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St Mary’s High School, in conjunction with Queens University Law School, hosted a very successful Area Learning Community Seminar with Students from schools in the Newry & Mourne Area Learning Community attended the event where they received first hand information about studying for a Law degree at Queens University Belfast.
The interactive event began with an introduction from Gordon Anthony, Admissions Officer, School of Law who focussed on career opportunities after studying the Law Degree. This was followed by a presentation from Professor Sally Wheeler, Head of the School of Law: "Why a Queen's Law Degree?" This focused on the skills element of the degree; subjects to be taken and staff-student expectations.
To conclude the event, Mrs Meave Gilchrist, School Manager, offered invaluable insights into the student experience at Queen's and addressed matters such as pastoral care and personal development within the University.
A question and answer session involving the pupils, closed the event.
Student comments included “Very much enjoyed the presentation – informative and interesting” “The speakers were helpful in answering questions about personal statements, admission and conversion courses linked to international opportunities” and “Excellent informative speakers. A fresh insight into Law at Queens!!”
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Representatives from Armagh, Craigavon & Newry District Councils along with DSD, Southern Regional College, and the Southern Area Hospice attended the Launch of the Cancer Wise Report. The occasion also saw the graduation of 38 local residents who qualified with the City and Guilds Level 2 Certificate in Adult Social Care. Three of whom have now gained FT employment as a direct result of this programme.
The Cancer Wise Programme which was developed in consultation with the Southern Area Hospice Service, the Neighbourhood Renewal Partnership Boards and the Southern Regional College, and funded by the Department of Social Development, focused on researching cancer care in NRAs in Southern Region of Northern Ireland to inform the need for a Hospice at Home Service and the training of local people from Armagh, Craigavon and Newry NRAs in health care, personal development and job ready skills
Mrs Ann Cooney Chief Executive of the Southern Area Hospice stated “The Southern Area Hospice is delighted to have been involved with the SRC in the Cancer Wise Project. The research conducted as part of the project is very timely and beneficial to the Hospice, in light of the new changes underway in the NI Health Service with the Introduction of Transforming Your Care Strategy. The research gives the Hospice a better understanding of cancer and palliative and end of life care needs for patients, and carers residing in Neighbourhood Renewal Areas. This research will inform our strategy going forward. I congratulate all those who completed the training programme and wish them well in their careers.”
Southern Regional College Cancer Wise Programme was unique to N Ireland in that it was the first training and research programme that had as one of its aims the task of conducting research across the southern region which aimed to identify gaps in service provision relating to cancer care and the possible need for cancer care services in the home via a Hospice at Home Service.
David Vint, Assistant Director of Community and Schools Partnership at SRC said of the programme; “It is great to see a programme having genuine positive influence within our local communities. It is our ambition at SRC to be actively promoting programmes within our region which tackle unemployment. This programme provided opportunities to encourage the economically inactive and long-term unemployed back into the workplace and help participants gain skills and confidence that may lead to future education or employment.”
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Southern Regional College recently made awards to over 200 students from local high schools in a ceremony for students participating on the School Partnerships’ Programme (SPP) at Southern Regional College, Newry Campus.
Southern Regional College welcomed Year 12 students from Kilkeel High School, Newry High School, Newtownhamilton High School, Rathore School Newry, St Columban’s College Kilkeel, St Joseph’s High School Crossmaglen, St Joseph’s Boys High School Newry, St Mark’s High School Warrenpoint, St Mary’s High School Newry and St Paul’s High School Bessbrook to celebrate their achievements at this special awards ceremony.
The School Partnership Programme enables Year 11 and 12 students in the school sector to sample areas including, digital imaging, joinery, beauty, hospitality, hairdressing and motor mechanics to name a few, in order to make a more informed career decision. The students on the SPP programme attend SRC one day per week for two years and achieve recognised qualifications on completion of their studies.
Guest Speaker on the day was Ms Margo Cosgrove, Principal of St Mary’s High School and Chair of the Area Learning Community for Newry and Mourne.
