Busy time at St Patrick’s Grammar School
It continues to be a very busy time for the staff and students at St Patrick’s Grammar School, Downpatrick, with many activities taking place for the past few weeks including tackling climate issues, sport and a project at the heart of the Lasallian Ethos.
Eco Council
St. Patrick’s Grammar School’s first ever Eco Council launched two campaigns this week: The Eco Leaf Pledge Campaign, and ‘Greenday.’
To coincide with the COP26 Conference in Glasgow, and the pledges that the world leaders will make towards helping reduce carbon emissions, to slow down or prevent climate change, the Eco Council members helped to promote the Leaf Pledge.
Each member of each form class was given a leaf, on which to write ‘My pledge to the planet’ and on the reverse to write ‘What I would like you, my Council, to pledge.’ The leaves were collected up, and in conjunction with Down High School and several other primary and secondary schools in the area, the leaves will be distributed to Newry, Mourne and Down Council buildings in Downpatrick and Newry next week.
Green Day
On Friday 12th November, all students and teachers were invited to ‘wear something green’ to celebrate the end of the COP26 Conference.
Donations received for this event will go towards future Eco Council initiatives, and were very kindly appreciated.
A lot of creative thinking went into some of the green outfits, but the winner has to be Year 14 student, Ross McCartan, with his wonderful display of green. He assures us that his full school uniform was also being worn!
FUTURE ECO COUNCIL PLANS:
· Customised SPGS water bottles
· Fashion Swap Shop Evening
o Handmade Christmas items for sale, made from recyclable materials by Eco Council members
o Pollinator Garden
Sleep out in aid of Simon Community
This year some of St Patrick’s Grammar School Yr 14 A Level RE, along with other A level students participated in the ‘One Big Sleep Out’ at Stormont Estate on Thursday 4th November organised by Simon Community NI.
The Simon Community NI is Northern Ireland’s leading homeless charity. They work without judgement to support people who are experiencing or are at risk of homelessness.
The event commenced at 7pm and finish at 7am. Mrs McDermott and Miss Magill accompanied students for their second sleep-out. Parents and community members were invited to sponsor students for their sleep out raising much needed funds for those in need in our society.
The school community was asked to support students in their endeavours and to raise funds for the local homeless charity to demonstrate our Christian service and outreach to those less fortunate than ourselves in our community.
All proceeds from the ‘Great Big Sleep out’ will be used to fund the work of the Simon Community. For our senior students this demonstrated the highest commitment to a living faith and volunteerism in our community.
Students had been asked to challenge themselves and their friends to sleep out in aid of NI’s leading homelessness charity.
All participants swapped their bed for a sleeping bag and a barbecue at Belfast’s iconic Stormont Estate and helped the Simon Community continue to provide shelter and support to thousands of people without homes by fundraising for the event.
Although One BIG Sleep Out wasn’t able to replicate the real emotional and physical difficulties of truly experiencing homelessness, it showed students some of the realities and hardships members of our community find themselves facing, and we were all challenged with the biting cold on the night.
We are so proud of the students who participated. They did not complain and showed solitary with our brothers and sisters in Christ to raise awareness and funds for those less fortunate than ourselves.
Helping provide education to disadvantaged
This year we have the privilege of partnering with Saphara, this will be done alongside Down High School and Assumption Grammar School. Saphara seeks and serves to provide education to disadvantaged youth and empowerment to young girls to overcome poverty. Saphara work with local NGOs within marginalised communities such as Dalit to provide long-term and sustainable change.
We have a wonderful group of year 13 students who will work to fundraise for Saphara over this academic year. These 14 young people will be involved in organising and implementing fundraisers, increasing awareness of Saphara, attending workshops with our partner schools, and developing their own understanding of Saphara’s mission and how they can serve this amazing organisation. We have been so encouraged by their willingness and enthusiasm to serve and further the work of Saphara despite not getting to go to India this summer. We are excited to work together this year and to be part of Saphara’s journey.
The Senior Soccer team before their recent 3-0 win over the Royal School Dungannon in the NI Senior Cup.