Issue 257 - East Down BT24 • BT30 • BT31 • BT33
Environmental Youth Speak Competition
Pupils from 13 primary and secondary schools across the district took part in this year’s Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Environmental Youth Speak competition.
Crotlieve DEA Forum Chairperson Councillor Kate Murphy and Slieve Gullion DEA Forum Chairperson, Councillor Aine Quinn were among those who welcomed the Autism Reality Experience to the Slieve Gullion and Crotlieve District Electoral Areas recently.
Autism Reality Experience for Schools Newry, Mourne and Down District Council has welcomed the Autism Reality Experience to the Slieve Gullion and Crotlieve District Electoral Areas, marking World Autism Acceptance Month (April). Delivered by Training 2 CARE and supported by the Public Health Agency, the Autism Reality Experience offers an immersive, handson training session designed to help neurotypical people better understand the sensory and communication challenges experienced by individuals on the autism
spectrum. The training sessions were delivered to staff at St Mark’s High School, Warrenpoint and St Paul’s High School, Bessbrook, providing valuable insight into the day-today experiences of pupils with autism and helping to build more supportive
and inclusive school environments. Through the experience, participants gained an understanding of a range of sensory processing challenges, including hypersensitivity to sound and light, feelings of overwhelm, difficulties with language processing, and
challenges with balance and spatial awareness. The session also highlighted what it can feel like to navigate environments that are not designed with neurodiverse needs in mind.
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Pupils are given two environmental topics to speak on and this year Primary School pupils focused on “Where would we bee without pollinators”, while their secondary school counterparts spoke on “How the United Nations Sustainable Development goals are important to me”. After much deliberation, the judges chose Charlotte Magee from St Malachy’s Primary School, Camlough and Conor Rooney-Davis, from Kilkeel’s St Louis Grammar School, as the respective winners. Cllr Campbell presented winners with a trophy, a certificate and £100 voucher, with all pupils receiving a commemorative certificate and £25 voucher each. Pupils who competed in the Junior Section included Theo Macauley, All Children’s Integrated
Primary School, Newcastle; Darcy O’Hare, St Peter’s Primary School, Cloughreagh, Bessbrook; Luke Morgan, St Ronan’s Primary School, Newry; Hugh McGrillen, Holy Cross Primary School, Attical; Charlotte Magee, St Malachy’s Primary School, Camlough; Treasa McCoy, St Clare’s Abbey Primary School, Newry; Ava Mackin, Carrick Primary School, Burren and Cliona Mageean, St Patrick’s Primary School, Legamaddy. Competing Senior section pupils were Esther Richard, St Mary’s High School, Newry; Conor Rooney-Davis, St Louis Grammar School, Kilkeel; Kayla Hanna, Kilkeel High School; Maella McCamphill, Assumption Grammar School, Ballynahinch and Emma Rae Brothers, Sacred Heart Grammar School, Newry.