The Wallace High School held its annual Open Morning last Saturday with hundreds of families from across the City of Lisburn and beyond visiting the Clonevin Park school.
Following welcoming speeches from the Principal Mrs Anne McBride, Year 8 pastoral staff and the current Head Girl and Boy, P7 pupils and their families had the opportunity to explore the school and chat to staff and pupils.
Each subject department hosted interactive displays with highlights including Junior Science experiments and feltmaking in Art and Design. The History department hosted displays of WW2 projects, with classrooms transformed into ATS canteens, complete with sights and sounds of the 1940s.
Patrick Bogan from Brownlee Primary commented, “I’m really impressed by the facilities. The Science Labs and Computer suites are brilliant.”
Pupils’ projects were also on display in the RE department , with the current Year 8 pupils’ Bethlehem houses, featured on UTV during Christmas week, alongside artefacts from and explorations of a range of faiths.
The English Department was also a hub of activity with the Debating Society and Writers’ group inviting participation from visitors and the Junior Drama Club busy rehearsing for its summer production. Dancers from the Senior Drama Society were on hand for some “Strictly Come Dancing”
ballroom and modern hip hop routines.
The Modern Languages suite was a popular venue throughout the morning with a tempting range of continental fare on offer, as was the Home Economics Department where the Wallace pupils’ baking skills were on display.
Wallace ‘s flourishing Charity Committee , which last year raised over £20,000 for a range of local, national and international charities, demonstrated several of their innovative fundraising activities including the “Dance Mat Dance off”.
Visitors to the school also had the chance to sample some of Wallace’s cutting edge technology with the Computer Club demonstrating their inter active robot and the ICT department’s WiFi zones being available for internet access.
All of Wallace’s myriad of extra curricular activities were represented, with Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme, Scripture Union, young enterprise and the orchestra being a small selection of the dozens on offer to pupils throughout the school. The school’s gymnasisum was a busy venue, with prospective pupils learning about the many sporting activites available. A highlight was the information stand detailing the exciting itinerary for the Boys’ rugby tour to South Africa later this summer.
Many visitors also took the opportunity to explore Wallace’s extensive ground s and playing fields, taking time to watch the Medallion XV defeat Banbridge High 55- 0 in the third round of the Shield and the Year 8 girls’
hockey teams defeat Banbridge Academy.
Prospective Sixth years also visited the school, hearing about the range
of curricular and extra curricular opportunities on offer from the Vice Principal Mr Albert Porter. They were also given a tour of the purpose built Sixth form centre, visiting its study and social aareas, coffee bar and computer facilities.
Wallace welcomes entry into Year 13 from the city’s secondary schools’
pupils. Mr Porter commented, “New pupils into Year 13 have a very valuable contribution to make and I would encourage those considering A level study to contact the school and attend the open afternoon planned for March.”
Acting Head of Year 8, Mrs Norma Cairns concluded ,”We hope that our Open Morning gave visitors an insight into daily life here at Wallace. We look forward to welcoming our new Year 8 pupils in September.”
Last modified: February 3, 2005
