Belfast Model School for Girls

Pod-Scratching? – Staff Development day goes Hi-tech!

Mrs L McKeever — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 12:55:01 +0000

During their recent Exceptional Closure day, staff at the Girls’ Model were treated to ICT training sessions delivered by Studio On . Staff were trained in either Podcasting or Scratch, which is a way to create and share interactive stories, games, music and art.

Staff use the skills and knowledge developed during training days to engage pupils by using these innovative teaching techniques in classroom practice.

Hockey – Update

Mrs L McKeever — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 12:11:29 +0000

On Tuesday 7th February the Senior Hockey team travelled to Grosvenor Grammar School as part of a multi-match sports afternoon (along with the Junior hockey team and a Junior netball team). In a very competitive game, which saw Emma Bailie make her debut in goal for the senior hockey team, the match finished in a 1-1 draw. A great performance was given by all of the girls with Kirsty Nicolson, especially outstanding in defence, and Nicole McCredie topping a fabulous and energetic game with an impressive goal in the second half.

Congratulations to all the girls as they continue to make preparations for their hockey tour to Dublin.

Team: Emma Bailie, Kirsty Nicolson, Zoe Sinfield, Nicola McCrea, Emma McKeown, Nicole McCredie, Amy Stewart, Nicole Rankin, Nikita McMullan, Kirsty Brown, Rebecca Hughes.

Players of the match: Kirsty Nicolson and Nicole McCredie

STEM – Robotics Roadshow

Mrs L McKeever — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 12:48:05 +0000

On Tuesday 31^st January, all pupils in Year 8 took part in a Robotics Workshop organised by the Technology Department.

The event was lead by Mr Connor from Sentinus who are an organisation set up to promote STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths).

The Year 8 pupils learned how to program small robots with the aim of finding who could make their robot go the furthest around a set track which included obstacles like zig-zags and curves.

The girls all seemed to enjoy their time with the robots and perhaps most importantly they took away a first valuable lesson in the basics of programming.

We cannot forget the Year 11 girls who took the role of Mentors for the day – Wynter Telford, Alyson Walker, Chloe Brown, Tammy Hogg, Nicole Green, Kathleen Greer, Chloe-Lee McBride, Toni McKittrick and Jamie-Lee Robinson.

These girls had been trained the previous week by Sentinus and were not only superb assistants working with the Year 8 girls, but were wonderful ambassadors for the school too. A good time was had by all!

Sports – Update

Mrs L McKeever — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:03:51 +0000

There have been a number of sports fixtures and events recently. Here is a round-up of what’s been going on:

Hockey

The junior and Senior Hockey teams have been training hard for upcoming matches. On Tuesday 7^th February our Year 8 and Senior hockey teams will travel to Grosvenor Grammar to play two matches.

Hockey Tour

Fundraising for our Hockey Tour to Dublin is well underway. The girls completed a marathon hockey dribble as a squad on Tuesday 31^st January! Well done girls!!!

Cross Country

A number of year 8, 9 and 10 pupils participated in the District B Cross Country competition at Ormeau Park on Tuesday 1^st February. They all competed extremely well but a special mention must go to Danielle Hill (Year 8) who has qualified for the Ulster Schools event on Wednesday 22^nd February!

Swimming

Danielle Hill (Year 8) competed the European Meet in Luxembourg recently. There were 27 countries competing and she managed to win two silver medals in the 400m individual medley and the 200m Backstroke. Congratulations Danielle!!!

Safer Internet Day

webmaster — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 12:12:52 +0000

As part of its activities for Safer Internet Day, CEOP is launching ‘Keeping up with the Joneses’, a short 50′s style trailer that aims to get parents and carers thinking about their children’s online lives. At times we all feel that we are out of touch with technology and we are therefore helpless when it comes to keeping the children in our care safe but CEOP are here to help.

The CEOP team will be available to interact with parents and carers from 6 to 9pm on 7th February to discuss the challenges they face as their children grow up online by posting on the ClickCEOP Facebook fan page, tweeting @CEOPUK or including #parentsguide in their posts on Twitter.

The Child Exploitation and Online Protection centre are dedicated to protecting our children when they are online. They have lots of information to help you keep your children safe when they are using the Internet, Social Networks and even Mobile/Smart phones.

Here are some links to get your started:

Hockey – Update

Mrs L McKeever — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 11:45:44 +0000

Congratulations to the Senior Hockey team who won 6-0 against Ashfield Girls’ on Tuesday 24^th Jan!

Goalscorers were:
KoriMagee (2)
Rebecca Orr (2)
Rebecca Hughes
Nicole Rankin

Player of the Match was shared by Rebecca Hughes and Nicole Rankin.

Team list:

Anthea Harbinson, Kirsty Nicolson, NicolaMcCrea, RuthMcNeill, Kate Thornbury, NikitaMcMullan, Rebecca Orr, Nicole Rankin, Rebecca Hughes, KoriMagee.

Also, the hockey players going on tour to Dublin will be completing their hockey marathon after school on Tues 31^st Jan. All players must attend and must bring their sponsor money on that day.

Feeder primaries come to visit – album 2

webmaster — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 13:05:54 +0000

On Friday 13 January 244 P7 girls from local feeder primary schools came to the Girls’ Model to have a sneak preview of the facilities and activities on offer before they make their choices at transfer time. Girls’ Model staff spotted a few budding drummers, scientists, gymnasts and film stars amongst the girls who visited. The atmosphere in the school was buzzing with the energy and enthusiasm of the P7s. The staff all agreed that it would be a privilege to teach such as great bunch of young ladies!

Click on the images below to bring up the gallery:

Feeder primaries come to visit – album 1

webmaster — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 13:04:57 +0000

Click on the images below to bring up the gallery:

Invitation to our Year 7 Open Evening

webmaster — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 11:02:49 +0000

You are invited to join us this Monday (16 January) for our Year 7 Open Evening. Come along at 7pm and get a taste of what the Girls’ Model can offer you and your daughter.

STEM – Building Bridges – literally!

Mrs L McKeever — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 15:20:15 +0000

The Chartered Institute of Engineers visited the Girls’ Model on Tuesday 10^th January with one purpose – to build bridges, in actual fact, a 40ft suspension bridge inside the school building! Along with 8D, engineers helped to construct a working suspension bridge the length of the Central Hall.

The purpose of the day was to draw the girls’ attention to careers opportunities in STEM(Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths). It has long been recognised that there is a gender imbalance in these careers with boys being more likely to pursue studies in STEM subjects at school and beyond. But anything boys can do, the Girls’Model can do better!

The activities were the first in a series of STEM events for 2012. A workshop run by W5 is also visiting the school this week and in March the STEMModule will visit to deliver a stimulating and challenging course that will augment the curriculum in STEM subjects, providing incentives to pupils to develop their interest in and enthusiasm for these subjects.