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On 7th December, 2023, our Year 11 and 12 pupils got the opportunity to take part in a ‘Dissecting Shakespeare’ workshop, run by the Lyric Theatre, as part of their Affiliate Scheme. This scheme aims to promote and develop drama study within affiliated schools, through workshops, resource packs, careers advice, and other exciting opportunities!

On 22nd February, 2024, our Year 11 and 12 GCSE Drama Student travelled to the Grand Opera House in Belfast to see Life of Pi. What an incredible show this was, full of amazing puppetry, and superb Multimedia effects. This was a rare opportunity for these pupils to witness such a highly technical performance, full of ideas that will be very beneficial for written exam work!

On 12th April, 2024, Years 11 and 12 Drama Pupils and Years 13 and 14 Performing Arts students will take part in two workshops, facilitated by the Lyric Theatre. One of the workshops will be an hour and a half on Devising Skills, and the other will be another hour and a half session on Stage Combat. We are very, very excited about this!

Certificates finally arrived for the 2024 Irish Olympiad. Pictured are the 8 participants who completed Round 1 of this competition in March. Then top 15% of all entrants were then invited to take part in Round 2 of this competition. Erin Fallows and Erin O'Connor travelled to Dublin to take part in the second round of the Irish Chemistry Olympiad competition during the Easter holidays. At this stage of the competition their efforts in Round 1 were recognised - Erin O'Connor was Highly Commended and Erin Fallows received a Bronze medal. Following the gruelling second stage, Erin Fallows has been selected, as one of only four pupils from the thousands of competitors, to represent Ireland at the International Finals of the 56th Chemistry Olympiad competition in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in July. The Chemistry Department are extremely proud of Erin who has been an exceptional student throughout her studies of Chemistry, winning the subject prize at GCSE and the Dr. Stephen A. Barr Award for STEM for overall performance in GCSE three Sciences and Maths. Erin was also the recipient of the subject prize for AS and Dr. John M. Pollock Cup and Prize for Outstanding Performance in Science. Erin is pictured with her A-Level Chemistry teachers, Mrs Janice Emerson and Mrs Heather Millar.

The Board of Governors are pleased to announce the appointment of Mrs Louise Aitcheson BA (Hons) P.G.C.E., MSc as the new Principal of Dalriada School from 1st August 2024. Mrs Aitcheson, from Cloughmills, studied at Queen’s University Belfast gaining a B.A. Hons 2:1 degree and then completed a Post Primary P.G.C.E. certificate in Education in Geography at the University of Ulster. She also holds an MSc in Education from the same University. Louise has been teaching for 21 years. Her first post was in Larne High School as a Geography Teacher moving to Antrim Grammar school after two years to teach the same subject. During her time at Antrim Grammar School, she became Head of Geography, a Senior Teacher and then a Vice-Principal. On appointment she told the Chairman of the Board of Governors, Brian Dillon, that she was delighted to accept the post and shared Dalriada’s vision for education. Mr. B.J. Dillon Chairman Dalriada School

Dalriada School, founded in 1878, is one of Northern Ireland’s leading voluntary grammar schools and is attended by 903 pupils (Group 6). The school is co-educational and non-denominational with an outstanding academic reputation and a wide range of extra-curricular activities. It has an impressive record of achievement in music, sport and drama.  Applicants should be willing and able to contribute to the ethos of the school, which incorporates a liberal and caring tradition. At the date of application the successful candidates must have: A first or second class honours degree or a higher degree; a recognised teaching qualification and/or be recognised as a qualified teacher by the Department of Education; at least ten years’ experience of teaching in a post-primary school (or schools), at least three years’ experience as a member of a senior management leadership team in a post-primary school (or schools) with sixth-form provision. An information pack and application form may be requested from: The Headmaster’s Secretary, Dalriada School, Ballymoney, BT53 6BL Tel: 028 2766 3066 E-mail: lmontgomery916@c2kni.net The closing date for receipt of completed applications is 2.00 p.m. on Wednesday 10 April 2024 Dalriada School is an Equal Opportunities Employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.

If you would like to purchase team photos, please follow the Links below. Rugby, Hockey, Netball, Volleyball, Football, Cross Country, Swimming and Debating teams have been recently photographed. In addition all five of our Year 8 Form classes have been photographed. The purchased photos will be delivered to school for distribution. Senior School Photos Junior School Photos + Year 8 Form Class

Post 16 Options for current Year 12 Internal and External pupils seeking to join us in the Sixth Form.

The Chemistry Department was busy on Friday 23.2.24 as Newcastle University STEM Outreach team visited the school to deliver interactive workshops to students in Year 13 and 14. Dr Peter Hoare covered two analytical techniques, which are required for the A2 course, with our 32 Year 14 students and developed students’ ability to analyse spectra - a key skill required for the A2 examinations. The students were able to prepare samples for IR and use expensive instruments that they otherwise would not come into contact with (£25,000 of kit all packed into a suitcase!). They were also able to do a quick revision of the technique on interpreting NMR spectra. In the Year 13 workshop, our 28 AS pupils completed an introduction to Infra-red Spectroscopy before working in groups to analyse 6 different samples and match their 'chemical fingerprint' to a spectrum from a database of samples - an important skill required for their AS course. We are grateful to the Newcastle University Outreach team and Dr Peter Hoare for making these difficult topics at AS and A2 so accessible to our students.

It is with profound regret and sadness that we announce the passing of our esteemed Headmaster, colleague and friend Mr Tom Skelton. Our thoughts and prayers are now with his family. Mr Skelton was loved by so many in our school community and this will be a challenging time for our staff, pupils and families. Tom Skelton, Headmaster of Dalriada School, died peacefully at Causeway Hospital on 8th February 2024 with his Family at his bedside. Brian Dillon, Chairman of the Board of Governors, commented; “Throughout his 16 years as Head of Dalriada School, Tom Skelton worked closely with Governors, Staff and Parents to provide an excellent education for all pupils. Tom, with his energetic enthusiasm, approachable attitude and sense of humour provided outstanding Leadership creating a great staff team. He adopted a “hands on approach” putting the pupils first and with a love of education continued weekly teaching throughout his Headship. He will be very sadly missed by the Dalriada community and by the many organisations he was involved with outside school.” Dr Ian Walker and Ms Louise Crawford, Deputy Heads of the school commented that “he lived and breathed Dalriada. He had a pride in the school, always putting the staff and pupils at the centre of everything he did. He was head of our school family, and his humour and unwavering encouragement will be dearly missed by all who had the privilege of knowing and working with him.” We pass on our sincere sympathies to his wife Wilma, his sons Thomas and Andrew, daughters Emma and Alice and his sister June. https://robinsonsofculcrum.com/thomas-james-skelton.html