YEAR 13 VISIT TO INDIA WITH SAPHARA (JULY 2015)
In July 2015, six Year 13 students from St. Mary’s joined students from Dominican College, St Malachy’s College and Belfast Royal Academy when they travelled to India as part of the school’s work with Saphara. Saphara is a Northern Ireland based charity which seeks to provide financial and practical support for under-privileged children in schools in India. The charity also assists children, women and families living in poor, marginalised communities in India. Saphara works in partnership with other charities in India to provide education, materials, support and empowerment for those living in poverty in India. Each year, teams of young people from different schools in Northern Ireland travel to India during the summer to teach in two different schools. Accompanied by Mr Tracey, the St. Mary’s students – Siobhan Comer, Connor Devlin, Ellen Groom, Kyle Johnston, Una McCoy and Tara McGrogan - spent 16 days in India, during which time they worked to develop the language skills and confidence of educationally disadvantaged school children in both rural and urban communities.
2.7 FUNDRAISING FOR CHARITY
St. Mary’s is proud of its long history of supporting charitable causes. The generosity and kindness of the whole school community – including students, staff and parents - are widely recognised and have benefitted a range of charity organisations over many years. St. Mary’s charity work fulfils part of the school’s vision whereby we aim to:
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encourage students to play an active and responsible role in society;
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provide opportunities for students to develop as global citizens;
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encourage students to use their talents for the service of others; and
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create a vibrant living faith community where all members of the school community are encouraged to live the Gospel values and be committed to a Christian way of life.
Through charity, fundraising and volunteering activities, students learn about charitable causes and the work of particular charitable organisations. Engagement in charity, fundraising and volunteering activities gives students an opportunity to put their faith into action, demonstrate Christian values and develop a sense of social responsibility and moral obligation by serving others in need in the local, national and global context. Throughout 2014/15, St. Mary’s students supported a number of charity organisations. Details of the school’s charity fundraising activities are presented in the following table:-
Year Group
|
Activity / Event
|
Amount Raised
|
Charity
|
8
|
Courtesy Week
|
£1,546.47
|
OLA Missionary
|
9
|
Sponsored Walk
|
£2,782.11
|
Multiple Sclerosis Society
|
10
|
Zumbathon
|
£1,474.36
|
Lepra
|
11
|
Donation of Gifts
|
Gifts
|
SVP Family Gift Aid
|
13
|
Coffee morning
|
£382.25
|
NI Children’s Cancer Charity
|
In addition, staff co-ordinated a range of different events to raise money for charities, as detailed below:
Date
|
Event
|
Amount Raised
|
Charity
|
Throughout the year
|
Sale of ice cream at ‘Meet me in St Louis’, school jerseys and leavers’ hoodies
(co-ordinated by Year 13 Mini- Enterprise Scheme)
|
£1,500
|
Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice
|
Throughout the year
|
£400 – sale of ‘quarter zips’
(co-ordinated by Year 11 Mini- Company)
|
£400
|
Cathy ar gcara
|
November
|
Shoe Box Appeal
(co-ordinated by Miss Fulton)
|
Shoeboxes /
£85 transport costs
|
Shoe Box Appeal
|
December
|
Hamper Appeal(co-ordinated by Mr Maynes)
|
50 hampers
|
St Vincent de Paul
|
December
|
Christmas Jumper Day
|
£644.68
|
Saphara
|
February
|
Aviva School Mile Challenge
|
£298.77
|
Click Sargent
|
May / June
|
Friday Treats
(co-ordinated by Miss McKillop)
|
£1,068.75
|
Macmillan Cancer Support
|
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