Drumlins celebrates 10th anniversary

Drumlins celebrates 10th anniversary

1 October 2014

TEN years of integrated education is being celebrated at Drumlins Integrated Primary School.

In 2004 the Ballynahinch school opened with 12 pupils in the primary one class and over the subsequent decade has grown to over 180 pupils in seven classes.

The new principal ten years ago was Janice Marshall and she is still in charge, one of the original members of staff who are all still at the school.

The school community will celebrate in various ways over the year but the first celebration last week focussed on the most important people — the pupils. Staff and pupils enjoyed a special fun day with party games, special activities and a whole school tea party in the playground.

The birthday candles were blown out by the oldest and youngest pupils in the school, Joshua Gibson, from P7 and Emily Chen, from P1.

Mrs. Marshall said the school has gone from strength to strength, overcoming obstacles and difficulties along the way to deliver a top class education with an integrated ethos.

“The perseverance and dedication paid off when the Minister for Education, John O’Dowd, announced earlier this year that Drumlins would benefit from a new school building as part of capital expenditure,” she said. The new school will be based at the site of the former library headquarters building on Windmill Hill.

“Work has begun on the new site and all are eagerly anticipating the move. However, swapping the existing mobile accommodation for a new, permanent site will not change the school’s commitment to ‘Learning together, respecting each other, understanding our differences,’” she added.