LURGAN JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL PROSPECTUS 2023 24 www ljhs co uk
Welcome to Lurgan Junior High School OUR Mission Statement Empowering you to reach your potential to feel respected cared for and equal THE 3 R s Respect for Self Others Responsibility for all your actions Resilience 1
Parents Carers Pupils Lurgan Junior High School is an inclusive 11 14 nonselective co educational school which continually strives to educate and develop its pupils into knowledgeable confident kind and compassionate leaders equipped with the ability and skills required to embrace all of the challenges that life may bring As a school with a strong reputation for academic and sporting excellence we resolutely believe that our girls and boys deserve every possible opportunity to succeed in all areas of their educational lives and fervently wish for them to go out and change the world for the better Over the course of the last 64 years our school family has encouraged our young people to value the joy of learning and to become confident and productive individuals able to make the right decisions and determining to always give of their best Our core Christian values remain unchanged and we are unashamedly proud of them the timeless qualities of humanity courtesy and empathy for others We continue to strive to ensure that our talented pupils make the most of their amazing gifts and give of their best in everything that they do Through a broad and balanced curriculum we set high expectations and targets for all of our pupils fostering an environment of aspiration where children are encouraged to pursue their dreams and ambitions and where success whether within the classroom or beyond it is celebrated and honoured Ever proud of our positive relationships at all levels we create classroom environments that are conducive to learning and champion the practice of good old fashioned manners thus realising our mission statement of empowering our young people to reach their potential to feel respected cared for and equal At Lurgan Junior High School our expert committed staff are there to support your child through every step of their Key Stage 3 educational pathway In an ever changing world we believe that our consistent promotion of Respect Responsibility and Resilience in all their forms along with the myriad of high quality educational opportunities which we afford our pupils are as relevant to the world today as they were when our school was founded back in 1959 I look forward to welcoming you to our school family J McCoy Principal 2
SENIOR Leadership Team Mr McCoy Principal Mr Thompson Vice Principal Curriculum Mrs Kerr Vice Principal Pastoral Mr Lunn Senior Teacher Pastoral YEAR Heads Miss Osborne Senior Teacher Curriculum Mrs G Smith Year 8 Girls Year Head Mr J McMahon Year 8 Boys Year Head Mrs C Blakely Year 9 Girls Year Head Mr J Black Year 9 Boys Year Head Mr M McGreevy Mr M Addley Year 10 Girls Year Head Year 10 Boys Year Head 3
ADMISSION Criteria The lodging of an application is interpreted by the Board of Governors as an indication that the parents and the child concerned accept and are in agreement with the ethos philosophy aims policies and regulations of the school including any code of conduct or behaviour policy of the school Information in relation to these may be obtained from the school If the school s enrolment and admission numbers have not been reached the school will enrol all the children whose parents wish them to attend However if the application for entry to First Form Year 8 exceeds the admissions number or would cause the school to exceed the total enrolment number pupils will be admitted by the following criteria applied according to the weighting as indicated below 1 Pupils transferring from the following contributory primary schools Ballinderry Ballycarrickmaddy Bleary Carrick Dickson Donacloney Drumgor King s Park Lurgan Model Maghaberry Magheralin Meadow Bridge Moira Rowandale Integrated Waringstown 50 Points 2 Pupils transferring from a non contributory primary school 30 Points 7 In the event of equal points due to the weightings for final placing Pupils will be selected for admission on the basis of the initial letter of surname as entered on Birth Certificate in the order set out below N E U A K C G Z M X P L Y O D B S Q V R H T J I W F In the event of surnames beginning with the same initial letter the subsequent letters of the surname will be used in alphabetical order During the admissions procedure when applying the criteria punctual applications will be considered before late applications are considered The application procedure opens on 30 January 2024 at 12 noon GMT and an application submitted by the closing date of 22 February 2024 at 12 noon GMT will be treated as a punctual application An application received after 12 noon GMT on 22 February 2024 and up to 4pm on 4 March 2024 will be treated as a late application 3 Pupils who have a sibling enrolled at Lurgan Junior High School in the 2022 2023 school year 20 Points 4 Pupils who have had a sibling previously enrolled in Lurgan Junior High School 10 Points 5 Pupils for whom Lurgan Junior High School is the closest post primary school to the child s permanent home address measured by OSNI distance measuring tool expressed non selective and from a non contributory primary school 10 Points 6 Pupils who are the eldest child 15 Points Waiting List Policy The school does not operate a waiting list policy Admissions Criteria for Years 9 and 10 During years 9 and 10 the following are the criteria to be applied in selecting pupils admission a The school s enrolment number is not exceeded b The admission of the pupil would not prejudice the efficient use of resources in the school c Children who at the time of their application have a member of the family currently enrolled at the school Member of the family covers half brother and sister together with children who are adopted or who are children looked after d The pupil will be considered for enrolment providing that their admission ensures that the pupil is placed in the appropriate academic band for their academic ability after analysis of their standardised and other sources 4
