READATHON Year 10 pupils in 10P and 10J have won the UK National READATHON Book Review Competition 2014! Classes 10P and 10J recently reviewed the first chapter of an intriguing new novel, “League of Sharks” by David Logan. They won the competition and we have received £500 of exciting new novels for the English Department and Library. A sample of the reviews (by Sam Henderson, Caitlin McIlwaine, Luke Hall and Sarah-Jane McEneny) can be viewed at the following web address: http://www.readathon.org/blog/2014/04/winning-school-announced-in-david-logan-the-league-of-sharks-school-review-project/ Pupils in Years 8-10 have all been participating in their annual READATHON sponsored read. We have raised over £4000 in the past three years at Sullivan Upper, and this total continues to rise. This money is donated to children’s cancer charities in the UK, as well as partly to our own school library. Keep reading!

Inter/Senior District Athletics Results 2014 On Wednesday 30 April 2014 the Senior/Inter District Athletics took place at the Mary Peter’s track. A small group of pupils attended from Sullivan and had a very successful day. The following athletes qualified for the Ulster competition in Antrim on Saturday 17 May 2014: Senior Girls: Anna Blake  3000m 3rd (12.35.09)  Laura Potts    Discus 3rd (24.45) Inter Girls:Amy RothwellShot   1st (9.98) Amy RothwellJavelin2nd (26.38) Senior Boys:Jonathon HillTriple Jump1st (12.45) Jonathon HillLong Jump1st (6.38)* This was a new record for the Districts -Congratulations. Harry Speers2000S/C1st  (7.14.56) Harry Speers1500m3rd (4.45.64) Inter Boys:Nameer Shahzad100m 1st (11.83) Chris Jordan200m1st (23.87) Mark BurtonTriple Jump1st (12.62) Chris BallShot1st (12.69) Chris BallDiscus2nd (29.74) Inter Boys Relay Team:Nameer Shahzad,  Mark Burton, Jack Reid,  Louis Watts1st, with a time of 46.93 secs.

Concussion and Second Impact Syndrome (SIS) Please take time to read through the following literature released about the dangers of Concussion and Second Impact Syndrome.  The pocket recognition tool is very useful. Click here for the Concussion and Second Impact Syndrome Leaflet from DE Click here for the Concussion and Second Impact Syndrome Leaflet from DE

Giro d‘Italia Cycle Race Arrangements We have received information from DE and Translink in relation to the Giro d’Italia sessions on Friday 9 May 2014. There is likely to be disruption to travel in the Greater Belfast area and to school transport in the afternoon.  The morning buses should be running as normal and the first road closures are not anticipated until 9.30 am. In the afternoon, we will operate the following amended timetable in order to assist with reducing congestion around the school. Pupils who require school bus services to Belfast/Comber will be released at 2.25 pm. Translink have stated that they cannot guarantee that the full school bus service will be in operation. The remaining pupils will be released at 3.00 pm. Pupils who wish to get the Bangor bus may wait in the Assembly Hall as these buses are expected at the normal time.  Translink have stated that they cannot guarantee that the full school bus service will be in operation. Parents may wish to consider alternative arrangements in advance. C J W PEEL Headmaster

Congratulations to Tom Uprichard (Yr 8) who is the Age Group Champion in the 200 m breast stroke as well as winning Silver in the 100 m breast stroke and the 200 m Individual Medley.  He also won Silver in the 4 x 200 m freestyle and Medley relays, swam 9 personal best times and achieved two British Age Group qualitifying times in the 100 m and 200 m breast stroke – a really fantastic achievement.

Thank you to everyone who donated Easter eggs and purchased ballot tickets for the SUPA Easter Egg Hampers – 23 hampers have been donated to Barnardos plus an incredible £708 was raised for school funds. Congratulations to the following winners: Scott Miller (9C) Ellen Smith (9A) Amy Kimber (8G) Niamh Sheridan (10J) Ronan Garrett (8P) Nicky Gregg (Lucy 8P) A Pauley (Ellen 12F) Jenny McNamee (9C) Jack Doherty (8C) Matthew Conlon (8C)  Bethany Currie (9S) Janine Cusick Charlotte Uprichard (8W) Rosie Adams (8S) Jenny Good (11C) Taylor Bingham (11A) Valerie Patterson Rozi Whaley (8P) Valerie Murray (14F) Ruth Holmes (8W) Stephen Brush (11A) Dion Clarke (9D) Jonny Armstrong (11A)

Ireland U19s Squad v France U19s The following Sullivan Upper pupils have been selected on the extended Ireland U19s Squad to play France this month.  The Ireland U19s will play France U19s on Thursday 17 April 2014 and Tuesday 22 April 2014.  Both games will be played at 2.00 pm  in St Mary’s RFC, Templeogue, Dublin 6W. Josh Davidson Ross Todd

The following Sullivan Upper pupils have been selected to attend Easter training and screening sessions for the following Ulster Age Grade squads: Ulster U19s Max Clarke Mark Adair Ryan Spence Ulster U18s Connor McAvoy Peter Cooper James Houston Fergus Jemphrey Dylan Gilbert Jonny Betts Ulster U17s Chris Jordan

Congratulations to the U13s Boys Hockey team who won the Belmont Cup in the annual tournament play at Campbell College on 18 March 2014 – beating Regent House, Bangor Grammar and Campbell College.

The U14 boys hockey team shared the Ferris Cup after a tense 1-1 draw with Cookstown High School in the final.  The boys had beaten, Ballyclare High School, Killicomaine Junior High School and Banbridge Academy on the way to the final. The goal was scored by the captain Tom Robson and despite late chances we were unable to get a winner. The boys have now qualified for the prestigious John Waring Trophy which is played for between the Leinster, Munster and Ulster cup finalists.  This will take place on the 9 April 2014 at Lisnagarvey Hockey Club.

U14 7-a-side Rugby Team Champions On Saturday 8 March 2014 the U14 7-a-side rugby team were crowned Champions of the annual Campbell College Belfast 7’s tournament, for only the second time in Sullivan Upper’s history. The team not only won the tournament but showed great character and intelligence in how they learnt and adapted from an opening defeat against a strong Down High School side. The boys, captained by Connor Scollan, went on to comfortably defeat Grosevnor and Methody in the group stages, before playing a very strong Campbell team in a closely fought semi-final, winning 7-5. The final was played against an RBAI team that had defeated Down High School in the other semi final, but again, the Sullivan boys showed off their determination and talent by eventually winning 26-0. A special mention must go to the character shown by the players and the brilliant support from the ever-faithful Sullivan parents. This win has given the boys great confidence and will stand them in good stead with a very challenging Medallion season approaching in the early Autumn. The winning team included Connor Scollan (Captain), Ben Jones, Shaun Tyler, Rory Kirkpatrick, Stewart Wylie, Jake McClean, Patrick McCleave, Isaac Sansom, Stephen Moore, Andrew Weir and Andrew McConnell.

This year’s competition took place on Wednesday 12 March 2014 in the Drama Theatre. Year 13 students and some staff were treated to eight excellent speeches from highly eloquent and gifted orators! The three adjudicators were extremely impressed by the depth of research and the sophisticated delivery of each speech. This year, Owain Campton of McAlester House was the winner, with a very memorable speech entitled” Local Stereotypes.” Patrick Grimshaw of Grant House came second, with” If You Can’t Convince Them, Confuse Them…” and Victoria Wilton was placed third with “Great Expectations”  for Praeger House. All eight competitors were highly commended for their outstanding performances on a range of thought- provoking and topical issues.