Each year Dominican College identifies charities at both a local and national level to support. The annual Dominican Beach Walk is one of a number of initiatives we use to support our chosen charities and we are delighted to be able to return to this initiative in a safe, socially distanced way this year. All pupils and staff will walk from our school grounds to the end of the beach and back and our Sixth Year pupils will walk alongside our younger pupils.
Our annual School Beach walk will be held on the afternoon of Mondaay 11th October 2021 and, once again, our entire school community, in line with our school ethos, will walk together in support of social justice. Acknowledging those in need and reaching out in support continues to be a vital part of our Dominican philosophy of education.
Over the past seventeen years we in Dominican College, Portstewart have raised in excess of £160,000 for our sponsored charities as a consequence of our Beach Walk. This is due to the generosity of parents and friends of Dominican and to the commitment and dedication of our students. We want to thank everyone who contributed or helped in any way and to challenge our students in 2021 to agree that it is better when we all work collectively to achieve our goals in social justice. During the course of this school year we are asking again for your help and we would like to continue to support a range of charitable causes including the following:
The Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust
The KBRT helps families whose loved ones have died abroad with the legalities and cost of returning the bodies. The charity helps families in Ireland.
The charity was founded by the Bell family whose son, Kevin, died in a hit and run accident in America. In the years since their tragedy they have continued to raise money to help other families who find themselves in the same tragic situation.
This is our third time supporting the KBRT, a charity that is very close to our hearts. This charity was very involved in helping the family of a past Dominican pupil who passed away suddenly in China a few years ago.
RNLI Portrush Lifeboats
Surrounded as we are by the sea and with increasing numbers of our school community engaged in water based activities, we are more aware than ever of the vital service of the RNLI in Portrush. Dominican students both past and present are involved in helping this non-profit organisation which is such a vital part of our local community.
Dominican College Myanmar
In 2018, as a way of recognising the 50th anniversary of boys joining our school community in 1968, it was decided to support a Dominican School in Myanmar as part of our school charity work over the past four years. We have witnessed a serious situation unfold in Myanmar over recent months and continue to pray for the safety and well-being of all the people of Myanmar and want to help provide the basics of food, water and education for Dominican students in this war –ravaged part of the world.
Arrangements for Beach Walk 2021 – Monday 11th October 2021
Pupils will have a non- uniform day on Monday 11th October.
Pupils should ensure they dress appropriately (including a rain jacket).
Pupils will not be required to wear a face covering whilst on the walk.
The use of mobile phones/ MP3 players is prohibited.
Pupils should pay a donation of £1.00 on Monday for the civvies day.
Lunch will be slightly shorter than usual.
Pupils in Key Stage 3 will have a slightly shorter period 3 and we will have a staggered lunch.
The Year 13 and 14 pupils will be allocated groups to walk with years 8-12.
Our senior pupils will help organise the walk and accompany junior pupils.
Pupils will have their roll taken:
- before they leave school,
- at the end of the beach and
- on their return to school.
Pupils will leave from the hockey pitch at ten minute intervals.
Form teachers and assistants will accompany their groups on the walk.
Pupils must maintain in a Year group bubble throughout the walk.
A first aid team will be on the beach to assist pupils.
Pupils’ medical boxes will be brought to the beach on the minibus.
Pupils will not return to class at the end of the school day.
Buses will be at the usual times.
| Year Group | Lunch Time | Departure Time |
| 8 | 12.10 | 12.35 |
| 9 | 12.10 | 12.45 |
| 10 | 12.10 | 12.55 |
| 11 | 12.30 | 1.05 |
| 12 | 12.30 | 1.15 |
| 13 | 12.30 | With their allocated group |
| 14 | 12.30 | With their allocated group |
