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NEWSLETTER Omagh High School

14 Crevenagh Road

Omagh, Co Tyrone

BT79 0EQ

Tel: 028 82242656

Fax: 028 82251568

Email: info@omaghhigh.omagh.ni.sch.uk

Website:www.omaghhighschool.org.uk

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY…

Wednesday 25 January 2017

Our annual Open Night for prospective Year 6 and 7

pupils and their parents will be held on

Wednesday 25 January 2017 commencing at 7.00 pm.

Wednesday 15 February 2017

Annual School Formal for Years 13 and 14

HOLIDAY INFORMATION

Please note the school will close from Thursday 16

February until Monday 20 February 2017 inclusive for

half term.

PARENTS’ MEETINGS REMINDER

Years 12 and 13Wednesday 8 February 2017

commencing at5.00 pm

Year 10Wednesday 22 February 2017 commencing at 4.30 pm with a

short presentation on Key Stage 4 Options.

Post 16Information Evening

Wednesday 1 March 2017 commencing at 7.00 pm

Years 9 and 11Wednesday 8 March 2017

commencing at 5.00 pm

PUPILS OF THE MONTH

Year 81st Robert Dixon 2nd Nathan Whalley3rd Daniella Dougan

Year 91st Chesney Grimes 2nd Claire Spratt3rd Chloe Mitchell

Year 101st Isabella Shaw2nd Curt Stevenson3rd Aaron Wallace

Year 111st Jenny Vance2nd Lynn Moses3rd Jemma Lynn  Year 121st Henry Flood2nd Lisa McFarland3rd Jodi Armstrong Frazer O’Brien

Year 13/14A Jack CrawfordB Johnny HallC Jonathan Woods

HOUSE TOTALS FOR DECEMBER

Crevenagh 3811Auchinleck 3258Strule 3108

DOUBLE SUCCESS FOR YOUNG ENTERPRISE

ENTREPRENEURS!

Omagh High School’s Year 11 Young Enterprise businesses recently

attended St. George’s Market in Belfast to take part in Young Enterprise’s ‘Big Market’ Craft Fair.

Over 90 schools attended selling produce they sourced and produced to members of the public.  

Omagh Crafters were awarded first place by local business judges for their category, the Team Programme. They sold a variety of Christmas gifts and decorations. Pets for Life came runners up in the same category by selling Christmas pet hampers and a variety of pet related Christmas produce.

A fantastic achievement for all involved. Thanks to staff from Omagh’ s HSBC for their help as business advisors with both groups and Sandra Magee from Young Enterprise. Their help has been invaluable.

Both teams with their first and second place certificates.

YOUTH CONFERENCE “WOULD YOU DARE?

Year 12 students attended the Omagh Youth Council conference on Wednesday 14 December 2016. Issues addressed were alcoholism, drug abuse and safety online.

The pupils were entertained throughout the day with interactive quizzes, games and media rich presentations.  One of the students commented that they really enjoyed the interactive cyber bullying presentation and it made them really think about keeping safe online. 

QUEEN’S ACADEMY

On Tuesday 6 December, five Year 10 pupils were privileged to travel to Queen’s University Belfast to take part in the Queen’s Academy event. Pupils engaged in activities with other pupils from all over Northern Ireland. The activities ranged from Spanish lessons and drama activities to discussions on politics, law and theology.

The day was a great opportunity for our pupils to see what a local university is like, to meet lecturers and to give pupils a flavour of university life.

Nadia Faris, Casey-Lee Crawford, Chloe Davis, Rheanna Gilmore and Tyler Hamilton were great ambassadors and Casey-Lee even won a “selfie stick” for his excellent listening skills!

HISTORY STUDENTS ATTEND HOLOCAUST

SURVIVOR SEMINAR IN THE STRULE ARTS CENTRE, OMAGH

Omagh High School History students at the Strule Arts Centre, Omagh

On Wednesday 11 January 2017 a group of GCSE History students as well as a select group of Year 10 students attended a talk given by Holocaust survivor Eva Clarke in the Strule Arts Centre Omagh to mark the forthcoming anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau on 27 January.

