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Local Primary Schools in Killean, Meigh, Dromintee, Jonesborough and Cloughogue recently benefitted from a Cash for Schools Initiative run by Mulkerns SPAR & EUROSPAR. To take part customers were issued with a voucher at the tills, which they then used to vote for their school in special voting boxes located in store. The prize system was tiered, and every school was a winner, with each receiving a fantastic Cash Prize!
Killean Primary School came out on top with the most votes winning a whopping £1000 for their school. St Joseph’s Meigh came in second place winning £500 cash. Three £250 cash prizes also went to Dromintee PS, St Moninna’s PS, Cloughogue and Jonesborough P.S.
General Manager at Mulkerns Kelly McKeown awarded each school principal with their prizes on their first day back after half term.
Kelly commented “The Directors and Management Team at Mulkerns wanted to do something to help the schools, who are working so hard to keep going in a very uncertain environment…with no increase in their budget. I am humbled to be presenting them with these much-needed funds”.
Each of the schools had their own plans for the money, Dromintee had held a draw asking their children which books they would like to buy, some of the books have already arrived and some of the P5’s are proudly displaying them in the photograph.
A big thank you to all the parents who shopped and voted! Look out for lots more Community Campaigns in store.
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Patrick Winters from Rathfriland has been presented with one of the inaugural SRC Chief Executive Higher Education Scholarship Awards. Patrick has just begun an Ulster University Foundation Degree in Sport Science, Coaching and Fitness at the College’s Newry campus.
This new initiative, introduced by the College’s Chief Executive Mr Brian Doran, is aimed at helping to ease the financial pressure on students who wish to progress to higher education. In total, eight Scholarships will be awarded, with each recipient receiving £1,000 per year, of a two year course, towards their tuition fees.
Patrick was understandably delighted to be awarded this scholarship and commented “I couldn’t believe I had been selected as one of the successful students. I am excited to start my Foundation Degree at Southern Regional College and hope to progress to study physiotherapy after these two years. This Scholarship will really help me achieve my career aspirations”.
Brian Doran, Chief Executive at Southern Regional College, said “I am delighted that the College has been able to provide some financial assistance to these incredibly deserving students who are completing a higher education qualification at Southern Regional College. The future of our economy is heavily dependent on providing continued opportunities for young people to acquire higher level qualifications and skills education and training and this new initiative is one of a number of wide ranging support interventions that the College has in place to ensure that our learners succeed.”
The Higher Education Chief Executive’s Scholarships are open to first year, full-time higher education students attending SRC, studying a Pearson Higher National Diploma or Foundation Degree qualification. In total, eight Scholarships will be awarded.
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SRC Level 3 apprentice, Dylan Calvert, wins Trainee Tile Fixer of the Year at the recent TTA Awards.
Dylan, from Tandragee, works for Johnny Elliot at Orchard Tiles in Portadown and is currently completing the Level 3 Wall and Floor Tiling apprenticeship programme at the Southern Regional College Greenbank Campus.
The Tile Association (TTA) is the trade association for wall and floor tiling in the UK and to win one of these awards is a mark of excellence and skill within the industry.
Upon receiving his award, Dylan said “I started my trade in Year 11 in the School Partnership Programme and this experience really helped me confirm that this was my career pathway. It is unbelievable how far I have come and what I have achieved with the training and support I receive at Southern Regional College. I now have the opportunity to go to the Skills Olympics as part of WorldSkills UK and compete in my skill area.”
Dylan will now add this award to his already bulging trophy cabinet as he has also recently won Gold at the national finals of the SkillBuild competition, progressing to the WorldSkills UK training squad for WorldSkills 2021 which are due to be held in Shanghai.
Dylan’s Wall and Floor Tiling lecturer, Paul Doran, said “We are so proud of Dylan’s achievements and he really demonstrates that by the application of hard work, commitment and dedication to a career pathway that he enjoys, this really pays off! Dylan is continuing to train hard to complete his qualifications here at SRC and as part of the WorldSkills UK squad. Well done!”
If you would like to find out more about the range of apprenticeships available at SRC, please visit: www.src.ac.uk/courses
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With children back in the classroom, the Southern Health and Social Care Trust is encouraging Primary schools to sign up and participate in The Daily Mile™ initiative.
The Daily Mile programme involves pupils participating in a 15 minute walk, jog or run every school day. It was developed by Elaine Wylie MBE in response to concerns over poor fitness levels and obesity in children.
The Southern Health and Social Care Trust in partnership with the Public Health Agency, The Education Authority and local Councils is encouraging more schools to get involved.
Clare Drummy, Physical Activity Co-ordinator for the Southern Trust said “During these challenging times, The Daily Mile initiative presents a great opportunity for schools to encourage children to be more active during the school day, in an outdoor and safe environment. The Daily Mile can be implemented easily under COVID guidelines. It is such a simple and low cost initiative which can help children’s physical and mental wellbeing.
“We encourage all schools to take this opportunity to support children to be more active. We can help support you to set up your own Daily Mile”.
A number of local schools have already seen the benefits.
