Schools lead the way towards reconciliation

St Joseph’s College, Coleraine has successfully attracted 200,000 of external funding to promote and facilitate a wide range of collaborative learning opportunities. Pupils from nine schools, both state and maintained, grammar, secondary and primary as well as Sandelford Special School will benefit over the next three years.

The programme is being supported by the Special Education Programme consisting of The Atlantic Philanthropies and The International Fund for Ireland and is being overseen by Professor Tony Gallagher, Head of School of Education, Queen’s University, Belfast.

St Joseph’s, as the principal school, has built upon its expertise in community partnership to enable all involved to look beyond the normal boundaries of education and to move creatively towards bringing students beyond their comfort zones to embrace change. Key to the project is the central aim that by learning together pupils can gain a better understanding of the background and culture of others.

A number of strands are involved in this project. GCSE Art students from Coleraine College and St Joseph’s College will produce collaborative art sculptures that explore cultural differences. It is hoped to then have a joint exhibition that will extend this collaborative work into the wider community.

With the drive for the raising of numeracy skills in schools, it is hoped that aspiring teachers and mathematicians from Coleraine High School’s Form 6 will act as mentors to year eight pupils in St Joseph’s College. A History and Citizenship strand will be developed between North Coast Integrated students and St Joseph’s pupils, offering opportunities to explore their shared heritage.

Exciting times all round and no more so than in the primary sector where the young people from our primary schools, St John’s, St Malachy’s, Millburn and Harpur’s Hill, will come together to produce a joint book, supported by a local author and illustrator.

Reconciliation is about taking small steps towards a shared future. This SEP initiative continues to develop the journey for all the youth of the Triangle area. St Joseph’s, along with its partner schools, commends the funders for their generosity and foresight.

TEAM EFFORT...Local principals pictured at St Joseph’s College, Coleraine. CR22-412pl