It is a pleasure for me to write the foreword to this excellent publication that celebrates the twenty-fifth anniversary of St Malachy’s Primary School.

It is a wonderful tribute to the children and their families, principals, teachers and support staff, priests and religious and those who served as members of the Board of Governors. The contribution of the wider community to the life of the school is also highlighted.

A special word of thanks is due to all who contributed articles, stories and photographs. The effort has created a most valuable record of life in our school community over the past 25 years.

Every page of the magazine is a ‘window’ through which we catch a glimpse of life in a school community that has always cared passionately about the education of its youngest members. In words and pictures, an inspiring story is told of dedication in the service of children and their families as well as the wider community. The commitment of so many people has ensured that children have not only been educated but loved and cared for as members of God’s family. This publication captures and celebrates the memories of such dedicated loving service.

At the heart of all the relationships forged within the school and beyond is the person of Jesus Christ. Nothing of lasting value would have been achieved over the past 25 years without Christ’s loving presence to guide our school community in all its endeavours. The importance of this life-giving relationship with Him is reflected in the image on the cover of our magazine. It is inspired by the words of Jesus in John’s Gospel,

‘I am the vine, you are the branches. As long as you remain in me and I in you, you will bear fruit in plenty.’

At this significant milestone in the life of our school, we pray that the Spirit of Christ will continue to inspire us all to ‘bear fruit’ in educating and serving the children placed in our care.

Fr Michael McGinnity PP

Aditi Pandey P.1.

Lana Steele P.2.Luke Mallon P.3.

Aisling Carson Nursery

It is amazing how quickly the years go. It seems I just blinked, and suddenly the school is celebrating its silver jubilee.

When I started here 23 years ago a well-known man from the Market warned me that if the people didn’t like me I wouldn’t get time to take my coat off. So for me it was a very daunting experience arriving into a closely knit community, to an area where I was unknown, and into a new school to lead a team of teachers and a staff I didn’t know.

It became apparent very quickly that the heavy lifting over the amalgamation of the boys’ and girls’ schools had already been done by the previous principals, Sr Ann McKeever and Mr Frank Kane. A completely unified staff made me feel very welcome and made my job a lot easier. Their aims were the same as mine. It was the children above all that counted. We wanted to make them self-confident, to make them realise they could be anything they wanted to be with a little hard work.

There were shortcomings, however. The lovely new school really needed 14 classrooms, not 12, and there was tremendous disruption to the school day caused by a dining area that was far too small and a six-car car park that meant teachers had to move their cars all the time. So from the start I took a two pronged approach – address the shortcomings and instil in the children the notion that they can be the best.

I believe that at St Malachy’s Primary School we have achieved that. The school has grown and matured very well and it’s now a successful 21st century school, but more importantly our pupils do well and have had excellent success in life following their time with us. The time has gone quickly, but in that lifespan the school has built an enviable reputation as a very welcoming and a very successful school.

There have been many, many outstanding memories and occasions in my time here, but if pressed to choose just one it would be being awarded Grade 1 in our school inspection. It’s what every school wants. It’s the highest accolade. For your work to be externally validated and to be told that what you are doing is excellent was very special. It means we are doing what we are put here to do and what we are employed for. It’s what we come in to teaching for.

I’m glad to say the community I was warned about let me take my coat off and didn’t shut me out. In fact it has given me nothing but immense support throughout my time. Sadly, along the way we have lost pupils and staff who are very much part of that wider community. They always remain in our thoughts and prayers.

As a principal you can only do so much. Without the support, backup, professionalism and friendship from everyone concerned with it a school cannot function to its maximum potential. My deep appreciation and thanks are due to my colleagues, teaching and non-teaching, ancillary staff, the Board of Governors and our church leaders over the years.

It is a great feeling to know you are trusted to run a school. In fact it makes you work harder. I enjoy every day at St Malachy’s. This school is my life.

I expect the international dimension to St Malachy’s will map out the next 25 years. I hope the school expands and builds on that while safeguarding its Catholic ethos. It is this very ethos that embraces diversity in the first place, which has kept us going for 25 years, and which will drive us on in the modern world.

Mr Brian WhitePrincipal

Mannat Pal P.4.Yaswant Sivaratri P.5. Molly Fitzsimons P.6. Eliza Jane McGourty P.7.

self portrait 2012 winners

Down on Belfast’s Eliza Street there is another big hit in the local community – the opening of a brand new primary school for the people of the Market.

The new building has the distinction of being the closest primary school to Belfast City Hall – a fact that it would capitalise on in the years to come – and it’s just over the road from the parish church of St Malachy’s, where the Parish Priest is Canon Peter McCann.

September comes, and despite great eagerness for the new school in the area there is no elaborate opening ceremony. Except for a few photos in the South Belfast News, there is little public fanfare as the school term starts. As was the way in those days the school just opened its doors and got going.

No school ‘just opens’ however without tremendous work going on in the background, and St Malachy’s Primary School was no exception. From builders to staff to the

Parish Priest, governors, parents and children – everyone puts in a massive effort to have things ship-shape in time for ‘the amalgamation’ on Tuesday 1 September 1987.

The boys and girls on the new school’s enrolment register are saying hello to the new experience of being educated with members of the opposite sex. All but the P1s are saying goodbye to their two previous schools.

For the beginning of St Malachy’s Primary School is also the end of an era for St Colman’s Boys’ School and the Convent of Mercy Girls’ Schools, located on each side of Cromac Street.

The new single-storey St Malachy’s building is utter luxury in comparison to the older buildings and particularly the boys’ school – 12 spacious classrooms and the latest equipment, grass play areas, PE hall, library, central heating and, oh my goodness, indoor toilets.

It totally outshines its predecessors’ buildings on all levels and proudly boasts a new badge featuring St Malachy’s Church and the bend of the River Lagan between the Ormeau Bridge and the Albert Bridge.

The new school’s first Principal, Sr Ann McKeever and Mr Frank Kane, the Vice Principal, together with a teaching staff of 14, all make the move over from Eliza Street and the Convent.

“It was a real new beginning for us all’ says Miss Doreen McDonagh, who taught with Sr Ann in the old girls’ school.

“I remember the period of changeover as real, happy, fun days. The two teams of teachers actually gelled very well in their new roles of teaching boys and girls together and also in working with each other. The children, unsurprisingly, got on fantastically.

“There was great excitement in the school and in the area at the time. Even for us teachers with all the new facilities and equipment it was like Christmas – everything we asked for we got. Great times!”

“Great times indeed,” says Mrs Rosaleen Torley, who also taught in the girls’ school: Sr Ann wouldn’t let the removal men carry over the holy statues in case they broke them, so the teachers had to do it. Imagine the horns blaring and cat calls as we traipsed over Cromac Street, one teacher at the head, another at the foot of a statue of the Sacred Heart or something! What a sight!”

Amalgamating schools can be a formidable task, especially when mixing boys and girls for the first time.

It’s widely acknowledged that Sr Ann and Mr Kane accomplished the task with great skill, so that by the time both had retired, some three years later, a successful school establishment was handed over to the new principal, a certain Mr Brian White…

One day in the girls’ school I asked the class about an absent pupil. I was told she lived over ‘the other side’. The other side of what, I asked, and was told the other side of Cromac Street. So in 1987 I went over to the other side wondering what was in store, but I need not have worried. There was a new, modern well laid out school, bright comfortable classrooms with store-rooms – what luxury! I liked the hall, so well equipped for PE, assembly and concerts, and the staff room where those precious moments at break and lunch were spent. The craic was good, but why did the time go so quickly! I’d like to pay tribute to Sr Ann who took on the daunting task of principal during the amalgamation, and to Brian, who so capably took over when she retired. All in all, times were good on ‘the other side’.

