On Wednesday 19^th March a group of students and staff from St Paul’s High School, travelled to Kirovsk in the Murmansk region of Northern Russia to establish a new school twinning programme and for the launch of the “Challenge of Change” project.

The link between the two schools was originally initiated by a Newry and Mourne Council delegation who over recent years have worked to negotiate and build significant educational, training and employment schemes in partnership with the council in Kirovsk. The Mayor of Newry and Mourne, Mr Michael Ruane, along with a select group of council officials (Mr Eddy Curtis, Mr Paddy Duffy and Mr Noel  Pepper) accompanied the St Paul’s group on their first visit to the city.

During their stay in the beautiful city of Kirovsk, the St Paul’s party had an opportunity to experience Russian life by attending lessons and participating in workshops in the partner school, as well as visiting the homes of the Russian students and participating in a range of cultural activities. The group also enjoyed the chance to ski in the Tirvas Ski Resort where they were staying during their 6 day visit. Both staff and students were overwhelmed by the warm welcome extended to them by their new Russian colleagues and friends and look forward to growing this much valued link via a wide range of curricular projects and events which will run throughout the coming academic year.

On Friday 30^th May, in anticipation and to prepare for this year long itinerary of events, a group of staff from St Paul’s participated in their first on-line conference with staff from School 7 in Kirovsk, Russia. This web-seminar will be an on-going feature of the “Challenge of Change”  project.

Pictured above is Mrs Noella Murray (Senior Leader), Mr Jarlath Burns (Principal) Mrs Úna McNulty (Vice-Principal) and Ms Claire Maguire (Head of Learning for Life & Work)