St. Mary's Grammar School, Magherafelt

News

St. Mary's Grammar student takes centre stage in Reno, Nevada at the 2009 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair.

Last week Nevada USA welcomed more than 6,000 visitors for the 2009 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF). The event showcased the work of more than 1,500 exceptional high-school science students from more than 50 countries who came to Reno to compete for nearly $4 million in scholarships and prizes.

Owen McMeel, with his innovative 'WireWise', product won the Grand Award fourth place prize in the Engineering: Electrical and Mechanical Category, and was one of only five competitors who achieved the certificate of outstanding achievement from the China Association for Science and Technology. He will now travel to attend the China Adolescents Science and Technology Innovation Contest held in Beijing in July. This award includes round trip flights, accommodation and activities for the winners.

Sponsored Walk in Glenshane Forest

On Saturday 16^th May a group of students in Years 11, 12 and 13 took part in a sponsored walk in Glenshane Forest. The pupils and teachers from St. Mary's were joined by students and staff from St. Patrick's College, Maghera, Holy Trinity College, Cookstown and St. Gemma's Secondary School, Belfast. The walk began shortly after 10am on Saturday morning and ended at the Priest's chair, where mass was celebrated by the accompanying priest, Father Baker. The pupils and staff from all four schools will travel to Medjugorje on 1^st August 2009, to take part in the Medjugorje Youth Festival. In spite of the rather wet weather, a very enjoyable day was had by all present. Proceeds raised from the walk will go to Sister Josephine Walsh's Bosnian Orphanage Appeal.

An Act of Bravery Recognised by the British Heart Foundation

Four students from St Mary's Grammar school were successful when dealing with a medical emergency; using their emergency life support skills they were able to save a life.

This act of bravery was recognised by the British Heart Foundation, who presented certificates to the students and used the story for their appeal bulletin.

The students were subsequently invited to the launch of the appeal, which is going out to all Magherafelt District. They met the Chairman of Magherafelt Council and Chairman of the BHF. The appeal is to encourage emergency life support training in the area.

Relieving the Distress through Boxercise.

Year 8 pupils in St Mary's Grammar School are pictured with Mr Ciaran McGuckin: the top fundraisers presented him with a cheque for £3230 for Distress Aid Direct to Africa. It is a charity with strong local links as Fr Terence Mc Guckin, native of Ballinderry, is based in Zambia. The money, raised through of an afternoon of Sponsored Boxercise, will be used to build a nursery/preschool as the people of Chibombo Parish believe "Education is the key to progress." When this is opened, the parish hopes then to build an education and formation centre where orphans and vulnerable children, the numerous single mothers and other young adults can learn life skills and can receive much needed education.  Mr McGuckin thanked the Year Group on behalf of his brother and said the money would be gratefully received by St Paul of the Cross Parish. He added that he will ask that photographs are taken of how the money is spent and he will forward these to the school. These photographs will then be viewed by pupils: the pupils will come to realise the importance of being contributors to society and how their unselfish ways have brought so much to those less fortunate than themselves.

Also included in the picture is School Principal, Mr Lambon and Head of Year 8, Miss AM McKee. She said, "I am very proud of the outstanding efforts of the Year Group. I am indebted to the form teachers for their support and encouragement. I also acknowledge the talent and willingness of Ms C Donnelly, a PE teacher in this school, who expertly taught the pupils the art of Boxercise. Finally, I thank all those who sponsored the students, especially at a time when so many people are facing economic pressure."

Upper Sixth pupil selected to represent Ireland at the 41st International Chemistry Olympiad in Cambridge in July.

Congratulations to Ciaran Coney, an Upper Sixth pupil at St. Mary's Grammar School, Magherafelt who has been selected to represent Ireland at the 41st International Chemistry Olympiad in Cambridge in July.

Ciaran's route to selection started in January when he won a Silver medal in the 2009 All-Ireland Science Olympiad in Chemistry. This competition is held annually in Dublin City University and is open to all secondary level students from Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. As a result of his success in the All-Ireland competition, Ciaran was selected on to a panel of fourteen students who were given additional training and assignments including an intensive residential training programme in Dublin City University over the Easter holidays. The fourteen shortlisted students then sat a very demanding practical and theory exam on Saturday 2nd May and based on this Ciaran and three other students have been chosen to represent Ireland at the International Chemistry Olympiad in Cambridge in July.

Ciaran, along with the other three members of the Irish team, will receive a weeklong intensive residential training programme in Dublin City University on the International Chemistry Olympiad syllabus prior to their departure for Cambridge. Students who represent Ireland in this very prestigious competition have the added incentive of the IBM University scholarship scheme which awards €2,500 for an international gold medal, €1,250 for silver and €750 for bronze. St. Mary's staff and pupils wish Ciaran continued success in July.

Habitat for Humanity Global Village Team from St. Mary's to build houses for families living in sub-standard conditions in Guatemala.  

In June 2010, six pupils from St Mary's will join six pupils from Magherafelt High School on the trip of a lifetime to Guatemala in Central America.  They will be travelling as part of a Habitat for Humanity Global Village Team to build houses for families living in sub-standard conditions. 

The team have been working together for a year now, taking part in Habitat workshops and spending a day labouring on the Belfast Habitat site on the Shankill Road.

Habitat volunteers are often asked the question, 'Why not just send out the money?'  During their time in Guatemala our students will dig foundations, mix cement and build walls.  However, Global Village is about much more than just houses.  This is summed up perfectly in Habitat for Humanity Northern Ireland's slogan, 'Building Houses, Building Communities, Building Hope'.  No amount of money could buy the hope and faith in humanity that Habitat volunteers bring when they embark on a Global Village team.  A house that normally takes six weeks to be built will be built in two, and our donation will ensure that more houses will be built and communities will be developed where they are needed most.

In order to be part of the team, accompanying staff and students have committed themselves to raising £2,000 each, a total of £16,000.  Each team member will be expected to pay for their own flights and to participate in individual and team fundraising events to realise this total.  The staff and students of St Mary's have been supporting Habitat for Humanity for five years now, having helped to raise over £10,000.  There will be a variety of fundraising events over the next twelve months to help the team reach, and hopefully exceed their target. 

A Level students visit FG Wilson plant in Larne.