The ‘amalgamated’

staff team, 1987

Sr Ann and confirmation class, 1988

The day had dawned, excitement grew,

A beautiful school, all brand new.

The gates unlocked, the doors opened wide,

The little children stepped inside.

The smiling faces all aglow,

Counting desks and chairs, row by row.

The shining floor, the smart new toys,

A wonderland for girls and boys.

Staff assembled, emotions high,

Anxious days, we wonder why?

Amalgamation had begun,

For better or worse, we’d join in the fun!

And fun it was in the early days,

Learning new schedules, adapting new ways.

The staff were united and gave their best, and

In those challenging times, they were put to the test.

The children they grew and developed their skills,

Joys and despair, the peaks and the thrills.

The bonds that unite us are steadfast and strong,

With belief in our school, we will never go wrong

My years at St Malachy’s have just slipped away,

with enjoyment and laughter, day after day.

Years filled with happiness at work and at play,

The ‘opening’ for me was a Blessing, I’d say.Back row: Mr Sean Campbell, Mrs Geraldine Gribbin, Mrs Celia Whitehorn, Mrs Maura McAnaney,

Mr Seamus Fields, Mrs Bridie Devlin, Mrs Colette McAlister, Mrs Mary Owens

Front row: Mrs Phyllis McGuigan, Mrs Rosaleen Torley, Miss Betty Marray,

Mr Frank Kane, Sr Ann McKeever, Mrs Flynn (Secretary), Mrs Anne Polley,

Miss Doreen McDonagh, Sr Deirdre McGlinchey

While the staff from the old schools brought continuity, high academic standards and a strong culture of

pastoral care, Mr White set in motion a series

of improvements and developments, steering St Malachy’s towards being a welcoming community school with the diversity of curriculum that any

good school should strive for.

Although always anxious to give credit to his vice principal, his teaching staff and to anyone who contributed to the school’s

development, under his leadership the school

embarked on a review of its aims and objectives and developed an imaginative vision for the way forward.

The children were encouraged

to be confident, independent, tolerant,

disciplined and respecting of their fellow pupils, their school and their environment, and it was not long before the principal gained the strong trust and support of the Market people.

The Board of Governors, the teaching team, the whole staff and the local community swung behind the principal’s leadership, everyone working as one to provide a challenging educational system suited to the pupils’ needs and abilities and one that promoted their spiritual, moral, cultural and physical development.

Mr White’s deputy from 1991 until 2003 was Mr Sean Campbell, who was then succeeded by the present Vice Principal, Mr Dermot Flynn. Both men have stood squarely alongside the principal, while making their own substantial contributions to the school’s ethos, its running and its success.

While he describes all of the new appointments at the school as “excellent” Mr White also acknowledges the continuity and stability provided by the amalgamated staff team. Remarkably, five teachers from the old schools are still teaching and involved with St Malachy’s 25 years later – Miss McDonagh who is Key Stage 1 Co-ordinator, Mrs Geraldine Gribbin (Nursery Co-ordinator), Mrs Rosaleen Torley (Science Co-ordinator) and Mrs Maura McAnaney, who works with reading recovery and counselling at the school. Mrs Mary Owens also teaches P2s.

The first ‘new’ teacher to be appointed to St Malachy’s was Mr Dermot Flynn, whose family was originally from the Market. He started his career 1988 and has taught for 24 of the school’s 25 years. Now Vice Principal, Mr Flynn manages a number of pastoral and curricular areas, including special educational needs.

“I remember my first day when I was brought in as a sub and getting a brilliant lesson in PE myself from Mr Campbell,” he says.

Mr Brian White was appointed Principal of St Malachy’s Primary School in September 1989 – it was the beginning of a new era.

“What was special about this school then and which has never changed over the years is the cohesion, loyalty and the care the staff show for the children.”

It is this good team spirit allied to the principal’s leadership which has stood the test of time.

For in the ensuing years and in all aspects of school life St Malachy’s has built a remarkable reputation as a highly successful inner city school.

At the celebration of its silver jubilee it is plain that the school is worthy of its superb reputation, gained through a quarter century of mindboggling creativity, teamwork, professionalism and strong dedication from teachers and support staff who have worked continuously in partnership and with excellent back-up from parents, the church and the local community and businesses.

The ‘Silver Girls’ Mrs Torley, Mrs McAnaney, Mrs Gribbin and Miss McDonagh have taught atSt Malachy’s for 25 years

Mr Dermot Flynn

Mr Sean Campbell

All schools are resourceful, but St Malachy’s Primary School is particularly rich in the number and range of creative projects and initiatives it has conceived, launched and followed through over its 25 years.

By the time it was five it had won a special merit awards and with the community had been involved in several wins in Best Kept Street competitions, heralding the environmental success that was to come, and by the time it was 10 the school report had outlined many other achievements on various fronts.

In 1995 pupils and staff met and shook hands with US President Bill Clinton – and amazingly some would repeat the experience in 1998 (see page 12).

In its tenth birthday year St Malachy’s also added a nursery wing, opened by the first nationalist Lord Mayor of Belfast, Alban Maginness, and Irish language and music as school ‘specialisms’ had established strong foundations – the school choir even accompanying the Ulster Orchestra at the Waterfront Hall and appearing

on TV in the Choir of the Year competition.

It had scooped the 1998 Best Kept Medium-Sized School in Belfast title and would be used as the exemplary launch venue for further competitions, going on to win the title again in 2002.

It had been granted the highly sought after Sportmark award for outstanding achievements in sport – only five schools in the entire city had done this – and had built an incredible record of sporting success and pupil participation in sport.

In 1998 it began the Wildlife Garden under the guidance of Mrs Roseleen Torley and Mrs Sinead Magee and this would bring much acclaim, attention and a large number of environmental accolades to St Malachy’s.

The appointment of Mr Gerard Keenan in the same year with expertise in computers, and the building of a computer suite in the school was another innovative move, building on the fact that in 1997 at Belfast’s City Hall, St Malachy’s had been the first primary school in Ireland to link up by internet with America – taken for granted now; amazing then.

Technology affects the classroom by altering the way things are taught and how content is presented. But as technology has changed, the school has kept up.

Over 25 years it has moved from the days of ‘snail mail’, black and white photocopying and dot matrix printers to a dedicated computer suite, email, multi-colour printing, school website, digital cameras, multimedia whiteboards and of course an explosion in the awareness and use of the internet.

Into the new millennium, and for posterity the staff and pupils were captured in a school-wide millennium photograph.

“When you stop and think about all the highlights it really has been quite amazing,” says Mrs Karen McSorley who has been teaching at St Malachy’s for 19 years. As the school’s Public Relations Officer she has been the link to the press and the officialdom surrounding a host of high-profile personalities who have visited the school.

Visitors have included presidents, senators, bishops, lord mayors, leading educational figures and people from the world of sport, music and entertainment.

“Shaking President Clinton’s hand is right up there for

all of us, and of course the visit of President Mary McAleese was a fantastic honour– there have been lots of highpoints at this school!

“The arrival of Senator Mitchell was special too, and another definite privilege was taking part in School Around the Corner, which gave the school great publicity and was such a lot of fun.”

The now legendary appearance of St Malachy’s pupils in the School Around the Corner TV programme happened in 2001, riveting the school, the parish community, the local newspapers and UTV’s Frank Mitchell alike.

It was a very proud day also for everyone connected

with St Malachy’s when in May 2001 the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, officially opened the school’s Wildlife Garden, warmly praised staff, parents and pupils for their environmental work and planted a yew tree.

She watched pond dipping with pupils Sean Irwin, Maureen Basset, Danielle Smyth and Martin Strong, while the choir entertained her in Irish and the camogie team formed a guard of honour.

