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SRC lecturer Marilyn Warren and student Matthew McKeown have been awarded City and Guilds’ Medals of Excellence
The medals are one of the world’s most prestigious endorsements and they were presented for their achievements in digital marketing and leadership in education.
A world leader in global skills development, the City & Guilds programme recognises success amongst learners and their tutors and international competition for the sought-after recognition is intense.
Demonstrating ‘highly developed skills, outstanding knowledge and adaptability’, SRC student Matthew McKeown was awarded his Medal of Excellence for producing an innovative video about his course and his experience at the leading college.
Matthew is currently undertaking a Higher-Level Apprenticeship in Digital Marketing while gaining valuable experience within the College’s fast-paced marketing department.
SRC lecturer Marilyn Warren was also recognised by City & Guilds, receiving a coveted Medal of Excellence for not only being a champion for learning, but for her ‘enthusiasm and outstanding subject knowledge’.
Brian Doran, Chief Executive at Southern Regional College, congratulated them both on their commitment to succeed.
“City & Guilds is a global leader in skills development and its acknowledgement of the efforts of our students and staff is a wonderful achievement.
“Both Matthew and Marilyn have not only demonstrated their knowledge, talent and passion in their chosen field but also in their ability to compete and win.
“On behalf of everyone at SRC, I congratulate them both and I wish them continued success in the months and years ahead.”
The annual City & Guilds Medals for Excellence programme, which is more than 100 years old, awarded 60 medals this year to students and staff from across Ireland, the UK and around the world.
The award-winning college is currently top of Northern Ireland’s official Further and Higher Education leader board after confirming its ‘best performing’ position in an annual independent report published by the Department for the Economy NI and the Ulster University Economic Policy Centre.
SRC is the largest Further and Higher Education college outside of Belfast, with major educational facilities based in Armagh, Banbridge, Kilkeel, Lurgan, Newry and Portadown.
With over 34,000 full and part-time students, these six campuses deliver a wide range of higher level professional and technical courses.
For more information, visit www.src.ac.uk
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This Easter a number of pupils from St Paul's High School, Bessbrook will travel to Lourdes, for a week long pilgrimage, leaving Newry on Easter Sunday morning. Included among these are Micheal McCloy (Year 8), Aime McNally (Year 10) and Siofra Brennan (Year 11). There is a long history of students from St. Paul's travelling to Lourdes with the school, and the groups within our community.
Siofra was awarded a place on the Irish Pilgrim's group, and her form class organised a bun sale just before February half term, which was supported by students and staff alike. Siofra and her team managed to raise a whopping £700. On Tuesday, Niamh Rafferty came to school, and Siofra and Aime made the presentation on behalf of the students of St. Paul's Bessbrook.
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Southern Regional College came out as the big winners with 11 medals at Skillbuild NI National Finals with many going to Newry students. Over 70 local construction apprentices gathered their tools to compete against each other in the annual competition.
The Skillbuild NI competition is designed to test skills, technique and ability within tight timeframes in order to win coveted titles in 10 different trades ranging from brickwork to wall and floor tiling.
A total of 14 awards were presented to SRC including five gold, three silver and three bronze for individual students. SRC also received the Skillbuild NI Department of Economy Cup (for the highest number of medals won in the competition), the Skillbuild NI Chairpersons Cup (for the largest number of entries) and the Hugh Gettinby Memorial Award for Excellence in Training (awarded to an individual involved in training of young people and who has displayed the highest standards of success and dedication to the Skillbuild ethos).
Skillbuild NI is organised by CITB NI and supported by the Department for the Economy and helps to assist with maintaining and raising the status and standards of professional and technical education and training.
The competition is held annually each spring with many winners progressing further to represent Northern Ireland in the Skills Show UK and potentially at WorldSkills and is also supported by local construction employers who sponsor each trade category.
Cathal Murphy and Sean McLaughlin both from Newry received gold and silver medals respectively in Wall and Floor Tiling. Jordan Hughes from Bessbrook received a gold medal in Painting and Decorating and Michael Hughes from Lislea received a silver medal in Cabinet Making.
Maurice Johnston, Chairman CITB NI said: “Skills competitions are a very positive news story for Northern Ireland. They are a great way to showcase our vocational skills and demonstrate to employers and future investors the high standard of training provision which exists in our colleges and training organisations.
"CITB NI is proud to have been involved in construction skills competitions for over 40 years and we have a record of success at skills competitions not only on a local level but also on a regional, national and world level. The Skillbuild NI competition allows our young apprentices to demonstrate that they have the high level of skills which our economy needs to stay competitive and gives all the competitors a chance to showcase their skills.
Mr Johnston added " Congratulations to everyone who has taken part and those who have excelled in their trade. Skillbuild NI couldn’t happen without the support of the local sponsors and the training network and we extend our thanks to all who have helped the apprentices to be able to compete at this competition. Our young people are more ambitious now than ever and we hope that Skillbuild NI National Finals will be part of their journey and future careers within the construction industry.”
