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Parents, students, and staff from Sacred Heart Grammar School, Newry gathered on Thursday 21 November to celebrate and acknowledge the GSCE class of 2024. An amazing total of 97% of students achieved A* - C in 7 or more subjects and a massive 56 students achieved A* / A in 9 or more subjects.
Guest speaker on the night was past-pupil, Ms Anne-Marie Mulholland. Since leaving Sacred Heart in 2014, Anne-Marie studied Dietetics in UU, Coleraine, before completing a master’s degree in Sports Nutrition in LJMU leading to a career as Performance Dietician. More recently, Anne-Marie has been working with the IRFU, leading Nutrition with the 7’s Rugby Programme and supporting the teams at the Olympic Games in Paris ’24. Speaking of her time in SHGS, Anne-Marie reminisced that school was about her beginning to discover her passions and interests, leading to her career in dietetics. In some final words of advice to the gathered students, she said ‘School gives you the tools to excel, but it is up to you to utilise them – your future success ultimately depends on your drive and passion’.
Principal, Mr Comer, in his speech, looked back at the world innovations during the 5 years of school leading up to the students GSCE’s, but noted that what really stood the test of time was how people treated each other, and acknowledged the great lengths that all staff go to in making school an enjoyable experience for the pupils in SHGS.
The prizegiving concluded with the awarding of medals for the 5 pupils who achieved 10 A* grades in their GCSE’s, the 36 pupils who achieved 10 A*/A grades and certificates for the 15 pupils who achieved A*/A in 9 GCSE subjects. Cups were awarded to pupils who had achieved the highest marks in their subjects, with an amazing 6 students achieving top grades in 2 or more subjects.
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The gift of learning spans lifetimes
Southern Regional College are celebrating the gift of learning that spans lifetimes. The gift is brought to life in this wonderful seasonal video spanning 60 years and produced by their very own talented students and staff.
All at Southern Regional College are wishing you a festive season filled with joy, success, and endless possibilities.
Here's to another year of growth, learning, and achieving your dreams at Southern Regional College!
Christmas Greetings
#TheGiftofLearning
#SRCChristmasSpirit
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Students Alex Heaney and Ethan McFee from St Joseph's Boys' High School, Newry are two of the latest recipients of the PLAYR-FIT Elite Athlete Scholarship.
The scholarship program is available to two pupils in each school. As part of the scholarship program PLAYR-FIT sets up a fund that financially helps the pupils with the extra costs of being an elite athlete such as receiving the very best S&C, nutrition, physiotherapy and gym guidance and also allows them to focus on their studies.
Alex plays soccer and is currently on the books at Cliftonville FC and just recently played in the U19 Champions League for the club. He has won numerous underage cups with the club including the Northern Ireland Cup last year. Alex has played in the prestigious Milk Cup, now known as the SuperCup NI and he has also recently spent time at MK Dons in England.
Ethan is an outstanding young Gaelic Footballer from the Ballyholland Harps club. Ethan has captained his school and club and played in U15 and U16 development squads in Down and this year will be hoping to be a member of the Down Minor Football Panel. Ethan has had fantastic success with his club as a dominant full back and last year was an ever present on the schools historic winning Pat King Cup Squad. Ethan has a bright future in Gaelic Games.
If your school is interested in getting involved in this scholarship program you can inquire by emailing sales@playr-fit.com
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SRC Newry Bricklaying student Matthew Carswell, who attends the colleges Greenbank campus, is one of five students from Northern Ireland to take home a medal at the 2024 SkillBuild National Finals in Milton Keynes. JP Corry in Newry generously provided Matthew with tools and workwear in advance of reaching the finals.
The national competition ran from 19-21 November with competitors tasked with constructing a project designed by an expert panel of judges, within an 18-hour timeframe. The project tested knowledge, skills, as well as the ability to work under pressure whilst managing time constraints.
To make it to the finals Matthew was one of the top eight highest scoring competitors across all regional qualifiers in the UK. Techniques Matthew was required to demonstrate in the finals, included a firm understanding of detailed drawings, making use of the various contrasting brickwork, measuring and cutting bricks accurately and to the required sizes, and ensuring limited wastage of materials.
Having competed in his local SkillBuild final in February and the Northern Ireland regional competition in May where he topped the leaderboard, Matthew had to wait it out until all regional qualifiers had been concluded, and the scores quality assured and moderated by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), before learning that he had made it through to the national finals.
Following this wait, Matthew was delighted to be part of the Northern Ireland contingent partaking within the national finals. This delight was topped off by winning the bronze medal in the finals.
Many hours of training and hard work went into this achievement with Southern Regional College lecturer Stephen Chapman commenting: "Matthew's performance at the SkillBuild National Finals was outstanding. Throughout the competition, he demonstrated remarkable focus and composure, maintaining a calm and collected approach from start to finish. Competing alongside seven of the UK’s top bricklayers, all vying for a place in the top three, Matthew’s achievement of securing third place is a testament to his skill and dedication. This is a significant accomplishment for Matthew, for me as his lecturer, and for the College."
