Write a comment
Success rewarded at St Pauls!
Over 200 Year 13 students at St Paul’s High School gave a warm reception to the special guests at the Annual GCSE Prizegiving Cermony at the Bessbrook school recently. The Guest Speaker was Miss Briege Rice, a past pupil of St Paul’s, who is currently reading Irish and British Politics for a doctoral degree at the Queen’s University, Belfast.
After the opening prayer Mr Oliver Mooney, Principal at St Paul’s, began the Prizegiving Ceremony in the school Assembly Hall by welcoming the special guests, staff members and students who were present.
Guest Speaker, Miss Briege Rice, thanked Mr Mooney for his kind invitation and remarked that it seemed a short time since she was a student at the school and attending her own Prizegiving ceremony. She praised the students who have represented the school academically, on the sporting field and in Music and Drama and encouraged continued involvement in extra-curricular activities. Briege paid tribute to the teachers she had while a student at St Paul’s, and praised their continued hard work and dedication to all students.
After Miss Rice’s speech, Mr Mooney, Principal and Mr Damian McKenna, Outgoing Head of Year 12, along with Briege Rice presented certificates and awards to last year’s Year students who had sat public examinations at GCSE Level.
Award Winners
BEST EXAMINATION RESULTS AT GCSE
Learning for Life & Work Claire McCone St Teresa’s P.S., Tullyherron
Science: Single Award Claire McCone St Teresa’s P.S., Tullyherron
Spanish Aoibheann Coleman St Joseph’s P.S., Bessbrook
Science: Double Award Aoibheann Coleman St Joseph’s P.S., Bessbrook
Technology & Design: Resistant Materials Eamon Morgan St Brigid’s P.S., Drumilly
B.Tec Engineering Niall Little Dromintee P.S.
ICT Ryan McCabe St Joseph’s P.S., Bessbrook
Art & Design Ryan McCabe St Joseph’s P.S., Bessbrook
Dance Majella Kelly St Oliver Plunkett P.S., Carrickovaddy
Business Studies Niamh Doran St Joseph’s P.S., Meigh
Geography Claire McGeough St Joseph’s P.S., Bessbrook
English Language Anne-Marie Mallon St Peter’s P.S., Cloughreagh
English Literature Anne-Marie Mallon St Peter’s P.S., Cloughreagh
Technology & Design Ronan McDonnell Jonesboro P.S.
French Lauren O’Hare St Teresa’s P.S., Tullyherron
Irish Aimee McKevitt St Clare’s P.S., Newry
Maths Emma McDonnell St Oliver Plunkett P.S., Carrickovaddy
Home Economics Emma McDonnell St Oliver Plunkett P.S., Carrickovaddy
History Christopher Magennis St Joseph’s P.S., Meigh
Health & Social Care: Double Award Melissa McKeown St Malachy’s P.S., Camlough
Child Development Melissa McKeown St Malachy’s P.S., Camlough
Physical Education Joint award Shannon McCourt Cloughoge P.S. and Michael Murphy Cloughoge P.S.
Music Michael Mallon St Joseph’s P.S., Bessbrook
DIDA Laura King Cloughoge P.S.
Religious Studies Shauna McNamee St Joseph’s P.S., Meigh
Construction Sean McNally St Malachy’s P.S., Camlough (2nd Highest GCSE Grade in Northern Ireland)
AWARDS FOR ENDEAVOUR & CONTRIBUTION AT GCSE
Learning for Life & Work: The Starbucks Award Rachel Campbell Cloughoge P.S.
Science: Single Award Millennium Cup Michael Whyte St Joseph’s P.S., Bessbrook
Spanish Janine O’Hanlon St Malachy’s P.S., Camlough
Science Double Award: Slieve Gullion Award Maria McKeown Dromintee P.S.
ICT Cup Emma Quinn St Joseph’s P.S., Meigh
Art & Design: Francis Crilly Trophy Sinead Dowdall St Joseph’s P.S., Bessbrook
Early Years Lindsay Quinn St Joseph’s P.S., Meigh
Dance: McKevitt Family Cup Niamh Ní Cheallaigh Bunscoil Phobal Feirste
Business Studies: Martina Carroll Trophy Owen Finnegan St Joseph’s P.S., Meigh
Geography: Northern Bank Shield Mairéad McElroy St Brigid’s P.S., Drumilly
English Language: Fr McHugh Cup Claire Murphy St Malachy’s P.S., Ballymoyer
English Literature: Joe McNulty Cup Jennifer Higgins St Malachy’s P.S., Camlough
Technology & Design: Harry Caruth Cup Grainne McMullan St Peter’s P.S., Cloughreagh
French: Austin Kane Trophy Catherine Brady St Joseph’s P.S. Newry
Irish: Pat Ahern Trophy Sarah Moley St Malachy’s P.S., Ballymoyer
Mathematics Larry Duffy Cup Kirsty Kearns Cloughoge P.S.
