Naomh Pol News Issue 1

Letters from Staff
It’s a great privilege to write the foreword for this
first edition of our new school magazine and I want
to pay tribute to all those who have made it happen.
We’ve had a challenging year, but it has made us
stronger, more resilient and more creative in how we
run the school and make it a place of learning. Schools
need things like sport, music, debating, dance and choir
to allow us to bring out the best in each pupil and to
make it a more enjoyable experience and, hopefully, we
will be able to reintroduce these extra- curricular
pursuits into our school. I would like to pay tribute to
you, our students, for your outstanding commitment to
your health and safety by your behaviour in school and
in your social lives. All of this has been an inconvenience
for us, but at times like this we remember previous
generations who have had to suffer far greater obstacles and overcame them patiently
and with strength. This magazine will allow our pupils to demonstrate your own creativity
and demonstrate how imaginative, eloquent and humourous you can be. I really look
forward to reading it and enjoying getting a further insight into the lives, thoughts and
vision of our school community. Déanaimid ár ndicheall nuair a oibríonn muid le chéile.
Mr. J Burns
Principal
I’d like to welcome you to the first edition of the
‘Naomh Pól News’!
This edition makes its presence during a time when we
collectively find ourselves facing a global pandemic. At a
time, when the whole world is battling against it, St.
Paul’s High School has added another ‘feather to its cap’;
the E-magazine, to provide our students a stage to not
only showcase their talents and celebrate success, but
also to give them a platform to launch themselves and
touch the sky. This E-magazine is the product of collective
hard work from the Year 14 Student Leadership Team,
and they have created something that is inspirational, transformative and fun. On behalf
of the E-magazine Team, I would like to thank everybody who contributed. I hope that you
all enjoy reading the ‘Naomh Pól News’.
Happy reading!
Mrs C. Hughes
(Head of Year 14)

I’m delighted that this idea, of introducing our first ever E-
magazine, has come to fruition.
I’d like to say it’s easy to come up with ideas, but the important part of
any idea is the bringing of it to action. This E-magazine wouldn’t have
been possible without Mrs Hughes and Mrs Larkin embracing the idea
so enthusiastically. They viewed the suggestion not as extra work, but
as an opportunity to add further to the life of St Paul’s and allow our
Student Leaders to choose content which represents the wider St
Paul’s Family.
I’ve been so impressed with Sean McVerry and Niamh Kearney, the
two Student Leaders who have kept me informed of their input.
Their ideas are inclusive of younger pupils in our school and shows
that Sean and Niamh know the value of celebrating the
achievements of pupils and how this can positively impact on them. Every person involved
in the production of this E-magazine deserves great credit. I look forward to the first edition.
Perhaps an e-year Book is another idea.... just saying!
Ms C. Fearon
I first met Year 14 last year when I joined the St. Paul’s family.
In the following months we became a very close knit group
and their good humour, enthusiasm and maturity made my
work a joy every day.
Mrs O’Shea is now the lucky person who gets to be their supervisor
but when I was asked to work with the Student Leadership Team
on our new school magazine, it was the perfect opportunity to
spend a little time with some of this wonderful group again. It has
been a pleasure to work with them and Mrs Hughes on this project
and I know you will enjoy the end result of all their hard work and
creativity. We are extremely grateful to Mr Ryan Freeburn for
giving his time to help us with everything technical and for his
patience in helping us with this new project. Finally, this magazine is the brainchild of Ms Fearon,
to whom we extend our sincerest thanks for the idea.
Mrs G. Larkin
My name is Judith O’Shea and I supervise the Year 14 Study.
I worked in law for ten years and as I have always had a love for learning,
I undertook a second undergraduate Degree in English and History, two
subjects which I was very passionate about at school. When I graduated
I knew that I wanted to work in Education and was very fortunate to
secure a job here in St. Paul’s High School. I really enjoy working with
Year 14, as they are a great bunch! My role in St. Paul’s is to ensure the
Study is a peaceful area where students can focus on their schoolwork
and achieve great things! Recently we transformed the Study into a
Common Room, where the Year 14s can make a cuppa, relax and
socialise during break and lunch. Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Mrs J. O’Shea

Meet the Head Girls and Head Boys
Hello everyone, my name is Caitlin Murray and I am one of your Head
Girls this year.
I hope you enjoy our E-Magazine and I know a lot of hard work and dedication has gone
into this by the Student Leadership Team. This is a first for our school and is a fun space
for students during these hard times. As Head Girl I feel I have the responsibility to keep
our school in high spirits this year. We have tried to make this school year as relaxing as
possible, so this magazine is a way to see the positive aspect of our school year. Just like
you, I joined from a local primary school- St. Joseph’s in Bessbrook. When starting St.
Paul’s in 2014 I could have never imagined myself becoming Head Girl and am privileged
to have this opportunity. This year our interviews were like no other and took place over
Microsoft teams which was a strange experience but one I will always remember.
For A level I study Professional Business Services, Digital Technology and Religion. It was
an easy choice for me as these were my favourite subjects at GCSE. I hope to attend St.
Mary’s University in Belfast and study secondary school teaching with Business Studies
and ICT. I found my passion for these subjects in 4 th year but I had not decided until this
year after continuous research what I really wanted to do.
If I was to give my younger self starting St. Paul’s some advice, I would recommend to relax and don’t stress too much it will all
work out in the end. Make sure you are continuing to study and make notes throughout the year on your topics as you will thank
yourself for this when exam time arrives. Try not to worry too much, I was awful for this, as it can majorly affect your performance.
I would encourage you to have fun and keep up your extra-curricular activities. You need to have a good work life balance. For me
I enjoy attending dance classes and getting the chance to unwind and have fun. Most importantly make sure you have good
relationships with your friends and families as they mean so much to you, more than you may realise. Don’t forget to talk and
keep a close eye on all your friends and remember to have fun as your time at St. Pauls will fly by. Make sure you enjoy every
moment of it, I know I have!
Hello Everyone! For those of you who don’t know me, my name is
Caolan Martin and I am one of the Head Boys.
Firstly, I would like to say how honoured and grateful I am for the position and I hope to
represent the school to the best of my ability.
I am currently studying Spanish, Health and Social Care and Sociology at A-Level. Next
year, I am hoping to study Spanish at Queen’s University, Belfast. I don’t regret for a
second choosing to go to St. Paul’s. Both your Head Girl, Caitlin, and I attended St. Joseph’s
Primary School in Bessbrook and we joined the St. Paul’s community in 2014. I remember
going into 1st year not really knowing anyone. I was terrified that I wasn’t going to make
friends and that I wasn’t going to fit in. What advice would I give to my younger self? I
would tell him that there is no need to worry about anything. I would tell him that he is
about to embark on the best 7 years of his life full of friendships and memories. St. Paul’s
is more than just a community, it’s a family.
I would also like to welcome all of our Year 8s who joined St. Paul’s this year! To be honest with you, I am quite jealous of them as
they are only beginning their St. Paul’s journey whereas mine is almost over. I hope that you have all settled in and made some
new friends. The friendships you make in your time here in St. Paul’s will be the friendships you will cherish forever. To any of you
who may be still finding it difficult fitting in and making friends, just know that everything is going to be okay. If you ever have any
worries or concerns, your form teachers will be there to listen to you.
Lastly, I would just like to say that it has been a pleasure working with the Student Leadership Team, Mrs Hughes & Mrs Larkin to
create the first ever issue of Naomh Pól News, and I would like to thank you all for reading!

