Return to flip book view

Saint Conor s College Formerly St Mary s College Clady and St Paul s College Kilrea Living Learning Excelling Together

Welcome to Our School 01 It is with great pleasure that I welcome you as parents and prospective students to our new school I am delighted you have chosen to find out more about Saint Conor s College and hope that you will join us on our journey as we fuse two exceptional educational establishments St Mary s College Clady and St Paul s College Kilrea to create one high achieving reflective and self improving school As an amalgamated college we are in a wonderfully privileged position We have our history legacy and reputation behind us as two separate schools and a vibrant and inspiring future in front of us as we move forward together When we open our doors next September we will offer young people an unrivalled education The pupils who choose Saint Conor s College will benefit from our combined wealth of experience highly commended teaching and learning and outstanding pastoral care Saint Conor s College will be at the forefront of educational change and a leader in the local community Our new school will have a strong focus on academic achievement All our young people will be encouraged to develop deepen and refine their knowledge skills and personal capabilities through the study of a broad balanced and future proofed curriculum As a school we will work hard to remove barriers to children s learning so that they can achieve their full potential in an environment that is both supportive and challenging The positive learning culture throughout our school will ensure children grow to love learning Their motivation enthusiasm and disciplined attitude to study combined with the expertise and dedication of the staff will ensure they continue to enjoy the outstanding GCSE and A Level success we have been renowned for in the past St Conor s College Prospectus 2018 Saint Conor s College will have a vibrant and diverse extra curricular and sporting profile Pupils will have opportunities to develop their life skills and friendships through their participation in a wide range of activities trips and competitions As an inclusive school community we will empower all the children in our care to exploit their abilities and talent to the full As a Catholic school we are committed to developing and extending the faith life of the children in our care Christ is at the heart of our school and our partnership with home is vital to our success All our relationships are founded on mutual respect care and compassion for others Religious Education and prayer are important aspects of school life and pupils are involved in a variety of assemblies liturgical services masses faith programmes and charity events that encourage them to see their responsibility to the parish and wider community I hope that you find our Open Day on Saturday 20th January useful and informative and you get a sense of the exciting future that awaits your child if they make the decision to join us in September Aine Bradley Principal St Conor s College Prospectus 2018 02

Welcome to Our School 01 It is with great pleasure that I welcome you as parents and prospective students to our new school I am delighted you have chosen to find out more about Saint Conor s College and hope that you will join us on our journey as we fuse two exceptional educational establishments St Mary s College Clady and St Paul s College Kilrea to create one high achieving reflective and self improving school As an amalgamated college we are in a wonderfully privileged position We have our history legacy and reputation behind us as two separate schools and a vibrant and inspiring future in front of us as we move forward together When we open our doors next September we will offer young people an unrivalled education The pupils who choose Saint Conor s College will benefit from our combined wealth of experience highly commended teaching and learning and outstanding pastoral care Saint Conor s College will be at the forefront of educational change and a leader in the local community Our new school will have a strong focus on academic achievement All our young people will be encouraged to develop deepen and refine their knowledge skills and personal capabilities through the study of a broad balanced and future proofed curriculum As a school we will work hard to remove barriers to children s learning so that they can achieve their full potential in an environment that is both supportive and challenging The positive learning culture throughout our school will ensure children grow to love learning Their motivation enthusiasm and disciplined attitude to study combined with the expertise and dedication of the staff will ensure they continue to enjoy the outstanding GCSE and A Level success we have been renowned for in the past St Conor s College Prospectus 2018 Saint Conor s College will have a vibrant and diverse extra curricular and sporting profile Pupils will have opportunities to develop their life skills and friendships through their participation in a wide range of activities trips and competitions As an inclusive school community we will empower all the children in our care to exploit their abilities and talent to the full As a Catholic school we are committed to developing and extending the faith life of the children in our care Christ is at the heart of our school and our partnership with home is vital to our success All our relationships are founded on mutual respect care and compassion for others Religious Education and prayer are important aspects of school life and pupils are involved in a variety of assemblies liturgical services masses faith programmes and charity events that encourage them to see their responsibility to the parish and wider community I hope that you find our Open Day on Saturday 20th January useful and informative and you get a sense of the exciting future that awaits your child if they make the decision to join us in September Aine Bradley Principal St Conor s College Prospectus 2018 02

Our School Vision I have come so that they may have life and have it to the full John 2 5 Saint Conor s College vision is based on the core values of our school community We are committed to creating an environment where every child feels valued and supported Our school is a warm and welcoming place We have high expectations of all our pupils and believe in challenging them to reach their full potential All our students are encouraged to learn achieve and make progress As a staff we are fully committed to creating Our Catholic ethos underpins everything that we do We aim to support the whole child to develop each student s academic ability and nurture their creativity spirituality character and resilience We instil in our students a belief that they should have empathy and compassion for others We actively encourage them to get involved in their school parishes and global communities A Catholic school with Christ at the centre A child centred school An inclusive school A family school A school where people act with humility in service of others A school where children achieve and succeed A learning school A school that is prepared to leave a legacy for others Living Learning Excelling Together 03 St Conor s College Prospectus 2018 St Conor s College Prospectus 2018 04

Our School Vision I have come so that they may have life and have it to the full John 2 5 Saint Conor s College vision is based on the core values of our school community We are committed to creating an environment where every child feels valued and supported Our school is a warm and welcoming place We have high expectations of all our pupils and believe in challenging them to reach their full potential All our students are encouraged to learn achieve and make progress As a staff we are fully committed to creating Our Catholic ethos underpins everything that we do We aim to support the whole child to develop each student s academic ability and nurture their creativity spirituality character and resilience We instil in our students a belief that they should have empathy and compassion for others We actively encourage them to get involved in their school parishes and global communities A Catholic school with Christ at the centre A child centred school An inclusive school A family school A school where people act with humility in service of others A school where children achieve and succeed A learning school A school that is prepared to leave a legacy for others Living Learning Excelling Together 03 St Conor s College Prospectus 2018 St Conor s College Prospectus 2018 04

As a college we regularly discuss the life of Jesus Christ and inspire young people to develop the gospel values of justice honesty truth tolerance and understanding We are a faith community committed to developing and extending the spiritual and moral development of the young people in our care Throughout the year young people have opportunities to participate in assemblies prayer services liturgies and retreats designed to deepen their understanding of their faith and encourage them to pray together as a school community The taught Religious Education Programme at every Key Stage and our involvement in diocesan and parish programmes like Faith Friends The Ambassadors of St Paul Awards and Pope John Paul II Awards help young people to develop community spirit and a social conscience The fund raising and charity work pupils in every year group undertake encourages them to develop empathy and compassion for others and a respect for themselves each other and their environment St Conor s College Prospectus 2018 The outstanding pastoral provision in our school characterised by excellent relationships and genuine care among all members of the school community effectively supports learning in the college The welfare of our pupils is of paramount importance There is a strong sense of college community and the school works in partnership with a wide range of voluntary and statutory organisations to support young people and help them develop the skills they need to make an active contribution to the world they live in Our Pastoral Leader Heads of Year and Form Teachers work as a team to ensure young people in the college are challenged and supported socially emotionally and academically throughout their school career Form Teachers meet their form class daily and monitor their attendance progress and well being The Form Teacher delivers the Learning for Life and Work programme and encourages pupils to develop their knowledge and understanding of Personal and Social Education Citizenship and Employability In every Year Group Form Teachers are led by a Head of Year who has pastoral and disciplinary responsibility for the Year Group The Form Teachers and Head of Year promote positive partnership between home and school in terms of attendance learning and pupil well being As a school we promote a safe orderly and caring environment We recognise that effective Teaching and Learning can only take place when there is a positive attitude to study and respectful responsible behaviour in the classroom Teachers clearly express their expectations and use sanctions and rewards to promote high levels of behaviour and learning Rewarding and recognising pupil achievements is an essential part of our school ethos We have a positive rewards system in place which encourages pupil to take responsibility for their behaviour actions and learning Each half term pupils who achieve 100 attendance and or achieve the target number of merit points are rewarded for their efforts St Conor s College Prospectus 2018 Pastoral Care A child centred school Our Catholic Ethos 05 Our Catholic Ethos is an important part of who we are 06

