Write a comment
A once in a lifetime trip to the Camino in Spain for 20 pupils is the prize up for grabs in a nationwide school's competition and pupils from St Joseph's Boys High School in Newry would like your help to ensure that they get the walk of their lives.
As part of the competition, St Joseph's has entered a photograph competition in which the prize is a trip for 20 pupils to Spain to take part in the Camino Way trek.
The image entered incorporates the iconic Yellow Arrow symbol of the Camino Way trail and was taken overlooking Camloch Lake and Mountain.
People are encouraged to visit the site at https://www.facebook.com/Followthecamino and 'like' the St Joseph's image in an effort to secure the most 'likes' for the winning picture. For more information, please see www.stjosephsnewry.com
Write a comment
Classes in St Joseph’s Boys’ High School, have been engaging in interactive workshops involving PIPS Newry and Mourne as part of a whole-school initiative on improving pupils’ emotional well-being.
Personal Development co-ordinator, Mr Brendan Fearon, explained that the extensive programme complimented the existing Pastoral Care provision in school by providing pupils with additional opportunities to improve and regulate their emotional, mental and psychological well-being, thus further expanding their capacity as healthy, competent and proactive young men.
Mr Shane Murphy delivered the programme over a 4-week-period and complimented the pupils for their outstanding behaviour and participation with sensitive issues; in particular the senior pupils who positively engaged with topics relating to suicide intervention and signposting support strategies for situations relating to stress, anxiety and depression.
For further information and images please see the school website at :: www.stjosephsnewry.com
Write a comment
Many local families will already be thinking about the cost of sending their children back to school in September, with expensive school uniforms top of the list.
In a bid to support local families, school uniform sales are being organised by the South Armagh Locality Planning Group in Bessbrook and Newtownhamilton next month. The group are currently seeking donations of good quality used items including school blazers, skirts, pinafores and trousers, and PE kits.
Martina Flynn, a Community Development Worker with the Southern Trust and Chairperson of the Locality Planning Group explains: “The South Armagh LPG is a partnership between local statutory, voluntary and community organisations who work with children and families in the area, and this summer we decided to do something very practical to support local families with the cost of going back to school.
“With family budgets stretched even tighter due to challenging employment conditions and rising living costs, the added expense of kitting children out for school can add huge stress at a time when some families are already under a lot of pressure.
“We are appealing for donations of good quality uniform items which can be put to good use and worn again. Children in our area attend schools right across the wider Newry & Armagh district so items for all local primary and post-primary schools are welcome.”
Donations can be left at a number of drop-off points across the area, including Bessbrook and Crossmaglen Community Centres, SPACE (Monaghan St, Newry), Newry and Mourne Carers (Savages Terrace, Newry), John Mitchel Place in Newry and the Health and Social Care Board offices at Tower Hill Armagh.
The sales will take place in Newtownhamilton Community Centre on 11 August and Bessbrook Community Centre on 12 August (2- 4 pm and 6 – 8 pm both days).
For further information please contact Julie Bolton, Locality Development Officer on 077 2523 2566 or by e-mail at Julie.bolton@hscni.net.
Write a comment
Twenty nine SRC students have just returned from Germany after carrying out a fantastic two week work placement fully funded through the ERASMUS + Programme.
The group consisted of BTEC Level 2 & 3 Construction & Built Environment students and Apprenticeship students from Painting & Decorating, Tiling, Bricklaying, Carpentry, Joinery and Plastering. During their time in Germany the students were involved in working on a restoration project in the centre of Leipzig.
The Construction students also visited the University in Leipzig were they were given a lesson on how to test the strength of large re-enforced concrete beams and the technical science associated around forces and newton's 3rd law.
Since 2007 SRC’s International Affairs team have secured over €2m in EU funding through the Lifelong Learning (LLP) & Erasmus + Programmes for 55 EU projects.
These have enabled over 1000 students to secure work-placements and job shadowing abroad. Further information please email: internationalaffairs@src.ac.uk
Write a comment
St Patrick's Primary School in The Meadow, Newry officially opened their Sensory Garden this week just before they headed off for their summer break.
The garden will provide a place of relaxation and learning, with a range of different colours, sounds and smells, with facilities for pupils to grow their own plants and learn about different flora and fauna.
The Friends of St Patrick's group worked along with 'Work It' participants to develop the garden.
Chairperson of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Cllr Gillian Fitzpatrick who performed the official opening stated "On behalf of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council I would like to thank the NI Executive for providing us with the opportunity to lead on this fantastic programme and through the Community Projects element be able to support such a valuable resource for not only the school but also the local community. I congratulate the staff, pupils and participants for all their hard work in bringing this project to fruition.
Funding was allocated from the NI Executive's Social Investment Fund via the Work It programme.
St Patrick's Primary School would also like to thank Haldane Fisher for providing paving stones and Gerard McQuillan for donating the gravel for the garden.
Write a comment
Six schools from Newry, Mourne and Down District Council were recently presented with Green Flags by Council Chairperson, Gillian Fitzpatrick as part of the Eco-Schools Programme.
St Colman’s Primary School Kilkeel, Sacred Heart Grammar School Newry, Bun Scoil an Iúir, St Marys Primary School Newcastle, Bessbrook Primary School, St Brigid’s Primary School Glassdrummond and St Joseph’s Primary School Strangford, received their first green flags this year, taking the total number of schools throughout the district proudly flying the Green Flag to 32.
Council Chairperson, Councillor Fitzpatrick speaking to the teachers and pupils attending the presentation ceremony said, “This is a tremendous achievement. The Green Flag award is internationally recognised and only obtained by those schools who have reached the highest of environmental standards”.
