First Minister is Guest Speaker at Senior Prizegiving
First Minister is guest speaker at ‘Senior Prizegiving’ in Dean Maguirc College.
Dean Maguirc College, Carrickmore recently had the honour of welcoming First Minister, Michelle O’Neill to their Senior Prizegiving for 2024. The First Minister joined members of the Board of Governors, invited guests, pupils, parents and staff, to celebrate and reflect on the outstanding achievements of their GCSE and A Level pupils.
The First Minister was delighted to be invited as guest speaker and spoke of how she couldn’t wait to get out to talk in particular to the young people because “Everything I’m trying to do is about building a better future, it’s about building this place we call home, to be just the best place it can be for all young people and for better futures”. She added “Tonight is about celebrating your outstanding achievements and in life we should always make time to celebrate for whenever we have done good”.
It was clear to all that the First Minister enjoyed taking time to speak to young people as she continued “It’s my greatest privilege to get out to meet people and in particular young people. Your success is amazing to watch and what I’m trying to do is make this a good place for you. When you see the depths of the awards tonight, whether it be academic or sporting, just giving back to the community and school, that’s what makes up the world, that’s what makes up our community. Everybody plays their part; everybody has their strength”.
Speaking about the ethos of the school, the First Minister spoke “Right at the heart of this school ethos is community spirit, school spirit, it’s a school family, it’s that wider community that makes it much more than a school”. She spoke of a proud community in Carrickmore. “You only have to look at how you work in partnership with all the different groups and the fact that the principals of the feeder primary schools are here tonight to be part of the celebrations, just shows that wider ethos that sharing and working together means you can achieve much more”.
She reflected on the journey the school has taken over the last few years and how it has high hopes for the future, “it’s no wonder the school is oversubscribed when you see its achievement and the big plans that lie ahead for the college. I will walk that journey with you”.
Mrs. O’Neill concluded by speaking directly to the pupils in attendance by saying “You have got to this point because you have worked hard at it and from the support which you have around you. Whatever your journey is from here, make sure you take with you the value of friendship that you have learned from here, make sure you take with you the values of respect that you have learnt from your school community and my advice to you all is very simple, when you wake in the morning the road ahead is full of opportunities. Yes, there will be challenging days, there will be difficult days, there will be hard days, but take a breath because the next day will be better”.
The awards began with recognising achievements across the curriculum at A Level, G.C.S.E. Level and Key Stage 4 equivalent courses. Outstanding achievement at A Level were Pierce Byrne, Niamh Clarke, Tara Curran, Kate Fox, Anna Hempenstall, Róise Kerr and Orla Morris. Amy Ayna was top pupil at GCSE Level with Niamh Mullan, Ava Byrne, Rioghnach McAleer and Caislin Tracey receiving awards for outstanding achievement. Grace Donnelly, Clara-Rose Marley, Niamh McElduff, Sara Roszyk and Laura Delaney were the recipients of awards for excellent achievement at G.C.S.E. Level.
