Our Lady's Grammar School
Coordinates: 54°10′55″N 6°20′31″W / 54.182°N 6.342°W
Our Lady's Grammar School is a girls' grammar school in Newry, Northern Ireland. It is at Chequer Hill, on the County Armagh side of the Newry River.
Our Lady's was founded by the Sisters of Mercy. It first opened its doors on November 21, 1887, with only nine pupils. Initially lessons took place in a room in the Mercy Convent, but by 1894 the school was located in a four-storey house in Canal Street, Newry. The numbers of boarders and day-pupils gradually increased and the school expanded over a large site between Canal Street and Catherine Street. By the early 1980s there were 660 pupils; in 2007 there were 860. The current principal of the school is Ms Geraldine Pettigrew. Vice Principals are Teresa McAllister and Fiona McAlinden.
The school motto is 'Ora et Labora'- Latin for Pray and Work. The school colours are Navy and White. The school maintains a welcoming and homely environment. "The school fits girls for life without unfitting them for heaven." These wree the beautiful words of the founder of the school, Catherine McCauley. Our Lady's Grammar school in Newry is a school of academic excellence, pride in discipline and determined sportswomen who are taught to show a sense of fellowship with one's competitors. They are recognised for their academic excellence particularly in subject areas of Religious Education and Art. However, the outstanding results tend to spread across the board throughout all classes offered.
The school celebrated its 125th anniversary on 21 November 2012 with a beautiful mass in Newry Cathedral. The mass was streamed live to past pupils and friends of the school across the globe. The school is often referred to as not a building but a family. The school also believe that their relationship with other schools shows their love for all of the wider community. The staff and teachers at Our Lady's Grammar school are kind, and most importantly they care for the students. The pupils are respectful to others and are taught to treat all as equals and be themselves.
Many students have said that the school has done them a great deal of help and has set them up for the future.
Our Lady's Grammar School achieved the best results in Northern Ireland at both GCSE and A Level in 2010.
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