‘Team work’ key to success at St Patrick’s College
Year 11 top students St Patrick's College Dungannon INTT3712-600OC
FORMER Tyrone GAA star, Kevin Hughes, was guest of honour at St Patrick’s College Dungannon’s Senior Prizegiving event on Tuesday last.
Hughes, a past pupil of the school, told the students, parents and assembled guests how staff had recognised his talents and allowed him to embark upon his chosen career path.
During a very successful prizegiving event for GCSE and A Level students, Vice Principal, Mrs McKeown, told the audience:
“This afternoon is a celebration of the successes and achievements of every student.
“It is also an opportunity to thank parents for their support and to thank the staff for their hard work over the past year.
“We should all be very proud of our students as we now share with them in this celebration of their accomplishments, successes and achievements.
“This ceremony will give you some idea of the wealth and diversity of talent to be found among the young people here in the college. Today, we celebrate the many achievements of the past year, in so many different areas of school life.”
Mrs McKeown told guests the school had concluded its 50th anniversary celebrations with the hugely successful musical production, Camp Rock.
She said “many hours of hard work and effort” by staff and students had made the production a major hit, adding:
“It was the perfect showcase to display the wealth of talent that our pupils have in the fields of music, dance and drama.
“The post 16 students organised a very successful fashion show which was staged in April. Our World Culture day in May has now become an annual event on the school calendar.
“The year ended on a very high note with outstanding results at all levels. Today we take great pleasure in seeing so many of our students achieve the grades that they deserved, in many cases surpassing even their own expectations.”
Members of the audience also heard how sixth form students had achieved “outstanding success” in examinations across a wide range of academic subject areas as well as the vocational curriculum, with many accessing courses at universities in Ireland and the UK.
£Our GCSE students achieved excellent results in 2012 across a wide range of both academic and vocational courses”, continued Mrs McKeown.
“As a non selective all ability school catering for all levels and abilities we are very proud of all our students’ achievements.
“In St Patrick’s College each student is unique. The staff are dedicated, hard working and committed to achieving the best for each and every student in our school.
“However no school can operate successfully without the support and cooperation of you, our parents and guardians – you have a major influence in the academic success of your children.”
Mrs McKeown also drew attention to the school’s achievement of the UNICEF Recognition of Commitment award as a Rights Respecting School.
This award recognises the commitment of the whole school community to put the Convention of the Rights of the Child at the heart of the school’s ethos.
Mrs McKeown explained: “St Patrick’s College not only teaches the students about their rights but also models rights and respect in all relationships: between the adults and students, between the adults themselves, and between the student population.
“The Rights Respecting Schools process creates, in a natural way, high levels of personal and whole school self evaluation. It places the “teacher and student voice” at the centre of the learning and it engenders a strong sense of shared ownership and commitment to the school’s ethos.
“It also assesses the school’s commitment to working for global justice and sustainable development. St Patrick’s College has always taken its social responsibility very seriously. In February the post 16 students spent a week working in an ophanage in Romania. In April several students and staff received gold medals from Trocaire as a tribute for their charitable work.
“Finally today is also a celebration of the excellent team work that exists in the College. The achievements that we are celebrating are due to the diligence and hard work of the students, the commitment and enthusiasm of the teachers and the support and encouragement of our parents/guardians and Governors.”
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Weather for Dungannon
Wednesday 19 June 2013
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 10 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 11 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South