Hi everyone, my name is Hannah Kate Murphy, and I am one of this year’s
Head Girls.
The Student Leadership Team along with Mrs Larkin and Mrs Hughes have created this E-
Magazine for the school’s community to bring some light and joy to our school during these
unprecedented times. I attended St. Michael’s Primary School, Killean, and even though I did
the transfer test, I knew St. Paul’s was always going to be the school for me. From when I
started school on the first day in Year 8, I aspired to be a part of St. Paul’s welcoming
community and, now, I have been given that privilege in more ways than one. With some of
the events and experiences that have been taken away from students in all year groups this
year, such as the Year 14 Annual Formal, it can be difficult to find hope and motivation,
especially in school. However, I think it’s important to help bring as much positivity during
these times as possible, and I hope this magazine is a way to do so.
I study Maths, Biology and Geography for A-Level. I’ve always had a love for Maths ever since
I was in primary school so there was no doubt I would consider it for A-Level. However, as for Biology and Geography, I gained an
interest in these through learning them in Year 8-10 and then also studying them for GCSE’s, I realised that I wanted to continue
to learn further about these subjects in A-Level. After I finish school, I hope to go on to study either Biomedical Sciences at Queen’s
University or Civil Engineering at Ulster University.
If I was to give advice to my younger self starting St. Paul’s this year, it would be to remember that the small things you’re worrying
about now won’t matter in years to come. There’ll be many days filled with sadness and fear, but there will be double as many
filled with happiness and love. It can be hard to stay motivated and calm when under pressure from exams, deadlines, and also
other responsibilities outside of school, but all of these things must come second to your mental health. So, whatever it is that
gets your mind away from your daily struggles for a bit, whether it’s sports or spending time with friends, never give these up to
prioritise your studies, because these are just as important.
Hi everyone, my name is Sean and I am one of the Head Boys here at St.
Paul’s.
What many people may not be aware of is that I only came to this school in 2017, whenever I
was beginning my GCSEs. Before this, I attended St. Patrick’s Grammar School, Armagh. Given
the fact that I am only here a short time, it means even more to me that my teachers and fellow
pupils voted me into the Head Boy position. The responsibility that comes with this role is
immense but I look forward to taking on this responsibility throughout this school year.
Personally, it’s an experience for me that has really boosted my confidence - especially in
my ability to speak publicly, and perhaps more importantly, to listen and act on opinions
and feedback. Being someone who is quite highly recognised in the school also means that
you get to know so many people from the academic year and it really helps to bring the
school community together. It also allows for some younger students to have a voice that
isn’t necessarily a teacher.
I have a strong passion for the GAA and have played both Gaelic football and hurling from the age of 5. From playing these
sports, and also from working on the family farm, I have developed a number of different characteristics, such as being
hardworking, determined, committed, capable of working within a team and, of course, leadership. I have realised that these
qualities are required in all aspects of life.
Whenever I leave St. Paul’s, I hope to study Civil engineering. This decision has been made as a result of my extensive practical
experience from working on construction sites during my summer holidays, mid-term breaks and at the weekends. I am studying
Double Award Construction and Physics for my A Levels and I thoroughly enjoy these two subjects, especially Double Award
Construction as I physically experience the construction industry outside of school and then I get to learn about the theoretical
side in class. Physics is also a very interesting and enjoyable subject for me as I get to achieve a good mathematical and scientific
background knowledge, which of course can be related to engineering.
In order to enjoy school life, I believe it is very important to concentrate on the subject/s that you are studying, have fun with
fellow students and be involved in extra-curricular activities. I’d advise any young person to take part in as many activities and
sports a possible because it helps to improve your mental health. Another bit of advice I’d give is to know when to have the craic
and then know when to knuckle down and get the work done!

