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Christmas is “the most wonderful time of the year”, to quote a popular Christmas song, and with that, the most precious gift one can give is time. This year Health and Social Care students at Southern Regional College’s Newry Model campus took a morning away from class to host local community groups, Sunshine Club and U3A with a coffee morning. Following the success of the event, there are now plans for another coffee morning in March next year.
The event formed part of Linking Generations Northern Ireland’s (LGNI) intergenerational Christmas campaign funded by the Public Health Agency, the coffee morning was a wonderful example of festive spirit and practice in the art of giving. Young and old generations alike were encouraged to mingle and share stories whilst creating Christmas cards, alongside outbursts of songs made of an impromptu choir of students.
LGNI have been connecting generations and communities across Northern Ireland since 2009 and are the only NI organisation focused solely on developing intergenerational approaches to addressing societal issues. The coffee morning was a perfect example of their vision, as student Charlene Conlon attended the event with her mum Veronica Conlon and 86-year-old nanny Sarah Marian McGlade.
Feedback from the event was positive, with participants praising students for showing an interest in their lives and spending time with them.
Christine McKinney from U3A commented "Thank you all so much for a very enjoyable morning. So much hard work preparing for it all and such lovely activities and treats. I want to especially thank the students who made it so welcoming and were a delight to talk to. It was great to meet lots of new folk and be treated with so much kindness. Looking forward to an Easter event.
Lynne Bennett from Linking Generations commented “It has been great to watch the students put the intergenerational training they received into practice in establishing and developing links with local older persons settings. These interactions help to create joy and a sense of connectedness through meaningful fun activities and conversation.”
Deirdre Franklin, Health & Science Coordinator at Southern Regional College further commented “It has been absolutely fabulous to host this coffee morning on campus. We are delighted to welcome our senior members in the community and give them an opportunity to interact with our students. They have shared their valuable insights and stories with us, and we have learned a lot from them. Events like this help break down intergenerational barriers and foster mutual understanding and respect. We hope to continue this initiative and build stronger bonds between the young and the old.”
For more information on how to get involved in developing intergenerational connections and for inspiration visit www.linkinggenerationsni.com
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A pupil from Saint Ronan's Primary School in Newry was one of five winners across Northern Ireland who scooped a prize in a fun competition to design a Day in the Life of an Eco-hero or Eco-villain. P5 pupil Will Murphy received his own eco-laptop and £500 for his school to use toward an eco-project.
The annual eco-competition is organised by the Housing Executive in partnership with Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful, Eco-Schools NI and was open to all primary and post primary schools.
Primary 3 to Year 9 pupils were invited to take part to help highlight issues such as energy efficiency in the home and school, renewable energy and climate change.
Emma Stubbs, Housing Executive Assistant Director, Regional Services, said: “The eco-hero, eco villain competition is part of the Northern Ireland Schools Energy Efficiency Programme – and we are delighted with the results.
“We asked everyone who entered to look at four key topics: water, renewables versus fossil fuels, climate action and global perspectives.
“Most young people care deeply about environmental issues and want to make a positive change in the environment around them. This competition provides an ideal way for fostering awareness in the entire school.
“The real reward is that the participants can help to shape the future world that they will inhabit.”
Sinead Murray, Environmental Education Coordinator, Eco-schools NI, said: “We are delighted to have the Housing Executive as our Energy Topic Sponsor this year again. It has been very exciting to see the children’s vision of climate heroes and villains.
“This is an excellent educational project to help children understand climate change and what can be done to combat it.”
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Everyone was in the Christmas mood at Saint Malachy's Primary School in Newry earlier today, 21 December, with school vice principal Kate Carragher conducting an assembly to pick the winners in the school's Christmas Raffle as well as present a cheque to Women's Aid. Class winners in a Christmas Card competition were also congratulated.
The school holds an annual Christmas Raffle to raise funds with prizes ranging from luxury food hampers to a large array of toys and other items. First prize in the raffle, a beautiful hamper was won by Siobhan McEvoy who was sold her ticket by Caillum Galbraith.
Proceeds from a Green Day fundraiser held in the first term of the year were also handed over with Student Council Representative, Rian Burns presenting a cheque for £150 to Rachel Buchanan from Women's Aid.
Earlier this month pupils had a chance to design a Christmas card. Primary Five pupil Chidera Kelechukwu was the overall winner in the competition with the designers of the best card in each class also receiving a prize.
