rocks and fossils as part of their Rock Topic.

History

Eoin, Patrick and Jayden learning about the Normans.

The Patrician 2019 97

Learning Support Centre

Open Day January 2019 in the LSC
Maths

98 St. Patrick’s College - Maghera

Maths

Year 8 UK Maths Challenge Participants

Year 9 UK Maths Challenge Award Winners

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Maths

UK Junior Maths Challenge

The UK Junior Maths Challenge involves answering 25 multiple choice questions in one hour. This year, 12 Year 8 pupils
participated in the challenge, along with pupils from Year 9. Each question in the challenge is of a problem-solving nature
with the final 10 questions providing pupils with extra challenge. The top 40% of students sitting the challenge from across
the United Kingdom receive a gold, silver or bronze certificate. Cathal Quinn (Year 8) and Colman Bradley (Year 9) were
the College’s top performers in the challenge.

Year 8 Bronze Awards Year 9 Bronze Awards Year 8 & 9
Aoife Quinn Eimear Doherty Silver Awards
Eilis Bryson Oisin O Kane Cathal Quinn (Year 8)
Niall McMullan Colman Bradley
Erin McLaughlin Sean Boyd
Aine Flynn
Alex Moore
Pauric McLaughlin
Daria Sadej
Beth O Brien
Cathan Molloy
Megan McEldowney
Martin McKenna
Ronan McErlean

100 St. Patrick’s College - Maghera Answers at bottom of page 101