Eva’s story was both captivating and compelling from start to finish. Eva was born in the Mauthausen Concentration Camp in Austria on 29 April 1945. Eva and her mother were the only two survivors from a family of seventeen. Eva’s three grandparents, her father, her aunts, uncles and seven year old cousin Peter had all lost their lives in Auschwitz.

In December 1941 Eva’s parents had been sent to the Theresienstadt concentration camp in German occupied Czechoslovakia in 1941 where they spent three years. In 1944 Eva’s Dad was sent to Auschwitz and her mother incredibly volunteered to follow her husband there but the two were never to see each other again. Towards the end of the Second World War when the Allied forces were making huge advances Westwards, Eva’s mother was put on yet another train, this time from Auschwitz to Mauthausen, where Eva was born.

Following the liberation of Mauthausen two months later, Eva and her mother went back to Prague where they had lived prior to the Holocaust and then moved to the UK to Cardiff where Eva grew up. Eva now lives in Cambridge and has two sons and three grandchildren.

OMAGH HIGH SCHOOL’S NI SCHOOLBOYS’ CUP RUN COMES TO AN END

On Wednesday 7 December 2016 Omagh High School’s Year 8 Squad suffered their first defeat of the season losing out in the last 16 of the Northern Ireland Schoolboys’ Cup to St. Josephs College, Derry. Omagh High were brimming with confidence going into this match after having won their previous their previous three games of the season comfortably and scoring 22 goals along the way.

Injuries were to play a huge part in the fixture with playmaker Oscar Thompson missing from central midfield and Andrew Moore missing from right back with a sprained ankle as well as Jack Coulter leaving the field early in the first half with a knock to his ankle. Debutants Jamie Moore and Darragh McKenna put in outstanding performances on the day as did Harris Dickson and Kyle Johnston.

Gabor Laki kept up his fine goal scoring form for the High School with a poachers finish into the opposition teams net but it wasn’t enough to stop the hosts crashing out of the cup at this stage.

Omagh High will now turn their attention to the New Year with three friendly fixtures and two tournaments coming up in quick succession after the Christmas break which will give the side the opportunity to bounce

back from their first defeat of the season.

Omagh High School Squad

UNDER 16 FOOTBALL

On Tuesday 13 December 2016 Omagh High School travelled to Enniskillen to face Devenish College knowing that a win would guarantee Omagh High School a place in the final. Omagh High went behind early in the game by scoring an own goal, but quickly drew level through a goal from Milan Matecz. Milan then soon added a second with Captain Ben Thompson then scoring a third to make the score 3-1 at half-time. The second half proved anything but dull as Devenish fought back to make the score 3-3. Then Omagh once again took the lead through a free kick from Ben Thompson. However, minutes later Devenish equalised again to make the score 4-4. When a draw looked like being the end result, Omagh High won a corner. The ball was crossed in and the Devenish goalkeeper punched clear, only for William Pinkerton to lash the ball back towards goal and score the winner with virtually the last kick of the game.

Final score Omagh High School 5, Devenish College 4. This result ensures Omagh High School will contest the Final of the McKee Cup to be played early in the New Year.UNDER 16 RUGBY REPORT

Omagh High School 43Aquinas 0

On Friday 9 December 2016 Omagh High School Under 16 Rugby team played their first round match of the Danske Bank Northern Ireland High

Schools trophy against Aquinas Grammar School from Belfast.

Omagh High School dominated the game in all departments and ran out winners by 43 points to 0.

Tries were scored by Simon Creane x 2, William Pinkerton x 2, Frazer Caldwell and Lachlan Turner. Conversions were scored by William Pinkerton x 3, Matthew McILwaine and Cameron Black.Omagh High School will now face Markethill in Round 2.