PUPIL Assessments You learn so much more in the Jr High than you do in the primary school because you have so many different subjects and different teachers Hollie M 8A1 Pupils at Lurgan JHS are taught in broad banded ability groups We conduct our own standardised tests in June of the P7 year to help us finalise our class placements In addition to this prior to your child coming to our school we receive nationally standardised data from our local Primary School partners This includes the results of tests such as PTE PTM CAT4 and or Levels of Progression in Communication and Using Maths We use all of the above data to set criteria for the allocation of pupils to specific bands based on the results for that year s cohort Each band will be made up of pupils who match the criteria set by us for that year The pupils with the highest standardised test results from our assessments in conjunction with Primary School scores are then placed in the first second and third bands accordingly Depending on the academic ability of the Year Group a fourth band consisting of a nurture class is sometimes necessary Should this be the case these children will receive additional interventions to support their learning All pupils are encouraged to work to their full potential and are rewarded for their successes through our Positive Behaviour procedures Our Assessment procedures are regularly reviewed in order to support pupil learning Assessments Throughout the year a variety of assessments are carried out in all areas of the curriculum Controlled Assessment Homework Peer Assessment Self Assessment Christmas Examinations Summer Examinations I like the variation between sporting events and learning You get to move between in class learning and learning outside of the classroom David B 8A4 5
Reports Reports are issued bi annually Assessment combines the continuous monitoring and checking of pupils progress throughout the year with a formal examination in the Summer Term Some pupils may change class as a result of Christmas and or Summer Examination results or at times based on the professional judgement of the Teaching Staff and the School Leadership Team Reports are published for parents to view on the SIMS Parent App Communication with Parents Parents will have the opportunity to discuss their child s progress through meetings with subject teachers early in the Spring Term Parents and Guardians are consulted in order to ensure an appropriate appointment slot Homework Planner Google Classroom MyMaths IXL The school believes that it is important for pupils to learn to work independently Therefore it is school policy to set homework as and when appropriate The type of homework set will vary according to the pupil s age and ability Homework is any constructive task set to be completed outside of the timetabled day This will always be recorded in the Homework Planner and on Google Classroom which pupils can access through any mobile device or desktop computer Other online platforms such as IXL and MyMaths are used by teachers to share resources and tasks with pupils Attendance Pupils with full attendance at school usually make good academic progress At Lurgan JHS we encourage you to support our Attendance Policy On the rare occasions that your child is unable to attend school due to illness a letter to the Form Teacher is required on the first return date Parents should send an email to attendance ljhs co uk The Form Teacher will contact parents after the second day of absence Pupils are rewarded for high levels of attendance Online platforms such as those mentioned above will contain resources and information which can be used by pupils who have a long term absence from school 6
THE Curriculum Communication At Lurgan JHS a central feature of our core curriculum is the development of Communication skills Through our high quality approaches to pedagogy our young people s abilities in Reading Writing and Talking Listening are developed and optimised Student surveys and Assessment data have shown that our teaching approaches have developed pupils confidence in oracy and therefore have expedited success in oral comprehension and extended written responses A clear focus on discussion and argumentation has also been established to enable our pupils to develop their Talking Listening skills further This has been created to prepare our pupils for the requirements at GCSE as well as developing their communication skills and confidence Using Maths Recognising that success in English and Maths is the gateway across the curriculum Using Maths is one of the core curriculum skills that our pupils are given the opportunity to develop through every subject Our whole school focus for this year is to increase pupil confidence and skill in using a calculator During form class our pupils are provided with the time and opportunity to participate in puzzles and challenges to improve and consolidate their mathematical knowledge whilst being thoroughly enjoyed by all Those individual pupils who excel in Using Maths are entered into UKMT Maths Challenge and are provided with the opportunity to compete with their peers across the UK The participants from LJHS in 2022 23 achieved 3 gold 8 silver and 17 bronze certificates altogether Following the disruptions caused by Covid to learning and teaching we have identified the need for further support for our pupils to overcome gaps in understanding and to raise standards of numeracy and literacy to their expected levels for all pupils With this in mind we are continuing to implement an online program call IXL which is used in some schools across the world for this purpose IXL is a comprehensive learning program offering unlimited Literacy and Numeracy tasks across thousands of skills As IXL can be accessed from home parents have a chance to see their progress IXL is designed to help children learn at their own pace The program is adaptive and will adjust based on each child s demonstrated understanding of the material We know this program will be instrumental in improving skills in both Literacy and Numeracy across the school curriculum We celebrate Maths Week with a whole school quiz lunch time puzzles and daily challenges posted on Facebook The pupils thoroughly enjoy taking part in the challenges Using ICT As computers are used every day in industry and we rely on technology more than ever in our everyday lives we understand the value of teaching children how to use ICT correctly Throughout Key Stage 3 ICT is utilised as a platform to allow pupils to demonstrate increasing independence and using this vehicle pupils are continually encouraged to think critically about their work Pupils are upskilled on the use of Google Classroom to enhance their learning and become more independent learners During Key Stage 3 we aim to ensure that every pupil is afforded the opportunity to develop the skills necessary to become informed and responsible users of ICT If you come to LJHS you can learn different languages like French and other subjects like Geography History and Science My favourite subjects are Art and Drama because you get to express yourself and be creative Jessica B 8A11 7
