The Schools
School Aid Romania is currently made up of a number of schools
which encompass pupils and staff from different sections of the community.
Some of the schools involved in School Aid Romania
Ballyclare High
School
Ballyclare High School is a co-educational grammar school in a rapidly expanding market town in County Antrim. While academic excellence has always been a priority at the school this emphasis on intellectual achievement does no mean that examination success has been pursued to the exclusion of other aspects of personal development. The school's reputation for a humane and caring approach I based on a broad curriculum and a wide spectrum of games and other extra-curricular activities. There are almost 1200 pupils in the school and 80 members of staff. The school has strong European links. Exchange visits have taken place over the last five years with a German school, Gymnasium Petrinum, in Dorsten. It is also twinned with a school in France. Through the European Studies Project many sixth form pupils have also been linked (largely through e-mail) with schools in England, Ireland and Belgium.
Cambridge House Girl's School, Ballymena
Cambridge House Girl's School, Ballymena was founded in 1910 with just sixteen
pupils. It now has 600 girls and a staff of 34. It moved to its present site
in 1973. The school motto is 'Per Ardua' ('Through Hard Work'). The school
ethos emphasises the importance of doing one's best. Cambridge House Girls'
School is proud of its academic successes, as well as its achievements in other
fields. It is well known for its orchestra and choir, and for its many sporting
activities. In 2000, Cambridge House Girls and Boys School amalgamated. Cambridge
House Girls' School had been involved with School Aid Romania since 1992 and
its pupils have visited many orphanages and other institutions in Brasov and
the surrounding district.
The
High School, Cookstown
Downshire
School, Carrickfergus
Downshire School opened in 1977. There are currently 50 members of staff. Today the school has around 700 pupils from the catchment area of Carrickfergus and wider areas such as Whiteabbey, Jordanstown, Greenisland, Eden, Ballycarry, Islandmagee and the rural hinterland. Downshire School was a purpose built community school which has forged strong links with the community. The school has received a number of awards including Schools Curriculum Award, Sportsmark and the Enterprising School Award. It is a school where personal achievement is seen as the right of each child whatever their academic ability. The school aim is 'Promoting Personal Excellence'. To this end, the staff encourages the pupils to develop their full capacity in all respects.
For more details, visit Downshire School's website at www.downshireschool.co.uk.
Methodist College
'A public school for boarders and day pupils, irrespective of their denominations.' This is how the Methodist College, Belfast was described in 1868 when it was established by the Conference of the Methodist church in Ireland. Ever since then the college has maintained its aim of guiding younf people in its care towards academic achievement, an appreciation of their responsibilities, and a Christian belief. Today the college has grown to encompass a grammar school catering for 1750 pupils, as well as two preparatory schools attended by an additional 570 pupils aged between 4 and 11. There is accommodation for 110 boy boarders and 80 girl boarders. The Board of Governors (some of whom were appointed by the Conference of the Methodist Church and others by the Department of Education in Northern Ireland) strives to ensure that the highest standards of education are maintained.
St. Louis Grammar
School
St. Louis Grammar School was founded in 1924 in the hill of Kintullagh in Ballymena.
It is a Catholic voluntary Grammar co-educational day school with 970 pupils.
The motto of the school is 'Ut Sint Unum' ('That we may be one'). the
school has an excellent record for academic and other achievements. It was one
of the founding schools of School Aid Romania in 1991 and has develop strong
links with other schools in the organisation, particularly Cambridge House Girls'
School and Larne Grammar School. Its website can be found at http://members.aol.com/kintullagh.
St. Patrick's College, Maghera
St. Patrick's College, Maghera opened in 1963. It is a maintained, comprehensive,
co-educational 11-18 school which caters for all abilities and persuasions.
The college offers a wide range of subjects to GCSE and A level. BTEC has been
offered as an alternative to A levels for a number of years, pupils are also
offered the opportunity to take GNVQ's. St. Patrick's College offers a broad
range of extra-curricular activities and has earned an enviable reputation for
the highest academic and sporting achievements. There are 1350 pupils and over
80 members of staff in the college.
St.
Patrick's Girls Academy, Dungannon
St. Patrick's Grammar
School, Armagh
Established in 1988 after the amalgamation of St. Patrick's College and The Christian
Brothers Grammar School, both Armagh. Until June 1999 the school had a Boarding
Department that was staffed by priests from the Archdiocese and Christian Brothers.
With the departure of the Christian Brothers the Boarding Department closed and
the school currently has approximately 780 day pupils. The first Headmaster, from
1988 -1999, was Rev. Brother Leo Kelly and the current Headmaster is Rev. Father
Kevin Donaghy. The Chairman of the Board of Governors, Archbishop Sean Brady,
takes an active interest in the work of the SAR group in the school. St. Patrick's
Grammar has been involved in SAR since 1993 and is travelling to Brasov with St.
Patrick's Girls Academy, Dungannon, and The High School, Cookstown. The school
has hosted a number of visitors from schools, hospitals, orphanages and the Inspectorate
in Brasov. The SAR group in St. Patrick's has also arranged for physiotherapists
and teachers of special needs to travel to Brasov and work with children in Timis.
As schools join or complete their involvement with the initiative,
information will be updated on an on-going basis.
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