Students continue to excel on school’s 60th anniversary

Students continue to excel on school’s 60th anniversary

1 January 2020

THE 60th anniversary prize distribution at St Malachy’s High School, Castlewellan, was held before the Christmas break.

The principal and staff were honoured to be joined by the guest speaker, Sister Teresa Clancy, who was one of the first members of the teaching staff when the school opened its doors in 1959.

Sister Teresa remained in St Malachy’s for her entire teaching career and served as vice-principal, demonstrating her commitment to the children and families of the area.

The principal, Mrs Orla O’Neill, began by congratulating the prize winners on being recognised for their admirable achievements throughout the past year.

She told them: “St Malachy’s High School is all about fulfilling potential. We balance the academic and pastoral needs and wants of the students so they can achieve successful outcomes. Tonight affords us the opportunity to focus our attention on those many achievements of our students, our staff and our community.

“I am very privileged and honoured as principal to be a part of this wonderful school that has produced such high calibre students, who have all moved on from success to success and who represent all that is great about inclusive Catholic education.

“The curriculum that we offer our students is the same as all post primary schools. However, we provide this in a school 

community where all young people can learn and achieve together.”

Mrs O’Neill stated with pride that St Malachy’s students continue to excel on the academic front with GCSE students once again producing record breaking results, with 92% of students achieving A*-C grades in five or more subjects and 80 students achieving seven or more A*-C grades and many achieving nine, 10 and 11 GCSEs.

She said the quality of results had increased with many students securing several A* and A grades across the board in a wide range of subjects.

Turning to A-Levels, she results attained “continue to be up there with the best”.

She said 40% of students three A-Levels at grades A*-C. A third of all grades were A* or A with 83% leaving St Malachy’s with three good A-Level passes.

She said the percentage of St Malachy’s students going on to university was well above the Northern Ireland average.

Guest speaker Sister Teresa captivated her audience, in particular the students who found her words inspirational.

In a good-honoured address full of anecdotes and words of wisdom she recalled her days 

as teacher and vice-principal fondly. Her nostalgic tone showed the audience just how much pride she took in being a part of the foundations of St Malachy’s as a teacher in 1959.

She spoke of the beginnings of St Malachy’s High School and how the amalgamation of the boys’ and girls’ school came about.

She referred to former principals and teachers and her memories of how the St Malachy’s community came to fruition since 1959. She congratulated pupils, past and present for their outstanding achievements of the past year and beyond.

She called St Malachy’s a “highly motivated school with everyone working with and for each other”.

Her words of wisdom were to the pupils themselves. She advised them to talk to someone. She said she understood the demands of modern life and the stress it can have on young people. She advised the audience to reach out and reminded them that they were not alone.

She reminded everyone to live by the gospel message and to treat others as they would like to be treated.