GLASTRY COLLEGE ENRICH EMPOWER EXCEL Our College Admissions Curriculum Parents Pastoral Care Pupils SCHOOL LIFE Extra-Curricular Opportunities In Glastry College we have a wide range of activities and clubs for pupils to engage in and contibrute to the Ethos of the College. From sporting opportunites and teams to the Arts, there is something for everyone to join in and have fun. In sport we have Football teams for both boys and girls across all Year groups, Rugby for the boys from Year 8 upwards, Badminton, Running clubs, Netball to name but a few. We also have clubs aimed for students who enjoy the Arts. We have Drama Club (who are currently putting together the next school production - this year its Charlie & the Chocolate Factory), Art Club, Junior and Senior school Choirs, Eco Club and History Club. For the more technically minded or Scientific students we have our Lego Mindstorms Club (robot building), Science Club and the STEM Flight Experience Club. We have a Homework club running every lunchtime, a Reading Club in our Library and a Scripture Union that runs weekly. Throughout the year we also have opportunities for students to engage in many Outdoor Pursuits activities including Duke of Edinburugh's award scheme, Killyleagh outdoors centre, and Rockclimbing. Rugby Rugby has been a big part of school life for the last 10 years or so. We have squads from Year 8 through to Year 12 and try to organise games and enter all teams in Ulster Branch competitions. Currently we have 3 fully IRFU qualified coaches training the boys and all teams train on a Tuesday after school. We also arrange trips to Ravenhill to watch the mighty ULSTER squad and have even had a few tours in the last few years to England and Scotland. Football We have both boys and girls' football teams in the College. Training takes place both at lunchtimes and after school each week. The girls have 2 squads which are made up Years 8 & 9, and Years 10 & 11. For the boys we have individual teams for each year group. Last year our Year 8 squad won their League and the College had several boys picked from our squads for both the Junior and Senior squads of County Down Milk Cup teams. Performing Arts Drama is a great way to express yourself. It builds up confidence and creativity and is always a lot of fun! Drama is a big part of Glastry College; you can study it up to GCSE level and if you are a keen performer, there are opportunities to get involved all year round including the school production, Drama Club, assemblies, theatre trips and more! Drama Club runs every Thursday with Miss Reid in the Drama Room and is a great way to meet new people, build your confidence and have fun! This Christmas, Glastry College is staging a production of Roald Dahl’s classic Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The novel is celebrating its 50th year and is as magical and well-loved today as it was when it was written. Why not get into the Christmas spirit and join us on Tuesday 17th and Wednesday 18th December 2013 for some festive fun. Get your golden ticket soon! Charlie & the Chocolate Factory School Production - 2013 Snow White & the Several Dwarfs DRAMA CLUB PRESENTS: Music Badminton Badminton continues to thrive in Glastry College with clubs at lunch and after school two days a week from December onwards. Numbers continue to grow each week. Sessions are always well attended by pupils (boys and girls). There are three trophies played for on yearly basis(yr8, 9&10, 11&12). Sessions are coached by our very own Mr Ferguson, a former Irish international badminton player! Music The Music department contributes significantly to major school events such as Prize Day, the Carol Service and the Musical Evening in addition to participating in the community events and local music festivals. A particular strength of the college is its three choirs – Senior, Girls’ and Boys’ choirs which meet and rehearse each week. The choirs have won prizes in music festivals and regularly perform in local churches and cathedrals. This year it is hoped to further develop individual instrumental and vocal lessons in school. Netball Netball is a thriving sport throughout the college. The teams enjoy fantastic results and in the last academic year we won the TAGSA league for the fourth consecutive year. This fast-paced, energetic sport encourages teamwork, dedication and personal fitness. It is open to all pupils, with Year 8 training a on a Wednesday afternoon and the remainder of the school on a Tuesday afternoon. Pupils enjoy the sense of camaraderie experienced during our regular matches against other schools within the local area. Outdoor Pursuits Glastry College has a vibrant outdoor pursuits program. Each year the College runs the Duke of Edinburugh Award Scheme, trips to outdoor pursuits centres and a rock climbing club. Killyleagh Trip The Killyleagh trip is offered to all students across key stage three providing them with access to the outdoors environment. The students get to take part in activities such as canoeing, kayaking, hillwalking, climbing outdoors, and the nightline. The trip is action packed and provides students with the opportunity to learn team skills, self-confidence and communication skills. Killyleagh outdoor centre is on the edge of the Strangford Lough making it an ideal