SRC Skillbuild Winners 2018
Brickwork 2nd Christopher Doyle – Newtownhamilton (Greenbank Campus)
Cabinet Making 2nd Michael Hughes – Lislea (Greenbank Campus)
Cabinet Making 3rd Tommy Helliwell – Markethill (Armagh Campus)
Carpentry 3rd Jamie Hughes – Rathfriland (Greenbank Campus)
Electrical Installation 1st Benjamin Martin – Killylea (Portadown Campus)
Painting and Decorating 1st Jordan Hughes – Bessbrook (Greenbank Campus)
Plastering 1st Adam Houston – Kilkeel (Greenbank Campus)
Plumbing Pipework 1st Shane Murray – Derrynoose (Armagh Campus)
Wall and Floor Tiling 1st Cathal Murphy – Newry (Greenbank Campus)
Wall and Floor Tiling 2nd Sean McLaughlin – Newry (Greenbank Campus)
Wall and Floor Tiling 3rd Odhran Connolly – Gilford (Greenbank Campus)
SRC won Skillbuild NI Chairpersons Cup for highest number of entries SRC won Skillbuild NI Department for the Economy Cup for highest number of medals won in 2018 competition Paul Doran, Tiling lecturer, won the Hugh Gettinby Trophy for Excellence in Construction Training (awarded each year to an individual involved in training of young people who has displayed high standards of success and dedication towards Skillbuild NI ethos)
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An event promoting the range of new higher level apprenticeship options available to A Level/Level 3 school leavers has been held at the Newry campus of Southern Regional College. The college in association with Newry Chamber of Commerce and Trade, Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council and Newry, Mourne and Down District Council recently hosted the “Big Apprenticeship” event providing information on the huge range of apprenticeship options on offer for those students completing their GCSEs.
If you missed the opportunity to attend why not come along to the “Big Apprenticeship” event at SRC’s Portadown Campus on Thursday 12th April from 5-8pm?
Local employers have committed to creating hundreds of new apprenticeship and higher level apprenticeship job opportunities in a wide range of areas. Students are invited with their parents/guardians to attend this information and employer showcase evening to find out more about these 'local' apprenticeship opportunities starting from September 2018. This is a perfect opportunity for parents and young people to consider more cost effective, alternative routes to achieving degree qualifications whilst working locally.
Don’t miss out, register for this event at bigapprenticeshipportadown.eventbrite.co.uk or contact The Business Support Team at SRC on 0300 123 1223.
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Students at St Louis Grammar School in Kilkeel have launched a charity album in support of a local mental health charity at their recent Spring concert.
The Sixth Form Music Technology students recorded and produced two songs to raise mental health awareness and much needed funding for “Mind your mate and yourself” (MyMy) as part of a Music Technology project.
MyMy is a voluntary and community sector counselling organisation with extensive experience in suicide prevention and intervention. “They support families and communities dealing with various health issues as well as providing services that will help support individuals struggling with bereavement, self-harming, relationship problems, bullying, mental/physical health and financial issues. Very few communities are isolated from these problems and for some people experiencing such issues, they can often find aspects of their every-day life overwhelming.
The two songs that feature on the Album are ‘John Condon’, sung by Year 10 student Niamh McDowell, who is 2017 All Ireland Scór na nÓg solo singing champion, and ‘Video Games’ which was composed and sung by Year 13 student Aoife McQuaid. Both songs were performed and produced by Music Technology students with help from their teacher Mr Tim Brown. Both students are delighted to use these songs to raise awareness for this vital and worthy charity.
Year 10 student Niamh McDowell said, “I chose a song called ‘John Condon’, which I heard recorded by Niamh Parsons, and thought the lyrics were brilliantly captivating as its tells a story about a fourteen-year-old boy, the same age as myself, fighting in the first world war. The Music Technology students in school asked me if they could record and arrange the song for the album. I am so glad that the money is going to “MyMy” as issues such as suicide and mental health are prominent in today’s society and it’s good that more awareness is being raised.”
Aoife McQuaid who both wrote and performed the song “Video Game”, whose lyrics are linked to mental health issues, told us about the inspiration and meaning behind the song, “In a video game you are given instructions and can pause anytime. If it gets too much or if you make a mistake you can always go back and try again. But life is a game with no instructions and no pause button. The fear of being judged, the fear of failure and wishing that we could change the past are some of the greatest curses that we inflict upon ourselves. Holding on to these fears can cause so much anxiety and can make you feel worthless. The message in the lyrics is that everyone can feel this way, and that's okay and there is always someone who can help”.
Music Technology teacher, Mr. Brown, oversaw the recording and offering his professional experience and expertise in the mixing and editing stages of producing the tracks. A former professional musician with the famous 90’s group, “Boo Radleys”, he was able to give advice and musical guidance to the students at each stage of the production.
He said “I gave the students the task of producing recordings as part of their coursework. As we looked into the criteria the students decided to take it up a level and put the recordings into the public domain and raise money for a local charity. It demonstrates great initiative and compassion on behalf of the students. They organised the singers and musicians and took control of the recording sessions using our school studio. When I heard what they had done musically, and how they had applied their technical skills, I was blown away and was really impressed with what they had produced. The amount of musical talent in St. Louis is outstanding and these students are a credit to the school”.
