SUCCESS is measured by more than medals and exam results. It's about the whole person. That's what set St Colm's High School Draperstown ahead of the pack for The Irish News' inaugural School Wellbeing award.
An ability to marry the great outdoors and exercise for all, to improve mental health.
"We would love to have given an award to every school that entered," commented Irish News Marketing Manager John Brolly in his address at the awards ceremony.
On the field of play, St Colm's U14s are current Ulster football and camogie champions. The same year group were beaten in the ladies football final and will compete in the hurling final later this month.
The Year 12 Cross Country team won their fifth Derry title in succession.
A highly successful year and all from a base of 450 pupils.
Operating alongside this sporting excellence, is a vibrant and fully inclusive school community that has embraced health and well-being on a different scale.
The school began an Eco club in 2006. A year later they became the first school in Mid Ulster to have a green flag. In 2016 St Colm's became an Ambassador Eco School, one of only 13 in Northern Ireland.
On top of that, the school began running a health fair 15 years ago, and as chemistry teacher Clare Devlin, the driving force behind the school's Eco club, explains – there has been a change in focus is recent times.
The fair, at first, focussed on physical health but gradually there were more groups coming to speak about mental health and drug awareness.
"We had been doing a number of initiatives in the school for health and well-being," Devlin explained. "Draperstown has had its fair share of deaths from suicide."
The Eco club began to change its focus towards mental health and began an 'Exercise in the Great Outdoors' programme.
The goal was to generate greater interest in exercise and team spirit. It resulted in more pupils joining school teams.
"It was open to staff, pupils and the community. We got a £500 grant from Workspace to run it two evenings a week," Devlin added.
For eight weeks Derry player Benny Heron and fellow teacher Ashlinn Carroll ran classes that proved very popular.
"The idea was based around health, being outside and clearing your head. It was primarily geared at those doing exams and who were getting stressed."
In the school grounds there is Susan's trail, named in memory of the popular former school secretary Susan Potter.
"Within it we have an 'area of reflection' - a seated area in the forest where people have planted trees and there are 255 people remembered in that area," Devlin added.
There is also a tree planted to mark the fifth anniversary of STEPS' Cycle against Suicide, with the sign 'it's okay not to be okay' which is now a 'key feature' in the grounds.
"It was to take the stigma away from mental health. You can go outside on this trail and that exercise is good for you."
Devlin, herself inspired to taking up exercise, pointed to another benefit from an increase in physical activity.
"The children on the periphery of school teams are not as willing to get involved - we got those children out. It was a fun idea, they were getting physically fitter and they were enjoying the interaction with other people. And it reduces isolation."
Principal Roisin McKenna said the formula for winning this 'prestigious award' was a simple one, but it takes the input of an entire school community.
"There is a 'can do' culture in St Colm's," she said. "All staff demonstrate a genuine interest in the pupils which far surpasses any job description.
"Our Believe and Achieve vision for high quality teaching and learning, combined with the many opportunities for pupils and staff to engage in Health Initiatives makes St Colm's a very special place."