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Sacred Heart Grammar School held their annual prizegiving night on Thursday last, 21 December. The school were delighted and honoured to welcome back former Head Girl, the Right Honourable Dame Siobhan Keegan, Lady Chief Justice of Northern Ireland, as guest speaker. Following a stellar legal career namely in family law, Dame Siobhan was made Lady Chief Justice in September 2021, the first female to hold the post.
Celebrating another year of outstanding results, with 97% of pupils achieving grade A – C, fifty-three pupils achieving three A*/A grades, and four pupils achieving four A*/A grades, Principal Shane Comer spoke of the importance of caring for each other and continuing to be guided by the values of Sacred Heart as they moved forward.
Reminiscing on her time in Sacred Heart, Dame Siobhan Keegan emphasised that she didn’t want to be the last Lady Chief Justice for Northern Ireland, or the last from Newry or Sacred Heart. Inspiring the audience with her achievements, she encouraged the pupils to remain open to alternatives in their chosen paths and get real-life experience, while both accepting and reaching out for advice from those who support them.
Also present at the ceremony, Julie Conlon awarded the Brian Conlon Medal to former Year 14 Pupil, Eabha Fallon. In its inaugural year, the annual award is presented to the pupil who reflects Brian’s spirit, as nominated by the school.
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Southern Regional College’s Newry campus hosted the local heat for Springboard’s FutureChef competition which saw four students from local schools compete to represent their county at the Northern Ireland finals in February 2024.
The competition is a school-based programme across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland that supports the development of key life skills whist inspiring young people to pursue an exciting career within the Hospitality Industry.
The FutureChef competition is an opportunity for students aged between 11 and 16 to showcase their culinary talents, receive useful feedback from industry experts, 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 under 60 minutes using a budget of £5.00 but this didn’t stop the students producing fantastic dishes despite the competition pressures. The four students, Lubo Mulkerns, St Paul’s High School, Alisha Sibanda, Newry High School, Sarah Moore and Beth Morrow, Banbridge Academy competed against each other to win a place at the Northern Ireland Finals.
The judging panel included Darragh Dooley, Executive Head Chef at Killeavy Castle Estate, John Clark, Head Chef at Slieve Donard, Geoff Baird, Executive Development Chef for Henderson Foodservice and Ciaran Sansome, Head Chef at the Seagoe Hotel. All four judges remarked on the exceptional talent as they had the difficult decision of choosing the winning dish from an impressive selection!
Special congratulations to Lubo Mulkerns from St Paul’s High School who was crowned the winner for his winning dish of Pulled Smoked Taco Chicken, Coriander Salsa, Asian Slaw, and Homemade Yogurt Flatbreads! Lubo will now compete in the Northern Ireland Finals on Wednesday 7th February 2024 at Belfast Metropolitan College.
Well done to all four competitors. Each student was fantastic and presented wonderful dishes under time constraints – we may have found some future local chefs!
Matt Turner, Head of Faculty for Professional Services at Southern Regional College commented “It was wonderful to attend such a prestigious event to see such an amazing array of talent with outstanding passion for the Hospitality Industry. I had the pleasure of meeting all four competitors as they produced exceptional dishes that our local restaurants would have envious of. I extend my best wishes to Lubo as he progresses to the Northern Ireland Finals in February 2024.”
Sinead Boyle, Culinary Arts Lecturer at Southern Regional College further commented “Lubo is a hard-working young man who always smiles when he is working with food. He has a positive attitude and does not shy away when something in the kitchen doesn’t go to plan! Lubo is a pleasure to teach and to mentor to the Final Heats”.
For further information go to Schools Partnership Programme
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Local student Lubo Mulkerns from Jonesborough is returning to the kitchen, but not just any kitchen. Lubo is competing with the regional finals of Future Chef on Wednesday 7 February 2024 at Belfast Metropolitan College. There, he will compete against six other secondary school students, who topped local competition heats to progress to the Northern Ireland regional final. The successful regional student will progress to the UK finals in March.