As a college we regularly discuss the life of Jesus Christ and inspire young people to develop the gospel values of justice honesty truth tolerance and understanding We are a faith community committed to developing and extending the spiritual and moral development of the young people in our care Throughout the year young people have opportunities to participate in assemblies prayer services liturgies and retreats designed to deepen their understanding of their faith and encourage them to pray together as a school community The taught Religious Education Programme at every Key Stage and our involvement in diocesan and parish programmes like Faith Friends The Ambassadors of St Paul Awards and Pope John Paul II Awards help young people to develop community spirit and a social conscience The fund raising and charity work pupils in every year group undertake encourages them to develop empathy and compassion for others and a respect for themselves each other and their environment St Conor s College Prospectus 2018 The outstanding pastoral provision in our school characterised by excellent relationships and genuine care among all members of the school community effectively supports learning in the college The welfare of our pupils is of paramount importance There is a strong sense of college community and the school works in partnership with a wide range of voluntary and statutory organisations to support young people and help them develop the skills they need to make an active contribution to the world they live in Our Pastoral Leader Heads of Year and Form Teachers work as a team to ensure young people in the college are challenged and supported socially emotionally and academically throughout their school career Form Teachers meet their form class daily and monitor their attendance progress and well being The Form Teacher delivers the Learning for Life and Work programme and encourages pupils to develop their knowledge and understanding of Personal and Social Education Citizenship and Employability In every Year Group Form Teachers are led by a Head of Year who has pastoral and disciplinary responsibility for the Year Group The Form Teachers and Head of Year promote positive partnership between home and school in terms of attendance learning and pupil well being As a school we promote a safe orderly and caring environment We recognise that effective Teaching and Learning can only take place when there is a positive attitude to study and respectful responsible behaviour in the classroom Teachers clearly express their expectations and use sanctions and rewards to promote high levels of behaviour and learning Rewarding and recognising pupil achievements is an essential part of our school ethos We have a positive rewards system in place which encourages pupil to take responsibility for their behaviour actions and learning Each half term pupils who achieve 100 attendance and or achieve the target number of merit points are rewarded for their efforts St Conor s College Prospectus 2018 Pastoral Care A child centred school Our Catholic Ethos 05 Our Catholic Ethos is an important part of who we are 06

Pastoral Care in Action We recognise the link between the pupils attendance and punctuality and their academic achievement Attendance Anti Bullying We recognise the link between the pupils attendance and punctuality and their academic achievement We work closely with parents and the Education Welfare Officer EWO to ensure good attendance and Form Teachers and Heads of Year regularly monitor attendance If a pupil is absent from school they must bring in a note from their parent outlining the reason for their absence on their return to school Routine medical and dental appointments should be arranged outside the school day where possible If students need to leave school during the day they must have a parental note This should be signed by their Head of Year before they leave the school building Our ethos clearly states that every child is valued and supported This means that bullying is not acceptable The Personal Development Programme school assemblies and a range of workshops delivered by external agencies are used to promote our anti bullying culture Safe guarding and Child Protection Our school is committed to providing a safe caring environment for all our pupils Pupils and parents are encouraged to speak to the pastoral staff in school about any issues relating to health or well being All school staff are briefed annually on the school safe guarding and Child Protection policy procedures and practice Full details of the Safe guarding Team and their responsibilities in terms of Child Protection will be communicated to parents and pupils in September 2018 along with a copy of the procedure for reporting a Child Protection issue Drugs Education As a school we are committed to informing and educating our young people about the consequences of drug use and misuse It is our belief that all young people need the skills to help them to resist negative peer and social pressures and allow them to develop positive lifestyles and values In line with school policy any pupil in possession use or supply of drugs or alcohol will be subject to disciplinary action E safety As a school we are committed to helping young people to develop safe and responsible behaviour when they are using the internet or other new technologies All students sign an E Safety Code of Conduct designed to reduce the risk posed by engaging with a variety of media sites and digital technologies School Counsellor The school benefits from the services of a Familyworks Counsellor who supports pupils who are experiencing difficulties The counsellor provides one to one support for pupils through a confidential service Pupils can self refer to the counsellor or they can be referred by a member of the pastoral staff 07 St Conor s College Prospectus 2018 St Conor s College Prospectus 2018 08

Pastoral Care in Action We recognise the link between the pupils attendance and punctuality and their academic achievement Attendance Anti Bullying We recognise the link between the pupils attendance and punctuality and their academic achievement We work closely with parents and the Education Welfare Officer EWO to ensure good attendance and Form Teachers and Heads of Year regularly monitor attendance If a pupil is absent from school they must bring in a note from their parent outlining the reason for their absence on their return to school Routine medical and dental appointments should be arranged outside the school day where possible If students need to leave school during the day they must have a parental note This should be signed by their Head of Year before they leave the school building Our ethos clearly states that every child is valued and supported This means that bullying is not acceptable The Personal Development Programme school assemblies and a range of workshops delivered by external agencies are used to promote our anti bullying culture Safe guarding and Child Protection Our school is committed to providing a safe caring environment for all our pupils Pupils and parents are encouraged to speak to the pastoral staff in school about any issues relating to health or well being All school staff are briefed annually on the school safe guarding and Child Protection policy procedures and practice Full details of the Safe guarding Team and their responsibilities in terms of Child Protection will be communicated to parents and pupils in September 2018 along with a copy of the procedure for reporting a Child Protection issue Drugs Education As a school we are committed to informing and educating our young people about the consequences of drug use and misuse It is our belief that all young people need the skills to help them to resist negative peer and social pressures and allow them to develop positive lifestyles and values In line with school policy any pupil in possession use or supply of drugs or alcohol will be subject to disciplinary action E safety As a school we are committed to helping young people to develop safe and responsible behaviour when they are using the internet or other new technologies All students sign an E Safety Code of Conduct designed to reduce the risk posed by engaging with a variety of media sites and digital technologies School Counsellor The school benefits from the services of a Familyworks Counsellor who supports pupils who are experiencing difficulties The counsellor provides one to one support for pupils through a confidential service Pupils can self refer to the counsellor or they can be referred by a member of the pastoral staff 07 St Conor s College Prospectus 2018 St Conor s College Prospectus 2018 08

Key Stage 3 Engaging Pupils in their Learning 09 Our College offers every pupil the opportunity to develop their own strengths and talents We strive to ensure that every pupil is catered for in terms of their academic sporting creative and social skills Underpinning our curriculum is the inclusive ethos of the school We strive to help all young people develop a positive attitude towards their studies and to inspire a belief in their ability to make real and lasting progress A broad and balanced curriculum which covers the statutory elements of the Northern Ireland Curriculum and develops the cross curricular skills Communication ICT and Using Mathematics is offered to all pupils in Key Stage 3 Pupils also have opportunities to develop their personal capabilities and thinking skills in the class room managing themselves working with others developing thinking skills participating in decision making and problem solving across all the areas of study At whole school level there is a clear emphasis on raising standards particularly in Literacy and Numeracy Teachers employ a wide range of teaching and learning strategies to engage pupils and foster their love of learning Tasks are differentiated to take account of learners ability and assessment tasks are carefully devised to measure pupils progress Throughout Key Stage 3 young people are encouraged to take responsibility for their own learning through peer and self assessment activities St Conor s College Prospectus 2018 In Key Stage 3 all pupils study English Maths Science Religious Education French Irish Spanish History Geography Music Drama Art Physical Education Home Economics Technology Design Learning for Life and Work Information Technology St Conor s College Prospectus 2018 10

Key Stage 3 Engaging Pupils in their Learning 09 Our College offers every pupil the opportunity to develop their own strengths and talents We strive to ensure that every pupil is catered for in terms of their academic sporting creative and social skills Underpinning our curriculum is the inclusive ethos of the school We strive to help all young people develop a positive attitude towards their studies and to inspire a belief in their ability to make real and lasting progress A broad and balanced curriculum which covers the statutory elements of the Northern Ireland Curriculum and develops the cross curricular skills Communication ICT and Using Mathematics is offered to all pupils in Key Stage 3 Pupils also have opportunities to develop their personal capabilities and thinking skills in the class room managing themselves working with others developing thinking skills participating in decision making and problem solving across all the areas of study At whole school level there is a clear emphasis on raising standards particularly in Literacy and Numeracy Teachers employ a wide range of teaching and learning strategies to engage pupils and foster their love of learning Tasks are differentiated to take account of learners ability and assessment tasks are carefully devised to measure pupils progress Throughout Key Stage 3 young people are encouraged to take responsibility for their own learning through peer and self assessment activities St Conor s College Prospectus 2018 In Key Stage 3 all pupils study English Maths Science Religious Education French Irish Spanish History Geography Music Drama Art Physical Education Home Economics Technology Design Learning for Life and Work Information Technology St Conor s College Prospectus 2018 10