Junior Prizegiving 2020
Our Junior Prize Giving Ceremony took place on Friday 16 th October, when we were finally able to
mark the end of Key Stage 3 and celebrate the many achievements of our current Year 11 pupils.
Prize-winners were recognised for their positive work ethic and attitude
Congratulations and well done to all recipients!
Contribution to School Life Awards
Eadaoin Trainor 11/78
Meabh Greene 11/57
Leah Rogers 11/41
Pupil of the Year for Academic Achievement
Grace McCann 11/49
Pupil of the Year for Endeavour
James Shine 11/100
Best Attendance Awards
Daire Johnston 11/27
Ellie Boyle 11/78
Cashel McStay 11/49

Best in Subject Awards
Subject
Winners
English
Sophie Hollywood 11/49
Alisa Phillips 11/57
Maths
Sean Breen 11/41
Grace McCann 11/49
Science Sophie Hollywood 11/49
Religion Grace Meagher 11/57
History Caoimhe Davidson 11/49
Geography Natasha Campbell 11/78
Music Meabh Greene 11/57
Drama Aoife O’Malley 11/41
Art Ines Martins 11/78
Spanish Grace McCann 11/49
Irish Grace Kelly 11/49
French Alisa Phillips 11/57
Girl’s PE Eadaoin Trainor 11/78
Boy’s PE Daire Kelly 11/49
Home Economics Eadaoin Trainor 11/78
Technology and Design Katelyn Mullen 11/49
LLW Faolan Toal 11/49
LSC Tristan Hughes-McEvoy 11/73
Endeavour Subject Awards
Subject
English Mikolaj Bak 11/100
Winners
Maths Jade Hanna 11/91
Gemma Loye 11/33
Science Fionnualagh Hughes 11/27
Religion Eva Cumiskey 11/27
History Kirsten Ruddy 11/91
Geography Caitlin Murphy 11/27
Music Katie McAllister 11/41
Roisin MacPhillips 11/27
Drama Daniel Boyle 11/49
Art Shea Paul O’Hanlon 11/100
Spanish Jodie Goodwill 11/91
Irish Kirsten Ruddy 11/91
French Rhys Quinn 11/91
Girl’s PE Caitlin Smith 11/93
Boy’s PE Micheal Hughes 11/78
Home Economics Rebecca Cunningham 11/33
Technology and Design Daire Johnston 11/27
LLW Michael Dooley 11/93
LSC Sean Stewart 11/73

Special Achievement Awards
Activity
Winners
Orchestra Caoimhe Davidson 11/49
Choir
Aoibh Murray 11/49
Katie McAllister 11/41
Grace Meagher 11/57
Traditional Group Bridin Murphy 11/57
African Drumming Grace McCann 11/49
Girl’s Football
Aoibh Murray 11/49
Boy’s Football
Caoimhe Feehan 11/49
Aodhan Lynch 11/49
Micheal McSloy LSC
Netball
Dance
Athletics
Kealan McDonnell 11/91
Emma Downey 11/41
Natasha Campbell 11/78
Leah Rogers 11/41
Paige Carragher 11/91
Caitlin Cromie 11/49
Caoimhe Davidson 11/49
Kealan McDonnell 11/91
Form Class Medals
Form Class
Winners
10/57 Meabh Greene and Jamie Kileen
10/49 Grace McCann and Sean Kelly
10/41 Leah Rogers and Sean Breen
10/78 Eadaoin Trainor and Shea Matthews
10/91 Kirsten Ruddy and Shane Fitzpatrick
10/27 Rosin MacPhillips and Eoin McEneaney
10/33 Dellar Toothill and Oran Rogers
10/93 Sarah Rickard and Ben Magill
10/100 Sinead Turley, Mikolaj Bak and Shea Paul
O’Hanlon
10/73 Caolin McAllister

Meet the Student Leadership Team!
Pictured above is our Student Leadership Team for this school year. We are your student voice and do not
be afraid to approach us at any time. To help you get to know us, we have asked each member to tell us a
funny fact about themselves which we would never normally share!
As Pictured above from left to right;
Hello everyone, my name is Katie McArdle and I am studying Chemistry, Biology and Health & Social Care.
If I was stuck on a desert island the one thing I would take with me would be my skincare!
Hey everyone, my name is Moya Quinn and I do not go a day without watching an episode of Grey’s
Anatomy. I am currently studying Food Science, Cambridge Business and Maths.
Hi, my name is Odhran McAllister. I’m currently studying A Level History, Religion and Health & Social Care.
A fun fact about me is that since I was 11 years old I started collecting flags from all around the world and
now own over 50 flags!
Hi, my name is Jools Hughes, no not after ‘Jools Holland’ but after a poet and author called ‘Joolz’. I am
currently studying Maths, Chemistry and Biology for A level and hope to go to university to study Chemical
Engineering.
Hi everyone! My name is Caitlin Murray and I am one of your Head Girls. I once was privileged and able to
sit in the Sam Maguire Cup in September 2002, after Armagh won the All Ireland Championship. I hope to
go to university next year to study teaching at St Mary’s.
Hello! My name is Hannah-Kate Murphy and I am one of your Head Girls this year. My fun fact is that I am
scared of the dark and have to sleep with a nightlight on. I am currently studying Biology, Maths and
Geography.

Hi everyone, my name is Sean McVerry and I am one of your Head Boys. For my A-level I study Physics and
Double Award Construction. A fact about me is that I cannot live without coffee.
Hello, my name is Caolan Martin and I am one of your Head Boys. I am currently studying Spanish,
Sociology and Health and Social Care at A-Level. A fun fact about me is that I have a raging obsession with
Robert Pattinson from Twilight. #TeamEdward.
Hello, my name is Nojus Drapankus and I am currently studying Biology, Chemistry and Maths for A-level.
My fun fact is that when I was a kid, I used to think that if I destroyed a spider’s cobweb, they would be
afraid of me and that they would no longer go into my house anymore. I…. hate…. spiders!
Hi! My name is Leah Britton. I am currently studying Biology, English Literature and Sociology for A-level.
One fun fact about me is that I am deathly afraid of butterflies…there have actually been times in school
I’ve even cried at the sight of one!
Hello! My name is Darragh Cunningham and I am currently studying English Literature, BTEC Sport and
Cambridge IT for A Level with the hope of going to DKIT to study either Sports Enterprise or Computing. A
silly fact about me is that I feel as if I won’t get a good night’s sleep if I don’t sleep upside down in my bed!
Hiya everyone! My name is Claire McKevitt. I’m studying four A-levels (crazy right) and I’m not entirely sure
what I want to do next year... but I’ll figure it out! Want to know a fun fact about me? Well... I once fell off
a bus on a school trip and broke my thumb, talk about embarrassing eh!
Hi everyone, my name is Niamh Kearney and I am currently studying Music, Health and Social Care and
Cambridge Business. The scariest moment of my life occurred on my 17th birthday in Kenya with the
International Projects Team. We were visiting a large secondary school of over 1,400 pupils when suddenly
I was whisked to the front of the crowd. The penny dropped as I noticed all eyes were on me. I soon
realised that I was being asked to provide the entertainment; in the form of demonstrating my Kenyan
dancing skills (which were non-existent by the way!) It was certainly a birthday I will never forget!