Home Economics Mary Murphy Cup Mary McKeown Dromintee P.S.
History Edco Cup Niamh Gollogly Dromintee P.S.
Construction John Comer Trophy Michele Mannarino Cloughoge P.S.
Health & Social : Double Award Claire Garvey St Malachy’s P.S., Camlough
Child Development Emma Bannon St Malachy’s P.S., Ballymoyer
Music Phelim Quinn Cup Jarlath Meehan St Joseph’s P.S., Bessbrook
DIDA:Cup Siobhan McArdle Dromintee P.S.
Religious Studies :Sr Mary Magdalen Cup Connor McLellan Jonesboro P.S.
Physical Education Cup Brendan D’Arcy St Joseph’s P.S., Bessbrook
INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS
Vocational Education Cup Therese Murphy St Joseph’s P.S., Bessbrook
Work Experience Cup Roisin O’Hagan St Joseph’s & St James’ P.S., Poyntspass
Award for Endeavour & Dedication: St Brigid’s Cup Cailin Kennedy St Patrick’s P.S., Newry
AWARD FOR EXCELLENT ATTENDANCE OVER 5 YEARS
Kerri McParland St Malachy’s P.S., Ballymoyer
Rachel Boyle St Joseph’s P.S., Bessbrook
Kate Jones Cloughoge P.S.
Janine O’Hanlon St Malachy’s P.S., Camlough
Stephen Boyle St Joseph’s P.S., Bessbrook
Sarah Hughes St Peter’s P.S., Cloughreagh
Mairead McElroy St Brigid’s P.S., Drumilly
Sinead Campbell Jonesboro P.S.
INDIVIDUAL SPORTING AWARDS
Girls’ Gaelic Sport: Pat Doyle Trophy Shannon Sexton St Peter’s P.S., Cloughreagh
Boys’ Gaelic Sport: Pat Doyle Trophy Stephen Lavelle St Malachy’s P.S., Ballymoyer
Commitment Award to Girls’ PE at GCSE Trophy Amy Hughes St Malachy’s P.S., Camlough Caoimhe Hughes St Malachy’s P.S., Camlough
Commitment Award to Boys’ PE at GCSE: Trophy Caolan McAleer St Mary’s P.S., Barr
Commitment to Netball Trophy Shannon Rice Jonesboro P.S.
Shauna Mc Cann Player of the Year Cup Shannen O’ Grady
MEDALS OF ENDEAVOUR
12/001 Kerri McParland St Malachy’s P.S., Ballymoyer Aimee McKevitt St Clare’s P.S., Newry Emma-Louise Rooney St Joseph’s P.S., Bessbrook
12/074 Francis Fowley St Peter’s P.S., Cloughreagh Sean Treanor St Malachy’s P.S., Camlough Amanda Byrne Cloughoge P.S.
12/082 Niall McGuinness St Brigid’s P.S., Drumilly Anthony Murphy Killean P.S. Sarah Hughes St Peter’s P.S., Cloughreagh Roisin Morgan Dromintee P.S.
12/092 Christopher Boylan Cloughoge P.S. Shannon Sexton St Peter’s P.S., Cloughreagh Ciara McParland St Malachy’s P.S., Camlough
12/065 Shea McAnulty St Malachy’s P.S., Camlough Stephen Bradley St Joseph’s P.S., Bessbrook Emma Kennon St Oliver Plunkett P.S., Carrickovaddy
12/028 Stephen Boyle St Joseph’s P.S., Bessbrook Sean McNally St Malachy’s P.S., Camlough Rebecca Coleman Carvill St Joseph’s P.S., Bessbrook Rebecca Fleming St Joseph’s P.S., Bessbrook
12/094 Sarah Black St Oliver Plunkett P.S., Forkhill
12/063 Neil Byrne St Mary’s P.S., Mullaghbawn Andrew Kilgallon Cloughoge P.S. Leah Murphy St Peter’s P.S., Cloughreagh Niamh Byrne St Malachy’s P.S., Camlough
Overall Achievements Awards
Contribution to Music Conor Murphy Aoife Garvey Emma Quinn
Best Overall Results at GCSE Aoibheann Coleman
Outstanding Student Christopher Magennis
Write a comment
The Southern Regional College is celebrating after being named as an Association of Colleges Beacon Award winner for its scheme to inspire an entrepreneurial spirit among its students and staff.