Councillor Fitzpatrick continued, “Well done to all the staff and pupils whose hard work has resulted in these awards. A special word of congratulations to the members of the Eco Committees present here today. You have taken the lead by making sure that your school cares about the environment.”
Cathy Gorman, Eco-Schools Officer, who attended the reception on behalf of Eco-Schools NI said, “It is a great pleasure to see the continued success of the Eco-Schools programme in the Newry, Mourne and Down District. Local Councils provide very important encouragement and support to schools and in Newry, Mourne and Down this is apparent in the increasing number of schools achieving the prestigious Green Flag award.”
For further details of the programme, contact Cathy Gorman, Eco-Schools NI on
028 90 736 920 or visit www.eco-schoolsni.org.uk
Write a comment
The Queen's Birthday Honours List gave cause for double celebration for the Southern Regional College (SRC) as a formers student and a lecturer were named in the awards this week.
Former student, Gary Doyle received a British Empire Medal (BEM) while lecturer, Ronnie Ferris received a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE).
The list, which recognises the achievements of a wide range of extraordinary people across the UK, sees Gary being the youngest person in the UK to receive an honour!
The 21 year old plumbing apprentice from Ballyward, triumphed at the global skills competition WorldSkills Sao Paulo 2015, winning a gold medal in the Plumbing and Heating category and is now crowned the ‘Best Plumber in the World’. Gary’s success followed four days of intense competition against more than 1000 of the world’s most skilled young people.
Ronnie, from Newry, was Gary’s lecturer and mentor throughout the process. He guided Gary throughout his training at the College and on his journey to Global success. He has been awarded for his “services to schools development and the community in Co.Down.”
Mr. Brian Doran, Chief Executive, SRC, commented: “I am delighted that both Gary and Ronnie have been honoured in the Queen’s birthday honours. For Gary to be selected to represent the UK at the WorldSkills competition last summer in Brazil was in itself a great achievement for but to have been crowned the best plumber in the world exceeded all our expectations. Gary has been a wonderful ambassador for the college and the wider region and I have no doubt that his success will help inspire other trainees and apprentices in future skills competitions. Mr Doran continued “It was also fitting that Ronnie was honoured with an MBE in recognition for his services to skills competitions and the wider community here in Northern Ireland. Whilst Gary’s success last summer was the icing on the cake, Ronnie has mentored and supported many other trainees in local and national competitions over many years and I am delighted that his work has been formally recognised. Gary and Ronnie worked as a team to achieve global success and we are delighted to be able to share in their success.”
Write a comment
St Joseph's Boys High School, Newry held their annual Sports Day with the beautiful weather adding an extra sparkle to the performances of the pupils.
School records were well and truly smashed as the level of competition reached an all-time high!
Win, lose or draw, it was the taking part that was important and great praise must be given to each and every pupil for the great sportsmanship that was on display throughout the day.
For many more images from Brendan Fearon check out www.stjosephsnewry.com
Write a comment
The province's top future innovators had their work recognised recently at the prestigious BEST Awards ceremony. Now in its sixth year the BEST Awards recognise innovation in a wide range of areas ranging from creative industries, to visual design and life sciences being cultivated by students and lecturers across Northern Ireland’s six Further Education Colleges.
The Awards are organised by Colleges NI who are the representative body for all six of Northern Irelands Further Education Colleges. The Awards are linked to the development of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths.
This year there were 103 entries from across Northern Ireland competing for 11 category prizes and four grand prizes covering the age range from 16 to 19+.
Southern Regional College students scooped 3 out of the 4 grand prizes!
Winner of the 16 to 18 Age Category was Dermot Savage from SRC who created an incubator for lambs to increase survival. The runner up was Amy Anderson from SRC who examined the antibiotics lifespan in the veterinary industry. The winner of the 19+ age category was Nadine Gollogly from SRC who developed an alerts system to tell you when to change your child’s nappy.
The projects include: app development, games; stem cell research, drone technology, beauty therapy and cancer research.
The winners have been chosen by a panel of 39 judges drawn from some of Northern Ireland’s leading businesses including Seagate, Dupont and Bank of Ireland as well as Universities, Government Departments and the MATRIX the Northern Ireland Science Industry Panel.
Gerry Campbell, Chief Executive of Colleges NI said “Our congratulations go to each of the winners and all the finalists who were shortlisted for the BEST Awards. The calibre of submissions this year points towards a very bright future for young and mature innovators in the FE sector as well as positive news for our local economy. The ideas put forward were inspiring to the judging panel and all of us here.
“Northern Ireland desperately needs the skills that our young people have put on show today. They will help us face the economic challenges of the global marketplace.
The devolution of Corporation Tax will create a new positive and pro-business invitation to not only the global investment community but also indigenous businesses in Northern Ireland.
I welcome and am grateful for the participation and support of our new Department for the Economy and the new Department for Communities. The Further Education sector wishes you and your new Ministers Simon Hamilton and Paul Givan every success.
I will make an early plea that your Departments and the forthcoming Programme for Government recognise that investment in skills is the basis for economic growth and will enable us to take full advantage of the benefits that Corporation Tax will bring. Cuts to investment in skills will directly equate to a cut in the economic success of Northern Ireland that will be the key measure of success for the new administration in Stormont.
Colleges and universities together will be your key partners in delivering the foundations of an economy that will see an increase in employment, an increase in our competitiveness and an increase in innovation. Many if not all of the projects on show here today have the potential to help you and us reach that goal. We look forward to working with you.”
 |
 |
 |