VICTORIAN CAROL SERVICES IN THE ULSTER AMERICAN FOLK PARK

This year Omagh High School embarked on a new venture by organising additional Carol Services in the Ulster American Folk Park. Ninety-nine excited pupils and many of the staff, in Victorian costume, participated in three services in December.

The first service, held on Thursday 8 December in the Mountjoy Meeting House, was a memorable occasion with the congregation comprising of approximately 80 members of the Treasure House Group from across Northern Ireland along with some of the park visitors on the day. The service was led by Rev John Morrow and provided an excellent opportunity for the pupils and staff to become familiar with their venue prior to the full houses on Wednesday 14 December.

Rev Jonathan Cowan led the morning service on Wednesday 14 December at 11.00 am. Many local community groups were joined by parents, friends and members of the public to fill the meeting house. Having enjoyed morning tea and coffee in the Assembly Room at the UAFP, the visitors were greeted en route to the Meeting House by the drama groups and musicians who really set the scene. The service had many items of song, music, reading and reflection with the Rev Cowan reminding all of the importance and relevance of the events in Bethlehem which were old but ever new.

With over 180 tickets issued for the evening service, the Meeting House was filled to capacity. Having enjoyed a glass of hot fruit punch, the congregation were once again greeted by the drama group and musicians en route to the Meeting House and the scene was set for a most memorable candle lit Victorian Carol Service. On this occasion, the pupils and staff were joined by the Friends of Omagh High School Parents’ Association who also participated in song. Rev John Morrow drew the evening to a close by considering the old question, ‘Where is He that is born King of the Jews?’ in a relevant context for today. The Omagh High School pipes and drums then led the congregation back to the Assembly Room where everyone enjoyed a festive supper provided by the Friends of Omagh High School.

A special word of thanks is extended to the staff at the Ulster American Folk Park and to all those who helped in any way to make these services so enjoyable and heart-warming this year. Without the support and guidance of Mr Patrick O’Kane, Mrs Jane Anthony and Miss Dorothy Crawford from the UAFP this event just would not have been possible. We also really appreciate the willingness of the Rev Cowan, Rev Morrow and Mrs Morrow to fully embrace our Victorian theme and for their encouragement and support along the way. Our gratitude is also extended to the Friends of Omagh High School for their provision of supper and to Mrs Dixon and Mrs Moody for their solos.

Finally a special thanks to all who attended and gave generously to the Chest Heart and Stroke Association. As a result a presentation of money will be made at the end of January. Thank you one and all.

CAROL SERVICE 2016

Our Christmas term was brought to a very fitting close with almost 100 pupils participating as readers, actors, singers, instrumentalists and choir

members in the school’s Annual Carol Service.

Rev J Nelson led the service and warmly welcomed the pupils, parents, friends and many visitors to First Omagh Presbyterian Church which was filled to capacity.

The Omagh High School choir, accompanied by Miss Smyth on piano, sang at the Carol Service. Wonderful singing performances included a trio by Jessica Cuthbertson, Charlotte Rennie and Claire Spratt, a duet by Kerry Rankin and Lucy Thompson and a fantastic solo rendition of O Holy Night by Rachael Bleasdale, Year 13.

 

A word of thanks must be extended to the members of First Omagh Presbyterian for the use of their church for rehearsals and the Carol Service, to Rev J Nelson for the

closing message, to the many visitors who took time to attend the service and for the generous offering given.  As a result a presentation will be made to the local M.S. Support Group.

REMINDER ABOUTWALKING TO AND FROM SCHOOL DURING DARK

MORNINGS AND EVENING

THOUGHT FOR THE MONTH

ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS

As we all know the months of January and February often bring snow and ice meaning dangerous travelling conditions.

On the very rare occasion, adverse weather may force the school to close as the health and safety of our pupils and staff is paramount.

If it is decided school will close parents or guardians and staff will receive a text message to alert them to the fact that the school is closed. For this reason it is essential that we have an accurate record of your emergency contact number.

Please contact the school office if your mobile number has changed since September so that we have up to date contact details for all our pupils.

Be safe

Be seen

Be sensible