President to visit Kells school

President Mary McAleese will visit St Ciaran"s Community School in Kells on Friday morning, where she will meet with students and staff. The President will be shown a copy of the Book of Kells and will meet with members of the school"s Zambia Immersion Programme, Gaisce students, young scientists and a world champion handballer. The President will then enter the school gym, where she will address the students of the school and will be presented with a card by students. During her visit she will learn about the Zambia Immersion Programme, which will see a group of 20 pupils, staff and parents travel to Mazabuka, Zambia, on 20th May. This will be the fourth trip made by students from St Ciaran"s to Mazabuka. The students travelling are from Kells, Virginia, Maghera, Athboy, Carlanstown and surrounding areas. The school"s Zambia Immersion Programme started in 2000 and, since then, they have provided solar-powered wells providing clean water for over 12,000 people, set up a food supplement programme to ensure that schoolchildren get at least one meal a day and refurbished computers for schools. They have provided 3,000 sports jerseys and sports equipment for schools and youth groups and supplied medical resources for a local hospital. This year"s goal is to raise enough funds to construct two orphanage buildings, which will cater for children who have been displaced. Fundraising for the trip is already underway and they held a recent bag pack in Tesco Navan which proved to be very successful event.