The next landmark improvements in St Malachy’s was the Nursery unit which was opened in 2002, and which included the Parents Room and hospitality suite and was completed with the help of local businesses.

In 2003 St Malachy’s won the Eco Flag for environmentally friendly schools for the first time – the only school in Belfast to do so, thrilling judges – not to mention the staff who had worked so hard to get it.

The adventure playground was added in 2005 and in the same year the Stations of the Cross helped to complete yet further developments for the children in the Wildlife Garden.

These developments were followed by the 2007 development of the school Oratory and the creation of the Grotto in the school grounds – bonuses to the children’s spiritual education that very few schools can boast.

TV famefor StMalachy’s

Over a quarter of a century a host of famous figures ranging from TV presenters Shauna Lowry, Frank Mitchell, and Donna Trainor, sportspeople such as Olympic gold medallist Duncan Goodhew and Belfast boxer Neil Sinclair, to public figures such as historian Eamon Phoenix, peace process broker Senator George Mitchell and education ministers Martin McGuinness and Catríona Ruane have all visited or been associated with the primary school’s innovations, initiatives and projects.

However traditional subjects and a sound education remain the prime focus, and this is reflected in the school’s academic record, which includes some of the best standards in Northern Ireland in Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 year on year, excellent 11+ results for the pupils who choose to sit the exam and a myriad of individual success stories such as teaching Dermot Digniam, a pupil who went on to achieve the highest A-level marks in Northern Ireland as Head Boy at one of Belfast’s top grammar schools, Aquinas Diocesan Grammar School.

But perhaps the most significant milestone for St Malachy’s is its own school report, which comes from the Education and Training Inspectorate at the Department of Education.

There was quiet elation for everyone connected with the school when in 2008 St Malachy’s was awarded a Grade 1 score in an inspection by the Department of Education – a distinction it still holds in its silver jubilee year.

To put the achievement in context only two out of the 248 schools in the Diocese of Down and Connor, the biggest diocese in Ireland, held a Grade 1 score at the time it was awarded.

Very few schools make Grade 1, still fewer inner city schools.

So there it is: Grade 1, top of the tree, A-star, as good as it gets: a pretty good 25-year report - and full of magical milestones on a journey to the top of the class.

Just another day! Caretaker Pat & Secretary Mary welcome another VIP!

Former Board of Governors ChairmanAs Curate under Canon Peter McCann and then as Parish Priest, Father Anthony Curran is a well-known and highly respected figure around St Malachy’s Primary School. He was on the Board of Governors for 18 years, 13 as chairman, knew the school inside out and was a long-time advocate of St Malachy’s Youth Club moving to the school and was deeply involved in all other significant developments over the years. “The most important things to say about the primary school is that it was an oasis for the children of the Market and Lower Ormeau and central to the life of the parish,” he says. “The school always set boundaries for the children’s behaviour and that led to a sense of stability and peace. This gave the children a realisation that they were always cared for and allowed them to be themselves and to grow as beloved human beings. “As a priest I never got anything but a huge welcome, never felt I was intruding and was very much appreciated for the spiritual leadership I provided. There was a high level of communication with the teachers – every teacher, without exception – and from P1 to P7 there was a very strong sense that everyone was working towards giving the children a sense of their own value and a Catholic identity. “Brian White was a huge presence in the school community as he was very much his own man. He was highly respected because he did not fear doing what he believed was right. Brian did not court favour and this made him able to give strong leadership, particularly during bad periods of the troubles when the children of the area could have been exposed to trauma. At many, many meetings with Brian I was struck that he always valued his staff, crediting them constantly with the work that they did, not claiming it for himself. “It’s lovely to see the school reach its silver jubilee as a mature, thriving Catholic school.”

Bishop of Down and ConnorI am delighted to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the opening of the new St. Malachy’s Primary School and I offer to Mr Brian White, School Principal, all members of the teaching and ancillary staff and parents and pupils, past and present, my congratulations on reaching a significant milestone in the school’s life and mission of service to the educational needs of the children in St. Malachy’s Parish.

I understand that about 30% of the present pupil population are members of families from other lands. This exemplifies in a very practical way the care and concern that the parish of St Malachy’s shows for all those who live in its community and the Christian love with which they are willing to share their school and its very special ethos with those from other lands and cultural backgrounds. St.

Malachy’s Primary School is an outstanding exemplar of the particular mission that the Church seeks to promote for the education of all children in a safe, loving environment where they will learn how to become caring, responsible and worthy citizens of the future. I send to all my blessings and my hopes for an ever brighter future for your school and the coming generations of children of your parish family.

Bishop Emeritus of Down and ConnorAs I offer to all in St Malachy’s Primary School my warmest congratulations as you celebrate your silver jubilee I recall my several visits there during my years as bishop. I was closely involved in the discussions on the proposed amalgamation of St Coleman’s Eliza Street and the Convent school in Sussex Place to form the new St Malachy’s. I recall my visit with the Lord Mayor, Alban Maguinness in 1997 as you celebrated the tenth anniversary of the school and the opening of the new nursery unit. On that occasion and on previous visits during visitation of the parish I saw the dedication of the staff, academic and non-academic, and their genuine care for the children. Your parish suffered greatly during the dreadful years of conflict, but, as with all our schools, the doors were ever open to welcome the children into a caring and safe environment. Your school is well rooted in the historic Parish of St Malachy’s. You have so much for which to be proud. May your jubilee celebrations be joyful and may they renew your determination that St Malachy’s will continue to be an example of all that is so admirable and commendable in Catholic education.

Chief Executive, CCMSThe challenges facing St Malachy’s are enormous yet by every measure it is an outstanding school. I am always struck by its warmth and its ‘constructive calm’ as children enjoy their learning experiences. St Malachy’s is a vibrant example of a Catholic school in action.

What aschool!

deputy First Minister May I take this opportunity to send my best wishes to the school principal, staff and pupils on the anniversary of St Malachy’s Primary School. During my tenure as Education Minister I had the privilege of visiting the school to officially open the Parents Room in the Nursery Unit. I had a wonderful experience and truly enjoyed my visit. I wish to congratulate all the current and past teachers, parents and pupils on their contribution to the local community and I know this great work will continue for many, many years to come. Well done and good luck for the future.

Former Minister for EducationI would like to congratulate St Malachy’s Primary School in providing a first-class education to its pupils over the past 25 years. Primary education is the foundation for lifelong learning and St Malachy’s has proven that the children passing through its doors leave equipped to go on and succeed in all walks of life. Thanks for the past 25 years of service to the community and here’s to the next 25. Go raibh maith agaibh agus ádh mór don todhchaí

I recall with affection visiting St Malachy’s Primary School when I was Lord Mayor of Belfast 1997-1998. I had been elected as the first Catholic and Nationalist Lord Mayor and I was determined to visit as many Catholic schools as possible to give them a greater sense belonging to the city of Belfast. I can always judge a school by the warmth of its welcome. Yours was so warm and welcoming that I still savour the moment. I was greatly impressed by the school. The pupils were a delight to meet and most evidently very happy in their school.I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the staff and pupil on your twenty-fifth anniversary – and I wish you well for the future.

I am delighted to express my congratulations to all those at St Malachy’s Primary School on the occasion of its silver jubilee. Given the long term economic challenges facing the local community it is remarkable that the school has achieved so much for all its pupils. Thankfully, St Malachy’s continues to provide all its pupils with the opportunity to realise their full potential in their lifetimes.

