The Wallace High School | Prospectus 2023

Principal's WELCOME

What a difference a yearmakes! As OpenMorning approached in 2022wewere still in an era characterised by limitations and restrictions. Some of themost important and highly anticipated events of aWallace school year couldn’t happen at all or had to bemodified dramatically, leading to online versions of Christmas Pie, the Carol Service andOpen Morning itself. I am, therefore, delighted to anticipate our first “live” OpenMorning since 2020 and look forward towelcoming prospective pupils and parents. 2021-2022 can be viewed as a transitional year. When it began pupils were still wearing facemasks, rigorous enhanced cleaning schedules were in place, teachers taught in highly ventilated classrooms (open windows and doors were the norm) and therewas still a strong sense of confinement and limitation. As the year progressed advicewasmodified, facemasks vanished and school returned tomany of the rhythms of past years especially in the playing of competitive sport. Themost iconic competition in school sport inNorthern Ireland, the highly competitive semi-final at Kingspan and our teams in all years and sports enjoyed significant success coupledwith a new-found awareness of the sheer joy of the camaraderie of teamsports. Wewere especially delightedwhen our girls won the Cricket Schools’ Cup and hope Danske Bank Schools’ Cup, sawour 1st XVplaying in a

“ Iwant our youngpeople toknowthat theymatter, that theybelong.Sodon’t beafraid…don’t beafraid. Be focused.Bedetermined. Behopeful. Be empowered. Empower yourselveswithagoodeducation, thenget out thereanduse that education tobuildacountry worthyof your boundless promise.”

(Former First Lady, Michelle Obama, during her final speech as First Lady)

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