Nurse McAvoy collected the National Order of Merit Award from The Association of First Aiders for Outstanding Achievement in First Aid at a recent ceremony in London.

Congratulations to all those athletics who competed in the Irish Schools Athletics Championships in Tullamore in early June 2012. This was a very successful day for Sullivan Upper with the following pupils winning medals:  Intermediate Boys Conall Kirk1500 m  3rd   Senior Boys Adam Hill High Jump 2nd  Senior Girls Beth Wilson Discus 2nd  Junior Boys Chris Jordan 100 m 2nd  Junior Boys Relay Team Chris Jordan  Nameer Shadzad  Louis Watts  Jack Reid  1st Other athletes competing were: Harry Speers (4th in Steeplechase)  Jonathan Hill (5th in Triple Jump) Laura Potts Chris Ball Jemma Speers The Junior Boys relay team of Chris Jordan, Nameer Shazhad, Louis Watts and Jack Reid celebrating after winning the Irish Junior boys relay. Adam Hill (high Jump), Beth Wilson (discus) and Chris Jordan (100m)  who all came second in their events in the Irish Schools

Please click HERE to read the Sullvian Upper Fencing Club’s report for 2011-2012

Olympic Torch in Bangor on Sunday 3 June 2012 I am delighted to announce that Victoria Duxbury (Yr 13) will be part of the relay team carrying the Olympic Torch as it comes to Bangor this Sunday (see flyer).  I’m sure that lots of pupils and parents will be present at this once-in-a-lifetime event – if you are there on Sunday morning, don’t forget to give Victoria a big cheer!

80 IN 20 A group of teachers and friends of Sullivan Upper School will be walking 80km in 20 hours to raise money for a number of charities which have a strong Sullivan connection. Some people will be planning to complete the full distance and others will join us for part of the day. This will take place on Saturday 2 June 2012. Starting when the sunrises and hoping to finish before the sun sets.The idea came from reading an article about a woman who walked 80km to seek medical attention for her sick child. This distance resonates with those involved in the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme where the Gold candidates are required to cover that distance in 4 days in wild country. The charities we are hoping to raise a lot of money for are Work of John Turner in Vietnam – (John Turner is a former Technology teacher who along with his wife is working among the street children in Vietnam). UCCI – UCCI is an Indian charity focussed on the provision of schooling for the children of the poorest families of the Andra Pradesh in Eastern India. In addition we will be supporting a number of charities in memory of the following people (former pupils and parents of pupils in school) Rebecca Graham (former pupil) – Cardiomyopathy Association Andrew Drain (former Head Boy) – Leukaemia and Lymphoma research Andrew Campbell (former pupil) – Bright Red Rosi Kirker Millar (parent) – Bowel Cancer UK Malcolm Chisholm (parent) – Tear Fund We would encourage you to give as generously as possible – every donation helps, no matter what size it is. The fund raised will be split equally amongst the listed charities. If you wish to make a donation we have set up a webpage www.justgiving.com/80kin20 or send cash or cheques made payable to Sullivan Upper School in an envelope marked 80 in 20 to be left in at the school office. All money donated including that which is gift-aided will be divided equally between the 7 charities. Paul Whittington

Results from the Ulster Athletics Championships and Irish Qualifiers Congratulations to the following athletes. Those placed 1st-3rd in field events and 1st&2nd on the track now go to the Irish event at Tullamore on the 2 June 2012. Junior Boys Chris Jordan – 1st in 100m Nameer Shahzed – 3rd in 100m Sullivan were 3rd overall as a team. Chris Ball – 2nd in Shot Mark Burton – 5th in High Jump Junior Boys’ Relay – 1st Junior Girls Joanna Kirkwood – 6th High Jump Amy Rothwell – 5th Shot Intermediate Girls Jemma Speers – 1st in Steeplechase Laura Potts – 3rd in Discus Intermediate Boys Conall  Kirk – 1st in 1500m Harry Speers – 1st in Steeplechase Jonathan Hill – 3rd in Triple Jump Senior Girls Beth Wilson – 1st in Shot, 2nd in Discus Senior Boys Adam Hill – 1st in High Jump, 3rd 110m in Hurdles

Congratulations to Victoria Duxbury (Yr 13) who won a Bronze Medal in the Women’s Team Foil at the recent UK School Games held in the London Olympic fencing venue; and to Rachel Philpott (Yr 10) who competed in the U16 Girls’ Foil at the British Youth Championships in Sheffield, finishing just outside the last 16.

A Sullivan GCSE student, Amy McAteer is appearing in the BBC competition “Off by Heart Shakespeare” on Saturday, 19 May 2012 – please click on link below to view the trailer – http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00r7nwv She had master classes in the 4 days of preparation before the competition, including voice workshops with Cicely Berry. Amy McAteer won the regional heat before progressing to the UK final. She performed on the stage at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, to judges and the competition was hosted by Jeremy Paxman (with her family, Mr Peel and Mrs Trainor in attendance).Amy will be on BBC Newsline,  BBC Radio Ulster Evening Extra and Radio Foyle.

Congratulations to Conal Kirk (Year 12) who was selected for the UK School Games held in the Olympic Venue to run for Northern Ireland at 1500 metres, he came fourth. Congratulations to Harry Speers (Year 12) who has been selected for the elite athlete programme in the Irish Junior Squad in Triathlon

List of pupils who qualified for the Ulster Schools Athletics Competition on Friday 18 and Saturday 19 May 2012. ULSTER SCHOOLS QUALIFIERS 2012 SENIOR David Matthews – 400m H (2nd) Adam Hill – 110m H (1st) HJ (1st) Beth Wilson – Discus (1st), Shot (1st) Cydnie McCullough – Jav (3rd) INTER Conall Kirk – 800m (1st), 1500m (1st) Jamie Hardacre – 100m H (3rd) Calum James – 100m H (1st) Harry Speers – 1500m Steeplechase (1st) Jonathan Hill – LJ (3rd), TJ (2nd) Lisa Fulford – Discus (3rd) Laura Potts – Discus (2nd) Jemma Speers – Steeplechase JUNIOR Chris Jordan – 100m (1st) Nameer Shahzad – 100m (3rd) Mark Burton – HJ (3rd) Michael Montgomery – Discus (2nd) Chris Ball – Shot (2nd) Joanna Kirkwood – HJ (3rd) Amy Rothwell – Shot (1st)  Junior Boys Relay (1st) MINI Isobel Meharg – 100m (3rd) Maggie Gillies – HJ (2nd) Mini Girls Relay (3rd)

Congratulations to Rory Hamilton (12C) on being selected to represent Ulster Counties East Smallbore Shooting Association at the forthcoming Junior International Match at Bisley in August 2012.

Sport and Exercise Nutritionist visits Home Economics Department Dr Sharon Madigan, a Registered Sport and Exercise Nutritionist gave pupils an insight in to her colourful career which included her work as a Sports Nutritionist with the Sports Institute for Northern Ireland, the Ulster Rugby Team and the Irish Boxing Team. Pupils also had the opportunity to ask Sharon questions, where many took the chance to receive advice from a professional on how to improve their own sporting performance. Katie Kirk also gave the pupils an insight into the importance of a nutritionist from an athlete’s prospective and her aspirations to study nutrition at university