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It was a special day for St Paul's High School, Bessbrook yesterday 24 April when the school's first principal and a former art teacher made a visit to present a pencil drawing of the ‘old St Paul’s’.
Michael Warde was principal of the school an incredible 30 years from it opened in 1966 until 1996 and she was accompanied by Maureen Smyth who taught art at the school. The pencil drawing was done by Mrs Smyth’s son, past pupil Andrew Smyth.
Current principal, Dáithí Murray welcomed them to the school along with some staff who taught there during Mr Warde’s time, and some staff who were past pupils during his many years at the helm. Chair of the Board of Governors, Mrs Eileen Fearon, was also there.
The library at the school was named in the former principal's memory and the drawing will be displayed there in the appropriately named Michael Warde Library.
Mr Warde was very pleased to be introduced to pupils on his walkabout and praised staff for ‘keeping the atmosphere in St Paul’s alive.’ He eagerly sought out images of his own children on the walls for winning team netball and soccer accolades. Mr Warde also said he always appreciates past pupils approaching him and marvelled that the ‘bold ones’ always made time for him.
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An intensive four week bootcamp has been completed by a group of aspiring chefs from the Southern Regional College in Newry.
Throughout the bootcamp, students honed their skills, crafting a variety of mouthwatering dishes from scratch. The concluding celebratory event served as a platform to exhibit their established expertise, leaving guests impressed with their culinary creations.
Fully funded by the Newry Mourne and Down Labour Market Partnership the bootcamp saw eleven participants successfully complete the programme, culminating in a showcase celebratory lunch at SRC’s Graduate Restaurant at the Newry East Campus.
Acknowledging the invaluable support from establishments like Killeavy Castle Estate, The Whistledown Hotel, and The Canal Court Hotel, participants were provided with practical placement opportunities to further polish their talents. Some even seized employment offers directly from these placements. Other participants aimed to utilise this experience to expand their skill set, with some participants expressing aspirations of establishing their own small café or restaurant venue in the future.
Meanwhile, other participants seek return to the College to expand their hospitality and catering qualifications which range from patisserie and confectionary to recreational courses in festive food, fish dishes, Italian and Mediterranean dishes.
Teresa Armstrong participant of the programme commented “I have thoroughly enjoyed this four-week programme so much so that it has inspired me to continue learning. I plan to enrol onto the level 2 patisserie and confectionary course offered within Southern Regional College to further enhance my knowledge.”
Jeffrey Smyth, Business Development Executive at Southern Regional College’s Business Support and Innovation Team said it was a privilege to be involved in coordinating the programme. "Seeing students gain confidence in cooking top-tier dishes, navigate an industrial kitchen, and refine their culinary expertise was truly remarkable. The exceptional quality of the dishes they created spoke volumes, and it was heartwarming for loved ones to witness their accomplishments during the graduation ceremony.”
Kytrina Mullan, Skills and Employability Officer for Newry, Mourne and Down District Council added “I was thrilled to attend the celebration event at SRC and to sample the fantastic range of fare produced by participants of the Chef Bootcamp Employability Academy. Newry, Mourne and Down Labour Market Partnership were delighted to provide this opportunity for individuals with an appetite to gain new skills and consider the hospitality sector as a viable career option, while giving local employers access to suitably qualified potential employees.”
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SRC in partnership with Almac Group were crowned winners of the Mentor Award at the Department for Economy’s NI Apprenticeship Awards 2024.
Helen Goodrich, Senior Analytical Team Leader at Almac Sciences, emerged as the deserving recipient of this accolade. Her unwavering commitment and exceptional contribution to the growth and journey of apprentices earned her this esteemed recognition.
Helen plays a pivotal role in fostering the development of SRC’s Higher-Level Apprenticeship Applied Industrial Science students employed within Almac. Beyond her day-to-day responsibilities, Helen is actively involved in the WorldSkills competition series. Each year, Helen supports students throughout their entire competition journey, from encouraging participation, to providing guidance during rigorous training programs.
The award celebrates the essential role mentors play in the seamless integration of apprentices into the workplace. This impact is threefold; from nurturing both professional and technical competencies, to making positive contributions to the business environment.
Rebecca Liggett, current WorldSkills UK Gold medallist in the area of Laboratory Technician and WorldSkills UK 2024 Squad Member commented “Achieving gold at the WorldSkills National Finals was a great experience. Helen travelled to the competition with me, and it was comforting to have her with on the journey with me. She regularly checked in with me during the competition which made the entire process a little easier. I really appreciated this.”
