News

]]> http://www.belfastgms.org/school-life/news/2008/11/children_in_need_08.php http://www.belfastgms.org/school-life/news/2008/11/children_in_need_08.php Achievements Mon, 17 Nov 2008 14:01:34 +0000 Congratulations to Mrs McKeever and Mr Hance!

Mr Hance and Mrs McKeever

The Girls' model is once again at the forefront of educational innovation. Mrs McKeever and Mr Hance graduated with flying colours from the Regional Training Unit's first ever Online Teacher Education programme (OLTE). The graduation ceremony was held in Belfast Castle on Thursday 13 November and Mr Gordon Topping, Chief Executive of the NEELB, was guest of honour. Both teachers produced online courses which gave pupils opportunities to learn independently, at their own pace and in an environment of their own choosing. We are very proud of our two teachers who both achieved top grades in the programme. ]]> http://www.belfastgms.org/school-life/news/2008/11/congratulations_to_mrs_mckeeve.php http://www.belfastgms.org/school-life/news/2008/11/congratulations_to_mrs_mckeeve.php Achievements Fri, 14 Nov 2008 09:47:26 +0000 BECTA ICT Excellence Awards

Excellence Awards 08

On Thursday 6th November 2008 the school was awarded Joint Regional (N.I.) Winner of the Best Whole School in the use of ICT along with St. Columb's College Londonderry. Mr Graham, Dr Pinkerton, Mrs Leitch and Mrs Gillespie attended a glittering gala dinner in Sheffield to receive the school's award. Lenny Henry presented Mr Graham with a plaque and a cheque for £1000 to be used to purchase ICT equipment for the school. Feedback from the judges was extremely positive. Well done to everyone who contributed to our success.

Winners Certificate

Web Links: BECTA School write up Images ]]> http://www.belfastgms.org/school-life/news/2008/11/becta_ict_escellence_awards.php http://www.belfastgms.org/school-life/news/2008/11/becta_ict_escellence_awards.php Achievements Mon, 10 Nov 2008 10:53:21 +0000 Challenges in Schools What is 'Challenges in Schools'? This is a year 13 enrichment programme run in partnership with the British Council. In April 2008 the British Council flew Mr Mercer out to Prague in the Czech Republic. There he met with three other teachers from Finland, Slovenia and Hungary all with a desire to build bridges between schools across Europe. The project is about looking into the future by drawing on our present experience of school and imagining what it might be like. What will we be doing in CIS? - We will introduce ourselves to 3 schools in Finland, Slovenia and Hungary over the Internet. - We will evaluate the many aspects of school life as they are now - good and bad. - We will begin to imagine how those aspects of school life might be improved for the future and what they might look like in 10-15 years. - We will share our findings with the other schools. - We will host a 3-day conference for the other schools in November. This will include a residential. - We will meet together again in April somewhere in Europe - possibly Paris or Hungary.

You can see the teachers involved in this picture and from left to right they are: Agota from Hungary, Helena from Slovenia, Mr Mercer from Belfast, Anna from Finland and Tom from Australia. Partner School Websites Finland www.jakoy.edu.hel.fi Hungary www.poli.hu Slovenia www.gimvic.org Challenges in schools moodle link: britishcouncil.org]]> http://www.belfastgms.org/school-life/news/2008/09/challenges_in_schools.php http://www.belfastgms.org/school-life/news/2008/09/challenges_in_schools.php Partnerships Mon, 15 Sep 2008 12:35:25 +0000 Well Read

Well-Read Certificate

Pupils were given the opportunity to read factual and informative texts in order to select information; make effective use of information in their own work and evaluate how information is presented. It is hoped that this challenge will have encouraged our pupils to write to inform others through reportage - skills needed for GCSE and skills that can be put to real practical use through membership of the Girls' Model Editorial Team. The pupils' final task was to produce their own newspaper page or pages with roles being delegated according to the pupils' strengths. Overall the English Department was delighted with the pupils' achievement. Each Year 10 pupil is to be presented with a certificate of achievement to commend her hard work. Well done Year 10! ]]> http://www.belfastgms.org/school-life/news/2008/06/well_read.php http://www.belfastgms.org/school-life/news/2008/06/well_read.php Achievements Tue, 24 Jun 2008 14:04:21 +0000 Best Practice Event Belfast Girls Model Best Practice Events.pdf" or contact Mrs Leitch by email pleitch523@girlsmodel.belfast.ni.sch.uk or by telephone 028 90391768 for more details. ]]> http://www.belfastgms.org/school-life/news/2008/06/best_practise_event.php http://www.belfastgms.org/school-life/news/2008/06/best_practise_event.php Events Wed, 11 Jun 2008 09:47:38 +0000 BECTA ICT Mark for Model

