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Local Students from the Southern Regional College attended the recent two day Skillbuild Regional Finals event and returned with an unprecedented 15 awards. The college sent 23 Trainees for the competition which pits the best young talents in a range of construction trades against all of the other Regional Colleges and Training Organisations across Northern Ireland.
The Southern Regional College trainees picked up 13 skill area awards, Skillbuild NI Chairpersons Cup (most competitors to qualify for the regional finals) and the Skillbuild NI DEL Cup (winners of the medals league table).
Five of the trainees from Southern Regional College received Gold Medals including; Norbert Papp from Banbridge for Cabinet Making, William Megaw from Hilltown for Joinery, Neil Byrne from Newry for Lead Sheetwork, Brendan Magee from Mayobridge for Painting & Decorating and Gary Doyle from Katesbridge for Plumbing.
Southern Regional College, Head of School of Construction and the Built Environment, Lindsay Bronte, said “This is an outstanding success for the SRC student and staff and it was great to see the students achieving this level of success. The standard of the competitions is clearly improving year on year. This success provides a great platform for the young people to go further and represent NI in the UK competitions later in the year and hopefully on the World Skills in Leipzig in summer 2013. This success will also gain them an edge in the very competitive jobs
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Southern Regional College recently made awards to over 200 students from local high schools in a ceremony for students participating on the School Partnerships’ Programme (SPP) at Southern Regional College, Newry Campus.
Southern Regional College welcomed Year 12 students from Kilkeel High School, Newry High School, Newtownhamilton High School, Rathore School Newry, St Columban’s College Kilkeel, St Joseph’s High School Crossmaglen, St Joseph’s Boys High School Newry, St Mark’s High School Warrenpoint, St Mary’s High School Newry and St Paul’s High School Bessbrook to celebrate their achievements at this special awards ceremony.
The School Partnership Programme enables Year 11 and 12 students in the school sector to sample areas including, digital imaging, joinery, beauty, hospitality, hairdressing and motor mechanics to name a few, in order to make a more informed career decision. The students on the SPP programme attend SRC one day per week for two years and achieve recognised qualifications on completion of their studies.
Guest Speaker on the day was Ms Margo Cosgrove, Principal of St Mary’s High School and Chair of the Area Learning Community for Newry and Mourne.
Best in School Awards were presented to Richard Shannon from Kilkeel High School, Simana Ale from Newry High School, Steven Geary from Newtownhamilton High School, Aislinn Thornton from Rathore School Newry, Deaglan Morgan from St Columban’s College, Danielle O’Callaghan from St Joseph’s High School, Tony McDermott from St Joseph’s Boys High School, Chloe Rooney from St Mark’s High School, Seanin Quinn from St Mary’s High School and Michaela McGrath from St Paul’s High School Bessbrook
SPP Student of the Year was awarded to Richard Shannon from Kilkeel High School. Lecturers said “Richard is a quiet well mannered young man. He took part in the Skill Build competition in year 11 representing Joinery and performed to a high standard. In year 12 Richard successfully completed Plumbing and Brickwork and again represented SPP pupils at Skill Build competition in plumbing. Richard is an outstanding pupil who is well deserving of this award”.
Brian Doran, Chief Executive, Southern Regional College, commenting on the close partnership working between local schools and SRC said.
“The partnership between Southern Regional College and the schools in the Banbridge Area Learning Community provides opportunities to pupils to benefit from a wider curriculum by undertaking a range of courses not available to them in school. The various courses lead to nationally-recognised qualifications that will not only help pupils make better career choices but will also help them get employment in the continuing challenging economic environment.”
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Representatives from Armagh, Craigavon & Newry District Councils along with DSD, Southern Regional College, and the Southern Area Hospice attended the Launch of the Cancer Wise Report. The occasion also saw the graduation of 38 local residents who qualified with the City and Guilds Level 2 Certificate in Adult Social Care. Three of whom have now gained FT employment as a direct result of this programme.
The Cancer Wise Programme which was developed in consultation with the Southern Area Hospice Service, the Neighbourhood Renewal Partnership Boards and the Southern Regional College, and funded by the Department of Social Development, focused on researching cancer care in NRAs in Southern Region of Northern Ireland to inform the need for a Hospice at Home Service and the training of local people from Armagh, Craigavon and Newry NRAs in health care, personal development and job ready skills
Mrs Ann Cooney Chief Executive of the Southern Area Hospice stated “The Southern Area Hospice is delighted to have been involved with the SRC in the Cancer Wise Project. The research conducted as part of the project is very timely and beneficial to the Hospice, in light of the new changes underway in the NI Health Service with the Introduction of Transforming Your Care Strategy. The research gives the Hospice a better understanding of cancer and palliative and end of life care needs for patients, and carers residing in Neighbourhood Renewal Areas. This research will inform our strategy going forward. I congratulate all those who completed the training programme and wish them well in their careers.”
Southern Regional College Cancer Wise Programme was unique to N Ireland in that it was the first training and research programme that had as one of its aims the task of conducting research across the southern region which aimed to identify gaps in service provision relating to cancer care and the possible need for cancer care services in the home via a Hospice at Home Service.
