Classrooms go quiet as children leave their school for the final time

Classrooms go quiet as children leave their school for the final time

27 June 2012 - by BY CIARA COLHOUN

THE corridors of Ballykeigle Primary School are eerily quiet this week.

As schools across the district begin their annual wind-down with end of term parties, the children of Ballykeigle have begun an early summer break.

For despite an active campaign by parents to prevent the closure of the rural school due to falling enrolments, the South Eastern Education and Library Board have proceeded with its closure with the children enjoying their final school day on Friday.

Instead of summer holiday frivolity in the classrooms this week, the teachers are in the school alone, quietly packing up years of teaching material before they close the doors behind them this weekend.

Among those packing resources into bags and boxes on Monday was the school’s middle teacher, Mrs. Sara Beggs, who joined Ballykeigle PS 13 years ago.

She said staff were determined to ensure the children would remember their final days at the school as being happy and fun and said they organised numerous trips in the final weeks before transforming the school’s

interior into a circus on Friday with popcorn and candyfloss stands, bouncy castles and games.

She said the children, many of whom had been subdued when they arrived at the school on Friday, rose to the occasion and enjoyed the party until the final goodbyes.

“It was a bittersweet day, it seemed almost like a funeral although there was a lovely feeling among everyone,” she said.

“It was difficult but it was also a nice way to bring everything to en end. When it came to time to say goodbye we were all extremely emotional.

“It is a day I would not want to repeat.”

Mrs. Beggs, who arrived at Ballykeigle Primary School as a newly qualified teacher in 1999, said she loved her time at the school and enjoyed the friendly family atmosphere.

“Everybody knows everybody. I know mums, dads, aunts and uncles, it was a very welcoming place.

“Although the last few months were very hard, we all clubbed together because we were here to teach the children and that is what we did.

“A school like this is at the heart of a community.

“I think there are a lot of benefits to a small rural school and believe children benefit from the composite classes because

they learn from the other children in their class.”

Mrs. Sandra Campbell, who is the school’s primary one and two teacher, said it felt “unreal” to be packing away years of educational resources as staff clear out the school this week.

“This is pulling the heart out of the countryside,” she said.

“Rural schools are all in danger of the plug being pulled because of money.

“There seems to be a thought that there is no place for small rural schools and that children would be better off in bigger schools.

“But the closure of Ballykeigle Primary School is a big loss, particularly because of its family atmosphere.”