It’s ‘Back to Blackboard Day’ for pupils of St Joseph’s Primary

Around 700 children and staff of St Josephs’ Primary School and Nursery Unit dressed up in period costume and paraded up the main street to highlight a hugely important milestone, their 100th year anniversary.

Earlier that morning classrooms were transformed as part of their much awaited ‘Back to Blackboard Day.’ Computers were replaced with blackboards, there were finger nail checks, as well as Reading, Writing and Arithmetic drills. Some lucky teachers even received an apple or a piece of coal from pupils.

After break that day, with the support of Tesco and Maxwell Freight, they all took to the streets for an outstanding community parade.

Residents and children from other schools in the area joined in the celebrations too as they watched the parade travel through the village.

The lorry carried some former pupils while the present pupils marched alongside to the beat of music.

Barry Traynor, the school Principal was delighted to see so many supporting the event.

He said, “It was wonderful to see such a great turnout for our parade. The children and staff had certainly entered into the spirit of the day and the event was indeed a fitting tribute to mark the 100th anniversary of outstanding education provided by St. Joseph’s Primary Schooland Nursery Unit past and present.”

The school has been celebrating its centenary with a series of events since the start of the school year, and say they are looking forward to their next 100 years.

In December, they held 100 activities in the school to mark 100 days into the 100th year.

In March, they held a ceili for pupils, and in February a special photograph was taken of the entire school to record the moment for history.

The primary school has been chronicling the centenary events on its website and is looking forward to further celebrations throughout the year to mark 100 years of St Joseph’s.