Cullybackey College’s annual Prize Day returned and we were delighted to welcome parents, carers and members of the community back again this year. Well done to all the prize winners, who we are immensely proud of, and we hope you enjoy the the address that Mr Donaldson delivered as well as photos from the day, all of which follow below.
Address by Mr Donaldson
On behalf of the staff and the Board of Governors of Cullybackey College I am delighted to welcome you once again to our annual Prize Distribution.
Our Guest of Honour, the Rev. David Murphy, will be a very familiar figure to many of you. Prior to entering the ministry, the Rev. Murphy worked for NIE. He was ordained and installed into the Presbyterian Church on the 28th June 1990 in First Cookstown after which he became a minister in Bellaghy and Knockloughrim before being installed in the Cuningham on the 26th June 1998. Married to Helen he has 2 children, Alan, and Christine, as well as 5 grandchildren who keep him busy. The Rev. Murphy has a keen interest in local history and is also an avid football fan, following Manchester United, Rangers, and Linfield, the latter of which he kept quiet during his time here.
The Rev. Murphy served on our Governors for 22 years, offering wisdom, calm judgement, and sound, considered decision-making. I appreciated his commitment to attending all school-related meetings, particularly given the busy nature of his job. He was always very supportive of the College, regularly assisting with Assemblies as well as, more recently, allowing us to use the Cuningham Church whenever we introduced our now annual Christmas Carol Service, at which he regularly spoke. I know that he is widely regarded within the local community as a genuine man of God whose kind nature and genuine concern for others has made a lasting impact.
Rev. Murphy, I recognise that your retirement from ministry and, consequently, your stepping down from our Board of Governors in 2020, was very much impacted by the onset of COVID-19 and so it is appropriate that you return today under very different circumstances which afford me the opportunity, on behalf of everyone associated with the College, to sincerely thank you for all your years of dedicated service and we look forward to hearing what you have to say to us shortly.
In terms of last year’s results, at GCSE level the proportion of students achieving 5 or more GCSE passes stands at an outstanding 88%.
At A-Level, a superb 98% of our outgoing Year 14 students achieved A*-E in 2 or more subjects. We were delighted that so many of our students achieved the entrance requirements for their preferred University courses across the UK, Dublin, and America and we wish them all the very best in this next stage of their lives.
I would also like to acknowledge the success of our students in accessing collaborative courses through Ballymena Learning Together – especially with the NRC, where they have been very well supported.
Personally, I would like to say a sincere thank-you to the teaching staff of the College who, in the day-to-day busyness of school life, dedicate themselves to making your children their priority. Often it is their determination not to give up on a child – their encouragement, their threats, their persistent hassling and chasing up of work that makes the difference.
In addition, I would like to acknowledge all our non-teaching staff who play such an important role in the day-to-day life of the College, getting on with things so efficiently and effectively in the background. Also, thanks must go to our team of Classroom Assistants who provide much valued care and support for our students as well as being a great help to the teaching staff.
Sport plays a very important role within the College, with a large number of our student body taking advantage of the wide variety of activities on offer to them.
Boys’ football teams trained throughout term one with our teaching staff ably assisted by the staff of Coaching for Christ, whose support we have appreciated over the past seven years. We had teams from Years 8 – 12 competing in the local league and cup competitions with Year 11 finishing third in their league whilst Year 12 narrowly lost out in their Cup Final. At a national level, our U12 and U16 teams had success in the face of tough opposition, reaching the quarter finals of their respective competitions. We remain indebted to Wallace’s of Ballymena for their continued sponsorship of our football jerseys.
Rugby continues to grow in popularity with our U12 and U14 teams gaining lots of experience competing in a number of competitions including Ulster Rugby’s ‘Let them Play’, NI High Schools’ qualifying competition, and the annual NEBSSA tournament. This year sees the progression of rugby to an U16 squad, and we are grateful to ‘Mortgage Wise’ for sponsoring the match day jerseys.
Special acknowledgement goes to James Orr who had a very successful year on the rugby pitch for club and Province. James has represented both Ballymena and Ulster at U-18’s level. His selection for the Ulster set up included games against the best young players in Munster, Leinster, and Connacht. He has been part of the Ulster camps over the summer and is expected to have a very successful career.
Golf continues to flourish with our college team having competed in the annual district competition at Ballymena Golf Club where they narrowly missed out on qualification for the Ulster championships. This year Josh Nicholl will compete for the first time in the Senior Irish Qualifying at Spa Golf Club at the end of September.
Kaeden Anderson, following his impressive A-Level results, accepted a USA golf scholarship at Hawkeye College, Iowa. In representing the College, he was part of the golf team that won the Ulster qualifying championship. This led to him representing Cullybackey College in the Irish Championships in Cork.