Rebecca is a current Higher Level Apprenticeship student in Applied Industrial Science at the College’s Newry campus. A foundation degree programme which combines workplace learning alongside College tutoring.
Deirdre Murray, lecturer at Southern Regional College added “Empathetic, supportive and thoughtful are insufficient to portray the commitment and personal interest Helen has for all the Higher Level Apprenticeships students she has and currently mentors. Working alongside Helen has been a rewarding and inspirational experience. She is always willing to put in extra time and effort going the extra mile to ensure our Higher Level Apprenticeship students achieve their potential.”
Having come through an apprenticeship programme herself, Helen is passionate and a true advocate of the apprenticeship pathway. Helen commented "It's an honour to have been awarded the NI Apprenticeship Awards 2024 Mentor Award. I'm really proud of the Higher Level Apprenticeship scheme we've been able to build at Almac and the value our apprentices bring to our business. It's a privilege to be part of, and I look forward to continuing to shape the scheme in the years to come"
The College would also like to congratulate Mark Savage from Re-Gen Waste Ltd who was also shortlisted as a finalist in the mentor award. Mark continues to mentor and guide many of our Higher Level Apprentice Accounting Technician students.
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A team of students from Our Lady’s Grammar School, Newry are joining teams from across the island at the Bank of Ireland Money Smarts Virtual Challenge being held on 16 and 17 April.
Bank of Ireland’s Money Smarts Challenge is designed to help students learn about managing money, while also encouraging them to engage with the idea of financial wellbeing in a fun and interactive way.
The team from Our Lady’s Grammar School, Newry have secured their place at the event, with over 300 teams from 80 schools across the island of Ireland taking part. The students will be competing to be crowned a Money Smarts Champion and have the opportunity to win funds for their school.
Speaking ahead of the Money Smarts Challenge events, Shirleen McCann, Senior Community Engagement Manager at Bank of Ireland UK said: “Money Smarts is all about giving students and young people an opportunity to learn about financial wellbeing and money management in a way that’s engaging and relevant to them.
“Financial literacy and being able to make informed financial decisions are vital life skills and it’s really important that we embed them in our young people especially when they are preparing to step into employment and plan for third level education."
Money Smarts is Bank of Ireland’s free financial literacy programme for secondary school students which brings financial literacy into the classroom, to equip students with key life skills, and to encourage positive conversations to ensure young people have the confidence to make informed decisions and can take charge of their own financial future.
Further detail on Bank of Ireland’s Youth Financial Wellbeing is available at: Bank of Ireland UK
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Southern Regional College (SRC) has hosted a special evening celebrating its outstanding performance as the UK’s best in WorldSkills UK for a second year running.
All of the college’s winners and finalists were honoured at a ceremony on Tuesday night at the Graduate Restaurant at the Newry East Campus.
WorldSkills UK is a partnership between education providers, industry and the UK government to champion skill sets and raise industry standards. The competition celebrates the best of young talent and even provides young people with the opportunity to progress to European and WorldSkills competition series.
Lee Campbell, Principal and Chief Executive of SRC spoke of her immense pride that the college had reached the pinnacle in the 'Skills Olympics' for a second year and commended all those in attendance for contributing to that success.
Delivering her speech at the ceremony, she said “From amongst thousands of competitors hailing from all corners of the United Kingdom, our students have showcased their talents at an unparalleled level, bringing home an impressive array of medals. Our students secured an outstanding 5 gold medals, 3 silver medals, and 4 bronze medals, a testament to their dedication, perseverance, and sheer skill.
“Southern Regional College has consistently been within the UK’s top three ranking colleges in these UK wide competitions over the past number of years. In 2022 we set ourselves the target of reaching the number one spot within five years. Little did we know that through the hard work, diligence and dedication of staff and students at the College we would achieve this within one year being crowned top college in the UK in 2023. And now to make it to the top for the second consecutive year is simply remarkable.”
She also paid tribute to the tireless dedication of the staff as well as the unwavering support of parents and guardians in encouraging all the young people who took part.
Medals were then presented to all finalists from SRC's Governing Body Chair, Dr Thomas Moore. The event was hosted by SRC’s Development Manager Lindsay Bronte who plays an instrumental role in overseeing all College Skills competitions.
Engineering Level 5 Foundation Degree Higher Level Apprenticeship Student Ross Graham, who took Gold in Automation, said winning the top prize "means everything to him".