Titular Bishop of Killossy and Auxiliary Bishop in Down and Connor

There is a saying that a community needs a school and that a school needs a community. St Malachy’s

Primary School has been a prime example of that. The school has offered all the children of the community the chance to grow, mature and learn

in a positive and supportive environment. The dedicated staff have been committed to working with parents to ensure the best life chances for every child. And the close link to the parish has helped many to believe in a God who believes in people. St Malachy’s is a model of Catholic education at its best.

Titular Bishop of Ermiana and Auxiliary Bishop in Down and ConnorOne of the strangest things about growing older is seeing the twenty-fifth anniversaries pop up of occasions that one remembers first-time around – openings of buildings, schools, churches, the ordination of priests or professions to religious life; sporting occasions – victories and defeats. This all makes one feel old. It also gives great pleasure to see ventures take root and grow strong. This is the spirit in which I congratulate St Malachy’s Primary School on reaching its silver jubilee. I hope that pupils and staff will enjoy and take pride in the celebrations. Every good wish and blessing.

The Catholic school is not an island, it works in partnership with the local parish and local community and I believe St Malachy’s Primary is the perfect example. In my six years as chaplain I came to respect the immense care and commitment of the staff to their pupils and I could see that education in St Malachy’s was more than simple passing on academic knowledge. I give thanks for St Malachy’s Primary, for the staff and pupils, and as they celebrate this silver jubilee I pray that the Lord will abundantly bless everyone with a connection to the school. Ad multos annos!

I wish to take this opportunity to congratulate the staff and pupils of St Malachy’s Primary School on the occasion of the silver jubilee celebrations. I have so many happy memories of my time in St Malachy’s Parish and in particular my involvement with the school. The family atmosphere was always very evident; it was a place where I was always made feel welcome and I could honestly say that I enjoyed my work in the school. The staff are enthusiastic, energetic, and committed to the children in their care. I wish to acknowledge the genuine contribution the school has made to generations of children in the parish and beyond since opening 25 years ago. During that time, boys and girls have grown in faith through the words and example of the staff. It is right and proper to celebrate that. I wish you all a joyful celebration in the coming months. May St Malachy, the patron saint of you school, invoke many blessings from God upon you all

TV PresenterAs the presenter of School Around the Corner and UTV Life I have had the pleasure of visiting numerous primary schools over a period of about 20 years. I sometimes feel I have seen more schools that the average inspector, and those that impress really do remain in the memory. St Malachy’s is such a school. It is welcoming, vibrant and very much a school to be proud of. Congratulations on 25 years of success.

One of the most eventful memories in St Malachy’s Primary is of the day that pupils and teachers managed to shake hands with the tanned, charming and oh so glam President of the United States of America, Bill Clinton.

In November 1995 thousands of people were lining the streets of Belfast to give a rapturous welcome to the charismatic leader who was in town to show American backing for fragile peace talks following the IRA ceasefire of 1994.

Making sure St Malachy’s was not left out of this little piece of history – Clinton was the first sitting US president to come northwards – Mr White allowed the children to stand along the route the president’s entourage was taking along East Bridge in the hope of getting a glimpse.

At the fore were Mrs McGuigan and Mrs McSorley. “To the absolute shock and surprise of everyone, including the president’s bodyguards, he told the limo to stop when he saw the St Malachy’s children,” says Mrs McSorley who was there with her P4s. “Every single child in my class got to shake the president’s hand. It was amazing!”

“The children and the whole crowd surged forwards and mobbed him. It was fantastic,” says Mrs McGuigan. “I was there with my P7s and I was telling them this is something you will tell your grandchildren and they were screaming and mobbing him.”

And then for Mrs McGuigan it happened again! And this time it was broadcast on TV!

“My best moment at the school was receiving a coveted Blue Peter Badge! I think I wanted one more than the kids! It was for work with a P5 class on their ‘Operation Smile’ competition. I have also enjoyed being involved with CVNI volunteers from all over the world in the school garden.” Sinead Magee

Clinton, Prime Minister Tony Blair, Northern Ireland Secretary of State Mo Mowlam and a host of Northern Ireland dignitaries came to the Waterfront Hall in September 1998 for an event in support of the Good Friday Agreement.

“We were outside the Waterfront Hall again trying to get a glimpse, and a kind person gave us tickets to get in past the police cordons – it was my P6s. We were waiting for about an hour and just as the politicians were coming out suddenly the kids started chanting ‘We want Bill’. Everybody in the crowd and TV cameras from all over the world realised Clinton was going to go to the children, so they all crowded round us squashing us in.

“Sure enough Clinton came over and I got that handshake, and Mo Mowlam’s and Tony Blair’s too. Blair told me quietly to get the children to write to him, and we did and we got a nice reply from Downing Street.

“But it was all over the TV. My mother rang me later in the day saying ‘Did I just see you on the One O’Clock news? For months afterwards I got ribbed about it. When people rang the house they asked if they were through to the White House!”

“Meeting President Clinton and George Mitchell, the children performing Stations of the Cross in church and the choir singing at city hall to switch on the Christmas lights in XXXX are brilliant memories for me. St Malachy’s has been a fantastic place to work for the last 22 years of my life. I often refer to it as my ‘beloved’ St Malachy’s as I adore the children and the families I have taught and worked with over the years. I feel I am part of their lives.

“In two very traumatic events of the last 10 years I wouldn’t have coped as well as I did if it were not for the brilliant staff who supported me along the way, and indeed the love and care from all the children and their families – I owe a lot to them all.”Kate McGuigan

“Every class I have taught since 1982 has had the benefit of the golden stories in the Golden Book, presented to me by Peggy, an American exchange teacher. The last time I read them was Christmas 2012 and my class was enthralled. Obviously the story has to be adapted to suit each year group, but every child remembers them. One of my students in the Nursery who is intending to move into early years teaching recently asked me, ‘Miss, where is the Golden Book?’ She heard the stories many years ago, yet still remembered them. And being one of the longest-serving teachers in St Malachy’s I am now teaching the third generation of some families. No wonder Mr Keenan refers to me a ‘Granny Grey’!”Geraldine Gribbin

8 June 2001I am writing to thank you and the staff and the students of St Malachy’s Primary School for your continued dedication to the cause of Peace in Northern Ireland. I was very pleased to visit your school in April 1997 along with the pupils of Telstar Middle School of Bethel, Maine, USA. It was my honor to plant a tree in your Peace Garden during that visit…I know that present and future pupils will continue to serve as role models showing the way to a bright future for Belfast and for Ireland. Senator George Mitchell

“I attended the school in Sussex Place – now it’s great to be working in the ‘new’ school 25 years later. It’s a ‘double silver’ for me as we celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary this year too. The children let you know time moves on. One of them said to me one day ‘See your shoes Mrs Smyth – my granny has a pair the same as them.’ I took it as a compliment!”Mary Smyth

“This school is my second home and my second family! We have shared so much over the years together – there is always such a good atmosphere and it is a very happy upbeat place where we work hard but know how to have a laugh about things too.”Karen McSorley

“One of my proudest moments at this school is when we got a Grade 1 in our inspection. It was brilliant to get the acknowledgement of all the staff’s hard work and commitment to St Malachy’s over the years.

“But there is great craic along with the hard work here. There’s also a genuine care for the children and care for

each other – I wouldn’t want to work anywhere else.”Colette McSherry

The end of June 2003 was a downbeat period in the life of St Malachy’s Primary – because that’s when Mr Sean Campbell retired. There was a special Mass and then presentation in the Parish Hall for the Vice Principal. In all Mr Campbell taught in the area for 30 years and worked relentlessly for the children and community of the parish. He is still fondly remembered in St Malachy’s for his enthusiasm, dedication, commitment, sense of humour, fair play and for fostering remarkable sporting achievements. His huge devotion to promoting and developing a wide range of sporting activities ensured the school gained the coveted Sportsmark Award.