KNOWLEDGE RICH Curriculum In our meetings in June 2023 we informed the new cohort of parents about our exciting plans for an introduction of a knowledge rich curriculum for all Year 8 pupils This has seen the essential core knowledge associated with all subjects across the curriculum being placed at the heart of everything that we do here in school This is because we know from research that a child s ability to carry out a particular skill will be underpinned by their knowledge of the subject and of the skill involved In addition this move was made to ensure that each child is equipped with everything that they need to know in order to build a strong foundation at Key Stage 3 and so that the main subject rudiments are well in place prior to the demands of GCSE courses During the year assemblies are held by the Curriculum Team in school to demonstrate and explain to pupils how they will be using this booklet both in class and at home to help them with their learning Each pupil has also been given a self quizzing notebook to be used in conjunction with the knowledge organisers and pupils will be shown exactly how to do this in the aforementioned assemblies Strand 2 Learning to Learn It has been a very exciting term with our Learning to Learn programme This year we have launched a new initiative based upon research conducted with pupils parents KS2 teachers and KS3 teachers All participants agreed that at KS2 KS3 our pupils lack sufficient knowledge and understanding of how to revise effectively In response to these findings we developed our Learning to Learn programme that has been implemented with our current Year 8 cohort The programme has been designed to operate in cycles Week 1 Learn pupils watch an evidence informed bespoke video on a new revision strategy and the brain Week 2 Make pupils engage in making revision materials using the revision technique from Week 1 Mr McCoy introducing the Knowledge Organisers There are three main strands to the knowledge rich approach adopted by school as outlined below Strand 1 Knowledge Organisers Strand 2 Learning to Learn Programme Strand 3 IXL Programme Week 3 Quiz pupils participate in a whole year group quiz with Year Heads to retrieve knowledge In term 1 we completed three rotations of our cycle Pupils have gained valuable knowledge on how to revise effectively using Flashcards Brain Dumps and making Acronyms Acrostics We look forward to learning more valuable techniques in terms 2 and 3 Strand 1 Knowledge Organisers Every child in Year 8 has been given a knowledge organiser booklet booklets were given to pupils in a special assembly held with Year 8 pupils This booklet is absolutely unique to our school and has been compiled for every topic and unit of work to be studied across all of your child s subjects this year It contains all of the main pieces of information that your child will cover in every subject and contains the main pieces of information that children will need to know as the year progresses in order for them to succeed The knowledge organiser book is used as a reference point it can be used to help reinforce learning and it can be used to help embed knowledge into long term memory When studying the organiser for a particular subject a child may need to check up their notes from a subject in order to help clarify things and similarly they might need to re read notes for further detail the organiser will give the main information but it will not tell the child everything that could be known about a topic In short the booklet contains the necessary information on given topics but it will not be sufficient on its own Strand 3 IXL Research has shown that good literacy and numeracy skills can underpin success in all areas of the curriculum In order to help with literacy and numeracy skills all of our pupils complete an online programme called IXL each week This involves pupils completing quizzes on aspects of their English and Maths work to embed core elements of the subjects into their long term memory This part of the programme has been running for a couple of years now and has proven very effective in helping pupils to plug any gaps in their knowledge of key features of the subjects It is expected that pupils access this programme online and that they complete the work one hour per week In all of these strands parental support is vital and we do not underestimate the efforts parents make to help their children achieve their potential Your assistance at home overseeing the use of the knowledge organisers and your oversight of your child s participation in the IXL programme are much appreciated
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I really like learning new subjects especially Science HE and TD practicals Ema 8A4 Shared Education Lurgan JHS is proud to be involved in a shared education partnership with St Ronan s College Lurgan and Brownlow College Craigavon The vision for our partnership is to provide opportunities for our pupils to learn together at the same time as celebrating our own identities developing mutual respect and dispositions to become positive contributors to our society Our projects often involve the History Drama English and Music Departments In addition local organisations like Brownlow House Ulster Rugby Glenavon FB Academy and Ulster GAA have been involved in helping us deliver our workshops and projects In March 2023 our cross community Gaelic team won the Cuchulainn Cup in Northern Ireland and were selected to attend the ABC Gaelic Games in London in July 2023 It has been great to be able to participate in Shared Education projects between our schools as they help bring a positive dimension to learning within Lurgan JHS Right Cross community sport London 2023 10
