Washington ‘sisters’ meet up at the Sacred Heart school
Teachers and pupils from Sacred Heart with their counterparts from Georgetown Visitation, Washington, USA at a tree planting ceremony at Sunnyside to celebrate 13 years of friendship and exchange programmes between the schools.See page 4.
THERE have been special moments, special days and joyous occasions, but last week, the Sacred Heart and Georgetown Visitation school in Washington cemented their links for life.
Overlooking the college at Sunnyside, as the flags of Ireland, Europe and America fluttered in the breeze, two women who have helped create a wonderful sense of adventure between two schools proudly planted two cherry blossom trees.
In doing so, Mary Caffrey, the former Sacred Heart principal, and Sue Foreman from Washington spoke of the bonds of sisterhood the link up had developed over the last 13 years.
On October 12 2004, Ms Caffrey, some fellow teachers and a group of students jetted off from Drogheda to Washington to meet up with students from the Visitation school in the city for the very first time.
‘We travelled with 16 girls and we didn’t know what to expect,’ Ms Caffrey stated.
It was before snapchat and the social media revolution, but Ms Caffrey saw a growth in those that travelled and again when the group from Washington travelled here.
The decision was taken to continue the bond and since then 500 students on both sides have taken part in the exchange and many still keep in touch, as Washington based Ms Foreman remarked, she sees some Drogheda students more than her former ones!
‘I hope the friendship continues to endure, for teachers and students it’s a wonderful programme, exciting and challenging,’ Ms Caffrey remarked.
In some cases, sisters have made the same journey, years apart.
Ms Foreman, who arrived with her group in Drogheda last week - heading off to Newgrange on one memorable trip - said the planting of the trees was a new beginning, ‘ the trees will remind me of what we have in common and I hope it endures for many years to come.’
She said she felt ‘at home’ in Drogheda and Sunnyside and thanked all those that embraced the idea and keep it alive.
‘It changes your life and gives you an independence. We feel this friendship across the ocean all the time,’ she added.
Principal Leoni Carroll said the tree planting was a ‘wonderful occasion’ and celebrated Irish/ American links.
Teachers like Ms Singleton, Ms Heatley, Ms Mitchell, Ms Mullins were some that had played key roles and all were praised for their efforts in such an enlightening programme for the school.
She explained that the mayor of Tokyo had recently donated cherry blossom to the city of Washington to symbolise the friendship between the two cities.
She felt it appropriate that the blossom also recognise the link between the two schools.
As part of the ceremony, two of the girls who were part of the exchange in the past, Eimear Matthews and Hannah Tracey attended while present Head Girl, Aiobheann Russell read a poem.