On 15th March, in the middle of Integrated Education Month, we held a transformation celebration to mark our new status as a newly Integrated School.
Children, Families, Staff, Governors, friends of the school and wider representatives from the Department of Education, Education Authority, Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education, Integrated Education Fund, CSSC and local politicians were all involved in celebrating together. It was a very busy day!
The school was looking lovely with lots of balloons in the school colours, bunting and photos of our journey towards integration. The children enjoyed a class party and a special jump jiggle and jive party. The also watched a read aloud version of The Bees and the Wind, a story written about integrated education. Parents joined us for a coffee morning/afternoon when they brought their child to school. The rain didn't stop us and we had a ribbon cutting at the front gate of the school at 12.30 - involving parents, children, staff and guests from NICIE and IEF. The ribbon was cut by Roisin Marshall, CEO of NICIE. In the afternoon representatives from the wider school community joined us for an afternoon tea, speeches and an indoor ribbon cutting.
Every child designed a special Transformation Celebration Badge to wear showing the school logo that they could colour however they chose to. On the way home the children each received a party bag of treats to take home to add to the party feel.
We had a wonderful day celebrating!
The school has been nurturing little learners in the heart of the community since 1942. We have always put children and families at the heart of what we do and we look forward to seeing that continue, as Bangor Integrated Nursery School, in the future.