The Girls’ extra-curricular clubs offered throughout the year were Hockey, Netball, Football, Athletics, and couch to 5k. Unfortunately, the Ballymena Netball League did not run but the matches were replaced with “Blitz” days. The girls had the opportunity to participate in these alongside a number of friendly matches with local Ballymena schools.
House Hockey and Netball was a success, and it was great to see the girls back in a competitive mode and this also enabled our GCSE and A-Level PE students to assist in the roles of coaching, umpiring and score keeping.
Amy Lowry represented the College at the NEBSSA Athletics competition and qualified for the finals. Outside of school, GCSE PE student Jessica Wilkinson, who currently plays rugby for Ballymena, was selected to represent Ulster Rugby both in Sevens and at U18 level 15-a-side, participating in the inter- provincials, which was a fantastic honour!
Hannah McBride was selected to represent her Gymnastics Club, Elite Gymnastics, in a major competition in England. Hannah trains 12 hours a week outside of school and balances this alongside her school sport and studies. Hannah will be travelling to Liverpool at the end of this month for another major competition.
Coaching for Christ worked with Years 9 and 10, coaching and developing their football skills, confidence, and life skills, allowing the girls to progress as a team and represent the College in a number of fixtures.
Show Jumping was in operation all winter. Special mention must go to Jessica Mark who has represented the College for seven years with huge success. Jessica, Kai McAllister, and Holly Logan also represented the College at Balmoral Show qualifiers.
The now annual Ulster Rugby trip was a great success yet again; the ever-popular Belfast Giants Ice Hockey Trip made a welcome return in April; and GCSE and A-Level Sport pupils also enjoyed a successful tour of Windsor Park.
As ever the school year kicked off with our Year 8 induction trip to We Are Vertigo at the beginning of September, an opportunity for our newest pupils to make new friendships and have some fun.
Not to be left out, Year 13 pupils competed in the Office Olympics at Jungle NI as part of their induction, completing a range of team building exercises. Everyone got drenched, ate too much food, and had a brilliant time.
Friday 13th January witnessed our highly successful P7 IN-O-V8 event, immediately preceding our 2 Open Evenings, when we welcomed the P7 students from our local feeder primary schools to take part in this special STEM event. A staggering 750 P7 pupils from 31 local primary schools experienced a programme of interactive workshops and shows relating to Science and Technology. The aim of the day was to engage and enthuse young people about these important areas. The scientific workshops included – making elephant toothpaste, walking on eggshells, and creating rainbows. The technology workshops involved electronics and making a battery powered torch.
An undoubted highlight was a special, mad Science show from Sue McGrath! In addition, all the visiting Primary School Principals were treated to a 3-course lunch made and served by our highly professional GCSE Hospitality pupils under the watchful gaze of Mrs Rodgers. This proved hugely successful – with the Principals enjoying a meal any restaurant would be proud to deliver.
Our P6 ACTIV8 event followed in June, when over 700 P6 pupils from our feeder primary schools participated in a series of interactive workshops and shows relating to PE, Maths, Geography, ICT, History and English. The emphasis for the day was active learning and all pupils went home suitably happy and suitably tired.
Pupils had the opportunity to take part in a wide range of clubs and societies including Scripture Union, Art Club, Young Enterprise, Eco Club, Choir, Debating Society, Chess Club, and Drama Club to name but a few.
Our Year 13 Young Enterprise attended ‘The Big Market’ in St George’s Market, Belfast and had a successful day selling their handmade Christmas baubles and Kids’ Christmas treats bags. Junior pupils as well as Year 13 all took part in Young Enterprise programmes throughout the school year to develop many different skills needed for the world of work.
As ever, the History & Politics Department had a busy year with trips to Belfast to consider both the Northern Ireland Conflict as well as Home Rule, the Somme Centre in Newtownards regarding World War 1, Carrickfergus Castle as part of the study of Norman Castles, and the Ulster Museum to complete a workshop on the Spanish Armada. In addition, a number of successful workshops were conducted by The Navan Centre for our Key Stage 3 pupils and Year 11 had the opportunity to listen to the fascinating testimony of ex-UDR soldier Glen Espie. The highlight of the year was undoubtedly in April when 30 senior pupils made their long-awaited European Trip to Berlin, visiting many fascinating sites including the Berlin Wall, Checkpoint Charlie, the Reichstag, and the Olympic Stadium to name but a few.
Business Studies conducted worthwhile visits to The Ticket Bake House (owned by former pupil Mia White) and Moore Concrete for a presentation by the Managing Director and founder Mr Wilbert Moore followed by an interesting tour of the plant. In addition, senior pupils visited The Rosspark Hotel and the Finance Department of Wrightbus.