Goodbye Mrs Bradley

Winners will be picked on Friday 11 th December

Ingredients
100g unsalted butter, softened at room temperature
100g caster sugar
1 free-range egg, lightly beaten
1 tsp vanilla extract
275g plain flour
To decorate
400g icing sugar
3-4 tbsp water
2-3 drops food colourings
Edible glitter (Optional)
Method
Preheat the oven to 190C/375F/Gas 5. Line a baking tray with greaseproof
paper.
Cream the butter and sugar together in a bowl until pale, light and fluffy.
Beat in the egg and vanilla extract, a little at a time, until well combined.
Stir in the flour until the mixture comes together as a dough.
Roll the dough out on a lightly floured work surface to a thickness of 1cm/½in.
Using biscuit cutters or a glass, cut biscuits out of the dough and carefully
place onto the baking tray.
Bake the biscuits for 8-10 minutes, or until pale golden-brown. Set aside to
harden for 5 minutes, then cool on a wire rack.
For the icing, sift the icing sugar into a large mixing bowl and stir in enough
water to create a smooth mixture. Stir in the food colouring.
Carefully spread the icing onto the biscuits and make your Christmas design.
Set aside until the icing hardens.
Decorating Ideas

Can you guess which teachers
are pictured below? Find the
answers on Page 26!
A B C
D E F
G
H

International Projects
Team Kenya 2020
On 12th January 2020, ten Year 13 pupils, accompanied by Year Head Mrs Catherine Hughes, classroom
assistant Bernie McCreesh and Chaplin Fr Seamus White travelled to Kiamina Parish in Nakuru, Kenya.
We were on a mission to provide aid to those less fortunate than ourselves and every student worked hard
to fundraise by organising events such as bucket collections and quiz nights. We all brought aid such as
sports equipment and gifts which we distributed to the local schools and communities we visited.
The highlight of each day for us was when we visited the primary and secondary schools. This really gave us
an insight into their world and education as all schools and were stripped back to the basics with very small
classrooms that had up to 70 pupils in each. At every school, we performed for the children, showing them
our Irish culture, from Irish dancing to playing tunes on the tin whistles. They particularly enjoyed us
dancing the ‘Waka Waka’, which they all knew and sang and danced along with us. The Kenyans also
preformed traditional African song and dance, and this was incredible to witness as they all showed
unbelievable skill and movement at such young ages which gave us a chance to experience their culture.
The schools and communities were extremely grateful for our gifts and the children were so excited to
receive things we take for granted, such as colouring pencils and books. In Kenya, visitors are seen as a
blessing so having us visit their schools placed a blessing on them.
We were extremely grateful and privileged to have the opportunity to travel to Kenya and participate in
the aid mission that has been running since 2003. At only 16/17 years old we have witnessed extreme
poverty, first-hand, like no one could imagine. This has had a profound impact on our lives ever since and
has stressed the importance of giving to charity and made us realise to never take anything for
granted. This was a once in a lifetime opportunity and one that we will never forget.
Team Kenya
Don’t limit your
challenges,
challenge your
limits!

8th December 2020 marks our very first Elfie Day in St Paul’s.
It coincides with our non-uniform/Christmas jumper day and this year pupils are asked to
support the very deserving charity ‘Action Mental Health’.
Pupils can bring in £1 on the day or encourage family and friends to donate on our ‘just
giving’ page that has been especially set up.
Our Year 8 students will also be paid a visit by their own individual form class ‘Elf on the
Shelf’!
We can’t wait to find out which students will find their Form Class Elf and win a PRIZE!!!

Mr Jarlath Burns was
appointed as the Principal
of St. Pauls in 2014 and is
also a former Armagh
GAA Captain.
St. Paul’s was appointed
as a specialist college for
Science by the
Department of Education
in 2008, and was also
awarded a BECTA ICT
Mark, becoming a Centre
of Excellence for ICT in
2009
St. Paul’s was opened in
1966 and now has more
than 1600 students,
including a learning and
support centre
Using a £17 million grant
from the Department of
Education, the school was
rebuilt, refurbished, and
officially reopened in
2007 on the feast day of
The Conversion of St Paul.
It won the Construction of
Excellence Award
St. Paul’s regularly has
admissions of up to 300
pupils per year
Since the opening of the
school, there have been
four principals. Mr
Michael Warde (1966-
1996), Mr Francis Duffy
(1996-2002), Mr Oliver
Mooney (2002-2014) and
Jarlath Burns (2014-
present)
In 2007, Irish President Mary
McAleese visits St Paul’s
The school library is
named after the school’s
first principal, Mr Michael
Warde. (The Michael
Warde Library)
Former principal Oliver
Mooney was named
Northern Ireland
Headteacher of the Year
in 2010 Teaching Awards