Principal of St Brigid’s Drumilly Primary School, Mr Jeff Crimmins said: “The children are calmer and more relaxed when they come in from their Daily Mile. Without a doubt, children have benefitted tremendously from a physical fitness perspective”.
Teacher Colette Hicks from Cloughoge Primary School commented: “After The Daily Mile children are more settled in their work, concentration levels have improved and fitness levels have also improved. Children are really enjoying the initiative and the teachers and other members of staff are taking part also”.
Teacher Micheal Brady from Gaelscoil na mBeann, Kilkeel said: “There has been increased fitness across the board, leading to benefits in other physical activities. Some kids are showing an interest in running outside of school as a result”.
For support and advice on running The Daily Mile in schools please email: clare.drummy@southerntrust.hscni.net
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After a five month break Newry schools began their long journey back to a different normal today with pupils returning en masse following the onset locally of Covid-19 restrictions. All schools were ordered to close by the Stormont Executive 23 March but many local ones decided to close the weekend earlier than that themselves.
School staff have been preparing this past week getting classrooms ready for the return. Of course there are now many new words on the curiculum thanks to Covid-19 including social distancing, sanitising, pandemic, face coverings, physical interaction, flattening the curve and protective bubbles.
The NI Executive published a lengthy 70 page New School Day guidance document with the document noting that there is relatively low immediate risk to children’s health from SARS-CoV- 2, with evidence indicating that children/adolescents have lower susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection and clinical disease than adults.
Stringent social distancing requirements were relaxed earlier this month although public health guidance with respect to social distancing of 2 metres (2m) will remain in place between adults and as far as possible between adults and pupils. Schools are advised to endeavour strenuously to implement as much social distancing as is practical where physical capacity and curriculum delivery permit. 'Protective bubbles' will be used as a key mitigating action where possible. The protective bubble arrangements will be used to segment pupils into a consistent group or groups as far as is practicable. Assembly type events are also to be avoided and one way systems will also be in place in schools.
Paul Kane, Principal of Sacred Heart Grammar School welcomed new students saying "The Principal and staff of SHS would like to send their best wishes to all our returning students and offer a word of welcome to our new Year 8 intake. As this new and very different school year commences, know that we are all in this together, we will look out for each other, support each other and we will get through this together"
In keeping with recommendations for pupils to walk or cycle if possible Saint Patrick’s in The Meadow have adopted an Education Authority recommended “Park & Stride” scheme where St Brigid’s car park access will be used by parents and children who walk to school.
Overall it is a completely new scenario for both teachers and pupils. The first term of 2020 will certainly be spoken of in History classes for many years to come!
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Today's decision by Education Minister Peter Weir to change the way A Level results locally were awarded has been welcomed by local political representatives.
There had been calls to recall the Assembly as a result of a decision which saw grades awarded with the help of a mathmatical algorithm, leaving many pupils with lower results that their schools had awarded them.
All A-Level and AS candidates in Northern Ireland taking qualifications through the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) will now be awarded the higher of the grades submitted by their college or the grade calculated by CCEA.
Education Minister Peter Weir said: “I have today instructed CCEA that all of their AS and A level qualifications will now be awarded the higher of the grade submitted by their centre or the grade calculated by CCEA.
Students Can Access Grades from their College
“CCEA is working to release the revised results to candidates as quickly as possible. In the interim, students will be able to access details of their Centre Assessed Grade from their school or college.
“Concerns remain over the impact of changes to the qualifications system throughout the United Kingdom and any potential solution offered has its flaws.
“However, my prime concern is to ensure that young people in Northern Ireland are in no way disadvantaged in comparison to their peers elsewhere.
“Portability and comparability of qualifications is critical for students, particularly in Northern Ireland.
“Whilst standardisation is normally an important feature of awarding qualifications, these are truly unique circumstances and this approach is now being adopted across the UK. This is why I have taken this decision today.
“In the challenging situation in which we find ourselves, there are no perfect solutions. Students would have preferred to have taken their exams, but that was simply not possible in the circumstances. There is no substitute for exams themselves and recent events highlight the need for a full-time return to education, five days a week.
“I want to thank our teachers and school leaders for all their hard work during this extremely challenging time.
“Our young people have shown their tremendous attitude and resilience though the COVID-19 pandemic. I hope today’s decision will provide a platform for them to go forward positively into Higher Education, employment or training.”
Sensible Response
Newry and Armagh MLA Liz Kimmins said "This is the right decision and was the only sensible response to the problems which were evident last week. Minister Weir should have taken the action earlier and on the merits of the arguments rather than waiting on the approach of Ministers in London.
"The delay in changing this process has served only to compound the stress and and anxiety experienced by our students, their families and teachers”.
Concluding Ms Kimmins said “I’m pleased that through cross-party co-operation and pressure from the Education Committee that we now have a positive outcome for our young people and that the right decision has finally been made.”
Pupils Grades Unlocked
MLA Justn McNulty added "Teachers have been trusted, pupil's grades have been unlocked. Major well done to the pupils, parents, teachers and principals who So Powerfully Aired Their Anger and Frustration at the Grading Injustice
"Well done to the Minister on his volte-face. Now all AS & A2 students will receive the highest of either their CAG (teacher assessed grades) or the grade provided by CCEA."