Best in School Awards were presented to Richard Shannon from Kilkeel High School, Simana Ale from Newry High School, Steven Geary from Newtownhamilton High School, Aislinn Thornton from Rathore School Newry, Deaglan Morgan from St Columban’s College, Danielle O’Callaghan from St Joseph’s High School, Tony McDermott from St Joseph’s Boys High School, Chloe Rooney from St Mark’s High School, Seanin Quinn from St Mary’s High School and Michaela McGrath from St Paul’s High School Bessbrook
SPP Student of the Year was awarded to Richard Shannon from Kilkeel High School. Lecturers said “Richard is a quiet well mannered young man. He took part in the Skill Build competition in year 11 representing Joinery and performed to a high standard. In year 12 Richard successfully completed Plumbing and Brickwork and again represented SPP pupils at Skill Build competition in plumbing. Richard is an outstanding pupil who is well deserving of this award”.
Brian Doran, Chief Executive, Southern Regional College, commenting on the close partnership working between local schools and SRC said.
“The partnership between Southern Regional College and the schools in the Banbridge Area Learning Community provides opportunities to pupils to benefit from a wider curriculum by undertaking a range of courses not available to them in school. The various courses lead to nationally-recognised qualifications that will not only help pupils make better career choices but will also help them get employment in the continuing challenging economic environment.”
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Local Students from the Southern Regional College attended the recent two day Skillbuild Regional Finals event and returned with an unprecedented 15 awards. The college sent 23 Trainees for the competition which pits the best young talents in a range of construction trades against all of the other Regional Colleges and Training Organisations across Northern Ireland.
The Southern Regional College trainees picked up 13 skill area awards, Skillbuild NI Chairpersons Cup (most competitors to qualify for the regional finals) and the Skillbuild NI DEL Cup (winners of the medals league table).
Five of the trainees from Southern Regional College received Gold Medals including; Norbert Papp from Banbridge for Cabinet Making, William Megaw from Hilltown for Joinery, Neil Byrne from Newry for Lead Sheetwork, Brendan Magee from Mayobridge for Painting & Decorating and Gary Doyle from Katesbridge for Plumbing.
Southern Regional College, Head of School of Construction and the Built Environment, Lindsay Bronte, said “This is an outstanding success for the SRC student and staff and it was great to see the students achieving this level of success. The standard of the competitions is clearly improving year on year. This success provides a great platform for the young people to go further and represent NI in the UK competitions later in the year and hopefully on the World Skills in Leipzig in summer 2013. This success will also gain them an edge in the very competitive jobs
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Hannah Catterall, a 1st year student on the Extended Diploma in Art & Design at Southern Regional College, Newry Campus, recently entered a digital photography exhibition and was awarded the Champions prize in the Action Category for an Electronic Image.
Hannah is a member of the Exmoor Pony Society and frequently shows ponies at events across Ireland. Her love for ponies is what gained her the prize as her work captured the elegant movement of a pony trotting across the shore.
Judges at the competition commented: “We liked everything about this photograph! Spot on for its category, unusual subject and technically excellent.”
Hannah was also awarded Supreme Champion in the overall photographic competition and received a trophy, rosettes, certificates and prize money of £50, as well as an enlargement of the prize winning photograph.
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Students from Southern Regional College recently took part in a conservation programme on the canal, building nest boxes with wood donated by Haldane Fisher in Portadown, and installing them at different points along the Newry Canal.
The work was completed as a joint venture between SRC and the Inland Waterways Association of Ireland (IWAI) Partnership as part of the canal restoration project.
For more information on the project, please check the IWAI Newry/Portadown Facebook page, or contact branch secretary Geraldine Foley on 079 8119 3481.
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Castlewellan girl Anna Pawlowska has had her achievement recognised at the prestigious Apprentice of the Year Awards where she was winner in the Recognition Award category. Anna, 25, is following an apprenticeship in Health and Social Care at Southern Regional College, Newry Campus and is employed by Corriewood Private Clinic in Castlewellan.
The awards ceremony, organised by the Department for Employment and Learning, was held in Belfast’s Holiday Inn and was hosted by TV presenter Claire McCollum. The Recognition Award is presented to the apprentice who has overcome challenges or obstacles and who through personal determination has achieved skills and qualifications during their time on ApprenticeshipsNI.