Hold on to Hope!
A Level students received a Letter and message from Archbishop Eamon in May during the
Covid-19 emergency. His message for all students was: Hold on to Hope! As Pope Francis likes
to put it: “Do not let yourselves be robbed of hope!” One of Archbishop Eamon's favourite lines
in the Bible is “Every day, as long as this today lasts, keep encouraging one another”
(Heb3:13).
Hope in Hard Times
Who is that special person in your life?
Our world was faced with a pandemic in March 2020, that being the corona virus, Covid19. We
as a nation were forced into lockdown. Over lockdown there were many inspirational heroes in
our communities, our countries and our world, many whom have saved our lives. Lots of
wonderful people did amazing things when our world needed them most. There have been many
people who have helped me through this strange time but there was one very special person
who has got my family and I through this surreal experience and made lockdown full of fun and
positivity; in my eyes this person is my hero – he gave us all hope!
Fergal Gregory is my first cousin. He was born almost 22 years ago with Down syndrome and
since the day he was born he has made people smile. He is an inspiring, adored, funny, heart
warming character and to be totally honest I don’t know where my family and I would be without
him in our lives and in particular through lockdown.
There wasn’t a day that Fergal didn’t check up on our family, lift our spirits and put a smile on
our faces. Each day he was positive, encouraging and cheerful. He was always good-humoured
and affable. He face-timed us every single morning to set a focus for the day and left us in a
buoyant mood, willing to make each day an enjoyable day and regularly checked that all was
going to plan.
Once you saw his charming face and heard his heart warming “hello” on your screen, a smile was
instantly brought upon your face. And you get up and are ready for action. He set us all a target
of 10,000 steps a day, a challenge our competitive extended family members took very seriously
and one that kept us all active and fit.
He himself struggled with being out of routine, his world had been turned upside down; his social
life was taken from him, he lost his job and he was unable to meet up with his ‘many girlfriends’
but he never let it get to him. He looked at it from a whole different perspective; always thinking
of the positives and never the negatives and he encouraged everyone around him to do the same.
He gave us all feelings of hope when we needed it most!

Hold on to Hope!
Although he didn’t really understand the corona virus he knew there were precautions and that
he couldn’t meet anyone outside his family. At first he did find it hard - as did we all! It was
difficult for him but he decided we could be together in different ways. He created family group
chats and set up zoom calls to keep our family, both near and far in touch through such strange,
challenging and difficult times. He created a ‘call list’ of all the family and friends he was to ‘checkup’
on every-day and never failed to make that part of his daily routine, in some cases even an
hourly call and I am sure everyone on that ‘call list’ was as delighted as I was to see his face and
massive, happy smile on the screen.
Fergal also introduced ‘treat night’, one night of the week that we could all treat ourselves for
our efforts. This became a focus for us all and something for us all to look forward to. We began
to bake and tried out many different recipes. The fun between the houses was fantastic! We
shared our delicacies and judged our efforts. When lockdowns eased we began to share our
homes and ‘treat night’ became ‘steak night’, a night that may now continue forever- all thanks
to Fergal and his lockdown idea.
Fergal has made many fabulous achievements in life and has made us all so proud. As a baby he
survived life changing operations and to this day he continues to accomplish things people never
thought he would be capable of doing. He has Olympic medals, is currently taking driving lessons
and he is the most loved member of staff in ‘Grounded’.
He inspires us each day to live life to the fullest, to see the best in everyone, to be hopeful,
always striving to be the best version of ourselves.
Fergal has in the past been voted “most inspirational person of the year”, in my eyes he is most
definitely the most inspirational person in my world. He is not only ‘My Hero’ through lockdown
but my forever hero!
By Annie Stansfield

Year 8 POTM
8/94 Meaghan Johnston & Jim Loughran
8/38 Aoife Ward & Se Campbell
8/45 Christopher Kelly & Jessica Murphy
8/97 Chloe Marriott & Danny McKeever
8/09 Callum Davidson & Ava Heaney
8/03 Sean Maguire & Molly Kate Long
8/23 Alex Quinn & Conor Byrne
8/43 Casey Rodgers & Davidus Miskevicius
8/73 Joshua Kerrigan
8/62 Grace McShane & Kyle McMahon
8/68 Suzi Quinn & Luca Sloan
8/20 Niamh Noade & Matthew White
Year 9 POTM
Erin Devlin
Sean Trainor
Louie Magill
Natalia Mulkerns
Jamie Lee Mathers
Aine Hughes
A J Mc Guinness
Tiarna Kelly
Cormac Boyle
Sean Havern
Tiarna Kelly
Hannah Scott
Year 10 PTOM
Erin McCullough
Ronan O'Hare
Eoin Griffin
Sean Boland
Annie Stuart
Ewan Vint
Jamie McParland
Michaela Graham
Ellie Canavan
Malachi McCoy
Sean Carragher
Niamh McComb
Nothing is
impossible, the
word itself says
I’m possible!
Be so good
they can’t
ignore you!

MENTAL HEALTH
MATTERS!
Giving and being kind
to others is also very
beneficial to your
mental health and
wellbeing, doing
something nice for
your family and
friends, maybe
opening a door for
someone or even
making them a cup of
tea!

ITS OK NOT TO BE OK!
Here in St Paul’s we want everyone to feel
happy. It’s perfectly ok when you’re feeling
down or unhappy to reach out, someone is
always there to help and to listen. We are
living in uncertain times at the moment
and it can become very overwhelming.
In St Paul’s we have a counselling service 5 days a week,
all day every day. If your ever feeling down don’t hesitate
to pop in

HELP & ADVICE
It’s perfectly ok to reach out for help and advice. There are
a range of different services that offer help & support.
USEFUL LINKS & CONTACTS
Mindingyourhead.info
Covidwellbeingni.info
Lifeline contact number-0808 808 8000
REMEMBER ITS PERFECTLY OK TO REACH OUT!

