News Archive June 2009

DARWIN 200 ESSAY WRITING COMPETITION

The year 2009 marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of the evolutionary theorist, Charles Darwin. In celebration of this landmark year for science, students across the College were invited to submit an entry to St Mary’s Darwin 200 competition. The competition called for students to research, prepare and write an essay on one of three titles:

• ‘The origin of the species by means of natural selection’ was published by Charles Darwin in 1859. Discuss why this book shocked the world and caused such controversy.

• Research Darwin’s theory and use examples to explain how evolutionary changes over a long period of time have resulted in the great diversity of life forms that exist today.

• Can you believe in God and evolution?

Students studying any subject were eligible to enter.

Entries ranged from PowerPoint presentation formats to prize-worthy prose. Michael Hall, a year 12 student studying Human Biology, was the unanimous choice to receive the £100 first prize.



The runner-up prizes were awarded as followed:

2nd Place: Emma Phillips
3rd Place Lauren Leeson
4th Place (joint): Sophie McGloin & Natasha Harding

Well done to all who took part.

DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES

The 2009 pilgrimage to Lourdes was a great success. The girls were all ‘handmaids’ whilst the boys were ‘brancardiers’, and their hard work and dedication were highly valued by those whom they served. The photos show the students the other side of the river from the Basilica, Helen and Danielle with Bishop Terence Patrick at the Offertory, and how the day off duty was spent - walking up in the Pyrenees as far as the snow line!