Congratulating the winners, the Department for Employment and Learning’s Permanent Secretary Alan Shannon said: “The Apprentice of the Year Awards are testimony to the real skills and talent Northern Ireland has to offer. Apprenticeships play a vital role in ensuring that we have a better skilled, modern and dynamic workforce to drive our economy forward. Apprenticeships work for both businesses and individuals, providing companies with a skilled workforce to help them grow and giving individuals such as Anna both hands-on experience and qualifications.”
Speaking about her success, Anna said: “Since commencing my apprenticeship I have developed both personally and professionally. Approximately three years ago I started working in the area of care, since then I have worked to develop skills in this area, undertaking studies in Dementia Awareness, Epilepsy Awareness, Health and Safety and First Aid. When the opportunity to complete the Apprenticeship scheme was offered by my manager I knew I had the determination and commitment to achieve.”
Teresa McClean from Corriewood Private Clinic in Castlewellan said: “Anna is an excellent member of the team in the care setting, based in the area of learning disability. Anna commenced employment in 2010 and since then has continually developed skills in care. Anna is worthy of this award as she is committed to the caring profession and the clients in her care.”
Mairead Ruddle from Southern Regional College in Newry said: “Anna is an inspiration, she is motivational and enthusiastic. Anna has engaged fully in her programme of study and approaches personal development in a professional manner.”
There are over 9,000 apprentices currently in training in Northern Ireland. All are following a training framework developed with the relevant industry sector, which includes attainment of a Vocational Qualification, a technical certificate and if necessary specified essential skills.
The Apprentice of the Year competition is open to those currently on the Department for Employment and Learning’s Apprenticeships programmes and showcases excellence in apprenticeship training.
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Darragh Loughran and Klaudia Lisek, students at Southern Regional College were recently recognised at the third annual Business & Education through Skills & Training (BEST) Awards. Over 100 college students from across Northern Ireland competed for the Awards, organised by Colleges NI, at the Armagh City Hotel. The BEST Awards celebrate the creative and innovative talent within Northern Ireland’s six Regional Colleges in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
Darragh Loughran an Engineering student at Newry Campus won the overall prize for 16-18 year old category and Klaudia Lisek, a second year HND Graphic Design student at Lurgan Campus won the overall prize in the over 18 category.
Dr Stephen Farry who presented the awards said: “The BEST Awards has established itself as the annual showcase for STEM talent within colleges and I have been greatly impressed by the high standards shown by all the entries. I hope that many of the people here today continue to be inspired by these subjects and go on to have a successful career in this sector in Northern Ireland”.
The competition focuses on the application of STEM knowledge across a broad range of disciplines including engineering, science, creative media, built environment and software.
Colleges NI Chief Executive Gerry Campbell said: “The standard and quality of entries in this year’s competition is a testament to the creativity and innovation in our Colleges. Our students will go on to be the innovators, creators and business leaders of tomorrow. I also want to pay tribute to all those hard working and dedicated staff in our Colleges who have supported the participants and contributed so much to enriching the learning experience of their students.”
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Noise Action Week is an annual national campaign which aims to raise awareness of the impact of excessive noise on communities and individuals and highlight possible solutions.
To coincide with Noise Action Week 2013 Officers from Newry and Mourne District Council’s Environment, Health and Building Services Department visited a number of secondary schools in the District between 20th and 25th May 2013, to raise awareness of the dangers of premature hearing loss due to the use of personal music players. As part of the presentation students were able to have their I pods and mp3 players tested to ensure the level they are listening to is safe.
Deputy Mayor Councillor Packie McDonald attended one of the presentations and is pictured with Year 9 students from the Sacred Heart Grammar School. Also pictured is Sinead Trainor Senior Environmental Health Officer and Geography teacher Mrs Brennan.
Participating schools were St Mary’s High School, Sacred Heart Grammar School, St Paul’s High School, St Louis Grammar School, Newtownhamilton High School and St Mark’s High School.
For further information on noise nuisance please visit the following websites www.newryandmourne.gov.uk/environment/Health/Environmental_Protection/Noise_Nuisance.aspx
or contact the Environment Health and Building Services Department of the Council on 028 3031 3100
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