International Projects
Team India 2020
Hard work beats
talent when
talent doesn’t
work hard!
As part of St Paul’s International Projects 2020, ten students were selected alongside
three teachers to travel to India for the first time in St Paul’s history.
After two long days of travelling we arrived in Nongstoin, which would be our home for the next
twelve days. Throughout our time in India, we visited several schools. One of the first schools we
visited was located in the centre of the village and was attended by both boys and girls, but to our
surprise, that wasn’t the first time we had been in the building. A couple of days prior, we were
privileged to be the guests at a local wedding which was held in the almost unrecognisable school
building. This showed us the lack of facilities available in the area compared to our own luxuries at
home such as The Canal Court.
The majority of schools we visited were overcrowded and did not have the space for staff to
accommodate the number of pupils attending. There was a lack of supplies available for teaching
practices and the staff were overjoyed to receive simple items such as chalk, pens and books that
we take for granted every day. We witnessed children of all ages travelling to school on foot, some
coming from over a mile away, just to receive an education. The school buildings themselves were
of poor quality and were a direct example of a lack of funding towards education in the rural areas
of India.
On our journey to the city of Shillong it became evident to us that the government focuses more on
spending money on pristine air force and military buildings. This is seen as a higher priority in their
country compared to our government’s focus on educating the youth of society and our own
principal Mr Burn’s motivation to give us, the pupils the best opportunities possible. Despite all of
this, we were welcomed warmly in every community we visited, and our help was greatly
appreciated. Through the project, we were able to make a difference to many people’s lives, none
of which would have been possible without the help of our communities and those who donated.
Team India

Guess the Teacher Answers: a. Mrs O’Hare B. Mrs McConville C. Mr Murphy D. Mr Murray E. Mr
McMahon F. Ms Lynch G. Ms Fearon H. Mr Quinn

HOW TO GET IN
THE FESTIVE SPIRIT
THIS YEAR:
This Christmas will
be different than
any other year, to
say the least…
Different doesn’t
necessarily have to
be a bad thing. We must be hopeful, even in the most
challenging circumstances, and Christmas can be that hope and
something to look forward to. Here’s some fun and festive
activities you can do during this time to get in the spirit!
Get together on a Zoom call with some friends or family
and celebrate how you normally would. Sing Christmas
carols, unwrap presents, whatever gets you in the spirit!
Netflix party is a new way to watch movies with your
friends online. Stick on a Christmas movie. It’s just like
having a fun, festive movie night.
Don’t forget to treat yourself to a pamper session some
evening! Self-care is always priority, particularly during
the festive season. What’s better on a cold, December
evening than a warm bath with a Christmas themed
bath bomb and candles (don’t forget to put on the
Christmas tunes too).
Another way to pass the time and get creative is making
Christmas cards for your loved ones and sending them
in the mail. Going into the shops is a risk for some
people now, but it just allows us to get creative and
more thoughtful this year!
Following this, the 2020 holiday season is bound to be
unique — so why not make an ornament to remember
it by? An opportunity to show off your creative side!
What’s better than sitting by the fire in the evening with
a mug of hot chocolate, in your fluffy Christmas pyjamas
(P.S. don’t forget the marshmallows). Bonus points if
you’re matching your pyjamas with your siblings or
family!
Don’t forget to check out the local Christmas lights. You
can go on a walk around the neighbourhood to look at
everyone's Christmas lights, or if it's a bit chillier, go on
a drive instead. Make sure to vote on your favourites!
Also, make sure you try the recipe found on p.11 in the
magazine and enter our Christmas Bake-Off!

Keep your
eyes on the
stars, and
your feet on
the ground!

Choir Trip to Rome
February 2020
Just weeks before the world went into lockdown, the Music Department flew to Rome in February.
Our trip to Rome lasted four days and during our time there we went sightseeing and visited the
city’s most famous landmarks, for example the Colosseum, Spanish Steps and the Trevi Fountain-
our personal favourite!
We sang in the city’s major basilicas, most notably St Peter’s and Santa Maria Maggiore, which is
also known as the ‘Basilica of Saint Mary Major.’ Getting the opportunity to sing together in these
exquisite and spiritual places was absolutely unbelievable and truly a once in a lifetime
experience.
The tour guide, Marika, was brilliant as she went above and beyond to make sure we had a great
time. She even shed a tear when Shane Malone was leaving- she wanted to keep him! On the
Sunday morning, we got the chance to hear Pope Francis speaking at the Angelus, which was
incredible. We queued up in the blistering heat for an hour but it was totally worth it!
Our favorite memory of the trip was definitely the last night, where we dined in a fabulous
restaurant. Afterwards, we had a wonderful sing- song with Katie McArdle on guitar- we literally
sang all night long!
This trip was such a memorable experience for both staff and pupils and when this opportunity
comes up again, we would definitely encourage you all to go! We have all made amazing friends
for life and will never forget the fun we had in Rome! It’s such a beautiful city which holds fond
memories for us all.
Shane Malone & Niamh Kearney
“Don’t dream about success. Get out there and work for it!”

Hola Everyone!
Claire and Caolan here from the Student Leadership Team. As students who have been studying
languages for as long as we can remember, and who are currently still studying a language, we would
love to give you our opinions on them as well as some guidance that you may find useful if you are
considering studying a language at GCSE / A-Level.
Every champion was once a contender that didn’t give up.
Here are some of our top reasons as to why learning a second language is a must!
1. Improves self-confidence: Being able to communicate with a wider variety of people will help
confidence levels to grow. You will meet new people, experience different cultures and even get
a compliment or two from native speakers! In 2018, we were provided with the opportunity to
travel to Salamanca with the Spanish Department and it was an amazing experience! Each day,
we attended language classes to help us improve our Spanish & participated in fun activities such
as Scavenger Hunts and Quizzes! It was an experience of a lifetime that we will never forget.
2. Improves brain function: Studies show that those who learn a second language are able to
make better decisions, multi-task to a higher level and excel in every other aspect of their lives,
whether that be in regards to intelligence or overall self-sufficiency
3. Expands future career opportunities: With the world around us constantly changing, none of
us know where we will be in years to come. However, with the additional talent of having studied
a language at GCSE / A-Level, your opportunities will definitely not be limited.
4. Increased Earning Potential: MONEY! See, we knew we would catch your attention with that
one. Those who speak a second language are in high demand and with that comes extra money.
We know, we know, it’s not all about money… but you don’t see too many complaining about
having too much!
Now that you’ve heard what we had to say, we are going to pass the mic over to the subject ambassadors
who will give you a perspective into the reasons why they decided to study their chosen language, why
they find it enjoyable and why YOU should consider taking on a language for GCSE/ A-Level.
Meet the subject ambassadors:
Subject Ambassador for Spanish: Leah Teggart
‘I have studied Spanish at junior level, GCSE and now A-Level. I enjoy all
aspects of Spanish, from grammar to learning all the aspects of Spanish
culture that Spain has to offer. I have always wanted to pursue a language
and I hope to use it in the future. I would encourage any student hoping
to continue their Spanish to GCSE or A-Level. Although studying a
language can be time consuming and more challenging than other
subjects, they open up so many opportunities, not only with travel, but
also with work and leisure.’