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Economy Minister Conor Murphy this week visited the Southern Regional College in Newry to announce the SME Productivity Booster, a new £350,000 initiative aimed at increasing productivity and skills in small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs).
The SME Productivity Booster aims to equip more than 70 businesses across the north with the skills and insights they need to boost their productivity and, in turn, their competitiveness and prospects for growth. Raising productivity is one of the Minister’s four strategic priorities for the economy.
Speaking after a visit to Newry the Minister said: “According to recent research, output per worker in the north of Ireland is 11% lower than in Britain and almost 40% lower than in the south of Ireland.
“The SME Productivity Booster, which represents an investment of £350,000 by my Department as part of the wider Skills Fund, seeks to address this gap by providing targeted upskilling to SMEs operating in key economic areas such as fintech, healthcare and advanced manufacturing.
“The Department has already delivered two successful pilots of this initiative and I would encourage SMEs to visit nibusinessinfo to find out how they can benefit from this funded support.”
Mel Higgins, Principal and CEO of Northern Regional College and chair of the Further Education Principals’ Group, said: “As Chair of the Further Education Principals’ Group, I am pleased to see the launch of this initiative which will further strengthen ties between the further education sector and local employers whilst increasing productivity levels across the region. Upskilling the workforce through our local college networks is key to unlocking the potential in businesses and paving the way for economic growth.”
James O’Neill, Head of Sales at Portadown company Rathbanna Ltd, which availed of support from SRC during the pilot phase, added: “The support we accessed from SRC through this programme was invaluable, enabling us to establish a business improvement team that identified inefficiencies and implemented new strategies to enhance productivity and reduce waste.”
The SME Productivity Booster programme is delivered in partnership with the six further education colleges across Northern Ireland. Companies begin with an initial productivity ‘health check’, which identifies key areas in which staff will be trained such as leadership, business improvement and lean processes. A productivity roadmap is then developed to help SMEs implement plans to increase productivity levels within their business.
To find out more about the SME Productivity Booster and how to access the support, visit: www.nibusinessinfo.co.uk
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Our Lady’s Grammar School recently celebrated the success of the GCSE Class of 2024 with 96% of students attaining 7 or more GCSEs at grades A*-C.
Pupils were delighted to welcome Ms. Lynn Carvill as the Guest Speaker for the Prizegiving afternoon, celebrating the many successes of Year 13 students. Ms. Carvill attended Our Lady’s from 1983-1990 and is now the Chief Executive of WOMENSTEC, a regional organisation specialising in the delivery of non-traditional skills training to women and girls. She is passionate about challenging gender stereotypes and encouraging women and girls to achieve their full potential, and one of her great pieces of advice was to remind each and every one of our students that they are enough, and to always believe that to be the case. Lynn spoke at length about her experiences in challenging traditional gender roles and reminded our students about the value in finding their own paths, even if they appear at first to be non-traditional routes or choices.
Lynn presented prizes to our top achieving students, achieving A*/A grades in each subject they studied, along with a selection of Sporting awards, and the Gabriel Award recognising a student who is a Mercy Ambassador, reflecting the pastoral traits we wish our students to embody in their daily life. Students achieving first in subject were also acknowledged, as was the relentless effort, resilience and passion shown by each student and the encouragement and support of their parents / carers.
SPORTS AWARDS
Nicola McKenna Cup Mychaela McEvoy
Patrick Manson Memorial Cup Mia McLaughlin
Central Florists Cup for Netball Niamh Farrell
Central Motors Cup for Dance Eimear Gallagher
Fiveways Cup for Gymnastics Eibhlin O’Neill
Heaney Cup for Gaelic Football Moya McGrane
Shoe Gallery Cup for Camogie Hannah Shields
STUDENTS OF THE YEAR
Kate Cunningham, Katie Fitzpatrick, Carragh McGaffin, Sinead McPolin, Lana Mathers, Nanditha Vadiyala
GABRIEL AWARD
Lola Donnelly
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Pantomime season was in full flow last week at Southern Regional College’s Armagh campus. The colleges first year level 3 Performing and Production Arts Extended Diploma students took centre stage with their production of Cinderella. Daytime performances were dedicated to primary school pupils, while evening shows were open for the public to enjoy.
Students fully embraced their roles and brought the house down with their tremendous performances. The classic Disney tale showcased Cinderella capturing the heart of Prince Charming but must face the wrath of her stepmother and in this case, three ugly stepsisters who are determined to vie for the attention of Prince Charming. Aided by her fairy godmother, Cinderella wins the heart and hand of Prince Charming in the festive performance which featured slap stick comedy and the search for the owner of a missing glass slipper before being reunited with its rightful owner
The production featured several crowd-pleasing moments, particularly the hilarious antics of the ugly stepsisters, who delighted in their over-the-top performances, and the interactive audience participation, with the crowd enthusiastically booing the villainous stepmother and stepsisters. The energy and enthusiasm from both the cast and audience helped create an unforgettable festive experience for all involved.
This year’s pantomime once again highlighted the exceptional talent and creativity of SRC’s Performing Arts students, leaving everyone eagerly anticipating next year’s production.