The Future Chef competition is open to year 10-12 secondary school students and aimed at developing culinary talents to inspire the next generation of chefs to get involved in the hospitality industry. Judging competitors are an amazing line up of six judges, including Geoff Baird, business development chef with Henderson Food Service; Gemma Austin who’s many accomplishments include representing Northern Ireland on BBC’s Great British Menu and Ulster Tatler Restaurant of the Year; Sean Owens, Culinary Training Officer at Ulster University; Artur Fron, winner of Northern Ireland’s Institute of Hospitality Independent Chef of the Year, and Kristen Nugent, FutureChef UK National Winner 2023.
Lubo who attends St Paul’s High School in Bessbrook has been in preparation for the regional completion for many weeks now. Each week Lubo practices his skills at home and at his dad’s local deli each Saturday. Lubo is also attending ten 1 to 1 mentoring sessions with Southern Regional College’s professional chef and lecturer Sinead Boyle, who herself was a finalist at the 2023 Institute of Hospitality Awards. Throughout these sessions, Sinead has been building and enhancing Lubo’s skills, practising dishes to improve timings.
At the regional competition Lubo will have just one hour, 30 minutes to prepare, chop, organise and cook his planned meal of a mouthwatering lamb in a marinated sauce followed by a tantalising jelly sorbet sponge with crème anglaise. Timing is everything, with Lubo admitting that the biggest challenge going into the regionals is getting timing right.
Commenting on the competition Lubo said “The biggest challenge is timing. The competition is 1h 30mins and so therefore I need to ensure I have everything cooked within this timeframe. This is why organisation is a very important skill to require. I have been practising at lot at home particularly over Christmas to try and get my timing narrowed down.”
Lubo holds out Gordan Ramsey as his role model within the culinary industry. Not forgetting home grown role models, Lubo hopes to follow in his dad’s footsteps and own his own restaurant in the future.
SRC Lecturer Sinead Boyle,added “Lubo has worked extremely hard for this competition, and it would be fantastic to see him win. He is a great student who always has a positive attitude, is eager to learn and always has a smile on his face. I wish Lubo all the best”.
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The search is on to find 'Ireland's Fittest School'. Working with Fyffes, the aim is to find a school whose focus on fitness will replicate the success of previous ‘Ireland’s Fittest School’ winners – Scoil Na Croise Naofa, Dunfanaghy (2022) and Gilson National School, Oldcastle (2023).
Three of Ireland’s best-known athletes – World Para Rowing champion, Katie O’Brien and Olympians, sprinters Phil Healy and David Gillick are advising teachers and pupils alike that the search is on!
Running until the end of March, the top four schools in Ireland, north and south, will progress to a live ‘grand final’ at which the prize package will include €8,000 worth of sports equipment.
The programme will run until Friday, 29th March. Each week schools will participate in weekly exercises with Fit Squad Ambassadors, David Gillick, Katie O’Brien, and Phil Healy, to earn banana points in the race to be crowned Ireland’s Fittest School.
But here’s the twist, the top four schools on the leaderboard after the 29th of March 2024, will be invited to participate in the first ever LIVE Ireland’s Fittest School finale which will take place in May 2024 with Fyffes Ambassadors. The winners on the day, will receive €5,000 worth of sports equipment for their school with 2nd, 3rd and 4th receiving €1,000.
Schools can register at www.fyffesfitsquad.ie
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Southern Regional College’s annual Big Apprenticeship Event returns this February during Northern Ireland Apprenticeship Week 2024. Giving prospective apprentices all the information to ‘release their potential’ the Big Apprenticeship Event promises not to disappoint, with over 40 employers and support organisations attending the Newry event.
Held in conjunction with the Newry, Mourne and Down Labour Market Partnership, there will be information on current job opportunities attached to accompanying apprenticeship courses. Funded by the Department for Communities, Labour Market Partnerships create targeted employment action plans for council areas, allowing for collaboration at local and regional level to support people towards and into work.
The Big Apprenticeship Event is being held in the College’s Newry West Campus on Tuesday 6 February and in Craigavon Civic Centre on Thursday 8 February 2024, both from 5:30pm to 7:30pm. So, if you can’t make one date, there is still the opportunity to meet prospective employers who are hiring for September 2024 on the alternative date. There’s a vast range of apprenticeship positions on offer including electrical installation, design and manufacturing; digital marketing; accounting; industrial science and cloud computing, analytics and security. Local employers in attendance include the Exact Group (NI) Ltd, Shelbourne Motors, Resonate Testing Ltd, Norbrook and AMC Construction NI Ltd.