David Vint, Assistant Director of Community and Schools Partnership at SRC said of the programme; “It is great to see a programme having genuine positive influence within our local communities. It is our ambition at SRC to be actively promoting programmes within our region which tackle unemployment. This programme provided opportunities to encourage the economically inactive and long-term unemployed back into the workplace and help participants gain skills and confidence that may lead to future education or employment.”
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St Mary’s High School, in conjunction with Queens University Law School, hosted a very successful Area Learning Community Seminar with Students from schools in the Newry & Mourne Area Learning Community attended the event where they received first hand information about studying for a Law degree at Queens University Belfast.
The interactive event began with an introduction from Gordon Anthony, Admissions Officer, School of Law who focussed on career opportunities after studying the Law Degree. This was followed by a presentation from Professor Sally Wheeler, Head of the School of Law: "Why a Queen's Law Degree?" This focused on the skills element of the degree; subjects to be taken and staff-student expectations.
To conclude the event, Mrs Meave Gilchrist, School Manager, offered invaluable insights into the student experience at Queen's and addressed matters such as pastoral care and personal development within the University.
A question and answer session involving the pupils, closed the event.
Student comments included “Very much enjoyed the presentation – informative and interesting” “The speakers were helpful in answering questions about personal statements, admission and conversion courses linked to international opportunities” and “Excellent informative speakers. A fresh insight into Law at Queens!!”
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Sacred Heart Student Treasa McKinley, winner of the recent 2013 Northern Ireland Senior Environmental Youth Speak Title was a special guest at the SWaMP (Southern Waste and Management Partnership) Joint Committee April meeting.
Treasa was invited to attend the meeting to recognise her achievement in winning the Youth Speak title and to deliver her winning speech “The True Cost of Waste”. Treasa was joined by Lauren Crozier, Dromore Primary School, Tyrone. Lauren was the Junior SWAMP winner and her speech was entitled "My Waste has got Talent".
Both speakers impressed the committee with their innovative and engaging recitals.
Environmental Youth Speak is an annual schools’ environmental public speaking competition in which all twenty six Councils participate and which is run in conjunction with the north’s three waste management groups. Treasa won the Newry and Mourne Senior title in February and went on to represent the Council at the Regional and Northern Ireland Finals held in the Roe Valley Arts and Cultural Centre, Limavady, where she was crowned both the SWAMP Regional and Northern Ireland Senior Environmental Youth Speak Champion 2013.
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On Thursday 21st March 11 pupils from St Mary’s High School were joined up with around 1000 schools in the UK making the news.
The pupils took part in a BBC News School Report, a BBC project to engage 11-16-year-olds in the news.
Ex-teacher and BBC News presenter, Huw Edwards said “I'm involved because I want to give young people the chance to make the news themselves, and I want to share the principles of good journalism.”
Over the past few months the students in Years 12, 13 and 14 have been working hard, training to be top journalists, carrying out interviews and producing reports.
Commenting before the event Principal of St Mary’s Mrs Margo Cosgrove said “The students are really excited about becoming involved in the nationwide news report. Their stories are extremely varied and representative of the many extra curricular activities they excel in. The girls are really looking forward to the pressure of becoming BBC school reporters for a day and indeed it has inspired many to consider a career in the media.”
Also commenting before getting down to filming Student Laura Hillen, one of the BBC school reporters said: “I am privileged to be working on the BBC School Report Programme as I am getting the opportunity to work with Austin O Callaghan. This is a great opportunity for me as I am going to study journalism in the future and this experience will stand to me.”
The students broadcast their news, covering the stories of the day as well as their special report on three St Mary’s Girls who have been chosen to represent their country called One School, One Club Two Countries which can be watched on the St Mary's Website
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Minister for Education, John O’Dowd officially opened the new Carrick Primary School, Burren at a ceremony during the week.
In attendance were a host of very happy pupils, staff members, Governors, parents, grandparents and members of the Burren community. Special guests also included Jim Clarke, Chief Executive of the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMS) and Right Reverend Monsignor Aiden Hamill, Vicar General of the Diocese of Dromore.
With 401 pupils currently enrolled and 40 staff, this rural school has been an invaluable resource for the local community for more than 70 years. The Friends of Carrick Fundraising Association has raised in excess of £5000 each year and this has enabled the school to purchase additional resources for the pupils.
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Two pupils from St Mary's High School Newry are through to the semi final of the fabulous Junk Kouture Competition which will be held tonight in the Millennium Forum in Derry.
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unk Kouture in association with the European Recycling Platform (ERP) is a national competition for second level students in Ireland and Northern Ireland which challenges teenagers to create high-end wearable fashion from everyday junk that would normally find its way into the bin.
Danielle Kinney and Odeta Zurictyte , two 6th year students at St Mary's High School in Newry, have worked tirelessly from October to create these masterpieces. Danielle's 'Toy Soldier' ensemble is based on the effects of war and how
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Newry and Mourne Museum recently hosted “Christmas through the centuries” for local primary schools.
Children made their way through the Museum’s galleries to see how Christmas was celebrated in days gone by. They met Living History characters from the 16th Century, the Victorian period, and the 1940’s, who are all preparing for Christmas.
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