Thanks for your response
It's been great to get a variety of responses to the first Past Pupil Email Newsletter. Replies and comment from distant lands - Australia and USA to mention a few. Thanks for your response and do continue to pass me your requests with regards to future content and keep forwarding the newsletter to anyone you know who might appreciate it.
This issue is a brief collage of various aspects of school life in the past few months and contains a number of short reports from colleagues within the school. Janet Williamson our Principal has also contributed a few lines regarding imminent staff changes within the school and pays tribute to our outgoing Vice-Principal Mrs Deborah O'Hare.
I aslo found a great pic of Mrs Spence and a clan of concert pupils in the picturesque setting of our playground. I'm guessing early spring 85?
Features
Moving on
I hope you will enjoy the second newsletter and the opportunity it gives to update you on recent events at AGS as well as to have a wee smile at the past pupil's photograph. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Mrs O'Hare, curriculum Vice Principal on her recent appointment as Principal of Portadown College, from September 2006. It may sound cliched, but it is with sincerity I say, their gain is our loss.
I too will be taking up a new post from January 2007 as Principal of R.B.A.I, but that is a long way off and it is business as usual at AGS.
I hope you enjoy the Easter break, we are certainly looking forward to a well deserved rest after a very long and busy term, no matter what anyone says who isn't in the profession!
Janet Williamson
Paris Trip
In February, twenty sixth form pupils went on a trip to Paris with Mr Byrne and Dr O’Kane the accompanying teachers.
The trip focussed on key themes which included art and architecture with visits to the Eiffel Tower, a tour of the Opéra National and some time at the Pompidou Centre, visits to the Sacré Coeur, Notre Dame, Paris Mosque and the Louvre museum. Of course, there was much time for sight seeing including a boat tour on the river Seine and a walking tour through the city centre as well as shopping time. All in all, the trip was a great success and it is hoped to take further groups to Paris in the future.
Dr Byrne
Head of Modern Foreign Languages
School Rugby
In July 2007 we will be taking a touring group to South Africa. The response has been fantastic - 47 boys have paid their deposits and will soon be beginning their summer fitness programme in preparation for their Springbok adventure. A sizeable group of parents and supporters have indicated a willingness to join the tour and we have just received an itinerary for a parallel supporters' tour.
The rugby in general is developing slowly but surely. As a school we won over 50% of our games this season past. The under 13s won a healthy 80% of their fixtures whilst the under 12s reached the plate final of their NEEBSA tournament. The Medallion team too had a very successful year culminating in an impressive victory over Methodist College B team, 7 of whose members were in the Medallion A squad that went on to win the Medallion Shield.
Very importantly the manner in which the boys play the game has been exemplary. They have learnt to play the game honestly and with courage.
A huge thank you is due to all our coaches for giving up so much time to facilitate our players development. Colin Alexander and Hugh Wallace were superb for our senior group. Mr McMahon worked wonders with his Medallion group. Mr Cullen toiled away with a small but talented group of under 14s. Mr McKenna and Dr Finlay whipped up a great deal of enthusiasm in the under 13 group, so much so that we had a reserve bench of 12 for all our fixtures. Mr Atkinson and Steve McCleneghan did excellent work in coaching the basics to our new players.
Bryan Baguley - Director of Rugby
School Athletics
We are in the early throws of the athletics season and it's been a positive start as a number of our pupils recently qualified for the Ulster finals of the sports hall athletics, as part of the County Antrim Team. In the u15 boys section, Scott McClean was 1st in the speed bounce, 2nd in the 4x2 lap relay and was placed 2nd boy over all. Stephen Kingsbury was placed in the shot putt and 2nd in the 4x2 lap relay. In the U15 girls section, C J McDonald came 1st in the speed bounce and Ellie Cameron was also a member of the team. Congratulations to all four pupils.
Robin McKenna - P.E.
Enjoy the holiday
On behalf of AGS have an enjoyable Easter break – the next newsletter will go out in June and will be the final issue for this academic year 05/06. If you have an e-mail address of any past pupil please forward it to me at jmcmahon794@antrimgrammar.antrim.ni.sch.uk and I will add it to the PPA's database.
Thanks
Jason McMahon
