Belfast Model
School for Girls

It’s often scary to be leaving school and saying goodbye to so many familiar things and people but this is an opportunity to turn this experience into something positive – a new beginning.

Take on board the experiences you gained at school and learn from them, the rest of your life is up to you!

After a While

After a while you learn
the subtle difference between holding a hand
and chaining a soul
and you learn that love doesn’t mean security
and you begin to learn that kisses aren’t contracts
and presents aren’t promises
and you begin to accept your defects
with your head up and your eyes ahead
with the grace of a human being
and not the grief of a child
and you learn to build all your roads on today
because tomorrow’s ground is too uncertain for plans
and futures have a way of falling down in mid-flight.
After a while you learn
that even sunshine burns if you ask too much.
So plant your own garden
and decorate your own soul
instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers.
And you learn that you really can endure
that you really are strong
and you really do have worth
and you learn
and you learn.
And with every good-bye you learn.

Author Unknown

Well, it’s that time of year when our Year 12, 13 and 14 pupils are finishing off final preparations for external examinations.  Very soon the GCSEs, A/S and ‘A’ level examinations will be upon us and these senior girls will be on study leave making sure they have organised their revision programmes and having time to “chill out” before their examination schedule kicks in.

Hopefully most of our Year 12 and Year 13 students will be back with us next September to continue their studies but for the Year 14 girls it will be the end of another chapter in their young lives as their seven years at the ‘Model’ will be at an end.  I know from talking to them that it will be an emotional time as they have really enjoyed their school days here with lots of really good memories of meeting new people, creating friendships, new experiences and challenges and being part of the ‘Model’ family.  From talking to past pupils over the last few years it is amazing that so many have very fond memories of their days here and the range of ‘magic moments’ that they recall to me shows the vast array of experiences we offer → school trips and visits, sports teams, Young Enterprise activities, SU weekends, Rock Challenge competitions, school productions, class teachers, guest speakers etc etc etc.  The list goes on and many ex-pupils still remember vividly what happened ten, twenty, thirty or even forty years ago.

We are lucky to have so many ex-pupils on our staff both teaching and non-teaching.  I think I counted almost thirty when I was involved in our Golden Jubilee celebrations.  They take a special pride in the school and their enthusiasm and dedication rubs off on the rest of us who also feel the special magic of working in the Girls’ Model.

When I say cheerio to the Year 14 students at the forthcoming leavers’ lunch I know that I will be sad at losing such a great group of girls but, at the same time, I will be so proud of each and every one of them as they embark on the next stage of life’s journey wherever it may lead.  I know that they will also be experiencing the same emotions and I wish everyone success in whatever they decide to do.

So, good luck to everyone who is sitting external examinations and I hope that they all achieve their potential and I feel confident that they have been given every opportunity during their time at Girls’ Model as we all have their interests at the centre of all that we do.