Head Boys, Head Girls and Students’ Council

Every academic year St Paul’s offers an opportunity to students in Year 14 to join the Senior Student Leadership Team. Four of the successful candidates will also be put forward by their peers and staff members for the position of Head Boys and Head Girls, and this year Shane O’Keefe, Anna Lindsay, Cara Hoey and Shane Malone were elected to the positions.

The prestigious role of the Head Boy and Head Girl is to lead the Students’ Council and Senior Student Leadership Team and act as the students representatives. They are also ambassadors for the school and represent St Paul’s at both academic and social events.

The school Students’ Council offers a valuable opportunity for students to interact with each other and with senior members of staff and is vital in giving the students an input into improving life at St Paul’s. The council consists of two representatives from every year group and is co-ordinated by Mrs McMahon, Vice-Principal for Care & Welfare. The Head Boys and Head Girls act as co-chairs of the Students’ Council. The representatives are elected every year by their fellow students.

 

Name: Shane O’Keefe

Primary School: St Moninna’s Cloghoge

Subjects: Music, Maths and Digital Technology.

Career Aspirations: ‘After much deliberation, I have finally settled on a career path for the future. It is an aspiration of mine to achieve a degree in Computer Science at Queen’s University Belfast. My hopes, moving forward, are to find work in the IT sector following university level education.

Favourite thing about St Paul’s: ‘Throughout my years at St Paul’s I have always enjoyed the pastoral side to my school experience. I personally feel it is of vital importance to find an appropriate extra curricular/ work life balance. St. Paul’s has always offered so many opportunities and experiences for its students and I find this encourages many pupils to stay motivated and to keep a healthy mind set throughout their studies.’

Who I look up to: ‘Across the board, regarding my academic career, I have always found it helpful to find someone to look up to and follow in their footsteps. For me, that was always someone quite close to me. My father has always been a very well rounded man who is trustworthy, reliable and practical. I have always aspired to be very much like him and continue to climb closer to being the man I want to be.’

Name: Shane Malone

Primary School: St Brigid’s Drumilly

Subjects: Digital Technology, Health & Social Care, Business Studies

Careers Aspiration: ‘With help from my careers teachers, Mrs Kearney and Mrs Hughes, I hope to study Paramedic Science at Ulster University. I enjoy helping, talking and dealing with the public, so I am confident this is a role that would definitely suit me.

Biggest Influence: ‘My English teacher, Ms. Kellie McShane, has been a consistent and dedicated figure in my life since I joined St.Paul’s in 2015. Ms.McShane has gone above and beyond in seeing and bringing out the potential in me. She is an intelligent, approachable and extremely caring lady, who treats each pupil as if they were her own.’

Favourite thing about St. Paul’s: ‘St.Paul’s is a school bursting with unique and exciting opportunities for each student. I have been given countless opportunities to attend various events, trips and to take part in extra curricular activities, such as musicals and choir. St. Paul’s has something to offer for everyone!’

Advice for any younger students: ‘While it’s important to keep on top of your studies and work hard, it is just as important to have fun and enjoy your time at St.Paul’s!’

Name: Anna Lindsay

Primary School: Dromintee PS

Subjects: Maths, Technology & Design and BTEC Construction

Career aspirations: ‘I have always been set on a job within the construction industry. Although it’s an industry that is heavily dominated by males, I am not afraid of challenging that gender inequality. At the moment I am still deciding between two courses – Quantity Surveying or Construction Engineering and Management. Both of these are taught in Ulster University.

Favourite thing about St Paul’s: ‘My favourite thing about St Paul’s is the staff, as they as go above and beyond for every single student. Not only do they help educate you, they help you grow and develop as a person. Many teachers have helped me at my hardest times and believed in me when I didn’t even believe in myself. St Paul’s provides the perfect environment to create strong and lasting friendships through so many amazing opportunities, such as extra curricular activities and school trips. St Paul’s is the not just a school for education, it is a school for self growth and development.

Biggest influence/role model: ‘Personally for me my biggest role model is Katie Taylor, as she has helped publicise the sport of women’s boxing at home here in Ireland and abroad. Her incredibly successful career has seen her become the undisputed World Lightweight Champion. She also won gold for Ireland when representing them in the olympics. However to Katie, success isn’t worth much if you don’t continue to give back and remain humble, having once said “I don’t want people to define me by my medals, but how I live my life”.
She has taught me it’s not about how successful you are in life it’s about how you choose to live your life!’

Name: Cara Hoey

Primary School: Jonesborough Primary School

Subjects: Irish, Maths, Spanish and Health and Social Care

Career Aspirations: ‘Although I am finding it difficult at the minute to decide on a career path, I am interested in going into the field of Law with Languages or possibly Finance. I’m lucky to have such great teachers, that I love all four subjects and am finding it so hard to choose! I am still undecided on where I hope to study my degree, there are just so many possibilities!’

Biggest Influence: ‘Like Shane Malone, I’m also a loyal member of the Kellie McShane Fan Club!
I have lots of role models in my life but I would have to say that someone who inspires me the most, in my life, is my Granda John. He has a word for everyone and his ‘easy going’ approach to life reassures me whenever I may be panicking due to any stress in relation to any aspects of life, specifically school. His relaxed approach to everything reminds me that everything will work itself out one way or another.’

Favourite thing about St. Paul’s: ‘Although it’s hard to choose just one thing within the school, a favourite aspect of mine would have to be the Music Department. The Music Department offers a calming environment, providing a break from the constant hustle and bustle of the school, giving me a chance to relax. Not only this, but I have been able to make memories that will last a lifetime through the Music Department – whether it has been taking part in school musicals over the years or trips along with the choir to Rome. The teachers in the Music Department are also great craic!’

Advice to younger students: ‘Try not to take yourself too seriously. Allow yourself to have a balance between your diligent side and the side of you that just wants to have the craic! That being said, even if school isn’t your thing, work hard and give it your best shot: because if you fail to prepare, all you can do is prepare to fail.’