Grandparents’ Day to mark anniversary

Grandparents’ Day to mark anniversary

19 February 2020

CHILDREN at St Mary’s Primary School in Saintfield showed up with their grandparents — many of whom are former pupils — to mark the school’s 148th anniversary at a special assembly last Friday. 

The message of Grandparents’ Day was clear – that St Mary’s remains a vibrant school at the heart of the parish of Saintfield and Carrickmannon, as it has always been since 1872. 

Parents, friends and special guests also turned out to mark the event which coincided with Catholic Schools Week. 

Grainne Lundy, a past pupil who helped organise the event said many grandparents continue to support children and work with parents and governors to ensure pupils receive top quality provision.

She said: “Pupils of this small, rural school showcased their talents in a wide range of musical instruments including flute, violin, cello and tin whistle and the beautiful choir serenaded the guests with a variety of hymns and songs. 

“It is no wonder past pupils of St Mary’s go on to excel in music at the top grammar schools of east Down.”  

Mrs Lundy added: “Three former pupils will travel to New York with the Assumption Grammar School choir to take part in the St Patrick’s Day parade next month, while past pupil Mark McMullan made it to the final of Britain’s Got Talent last autumn and is now touring the UK in Joseph and his Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.”

Acting principal Anne Reid attributes the ongoing success of pupils to the fact they receive individual learning plans which are made possible within the smaller group setting.

She said: “While academic achievement is important to parents we realise unless our children feel valued, encouraged and challenged, their potential will not be reached. 

“This is best achieved through smaller class sizes and a ‘whole-school’ approach to personal development where children can interact with a range of pupils. 

“Our pupils not only excel in music, they have enjoyed many successes in sport and drama as well as enjoying outstanding academic success.”

On the sporting front Ella Haughey, who is now at Down High School, is a member of the Northern Ireland  girls’ soccer team. Matthew Hunter enjoyed School’s Cup rugby success with Methodist College and Rory Mullan was a member of St Patrick’s Grammar School’s McLarnon Cup-winning Gaelic football team.

After Friday’s assembly, many of those present braved the wintery weather to visit the children’s sensory garden in which they planted a range of bulbs and plants in preparation for spring. 

Funded by the Big Lottery, the garden is an important learning space for pupils with special educational needs – an area in which the school excels.

Mrs Reid also unveiled exciting plans to extend the sensory provision indoors with the development of a nurture room.

Mrs Reid said: “Our new nurture room will be a place where children can be given freedom to express themselves. Our aim is to effectively address the children’s needs and prevent exclusion from the classroom and any distress caused by them not having the coping skills, through no fault of their own. 

Garry Hanna, chairman of the board of governors, announced that the school will be providing a free-of-charge breakfast club between 7am and 8am each morning to working parents who need early morning childcare.

He said: “In order to allow many of our parents greater flexibility with their working arrangements, we will now provide this free service. This will extend our existing provision so that full wrap-around care from 7am to 6pm is in place.”