THE Pupils Voice Our Student Council is made up of pupils from within each year group as well as our Head Boy Head Girl and their Deputies They meet regularly in our Conference Room At Lurgan JHS we recognise the value and importance of our young people playing an active role in making our school a better place The Pupils Voice representatives ensure that our school responds to the needs and views of the pupils whom they represent and at the same time helps to develop pupils abilities to articulate their views and express their opinions Pastoral Care Pastoral Care is at the centre of our school s ethos and reflects our Christian values We seek to provide a welcoming safe caring and supportive environment where each pupil is valued included and respected as an individual and is encouraged to reach their full ambitions both inside and outside the classroom We recognise that positive emotional health and well being are vital to learning To this end we have many people in our school community who willingly help and support our young people during their time with us These include School Prefects Peer Mentors Members of The Pupils Voice our Student Council Form Teacher Year Head Senior Teachers Vice Principals Principal School Counsellor Reach Mentoring Teacher Team Classroom Assistants Technicians Receptionist Administrative Staff Building Supervisors Lunchtime Supervisors Canteen Staff 11
Your Pastoral Care One of the key people in school is the Form Teacher In most cases pupils will have the same Form Teacher for all three years at Lurgan JHS This means the Form Teachers will get to know pupils well and will look out for them in school in order to make sure that they are settled happy and giving of their best If any child has a concern they can talk to their Form Teacher Another key adult is the Year Head There are two Year Heads for each year group one for girls and one for boys They support pupils and along with the Form Teachers help ensure pupils are achieving academically socially and emotionally Reach Mentoring and Aspire We enjoy an excellent partnership with the Reach Mentoring Team working with school in a mentoring capacity Currently they mentor approximately 25 pupils each week on Tuesday mornings In addition from the second lockdown we also have a Reach Mentoring teacher for four days a week whose role is to support pupils pastorally and academically on a one to one or small group basis to engage in their learning A local charity Reach is largely made up of youth workers Its motto is Unleashing potential and we are very thankful for their compassion and vision to draw alongside our young people They are an integral and invaluable part of our Pastoral Care programme Sometimes pupils may feel they need extra support and our School Counsellor is available at least one day each week Parents can request this for their child or pupils can speak to their Form Teacher Year Head Vice Principal and request counselling themselves As well as mentoring they are also involved in delivering part of our Personal Development curriculum across all three year groups This has proved to be of immense benefit to pupils and staff in the transition between Key Stages We are also grateful for our partnership with Aspire a local initiative which exists to help pupils by providing support resources and free tuition The Aspire team works with a group of our pupils across all three year groups two afternoons per week after school I was quite worried about getting lost in the school but I have learnt that the school isn t as big as it looks I was always able to rely on great friends and teachers not to get lost The food is very good at lunch too Resilience Emily 8A2 12
Celebrating Success Positive Mental Health Well being At LJHS we love to celebrate the efforts successes and At LJHS we actively promote looking after our achievements of pupils and staff We have our own mental health and emotional well being This takes Facebook page as well as regular Reward Assemblies place through explicitly taught lessons in Personal where we celebrate pupil achievements and distribute Development and other subjects regular assemblies awards These successes translate into points which through our wealth of extra curricular activities on offer also go towards a pupil s house with something to suit everyone and our Positive Mental Health Well Being days which are held at the end of Each pupil and staff member is placed into one of our each half term and term and enjoyed by both pupils and four houses Carrick Dunluce Gosford and Shane and staff These days are spent with Form Teachers and are this encourages healthy competition throughout the a great opportunity for building on positive relationships year both in the classroom and through other events Each day involves a carousel of three different activities organised by departments and our School Council events examples of which are danceathons karaoke The Masked Singer our staff Christmas panto house Pupils can win achievement points for themselves table quizzes beetle drives silly games and an End of and their House for excellent effort progress and Term Show Show engagement in lessons as well as for a positive attitude punctuality full attendance tidy uniform and being helpful and kind Conduct points then translate into rewards i e a postcard home to parents Bronze Silver Gold Platinum Certificates and corresponding reward events i e special breakfast pizza lunch disco for positive contributions to school life and academic success Newcomers Our school is committed to supporting developing and promoting equality inclusion and diversity in all of its practices and activities We embrace a fully inclusive culture and ethos free from discrimination and based upon Christian values of dignity courtesy and respect LJHS has embraced newcomer pupils and has provided Opportunities for Responsibility a caring and welcoming learning space for them to gain confidence and competence as well as assisting in the As a Key Stage 3 school our students have to assume acquisition of language to enable and empower them roles of responsibility which would not be available to succeed in their studies Staff within the department to them at this age in an 11 18 school School Prefect offer a combination of one to one and in class support Head Girl Boy and Deputy Head Girl Boy Chairperson to all Newcomer pupils in our Positive Impact Centre and Secretary of the Student Council School Librarian House Captains Vice Captains and House Prefects This helps develop important leadership skills as well as building self esteem and confidence It has regularly been commented on that our pupils come across as confident and mature beyond their years Special Educational Needs Lurgan Junior High School has an excellent reputation for meeting the needs of pupils with a wide variety of Special Educational Needs The SENCOs Special Educational Needs Coordinators along with Classroom Within each Form Class there are Form Prefects elected by pupils and staff and from each of the three year groups pupils are elected to represent his or her Assistants ensure provision is made for