Becta ICT Mark

Becta is the Government's lead agency for ICT in education across the whole of the UK. The Becta ICT Mark is a nationally recognised accreditation scheme which gives schools recognition for their achievements in reaching a standard of maturity in their use of technology. Our assessment was carried out by a Lead Assessor from England and a local assessor from Queen's University and feedback from them was extremely positive as they stated that we far exceeded the threshold and our main strengths included:

The whole school approach to ICT and the teamwork displayed by all members of staff within the school is exceptional.
Pupils opinion is valued by staff and pupils adopt a responsible attitude when making suggestions to teachers. There is a clear system for teacher-pupil collaboration.
The strategic and operational leadership and management of ICT are outstanding and underpin all aspects of the school's development plans.
Excellent embedding of ICT into the teaching and learning process.
Opportunities for personalised and individualised learning are very good within the school.
The SMT support and provide excellent opportunities for staff development internally and externally with a clear focus on developing innovative practises across the school.
The extended opportunities for learning are very well developed and integrated into the local community. The school is at the heart of community life and support is acknowledged in both directions.

We are now one of 5 NI ICT Mark schools and the first from the non-grammar sector. Congratulations to all the pupils, staff and partners of the Girls' Model who work hard to develop our use of ICT and help us achieve our vision of "achievement for all". ]]> http://www.belfastgms.org/school-life/news/2008/05/becta_ict_mark_for_model.php http://www.belfastgms.org/school-life/news/2008/05/becta_ict_mark_for_model.php Achievements Fri, 02 May 2008 09:26:57 +0000 Student Voice Leadership Team

]]> http://www.belfastgms.org/school-life/news/2008/04/student_voice_leadership_team.php http://www.belfastgms.org/school-life/news/2008/04/student_voice_leadership_team.php Achievements Wed, 30 Apr 2008 08:52:52 +0000 A Big Thanks

This training was expensive and was paid for by “The Big Deal” lottery funding after an application by one of our head girls Carole Grant proved successful. “The Big Deal” provided us with a very generous £2500 and all of the people involved in Student Voice would like to take this opportunity to thank them for this help. ]]> http://www.belfastgms.org/school-life/news/2008/04/a_big_thanks.php http://www.belfastgms.org/school-life/news/2008/04/a_big_thanks.php Partnerships Wed, 16 Apr 2008 10:33:40 +0000 Model Chefs to cook for Jenny Step-Up Programme “Create ‘n’ Cook” Competition.

The pupils along with Mr McCoo will be heading to the University of Ulster Portrush Campus on Wednesday 9th April to create their own recipes for a team of judges to include Good Food Ambassador and Internationally Celebrated Chef and Author Jenny Bristow. The winners will be announced at an exclusive Jenny Bristow Masterclass event at Spires Conference & Exhibition Centre on Wednesday 23rd April. Well done to the team who created the following dishes: * Spicy Sizzled Chicken * Snappy Zappy Stuffed Tatties * Baguette Broth * Tasty Tempting Terrific Trifle Tickets for the Masterclass Event cost £7 each and are available at the Welcome Centre, Donegal Place, Belfast or online www.gotobelfast.com/events.]]> http://www.belfastgms.org/school-life/news/2008/04/model_chefs_to_cook_for_jenny.php http://www.belfastgms.org/school-life/news/2008/04/model_chefs_to_cook_for_jenny.php Achievements Tue, 01 Apr 2008 09:21:47 +0000 Sound of Music

This year, The Belfast Model School for Girls proudly presents yet another top quality musical for your viewing pleasure. Running each night from Tuesday 8th - Friday 11th April you are invited to join us for our own production of "The Sound of Music". Tickets go on sale immediately after the Easter Break priced £8 for adults and £5 for children. Order forms can be picked up in school and should be returned to the PE Dept or Mrs Young, who will be in the foyer each morning.