Ross said about winning his Gold medal “There was a lot of hard work and time spent put into preparing for the competition. It means a lot to get gold and be able to celebrate at this event tonight. The competition itself really enhanced my skills the lectures within the College spent a lot of time in helping me to prepare. They are always trying to push me that one extra step which has been evident through the competition results.”
Ross is now aiming to progress onto the Engineering BEng Level 6 Top Up Degree offered within the College.
As part of the Higher Level Apprenticeship programme, Ross is employed with ReGen Robotics in Newry and his employer Shane Sloan was there at the ceremony to applaud his achievement.
Commenting about his employee’s success at WorldSkills UK, Shane said “Competitions like WorldSkills provide students with the opportunity to stand out to employers such as myself. They offer specialised knowledge, expertise in their area and ultimately, a competitive advantage over others.”
Also taking home the gold for Beauty Therapy Practitioner was Mykenzie Cartmill. She said the competition has helped transform her into a true professional in her chosen sector.
Mykenzie said about winning her Gold medal “It’s great to be recognised for my achievements. I put a lot of hard work and effort into trying to secure the gold medal. This journey has given me more confidence to one day have my own salon or possibly have the opportunity to teach within the College.”
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With growth predictions set at over 300% for TV and film productions in Northern Ireland Chris Hobson, Curriculum Area Manager for Media at Southern Regional College is keen to bring opportunities to the fore.
Joining Chris in raising awareness of available opportunities in media is Northern Ireland Screen and Get Set Ready who delivered a workshop to students at Southern Regional College on the roles available in the media industry. Get Set Ready is a training and employment programme that supports the next generation of film and television talent as they enter this exciting industry.
The range of roles available varies from direct creative roles in screenwriting, sound production, editing, costume design and make up along with roles in legal, accounting, catering and logistic operations. Huge opportunities await those ready to make the move.
Commenting on the current opportunities within Northern Ireland television and film sector, Belinda Peach from Get Set Ready said “I think it’s a perfect time for this generation to be presented with the opportunities that are coming their way. I think the important thing is that they do understand they don’t have to leave their country to work in film and TV. Whereas years ago, that would definitely have been the case.”
Following the introduction session provided by Get Set Ready, expressions of interest were taken from hopeful students eager to undergo further training for only twenty spots available within the local television and film industry.
Speaking on the event, Tommy Tipping a student from SRC’s Banbridge campus said “The workshop was very informative and helped me to see where I want to go within the industry. Fellow student Jordan Blair was equally as positive about the event and opportunities presented saying, “It was more insight into the industry and how it operates. It would be great to have more of these opportunities.”
Chris Hobson, Curriculum Area Manager at Southern Regional College further commented “Get Set Ready is a new vision recognising the skills and expertise that exist in the Further Education sector. Working with the College, Get Set Ready aims to develop home grown talent for current and future demand within the TV and Film industry.”
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Students from Southern Regional College have won nine medals at this years IFEX, a trade event for the hospitality, foodservice and retail sector. The event saw competitions taking across senior and junior divisions to find the best in class in foodservices plus inspiration from all the latest trends within food and service industry.
To prepare for the competition students trained outside class time alongside their professional chef lecturers and mentors in the weeks leading up to the competition. To be successful students were required to produce two servings of their dish within a short period of time, from as little as 40 minutes. The only competition prep students were allowed to undertake in advance of the competition day was peeling of vegetables, no chopping was permitted under tight competition rules. This meant students were feeling the heat in the kitchen, and not just from the boiling pots and pans!
Students taking part in the competition ranged from Level 2 Professional Cookery Traineeships to Level 3 Apprenticeship students.
Sixteen year-old TJ Cashel O’Farrell from Culloville, Castleblayney won a gold medal in the Culinary Ability section. TJ is a Level 2 Vocational Skills student at the Newry campus. TJ originally came to the College having been introduced to the Professional Chef programme, following the Schools Partnership Programme. This programme gives secondary school students a taster of future career opportunities at their local Further Education College. TJ won his medal for his dish of cod with fried mussels in a white wine sauce with sea herbs and potatoes. TJ chose this dish because the produce is in season and could be locally sourced.
