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A 'rustic but refined' Cottage Pie dish has put Newtownhamilton High School pupil, Faith Belshaw into the Northern Ireland finals of Springboard’s FutureChef competition, supported by Henderson Foodservice.
Faith competed at her regional heat where she and her peers were under the scrutiny of competition mentor and Henderson Foodservice Business Development Chef, Geoff Baird, and professional chef and judge Colleen Lennon, who method-checked and taste-tested the students’ cooking to crown Kristen the winner. Colleen will now mentor Faith as she prepares for the Northern Ireland Finals in February.
Geoff Baird says Faith’s winning dish, cottage pie had everything needed to help progress Faith to the next stage of the competition.
“Faith’s dish was rustic but refined, a plate full of comfort that delivered on flavour and presentation. We were all really impressed with the way Faith worked throughout the morning, and was able to deliver several plates of her dish to our judges on the day with minimal waste.
“I’ve been privileged to be part of the mentoring team of Chefs for the FutureChef competition in Northern Ireland, and the students have been so eager to learn everything from preparation, menu design and how to work in a kitchen as well as their options for a career in hospitality and expanding their skills with Springboard’s programmes to increase their employability.”
FutureChef is Springboard’s flagship educational programme which sits alongside a wide range of employability programmes designed for young people to help build their employability and soft skills, while giving them the confidence to kickstart a career in hospitality.
As part of its mission to nurture young talent and promote hospitality as a great place to work, Springboard is aiming to get 10,000 young people trained, ready and into work by December 2022 through its Springboard to 2022 initiative.
Caitriona Lennox, Northern Ireland Manager at Springboard added; “Faith is such a worthy finalist and really wowed our judges with her work and passion for delivering a great plate of food. All young chefs competing in our regional heats have been a joy to watch in the kitchen, and see their ideas come to life.
“We are wishing Faith all the best of luck at our Northern Ireland finals in February, where, if she wins, could represent Northern Ireland at the UK-wide FutureChef final in London in March.”
It was revealed recently that celebrity chef Jean-Christophe Novelli will be the Head Judge for the Northern Ireland Final of the competition which takes place across the UK.
Throughout the heats, the competitors were introduced to important themes such as sustainability and plant-based and zero-waste cooking. The finalists will be mentored by local professional chefs James Devine, Colleen Lennon, Chris McGowan, John Clark and Chris Bell who each judged a round of the competition’s heats.
Since the FutureChef competition began in 1999, almost 200,000 young people aged 12-16 have taken part and learned how to cook, developing their skills and knowledge with many going on to establish themselves within the industry. Throughout this time, the competition has progressed and developed to form part of the overall FutureChef programme which offers industry links, online resources, module learning, careers advice and guidance, and a suite of teacher resources.
The five finalists will now prepare for the Northern Ireland finals which take place at Belfast Metropolitan College on Thursday 10 February 2022.
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Last Thursday 2 December, Southern Regional College’s Newry campus hosted the County Armagh heat of Springboard’s FutureChef Competition. The competition saw students from local schools compete to represent their county at the Northern Ireland finals.
The FutureChef competition is an opportunity for students aged between 11 and 16 to show off their culinary talents, help grow their confidence and further their career in the hospitality industry. Many of these students come to SRC to take part in the School Partnerships Programme.
The competition involved each student creating a main course dish in under 60 minutes using a budget of £5.00. Five students including Callum McElarney from St Pauls High School Bessbrook and Colleen Ferguson from St Marks High School Warrenpoint, competed against each other to win a place at the Northern Ireland Finals.
The judging panel included Geoff Baird, Business Development Chef at Henderson Group, Colleen Lennon, Chef Owner at The Oliver Restaurant Newry and Stephen Megaw, a former SRC SPP and Level 3 Professional Cookery Student and bronze WorldSkills medal winner. All three judges remarked on the exceptional talent these young people have and said their decision to narrow it down to one winner was extremely tough!
Special congratulations to Faith Belshaw from Newtownhamilton High School who was awarded First Place for her delicious cottage pie. Faith will now compete in the Northern Ireland Finals on Thursday 10th February in Belfast Metropolitan College.
Well done to all five finalists. Each student was fantastic and presented wonderful dishes under time constraints – we may have found some future local chefs!
For further information on our School Partnership Programme, please click here: WWW.SRC.AC.UK
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A fundraising effort by pupils of St Joseph's Boys' High School, Newry has seen an incredible amount of items donated to a local food-bank appeal and to Newry Helping the Homeless.
In addition to the food, toiletries, clothing and family toys that were donated by pupils, their families and staff members for the local food-bank appeal, the RE department of St Joseph's Boys' HS, Newry was also able to provide £670 worth of pop-up tents, sleeping bags, thermal clothing and blankets to support the fantastic work of Newry Helping the Homeless; thanks to the benevolent support from pupils and a fantastic donation of £200 from Newry INTO Branch.