“After leaving St Malachy’s I went on to secondary school and then Belfast Metropolitan College to become a plumber – I ended up recently fully qualified and was awarded Level 3 Trainee of the Year at a gala evening at Belfast City Hall. I really enjoy my job; no two days as a plumber are the same. I do both repairs and installations.”Martin Irwin

“I loved bringing my two sons to St Malachy’s; it was a very safe haven, where the dedication of the principal and staff were obvious. The school meant the world to my children, my nephews and nieces. Thanks to everyone at St Malachy’s for all their efforts, determination and all the achievements they have brought to these children and our families over the years. I am a firm believer of ‘where you start you will finish’. Thank you”Anne Dignam

“My time in St Malachy’s stood me in good stead to do well in sport, particularly football. It gave me the grounding to push on into secondary school and helped me achieve what I always wanted. “I will never forget my time there and would really like to thank all the excellent teachers and staff at the school.” Patrick McNally

“In 1997 I was a pupil in Mrs McGuigan’s class. At the end of the year I was delighted to hear that I was Girl of the Year. I received a plaque with my name on it and I got to have it for one year. “I still can’t believe that now that I am working in St Malachy’s as a Classroom Assistant with the very staff who taught me. It felt strange when I arrived for work alongside them. Now I look forward to working with them for many years to come!”Ainé Burns

“Dear Mrs McGuigan, I’m one of your past pupils from 1992-93, which feels like a very long time ago now! You have always been held in my thoughts as you were such an inspiration to me as a young girl. I’ve great memories of singing in the choir, meeting your mum and sister, and my happiest days – staying behind to help you after school. I still have a birthday card that you gave me! All the memories I have are extremely happy ones. So all I want to do is thank you.” Eileen Irwin

St Malachy’s Primary School Boy of the Year 2012 is Nathan McNally who started Aquinas Diocesan Grammar School in September. He thinks he might do something in computers when he gets older. “St Malachy’s was very enjoyable and very welcoming,” he says. “The teachers were so kind and funny. I was sad to leave.”Runner up was Pearse Hanna, who is now at St Mary’s Grammar School.

St Malachy’s Primary School Girl of the Year 2012 is Nikhita Valipe, who has moved on to Methody College for her second-level education. “I loved the school,” she says, “because the teachers were very friendly and there are lots of activities for us.” Nikhita hopes to become a doctor.Runner up was Orlaith Bruce, who attends St Louise’s College.

Over its 15-year history the Nursery has grown significantly and is viewed today as absolutely integral to the bigger school across the road.

As one of the best equipped and staffed nursery units in the city of Belfast, the facility has a strong word of mouth reputation among parents and carers in the local area and there is now a waiting list to get a place.

The modern and spacious building now caters for 52 children divided into two classes, while the staff of two teachers is complemented by two classroom assistants and two ancillary staff.

It started in 1995 as a single unit with a dual-day under the first Nursery Co-ordinator, Mrs Ann Maguire, and was officially opened by Belfast’s first nationalist Lord Mayor, Alban Maginness, in 1997. By then it had become a double unit with two full-time teachers and two classroom assistants.

From its inception St Malachy’s Nursery School has always worked to ensure the children make new discoveries, solve problems, develop their concentration and learn to participate and share – all in readiness for the ‘big school’ across the road.

Nursery Co-ordinator Mrs Geraldine Gribbin is one of St Malachy’s longest-serving teachers, and having also taught at the girls’ school before it amalgamated with the boys’ school to form St Malachy’s, also has one of the strongest connections to Catholic education in the Parish.

She says: “Within the six key areas of learning we aim to develop and broaden children’s experiences, making them confident, eager and enthusiastic learners. Most of all we aim to make Nursery a fun, happy and secure place to be.

“The ever increasing nationalities

coming to our Nursery school these days enrich our nursery community. We welcome everyone in their native language – English, Gaeilge, Polish, Chinese, Hindu and Tamil.

“Our Indian families have been with us the longest and we have established firm friendships with them. A lot of the families come back year after year to visit.

“I have taken part in a few festivities in their homes and some in turn have visited my home.”

“Look how far we have come,” adds Mrs Theresa Moore, who has taught at the Nursery since 1998. “We have grown into two full-time classes with over 50 children. We’ve added the parents’ room, a huge store for our equipment and we now have this lovely sponge outdoor area that the children love. It’s been an ever changing picture.”

The ground the Nursery stands on was once earmarked for a crèche facility for affluent city-centre workers.

Only after a long struggle to persuade the authorities that a local provision was essential, undertaken by Principal Brian White and former Parish Priest Canon Peter McCann, then carried forward by his successor Fr Anthony Curran did the school get under way.

“The nursery is vitally important as the main feeder to the Primary school,” says Principal Brian White. “But more than that, because it has equally high teaching values and standards as the primary school the Nursery has been fundamental to the success and workings of most of what we do here since it opened in 1997.”

One of the great additions to St Malachy’s Nursery School has been the creation of the Parents’ Room as part of a nursery extension officially opened in 2002, by Education Minister, Martin McGuinness.

This is a well-used and much appreciated community facility, where parents can get the chance to socialise at coffee mornings and the like, as well as to learn and develop their parenting, language, literacy and home life skills.

Over the years many courses have been delivered in the Parents’ Room including the successful Diocese of Down & Connor parenting project Families First that supports parents and carers of young children, as well as Flying Start, Parents and Co-education and Read to Succeed.

The most recent was the Incredible Years programme, which saw 10 parents graduate with an ONC Level 2 qualification in June 2012.

Mrs Gribbin says: “The 19-week programme required lots of homework and participation from the parents, who included one man and three ladies from our Indian community. There was a lot of hard work, effort planning and discussions, but well worth it in the end.”

The Nursery children were all in the quiet room and were having a discussion before story time about someone using unkind words out in the yard. We were trying to introduce ‘kind words’ so I asked each child to say something nice about one another, After lots of ‘I love you’ this and ‘I like your eyes’ and ‘I like your new shoes’ that, one little girl said to me: ‘Mrs Gribbin, I like your spot on your face’.

As a place where all teachers are committed to the faith, the range and quality of the many religious education initiatives and resources, plus the positive pastoral care and support for the spiritual nourishment of pupils over the years has been particularly strong.

Staff are proud that over its lifetime the school has maintained a prominent position in the home-school-parish triangle and that the Catholic education offered has brought many joys and blessings to generations in the parish and wider community.

In the past 25 years the school has helped prepare well over 1,000 local children for the sacraments of First Penance, First Holy Communion and Confirmation, investing a huge amount of time, commitment and faith in the process.

But as with icebergs, there is much, much more beneath the surface than that which shows on top.

In any given year St Malachy’s is alive with opportunities for the children to develop and enrich their faith – from the opening Mass in September, to daily prayer, Marian processions, Lent, Holy Week and Advent activities, charity fundraising, visits by the clergy and sisters of St Malachy’s Parish for prayer services, to faith education through outings, art, music and nature.

In more recent years sharing the school’s Catholic experiences with children of other faith traditions, while

acknowledging and learning about their beliefs and celebrations, have been enlightening and rewarding for St Malachy’s pupils and staff alike.

Embracing inclusion and diversity is now a vital part of school life.

Throughout its history family ministry has also been central to the school’s Catholic ethos and St Malachy’s has engaged as many parents as possible in their children’s spiritual development, assisting them in many ways with developing an appreciation of what a Catholic school is all about.

Over recent years the newest RE initiative to come to the fore has been Catholic Schools Week and St Malachy’s has embraced it enthusiastically. It is typically marked with Masses, activities for pupils, families, parishioners and the community at large.

They painted murals and had stained glass windows put in.

