Newry &  Mourne Mayor, Councillor Michael Ruane, pictured with Principal, Mr Jarlath Burns, Vice Principal, Mrs Úna McNulty and teacher Noella Murray. Along with students Aoife Malone (Head Girl), Peter Hughes (Head Boy), Cillian Campbell (Deputy Head Boy) Valerija Staselovica and Daniela Janikova (Year 11 Fluent Russian speaking students)

Students and staff from St Paul’s High School,Bessbrook are visiting Kirovsk in the Murmansk region of Northern Russia as part of a school twinning programme.

The link between the two schools was initiated by a Newry and Mourne District Council delegation who over recent years have worked to establish 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 councillors will also be travelling with the St Paul’s group on their first visit to their link school School 7.

Last year a group of students and teachers from School 7 visited St Paul’s as part of a fact-finding educational trip organised by the partnership between the two councils.

During their reciprocal visit, the St Paul’s students will experience Russian life by attending lessons and participating in workshops in their partner school, visiting the homes of the Russian students and participating in a range of cultural activities.

They are also looking forward to the opportunity to ski in the Tirvas Ski Resort where they will be staying during their six day visit.