Our School The Pastoral System supports Learning Individualised Learning Support Pupils are involved in an induction programme to help them make the move from primary school successfully Pupils complete baseline assessments to help teachers understand their individual strengths talents abilities and learning styles Class teachers track pupil progress and ability and communicate with parents and form teachers Form teachers regularly monitor pupil attendance effort behaviour and progress Form Teachers use the pupil planner to communicate with parents if there is a difficulty with a subject or to draw a parent s attention to their child s achievements Parents are encouraged to use the planner to communicate any concerns they may have to their child s Form Teacher or Head of Year All pupils are encouraged to regularly reflect on their progress to set themselves challenging targets and to identify areas for improvement All pupils sit base line tests in Literacy and Numeracy in the college which indicate their strengths and areas for improvement Pupils with Special Educational Needs are identified at an early stage and benefit from wellplanned individual support co ordinated by the SENCO and provided by a highly skilled team of classroom assistants Class teachers monitor the performance of all pupils in Literacy and Numeracy and devise subject specific strategies to help pupils improve their performance Individual Education Plans and Behaviour Support Plans are created monitored and reviewed by staff pupils and parents in partnership Targets are set to help pupils acquire a range of skills across the curriculum In addition the school liaises with a variety of external agencies to assist pupils who require academic emotional or physical support In this way the school supports pupils who are at risk of marginalisation and ensures their inclusion and retention in school Parents are encouraged to comment on pupil attainment and to review the teacher feedback at the end of every assessment Support is available for children who are experiencing difficulties in acquiring the knowledge skills and attitudes they need to become confident and successful learners 11 St Conor s College Prospectus 2018 St Conor s College Prospectus 2018 12

Our School The Pastoral System supports Learning Individualised Learning Support Pupils are involved in an induction programme to help them make the move from primary school successfully Pupils complete baseline assessments to help teachers understand their individual strengths talents abilities and learning styles Class teachers track pupil progress and ability and communicate with parents and form teachers Form teachers regularly monitor pupil attendance effort behaviour and progress Form Teachers use the pupil planner to communicate with parents if there is a difficulty with a subject or to draw a parent s attention to their child s achievements Parents are encouraged to use the planner to communicate any concerns they may have to their child s Form Teacher or Head of Year All pupils are encouraged to regularly reflect on their progress to set themselves challenging targets and to identify areas for improvement All pupils sit base line tests in Literacy and Numeracy in the college which indicate their strengths and areas for improvement Pupils with Special Educational Needs are identified at an early stage and benefit from wellplanned individual support co ordinated by the SENCO and provided by a highly skilled team of classroom assistants Class teachers monitor the performance of all pupils in Literacy and Numeracy and devise subject specific strategies to help pupils improve their performance Individual Education Plans and Behaviour Support Plans are created monitored and reviewed by staff pupils and parents in partnership Targets are set to help pupils acquire a range of skills across the curriculum In addition the school liaises with a variety of external agencies to assist pupils who require academic emotional or physical support In this way the school supports pupils who are at risk of marginalisation and ensures their inclusion and retention in school Parents are encouraged to comment on pupil attainment and to review the teacher feedback at the end of every assessment Support is available for children who are experiencing difficulties in acquiring the knowledge skills and attitudes they need to become confident and successful learners 11 St Conor s College Prospectus 2018 St Conor s College Prospectus 2018 12

Key Stage 4 Meeting the Needs of all Learners 13 Children of all abilities are supported and challenged to achieve their full potential At Key Stage 4 our pupils have access to a broad and balanced curriculum The school continually reviews the range of subjects on offer and aims to deliver a future proofed curriculum that fully meets the Entitlement Framework Children of all abilities are supported and challenged to achieve their full potential Our goal is to help our pupils achieve the grades and skills they need to progress to the next stage of their education and encourage them to develop the independence innovation and creativity to attain success at the next level Pupils at Key Stage 4 benefit from engaging with a Mentor This one to one contact with a teacher encourages them to focus on their goals and reflect honestly on their progress Pupils are encouraged to have high expectations and strive for the best grade possible in each of their subjects All pupils in Key Stage 4 study English Maths Religious Education and Single or Double Award Science They also have access to a range of general and applied subjects in a carefully crafted Key Stage 4 curriculum that is designed to meet the needs of all learners Before children select their GCSE options the careers department offers each young person a guidance interview to enable them to make well informed choices based on their strengths ability and chosen career pathway St Conor s College Prospectus 2018 Students choose from the following GCSE options General Subjects Art English Literature Geography Irish Physical Education Religious Education Business Studies French History Music Polish Spanish Vocational Subjects Agriculture Business and Communication Systems Child Development Construction Drama Technology and Design Home Economics Learning for Life and Work Leisure and Tourism Motor Vehicle Studies Occupational Studies St Conor s College Prospectus 2018 14

Key Stage 4 Meeting the Needs of all Learners 13 Children of all abilities are supported and challenged to achieve their full potential At Key Stage 4 our pupils have access to a broad and balanced curriculum The school continually reviews the range of subjects on offer and aims to deliver a future proofed curriculum that fully meets the Entitlement Framework Children of all abilities are supported and challenged to achieve their full potential Our goal is to help our pupils achieve the grades and skills they need to progress to the next stage of their education and encourage them to develop the independence innovation and creativity to attain success at the next level Pupils at Key Stage 4 benefit from engaging with a Mentor This one to one contact with a teacher encourages them to focus on their goals and reflect honestly on their progress Pupils are encouraged to have high expectations and strive for the best grade possible in each of their subjects All pupils in Key Stage 4 study English Maths Religious Education and Single or Double Award Science They also have access to a range of general and applied subjects in a carefully crafted Key Stage 4 curriculum that is designed to meet the needs of all learners Before children select their GCSE options the careers department offers each young person a guidance interview to enable them to make well informed choices based on their strengths ability and chosen career pathway St Conor s College Prospectus 2018 Students choose from the following GCSE options General Subjects Art English Literature Geography Irish Physical Education Religious Education Business Studies French History Music Polish Spanish Vocational Subjects Agriculture Business and Communication Systems Child Development Construction Drama Technology and Design Home Economics Learning for Life and Work Leisure and Tourism Motor Vehicle Studies Occupational Studies St Conor s College Prospectus 2018 14

Careers Education Information Advice and Guidance In our college we help our students to make wellinformed and positive choices about their education and future careers The educational outcomes and life skills they acquire at school need to prepare them for a world of work that is very different to our own They need to build strength resilience and flexibility so they can adapt or change direction if that is required in their working lives We provide a range of careers based activities to help learners plan their futures effectively and acquire career management and employability skills We aim to make pupils effective decision makers Our young people are empowered to manage their own career development successfully and confidently showing respect for themselves and others St Conor s College Prospectus 2018 Our pupils have access to Careers Education All students study Employability at Key Stage 3 and discrete Careers at Key Stage 4 and 5 Careers Information All students have access to a wide range of software packages and web based careers resources They also have access to Labour Market Information and the Sector Skills Council Information They attend University Open Days and are given assistance completing their UCAS form Careers Advice and Guidance All pupils in Years 10 and 12 have an individual interview with the Department of Education and Learning DEL Advisor Parents and pupils are also invited in to Transition Interviews in Year 10 and 12 Work Related Learning All pupils in Years 11 and 13 participate in a work experience programme They also attend a variety of Careers Conventions Careers Talks Industrial Visits and participate in Interview Skills Days Enterprise Events and Health and Safety Training Employability Skills Throughout their school career pupils develop the skills and capabilities required for the world of work Student Council Junior and Senior Leadership Teams Building on the tradition already established in our schools we intend to have a very active student council when the school opens next year The Student Council will work hard to improve aspects of school and student life The Student Council will provide leadership and development opportunities for our pupils and ensure we are aware of the issues that matter to them in the amalgamation The Council will be elected by the students at the beginning of the year and will come together in full council meetings on a termly basis with representatives from all year groups The Student Council will discuss issues that concern the student body ensuring that their views are heard at Senior Leadership Level and that they have an input into decisions that affect them Student leadership at our school is central to student achievement Assuming a Leadership Role in Key Stage 3 and 5 increases pupils confidence and raises their aspirations It is also a very positive way of recognising the talent of the student body We aim to provide opportunities for learners to develop their leadership skills as prefects empowering them to gain a deeper understanding of the organisation and the community they live in through their decision making team work care for others and pursuit of excellence St Conor s College Prospectus 2018 Student Voice Key Stage 5 A Quality Sixth Form Experience 15 Saint Conor s College is committed to providing high quality provision for young people at Key Stage 5 The opportunity presented by our amalgamation to expand and develop our current sixth form offer is incredibly exciting We are determined to ensure that at sixth form our young people will have access to a range of academic and vocational qualifications that will help them gain the skills and qualifications for higher education or employment The school will also place emphasis on ensuring pupils have access to a wide range of enrichment activities and extra curricular opportunities designed to make them active participants in their parishes community and economy The college will collaborate with the schools and colleges in the Rural Learning Partnership to increase the range of subjects on offer each year Full details of the exciting new curriculum which will be offered for September 2018 will be published in a separate sixth form prospectus in April 2018 16