The Oratory is used for school Masses, talks, spiritual circle time and special occasions – a quiet oasis and a place for reflection and prayer in the midst of a busy school.

Outside in the school grounds meanwhile, a grotto with statues of Our Lady and St Bernadette surrounded by trees and flowers is not only used by every class but also quite a few older people from the parish who drop by for a visit and to say a prayer.

A traditional Marian procession for the whole school community is organised around the grotto every May.

A Stations of the Cross pathway was also installed in 2006 and is used especially during Holy Week, again a facility that very few schools would have.

In 2012 it involved a Grandparents Day. Grandchildren, grandmothers and grandfathers took part, emphasising that a significant part of Catholic education is its commitment to building on the rich inheritance of the local traditions present in the generation that has gone before.

“Keeping the faith fresh and alive is one of our key challenges,” says Mrs Kate McGuigan, who has been the RE Co-ordinator and teacher of P6 and P7 classes for 22 years.

“Everyone in the school is aware that we are passing on the faith and we have always worked hand in hand with parents to help the children to know a God who loves and cares for us all unconditionally.

“When the kids leave this school we are full of hope that they’ve had a good experience of their faith and that there is a solid foundation that they can draw on for the rest of their lives.

“Contributing to the lives of so many young people and their families has been very rewarding. I know I am in a privileged position, but I am comfortable in the role because I know we make an impact.

“At St Malachy’s we will continue to face new challenges in the years ahead, but they will bring many blessings also. We’ll make the journey together and look to the future with hope.”

From its earliest beginnings St Malachy’s Primary has always stood firm in the Catholic faith, and in May 2007 took the innovative step of opening a special prayer room known as the Oratory.

Very few primary schools in Northern Ireland would have the luxury of such a facility.

The majority of the work in converting the room was carried out by staff and pupils over several months – many coming in after school and at weekends.

And having scooped the Clann Lir Shield for Best Irish-speaking School in the prestigious Feis Bhéal Feirste – the Belfast Feis – in four out of the last five years, there is no doubt that the language is thriving in St Malachy’s.

Around 20 English-speaking schools typically enter the Belfast Feis ever year and competition is fierce, so wins in 2008, 2010, 2011 and 2012 demonstrate just how high standards are at the school.

Eight pupils are selected for the Feis Bhéal Feirste each June, and in 2012 Nikhita Valipe, whose first language is Hindi, was one of the pupils who won a gold medal.

“Learning a language is of value to all children regardless of their background or ability because it has the power to engage and motivate them,” says Irish Coordinator Mrs Colette McSherry, who has been teaching in St Malachy’s for 14 years, “and language is so important in this multicultural school.

“In some respects I think Mr White was ahead of the game when he brought in an Irish language coordinator, way before the introduction of the Primary Language Programme which we are involved in. He knew that focusing young minds on a language would give our pupils an extra dimension.”

As Irish Coordinator Mrs McSherry works with tutor Mr Niall Mac Lochainn, who comes in to help deliver the Primary Language Programme for the Key Stage 1

children (P1-P4), assembles resources for others teachers as well as coordinating timetables, planning and meetings.

The children learn through songs, phrases, greetings, general vocabulary, colours, the weather, numbers and some conversation – and from September 2012 the Primary Language Programme will be extended to the Key Stage 2 pupils with the help of an additional tutor, Jim McAuley.

“The children really enjoy their Irish. It’s totally oral, so there is no pressure to be sitting writing at tables, and the language learning skills are totally transferable, so once a child becomes engaged with a second language a third and fourth becomes easier.”

Many pupils from St Malachy’s go on to do extremely well in Irish in their second level education, the most recent example being a former pupil scoring an A* in their mock GCSE.

“I am very proud of our pupils’ achievements and the commitment and interest they give to learning Irish,” says Mrs McSherry. “It inspires me year after year.”

Parents love the performances in Irish at the concerts and other events organised by St Malachy’s throughout the year.

Be it for a performance or a celebration, working towards a goal is extremely beneficial for pupils’ confidence and self-esteem, according to Mrs McSherry.

It is also a great way of developing skills across the curriculum and strengthening the sense of Irish identity and culture of the local community.

Christmas and end of year concerts as well as a special Day of Languages event and of course, St Patrick’s Day, all motivate the children – and the staff – raising the status of languages within the school, as well as offering parents an additional opportunity to enjoy and be involved in their child’s learning.

Is breá le tuismitheoirí na páistí a chluinstin ag ceol i nGaeilge ag na ceolchoirmeacha agus ag na himeachtaí eile a mbíonn eagraithe ag foireann Naomh Maolmhaodhóg i rith na bliana. Agus na scoláirí ag ullmhú i dtreo léirithe nó i dtreo ceiliúrtha, déanann sé maitheas don mhuinín agus don fhéinmheas is acu, de réir Mrs McSherry.

Is deis ar dóigh é do pháistí scileanna traschuraclaim a thógáil agus a fhobairt agus féiniúlacht na Gaeilge agus cultúr an phobail áitiúla a neartú chomh maith.

Spreagtar na páistí agus an fhoireann scoile go mór agus iad ag obair i dtreo ceolchoirmeacha ag deireadh na bliana agus Seó na Nollag, ar ndóigh na tionóil speisialta a bhíonn ar siúl thart ar ‘Lá na dTeangacha’ agus ‘Lá Fhéile Pádraig’. Is léir gurb iad na himeachtaí seo a n-ardaíonn stadas na dteangacha sa scoil. Cuirtear deis ar fáil do thuismitheoirí a bheith pairteach i saol scoile a bpáistí féin agus sult a bhaint as na ceiliúrtha.

Is é an mana atá ag Bunscoil Mhaolmhaodhóg ná:

‘Mol an óige agus tiocfaidh sí’

‘Praise the youth and they will prosper’.

At a day-to-day level St Malachy’s has responded to the increasing numbers of pupils whose first language is neither English nor Irish through a strong emphasis on visual material, attractive displays of pupils’ work, materials relating to different countries, cultures and communities and multicultural assemblies.

All staff encourage and facilitate pupils with English as an additional language to maintain and develop their skills in their own home language, but staff also work hard to create a stimulating learning environment so English skills can be increased.

The English-speaking pupils also study and appreciate the home languages of their peers and are taught to value multilingualism.

Inclusion and Diversity Co-ordinator and P3 teacher, Miss Anna White says: “We have in the region of 18 languages spoken at the school so we make sure we treat pupils with

In the 1990s there was a significant international dimension to St Malachy’s created by former Vice Principal Sean Campbell through the office of Senator George Mitchell to the Crescent Park School in Bethel, Maine in the United States.

Pupils from Maine stayed in the Market twice during this initiative and pupils from St Malachy’s also went to stay in Maine.

But it was the growth of immigration in the local area over the last 10 years that would create a major international cultural tapestry to enhance and feed into both the Nursery school and the Primary school.

“When I started in 1988 there was not one single child with English as an additional language. Now we are one of the most multicultural schools in Belfast, and probably Northern Ireland”, says St Malachy’s Special Needs teacher and Vice Principal, Dermot Flynn.

“About 20% of the current school population now has English as an additional language and the diversity of the backgrounds and the needs of newcomer pupils are much wider than ever before.

“The increase in the migrant population from various parts of Asia, Africa and Europe has increased the international dimension of the school, changed our cultural

respect, empathy and patience so they achieve a sense of belonging and equality.

“Children are the same wherever they come from. They are accepting; they don’t see the colour of their classmate’s skin even as an issue, never mind a barrier. They celebrate diversity naturally, and I believe the school does so too.”

A series of exciting events throughout the year celebrates inclusion and diversity at St Malachy’s and in recent years more and more pupils and parents have been taking part to share the experience of the variety of cultures at the school.