Mr Martin, Principal, stated “It is important that we as a school are able to help those in need. We have a strong tradition of supporting charitable causes here in St Louis and I am pleased the students could use their talents in this way to raise money for Mind Your Mate and Yourself. I urge parents, students and the local community to get online and download the album!”
The songs will be released on iTunes, Amazon Music, and other download sites in the next few days and everyone is encouraged to download the songs to help raise awareness of MyMy.
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Staff and pupils from St Paul's High School in Bessbrook have returned from their third visit to Kirovsk in Russia as part of a relationship forged in 2013 when the then Newry and Mourne Council invited the school to initiate a partnership with School 7 in Kirovsk, Russia.
The school shares educational experiences and explore their different cultures on the biennial exchange visit. The pupils and staff have were hosted by the pupils and staff from School 7 who made the visitors very welcome.
St. Paul’s students took part in several lessons, experiencing what it was like to be a student in Russia, at both the primary and secondary levels of education. Pupils in both schools showcased many of their talents, including dance, art and music. Participants even had the chance to take to the ski slope.
The pupils experienced how different the two cultures are but also how similar they are, even though they live many thousands of miles away.
The people of Kirovsk are a very proud people and they are delighted with the links they have with Newry, Mourne and Down. There is even a museum in School 7 and a section in their town museum dedicated to Newry and St. Paul’s H.S.
As one of the participants commented "It was a privileged to be part of such an adventure and a real mind broadening experience for all involved."
The visit even made Russian television which you can check out on Youtube at youtu.be
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The Ulster University Business School has presented two Newry girls with Tourism awards.
Celebrating their success at the Ulster University Awards Ceremony were Catherine Jennings, a former pupil at Sacred Heart Grammar School and Sonya Rooney, also from Newry.
Catherine, who has recently graduated with a BSc (Hons) degree in Leisure and Events Management, won four awards. She was presented with the Tourism NI Event Management Award, the Origin Digital Award, the Special Olympics Event Management Award and the Bank of Ireland Digital Innovation Award at the annual Department of Hospitality and Tourism Awards held at the Belfast campus.
Sonya Rooney, who has recently completed an MSc in International Tourism Management, has won the Crosskeys’ Masters Award for attaining the highest marks in her dissertation.
Speaking at the Awards ceremony, Professor Una McMahon-Beattie, Head of Department, said, “In conjunction with our industry partners, the Department of Hospitality and Tourism is delighted to celebrate and recognise the excellence of our students. We are very proud of their achievements and are confident that with the current growth in the local and international agri-food, hospitality and tourism sectors, our graduates are well equipped to take on the challenges of managing and leading in these competitive market environments.”
A total of 14 major awards were presented.
Award sponsors included Origin Digital, Bank of Ireland, Consumer Council (NI), Da Vinci, Northern Area CIMA, Suki Tea, Hastings Hotels, Henderson Food Service, Belfast City Council, Tourism NI, Crosskeys and Special Olympics.
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Students from the SRC BTEC level 3 Extended Diploma in Health and Social Care participated in a Caring Competition recently at the Model campus in Newry.
The students demonstrated their caring skills in Communication, Safeguarding and Health and Safety and presentations were made.
Prize winners included first place winner Sorcha Downey from Mayobridge, second place went to Tara Mc Kinley from Mullaghbawn and third place went to Ethan Cranston from Newtownhamilton.
Sorcha will now represent the SRC later in the year in the UK World Skills Caring Competition heats. Past SRC student and UK World Skills Champion Nikita Harron supported the competition and wishes Sorcha success as she goes forward to the heats.
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Students from St Paul’s High School are celebrating the completion of the ‘QuickStart Programme’ this week with local charity Young Enterprise NI.
The QuickStart Programme, supported by Ulster Bank, sees Year 8 students develop a marketable product and business plan under the guidance of Young Enterprise volunteer Nichola Mc Camley from Demenex Plant Hire Ltd and Ms Vicki Downing from St Paul’s High School. They have followed a detailed 10-week programme learning about entrepreneurship. The Quick Start programme is overseen by Ms Christine Fearon, St Paul’s HS. Ms Fearon commented: “This is a fantastic opportunity for our pupils to develop those skills which are so valuable in-school but also in the world of work. The QuickStart programme offered and highly executed by Young Enterprise NI and has been welcomed into our school this year.”
Young Enterprise NI brings together companies and classrooms, encouraging students to an exciting and be creative and begin to develop entrepreneurial qualities at a young age.
Carol Fitzsimons MBE, Chief Executive of Young Enterprise commented: “We are delighted to partner with Ulster Bank on our QuickStart Programme. QuickStart is a fantastic way for the students to gain first-hand experience of how business works while developing their entrepreneurship and employability skills. I look forward to seeing what the young people come up with.”
Young Enterprise NI is a charity and is principally funded by the Department of Education. For more information, including volunteering and fundraising opportunities please visit www.yeni.co.uk. For further details on Ulster Bank’s community initiatives, go to www.ulsterbank.com
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