pupils whether it is through arranging exam concessions or one to one support peers on the School Council Our SEN department liaises with feeder primary schools Child Protection to make provision for pupils with SEN who are transferring from Key Stage 2 and also with the senior schools to Our Safeguarding Team Mrs Kerr Pastoral Vice ensure a smooth transition to Key Stage 4 Pupils on the Principal and Designated Teacher Mr Lunn Senior SEN register have IEPs Individual Educational Plans with Teacher Pastoral and Deputy Designated Teacher individual targets that are reviewed twice a year Pupils Mr McCoy Principal and Deputy Designated Teacher not on the register but requiring additional support are Mr Thompson Curriculum Vice Principal and Deputy also identified through standardised testing teacher Designated Teacher Miss Osborne Senior Teacher observations and parental concerns Our SENCO meets Curriculum and Deputy Designated Teacher ensures with parents to discuss a plan and to place the pupil that pupils know what to do if they encounter physical on the register with an IEP in order to monitor progress social or emotional harm and all staff are trained to and provide appropriate support support them Some pupils may be on the Medical Register with a Responsibility Pupil Passport outlining their needs and reasonable adjustments where applicable 13
Our Positive Impact Centre September 2023 saw the official opening of our Positive Impact Centre which houses our intervention programmes for pupils who have additional educational needs This comprises a co ordinated structured programme of literacy and numeracy support for individuals and small groups a systematic support programme for all Newcomer pupils featuring bespoke one to one intervention with our English as an Additional Language teachers and or in class support from our specialist trained Newcomer Classroom Assistant a Social Communication Class SCC designed specifically to provide Specialist Provision in Mainstream Schools for children with a Statement of Educational Need for autism a structured nurture provision for pupils with social behavioural and or emotional well being needs a subject extension programme for Gifted and Talented pupils who display particular flair and high levels of aptitude The PIC as it is affectionately known is a safe space where pupils with these additional needs are academically and pastorally supported and challenged to become the best possible versions of themselves Our expert trained staff lead all aspects of The PIC to ensure that there is a joined up approach and wraparound care for children as well as strong liaison with relevant subject teachers and pastoral staff in the mainstream setting This means that often a multifaceted approach is adopted to guarantee that our pupils receive a holistic educational experience Further information on the specifics of our PIC can be obtained from the Curriculum Team via email at curriculum ljhs co uk Mrs A Lindsay Principal of esteemed feeder school Carrick Primary School cutting the ribbon at the official opening of our Positive Impact Centre 14
THE ENRICHED Curriculum At Lurgan JHS we offer a wide variety of after school clubs and societies where all students are welcome A selection of these after school options includes Art Club Athletics Book Club Choir Chess Games Club Cookery Club Drama Hockey Scripture Union Netball Boys Football Orchestra Maths English Support Pupils are also given the opportunity to attend seminars provided by the Young Enterprise Scheme the Department of Employment and Learning and STEM initiatives organised by the Careers Department Individual departments also strive to provide subjectspecific Careers Education Information Advice and Guidance CEIAG either through classroom teaching or by organising guests or events 15
Craigavon Area Learning Community Lurgan JHS is part of Craigavon Area Learning Community CALC which was established in 2010 and is made up of Post Primary Schools the local Further and Higher Education College and educational partners working with the EA and funded by the Department of Education It brings together all the Post Primary educational bodies in the Craigavon area with the aim of improving educational provision for pupils aged 11 19 Curriculum planning in all schools is now guided by the statutory requirements of the Entitlement Framework Through a combination of joint meetings between staff in different schools pupils being taught in other schools and increased sharing of information and ideas the ALC aims to increase and improve existing collaboration within the local education community and offer pupils greater choice and flexibility particularly at GCSE and A Level as well as affording them great exposure to high quality learning and teaching experiences through a crossfertilisation of ideas between professionals Craigavon Area Learning Community is also helping to develop links within local communities by improving and deepening relationships between schools and their pupils and by reaching out to local business leaders to find out how schools can work with them to develop the knowledge and skills necessary for the modern economy Matilda Drama and Music play an integral part of life in Lurgan Junior High School With singing dancing and acting pupils learn to develop a plethora of important skills and develop their own personal talents In June 2023 Lurgan Junior High School performed Roald Dahl s Matilda Spreading across three days the pupils performed a total of seven performances which were truly successful and showcased the talent that lies within the school walls Pictured below we see some tableaux of the performance Through careful planning and rehearsal the pupils are able to demonstrate professional level performance through their use of body language facial expression and voice on the stage In Lurgan Junior High School we believe it is vital to promote our core values of Respect Responsibility and Resilience through the Arts As we rehearse and perform pupils are learning to show respect for their costumes props and other performers on stage They develop Responsibility as they take hold of their role and character and learn lines routines and blocking on the stage Finally they develop Resilience through the rehearsal process learning to take on board constructive feedback and hone their skills as a performer Conor Maisie and Bethany with the kids from Matilda 16