The school celebrates its diversity with a special Day of Languages event, and allows the pupils to show off their talents with singing, dancing poetry and musical instruments from around the world.

St Malachy’s also celebrates the Chinese New Year with a range of activities – from dragon displays and lantern making to writing the children’s names in Chinese and learning about the animal symbols for each year. The Nursery children made dragons and ribbon dance. Chinese teaching assistant Mrs Wei Xia is a major help in this department.

Also of major help with the Polish language is Classroom Assistant Mrs Margaret Gusta who hails from Poland.

The Polish tradition of naming children for the saint whose feast day is closest to the date of birth or baptismal date is very important. It is actually a Catholic and Christian tradition and in Poland ‘namesday’ is more important that a birthday. Namesdays are celebrated in the school with a few sweets and congratulations.

And so began the amazing transformation of what was once a bleak, urban concrete space into what is now one of the most successful school wild life garden projects in Northern Ireland.

As it celebrates its silver jubilee St Malachy’s Wildlife Garden is now the proud home to an amazing mix of habitats including woodland and shrub areas, a wildflower meadow, a dipping pond, a coppiced hazel wood and a herb garden, alongside an adventure playground and a renowned eco-trail used to facilitate education right across the curriculum.

The Wildlife Garden is a haven for animal and birdlife and brings a taste of the country to city children. It also teaches the children on many levels about science, nature, health and safety and the importance of sustaining the planet by caring for the environment.

This is truly remarkable accomplishment for an inner-city school and as a consequence St Malachy’s has been held up as a shining example of best practice and recognised far and wide for its team effort and commitment to the project.

So far over 50 schools from around Northern Ireland, the UK and Europe have come to learn how it was all

achieved, and there has also been a string of high-profile visitors to validate the remarkable achievements of the school – including Mary McAleese the President of Ireland, who officially opened the garden in 2001, and the Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, Professor Sir Peter Crane – while TV crews TV personalities have also frequented the garden for filming on environmental issues.

Having learnt so much in the development of the garden over the years St Malachy’s is regarded model for others and has even created website and CDRom resources to assist other schools creating their own wildlife gardens.

“The idea of the garden goes back even to the time of Sr Ann when we tried, not that successfully, to plant a meadow,” says P3 teacher Mrs Rosaleen Torley, who along with P5 teacher Mrs Sinead Magee leads the school’s involvement in the project.

“But things didn’t really get going properly until 1998 following a nationwide bird survey by the RSPB.

“We were anxious to participate and organised our own survey in the local area. After three wasted sessions when all we saw in half an hour was one seagull we contacted the RSPB seeking an explanation. They said that the absence of birds in the Market area was probably due to a lack of trees for roosting – there was nothing from the Ormeau Park to the City Hall.

“So we decided to do something and got involved with a Forest of Belfast tree planting scheme where trees were being given to interested parties, and that’s how we got all the children to plant a tree.

Green is the colour of the school uniform and green is the everyday practice at St Malachy’s, an eco-school in the truest sense.

Allied to the achievements of the outstanding Wildlife Garden are a series of eco-practices and attitudes that foster environmental awareness in ways that link across many subjects in the curriculum.

The school’s activity in this area has led to St Malachy’s achieving the Green Flag, the highest accolade offered by the Eco-Schools international environmental education programme, which is a respected and sought after stamp of approval awarded to schools with a high achievement in their eco-programme.

First won in 2006 and retained ever since, Eco-Schools Green Flag status means St Malachy’s is involved in a programme of continual reduction of its environmental impact.

“The judges that come to assess us are constantly impressed by our environmental consciousness, but also very much by the school eco-trail and garden. It’s quite a hard award to get, so to pick it up so many times is a brilliant achievement,” “says Mrs Sinead Magee.

“We have a committee made up of teachers and children that make the decisions on the school’s environmental policy, such as conserving water and electricity, and it’s actually pupil led. It has to be.

“Children would have difficulty in comprehending the need to look after the environment if our practices and the state of the school did not mirror what is being taught in the classroom. They are very astute and it has to be their idea before they will run with it and see it through.”

“We were keen but a bit clueless on how go about developing the garden but good fortune sent us Andy Smith from Conservation Volunteers Northern Ireland who was seeking a project. He was of immense help in planning the outline design of what we wanted to achieve,” adds Mrs Torley. “It has proceeded steadily and with great success ever since.”

The children who planted the original trees have grown up, but they have been able to watch their handiwork develop into the garden of which the school is now very proud.

“It’s all been done with the fantastic support of teams of fantastic people – children, teachers, parents and conservation volunteers from all over the world, as well as support from different organisations. A lot of hard work has gone into this garden,” explains Mrs Torley.

“It’s more or less self-sustaining now and there’s basically no room left to expand. But if there was any further development I would love us to be able to grow vegetables and perhaps sell them in St George’s Market, so the children can see that tomatoes don’t come from Tesco. It would maybe initiate something related to the history of the area, which of course has a historical attachment to selling goods at the market.”

Music has always been vital to St Malachy’s, and after 25 years it is still ‘key’ to day-to-day teaching, learning, recreation and fun.

All pupils get the chance to be involved in music for assemblies, liturgies and concerts and St Malachy’s also provides plenty of tuition, curriculum based and after school opportunities for pupils to come together to enjoy and perform music.

The School Choir has been a fantastic musical outlet for pupils over the years, having performed for the President of Ireland, the Minister

for Education and other high-profile dignitaries, as well as appearing on the same bill as the likes of Northern Irish singing stars Brian Kennedy and Peter Corry.

The choir has also taken the lead at numerous parish liturgies as well as at concerts in all of Belfast’s major concert halls – the Waterfront, Odyssey and Ulster Hall. In St Peter’s Cathedral it once joined voices with Ireland’s premier ambassadors of song, the Three Tenors.

Regional finalists in the ‘School Choir of the Year’ competition, which used to attract over 200 entries from schools from around the province, the choir has also

made a celebrated appearance on the popular TV show School Around the Corner and performed in front of an audience of thousands at the switch-on of the Belfast City Hall Christmas tree lights.

“The School Choir has always been very strong,” says St Malachy’s Music Co-ordinator Mrs Sinead Rafferty, who looks after the choir in tandem with Mrs Kate McGuigan.

“The tradition of choral singing stretches back to the early years and is it is well valued and appreciated by parents and throughout the local community.”

According to Mrs Rafferty the benefits of singing are many: “It increases children’s listening and concentration

skills and enhances their ability to discriminate between sounds,” she says, “and there’s no doubt that it improves self-discipline. Plus they get to experience all these great places and people!

“The teachers are now embracing music more expertly and whole-heartedly than ever before, while

the children have great opportunities to enjoy musical experiences not just through singing, but by playing instruments and tuned and un-tuned percussion, listening, movement and dance.

“We also employ specialist music teachers to give the pupils the best opportunity to develop their knowledge and skills in this area of the curriculum.”

“Alongside drama and art the music in school feeds creativity and imagination and brings out a different side to the children. It stands them in good stead for later life.”

While the school choir has been hugely influential over

the years, a big development in more recent times has been the growth of the St Malachy’s Traditional Music Group.

Instrumental to its success is all-Ireland fiddle champion Niall McClean, who as peripatetic teacher works alongside Music Co-ordinator Mrs Rafferty as

well as RE Co-ordinator Mrs McGuigan and Irish Co-ordinator Mrs McSherry, providing tuition in bodhran, tin whistle, fiddle and guitar and supporting performances at school events.

“Irish music fits in with what we do and it really suits the children and the school,” says Mrs Rafferty. “These days there is a real sense that all the work we have done is coming to fruition and building a terrific sense of confidence in the children.

