Outdoor Activities
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Each year, our year 8 students take part in a residential at Ardnabannon Outdoor Centre, bouldering, canoeing, hillwalking and team work. We were delighted this year that the staff in charge of our students were Shimna OldScholars Paul Swail and Rebecca Murphy. Both have graduated from university, and are pursuing careers in outdoor education and in teaching.
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Year 10 students each year celebrate completing their Key Stage 3 examinations with a watersports trip to Killyleagh, or, as this year, by climbing Slieve Donard.
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GCSE PE students take either skiing or hillwalking as one of their specialisms, along with team sports and athletics.
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Sixth year student Alasdair Hodnett was selected to qualify in winter mountaineering, building on the experience he has gained with his family and at Shimna.
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The Duke of Edinburgh's Award
The Award scheme offers a wide range of opportunities to students to improve in and to accredit activities they already enjoy, and also to take up new interests. At Bronze level we have a very productive link with our local PSNI for our service section. At Silver level students undertake service with the Lifeboats, in first aid, in sports leadership and with church and youth groups and with Amnesty International and the Mourne Heritage Trust. The physical activity and skills sections allow students the opportunity to spend time on the widest range of sports and skills.
Each spring and autumn groups of students set off on Bronze and Silver expeditions, making the most of the mountains on our doorstep. Students going for Gold have travelled farther afield to North Antrim to complete their expedition in very different countryside.
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