A further £150 in gift vouchers was presented to Stewart from Newry Helping the Homeless from benevolent donations received over the last few weeks.
Head of Department for RE, Mr Brendan Fearon, spoke of the humbling kindness shown by the St Joseph's collegiate during the Christmas appeal collection and expressed added gratitude to those that helped with the collection, adding "Thank you to every single person who helped support this extremely deserving cause, and we wish you and your families continued good health and blessings over the Christmas period"
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Minister for Education, Michele McIlveen took time out yesterday to visit three Newry schools.
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Southern Regional College (SRC) students have once again returned triumphant from the recent WorldSkills UK finals held across the UK scooping 3 Gold, 1 Silver, 1 Bronze and 2 highly commended medals.
The results saw SRC yet again top the NI College’s leader board and achieve 3rd overall in the UK.
Gold Medal Winners
Shannon Fearon for Beauty Therapy (from Benburb)
Fiona Hagan for Creative Media Make-Up (from Armagh)
Aaron Gillespie for Wall & Floor Tiling (from Armagh)
Silver Medal Winner
Patrick Sheerin for Automation (from Portadown)
Bronze Medal Winner
Jacqui Hawthorne for Painting & Decorating (from Armagh)
Highly Commended Medal Winners
Codie Jo Carr for Butchery (from Portadown)
Tony Kane for Wall & Floor Tiling (from Newry)
The annual WorldSkills UK competition provides opportunities for individual students to test their knowledge and skills against the very best across the UK.
Minister for the Economy, Gordon Lyons MLA said “This is a fantastic achievement and I want to congratulate all of those students who took part in the WorldSkills UK competitions and so ably represented Northern Ireland.
“Raising the standard of skills is a key driver to growing a stronger economy and promoting inward investment as we take on the challenge of boosting the Northern Ireland economy. Competitions such as these enable students to measure their ability and aptitude against others in the same field helping them to progress and develop their skills.
“Well done to all the participants and I have high hopes for those who will now take the next step in representing Northern Ireland and the UK on a global stage. Good Luck to everyone.”
Brian Doran, Principal & CEO of Southern Regional College said “We are incredibly proud of all our students who travelled and competed in the WorldSkills UK Competitions. Their dedication and talent for their chosen course is a real reflection of the incredible skills students in further education across Northern Ireland have and we were thrilled to be able to display that on a national level.
"The Southern Regional College students, under the close guidance of their mentors, have once again propelled SRC to the top spot within NI and third place overall in the UK – no small achievement."
Doran added "The WorldSkills competitions are a fantastic opportunity for our students to learn new, innovative ways of learning while also showcasing their talents on a UK-wide platform. This gives great confidence and opportunities for our students, many of whom use their WorldSkills experiences when moving onto university or into employment.
“I would like to pay tribute to all our participants and the mentors who supported them, and I look forward to cheering them on as they have the opportunity to progress to the international WorldSkills competitions in 2022.”
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Bhronn Cathaoirleach Chomhairle Ceantair an Iúir, Mhúrn agus an Dúin, an Comhairleoir Cathy Mhásún teastas ar dheichniúr páistí ón cheantar a ghlac páirt i gcomórtas scríbhneoireachta le déanaí. Roghnaíodh na scéalta a scríobh na scríbhneoirí óga seo a bheith mar spreagadh agus bunús scripte mar chuid de shraith beochana dar teideal “Dochreidte”.
Comhfhiontar atá sa togra seo agus Comhairle Ceantair an Iúir, Mhúrn agus an Dúin ag obair i gcomhpháirtíocht leis an chomhlacht léiriúcháin Boom Clap Play chun sraith beochana a choimisiúnú dar teideal “Dochreidte”. Is í seo an darna céim den togra ar cuireadh tús leis i mí Bealtaine 2021. Fuair an togra maoineamh forbartha ón Chiste Craoltóireachta Gaeilge, agus thug Jacqueline de Brún, Ollamh Cúnta san Oideachas le hOllscoil Chathair Bhaile Átha Cliath, ceardlanna spreagúla do pháistí i mBunscoil an Iúir agus i nGaelscoil na mBeann sula ndeachaigh siad i mbun pinn.
Scaoileadh an dea-scéala le déanaí go bhfuil an Ciste Craoltóireachta Gaeilge chun an chéim léiriúcháin den togra a mhaoiniú fosta, rud a chiallaíonn go mbeidh an comhlacht léiriúcháin Boom Clap Play ag léiriú beochana bunaithe ar na scéalta a scríobh na páistí.
