Sport

Hurling

Our U14 and U16 Hurling Teams have both enjoyed a successful campaign with the U16 hurlers reaching the semi-final stage in the Vocational Schools competition.

Camogie

Our U16 Camogie team retained the Ulster Title in 2007 or the second time in the school’s history, the U14 team won the Co. Derry Championship and the Year 8 girls won the Camogie Blitz in June. For the first time ever we entered a team at U19 level this year.

Football

All football teams at St Colm’s have enjoyed considerable success with the U14 team reaching the county semi-final and the Year 8 boys excelling as finalists in both the All-County League and Blitz competitions.  The future looks bright for this group of boys.

Netball and Basketball

Netball and Basketball are represented at all ages, participating in both Blitz and League competitions.  St. Colm’s has enjoyed a lot of success on the netball court.  All teams reached their respective finals with Year 9 clinching the Sperrin League trophy after a tremendous team performance against fierce rivals St Paul’s, Kilrea.

Athletics

Many of our pupils enjoy and taste success at both the indoor athletics and at the Co. Derry Athletics Championship held in Coleraine.  Three of our pupils were selected for the Co. Derry Indoor Athletics Team which reached the Ulster Finals held at the Antrim Forum.

New Sporting Initiatives

St Colm’s has introduced Ladies Gaelic Football and has experienced success in all games to date. 

Rugby has also been a popular new sport among the boys.

Eco- club activities in St Colm’s High School 2 010  

St. Colm’s High School have entered two groups into the All Ireland Eco-Unesco Competition.  .‘Climate Solutions’ Group and ‘The Greenhouse Gang’ We wish them every success

Year 8 worked with the Ulster Wildlife Trust to raise awareness of ‘Conservation of the Barn Owl’. The pupils would love to work with a local conservation group to provide nesting boxes. Please contact Clare Devlin at St Colm’s if you would like our help.

They dissected barn owl pellets to examine their eating habits.              

 Left to Right- Mrs Clare Devlin, Eco-school co-ordinator, Year 8 pupils Michael Burke, Shea Devlin, Ide Glass and Niamh Trainor and Katherine Hall, UWT co-ordinator. 

                                                                 

All Year 8 pupils in St Colm’s High School are taken on a tour of Magherafelt District Council’s Recycling Centre by Mr John Murtagh, Environmental Projects Officer as part of a thematic unit on Eco-schools.

Pupils in St Colm’s High School’s ‘Climate Solutions Group’ met with the baglady, Shirley Lewis, to plan a new campaign- the ASAP (As Sustainably As Possible) Pledge in which adults and young people are invited to give up one thing and take up one thing to help our environment. This campaign proved very successful with 76% of the school community signing up to the ASAP pledge. Anyone interested in signing up can do so at www.bagladyproductions.org 

Staff and pupils in St Colm’s High School were encouraged to ‘Be bright and turn off the lights’ as part of the WWF’s Earth Hour 2010 campaign. Many pupils and staff turned up to school on Friday 26^th March in bright clothes to spread this important global message and to raise awareness of the need for all governments to act NOW to halt climate change. Earth Hour 2010 was held on Saturday 27^th March at 8.30-9.30 p.m. An estimated 1 billion people over the world took part in 2009. This year more people are expected to get involved. 275 people in St Colm’s High School signed up- a big improvement on 67 in 2009.

The Eco-club continues to make improvements to their natural environment. As well as seasonal planting and developing the greenhouse pupils have extended their activities to improve school grounds.

Conor Kelly, Year 8, encourages the rural college to help by supplying rotting logs to provide habitats for decomposers.

Fences, benches etc will be painted by Eco-club members to preserve them for the next year.

                                         

Making ‘fat balls’ to feed the birds        

John Murtagh, Environmental Projects Officer with Magherafelt District Council presented certificates and plaques to all year 8 pupils on completion of their recycling projects in Science. He praised their enthusiasm for environmental issues and reminded them of the importance of continuing their work inside and outside of school.

Overall Year winner was Ciaran O’ Neill. Well done to all.

‘Calling all volunteers- St. Colm’s High School in association with Magherafelt District Council is taking part in Tidy NI’s ‘Big Spring Clean’. We would welcome any help from local people on Tuesday, 20^th April from 10.15 to 12.00 to clean up the Plantain. Help us to improve our local area.’

President's Award

The President’s Award started in September 2008 in St. Colm’s.  The award offers young people aged fourteen plus the opportunity to participate in a programme at three levels, Bronze, Silver or Gold.

You achieve an award by completing a personal programme of activities in sour sections:

1.      Skill – developing existing talents or trying something new.

2.      Physical – becoming fitter through sport, dance or fitness activities

3.      Volunteering – helping someone, your community or the environment.

4.      Expedition – planning, training for and completing an adventure expedition.

Achievements to date:

§         16 young people achieved their Bronze certificates in June 2009.

§         19 young people are participating at Bronze level and will be completed in June 2010.

§         15 young people are participating at Silver level and will be completed in December 2010.