Children learn to share on Rathlin Island visit

CHILDREN from Ballycastle Integrated Primary School and Gaelscoil an Chaistil in Ballycastle travelled to St Mary¹s Primary School on Rathlin Island last week as part of a cross-community partnership between the three schools.
By The Newsroom
Published 2nd Jun 2010, 16:20 BST

The thirteen children are engaged in a range of shared activities over the course of two days, which are designed to promote community relations, while also delivering improved academic and personal development outcomes.

These include a nature visit, sport and art as well as outings to the islands Catholic and Protestant churches. This visit to Rathlin Island is part of a wider partnership between the three schools which includes cross-community activities for pupils, teachers, governors and parents.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

In addition, the partnership is providing new and unprecedented opportunities to Rathlin Islands St Marys Primary School, which often faces practical day-to-day challenges due to its isolated location.

Joining the pupils on their trip to Rathlin Island is Mary Southwell, Board Member of the International Fund for Ireland.

The partnership between the three schools is one of 11 schools partnerships in the North Eastern Education and Library Boards Primary Integrating/Enriching Education (PIEE) Project. The PIEE Project is funded by the International Fund for Irelands Sharing in Education Programme, which is administered by the Department of Education, and The Atlantic Philanthropies.

Launched in September 2009, PIEE is a three-year initiative that will impact on over 1,900 children at 28 primary schools in the Boards area, which covers the local government districts of Antrim, Ballymena, Ballymoney, Carrickfergus, Coleraine, Larne, Magherafelt, Moyle and Newtownabbey.

Related topics:Rathlin Island