Dúirt Cathaoirleach Chomhairle Ceantair an Iúir, Mhúrn agus an Dúin, an Comhairleoir Cathy Mhásún, “molaim na páistí cruthaitheacha seo go hard as an sárobair atá déanta acu agus tá mé ag dúil go mór leis na beochana féin a fheiceáil ar an scaileán mór.”
Is é an spreagadh a bhí taobh thiar den togra ná tionchar na dianghlasála ar pháistí bunscoile, agus ba í phríomhsprioc an tionscadail ná an toradh cruthaitheach a bhaint ón eispearas a bhí acu. Toradh fíorluachmhar atá ann agus na páistí ag léiriú a gcuid samhlaíochta agus cruthaíochta trína gcuid scríbhneoireachta.
Tá sé de rún ag Comhairle Ceantair an Iúir, Mhúrn agus an Dúin páistí ó scoileanna eile sa cheantar a mhealladh isteach sa darna céim den togra. Beidh aisteoirí Gaeilge á lorg agus beidh deis ag na daoine óga seo taithí a fháil a bheith ag obair i stiúideó proifisiúnta ag gabháil de thaifeadadh gutha as Gaeilge do na beochana gairide.
Sprioc eile atá ag an Chomhairle ná go mbeidh réamhléiriú ar siúl do na páistí uilig a ghlacann páirt sa togra “Dochreidte”, sa dóigh is gur féidir leo toradh a gcuid oibre a fheiceáil ar an scaileán mór, agus a n-ainmneacha féin a fheiceáil thuas ann.
Sruthfar an tsraith de 10 mbeochan dar teideal “Dochreidte” ar ardáin mheán sóisialta de chuid na Comhairle agus ar an ardán Gaeilge ar líne Meon Eile sa bhliain 2022.
Le tuilleadh eolais a fháil ar an togra seo seol ríomhphost le do thoil chuig gaeilge@nmandd.org nó téigh chuig WWW.NEWRYMOURNEDOWN.ORG/GAEILGE
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Cathy Mason presented 10 schoolchildren from the district area who took part in a writing competition recently. The stories written by these young writers were selected to be the inspiration and basis of scripts for a new animation series entitled ‘Unbelievable’.
This project is a joint venture with Newry Mourne and Down District Council are working in partnership with the production company Boom Clap Play to commission and produce a series of animations entitled “Unbelievable”. This is the second stage of the project which began in May 2021. The project received development funding from the Irish Language Broadcast Fund (Northern Ireland Screen), and Jacqueline de Brún, Assistant Professor in Education in Dublin City University, gave inspiring workshops to primary children in Bunscoil an Iúir in Newry, and Gaelscoil na mBeann in Kilkeel, before they put pen to paper.
The exciting news was recently announced that the Irish Language Broadcast Fund will fund the production stage of the project also, which means that the production company Boom Clap Play will produce animations based on the stories written by the children.
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Cathy Mason said, “I highly commend these creative children for the amazing work they have done and I’m very much looking forward to seeing the animations on the big screen next year.”
The Council intends to invite children from other schools in the district to the next stage of the ‘Unbelievable’ project. Young Irish language actors will be sought, and these young people will have the opportunity to gain experience in a professional recording studio, working on the voice recordings in Irish for the short animations.
A pre-screening of the 10 animations is also being planned for early 2022 for all the children that have participated in the ‘Unbelievable’ project, so that they are able to see the fruits of their labour on the big screen and see their names in lights.
The 10 animations entitled “Unbelievable” will be also be shared on the Council’s social media platforms and on the Irish language online platform Meon Eile (www.meoneile.ie) in 2022.
For further information on this initiative please email gaeilge@nmandd.org or visit WWW.NEWRYMOURNEDOWN.ORG/GAEILGE
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Newry sixth form students visited Parliament Buildings at Stormont recently to debate on the biggest issue facing the planet – the climate crisis.
The event, which used computer software by Climate Interactive and MIT to create a real-life climate simulation, was taking place to coincide with the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland, which runs until 12 November.
During the negotiations, Sacred Heart represented Kenya, while Abbey Christian Brother’s pupils* played the role of Egypt. As part of the event, they had to collectively agree on how much they were going to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by with current temperatures set to rise by 3.8°C, how they would help struggling nations, and agree on ways to adapt to climate change to protect their cities and people.
The negotiations were led by Dr Peter Doran, Senior Lecturer in Law, from Queen’s University Belfast, with pupils also zooming in to the event live from Egypt - with the British Columbia Canadian International School in El Sharouk taking on the role of the UK as part of the proceedings.
The event ended with the schools agreeing to reduce global temperature rises to 2.3 °C and securing enough funding through the Green Climate Fund to support future climate actions in both the developed and developing nations.