The Awards, which this year celebrate 17 years of outstanding teaching and learning in Further Education Colleges, were announced at the AoC’s Annual Conference and Exhibition in Birmingham on 16 November. Tim Smit, Co-founder and Chief Executive of the Eden Project, announced the 2010 Beacon Award winners and Highly Commended Colleges in the Responsiveness, Partnership and Impact category.
Southern Regional College won the Enterprise UK Award for Enterprise for its Inspire Programme, which has a mission to encourage employment, business start-ups and the development of problem-solving skills for all students. The Award recognises work with staff and students to develop enterprise, both in the curriculum and by providing guidance and support for would-be entrepreneurs.
The College won the Award for the range of more than 70 projects it has run with the support of 51 companies to date. There are cross-curricular learning activities for students and staff, including competitions to create a College cookbook and to work with a local communications company to develop marketing materials, and the opportunity to develop a marketing strategy for two local businesses.
The success of the Inspire programme has led to a greater number of students seeing self-employment as a valid career option; within the last year more than 300 students have taken part in pre-business start-up investment programmes.
Southern Regional College also runs Greenshoots Ltd., the only campus-based business incubation unit in Northern Ireland, which has been running for four years. The College is sharing its experience of nurturing entrepreneurial skills more widely with the Northern Ireland network of Colleges.
The UK-wide Beacon Awards provide national recognition for excellence and innovation as well as acknowledging the talents of staff at all levels. They highlight the breadth and quality of education in the College sector.
Chair of the AoC Beacon Awards, Dame Patricia Morgan-Webb, said: “Beacon Award winners raise the bar when it comes to finding new ways of doing things to enable Colleges to play a leading role in the communities they serve. They help contribute to social justice by widening participation in further education and play a key role in local economic and social regeneration by encouraging links with local businesses and supporting people, both in and out of work, in learning new skills.
“We are pleased that this year’s winners have been drawn from all parts of the UK and all demonstrate traits of innovation, creativity, responsiveness and a collaborative approach. Once again, I am delighted on behalf of the AoC Charitable Trust to acknowledge and reward the exemplary contribution made by these Colleges.”
Spokesperson for the College, Brian Doran, Chief Executive, said: “The Southern Regional College is both honoured and delighted to have been awarded the prestigious Enterprise UK AoC Beacon Award. Today’s award is a tremendous boost to everyone in the College and recognises the creative and innovative work that both staff and students have undertaken in recent years in promoting a culture of enterprise and entrepreneurship across all our campuses. I have every confidence that we will use this award as a further stepping stone in our journey of encouraging and developing young people to become the business leaders and entrepreneurs of the future. “
Minister for Employment and Learning, Danny Kennedy, commented, 'I would like to congratulate the Southern Regional College on winning The Enterprise UK Award for Enterprise at the recent AoC Beacon Awards. Winning such an award is testament to the dedication and hard work undertaken by the College's staff to ensure students have access to a wide range of enterprising opportunities. Through availing of these opportunities students can develop the necessary entrepreneurial skills which will contribute to the continued growth of Northern Ireland's private sector over the months and years ahead'.
Southern Regional College will host a local celebration event in the New Year and will be presented with their Award by John Hayes MP, Minister of State for Further Education, at a national presentation ceremony due to be held in Westminster on 9 February 2011.
Write a comment
On behalf of the choir of St Colman’s College, final year students wish to acknowledge £1600 raised for The Childrens’ Kidney Fund, Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children and Newry Cathedral Organ Renovation Fund.
The money was generously donated by the large audience who were treated to a beautiful performance of sacred music on Sunday, December 5.
------
Write a comment
St Colman’s College participated in the Operation Christmas Child Campaign 2O10 during the month of November. This campaign is commonly known as ‘The Shoebox appeal’. All Junior Religion classes participated with commitment and enthusiasm in this campaign with the help and support of their teachers. Students and teachers successfully made over 250 shoeboxes, which is an excellent response.