SPORT Lurgan JHS pupils are fortunate to have access to two full size floodlit synthetic pitches for hockey and football which serve both the school and wider community The school also has two grass rugby pitches 4 gymnasia 4 tennis courts and an all weather athletics track The PE department aims to Foster a positive attitude towards physical activity along with developing the physical mental social and emotional well being of pupils Contribute to the development of pupil confidence and self esteem Promote enjoyment and achievement through meaningful participation in physical activity through both curricular and extra curricular programmes Contribute to the whole school ethos by providing the opportunities to participate in organised events such as Inter House Competitions We offer a wide range of after school sports clubs where students of all abilities are welcome These include Rugby Football Cross Country Cricket Volleyball Hockey Netball Tennis It is our aim in Lurgan JHS to provide sporting opportunities for as many young people as possible Our school fields numerous teams over the 3 different age groups and caters for a wide range of abilities Currently over 200 pupils attend school practices weekly and pupils have opportunities to play against other schools in various competitions To witness pupils enjoying sport and reaching their sporting potential always provides much encouragement to the teachers and volunteer coaches in school 17
Year 8 9 NI Schools Volleyball winners Many pupils have been selected to play to both Ulster and NI levels in a variety of sports including Hockey Rugby Football and Athletics Rugby what we do what s on offer successes Rugby practices at LJHS take place after school on our two grass pitches at the back of school with one having floodlights which are used for training during the dark winter months Two teams are usually fie lded in each year group with opportunities for the A teams in Year 8 and Year 10 to compete in the annual High Schools Cup competition Inter school fixtures also take place against the local Grammar Schools and Junior High Schools Each year group practise on a different day of the week to enable players to also attend football practices which are held on a different day A number of our footballers have also been successful on the rugby pitch in recent years at U 12 and U 14 level in the High Schools Cup U 12 High Schools Cup Winners 2023 2018 2011 U 14 High Schools Cup Winners 2019 2016 2013 2012 2010 There is also the opportunity for our Year 10 players to be nominated by club or school for Regional Development Squad RDS training which is a pathway for the players to representing Ulster at U 16 and U 18 level Former pupil Fraser Cunningham has become a Schools Cup winner in 2023 with RBAI and has achieved the honour of becoming Captain of their 1st XV Rugby team for the current season Fraser is also currently training with the Ulster and Irish Schools Squads and has represented the Irish Schools Sevens Team The teachers are really supportive and there are lots of brilliant sports to join Jacob 8A4 18
Cricket Numbers at training were excellent across the 3 year groups and Lurgan JHS would like to thank Lurgan CC for the use of their facilities and in providing coaches every Tuesday afternoon Cross Country The Mini Boys team of Bailey Magee 8th Tom Kerr Max Wilson Luke Wells Finn McCorry Taylor Hamilton Corey Hamilton Sam Woods and Harry Sutton would win team Bronze Medals in the District Championships and qualify for the Ulster Schools Finals at Mallusk The Minor Boys team of Tyler Black 2nd Sam Green 3rd Austen Gault 4th Michael Emerson 7th Jacob Neill Andrew Dowdeswell Charlie McBride and Josiah Ormerod would win team Gold Medals in the District Championships with Tyler and Sam also collecting individual Silver and Bronze medals an outstanding performance from everyone involved The Junior Boys team of Matthew Lamont 5th Charlie Gault 7th Michael Robinson Charlie Robinson Ben Ross Freddie McTernaghan Jamie Pedlow and Harry Stevenson would win team Gold Medals in the District Championships to ensure all three boys teams would qualify for the Ulster Schools Finals District Championships The Boys athletics teams would collect an impressive 7 Gold 5 Silver and 5 Bronze medals at the District Athletics Championships at Clones and Antrim Forum GOLD Junior Boys 800m Junior Boys 1500m Junior Boys Shot Putt Minor Boys High Jump Mini Boys High Jump Mini Boys Long Jump Mini Boys 4 X 100m Relay Matthew Lamont Michael Robinson Tyler McKinney Charlie McBride Josh Bingham Ross Beattie Bailey Magee Josh Bingham Archie Doogan Alex White SILVER Junior Boys 100m Junior Boys 4 X 100m Relay Minor Boys Shot Putt Minor Boys Long Jump Mini Boys Long Jump Jamie Pedlow Michael Robinson Charlie Gault Scott King Jamie Pedlow James Wilson Patryk Jedrol Micah McMullan BRONZE Junior Boys High Jump Minor Boys 800m Minor Boys 100m Minor Boys 4 X 100m Relay Mini Boys Shot Putt Charlie Gault Austen Gault Lorcan Mantell Charlie McBride Ben Buttery Michael Emerson Lorcan Mantell Archie Doogan Ulster Schools Championships The Boys athletics team would collect three individual medals at the Ulster Schools Championships with Micah McMullan winning Silver in the Mini Boys Long Jump Charlie McBride collecting Bronze in the Minor Boys High Jump and Matthew Lamont qualifying for the Irish Schools Championships in Tullamore with a Bronze in the 800m Irish Schools Championships Matthew Lamont would finish 8th in Ireland in the 800m with a time of 2 minutes 13 99 seconds 19
Lurgan JHS s U13 Football team were invited guests of the Lord Mayor Mrs Margaret Tinsley and Councillor Peter Haire at Craigavon Civic Centre for a civic reception to celebrate all of last year s successes Football Success Lurgan JHS had the most successful season in history last year bringing home 6 trophies across the 3 year groups With a wealth of talent throughout the school the U13 team in the end were the most successful They won every single game that they played winning the Northern Ireland Cup Mid Ulster Cup and Mid Ulster League This talented team will represent Northern Ireland in the Allen McKinstrey 5 Nations Competition this coming May in Wales The U14 team also had an unbelievable season winning the MidUlster League Mid Ulster Cup and battling their way through 5 rounds to reach the final of the Northern Ireland Cup It wasn t to be in the final in front of a 600 strong crowd at the Blanchflower stadium in Belfast The U12s also had a good year winning the Mid Ulster Cup finishing runners up by a single point in the MidUlster League and reaching the quarter final of the Northern Ireland Cup where they were beaten by the eventual winners St Columb s The U12 13 and 14B teams also gave excellent accounts of themselves in the small schools leagues playing against A teams from the local area Numbers at training were excellent all year and exceeded 100 each week across the 3 year groups Below The U 12 High Schools Cup winning team pictured with their co captains Micah McMullan and Archie Doogan I was really worried about not getting picked for any teams in school but Mr McDowell is amazing and I am now Captain of the A team in rugby and Vice Captain of the football team Olly 8A2 20
