📰 Dominican College Portstewart
February & March News Round-Up
February and March have been packed with activity, achievement and opportunity at Dominican College Portstewart. From international travel and academic success to sporting triumphs and creative expression, it has been a fantastic period that truly reflects the breadth of life at DCP.
We are incredibly proud of our students and staff, whose commitment, enthusiasm and talent continue to shape such a vibrant and successful school community.
🌍 Learning Beyond the Classroom
🇵🇱 Poland Trip – Kraków
In February, our Geography and History students travelled to Kraków for a powerful and memorable educational experience. The trip provided students with the opportunity to explore key historical sites, deepening their understanding of major events studied in the classroom.
Alongside the historical learning, students experienced Polish culture, architecture and local life, making this a truly enriching trip. It was a reflective and meaningful experience that will stay with students for many years to come.
📚 Heaney Homeplace – Year 13 English Literature
Our Year 13 English Literature students enjoyed an inspiring visit to the Seamus Heaney Homeplace. Accompanied by Mrs Heaney, students explored the life and work of one of Ireland’s greatest poets.
The visit offered valuable insight into Heaney’s inspirations and themes, allowing students to connect more deeply with their course material. Experiences like this bring literature to life and enhance students’ understanding far beyond the classroom.
🎿 Ski Trip – Bulgaria
Our Year 10 pupils enjoyed an unforgettable week in Bulgaria as part of this year’s ski trip. Whether stepping onto skis for the first time or developing existing skills, students showed great resilience and determination on the slopes.
The trip was not only about skiing — it was also about building confidence, independence and friendships. It was fantastic to see students supporting one another and making memories that will last a lifetime.
💡 Academic Excellence & Innovation
➗ UK Maths Challenge
We are delighted with this year’s results in the UK Maths Challenge, with students achieving:
- 🥉 8 Bronze Certificates
- 🥈 8 Silver Certificates
- 🥇 Gold Certificate awarded to Oliver Goode (Year 12)
These results reflect the strong mathematical ability within our school and the dedication of students who challenged themselves to think critically and problem-solve at a high level.
💼 Young Enterprise Success
Our Young Enterprise teams represented DCP superbly at the Big Market Trade Fair, where their creativity, teamwork and business acumen were on full display.
Bringing home three awards, the teams demonstrated excellent entrepreneurial skills, from product development to marketing and sales. This success is a testament to their hard work and the strength of enterprise education within the school.
🤖 First Lego League – W5 Belfast
A huge well done to our team who took part in the First Lego League competition at W5 in Belfast. Competing for the first time, the team impressed judges with their innovation and technical ability.
Their efforts were rewarded with the “Best Overall Design” award for their robot — a fantastic achievement and a brilliant foundation for future participation in STEM competitions.
🏆 Sport & Extra-Curricular Success
Sport continues to thrive at DCP, with our teams achieving outstanding success across multiple disciplines.
⚽ U16 Football – League Champions
Congratulations to our U16 Football team who were crowned League B Champions. This success reflects their commitment, teamwork and determination throughout the season.
🏐 NEBSSA Volleyball
Our boys’ and girls’ volleyball teams enjoyed tremendous success at the NEBSSA competitions, returning with an impressive collection of silverware. Their performances highlighted skill, teamwork and resilience.
🏐 Gaelic Games
- 🥈 U14 GAA – Runners-up in the Brother Sharkey Cup after a strong campaign
- 🏆 U19 GAA – Nolan Cup Champions
A particularly special moment came with our U19 team, who secured the Nolan Cup victory against St Patrick’s Academy, Lisburn — making it third time lucky after previous final appearances. A fantastic achievement and a well-deserved reward for their perseverance and dedication.
🥾 Duke of Edinburgh Award
The Duke of Edinburgh Award season is now underway, with our Bronze participants already taking part in practice hikes.
These early stages are vital in developing teamwork, resilience and navigation skills, and it has been great to see such enthusiasm from our students as they begin their DofE journey.
🎯 New Darts Club
We are delighted to introduce a brand new extra-curricular opportunity at DCP — our first ever Darts Club.
Already proving popular with students, the club offers a fun and social environment while also developing focus, precision and friendly competition.
🎶 Celebrating Music & Community
🎼 Retirement of Mr Terry Cloughley
This term marked the retirement of Mr Terry Cloughley, following over 30 years of dedicated service to Dominican College Portstewart.
Throughout his time in DCP, Mr Cloughley served as a Music teacher, Head of Music and Senior Teacher, leaving a lasting legacy through countless school productions, concerts and liturgical celebrations. He has inspired generations of students and played a central role in shaping the musical life of the school.
We thank him sincerely for his commitment, passion and contribution to our school community, and wish him a long and happy retirement.
🎤 Evening of Music
Our annual Evening of Music, held on Wednesday 25th March, was a wonderful celebration of the talent within our school.
Students from across all year groups showcased their musical abilities in a fantastic evening of performance. The event not only highlighted the high standard of music in DCP but also served as a fitting tribute to the contribution of Mr Cloughley.
🌼 Looking Ahead
As we reach the end of a busy and successful term, we would like to wish all our students, staff and families a happy and restful Easter break.
For our Year 11–14 students, this is an important time to begin focused revision in preparation for the upcoming GCSE and A-Level examinations. Consistent effort now will make a significant difference in the months ahead.
👏 Final Thoughts
These past two months have once again demonstrated the incredible range of opportunities available at Dominican College Portstewart. Whether in the classroom, on the sports field, on stage, or beyond, our students continue to represent the school with pride, determination and excellence.
We look forward to building on this success as we move into the final term of the academic year.