Subject Ambassador for Irish: Cara McParland
‘When I started in first year, I loved the idea of being able to speak another
language. Irish was the language that stuck with me as it was the language
I was most exposed to, especially because my form teacher was the head
of the Irish department. In second year, I had the opportunity to travel to
the Gaeltacht for 3 weeks with my friends. I think many juniors believe
that they can’t go to the Gaeltacht because they don’t know enough Irish.
Well, the only words I was fully confident in using was ‘go raibh maith
agat’, everything else after that was just a guess, and that’s part of the fun.
When picking my GCSE’s, Irish was the only subject I was fully confident
in choosing as I knew that having a language would open up doors what would benefit me in the future.
Seeing the older students, I would have never thought I would be able to speak Irish at their level; this
was the same process with my A-Levels. There is such a negative stigma surrounding studying
languages, however my only advice is that if you know that you are good at a language, don’t quit
because others told you to!
Subject Ambassador for French: Grace Boyle
‘I love studying French because I have learnt so much about another culture
that really interests me. I am excited to travel in the future and be able to
speak another language. I think having a language greatly multiplies the
amount of opportunities you can have in your lifetime, so I am proud to have
French as a skill. Having a language also boosts your confidence when
travelling because you feel that you fit in to some extent. I am definitely going
to keep French on in the future and I'm excited to see what it'll bring!’

FUTURE ASPIRATIONS
It is impossible to know what you’re aiming for without goals; it is like a journey without a destination. No matter
what age or year group you are, it is important you set yourself goals! We all must aim for something, as this gives us
a purpose in school and something to push ourselves towards.
“Don’t compare yourself to others. Be like the sun and moon and shine when it’s your time!”
So what options are open to you after you leave school?
Apprenticeships
There is a growing range of apprenticeships, giving you the opportunity to enter careers in nearly any industry.
Apprenticeships are perfect if you have a clear idea of the job you’d like to have, and you’re willing to commit to
work and study. In Northern Ireland, there are around 170 Level 2 and 3 apprenticeships, and over 45 higher level
apprenticeships to choose from. Finding someone to take you on as an apprentice is really like finding any other job.
You can contact your local jobs and benefits offices, job centres and social security offices, or search Job Centre
Online, or even simply search newspapers! It’s a good idea to apply as soon as you can, but take the time to make
sure this is what you want to do. If you’re at school or college, always check the start date for the apprenticeship to
make sure you will have finished!
Gap Year
A gap year offers you the opportunity to gain new skills and experiences, while giving you time to think about what
you want to do next. You might want to have a break from study, gain new experiences, earn money or even spend
time deciding what you want to do. You also may not feel ready to make such big decisions yet, and a gap year
allows you to do this. Remember, there is no rush! Think carefully about what you want to do, and seek advice if you
want to talk your ideas through further. There is a wide range of gap year and volunteering schemes available such
as Year Out Group, Real Gap Experience, BUNAC, and many more you can find at the click of a button. Remember,
however, Coronavirus is likely to affect your gap year, whether you plan to travel or stay local.
University
You don’t have to go to university and can build a career without a degree, but university can offer so much more
than just a career path at the end. University is about more than an education. Your university experience gives you
the knowledge, skills, confidence and experience to help improve your current and future careers and there is over
130 to choose from within the United Kingdom. Whether you’re a school leaver or a mature student, university
opens up a host of new opportunities and experiences you may not get anywhere else. Choosing university after A-
Level studies can give students the chance to continue their youthful student experience while gaining their
qualifications before going in to the world of full time work.
Trade
Young people don’t only have the option to do post-16 study in school. After completing their GCSE’s, students can
also leave school and gain qualifications through the SRC/Apprenticeship. School sometimes isn’t for everyone, so
this gives an opportunity for people to start their career paths a bit earlier. The SRC offer a large variety of career
pathway qualifications such as Childcare and Special Needs, Hairdressing and Barbering, Construction Skills etc. for
any age of people and can also allow people to gain A-Level equivalent qualifications if people still want to go to
university without going back to school.

REVISION TIPS
“Whenever you find yourself doubting how far you can go; just remember how far
you have come!”
memorable ways to revise for each exam.
There is also a google classroom that
specifically has study tips, skills and
guideline documents.
Google Classroom Code: kyxk5up
KEEP WORKING HARD! IT’S
WORTH IT IN THE END!
1. Start Revising Early
You can’t rush effective revision. By starting early on and
spreading out the workload for each exam, great revision
strategies will help your brain to retain information and ensure
that you feel less stressed along the way.
2. Prioritise and Plan Your Revision
Spending time with friends and family is important, so planning
your free time, revision strategies and prioritizing your tasks
will help to ensure that you maintain a productive work-life
balance.
3. Make A Revision Schedule
Once you know where your free time is, create a detailed
revision schedule that includes a breakdown of what you need
to do and when. More importantly, try to stick to it as much as
possible.
4. Make A To-Do List
The satisfaction of writing a list of tasks to complete in a day,
then ticking them off one by one will help you to stay
motivated and feel on top of your revision timetable.
5. Reward Yourself
For each thing you tick off your to-do list, reward yourself.
Whether it’s with a break, a coffee or a snack, having
something tangible to motivate and reward yourself with will
help to keep you going.
6. Make Revision Fun
Being creative about your revision is a big part of keeping
yourself motivated. Whether you learn well from designing
colourful flash cards or revision notes, try out some fun and

