Royal School, Armagh

Before we can truly understand another person, we must walk a mile in their moccasins. Before we can walk in another person’s moccasins, we must first take off our own. -Native American saying

“Ask a child to volunteer and he may hesitate. Tell him he is needed and he will come running” – Kurt Hahn

Being a Good Samaritan and being of service to others helps develop compassion and empathy. It helps form a moral and ethical disposition in Royal School pupils which can only enable them to be a force for good in the world.

There are opportunities to be involved in helping others both locally, nationally and globally at the Royal School. Miss Gillian Hamilton co-ordinates the relentless efforts of the school’s Charity Committee whilst the Scripture Union, The Duke of Edinburgh Award and the CCF also provide a variety of opportunities to get involved. The school has been involved with the Talking Newspaper for many years. This is a service for blind people that is widely appreciated. The 1608 schools are currently involved with Fields of Life in helping to build a school in Uganda.

Charlene Barr, a former pupil who suffered from cystic fibrosis and who sadly passed away on 30 October, 2010, had not let illness deter her from spearheading Charlene’s Project which continues to aim to build a school in Uganda.

Meanwhile, Victoria Minnis, Hannah Brown and twins Susanne and Naomi Herring will be heading for Lesotho in July 2010 to participate in relief work on the Lesotho Adventurer Programme.

It is with deep regret that the school received the news of Charlene’s passing on 30 October 2010. God bless her soul. The thoughts and prayers of the Board and of the entire school community are with the Barr family.

Charlene was a former pupil of Lurgan Junior High School and the Royal School Armagh. She raised over 120,000 pounds in her quest to build a school in Uganda.

Charlene suffered from cystic fibrosis and was awaiting a double lung transplant but she refused to allow her illness prevent her from spearheading her Ugandan cause.

Anyone interested to know more should visit Charlenesproject.org  

Head of Music, Mr Michael Harris, The Headmaster, Mr Paul Crute and John Jones present Dean Rooke with a cheque for the Cathedral Restoration Fund raised from part of the collection at the Festival of Nine lessons and Carols held in St Patrick’s Cathedral on Tuesday, 8th December.