location for water based activities where students can make use of craft such as canoes, sit on top kayaks and sea kayaks. Pupils work together to paddle from the centre down as far as Delamont Country Park, taking in the wildlife along the way. Castlewellan Quarry is an ideal location where students can learn to climb safely on natural rock and abseil and the nightline assault course is not only amazing fun but is designed so that students have to communicate with each other the best way through the maze of obstacles. This is a perfect opportunity for students to learn and have lots of fun. Eco Club Glastry College Eco Club has gone from strength to strength over the last few years. Involved in everything from Beach clean-ups to "Switch off fortnight" they have been challenging the College pupils on how to live a more eco friendly life! All their hard work has resulted in Glastry College being awarded the "Green Flag" which we have proudly displayed in the school. This year Eco club has many more fun projects to get involved with so do come along! Science Club The Royal Society of Chemistry has once again generously supported the College’s Science Club. The RSC is the largest organisation in Europe for advancing the chemical Sciences. Science Club is open to all Year 8 pupils and meets every Tuesday afternoon from 3.45pm. This year lots of interesting experiments are planned including looking at elephant toothpaste, screaming jelly babies, making sparklers, magic eggs, and turning our two pence pieces into gold! Last year we took part in a huge dinosaur project, which involved looking at dinosaur eggs, skin, and blood as well as carrying out an exciting archaeological hunt for dinosaur bones! The pupils loved this! We are hoping to carry out this project once again this year. If you are interested in attending see Miss Hall or Mrs Baird for further information. History Society Last year we had a monthly games extravaganza, visited the local history forum in Ballywalther which looked at the commemoration of the signing of the solemn league and covenant and helped to arrange a year 8 drama workshop on the arrival of the Normans in Ireland This year we are hoping to make a holocaust memorial garden using some of the designs as produced by our year 10pupils. STEM Flight Experience Club The STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Maths) flight experience club is for students who are in key stage three. The club takes place after school in the Technology and Design Department and provides students an opportunity to learn about the key principles of flight and how materials can be shaped and finished in a way that makes them aesthetically pleasing. The students are required to deliver a presentation to a panel of judges showing them how they made their plane and the learning they have gained from the experience. Scripture Union Glastry SU has been running for many years and is supported by our Year 8 to Year 14 pupils. We have several staff involved in leading SU who take their turn in preparing Bible lessons of relevance to young people, quizzes and other fun activities. We also invite guest speakers who are always welcome in our school. SU plays an important part in the lives of our young people who have chosen to give their lives to God. It is not easy taking a stand for God among their peers today and so our pupils involved need all the encouragement they can get. SU currently runs on a Thursday afternoon during lunchtime and EVERYONE is welcome. Duke of Edinburgh’s award The Duke of Edinburgh’s award is the perfect opportunity to learn new skills, develop physical ability and make a difference to people within the local community. Sessions take place on a weekly basis with students working on a range of tasks including deciding who they will carry out their volunteering with, picking which skill that they would like to work on, deciding how they will develop their physical ability and how they will carry out their expedition. Training is given to pupils, providing them with the skills necessary to allow them to complete a safe and enjoyable expedition. The pupils learn how to navigate, how to pack a rucksack, pitch a tent and how to cook in an outdoors environment. Upon completion students will be awarded with their certificate demonstrating that they have a range of skills and have the perseverance and determination to complete the award. The award is much more than a great addition to the participants CV. It provides each student with a huge range of skills and experiences that will provide a memory that will last a lifetime. Red Hound Rock Hangers Climbing Club The climbing club is available to students from year groups 8-14, providing them with an area allowing them to learn to climb in a safe environment. Climbing is an excellent medium for maintaining physical health and well being. Each Tuesday pupils can climb from 4.00pm – 5.30pm providing them with the perfect blend of exercise and adrenalin. Climbing allows students to develop self-confidence in learning to do something they didn’t think they would be able to do. It is an excellent setting for social development where students can chat amongst one another and learn trust in their peers. © 2020 Glastry College. All rights reserved. Website developed by Glastry College.