What Does Your Zodiac Sign Say About You?
Aries, 21 March – 20 April
Famous Aries: Liza Koshy, Kourtney Kardashian and Lady Gaga
Aries are passionate, confident and enthusiastic about everything they do. They’re the
risk-taker of the group so if you ever go anywhere with an Aries, it’s going to be wild.
However, Aries tend to get impatient easily, and they can be short-tempered if things
don’t go their way. Under stress, they will act without thinking and are very impulsive,
so take away their credit card because they love retail therapy.
Taurus, 21 April – 21 May
Famous Taureans: Charli D’Amelio, Noah Centineo and Dwayne Johnson
A Taurean is said to be reliable, practical and patient. If you give them a task you should
expect it done within the hour. They make very reliable friends and are the best at
sorting out your problems. However, Taureans tends to be stubborn; they stick to their
own way of thinking and are reluctant to move away from that. They don’t like sudden
changes so don’t put them on the spot or they’ll go as red as a fire truck.
Gemini, 22 May – 21 June
Famous Geminis: Tom Holland, Johnny Depp and Emma Chamberlain
Geminis make very loyal friends and are happy to chat with almost anyone they meet.
This can be their downfall though, because they’re easily distracted and once they
start chatting, they won’t stop. Geminis like their lives to be varied and get tired of the
same old routines. You may see them changing their hair or style from week to week
because they hate repetition!
Cancer, 22 June – 22 July
Famous Cancers: Meryl Streep, Ariana Grande and Selena Gomez
People born under the Cancer star sign are highly emotional, so make sure to bring the
tissues for sad movies. On the plus side, they are loyal and sympathetic, said to be the
counsellor of the group. They’re always there if you need a shoulder to cry on. But they
can also be moody. If they feel hurt by someone, they’re unlikely to forget, so make
sure not to cross them. They also take time to come down off of stressful experiences
but come back down to earth after eating food, preferably ice cream.

Leo, 23 July – 22 August
Famous Leos: Jennifer Lopez, Kylie Jenner and Shawn Mendes
Leos love the limelight, they’re creative and funny, and what’s more, they ooze
passion. They love being with friends and expensive things- definitely the boujee one
of the group. Leos have their downsides. A Leo can’t stand being ignored so if you turn
your back on a Leo be prepared to watch your own. What’s more, their standards are
high so if you want to meet them, make sure to bring your ladder!
Virgo, 23 August – 23 September
Famous Virgos: Beyonce, Tom Felton and Zendaya
Virgos pay huge attention to detail; right down to making sure the volume level in the
car is an even number. This can be their downfall, though. Virgos are often put
themselves under huge pressure to achieve the best results possible. That being said,
Virgos may look tough as nails but they’re a softie on the inside. A Virgo’s room will
never have a hair out of place and they can’t stand dishonesty.
Libra, 24 September – 23 October
Famous Libras: Kim Kardashian, Cardi B and Zac Efron
Anyone born under the Libra star sign is said to be a people-person. They’re social,
outgoing and hate to be alone. They value individuality and are proud to be themselves.
They’re fair-minded and gentle. However, one weakness of Libras is secret keeping,
they have loose lips after hearing gossip. What’s more, they’re rule breakers and are
easily persuaded, especially if it involves getting a takeaway.
Scorpio, 24 October – 22 November
Famous Scorpios: Julia Roberts, Drake and Katy Perry
Scorpios make good leaders and are always right 9/10 times, so they hate to be wrong.
They care about facts and the truth and are passionate about the things they love. They
have the best knowledge out of all the zodiac signs. They’re trustworthy and will take
your secrets to the grave when asked. However, this secretive nature can sometimes
be seen as a bad thing. Possibly the dark horse of the group.

Sagittarius, 23 November – 21 December
Famous Sagittarians: Miley Cyrus, Billie Eilish and Taylor Swift
Sagittarians have a great sense of humour and are always up for a laugh. They love to
travel, so they always have their passports handy. What's more, when they have an
idea, they set about making it happen (although they do have a tendency to make
promises they can't keep). People born under this sign hate clingy people. They prefer
to be free and independent, so this sign is fond of social distancing.
Capricorn, 22 December – 20 January
Famous Capricorns: Kate Middleton, Finn Wolfhard and Timothee
Chalamet
Capricorns are not the type of person to dilly-dally when making decisions. If you need
anything, a Capricorn is the person to go to. They love to stick to the status quo,
especially when it comes to choosing their friends. However, they have great selfcontrol,
which is good, but it can sometimes make them appear self-centred and
demanding. Capricorns love to live by the motto of their way or the highway!
Aquarius, January 20 – February 18
Famous Aquarians: Oprah Winfrey, Harry Styles and Ed Sheeran
Aquarius-born people are always happy to help others. However, they are wickedly
sarcastic which can be taken the wrong way, especially by Libras. Aquarians are a fan
of the deep conversations at 2am so they are the ones to blame for your bad sleep
schedule. They’re outgoing when they need to be but they also love a lazy night in with
face masks and movies. However, Aquarians are known to be hot tempered, especially
when people don’t compromise.
Pisces, 20 February – 20 March
Famous Pisces: Rihanna, Millie Bobby Brown and Justin Bieber
Pisces are the most laid-back sign so don’t count on them for planning your birthday
party. They would rather spend their time sleeping and are usually the reason that you
are late for everything! However, while they’re overly trusting and can be taken
advantage of easily, Pisces are also very forgiving so their friends are like cats with 9
lives. They also are afraid of many things, so they wouldn’t last a minute in a bush
tucker trial!

PRAYER TO ST PAUL
Oh glorious St Paul, by your prayers and example, enable me to become a better person.
More considerate towards others, more honest with myself, more faithful to God.
Give me the courage to accept the pains and problems of this day, always rejoicing in the
Lord.
Through my prayers may I be ‘rooted in love’, always loving God in fidelity to Sunday mass
and daily prayer; always loving my neighbour, especially my family and friends.
Make me patient and kind, never jealous or rude. Give me the strength to trust, to hope and
to endure whatever comes.
May I always know in my heart what you taught so well; that there are only three things
that last – faith, hope and love and the greatest of these is love.
Amen