Technology and Design students from Cambridge House and St. Louis Grammar Schools have recently taken part in an innovative video conference based project. Forty Year 10 pupils from the two schools participated in a design challenge. The project was monitored by Colin Deevy from Carlow Institute of Technology.

This was a joint project with a difference. The two Ballymena schools and IT Carlow communicated throughout the project using a live video link up. By using video conferencing technology, students had the opportunity to learn from, discuss and present their work to the professional designers at IT Carlow.

The pupils were set the task of designing a new mobile phone. The product design students from IT Carlow gave feedback and guidance during the three week project. At the end of the challenge, IT Carlow judged the final designs and ‘The Mood Phone’ Team from St. Louis (Siofra O’Mullan, Connor McKeown, Matthew Esler and Jack Lynch), were the overall winners with ‘Little and Large’ from Cambridge House (Jessica Irwin, Brian McCarley, Emma Scott and Andrew Whann) and ‘Team Call’ from St. Louis (Laura Mitchell, Leona Dobbin, Catherine Gould and Aisling Crawford) as joint runners up.

Colin Deevy, course co-ordinator from IT Carlow, and his Honours Degree Product Design students, were suitably impressed with the standard of design skills shown by all students participating. Technology and Design teachers and project organisers, Kieran Convery (St. Louis), Lynda Somerville (Cambridge House) and Leanne McKee were delighted at the level of enthusiasm and dedication that was shown from all parties taking part. It was an exciting challenge for the schools involved and is intended to be a starting point for future collaborations between schools, universities and business that will enhance how we educate and communicate in the future.

We would like to thank Richard Irwin, Donal O’Donnell and Mrs. Lisk at Cambridge House Grammar School and to Kieran Dempsey, Gerard Whiteford, Noel Rugman and Michael McMullan at St. Louis Grammar School for their assistance and support throughout the project.

Well done to the St Louis Public Speaking Group on their recent success.

Lisa Hanna picked up the best Speaker Award while Catherine McQuillan was the best Chairperson at the North/South Final of the Business and Professional Woman's Public Speaking competition held in Craigavon on Sat 18th February.  Their topic was The European Union, success or failure?

Together along with L6 pupil Conor Purdy (missing from photo) they came runners up in the All-Ireland Competition.

Fr. Cowan who was a very proud native of Armagh and was appointed Chaplain to this school 1993 – 1997.  He was very much a part of our St. Louis community and was very popular with staff and pupils.  He had a very sympathetic ear and a kind word for everyone who he came in contact with.  He gave of his time generously to the pastoral care of the school pupils and was guest speaker at one of our Prize Nights.

We will always remember him for his kindness and friendship.

Fr. Eamonn was ordained on 30 March 1963.  He ministered in a wide variety of areas including:

1963–1966 St. Peters Church, Phibsboro: Missions and Retreats;
1966–1969 Sheffield: Chaplain to the deaf Community in Leeds;
1969–1971 Glasgow: Glengowan; Director of a Hostel for young offenders on leaving prison;
1971–1973 Mill Hill London: Sacred Heart Parish–Parish Team:
1973–1978 Mill Hill London:  Damascus House, Assistant Director:
1978–1980 All Hollows College: Retreat House, Assistant Director;
1980–1992 Director of Daughters of Charity in Ireland
1993–1997 Ballymena, Diocese of Down and Connor: Curate in Harryville              
                 Chaplain to St. Louis Grammar Ballymena
1997–2008 St. Patrick’s Drumcondra, Chaplain.

St. Louis pupils have recently been successful in completing their City & Guilds, Computer Aided Design, Level 3 course in conjunction with Mr David Maxwell who lectures at the Ballymena NRC Construction and Engineering Department. The course was completed on Monday evenings at the Ballymena NRC buildings during the pupils Lower 6th year. They are pictured after receiving their certificates from their teacher, Mr Convery, and Head of Dept, Mr Dempsey.

Congratulations to the A Level Students of the Technology Department.

Back Row: Ronan Corrigan, Vincent Burns and Aaron Gault.

In July 2008 our Friends for Romania group was delighted to deliver a complete laparoscopy system to the Zarnesti Hospital in Brasov County, Romania. This system will allow the hospital to undertake minimally invasive internal investigations and "keyhole" surgery. For the first time, Zarnesti patients will experience the advantages of reduced surgical pain, minimal bleeding and a shorter recovery which leads to a faster return to everyday living. By arrangement with the hospital director, the arrival of the equipment was a complete surprise to the hospital staff. Their delight and excitement was plain to see.

The laparoscopy system cost twenty thousand pounds, all of which was raised by St. Louis student volunteers. Our Romania group would like to thank all those who have assisted with fundraising and those who have contributed their hard earned money to the project.

During their one week stay in Romania, the group worked in various children's homes and hospitals along with students from Cambridge House Grammar School, St. Mary's College (Clady) and Malone College (Belfast). Significant quantities of aid were delivered to all these institutions.

Pictured are Louise McAleese and Neil Darragh from St. Louis, Richard Hynes and Cathy Knowles from Cambridge House, interpreter Luminita Bujoreanu and staff from Zarnesti hospital.

The Traditional Music Groups from St. Louis Grammar and Cambridge House Grammar joined forces to play at the Culloden Hotel on Saturday 7th June 2008 in aid of the Emmerdale Extravaganza which was being held in Northern Ireland for the first time to support the Anthony Nolan Trust. The group played at a private reception for thirty six members of the Emmerdale Cast and UTV executive members including the evening’s host, Julian Symons, before their Banquet Ball in the Culloden Hotel.

It was a great success with many members of the cast commenting highly of the group. Most memorable was ‘Paddy’ from the cast who new quite a few of the tunes played as he is a keen mandolin player himself and regularly attends ‘sessions’ in Yorkshire.

The pupils and staff, Mr O’Donnell and Mr Convery, thoroughly enjoyed themselves and had a wonderful night.

The Year 10 Gaelic Football team are the new Ulster Champions. St Louis beat a highly fancied St Patrick's Downpatrick 6-8 to 1-7 in the final played at Carryduff on Saturday (8th March).

In the group stages we beat St Louis Kilkeel, La Salle Belfast and Loreto Coleraine. In difficult conditions the boys saw off Knock in the quarter final. In the semi final it was La Salle and a tightly contested game.

The fantastic performance in the final and the hard work put in during the season were the key factors in this Ulster title.

This year we raised a total of £11,000 from our October Mission Month Fundraising activities.  It has become a school tradition, with the pupils and staff getting involved in a wide range of fund raising activities.  It gives the pupils a terrific opportunity to learn Christian values as part of our school community.

The funds raised will be distributed among a wide range of charities.  The breakdown of the funds is decided by the school council, which is made up of the class captains.

Last year Louise McAleese and Shannon Graham received camogie All-Stars.  This season they were again honoured by the selection committee along with a third St Louis camog, Katie McAleese.

On the hurling front Michael Devlin was selected on the BT Ulster Colleges team.  While in football Aidan McKee and Colum Duffin were selected on the Antrim Year 12 All-Star team.