Ahead of the event, Education Minister Michelle McIlveen said: “Education plays a crucial role in informing our young people about climate change and its impact. Sustainable development is already part of the Northern Ireland curriculum via the World Around Us area of learning at primary level and through the Environment and Society area of learning at post-primary level. The COP 26 event is a great way to introduce a number of elements of the curriculum, together with current affairs, in a way that directly engages the pupils.”
Also commenting was Jonathan Stewart, Director, British Council Northern Ireland, said: “Today’s event put pupils in the hot seat by taking on the role of leaders – giving them a real flavour of what negotiations such as those taking place in COP26 are like. It’s also a chance for them to experience the complexities and challenges in reaching international agreement on such urgent global issues.
“Today’s initiative is part of our global programme, The Climate Connection, which brings young people around the world together in 2021 to meet the challenges of climate change ahead of COP26 through co-operation, dialogue and action. I am delighted that the voice of Northern Ireland’s young people continue to actively engage in this global programme.”
The Climate Connection, which launched in June 2021, brings people together through arts and culture, education, and the English language to address the climate emergency through a global programme of activity and engagement, with particular focus on young people aged 11 to 35. The programme supports young people to gain the skills and connections they need to address climate challenges
Through the programme, the British Council has reached almost two million people online and directly engaged with over 2,000 young people to date, including indigenous communities, artists, academics, scientists, and creative innovators, to find long-lasting, creative ways to tackle multiple issues relating to the climate crisis.
This negotiation event continues the British Council’s work, building connection, understanding and trust between people in the UK and overseas through arts, education and English language teaching. To find out more about their work in Northern Ireland visit nireland.britishcouncil.org or follow on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.
* EDIT 11/11 12.30pm - Abbey CBS also took part so changed text and added image.
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A suite of Good Relations themed video animations for use in local schools was launched in Newry High School on Wednesday 20 October 2021. Funding for this project was received from Newry, Mourne and Down District Council’s Good Relations Programme, which aims to encourage and support activity that promotes good relations between people from different backgrounds throughout the council area.
The suite contains seven animations which are themed around the key priorities of the Executive Office Together Building a United Community Strategy (T:BUC) and include, our shared space, our safe space, cultural expression and our children and young people. The animations focus on themes such as Racism, Sectarianism, Shared Spaces, Cyber Safety and Arranged Fights. The animation toolkit will be offered to each primary and post primary school in the district along with a digital activity pack.
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Cathy Mason, who attended the launch said, “I am excited to launch the digital aspect of the Shared Schools programme which will be available to schools across the district. This tool kit will provide an additional asset for teachers to assist students engaging and connecting with Safety, Good Relations and Shared Spaces in their communities. I hope it will provide them with the building blocks for developing a safer and more inclusive community, one in which everyone can thrive.”
The COVID-19 restrictions and subsequent lockdowns experienced by schools resulted in the inability to bring schools together to deliver the Shared Schools Programme on Good Relations Topics. As a result, the suite of animations and digital activity pack was developed to ensure continued delivery of the programme. The activity pack challenges children to explore their history, culture, and heritage alongside others from differing community backgrounds and religions in a fun and interactive manner. The production of the online format offers the additional benefit of enabling accessibility for young people to engage from either their home or classroom.
Newry High School Shared Education Co-ordinator, Amanda Blakely said, “The Shared Education Schools Programme brings schools from different sectors of the community together to learn and share experiences in an open and safe space. This collaborative partnership approach provides an opportunity to enhance the learning of students taking part in the programme by enabling them to engage in a fun and interactive way, which in turn helps to foster mutual understanding and respect for all within the community. We hope that the launch of these animations will continue to build on this collaborate partnership.”
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Newry, Mourne and Down District Council and The Larder, Newry have teamed up to launch ‘The Pink Present Programme’ to help combat period poverty in local secondary schools. The programme aims to provide free period products to participating schools, to improve access to sanitary products for girls in secondary schools, especially for those who are struggling to cover the cost of purchasing them monthly.
Period poverty is partly defined as experiencing poor access to period products, which can have a significant impact on the health and wellbeing of girls in secondary schools. One of the main effects is reduced school attendance, with girls staying at home during their period as a direct result of not being able to access proper sanitary products.
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Cathy Mason said, “I am delighted to be involved with ‘The Pink Present Programme’. Period poverty among girls in secondary school is an issue that can have a huge impact on their education, self-esteem, and overall health and wellbeing. By removing the barrier of cost, we can help sanitary products become more accessible to young girls across our district.”
The Pink Present Programme is a partnership initiative between Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Women’s Working Group, the District Electoral Area (DEA) Forums, Newry Larder and is supported by the Public Health Agency. The programme was launched in October in St. Joseph’s High School, Crossmaglen, Our Lady’s Grammar School, Newry, St. Mark’s High School, Warrenpoint, and St. Louis Grammar School Kilkeel. Several other schools are expected to sign up over the next few months.
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