Overview
Year 8 Pastoral Programme Overview
Year 8 is a very important transition year for our pupils. During this year we help the pupils adapt to “big school” and watch them flourish and become confident young women. The Form Teachers and Year Head guide the pupils through all the challenges they may encounter during this year.
We maintain very close links with all our feeder Primary Schools and build on the excellent foundations the pupils have received in their early education. The Year 8 Pastoral Programme is tailored to help and support the pupils become inspirational women who are Fully Alive in all aspects of society.
The following provides a flavour of some of the content covered in the Pastoral Programme in this critical year:
Transition Activities
Transition activities
- Promoting Faith and links to local parishes
- Gideon’s bible workshop in collaboration with BLC schools
- Safety Bus visit and road safety activities facilitated by Translink
- Study skills workshop facilitated by Amazing Brains
- Promoting positive Mental Health assisted by Action Mental Health and HiP
- On-line Internet Safety workshop facilitated by Action for Children
- Anti-Bullying assisted by Anti-Bullying Alliance material
- Thinking of others and promoting good friendships
- Alcohol and drug awareness workshop with the “Smashed Project”
- Promoting inclusion workshops and talks from Autism and Intervention Service and Guide Dogs NI
- Democracy and citizenship in co-operation with Learning for Life and Work classes.
In this academic year, a focus on online support had been added to the Pastoral Programme to provide a link between pupils and staff for when pupils were not in the school building. This action also assisted pupil transition to online learning.
Year 8 pupils took part in an on-line HiP workshop. This helped the pupils build up resilience, understand their feeling around the Covid pandemic and keeping things in perspective.Pupils also took part in lunch time activities such as Just Dance, bingo, board games and the daily mile.
Charities
Christmas Charities
Year 8 students enjoy organising fundraising activities such as bake sales, raffles and games. This year students enjoyed a ‘Movie Day’ which raised much needed funds for our sister school in South Africa, and the Daisy Lodge Cancer Fund for Children in Northern Ireland.
School Council Representative
School Council Representative
Faith (8B) is our student council representative this year! She plays an important role representing the student voice in the year group.
Extra Curricular Activities
Extra-Curricular activities
Year 8 Students enjoy developing their talents through our many sports teams, musical groups and drama opportunities. Additionally, well-earned treats in school such as a visit from the Ice-Cream Van, Tic Toc competitions, Movie days and Christmas Dinners are always well received!