Both staff and pupils have been working very hard after school, at weekends and even this week during the Easter break to make this our greatest production ever. As usual we are expecting the demand for tickets to outweigh the number of places available, so get your tickets early to avoid disappointment.]]> http://www.belfastgms.org/school-life/news/2008/03/sound_of_music.php http://www.belfastgms.org/school-life/news/2008/03/sound_of_music.php Events Thu, 20 Mar 2008 14:20:58 +0000 Year 10 Information Events Year 10 pupils will be making their GCSE selection soon. To help with the selection process the school will be holding two Information events. Wednesday 2nd April 2:30-3:30 will be for all pupils in 10M, 10O and 10G and Thursday 3rd April 1:15-2:15 for all pupils in 10D, 10E, 10L and 10B. It's very important that parents of all pupils attend. http://www.belfastgms.org/school-life/news/2008/03/year_10_information_events.php http://www.belfastgms.org/school-life/news/2008/03/year_10_information_events.php Events Fri, 14 Mar 2008 13:50:25 +0000 Construction of New School Begins It's been a long and winding road but our new school is on its way as the builders intend to start construction on 3rd March. The plan is to build the new school beside the existing school, and in three years time we will move into our new residence. Our sport superstars can show off on a full size synthetic hockey pitch, four tennis courts, a synthetic 300 metre running track with a hundred metre sprint lane which will be surrounded by a hockey pitch. Then inside it gets better! We will have a large dance studio, a massive sports hall, a new gym and fitness suite, a performing art theatre with pull out seating and orchestra pit, an extra large stage with back stage facilities including showers, toilets, rehearsal rooms and prop stores. This theatre will open out into an enhanced foyer, which will have a refreshments room. The school canteen will be more comfortable and relaxing as it will have plasma screens, sounds system and vending machines. We are also going to have a large hair and beauty salon which will be built to professional standards and can be hired out by businesses as it provides its own reception and waiting area, below the salon there will be a nursery and creche opened to everyone. The library will be improved and we will have a computer hall which will contain 70PCs! All in all, this will be a fantastic building for us all to enjoy, sadly it will take another 3 years so those of you in year 12 and above will have left long before then. Among the excitement of the new build we encourage pupils to stay safe around the building site and to keep up the standard of the school by maintaining good behaviour around the builders. We look forward to the building of the new school and hope that its facilities will be enjoyed by all. Visitors to the school are asked to enter school via Dunkeld Gardens as normal. http://www.belfastgms.org/school-life/news/2008/02/construction_of_new_school_beg.php http://www.belfastgms.org/school-life/news/2008/02/construction_of_new_school_beg.php New School Mon, 25 Feb 2008 09:45:43 +0000 Northern Ireland Best Practice Awards

The Belfast Model School for Girls is one of three schools in NI to receive a Best Practice Award

The Belfast Model School for Girls has achieved recognition for the development of its excellent and sustainable collaborative partnerships with the community and business organisations. Enabling teachers to work with primary schools in the area, community groups and business representatives is a core outcome of the School's Specialist School status and is one way in which the School has developed its collaborative partnerships. Another is through its involvement in the Full Service Extended Schools programme which supports the School's work with voluntary and statutory agencies and neighbouring communities. Collaboration also takes place with other schools and colleges in terms of provision and sharing best practice to widen curricular choice. This award is further recognition of the opportunities that the Belfast Model School for Girls offers to its pupils to raise achievement and aspirations.]]> http://www.belfastgms.org/school-life/news/2008/02/northern_ireland_best_practice.php http://www.belfastgms.org/school-life/news/2008/02/northern_ireland_best_practice.php Achievements Mon, 11 Feb 2008 19:04:49 +0000 Transfer Procedure for P7 Pupils Monday 4th February - Friday 15th February Primary school principals discuss Transfer Form and preferences with parents. Wednesday 12th March Final date for changes of preference to be received by the Belfast Education and Library Board. Friday 30th May Letters advising parents that their daughter has been accepted by the Girls' Model are issued. Wednesday, 11 June 2008 If you intend to appeal against an admissions decision, this is the last date to do so. Intention of an appeal must be received by the BELB by 4:00pm on this date. It is very important that parents read and check their child's Transfer Form, making sure they have completed the Parents' Remark Section, all the information regarding their child, the reasons for choosing the schools listed, factors relating to schools' admissions criteria and include all documentation schools have asked for relating to documentary verification and special circumstances. To help with the completion of the Transfer Form, the Girls' Model admissions criteria can be downloaded using the following link: Admissions Criteria This website provides a wealth of information about the Belfast Model School for Girls and it may be helpful to check out some of the pages before making your final decision.]]> http://www.belfastgms.org/school-life/news/2008/02/transfer_procedure_for_p7_pupi.php http://www.belfastgms.org/school-life/news/2008/02/transfer_procedure_for_p7_pupi.php Events Fri, 01 Feb 2008 10:17:12 +0000