Fellow gold medalist Annabelle Hughes, from Loughgall is no stranger to professional competitions, having been a finalist in last year’s WorldSkills UK competition. At IFEX, Annabelle upped her game to take the gold medal and title “Risotto Chef of the Year NI”. Annabelle will progress to represent Ireland in the "Gallo Risotto Chef of the Year" in June. Speaking on her competition success to date. Annabelle said “I enjoy competing in cookery competitions because I learn so many things from participating in them. The IFEX competition has been a wonderful experience – I can practice specific skills and receive constructive feedback on my cooking techniques and the food I make. My dish for IFEX was a fennel, cured trout, pickled cucumber and citrus risotto dish. I choose this specific dish because the flavour of fennel and trout is a nice addition in a rich risotto. The ingredients really come together to create a risotto that I really enjoy and thankfully the judges did too. I’m currently studying the Level 3 Diploma in Professional Cookery, I choose this course, after completing the Level 2 course because I want to learn more!”
Silver medallists at the competition include Ross Smyth, Darragh Byrne, Sophie Keenan, all from Warrenpoint and Rory Kavanagh from Camlough. All currently study at the College’s Newry campus. Ross competed in the junior duck section, Sophie in contemporary hot starter, Rory in junior poultry and Darragh in seafood. Darragh also picked up the title of IFEX NI Young Seafood Chef of the Year, sponsored by Keenan Seafoods. A well-deserved accolade.
Speaking on the competition, Ross said “I’ve gained a lot of experience from competing at IFEX. It’s been a great opportunity, and I am very grateful for it. I’ve met other chefs and been able to chat with them for tips. It’s also built my confidence for competing at future events.”
SRC mentor Gavin Doran added: “Ross's exceptional performance and dedication has led him to this remarkable achievement, showcasing his talents in the industry. Ross has demonstrated great skill and passion for his work. His positive attitude, hard work, and commitment have been instrumental in his success, along with the support he has received from his employer, Rory O'Connor at Downshire Arms. We are thrilled to see Ross's talent and dedication being recognised with this well-deserved accolade.”
Other students picking up bronze medals in their categories include Thomas McCrink from Newtownhamilton, Ben Webber from Lurgan and Sam Thompson from Gilford.
Commenting on students’ success, mentor Lynette McMath commented “We are so proud of the student’s achievements within the College. The students displayed exceptional attributes through their commitment, dedication, and performance at the competition. They should be very proud of their accomplishments; this will enhance their skills and employment prospects.”
Michelle Moore, Curriculum Area Manager for Hospitality & Tourism, further commented “Our success this year in IFEX has been outstanding across our two campuses Newry and Portadown for Culinary Arts. We were delighted that both Level 2 Traineeship and Level 2 Apprenticeship Professional Chefs, Level 2 Vocational Catering, Level 3 Day release and Level 3 Apprenticeship Professional Chefs were all successful.
"To achieve 9 medals, with 2 best in class, is a testimony to their chef mentors who all went the extra mile to prepare for the competitions. We are also delighted that Annabelle, will go on to represent Ireland in the Gallo Risotto Chef of the Year Competition in London in June. We hope to build on this success by entering students into the World Skills competitions this year.”
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A project from Bunscoil an Iúir, Newry was one of over 500 projects from primary schools around the country showcased at this year’s sixth annual ESB Science Blast, the RDS Foundation’s flagship Science and Technology Programme. ESB Science Blast is a STEM-focused educational programme involving whole classes investigating the science behind simple questions.
The Newry students’ project asked, ‘An pléascann branda Cola uilig an méid céanna nuair a chuireann tú Mento istigh ann?’ based around the amount of fizz that a mint placed in a can of cola causes.
Pupils from Bunscoil an Iúir showcased their experiment and discussed their investigation with a STEM expert (Judge/Moltóir). The judging was non-competitive and aimed at growing pupils' interest and passion for STEM. Over 55,000 children have participated in ESB Science Blast to date, making it the largest primary school programme on the island of Ireland, and one of the largest programmes of its kind in Europe.
The Dublin event took place over four days in RDS Simmonscourt, from 4 to 7 March, and included a lá speisialta do Ghaelscoileanna agus do scoileanna Ghaeltachta. The event is also visiting Belfast on 4 June 2024.
Strong themes emerging from schools this year included climate change, biodiversity, the impact of fast fashion and questions related to physical and mental health.
Speaking at the event in RDS Simmonscourt, Niamh De Loughry, Deputy Chief Executive of the RDS Foundation, said “It’s wonderful to see such a great turnout for our key Science and Technology Programme from primary schools across the length and breadth of Ireland, including Co. Down. In developing ESB Science Blast we wanted an event that would be informative, inclusive and, above all, a really fun and engaging learning experience. I’ve really enjoyed meeting the children from all around the country and learning so much from the wild and wonderful projects that they’re showcasing here this week.