Careers Education Information Advice and Guidance In our college we help our students to make wellinformed and positive choices about their education and future careers The educational outcomes and life skills they acquire at school need to prepare them for a world of work that is very different to our own They need to build strength resilience and flexibility so they can adapt or change direction if that is required in their working lives We provide a range of careers based activities to help learners plan their futures effectively and acquire career management and employability skills We aim to make pupils effective decision makers Our young people are empowered to manage their own career development successfully and confidently showing respect for themselves and others St Conor s College Prospectus 2018 Our pupils have access to Careers Education All students study Employability at Key Stage 3 and discrete Careers at Key Stage 4 and 5 Careers Information All students have access to a wide range of software packages and web based careers resources They also have access to Labour Market Information and the Sector Skills Council Information They attend University Open Days and are given assistance completing their UCAS form Careers Advice and Guidance All pupils in Years 10 and 12 have an individual interview with the Department of Education and Learning DEL Advisor Parents and pupils are also invited in to Transition Interviews in Year 10 and 12 Work Related Learning All pupils in Years 11 and 13 participate in a work experience programme They also attend a variety of Careers Conventions Careers Talks Industrial Visits and participate in Interview Skills Days Enterprise Events and Health and Safety Training Employability Skills Throughout their school career pupils develop the skills and capabilities required for the world of work Student Council Junior and Senior Leadership Teams Building on the tradition already established in our schools we intend to have a very active student council when the school opens next year The Student Council will work hard to improve aspects of school and student life The Student Council will provide leadership and development opportunities for our pupils and ensure we are aware of the issues that matter to them in the amalgamation The Council will be elected by the students at the beginning of the year and will come together in full council meetings on a termly basis with representatives from all year groups The Student Council will discuss issues that concern the student body ensuring that their views are heard at Senior Leadership Level and that they have an input into decisions that affect them Student leadership at our school is central to student achievement Assuming a Leadership Role in Key Stage 3 and 5 increases pupils confidence and raises their aspirations It is also a very positive way of recognising the talent of the student body We aim to provide opportunities for learners to develop their leadership skills as prefects empowering them to gain a deeper understanding of the organisation and the community they live in through their decision making team work care for others and pursuit of excellence St Conor s College Prospectus 2018 Student Voice Key Stage 5 A Quality Sixth Form Experience 15 Saint Conor s College is committed to providing high quality provision for young people at Key Stage 5 The opportunity presented by our amalgamation to expand and develop our current sixth form offer is incredibly exciting We are determined to ensure that at sixth form our young people will have access to a range of academic and vocational qualifications that will help them gain the skills and qualifications for higher education or employment The school will also place emphasis on ensuring pupils have access to a wide range of enrichment activities and extra curricular opportunities designed to make them active participants in their parishes community and economy The college will collaborate with the schools and colleges in the Rural Learning Partnership to increase the range of subjects on offer each year Full details of the exciting new curriculum which will be offered for September 2018 will be published in a separate sixth form prospectus in April 2018 16

Year 8 Induction Building Our School Community 17 In Saint Conor s College we do our best to ensure our Year 8 pupils feel happy and secure as quickly as possible We are fully committed to helping children make the transition process a positive experience In May we will send our new students a booklet about life in the college In June our Head of Year 8 and Special Educational Needs Co ordinator will visit our feeder schools to meet the transferring pupils and their teachers They will share data on the pupils achievement and any relevant pastoral matters An Induction Morning for our new pupils will take place in early June Pupils will complete base line tests in Literacy and Numeracy and be introduced to the Year 8 Pastoral Team A Parents Evening will be held in mid June to disseminate important information to guardians about the school day transport uniform policies and procedures A Summer Scheme will be in place for transferring pupils This will help them put names to faces before they begin school in September Only our Year 8 group will attend school on the first day of term to help them familiarise themselves with the building and staff In September Year 8 pupils will be involved in the Young Enterprise Your School Your Business workshop which helps them to consider their role and responsibility in the school community St Conor s College Prospectus 2018 At the end of September parents and pupils will be invited to participate in our Year 8 mass In October we will have a trip for Year 8 students to promote friendships and teamwork In December parents will have the opportunity to attend a pastoral meeting with their child s Form Teacher to discuss their progress and well being Parents receive academic reports in each subject in December and June that indicate areas of strength and areas for improvement St Conor s College Prospectus 2018 18

Year 8 Induction Building Our School Community 17 In Saint Conor s College we do our best to ensure our Year 8 pupils feel happy and secure as quickly as possible We are fully committed to helping children make the transition process a positive experience In May we will send our new students a booklet about life in the college In June our Head of Year 8 and Special Educational Needs Co ordinator will visit our feeder schools to meet the transferring pupils and their teachers They will share data on the pupils achievement and any relevant pastoral matters An Induction Morning for our new pupils will take place in early June Pupils will complete base line tests in Literacy and Numeracy and be introduced to the Year 8 Pastoral Team A Parents Evening will be held in mid June to disseminate important information to guardians about the school day transport uniform policies and procedures A Summer Scheme will be in place for transferring pupils This will help them put names to faces before they begin school in September Only our Year 8 group will attend school on the first day of term to help them familiarise themselves with the building and staff In September Year 8 pupils will be involved in the Young Enterprise Your School Your Business workshop which helps them to consider their role and responsibility in the school community St Conor s College Prospectus 2018 At the end of September parents and pupils will be invited to participate in our Year 8 mass In October we will have a trip for Year 8 students to promote friendships and teamwork In December parents will have the opportunity to attend a pastoral meeting with their child s Form Teacher to discuss their progress and well being Parents receive academic reports in each subject in December and June that indicate areas of strength and areas for improvement St Conor s College Prospectus 2018 18

The canteens cater for pupils with a range of dietary requirements Pupils can buy hot food and or sandwiches wraps etc during the school day Free meals are available for the children who are entitled to assistance The school council meet with the canteen to contribute ideas for menus and supervision Parents Statutory and Voluntary Agencies Our college has strong and effective home school links We keep in touch with parents in the traditional manner through notes in planners phone calls home parent meetings but we also have new and more instant methods of communicating with parents such as texts social media our web site app and parent workshops Every year group has a parent morning or afternoon where parents can meet with their child s teachers and discuss their progress By working with a range of statutory voluntary organisations we address elements of the preventative curriculum and support young people in danger of marginalisation Engaging with these bodies helps us to instil moral courage and creativity in young people encouraging them to make a positive impact on the community they live in through charity work faith life and the sharing of skills resources and expertise Primary Schools As part of our careers programme we have developed outstanding links with local businesses and employers These partnerships have enabled us to highlight vital links between school life and the world of life and work Participating in Interview Skills Days and Work Experience allows our young people to develop the skills and resilience they need for the next stage of their education while participating in workshops visits and presentations helps them acquire independence innovation and creativity Our college enjoys excellent relationships with local primary schools We believe that good partnerships can help make the transition process much easier for our pupils The school is involved in a range of projects with feeder schools in Literacy Numeracy Science Drama Languages and Sport The school engages with P7 teachers to facilitate an exchange of academic and pastoral information about pupils who are transferring Rural Learning Community Partnerships Canteen Facilities Our canteen facilities on both sites are very much at the heart of school life and pupil experiences Students have a reasonably priced diverse and attractive menu on offer at breakfast break and lunch time each day The college operates a healthy eating policy and no fizzy drinks are permitted Pupils are encouraged to use the canteen each day and are reminded that a balanced diet allows all pupils to engage with their learning and participate fully in class activities Business and Industry Our college plays an active role in the Rural Learning Partnership a network of local colleges including St Colm s College Draperstown St Patrick s College Maghera and the Northern Regional College The community provides opportunities for staff training collaboration and the sharing of good practice and resources 19 St Conor s College Prospectus 2018 St Conor s College Prospectus 2018 20

