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Cllr Charlie Casey, Mayor of Newry and Mourne District Council hosted members of the teaching staff of St. Mary’s High School, Newry and pupils to a Civic Reception in the Council Chamber to mark the 50th Anniversary of the School.
Speaking at the Reception Mayor Casey said: “Over the past 50 years St. Mary’s High School has went on to built up an excellent reputation as a school who record of achievement and pastoral care are second to none.
The objectives of secondary education are the acquisition of knowledge, skills, values and attitudes which train students for a continuation of education or entry into the workforce. St. Mary’s has a reputation for education excellence and has produced pupils who have gone on to achieve success in many fields. Indeed we have with us tonight, Karen McKevitt, a former pupil of St. Mary’s High School who is now a Member of the Legislative Assembly.
I am aware that St. Mary’s provide high quality education through a broad and balanced curriculum. I am also aware that your results continue to be consistently well above average and that a high percentage of your pupils go on to further education.
As a recognition of this excellent, in April 2009, the then Minister for Education, Catriona Ruane, designated St. Mary’s as a Specialist School in Mathematics and Business. This accolade recognised your success and acknowledged your planning for future improvement.
However, education is about much more than obtaining academic and or vocational qualifications. It is about personal and social development and should equip young people with the necessary life skills.
I am pleased to note through looking through your website, that students also enjoy a wide range of extra curricular activates. I also note that the school participates in a number of projects such as the Eco project, the SNAG project and I was particularly interested in the African School Project where your partner school is St. Mary’s in Nigeria. I had the pleasure of hosting a Reception for Sr. Paulina where she was in Newry in November and I am well aware of the support which your school gives to St. Mary’s in Nigeria.
All of these activates and initiatives ensures that each of your students is afforded the opportunity to develop their own personal skills, whether this be in the area of the arts, sport, the environment or community. It also allows each girl to realise her full potential and develop self discipline, good interpersonal skills and the spiritual and moral values to become good citizens.
Tonight I would like to put on record my Council’s thanks to the teaching staff of St. Mary’s, past and present, for your of achievement in education, your progressive vision, and above all on your pastoral care provision.
Over the past 50 years your school can be proud of the part you have played in the lives of thousand of girls who I am sure they look back at their time at St. Mary’s with very fond memories.
I have no doubt that St. Mary’s High School will continue to provide an excellent environment for future generation of girls and it only remains for me to wish the school every success in the future”