“I’m also delighted that we welcomed an even split of repeat attenders and ‘first timer’ primary schools to the RDS this year, with over a quarter of all Gaelscoileanna taking part in the dedicated day for Irish speaking schools, on 7th March.”
Paddy Hayes, Chief Executive of ESB, added “Through the programme, children of all backgrounds and abilities are developing life skills that will help them to become innovative and creative problem solvers, as well as active, informed and engaged citizens. I always look forward to seeing the energy, the excitement, and the celebration of curiosity at ESB Science Blast.”
One of the largest science education programmes of its kind, ESB Science Blast is a free and hands-on way to engage young learners with STEM, specifically designed for primary school and funded by the RDS Foundation through its Science and Technology Programme. It involves the whole class investigating the science behind a simple question and then showcasing their work at one of three annual events in Dublin, Limerick and Belfast.
For more information, visit www.esbscienceblast.com or follow on Instagram, Facebook, or X.
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Students from the SRC Greenbank campus in Newry are hoping to progress to the regional SkillBuild finals in May.
The annual SkillBuild competition at Southern Regional College got underway at the start of February with competitors from various trades and disciplines showcased their talents and skills. Contestants from across the College’s campuses competed against peers, to be in with the chance to make it to the regional competition. The regional competition is set to take place on Tuesday 21 May at South West College’s Enniskillen campus.
Categories participating in the SkillBuild competition included brickwork, cabinet making, carpentry, joinery, wall & floor tiling, painting & decorating, plastering, plumbing pipework, electrical installation and light motor vehicles.
Success at the inter-campus competition is the first step towards competing on the WorldSkills stage. Successful competitors at SkillBuild will be benchmarked against competitors from Northern Ireland’s other Further Education Colleges by the Construction Industry Training Board. The results will determine who will represent the region at national and international levels.
There now remains an anxious wait before it’s known whether local students will progress to the regional competition.
Local students hoping to progress include
|
Competition Area |
Name |
Hometown |
Course |
Campus |
|
1st place |
||||
|
Cabinet Making |
Odhran Campbell |
Forkhill, Newry |
L2 Carpentry & Joinery Apprenticeship |
Greenbank |
|
Plastering |
Matthew McCready |
Kilcoo, Newry |
L2 Plastering Apprenticeship |
Greenbank |
|
Plumbing Pipework |
Andrew Houston |
Kilkeel |
L3 Domestic Plumbing & Heating Apprenticeship |
Greenbank |
|
2nd place |
||||
|
Wall & Floor Tiling |
Dean Frazer |
Newtownhamilton, Newry |
L2 Wall & Floor Tiling Traineeship |
Greenbank |
|
Plastering |
Thomas Maguire |
Newry |
L2 Plastering Apprenticeship |
Greenbank |
|
Plumbing Pipework |
John McKee |
Kilkeel |
L3 Domestic Plumbing & Heating Apprenticeship |
Greenbank |
|
Motor Vehicle Light |
James McCartan |
Annalong |
L2 Light Vehicle Apprenticeship |
Greenbank |
|
3rd place |
||||
|
Carpentry |
Junior Swain |
Ballyward, Castlewellan |
L2 Carpentry & Joinery |
Greenbank |
|
Plastering |
Aiden McCabe |
Newry |
L2 Plastering Apprenticeship |
Greenbank |
|
Plumbing Pipework |
Jordon Nummy |
Newry |
L2 Domestic Plumbing & Heating Apprenticeship |
Greenbank |
Rachel Dorovatas, Director of Industry Training & Support at CITB NI, attended the competition and praised the participants for their high standards of skills. Rachel said “We are continuously impressed by the standard of skills demonstrated by the apprentices and trainees who participate in the Inter Campus College Competitions. Congratulations are extended to all participants with special recognition for those who excelled in their categories. Their outstanding performance may pave the way for them to further showcase their talents at the upcoming SkillBuild NI Regional Competition in Enniskillen this May.
Gareth Mone, Curriculum Area Manager at Southern Regional College further commented “Our Inter campus SkillBuild competition involved over 80 competitors across construction, motor vehicle, body & paint, and welding trades.
"We welcomed visitors from CITB NI and judges to Greenbank. Again, the standard of work was extremely high, and we hope to have many of our students progressing to the regional finals in Enniskillen.”
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