The gift filled shoeboxes will be distributed to disadvantaged and suffering children in Eastern Europe, Central Asia and parts of Africa.
The gifts will bring these suffering children a lot of joy and happiness this Christmas. By participating in this campaign St Colman’s students have expressed their generosity, compassion, kindness and goodwill to children who are less fortunate than themselves.
Write a comment
Three Saint Coleman's S1 students: Brendan Digney, Gavin Fleming and JJ McAnerney recently won the Open Your Mind Public Speaking Competition.
The boys delivered speeches on ‘Happiness is not having what you want: it is wanting what you have.’ The coveted trophy will return to the College after our earlier victory in 2007.
Mrs Sinead Savage deserves credit for helping the boys prepare for the competition.
There was stiff competition from St Joseph’s Grammar Donaghmore who were placed second and Banbridge High School who were awarded third place.
Write a comment
BT Young Scientist. Dean Connolly (S3) and Michael Fitzpatrick (S1) from Saint Coleman's attended the BT young scientist’s lunch time reception in the long gallery at Stormont on Wednesday 10 November 2010.
The event consisted of an address by the minister for Education Catriona Ruane, preceeded by addresses from the representatives of the sponsors of the event, BT.
The STEM modules were in attendance and the students had the opportunity to use electron microscopes, thermal imaging equipment, various data logging devices as well as a selection of IT applications for use in Science education. There was then a buffet luncheon served followed by a tour of Stormont buildings.
Dean’s project on the possible placebo effect of glucose drinks has won through to the RDS competition in Dublin in January where he will be one of 27 entries from N. Ireland from 16 schools who will compete with other schools from all over Ireland in the exhibition.
This year saw a record entry of almost 2000 projects in the initial stage. Best of luck to Dean in the next stage of the competition.
Write a comment
Six lucky year 9 pupils travelled to Belfast on Wednesday for the launch of the N.I Book award now in its second year. R.B.A.I was the venue and the guest speaker was Chris Bradford, well known Author of the Young Samurai series of books. It turned out to be a truly sword wielding knuckle crunching event. He enthralled his young audience with tales of Samurai and Ninja and drew gasps of wonder when he produced a genuine Ninja sword and brandished it over their heads.
A local book award aimed at pupils aged 11- 14 it is the brainchild of two school librarians, Ann Cowdrey (Bangor Grammar) and Kathy Lindsay (RBAI) who wished to give young people an award scheme that is local and pupil led. This year over 30 local schools are taking part and there will be a variety of activities throughout the year. Log on to the website for more details www.nibookaward.org.uk/
The titles short listed for the award this year are:
An Elephant in the Garden by Michael Morpurgo
Blood Ransom by Sophie McKenzie
Diary of a Wimpy Vampire by Tim Collins
Prisoner of the Inquisition by Theresa Breslin
The Ring of Earth (Young Samurai) by Chris Bradford
The Red Pyramid (The Kane Chronicles) by Rick Riordan
Time Riders by Alex Scarrow
Unhooking the Moon by Gregory Hughes
Write a comment
Dundalk Institute of Technology opens its doors to prospective second-level students, mature students, students from PLC colleges, parents, teachers and guidance counsellors from all across the northeast on Friday 15th October between 9.00am and 2.30pm.
The Open Day provides the ideal opportunity to visit the campus and learn all about the many exciting developments which are taking place at DkIT. The day includes a range of talks, tours of the campus, exhibitions, demonstrations, and information sessions. There will also be a chance to meet with both college staff and current students to talk about course choices and life as a student at DkIT.
The Institute is the number one choice for many students from across the northeast region, and with its population currently at 5,000 (full-time and part-time students), DkIT continues to go from strength to strength.
For those who are unable to make the Open Day, there is opportunity to attend an Open Evening in the Institute on Thursday, 14th October, from 7.00pm to 9.00pm.
There is also an informative talk on Going to DkIT at 7.30pm in the Institute’s Whitaker Theatre which may be of interest to mature student applicants who are thinking of returning to full-time education and to parents of prospective students who want to find out more about what DkIT has to offer.
Write a comment
Congratulations to St Colman's pupil Thomas Carlin, a second year student who gained a GCSE A* grade in Russian.
This is a great achievement for Thomas and his mother who taught him. We hope it is the first of many excellent results for Thomas.
 |
 |
 |