Raymond Sloan, Principal & CEO of Southern Regional College commented “The College’s annual The Big Apprenticeship Event is an exciting showcase of apprenticeships and higher level apprenticeships available at SRC. This event offers a unique opportunity for potential students to directly engage with a wide range of employers, opening doors to a myriad of promising career pathways."
Individuals will be able to hear from both employers and lecturers alike on courses and determine if an Apprenticeship or Higher Level Apprenticeship is the right career move. Attendees will be able to drop in and hear from current apprentices as they share their remarkable apprenticeship journey during ‘Apprenticeship Ambassador’ sessions.
Apprentices come from all walks in life, from school leavers to all age apprentices (adult returners), so there really is no clear-cut definition of what an apprentice looks like. Apprentices can work and study qualifications at a range of levels, from level 2/3 up to Higher Level Apprenticeships at level 5/6, the equivalent to a foundation degree or full honours degree.
The choice of subjects is diverse with 38 apprenticeship courses on offer at level 2/3 and 18 Higher Level Apprenticeship courses on offer at level 5/6. From accounting to carpentry and joinery, digital marketing, advertising and communications to engineering, hairdressing, hospitality and sport and exercise, the College offers a wide breath of opportunities for all.
Last year the College welcomed over 1,300 participants to the Big Apprenticeship Event over both nights and this year promises to be another busy year.
Mr Sloan added "Attendees will have the opportunity to gather invaluable information about our various programmes and discover the benefits of pursuing an apprenticeship. With both hands-on vocational training and recognised qualifications, apprenticeships provide a dynamic and practical approach to learning, equipping individuals with the skills and experience sought by employers.
"The Big Apprenticeship Event is designed to empower individuals in making informed decisions about their educational and career journeys. Whether you are a school leaver, a career changer, or someone seeking professional development, this event promises to deliver a wealth of knowledge and inspiration to help you shape your future”.
Speaking of the upcoming event Councillor Valerie Harte, Chairperson of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council said “Newry Mourne and Down District Council, through the Newry, Mourne and Down Labour Market Partnership are delighted to support SRC’s Big Apprenticeship Event demonstrating Councils commitment to ensuring local employers are gaining access to the right people, with the right skills required for growth and job creation. We encourage participants from across the district and all walks of life to attend the SRC Big Apprenticeship Event and find out more about the opportunity apprenticeships can offer.”
Register for your free ticket to the Big Apprenticeship Event at: www.src.ac.uk
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NI Water is marking National Apprenticeship Week by encouraging school leavers, graduates and people considering a career change to join them at its Entry Level virtual open evening on Monday 5 February 2024.
The company has 28 opportunities available in science, construction engineering, customer and intelligent operations, commercial contract management, Net Zero electrical engineering, geographic information systems (GIS), project management and also accountancy.
Newry College student Aga Borecka started NI Water’s Higher Level Apprentice programme in science in September 2023. She said: “I’m currently studying a foundation degree in Industrial Chemistry at Newry College for two years, working four days per week and studying one day a week. This balance allows me to gain practical experience whilst still improving my academic knowledge.
“My first piece of advice would be to apply because there are excellent opportunities in front of you. Secondly be prepared and know your employer, especially the company values. And thirdly enjoy every step of the journey. You will meet smart, kind people who will support you and who will become your work family. If I had to describe my experience so far it in one word it would be ‘incredible’. So, don’t wait – apply!”
Successful applicants will receive an attractive reward package from day one including a competitive salary, structured career progression and fully funded qualifications. Some of the posts also offer subsidised driving lessons which will truly put you in the driving seat of your career.
NI Water’s Entry Level Coordinator Clodagh Patterson said: “We’re really keen for people to consider an apprenticeship with NI Water so we’re organising a virtual open evening for school leavers, graduates and people embarking on a career change to find out more about what we have to offer.
“The virtual open evening comes at the start of National Apprenticeship Week and is the perfect opportunity for potential applicants to meet some of our current apprentices and industry experts who will be happy to answer any questions and talk about what an apprenticeship with NI Water means.
“We’ve got apprenticeships right across the business including streams in science, engineering, finance and much more. NI Water has won the best apprenticeship scheme in Northern Ireland, not once but twice in the last year! It shows we have something really special here, something to be proud of.”
Find out more about NI Water’s double award winning Entry Level Academy and for details about its online open evening on Monday 5th February 2024, go to www.niwater.com
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