The canteens cater for pupils with a range of dietary requirements Pupils can buy hot food and or sandwiches wraps etc during the school day Free meals are available for the children who are entitled to assistance The school council meet with the canteen to contribute ideas for menus and supervision Parents Statutory and Voluntary Agencies Our college has strong and effective home school links We keep in touch with parents in the traditional manner through notes in planners phone calls home parent meetings but we also have new and more instant methods of communicating with parents such as texts social media our web site app and parent workshops Every year group has a parent morning or afternoon where parents can meet with their child s teachers and discuss their progress By working with a range of statutory voluntary organisations we address elements of the preventative curriculum and support young people in danger of marginalisation Engaging with these bodies helps us to instil moral courage and creativity in young people encouraging them to make a positive impact on the community they live in through charity work faith life and the sharing of skills resources and expertise Primary Schools As part of our careers programme we have developed outstanding links with local businesses and employers These partnerships have enabled us to highlight vital links between school life and the world of life and work Participating in Interview Skills Days and Work Experience allows our young people to develop the skills and resilience they need for the next stage of their education while participating in workshops visits and presentations helps them acquire independence innovation and creativity Our college enjoys excellent relationships with local primary schools We believe that good partnerships can help make the transition process much easier for our pupils The school is involved in a range of projects with feeder schools in Literacy Numeracy Science Drama Languages and Sport The school engages with P7 teachers to facilitate an exchange of academic and pastoral information about pupils who are transferring Rural Learning Community Partnerships Canteen Facilities Our canteen facilities on both sites are very much at the heart of school life and pupil experiences Students have a reasonably priced diverse and attractive menu on offer at breakfast break and lunch time each day The college operates a healthy eating policy and no fizzy drinks are permitted Pupils are encouraged to use the canteen each day and are reminded that a balanced diet allows all pupils to engage with their learning and participate fully in class activities Business and Industry Our college plays an active role in the Rural Learning Partnership a network of local colleges including St Colm s College Draperstown St Patrick s College Maghera and the Northern Regional College The community provides opportunities for staff training collaboration and the sharing of good practice and resources 19 St Conor s College Prospectus 2018 St Conor s College Prospectus 2018 20

Extra curricular Experiences Developing Talents and Abilities 21 Pupils in our school are encouraged to participate in a wide range of clubs and activities to develop their skills talents and relationships There will be a varied programme of extra curricular activities available to each year group in the college Interschool games sports Athletics Swimming Bronze Medallion Cross Country Netball Basketball Hurling Gaelic Football Camogie Ladies Football Badminton Circuits Soccer Trips European Trips FIFA League Table tennis Couch To 5km St Conor s College Prospectus 2018 These enrich their life experiences and promote involvement in sport the arts and STEM Ski Trips Science Club Pilates Theatre Trips Film Club Public Speaking Debating School Musicals Choir Traditional Group Orchestra Young Farmers Club Heart Start Eco Committee Foundation Coaching Courses Pope John Paul II Awards Charity Group Homework Club Literacy Numeracy Clubs St Conor s College Prospectus 2018 22

Extra curricular Experiences Developing Talents and Abilities 21 Pupils in our school are encouraged to participate in a wide range of clubs and activities to develop their skills talents and relationships There will be a varied programme of extra curricular activities available to each year group in the college Interschool games sports Athletics Swimming Bronze Medallion Cross Country Netball Basketball Hurling Gaelic Football Camogie Ladies Football Badminton Circuits Soccer Trips European Trips FIFA League Table tennis Couch To 5km St Conor s College Prospectus 2018 These enrich their life experiences and promote involvement in sport the arts and STEM Ski Trips Science Club Pilates Theatre Trips Film Club Public Speaking Debating School Musicals Choir Traditional Group Orchestra Young Farmers Club Heart Start Eco Committee Foundation Coaching Courses Pope John Paul II Awards Charity Group Homework Club Literacy Numeracy Clubs St Conor s College Prospectus 2018 22

St Conor s College Prospectus 2018 Gaelic Football Athletics Camogie Orienteering Hurling Circuits Soccer Golf Basketball Minor Games Netball Tag Rugby Swimming Pilates Gymnastics Walking The Interim Board of Governors of the new amalgamated school have determined the following admissions criteria for Year 8 in 2018 19 An admissions sub committee will apply the criteria to the initial set of applications Thereafter the Principal Designate will apply the criteria to subsequent applicants The sub committee will be reconvened as necessary When considering which children should be selected for admission the Board of Governors will only take into account information which is detailed on or attached to the application form Dance Admissions Criteria 2018 19 Cross Country The following criteria will be applied in the order set down 1 If places are available the school will admit all pupils whose parents wish them to attend In the event of oversubscription in criterion 1 the following criteria will be applied 2 Students who at the date of their application have a child of the family currently enrolled in St Mary s College or St Paul s College 3 Students whose permanent place of residence is within any of the contributory parishes listed in no particular order Aghadowey Bellaghy Ballyscullion Dunloy Errigal Greenlough Kilrea Lavey Portglenone Rasharkin Swatragh 4 Students who attend primary school within the named contributory parishes 5 Students who are the eldest or only child in a family 6 Students who are entitled to Free School Meals 7 Students whose parent guardian is a permanent employee or past pupil of the school 8 If oversubscribed within any of the above criteria 1 6 priority will be given to pupils who list the newly amalgamated school as their first preference post primary school 9 If there are still more children than spaces available a tiebreaker will be applied on the basis of the initial letter of the surname of the child wishing to transfer with the child being selected in the order set out below K X T Y I C O R F S W G A E D H L V M U P B J Z Q N The order was determined by a randomised selection of letters In the event of the surnames beginning with the same initial letter the subsequent letters of the surnames will be used in alphabetical order In the event of two identical surnames the alphabetical order of the letter of the first forename appearing on the transfer form will be used Hyphenated surnames consisting of two separate surnames will be treated as one complete word for selection purposes Should a vacancy arise the above criteria will be applied to select pupils from our waiting list Admissions to Year 8 after 1 September 2018 Parents who wish to have their child considered for admission in the event of a place arising after 1 September 2018 should write to the Principal clearly stating this In the event of a vacancy arising the above criteria will be applied to these applications only St Conor s College Prospectus 2018 Admisssions Criteria for entry into Year 8 Sporting Experiences 23 Physical Education is an important aspect of school life and all pupils are encouraged to engage in sporting activities to improve their physical fitness and promote mental health and well being Physical Education is compulsory for all students at Key Stage 3 and 4 and is available as an examination option at Key Stage 4 and 5 Pupils are encouraged to get involved in a variety of team sports and recreational activities designed to build their communication teamwork and leadership skills Participating in a wide and varied sporting programme on a curricular and extra curricular level helps to develop self discipline confidence and resilience In addition to our own pitches and playing fields the college makes use of the recreational and sporting facilities available in Greenlough Kilrea Ballymoney Maghera Magherafelt and Lavey The sports available to the pupils in the college include 24

