Diamonds are forever at Omagh High School

OMAGH High School has honoured all the local people and businesses who have made significant contributions to life at the school since it first opened 60 years ago.

As part of the series of events to mark this milestone, principal Christos Gaitatzis presented special ‘Diamond Jubilee’ commendation awards in recognition of service and dedication to Omagh High School.

Mr Gaitatzis said that, when events marking the 60th anniversary were being planned, they wanted to acknowledge all those individuals they felt had given so much to the school over the last six decades.

He said, “It is our conviction, as servants of education, to use the raw materials available and use the effectively to produce something extremely pure.”

The principal said that, deep down under the ground, huge amounts of the “humble element” carbon can be found, formed as coal or graphite.

He explained that, under the right pressure and temperature, this can turn into something amazing, pure and transparent, to allow white light to go through it and show colours and patterns, depending on its nature.

Mr Gaitatzis said, “If we see Omagh High School’s educational process over the years, this is what we observe. The transformation of our little graphites to pure diamonds.

“It is the intensity of our teaching staff, the pressure and heat that they place on our pupils to make this process a reality.”

Paying tribute to all the individuals who had helped the High School over the years, the principal said that this journey of carbon to diamond became a reality “because of people like you”.

He said, “Those that came in to the school to support and help us when we needed the extra hand; kept the school building open after normal hours; spent hours advising our youngsters, guiding with their experience the staff; catering for the needs of the school beyond the normal hours… You are all a part of this diamond journey.

“You have offered, through your interaction with the school, that necessary catalyst to make the conversion from coal to diamond a reality in the past 60 years.”