A £900,000 state-of-the-art extension to Newcastle’s Shimna College has been officially opened by Education Minister John O’Dowd.
The Forbes Building, which houses a new home economics suite, is named after Jean Forbes, who was a member of the Board of Governors and Estates Committee of the school.
Students, staff and governors were on hand to welcome Mr. O’Dowd on Wednesday, who also toured the school’s recently refurbished science and technology laboratories.
Among those at the opening was Jennifer Temple, chair of the Board of Governors, and David Thompson, representing the Integrated Education Fund (IEF), which supplemented the Department of Education funding to create a new media suite in the building’s basement.
Principal Kevin Lambe explained that Shimna College was founded by parents, and the original building created by those parents with a bank loan underwritten by the IEF.
“The official opening of this building today is a tribute to the efforts of those founding parents, the support of the Integrated Education Fund and the support of the Department of Education,” said Mr. Lambe.
“The building has been named in memory of Jean Forbes. Jean was a much loved and respected governor of Shimna, who served for many years as chair of the college Estates Committee.
“She worked tirelessly to develop Shimna’s buildings and grounds, from chairing meetings to drawing up plans, to getting out there in her wellies and planting trees.
“Jean had an outstanding academic pedigree herself and championed academic excellence at Shimna as an Integrated and all-ability school. It was an honour to have Jean with us, and we know she would be very proud of this building, and of the school garden which is taking shape beside it.”
Alliance councillor Patrick Clarke, who attended the opening, congratulated all at Shimna College for entering this new phase in their development.
“I wish all pupils enjoyment in their new home economics suite
and science and technology laboratories, which will give students first class facilities for years to come,” he said.