50th Celebrations
September 1961. A new school uniform appears along Irish Green Street, Limavady. Grey jumpers, grey trousers and skirts, black ties with red, yellow and white stripes. Groups of apprehensive pupils make their way in from the street to what had previously been the red-bricked buildings of Limavady Grammar School and the old Technical College. A new school is opening its doors for the first time; it is called Limavady Intermediate School and its new Principal is a gentleman called Mr Stanley Stewart. So begins a hugely positive legacy which the school has contributed to the educational, social and cultural life of the Roe Valley.
Limavady Intermediate School staff, 1964/65
September 2011, 50 years later, Limavady High School is celebrating its Silver Anniversary in style. The Board of Governors and Leadership Team of the school have planned a number of key events to mark a half century of educational provision in the town.
Prize Day, on Thursday 27th October, will be a particularly special event. Mr Bertie Robinson MBE, former Vice Principal of the school and one who began his teaching career here right at the start, will be the chief guest. Other members of staff from the early days will also be present as special guests. No doubt many fond memories will be shared over coffee at that event!
In November, from 21st to 25th, a week-long exhibition of school memorabilia and photographs will be held in the Roe Valley Arts and Culture Centre. This will of course be open to the general public; indeed any contributions from former pupils will be gratefully received. The final evening of the exhibition coincides with a special 50th Anniversary Concert in the same venue; this concert will feature music and dance from no less than 12 School Shows from earlier years and will involve current and former students of the school.
A Special Carol Service will be held in the Assembly hall of the school on Tuesday 20th December and a former LHS German teacher, Miss Joanne Megarrel, now minister of St John’s Parish, Moira, will be our guest speaker.
In the New Year a 50th Anniversary five-a-side football competition will be held at the school; appropriately the event will be called the “High-Fives Football Tournament”.
Some student leaders discuss anniversary plans with Mr Dunlop, Mr Bartlett and Miss McCullagh
March 2nd 2012 is the date for a celebratory dinner in Radisson Roe Park Hotel to which will be invited current and former teachers, members and previous members of the Board of Governors, some former pupils and special guests from the Roe Valley Learning Community.
Our annual school formal this year on 16th March will have a Sixties theme; it has been observed that one or two members of staff will not need to alter their dress-code to any great degree!
Finally, a fun event called Roe-lympics will be held on Friday 1st June, coinciding with the journey of the Olympic torch through north Antrim and Derry. Primary School pupils and some former pupils will be invited to take part in this sports/fun event which will be run by High School staff and members of the School Forum.
D Dunlop
Head-teacher
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