St Conor s College Prospectus 2018 Gaelic Football Athletics Camogie Orienteering Hurling Circuits Soccer Golf Basketball Minor Games Netball Tag Rugby Swimming Pilates Gymnastics Walking The Interim Board of Governors of the new amalgamated school have determined the following admissions criteria for Year 8 in 2018 19 An admissions sub committee will apply the criteria to the initial set of applications Thereafter the Principal Designate will apply the criteria to subsequent applicants The sub committee will be reconvened as necessary When considering which children should be selected for admission the Board of Governors will only take into account information which is detailed on or attached to the application form Dance Admissions Criteria 2018 19 Cross Country The following criteria will be applied in the order set down 1 If places are available the school will admit all pupils whose parents wish them to attend In the event of oversubscription in criterion 1 the following criteria will be applied 2 Students who at the date of their application have a child of the family currently enrolled in St Mary s College or St Paul s College 3 Students whose permanent place of residence is within any of the contributory parishes listed in no particular order Aghadowey Bellaghy Ballyscullion Dunloy Errigal Greenlough Kilrea Lavey Portglenone Rasharkin Swatragh 4 Students who attend primary school within the named contributory parishes 5 Students who are the eldest or only child in a family 6 Students who are entitled to Free School Meals 7 Students whose parent guardian is a permanent employee or past pupil of the school 8 If oversubscribed within any of the above criteria 1 6 priority will be given to pupils who list the newly amalgamated school as their first preference post primary school 9 If there are still more children than spaces available a tiebreaker will be applied on the basis of the initial letter of the surname of the child wishing to transfer with the child being selected in the order set out below K X T Y I C O R F S W G A E D H L V M U P B J Z Q N The order was determined by a randomised selection of letters In the event of the surnames beginning with the same initial letter the subsequent letters of the surnames will be used in alphabetical order In the event of two identical surnames the alphabetical order of the letter of the first forename appearing on the transfer form will be used Hyphenated surnames consisting of two separate surnames will be treated as one complete word for selection purposes Should a vacancy arise the above criteria will be applied to select pupils from our waiting list Admissions to Year 8 after 1 September 2018 Parents who wish to have their child considered for admission in the event of a place arising after 1 September 2018 should write to the Principal clearly stating this In the event of a vacancy arising the above criteria will be applied to these applications only St Conor s College Prospectus 2018 Admisssions Criteria for entry into Year 8 Sporting Experiences 23 Physical Education is an important aspect of school life and all pupils are encouraged to engage in sporting activities to improve their physical fitness and promote mental health and well being Physical Education is compulsory for all students at Key Stage 3 and 4 and is available as an examination option at Key Stage 4 and 5 Pupils are encouraged to get involved in a variety of team sports and recreational activities designed to build their communication teamwork and leadership skills Participating in a wide and varied sporting programme on a curricular and extra curricular level helps to develop self discipline confidence and resilience In addition to our own pitches and playing fields the college makes use of the recreational and sporting facilities available in Greenlough Kilrea Ballymoney Maghera Magherafelt and Lavey The sports available to the pupils in the college include 24

GCSE French My name is Caitlin O Hagan and I am a Year 11 pupil in St Mary s College Clady I am currently preparing for my GCSE examinations and I travel to St Paul s College Kilrea twice a week to study French At first the idea of travelling to another school was quite daunting however we had a taster day in June and I was able to meet the students and my new teacher Ms Forrest That helped make the transition much easier I enjoy the short bus journey between the two sites and hope to continue enjoying my learning with the pupils of St Paul s College when we amalgamate next September Our collaboration this year gave me the opportunity to learn and make new friends I can truly say that I thoroughly enjoyed the experience GCSE Agriculture Land Use My name is Sinead McAtamney and I am currently a Year 11 student in St Mary s College Clady I also study GCSE Agriculture and Land Use at St Paul s College Kilrea I have always had a keen interest in Agriculture as I come from a farming background my granda and daddy still run the family farm today I travel by bus every Tuesday and Thursday to St Paul s to study Agriculture There are ten students in my class and my teacher is Mrs Halferty All the students and staff in St Paul s are very friendly helpful and welcoming The Agriculture course will last two years and we will learn a range of different topics including soil composition seed germination and care and management of the countryside In term one we went on a trip to a farm which was useful and enjoyable I also completed a one day course in Agriculture and I received a certificate on completion The two schools are already working well together so I think our new school will be success I look forward to the rest of my time in St Mary s and St Paul s and I am extremely excited about the amalgamation in September St Conor s College Prospectus 2018 GCSE Irish My name is Caitlin McGuigan and I am a Year 11 pupil in St Paul s College Kilrea One of the options I chose for GCSE was Irish so I travel to St Mary s College Clady twice a week to study with Ms Burke At first the idea of moving to another school for one of my subjects seemed completely alien but now it feels a normal part of my school routine I think it has helped me become more independent and let me see how similar the learning experiences are in both schools I have learnt so much from my teacher in St Mary s she has helped me appreciate the importance of my language and culture Coming together this year gave me the opportunity to study a subject I love and make new friends along the way As you know in September 2018 St Mary s College Clady and St Paul s College Kilrea will no longer be two separate schools In September when we amalgamate we will become one college Over the past few months we have been taking part in events to assist the amalgamation process As well as combining GCSE Irish French and Agriculture classes the schools organised a joint school trip to Paris In total 44 pupils from both schools travelled to Paris together The excitement bubbled within us as we boarded the bus and the singing started en route The flight was short and enjoyable I sat beside students from St Paul s so I could get to know them before we arrived in Paris In no time at all we landed in the capital city An early night was needed after all the travelling but first we had a lovely meal in Flunch When we reached Explorers Hotel we had a little tour of our base for the weekend To our amazement we discovered swimming pools games rooms a 4D cinema and a pizza shop We had it all To say we were living in luxury would be an understatement We woke early the next morning ready for a great day of sightseeing and fun As the sun rose we sailed down the River Seine taking in all the beautiful views the Parisian architecture and La Tour Eiffel of course We stopped off at the famous Champs Elysees to have something to eat and a browse around the shops We then travelled to Tour Montparnasse which has a magnificent three hundred and sixty floors to enjoy breath taking views of the city Back at the hotel we were able to avail of the fantastic facilities whether it was splashing in the pool having fun in the games room or hanging out with our new friends The evening soon flew by The following day we had a guided tour of the magnificent Stade de France Our tour guide S bastien was excellent and the tour was very interesting After lunch we spent the rest of the day shopping in the Paris Christmas Markets and La D fense shopping centre The day concluded with a lovely dinner in Planet Hollywood On our final day we travelled to DISNEYLAND As we approached the sign and the bus came to a stop we could not contain our excitement Our teachers gave us passes for the day and we explored the park it was the best place ever The amusements and attractions were so good that the day flew by and it was soon time for home On the bus together for the last time there was not a sound as we reflected that it was almost time to go home so we would have to say au revoir to each other We consoled ourselves with the fact that in September we will all be together again I had a fantastic time in Paris I made new friends and memories that will last forever It was a truly amazing experience one I will never forget I am excited that I will have the opportunity to meet up with everyone again and am looking forward to our amalgamation next year Joint French Trip 2017 18 First Steps A word from our pupils about our journey towards amalgamation 25 GCSE Collaboration 2017 18 Eimear Convery Year 11 St Conor s College Prospectus 2018 26

