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. This month we are also organising a Macmillan coffee morning and this term we will also support the work of SVP in our local community.
Our annual School Beach walk is currently scheduled to take place on the afternoon of Thursday 29th September 2022 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 eighteen years we in Dominican College, Portstewart have raised in excess of £175,000 for our sponsored charities as a consequence of our Beach Walk.
Our challenge in 2022 is to maintain this proud tradition and that every member of our Dominican community does their best to raise as much money as we can.
This Year we have identified four key charities that we wish to help:
Macmillan Cancer Support
Many members of our school community have had or will have some form of cancer within their lifetime.
Macmillan Cancer Support is one of the largest British charities and provides specialist health care, information and financial support to people affected by cancer.
Macmillan aims to help everyone suffering from cancer to live life as fully as possible.
Macmillan will help people coping with cancer and their families physically, emotionally and financially.
NI Children’s Hospice
Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice is a local charity providing specialist respite, symptom management and end of life palliative care to over 370 infants, children and young people living with life-limiting and life-threatening illnesses both in the family home and in our Children’s Hospice in Newtownabbey.
The NI Children’s Hospice support children and their families through a range of services. These services include end of life care, care at home, supported short breaks where children and families can come and enjoy tailored activities in a safe environment with specially trained staff on hand at all times and care for the whole family.
NI Chest, Heart and Stroke
NICHS are the only local charity dedicated to the prevention of chest, heart and stroke illnesses, and the care and support of people affected by them.
NICHS provide funding for local research into prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and care. We also campaign for policies to improve the health of local people.
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.
This is our fifth year supporting Dominican Myanmar and this year the school needs our help more than ever.
Arrangements for Thursday 29th September.
- Pupils will have a non- uniform day on Thursday 29th September
- Pupils should ensure they dress appropriately (including a rain jacket).
- The use of mobile phones/ MP3 players/ cameras is prohibited.
- Pupils should pay a donation of £1.00 on Thursday 29th for non-uniform.
- Normal class will operate until lunchtime.
- All pupils should go to their form room at the end of second lunch (1.05 PM)
- The Year 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 for the walk, at the end of the beach and on their return to school.
- Form teachers and assistants will accompany their groups on the walk.
- Pupils must remain in your year group throughout the walk.
- The school day will end at the normal time of 3.15 and buses will be at the usual times.
- A first aid team will be on the beach to assist pupils.
- Pupils’ medical boxes will be brought to the beach on the minibus.
- There is a forecast of rain and showers for Thursday 29th and pupils must dress appropriately.
Friday 30th September is a Staff Development Day.
