June 2016

Year 10 pupils recently visited Stormont as part of their Learning for Life and Work programme at Key Stage 3. The focus of the day was Democracy and Participation. Over the course of the day pupils enjoyed a tour of the Senate and Assembly Chamber. In the Assembly Chamber pupils were able to witness debating in action as our MLA's discussed current issues. In the Senate chamber pupils were divided into groups arguing for and against a mock proposal to shorten summer holidays to 4 weeks. This proved to be a very lively and interesting debate which the pupils thoroughly enjoyed. Pupils were also visited by MLA's Mark H. Durkan and Raymond Mc Cartney. Pupils welcomed the opportunity to meet local MLA's and to ask them questions. Some of our young pupils proved themselves to be politicians in the making!

Congratulations to the students in 8D and 8E who received the Cúpla Focal award and also to the students in 10D and 10E who r received the Fáinne Airgid award. We are delighted with their performance in speaking tests with an external examiner.

High praise and congratulations go to Orla Doherty Year 14, Oonagh Grant Year 11 and Saorlaith Breslin Deane and Naoise Ó Mianáin Year 10 who received their Fáinne Óir this year. We are absolutely delighted with their achievement!

The Year 9 pupils thoroughly enjoyed their educational trip to Ionad Cois Locha this year. The pupils went on a boat trip, finding out about the Dunlewey area, a tour of the Weaver’s cottage, hearing about the life of Manus Ó Fearraigh, spent time looking at farm animals and took part in outdoor fun activities, all facilitated by Irish speaking guides/instructors. Congratulations to Aiesha Coyle 9D who won the prize for speaking the most Irish on the day! 

Twenty Eight Year 8 and 9 students went to Rann na Feirste on 22nd June to attend course A. 12 Year 10 students went on Course B and a further 3 Year 12 students will attend course C. Áine Gallagher Year 13 also accompanied the Year 8 and 9 students to work on course A as a ceannaire. Gaeltacht courses give the students the chance to experience Irish as a living language. They take part in language, music and dance classes. They also participate in games and other activities. We are sure they will have a great time in Rann na Feirste and develop their Irish language skills also!

On Friday 17^th June, 37 excited Year 9 and 10 students, accompanied by Madame Coyle, Madame McMenamin, Monsieur Quinn, Madame McGonagle and Madame Friel, eagerly set off for Belfast International Airport to head to Paris.

After just a few bouts of turbulence, some inflight entertainment provided by football supporters en route to the Euro matches and a frustratingly slow bus ride due to the rush-hour Parisian traffic, we arrived in the beautiful and trendy Beaubourg quartier of Paris to have our first dinner together in Crêperie Beaubourg.  Even from this early stage, it was clear that Paris was a stunning city.  Everything, from the majestic buildings in the city centre, to the ornate cathedrals (and even the rundown outskirts) had their charm, and, although there was so much diversity among the architecture, it all just seemed to fit together perfectly.  We arrived at our hotel on Friday night exhausted but enthusiastic for what the next day’s itinerary had in store for us.

On Saturday after a traditional breakfast of croissants, chocolat chaud and café au lait, we enjoyed a guided bus tour of Paris and saw famous landmarks such as Notre Dame Cathedral, the Arc De Triomphe and the Champs Elysées.  We then hopped on to the famous Bateaux Mouches to take a leisurely boat trip on the River Seine and managed to get some great photos of the Parisian skyline from this unique viewpoint.  Following a quick lunch in our new favourite eatery ‘Flunch’,  we then had to go through an extremely rigorous 3-stage security check, resulting in many confiscated souvenirs and one broken snow globe (Sorry Caoimhe, but glass is forbidden!) to stand in a very long queue to make a very long climb to the 2^nd floor of the Eiffel Tower.  However, it has to be said, it was most certainly worth it.  The views were absolutely astounding!  We also managed to get a glimpse of the Euros fan zone located just beside the Eiffel Tower.   I know that many could have stood on the Eiffel Tower all day but alas, we had dinner reservations, so off we set again!

Sunday was the day that many people (teachers included, I think) had been most looking forward to: Disneyland!  It would be impossible not to get carried away with the jovial Disney atmosphere after stepping on to “Main Street USA”, the road stretching from the entrance of Disneyland to the famous “Sleeping Beauty Castle”.  Everything was cheerful, the little shops, the Disney characters, the hotdog and popcorn stalls…even spending the day thinking that I had lost my bag containing both my wallet and Kindle did little to dampen my mood! (PS- thankfully my bag was found by my teachers- a common occurrence during this trip.) The entire park was spellbinding, and luckily, the queues were surprisingly short.  Madame McGonagle will certainly remember her first trip on Space Mountain! We left at around 6pm to have dinner in Planet Hollywood before spending the evening souvenir shopping and watching the array of entertainers in Disney Village.

Although the trip was almost over on Monday morning, we still had time for one final look at Paris! We managed to squeeze in a visit to the wonderful Sacré Cœur Cathedral and visit the surrounding markets of the beautiful Montmartre district, (where I came worryingly close to spending 40 euros on a statue of Napoleon for no reason in particular.)  Finally we said au revoir to our coach driver Connie and headed to Charles De Gaulle airport to make our way back home to Derry.

All in all, it was a wonderful trip, if a little brief, where lasting memories and friendships have hopefully been made. 

Article by Conall Harkin, 10C. Photographs by Aoibh Gallagher, 9C.

The Year 9 students on a field trip to measure the width, depth, velocity, bed load and slope of the Curly Burn. A great time was enjoyed by all of the students concerned.

The North West Schools Swimming Gala was held in William Street Baths on the 2nd June and pupils from Lumen Christi College had a very successful evening.

Our Year 8 teams consisted of Niamh McGuinness 8E, Magali Wing 8C, Ellen Mallett 8C, Clodagh McAteer 8E, Mark Mallett 8C and Liam Sheedy 8B.

And representing Lumen Christi College in our Year 9 / 10 teams we had Molly McGinley 9E, Orla O’Donnell 9C, Ciara Sheedy 10B, Connie O’Brien 9C and Jack Harkin 9A.

Mark Mallett, Liam Sheedy, Ellen Mallett, Clodagh McAteer, Jack Harkin, Molly McGinley and Ciara Sheedy all won individual Gold medals, and Niamh McGuinness, Magali Wing and Connie O’Brien each won Silver in their individual events. Ellen Mallett and Clodagh McAteer both won an incredible three Gold medals.

In addition to this the Year 9 / 10 Girls’ team won Silver in their Freestyle Relay, and the Year 8 Girls’ team won both relay races and also the Under 13 Cup.

Congratulations to all of our pupils involved.

Lumen Christi Swimming Team (Ellen Mallett is missing) pictured with the U13 Girls Trophy. Included in the photograph is Mr Ryan

Congratulations to the Year 8 Netball squad who were runners up at the local Netball tournament held at the Foyle Arena. Well done!!

Lumen Christi students are prize winners in the 'Take Your Oil' Art Competition - Adam Cooke was overall winner and Tom Kerr was achieved 3rd place.

Prizes were awarded at the Millennium Forum on Thursday 9th June see photo below. Centre, Ms. Cara McCartney, Sponsorship and Development Officer, Millennium Forum presenting Mr. John Kerr, Head of Art Lumen Christi College, with the prize. Included are students Tom Kerr (3rd) and Adam Cooke (overall winner).

Class 9D took part in a Church Trail where they visited First Derry Presbyterian Church, Carlisle Road Methodist Church and St Columb's Cathedral. They interviewed the ministers and collated the answers as part of a comparative study on the four main churches in Northern Ireland.