GCSE French My name is Caitlin O Hagan and I am a Year 11 pupil in St Mary s College Clady I am currently preparing for my GCSE examinations and I travel to St Paul s College Kilrea twice a week to study French At first the idea of travelling to another school was quite daunting however we had a taster day in June and I was able to meet the students and my new teacher Ms Forrest That helped make the transition much easier I enjoy the short bus journey between the two sites and hope to continue enjoying my learning with the pupils of St Paul s College when we amalgamate next September Our collaboration this year gave me the opportunity to learn and make new friends I can truly say that I thoroughly enjoyed the experience GCSE Agriculture Land Use My name is Sinead McAtamney and I am currently a Year 11 student in St Mary s College Clady I also study GCSE Agriculture and Land Use at St Paul s College Kilrea I have always had a keen interest in Agriculture as I come from a farming background my granda and daddy still run the family farm today I travel by bus every Tuesday and Thursday to St Paul s to study Agriculture There are ten students in my class and my teacher is Mrs Halferty All the students and staff in St Paul s are very friendly helpful and welcoming The Agriculture course will last two years and we will learn a range of different topics including soil composition seed germination and care and management of the countryside In term one we went on a trip to a farm which was useful and enjoyable I also completed a one day course in Agriculture and I received a certificate on completion The two schools are already working well together so I think our new school will be success I look forward to the rest of my time in St Mary s and St Paul s and I am extremely excited about the amalgamation in September St Conor s College Prospectus 2018 GCSE Irish My name is Caitlin McGuigan and I am a Year 11 pupil in St Paul s College Kilrea One of the options I chose for GCSE was Irish so I travel to St Mary s College Clady twice a week to study with Ms Burke At first the idea of moving to another school for one of my subjects seemed completely alien but now it feels a normal part of my school routine I think it has helped me become more independent and let me see how similar the learning experiences are in both schools I have learnt so much from my teacher in St Mary s she has helped me appreciate the importance of my language and culture Coming together this year gave me the opportunity to study a subject I love and make new friends along the way As you know in September 2018 St Mary s College Clady and St Paul s College Kilrea will no longer be two separate schools In September when we amalgamate we will become one college Over the past few months we have been taking part in events to assist the amalgamation process As well as combining GCSE Irish French and Agriculture classes the schools organised a joint school trip to Paris In total 44 pupils from both schools travelled to Paris together The excitement bubbled within us as we boarded the bus and the singing started en route The flight was short and enjoyable I sat beside students from St Paul s so I could get to know them before we arrived in Paris In no time at all we landed in the capital city An early night was needed after all the travelling but first we had a lovely meal in Flunch When we reached Explorers Hotel we had a little tour of our base for the weekend To our amazement we discovered swimming pools games rooms a 4D cinema and a pizza shop We had it all To say we were living in luxury would be an understatement We woke early the next morning ready for a great day of sightseeing and fun As the sun rose we sailed down the River Seine taking in all the beautiful views the Parisian architecture and La Tour Eiffel of course We stopped off at the famous Champs Elysees to have something to eat and a browse around the shops We then travelled to Tour Montparnasse which has a magnificent three hundred and sixty floors to enjoy breath taking views of the city Back at the hotel we were able to avail of the fantastic facilities whether it was splashing in the pool having fun in the games room or hanging out with our new friends The evening soon flew by The following day we had a guided tour of the magnificent Stade de France Our tour guide S bastien was excellent and the tour was very interesting After lunch we spent the rest of the day shopping in the Paris Christmas Markets and La D fense shopping centre The day concluded with a lovely dinner in Planet Hollywood On our final day we travelled to DISNEYLAND As we approached the sign and the bus came to a stop we could not contain our excitement Our teachers gave us passes for the day and we explored the park it was the best place ever The amusements and attractions were so good that the day flew by and it was soon time for home On the bus together for the last time there was not a sound as we reflected that it was almost time to go home so we would have to say au revoir to each other We consoled ourselves with the fact that in September we will all be together again I had a fantastic time in Paris I made new friends and memories that will last forever It was a truly amazing experience one I will never forget I am excited that I will have the opportunity to meet up with everyone again and am looking forward to our amalgamation next year Joint French Trip 2017 18 First Steps A word from our pupils about our journey towards amalgamation 25 GCSE Collaboration 2017 18 Eimear Convery Year 11 St Conor s College Prospectus 2018 26

Year 8 Familiarisation Day 27 Anna Mullan My name is Anna Mullan I am 12 years old and I chose to come to St Mary s College in September My primary school was called St Mary s and it was in the parish of Greenlough I chose St Mary s because it is a great school My favourite subjects are PE and Art I like PE because I am very sporty and Art appeals to me as I like to draw The teachers in St Mary s are really nice I have a few favourites who are Mr Toner Mr McCorley Mr McGrellis Mrs Burke Mrs Hurson and Mrs Brown I can honestly say I am very happy at my school I have been on some school trips At the start of the term we went to Woodhall for a day which was fantastic I did the leap of faith It made me feel so good Just before Christmas we travelled to Derry to see the pantomime Jack and the Beanstalk I loved it It was very funny We could shout out loud The actors were brilliant and the dancers too As part of our induction we celebrated Mass with our parents and form teachers It was a very special night We all received a pair of Rosary beads and little school prayers It was very good I also enjoyed going to visit St Paul s Kilrea We had great fun and I heard when we came back that the pupils who visited our school felt the same It s a good start to our schools joining together I am looking forward to September now Ellie McAfee Hello everyone my name is Ellie McAfee and I am from Aghadowey which is just outside Kilrea I transferred with quite a few pupils from my primary school but I have made lots of new friends from different parishes too Secondary school is great What I really like is the variety of different teachers and subjects My favourite subjects are P E TD and Irish We went to Woodhall in October it was fabulous We all really enjoyed it The team building games helped us to get to know one another really well as a year group The Year 8 mass was another memorable experience and it was lovely that every single person in the year group had a part to play For me the highlight of Year 8 was being one of only two girls selected for the Year 8 Gaelic team We beat De La Salle by five goals in the Ulster Final of the Oisin McGrath Shield even though it is a much bigger school than ours On the 18th of December we had a bonding day with the Year 8 pupils from St Mary s College in Clady The theme was Christmas and we completed activities in PE Art and HE I made new friends called Anna Ella Ceirseach Caitlin and Tia I am looking forward to meeting up with everyone again in Term 2 and being part of a bigger year group in Year 9 St Conor s College Prospectus 2018 St Conor s College Prospectus 2018 28

Year 8 Familiarisation Day 27 Anna Mullan My name is Anna Mullan I am 12 years old and I chose to come to St Mary s College in September My primary school was called St Mary s and it was in the parish of Greenlough I chose St Mary s because it is a great school My favourite subjects are PE and Art I like PE because I am very sporty and Art appeals to me as I like to draw The teachers in St Mary s are really nice I have a few favourites who are Mr Toner Mr McCorley Mr McGrellis Mrs Burke Mrs Hurson and Mrs Brown I can honestly say I am very happy at my school I have been on some school trips At the start of the term we went to Woodhall for a day which was fantastic I did the leap of faith It made me feel so good Just before Christmas we travelled to Derry to see the pantomime Jack and the Beanstalk I loved it It was very funny We could shout out loud The actors were brilliant and the dancers too As part of our induction we celebrated Mass with our parents and form teachers It was a very special night We all received a pair of Rosary beads and little school prayers It was very good I also enjoyed going to visit St Paul s Kilrea We had great fun and I heard when we came back that the pupils who visited our school felt the same It s a good start to our schools joining together I am looking forward to September now Ellie McAfee Hello everyone my name is Ellie McAfee and I am from Aghadowey which is just outside Kilrea I transferred with quite a few pupils from my primary school but I have made lots of new friends from different parishes too Secondary school is great What I really like is the variety of different teachers and subjects My favourite subjects are P E TD and Irish We went to Woodhall in October it was fabulous We all really enjoyed it The team building games helped us to get to know one another really well as a year group The Year 8 mass was another memorable experience and it was lovely that every single person in the year group had a part to play For me the highlight of Year 8 was being one of only two girls selected for the Year 8 Gaelic team We beat De La Salle by five goals in the Ulster Final of the Oisin McGrath Shield even though it is a much bigger school than ours On the 18th of December we had a bonding day with the Year 8 pupils from St Mary s College in Clady The theme was Christmas and we completed activities in PE Art and HE I made new friends called Anna Ella Ceirseach Caitlin and Tia I am looking forward to meeting up with everyone again in Term 2 and being part of a bigger year group in Year 9 St Conor s College Prospectus 2018 St Conor s College Prospectus 2018 28

