Winning Poster - Dominican College Fortwilliam click to enlarge   “What Easter Means to Me” was the theme of this year’s art competition, very fitting as prizegiving took place in the run-up to Holy Week. Each school that participated nominated a year group to come up with artistic interpretations of Easter and it was left to the staff to award the prizes. SVP sponsored the cash prizes and donated some money to the school funds.   The competition generated marvelously bright, fun and tangible artwork. A wide assortment of resurrection scenes, spring-time landscapes, tempting Easter eggs and poetry dominated the display boards. Children from P3 up to first form participated, and in general there was a great response from the schools.   Holy Family PS Newington St Mary's PS, Carnmoney St Bernard's PS Elmfield   A huge thank-you to the members of staff who helped organise the competition within their own schools and to the Conference members who helped with the co-ordination and delivery of the prizes, and finally well done to all the schools and prize-winners!!!

The North Belfast Area Council decided upon a sponsored Art competition, inviting all the schools in the area to participate in an attempt to raise the profile and awareness of the Society of St Vincent de Paul within the locality.   The aim of the exercise was to initiate contact with schools through the SVP conferences, ascertaining any knowledge the schools held regarding SVP projects. In essence, the Art Competition provided the SVP with an opportunity to highlight the services that are available to schools under the auspices of SVP. Projects including breakfast clubs, after schools clubs, uniform and first communion grants as well as the Vincentian Education Trust, (made available to pupils transferring from secondary to 3rd level education), comprise a percentage of the assistance provided by many conferences within the Northern Region.     Dominican College Fortwilliam   St Mary's Star of the Sea PS, Shore Road   Furthermore, the competition itself, provided the children with an artistic outlet, enabled conference members to visit the schools, chat informally to the children & staff whilst acknowledging the generosity of the schools shown to SVP reflected in the Christmas Hampers and support that they demonstrate on a yearly basis without fail.   Some of the artwork will be displayed in some of the local parishes throughout the Easter period, so keep your eyes peeled!!