In English, Year 8 pupils successfully took part in a Sponsored Read raising a superb £450 for the Northern Ireland Cancer Fund for Children. World Book Day saw pupils participate in a range of activities and competitions, with the winners enjoying a healthy pizza lunch as a reward. The Staff Stories Day was a big success with staff enthusiastically volunteering to read stories to Key Stage 3 classes to promote the importance of reading. In addition, pupils had a great opportunity to listen to renowned storyteller Patrick Ryan as well as participate in a series of creative writing workshops with the award-winning author Stuart Reid.
Maths pupils in Key Stage 3 celebrated Maths Week Ireland from 15-23rd October, the focus of which was ‘Women in Mathematics.’ Pupils also participated in an on-line competition called, ‘Times Tables Rockstars,’ testing their ability at recalling multiplication and division facts to support their mathematical understanding and learning.10A1, the eventual winners, were treating to a class party to celebrate their success. Years 8 and 9 pupils entered the Number Heroes Competition as part of National Numeracy Day on the 27th May, being tasked with the challenge of creating a picture of their dream job or hobby and state the different ways that numbers could be used. The highlight of the year is always the Numeracy Fun Day in June. On this day, Year 8 students were involved in a variety of fun activities including, Beetle Drive, Bingo, Table Quiz, Maths Relay and much more!
In Art, visiting artist Leoni Hill delivered a range of innovative and experimental sculptures with a focus on wire sculpture which proved very popular whilst the Department continued its connections with Antrim Castle and gardens with students interviewing the Arts Officer to learn how public art is commissioned before responding to the site by creating their own specific work for exhibition.
The Geography Magilligan field trip; Health & Social visits to Moors Mediquip Centre and the Wee Village in Doagh; the Hospitality trip to Galgorm Resort and Spa; Agriculture trips to Greenmount and the British Wool Marketing Board’s Muckamore depot to name but a few, reflect the range of worthwhile educational experiences pupils received throughout the year.
As a school we pride ourselves on our charity-giving, and last year was no exception. We supported the Christmas Hamper Appeal along with the Rotary Club of Ballymena, as well as the Northern Ireland Cancer Fund for Children, and the Care and Share table in school.
Pupils took part in various activities including a sponsored read, a karaoke event, fun runs (despite the weather!), the Big Christmas Quiz, Guess the Easter Egg, Movie afternoons, tuck shops and donating items to fill the hampers.
Our pupils, parents and staff were extremely generous in their support throughout the year which culminated in the delivery of 302 hampers to those less fortunate in the Ballymena area and over £600 donated directly to charities. The staff at Cullybackey College also managed to regularly sacrifice their Friday lunch times to eat lots of sweet treats, all in aid of Angel Wishes and the Northern Ireland Hospice. In addition, a special mention must go to Mr Johnson who, through his growing and selling of pumpkins, raised a massive total of £1570 for the Air Ambulance.
I would like to thank all the staff who have contributed to making this wide range of worthwhile events, activities, and experiences possible for our young people.
Acknowledgement must go to our Parent Teacher Association, a much-valued part of our wider school community. The PTA had another very successful year hosting a range of events for pupils including fundraising for Halloween and Valentines hampers and a Doughnut Day. The Christmas and Spring table quizzes were a great success, with lots of support from staff, pupils, and parents. In total £1800 was raised and donations were given to support the College, the Children’s Hospice and Cruise.
I would also like to express my gratitude to our Governors in overseeing all the work of the College. Chaired by Mrs Scott and ably assisted by her deputy, Mr Wiseman, Governors invest a great deal of time, effort, and energy in supporting the work of the College, something for which we are all indebted.
In conclusion, Cullybackey is quite a unique place! As you probably know, the village possesses the ancestral home of Chester Alan Arthur, the 21st President of the United States of America.
Arthur’s father, William Arthur, hailed from the townland of Dreen in the village. In 1815 at the age of 19, he left Northern Ireland for the United States where he met and married Malvina Stone from Vermont and, in 1829, Chester Alan Arthur was born. He subsequently grew up in upstate New York where he practiced law.
His greatest achievement came after the assassination of President James A. Garfield only 11 weeks after his success at the polls. As Garfield’s Vice-President, Arthur was catapulted into the Oval Office as President, where he remained until 1885.
I’m sure you’ll agree it was a meteoric rise from very humble beginnings to arguably the most powerful position in the world. Reflecting on this, Arthur stated:
Be fit for more than the thing you are now doing. Let everyone know that you have a reserve in yourself; that you have more power than you are now using.
In effect, let everyone know that no matter what happens you still can stand back up; that you have the strength in you to face whatever life throws at you; and that even when things are at their most difficult, you still have the power in you to keep going.
I’m sure you will agree, this is a timeless message for all of us here this morning.