Teresa McBride, Performing Arts Co-ordinator at Southern Regional College commented: “I am incredibly proud of our first year Performing Arts students for their outstanding performances in Cinderella this year. Over the last few weeks, they dedicated themselves to rehearsals in front of second-year Level 3 Performing Arts students and participated in dress rehearsals in front of College peers.”
“While those experiences were valuable, nothing truly prepares you for the thrill of performing in front of a live audience of excited, screaming primary school pupils. The energy from the children was infectious, and our students rose to the occasion, delivering performances that were full of enthusiasm and passion.”
“Through this production, students have mastered essential stage performance techniques and, most importantly, how to step onto the stage, fully embody their characters, and bring their lines to life. It's been an incredible journey for them, and I couldn't be more impressed with their growth and commitment.”
“Working in the pantomime provides students with a taste of what it’s like in professional productions. During this process, students work with musicians, song writers, hair & makeup artists, and a live band during performances. This experience is invaluable to our students and really gets them ready for work within the industry.”
Students began preparing for the annual pantomime in mid-September, with rehearsals intensifying after Halloween. The pantomime production is a collaborative effort, bringing together students from multiple disciplines, including music, art, and hair and beauty, who all work together to bring the pantomime to life on stage.
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Southern Regional College have been awarded the Team/College Fundraiser of the Year at the Good for Me, Good for FE awards ceremony held at the House of Lords in early December 2024. The award was presented to the College’s Student Engagement and Organisational Development Teams for raising a staggering £13,500 for NI Children’s Hospice, surpassing the initial target of £10,000.
NI Children's Hospice was selected as SRC’s charity partner for the 2022/23 and 2023/24 academic years. During this period, students and staff at the College undertook 37 charity fundraising events which included a fashion show, movie marathon, Christmas hamper raffles/ Easter egg raffles and coffee and bake sales. Other fundraising and charity events included a toy appeal delivering 126 toys to students in need, 500 donations to local foodbanks, and an additional 495 winter wellness packs distributed to students to alleviate student poverty.
The 2024 Good for Me, Good for FE Awards is the second year of the Awards. These awards recognise the incredible volunteering and fundraising contributions made by staff and students from Further Education (FE) colleges across the UK. Judging the Team/College Fundraiser of the Year award was Dame Sally Dicketts, a tireless campaigner and advocate for learning and skills.
Good for Me Good for FE has become a powerful force for generating millions of pounds of social value in communities across the country. Staff and students from over 150 colleges nationwide have united through fundraising and volunteering efforts -transforming and improving the lives of others.
The Good for Me, Good for FE campaign was launched in June 2021 with the initial aim of generating £1 million in social value, which has since been surpassed. Over the past two years volunteering and fundraising activities have generated over £4 million in social value. SRC is committed to encouraging a community of volunteers through employee and student volunteering and fundraising activities. The College has appointed Alzheimer’s Society NI as its charity partner for the next two academic years.
Lee Campbell, Principal & CEO of Southern Regional College commented: “We are absolutely delighted and honoured to receive the 'Team/College Fundraiser of the Year Award’ at the 2024 Good for ME, Good for FE Awards. This recognition is a testament to the incredible dedication, hard work, and passion of our staff and students. Fundraising plays a crucial role in enhancing the opportunities and experiences we offer our learners, and this award reflects the collective effort to make a real difference. I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who has been involved in these initiatives – together, we are helping to shape a brighter future for all.”
The awards ceremony was hosted in the Cholmondeley Room at the House of Lords by The Baroness Barran MBE, who praised the FE sector's contributions, saying:
“Each finalist is incredibly inspiring and extremely deserving of this national recognition. Huge congratulations and thank you to you all.”
Speaking at the event, Dr Sam Parrett CBE, co-founder of Good for Me Good for FE and Group CEO of London South East Colleges, said: "These awards showcase the incredible impact of the FE sector in supporting its communities and generating social value. The contributions of our students and staff are a powerful reminder of the difference we can make together."
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For the fourth year in succession, a call has gone out to local schools from one of Ireland’s best-known Olympians, sprinter David Gillick who has joined forces with Fyffes once again in a quest to find ‘Ireland’s Fittest School 2025’.
Aimed at promoting the importance of exercise, fitness and healthy eating amongst young people, a central feature of the programme will be a series of exercise routines – recorded by Gillick, alongside Irish fitness trainer, Sharon Flanagan – which competing schools can adopt as part of their PE curriculum and against which performance will be measured and tracked online.
Running for 10 weeks from January 20th, the upcoming competition will see a new element introduced in which the top four schools from each province will compete head-to-head across four live regional qualifier events in April. The top school from Connacht, Leinster, Munster and Ulster will then progress to May’s grand final at which the prize package will include €8,000 worth of sports equipment.
Previous ‘Ireland’s Fittest School’ winners were Donegal’s Scoil Na Croise Naofa, Dunfanaghy (2022); Meath’s Gilson National School, Oldcastle (2023) and Waterford’s Touraneena National School (2024).
School registrations open January 6th and further details can be found online at www.fyffesfittestschool.ie
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