Netball Netball is offered an extra curricular activity to all three year groups in Lurgan JHS Our Year 8 girls learn skills develop game play and have the opportunity to play in tournaments against other local schools Year 9 and 10 girls play in the local Vista League and Cup competitions Our most talented teams are given the opportunity to play at a higher level in the NI League Area 6 and in the NI Cup Top Bottom Lurgan JHS Vista League Teams 21 Girls practicing Netball in PE
Girls Hockey Hockey is offered as an extra curricular activity to all three year groups in Lurgan JHS Year 8 9 and 10 girls play in the Mid Ulster League and Cup Competitions and we also enter the NI Junior Cup Competition and Super League Competition competing with schools from across NI Lurgan JHS girls who competed in the Super League competition Girls Football Team Mrs Patton takes our Girls Year 8 9 and 10 football practice along with Phil McKinley from Lurgan Town Football club We had over forty girls sign up for football this year The girls took part in a Futsal tournament in October and competed in the U14 Mid Ulster School Cup and League finishing as runners up in the league and reaching the semi final of the Cup Girls Football Team 22
Volleyball Volleyball was offered as an extra curricular activity and there was a keen interest both in class and after school The coaching sessions were a huge success with over thirty girls from years 8 and 9 staying every Monday after school The Club training was taken by Craigavon Aztecs coach Paul McIIwaine We hope the Volleyball club will continue to grow on this year s success Year 9 Volleyball Girls Cross Country Year 8 9 and 10 girls competed in the District Cross Country Championships at The Palace Stables in Armagh Year 8 girls finished in second place as a team with Lydia Neill 2nd Kacey Dillon 8th Emille White 11th and Leah Irwin 22nd and Clare Bailey 29th Year 9 Girls finished 4th as a Team Cadence Hamilton won silver with Millie Dowds finishing 13th Daisy Stokes 21st Lara Owens 26th Olivia Heasley 29th and Abigail Young 39th Year 10 girls did not place as a team but a strong effort was displayed by Naomi Wilson 8th Leah Balfour 14th Eve Hetherington 40th Brooke Wilson 48th Anna Wylie 59th and Gracie McIllwaine 60th Cadence Hamilton Lydia Neill Year 8 Mini Girls team winners 23
District Athletics Championship Ulster Athletic Championships We had 20 girls awarded medals at the District Athletics Championships GOLD MEDALISTS Mini Girls Relay team Emilee White Kacey Dillon Clare Bailey and Sophie Harrison Minor Girls 800m Cadence Hamilton Minor Girls Relay team Millie Dowds Camryn Wilson Abigail Fitzsimmons and Hannah Holland Junior Girls Relay team Alex Kerr Annabelle Davoust McCann Naomi Wilson and Leah Balfour Mini Girls High jumpJulia Staniszewska Junior Girls High jump and Long jump Brooke Wilson SILVER MEDALISTS Mini Girls 100m Minor Girls 100m Minor Girls Shot putt Minor Girls High Jump Junior Girls Javelin Junior Girls Discus Kacey Dillon Abigail Fitzimmons Camryn Wilson Olivia Heasley Grace McNeill Annabelle Davoust McCann BRONZE MEDALISTS Junior Girls 200m Junior Girls Javelin Mini Girls High jump Mini Girls 100m Minor Girls Long jump Minor Girls High Jump Naomi Wilson Julia Fabisiak Eliza Owens Emilee White Millie Dowds Daisy Stokes Minor Girls 100m Abigail Fitzimmons Minor Girls Relay team Gold Medalists 24
A SCHOOL AT THE Heart of the Community Lurgan JHS is a school which plays a pivotal role in the life of its local community We enjoy close links with our local churches the Youth Service the PSNI our partner Primary Schools Harrison Nursery and Glenavon Football Club The Neighbourhood Police are regular visitors to Lurgan JHS and they support us in our Personal Development Programme by providing information to both pupils and parents on the importance of online safety and other key issues For a number of years Glenavon Football Club Academy has made use of the school s pitches in the evening and the Senior Team now has use of our pitches for evening training We continue to benefit from the wide variety of coaching given to our young people through Lurgan Town Football Club Lurgan Ladies Hockey Club and Waringstown Cricket Club We welcome their contribution and participation in developing a community that services and benefits everyone Under the excellent leadership of the PE Department we continue to realise our vision for Lurgan JHS as a centre of Sporting Excellence I love when we have opportunities to do things you can get involved in sports competitions and win trophies Braxton 8A4 25
I love the sport and the practical work especially Music Music is good because you learn how to play your favourite songs on an instrument Nikolay 8A4 2266
SCHOOL Trips At Lurgan Junior High School trips are regarded as a powerful and positive teaching tool that helps to enhance the social personal cognitive and emotional development of our pupils School trips provide unique opportunities for learning by seeing and doing The extra stimulation in a new environment can be beneficial to teaching life skills and improving independence History In recent years the History Department has organised trips to the WW1 battlefields the sites for the D Day landings and London Students have visited a range of historical places which include the Ulster Tower Thiepval Memorial the Menin Gate the beaches of Normandy Pegasus Bridge the Palace of Westminster and HMS Belfast A trip to the WW1 battlefields at the Somme is planned for June 2024 with the next school trip scheduled for June 2026 Below Year 10 pupils pictured beside Big Ben and Buckingham Palace 27