A decision was also made today to award GCSE results according to the grades given by pupil's college. These results will be announced on Thursday coming.
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Following a period of uncertainty regarding how schools should prepare for reopening their doors the Education Minister Peter Weir has today published revised guidance setting out how schools should plan for the new school day.
The New School Day guidance outlines proposals for the full reopening of schools at the start of the new school year.
Progressing from the New School Day Guidance issued in June, this updated guidance takes account of advice from the Chief Medical Officer, Michael McBride and Chief Scientific Officer, Ian Young. They have also drawn from published information from SAGE.
Minister Weir said: “My strategic objective has always been for the full-time resumption of classroom-based learning for all pupils as soon as possible, and when appropriate to do so.
“This latest guidance takes into account the Executive’s agreement of 6 August that the requirement for strict social distancing between children may be relaxed in the presence of other mitigations.
“In many ways, it reinforces practices we have all become accustomed to, promoting regular hygiene practices on arrival at schools and throughout the school day, and the application of the “catch it, bin it, kill it” principles.
“It also acknowledges that current social distancing guidance of 2m must continue to be followed between adults within the education sector.”
Restart Programme
The guidance is part of an overall Restart Programme and has been co-designed by the Department of Education, school leaders and key partners. Engagement with a consultation group comprising Managing Authorities, trade unions and sectoral support bodies as part of an ongoing process has been in place since March 2020.We will continue to work with the consultation group and school leaders and key partners as we move forward.
Minister Weir continued: “I have at all times recognised the stresses felt by teachers, parents and pupils due to the ongoing disruption and uncertainty regarding the future.
“That is why I would urge all in our society to continue to play their part in addressing the challenges posed by Covid-19."
Don't Attend School if you have Symptoms
The Minister said the first step in keeping our schools safe is that anyone with symptoms should not attend school. Parents should not send their children to school if they have any of the Covid-19 symptoms such as:
a high temperature – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)
a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste – this means you've noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal
Protective Bubbles
Minister Weir added “Within school, in circumstances where strict social distancing between children cannot reasonably be applied, the use of ‘protective bubbles’, decreasing interaction and movement around the school must be followed. This additional mitigating measure has been applied successfully by other countries in their arrangements for reopening of schools.
“The guidance also promotes a flexible approach to use of existing spaces as a means of maximising face-to-face teaching opportunities and provides the framework within which workforce planning can now be developed.”
Concluding the Minister said: “This guidance will remain agile and will continue to reflect public health advice. We will continue to keep under review all medical and scientific developments.”
Download the full report below.
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A special podcast commissioned by the agri-food business ABP which operates from sites in Newry and Lurgan has revealed that the Covid-19 pandemic has shone a spotlight on the variety of roles available and is giving young people the confidence to pursue future employment in the sector.
Speaking on the ‘Now We’re Talking Farming’ podcast with host Karen Patterson, Dr Andrew Bell, a part-time beef farmer from Stewartstown and Head of Biology at Belfast Royal Academy. Dr Bell said that ‘young people are growing up in a world of work that has shifted rapidly as a result of Covid-19 and that he was hopeful about the future for young people in Northern Ireland’s agri-food sector. One of Dr Bell’s pupils, 18-year old Lorcan Convery, from Templepatrick won an outstanding individual achievement award on ABP’s agri-skills development programme for teenagers, the ABP Angus Youth Challenge’. In the podcast Lorcan explains how he now wants to pursue business studies at university and that he competed in the programme because he saw it as ‘something completely different that could help him.’
Also taking part in the podcast is the Education Adviser for the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise, Liz Simpson, said, “The pandemic has profiled the diversity and the dynamics of the industry and the long-held careers that are there. There has been a confidence boost in people working in the land-based sector because of the recognition their roles have been getting from the wider public during the pandemic. Students are seeing the jobs that are available through the spotlight on key workers within agriculture, production, and processing and in food retail. I am also regularly being contacted by agri-food companies looking for graduates and who are offering work placements during the past few months.”
The podcast is running throughout the summer and is available to watch/listen in to at the ABP Food Group Website.
View Podcast below
Edit 7/8/20 - Above link fixed
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A meeting was held last month by a number of Newry primary school principals to discuss the way forward and the implications of the Department of Education's Re-Opening School Guidance following the Coronavirus pandemic.
The Newry Area Primary Principals (NAPP) a group of about 35 Primary Principals from Newry, South Down and South Armagh agreed that schools would re-open 24 August and procedures would be put in place to deal with circumstances introduced by the Covid-19 crisis.
* Schools will communicate with parent in mid August in prepartation for the induction week for pupils commencing 24 August.
Decisions Made
All of this information is subject to change in light of fast evolving Department of Education Guidance and the group will continue to meet over the summer to explore how the needs of pupils will be met and yet remain compliant with Department of Education and Public Health Authority Guidance.
Edit
* line added 2.30pm 22/7/20
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