Year 8 Familiarisation Day Oliver Keenan Hi everyone My name is Oliver Keenan and I live in Portglenone I play Gaelic football for Sean Stinsons which is my favourite hobby I am 12 years old and the primary school I attended was St Mary s Portglenone Since I started my new school I have been on two trips which were very exciting One to Woodhall where we completed a range of activities in groups and the other to the Millennium forum in Derry to see Jack and the Beanstalk They were both great craic Although I was quite nervous when we were told we would be meeting the pupils from St Pauls Kilrea I have to say I really enjoyed it They were all very kind to us It did feel a bit like starting a new school again but I didn t need to worry We started the day by going to the hall to play games and we quickly got to know each other We were then split into groups One went to the HE department and the other to Art We made a Christmas decoration and also decorated a cup cake sticking to the Christmas theme This was a great experience and one I think I will benefit from I look forward to more days like this which will make our Year 9 together a lot easier Eoin Mullan Hello my name is Eoin Mullan and I am from Glenullin I came from St Patrick s and St Joseph s Primary School I have a few cousins at St Paul s so I already knew quite a few students at the school which helped me to feel confident about starting secondary school I enjoy all the new subjects and have learned a lot in the first term My favourite subject is P E I was joint captain with Tommy Rogers when we won the Oisin McGrath Shield Although we have only known each other a short time we played very well together as a team I was so proud when we lifted the shield I delivered a speech on behalf of our team and thanked our managers and my teammates for their loyalty and support Next year our school is amalgamating with Clady so we have met the Year 8 students from St Mary s to help us prepare for the change In December we had a team building day The activities were really fun and everyone felt relaxed and comfortable working together I made lots of new friends and it was great fun talking about what we can look forward to in the future I can t wait for St Paul s and St Mary s to join because there will be 100 pupils in my year I think that this will help us to have even greater success in sporting competitions Hannah Diamond My name is Hannah Diamond I attend St Mary s College in Clady I really like my new school and am very glad I made the decision to come here The teachers are very good They help you if you are stuck with your work and need some assistance The subjects I like best are History HE and Art I travel to school every day by bus Our school caters for everyone We have a lift and ramps if you cannot get down or up the stairs or if you are in a wheel chair There are posters in different languages around the school too and it is very bright and welcoming It is quite a small school and I liked that when I came as it didn t take me long to know my way around the school I love meeting new people and couldn t wait to go over to St Paul s in Kilrea 29 St Conor s College Prospectus 2018 I really enjoyed my visit St Pauls was very good too The teachers made us feel very welcome and were very kind to us and so were the pupils Their classes sound very similar to ours and the subjects much the same too I loved the experience I am happy to have met other Year 8 s before we are all together in Year 9 Hugh Higgins Hi there my name is Hugh Higgins and I went to St Columba s Primary School Ballerin It was a great primary school but I was ready to move on I think that the move was made easy by the fact that I knew quite a few people from my P7 class I have to say the first day was great and I went home feeling very happy about my new teachers and friends from other primary schools Two of my favourite subjects in St Paul s are PE and Irish I think it is great that I can study Agriculture when I do my GCSE s in a couple of years time Lunchtime is very relaxed in our canteen and we have great space to play football badminton and other games We can also do other indoor activities such as Film club Arts and Crafts and TD club if we prefer not to be outside The Woodhall experience was brilliant and a great way to make friends for the whole year group We had a team building day just before Christmas with the Year 8 pupils from St Mary s Clady It was a great day with fun activities and good opportunities to meet the boys and girls who will be in our year when the two schools join up in September I am very much looking forward to our second team building day next term as it will make things easier for us when we join together in Year 9 Tia Tsang I am a pupil in St Mary s College Clady My name is Tia Tsang I get a bus to school every day which takes about 10 minutes My primary school was St Mary s Bellaghy I had a lot of friends coming to St Mary s Clady which was good But I would have to say the friendly welcome on our first day was brilliant A lot of teachers and other staff around the school made it easier for me to settle in and it wasn t very long until I was certain this was the school for me I have made lots of new friends On arrival in St Mary s we played games to help us get to know each other Soon after that we went to Woodhall with our lower 6th mentors I really like the mentors and hope that in the future I can become one Every Wednesday we go swimming and on our last day we had a fun day in the pool and got to go on the slides After that we all went to McDonalds for lunch I have had so many good things happen to me since I started St Marys I know there will be many more as the year goes on Ahead of our amalgamation in September I got to go over to St Paul s in Kilrea Some of their Year 8 s came to our school too This meant we could get to know the other Year 8 s a lot better before September I met a girl called Holly She was really nice and I know we will be good friends next September I am looking forward to that already tia St Conor s College Prospectus 2018 30

Year 8 Familiarisation Day Oliver Keenan Hi everyone My name is Oliver Keenan and I live in Portglenone I play Gaelic football for Sean Stinsons which is my favourite hobby I am 12 years old and the primary school I attended was St Mary s Portglenone Since I started my new school I have been on two trips which were very exciting One to Woodhall where we completed a range of activities in groups and the other to the Millennium forum in Derry to see Jack and the Beanstalk They were both great craic Although I was quite nervous when we were told we would be meeting the pupils from St Pauls Kilrea I have to say I really enjoyed it They were all very kind to us It did feel a bit like starting a new school again but I didn t need to worry We started the day by going to the hall to play games and we quickly got to know each other We were then split into groups One went to the HE department and the other to Art We made a Christmas decoration and also decorated a cup cake sticking to the Christmas theme This was a great experience and one I think I will benefit from I look forward to more days like this which will make our Year 9 together a lot easier Eoin Mullan Hello my name is Eoin Mullan and I am from Glenullin I came from St Patrick s and St Joseph s Primary School I have a few cousins at St Paul s so I already knew quite a few students at the school which helped me to feel confident about starting secondary school I enjoy all the new subjects and have learned a lot in the first term My favourite subject is P E I was joint captain with Tommy Rogers when we won the Oisin McGrath Shield Although we have only known each other a short time we played very well together as a team I was so proud when we lifted the shield I delivered a speech on behalf of our team and thanked our managers and my teammates for their loyalty and support Next year our school is amalgamating with Clady so we have met the Year 8 students from St Mary s to help us prepare for the change In December we had a team building day The activities were really fun and everyone felt relaxed and comfortable working together I made lots of new friends and it was great fun talking about what we can look forward to in the future I can t wait for St Paul s and St Mary s to join because there will be 100 pupils in my year I think that this will help us to have even greater success in sporting competitions Hannah Diamond My name is Hannah Diamond I attend St Mary s College in Clady I really like my new school and am very glad I made the decision to come here The teachers are very good They help you if you are stuck with your work and need some assistance The subjects I like best are History HE and Art I travel to school every day by bus Our school caters for everyone We have a lift and ramps if you cannot get down or up the stairs or if you are in a wheel chair There are posters in different languages around the school too and it is very bright and welcoming It is quite a small school and I liked that when I came as it didn t take me long to know my way around the school I love meeting new people and couldn t wait to go over to St Paul s in Kilrea 29 St Conor s College Prospectus 2018 I really enjoyed my visit St Pauls was very good too The teachers made us feel very welcome and were very kind to us and so were the pupils Their classes sound very similar to ours and the subjects much the same too I loved the experience I am happy to have met other Year 8 s before we are all together in Year 9 Hugh Higgins Hi there my name is Hugh Higgins and I went to St Columba s Primary School Ballerin It was a great primary school but I was ready to move on I think that the move was made easy by the fact that I knew quite a few people from my P7 class I have to say the first day was great and I went home feeling very happy about my new teachers and friends from other primary schools Two of my favourite subjects in St Paul s are PE and Irish I think it is great that I can study Agriculture when I do my GCSE s in a couple of years time Lunchtime is very relaxed in our canteen and we have great space to play football badminton and other games We can also do other indoor activities such as Film club Arts and Crafts and TD club if we prefer not to be outside The Woodhall experience was brilliant and a great way to make friends for the whole year group We had a team building day just before Christmas with the Year 8 pupils from St Mary s Clady It was a great day with fun activities and good opportunities to meet the boys and girls who will be in our year when the two schools join up in September I am very much looking forward to our second team building day next term as it will make things easier for us when we join together in Year 9 Tia Tsang I am a pupil in St Mary s College Clady My name is Tia Tsang I get a bus to school every day which takes about 10 minutes My primary school was St Mary s Bellaghy I had a lot of friends coming to St Mary s Clady which was good But I would have to say the friendly welcome on our first day was brilliant A lot of teachers and other staff around the school made it easier for me to settle in and it wasn t very long until I was certain this was the school for me I have made lots of new friends On arrival in St Mary s we played games to help us get to know each other Soon after that we went to Woodhall with our lower 6th mentors I really like the mentors and hope that in the future I can become one Every Wednesday we go swimming and on our last day we had a fun day in the pool and got to go on the slides After that we all went to McDonalds for lunch I have had so many good things happen to me since I started St Marys I know there will be many more as the year goes on Ahead of our amalgamation in September I got to go over to St Paul s in Kilrea Some of their Year 8 s came to our school too This meant we could get to know the other Year 8 s a lot better before September I met a girl called Holly She was really nice and I know we will be good friends next September I am looking forward to that already tia St Conor s College Prospectus 2018 30

Living Learning Excelling Together