Year 10 Annual Trip Emerald Park In the last week of June our Year 10 s enjoyed a day trip to Emerald Park formerly Tayto Park in County Meath This was a recognition of their hard work and effort throughout Year 10 and to mark the end of their time at Lurgan Junior High School The itinerary for the day included an unlimited pass to all rides at the park Ski Trip to Bormio Italy In March 2022 the first post covid ski trip took place in northern Italy at the high altitude of Bormio 2000 The location provided us with excellent vistas and fresh soft snow Pupils received 4 hours of ski tuition each day provided by local ski instructors One of the highlights was taking the cable car to the mountain top restaurant for hot chocolate most afternoons The nearby village gave everyone the opportunity to enjoy local produce specifically the classic Italian pastry cannoli and purchase souvenirs and presents By the end of the week the majority of the students were competent skiers and attained the badges to prove it Currently a ski trip is being planned for Spring 2024 Right Dasha Chloe Maja and Alannah 28
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LURGAN Youth Annex Lurgan Youth Annexe is an Education Authority Youth Service provision situated at Lurgan Junior High School The Youth Annexe is managed by Andrew Barr Centre based Youth worker who has responsibility for daily operations and management of the Centre Part time staff and volunteers assist in the planning and facilitation of programmes for children and young people aged between 8 25 years old The Annexe provides a safe environment for young people to develop positive and meaningful relationships and receive support from a dedicated team of staff and volunteers Recently the Annexe has undergone a major refurbishment This has created a fantastic environment to support children and young peoples personal and social development Our vision is to inspire challenge and support children and young people to be the best that they can be The opportunities provided by staff and volunteers aim to increase opportunities which build strong and meaningful relationships promoting respect responsibility and resilience The annual Summer Scheme which takes place at the beginning of July provides young people with a range of fun activities which promote and encourage learning through participation Some recent summer interventions focused on supporting pupils movement from primary to post primary education The pupils participation in the New Beginnings project encouraged them to develop new relationships and explore some of the changes they may face in a new school setting Additional projects facilitated at the Annexe include Outdoor Pursuits Community Relations and Cultural Identity Mental and Emotional Wellbeing Education Summer Schemes Summer Intervention Dance Drama Arts and Crafts projects detached outreach work and residential experiences We also engage our children and young people in education projects with the PSNI to promote community safety and to raise awareness of Internet Safety Youth Annexe Programme Sept 2023 June 2024 Additionally Lurgan Youth Annexe is fully focused on Community Relations across the town The participation of young people and staff in various cross community initiatives has helped to develop shared spaces and peace building opportunities We actively promote leadership development and have witnessed the progression of many young people through the volunteering opportunities that have been made available to them There is a wide variety of training opportunities available through the EA Youth Service which enable young leaders to develop the relevant knowledge and skills which will support them in their roles Other areas of work facilitated by the EA Youth Service include the Learning Together Programme which is available to pupils at Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 At Key Stage 4 the Learning Together Programme offers an OCN Level 2 Certificate in Personal Success and Wellbeing The informal methodologies and focused group work facilitated by youth workers and teachers engage pupils in an innovative way facilitating the completion of a GCSE equivalent qualification Junior Youth Club Yr4 Yr7 Monday and Thursday 7 9pm Intermediate Seniors Youth Club Yr8 Tuesday 6 30 9pm Intermediate Senior Project Night Yr8 Wednesday 6 30 9pm Above dates and times may change due to staff meetings and training workshops Dates for the Summer Schemes and Summer Interventions will be published on the Youth Annexe Facebook page at the beginning of the Spring term 2024 30
GIRLS Uniform Girls Uniform compulsory as per list Blazer Navy with maroon trim and school badge Skirt Grey with 2 front pleats maroon navy and white plaid Blouse White Tie School colours with three R s badge Socks Grey with 2 maroon bands Tights Navy these will be compulsory on return from Halloween break until end of Term 2 Sweater Grey V necked optional Shoes Black leather flat heeled black laces Coat Navy outdoor coat NO HOODIES UNDER BLAZER AT ANY TIME Girls Physical Education Uniform PE Top White T shirt with maroon trim and school crest Skort Maroon Socks Maroon Trainers Laced with non marking soles LJHS Track Bottoms Navy LJHS Hoody Navy MOUTH SHIN GUARDS COMPULSORY TEAM PLAYERS can wear school tracksuits with crest to matches A DETAILED VERSION OF OUR UNIFORM REGULATIONS is communicated to parents prior to the child s commencement in September In addition uniform guidelines can be viewed in the Year 8 Section of our website www ljhs co uk Girls Uniform Supplier SD Kells Lurgan Maxwells of Lurgan Girls PE Supplier The Gordon Group Lurgan Online Orders www thegordongroup co uk 31
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BOYS Uniform Boys Uniform compulsory as per list Blazer Navy with maroon trim and school badge Trousers Charcoal grey trousers Shirt White Tie School colours with three R s badge Socks Grey or black in colour Sweater Grey V necked optional Shoes Black leather Coat Navy outdoor coat NO HOODIES UNDER BLAZER AT ANY TIME Boys Physical Education Uniform INDOOR PE Top White T shirt with school crest Shorts Navy indoor and outdoor Socks White ankle socks Trainers Laced with non marking soles OUTDOOR Rugby Shirt Navy with school crest Shorts Navy Socks Navy MOUTH SHIN GUARDS FOOTBALL BOOTS RUGBY BOOTS COMPULSORY TEAM PLAYERS can wear school tracksuits with crest to matches A DETAILED VERSION OF OUR UNIFORM REGULATIONS is communicated to parents prior to the child s commencement in September In addition uniform guidelines can be viewed in the Year 8 Section of our website www ljhs co uk Boys Uniform Supplier SD Kells Lurgan Boys PE Supplier Donaghy s of Banbridge 33
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CONTACT US 7 Toberhewny Lane Lower Lurgan Craigavon BT66 8SU 028 3832 3243 info lurganjuniorhigh lurgan ni sch uk www ljhs co uk 35