“It is likely we will join the Traditional Music Group with the Bodhran Group in the future and this will make us stronger again.”

St Malachy’s pupils also take part in a range of musical experiences throughout the year including visits from Ulster Orchestra players, after school African drum classes and music mornings at Fortwilliam School of Music.

At the music mornings the children compose their own piece of music, explore rhythm, sound and their voices and play all kinds of drums and cymbals and tuned percussion such as xylophones, bells and chime bars.

For Principal Mr Brian White, who believes strongly that the school has to be at one with and support the communities it serves, it has always been important that these links are deep and wide.

“That’s why the school’s facilities have been offered to and used by the whole community for many years,” he says. “All types of adult education classes and initiatives have taken place here in the past – Irish language, Irish studies, health promotion initiatives and the SureStart programme providing services for pre-school children and their families.

“On the sporting front the school’s pitch has been used by St Malachy’s GAA and the links to the club have been particularly long and strong,” he adds.

Relationships with the community workers of the Markets Development Association, LORAG (Lower Ormeau Residents Action Group), St John Vianney Youth Club and Shaftesbury Community and Recreation Centre have continued for many years, while there are links through the Irish language and traditional music to the locally-based An Droichead cultural centre.

Associations with the local political representatives are also strong – the SDLP’s Councillor Pat McCarthy is on the Board of Governors and with party leader Alistair

McDonnell MLA, past St Malachy’s pupil and Sinn Fein Councillor Deirdre Hargey, and party colleague Alex Maskey MLA have all thrown their influence behind the school at various times throughout the years.

The new youth centre based in the grounds of the school is the latest physical link to the community and parish. It will be the new home of St Malachy’s Youth Club, relocated from the Market Community Centre.

It offers a full range of facilities for young people from ages five to 19 and the school will have access to greatly improved indoor sports facilities. The state-of-the-art facilities will include a multi-use hall and games room, plus meeting rooms, staff offices and canteen facilities.

“It’s a great boost for the area and the school,” says Principal Brian White. “It will allow the school, parish and local community to avail of much needed services for our young people.”

Another way the St Malachy’s maintains it links to the community is through the Extended Schools Programme. Since 2006 the school has been actively involved in this Department of Education initiative, which helps targeted schools provide a range of services outside of the normal school day to help meet the needs of schoolchildren, their parents, families and the local community.

Through the programme, St Malachy’s is able to offer an in-school counsellor, a summer scheme, a homework club, and active lifestyle programme and musical groups.

“From the outset we decided to focus on a range of activities rather than specific activities so that we could cater for as many children as possible,” says Mrs Maura McAnaney, who is the school’s Councillor.

“It has been very successful. The counselling service for instance has provided us with quick and effective early interventions when a parent, pupil or teacher notices a difficulty and hopefully helps children recognise the need to seek support for their problems and to develop coping strategies.

“The music groups are extremely well attended and also our sporting programme has been so successful that in the past year we have had to increase the number of days it is operational.

“We believe the programme has helped us reduce underachievement, foster health and wellbeing and integrate the delivery of support and services for our children.

“We are grateful for the additional support both in terms of the finances, resources and manpower provided by our external and community partners, including Belfast City Council, Barnardos, SportNI, Highway to Health officers and the Markets Development Association and various musical groups such as McClean Productions and the Andersonstown traditional groups.”

Every year St Malachy’s reaches out to other communities and those in need through various charity donations. This is an opportunity for all the children to learn about people less fortunate than themselves.

“Between pupils, parents and staff I think we raise in the region of £2,000 per year for various charities,” says Mrs Grainne Campbell, Arts Co-ordinator at the school.

That’s £50,000 the school community has donated to others over the life of the school. Wow!

Playing sports gives children something active to do, often a groups to belong to and it also offers benefits other than the physical. Sports typically help children academically and socially and the benefits stay whether the child actually excels at sport or not.

St Malachy’s pupils have always been encouraged to maintain healthy lifestyles through physical exercise and healthy eating. Regular exercise increases quality of life. So there is a strong programme of physical education and a wide variety of extra-curricular sporting activities including camogie, soccer, athletics, Gaelic football, hurling, basketball, swimming and cycling proficiency.

The school’s team and individual performances have delivered more than 30 league and championship titles in a variety of sports – an incredible record – and the pupils participation in sport has created a host of future sporting stars, fostered immense school, family and parish pride, forged unbreakable team spirits and life-long friendships and, most of all, provided lots of fun.

Its reputation as a sports school has led to visits from a string of high-profile sporting personalities and invitations to the school’s sports teams to demonstrate and launch various sporting initiatives.

The camogie team demonstrated the new pitches at Belfast’s House of Sport for instance, and also its own community facilities attended by the then Minister for Sport, Ian Sproat. St Malachy’s sports teams also launched the UTV initiative Sports Bag Scheme and the City Sports Scheme and were invited to take part in exhibition matches.

The school has competed at the highest level in Gaelic football, hurling, camogie, handball, soccer and athletics and more girls from St Malachy’s have been picked for the mini games at Croke Park than at any other school in Ulster. A golden and record-breaking period of success during the 1990s included the camogie team winning all three major Belfast titles for seven years in a row – St Malachy’s was so good nobody want to play them!

Other highlights have included Michael Stilges winning the Belfast Singles Handball Championship and the cross-country team winning the Youth for All Challenge. Several camogie players have gone on to become Ulster champions and play for successful county clubs. In more recent times James McGivern became all Ireland boxing champion and soccer player Patrick McNally signed for Glasgow Celtic. The famous all-Ireland Sam Maguire Trophy has been and in the summer of 2012 the Olympic Flame also blazed in for a visit.

The sporting successes of St Malachy’s Primary School, as well as the commitment and effort made by the staff, parents and pupils in the sporting arena was recognised nationally in the 1990s when the school was designated a Sportsmark School, one of the few in Northern Ireland to achieve this and one of highest accolades possible for a school involved with sport.

The SportsMark was a new government scheme designed to recognise the good work in physical education and sport being carried out in schools. To gain it the school had to show excellence in criteria such as curricular PE provision throughout the school, internal and external competitive opportunities, a range of sports and extra-curricular activities, numbers of pupils and staff participating in programmes, the qualifications of staff and community links.

Retired former Vice Principal Mr Sean Campbell is widely acknowledged as the main driver for building St Malachy’s record-breaking successes.

He says: “It was evident after the amalgamation that girls needed to participate more in sport, so we positively discriminated in their favour until they got their confidence and skills up. We had many meetings and discussions about it. The idea was to give all of our children every skill and activity they would ever need to participate in sport – something they could do individually on their own and something as a team.

“The success came because everything was in place. We had what few schools had, a full-time PE teacher, a committed headmaster, a staff more than willing to accommodate the children’s participation, great parent support and whole community camaraderie.”

“It was very special to see the likes of William Moss who was in a wheelchair getting to Old Trafford and Peter Darragh who took part in the Special Olympics,” adds Mr Campbell, “but I always remember one beautiful summer’s day when we put on a PE display for the parents outside. The kids came out and put on an amazing, spellbinding performance that just blew us all away. That’s when I knew we had it right.”

St Malachy’s girls have wonThe Ulster Handball Doubles Championships – three timesAll-Ireland Individual Handball Championships – twiceThe Football League – twiceThe Camogie League Championships – seven timesThe Camogie Mini-7s – six timesThe Youth Sport Cross Country – three times

St Malachy’s boys have wonAll-Ireland Individual Handball ChampionshipsThe Ulster Handball Doubles Championships – twiceThe Hurling League – twiceThe Football League – twiceThe Walkers Crisps Soccer Regional ChampionshipThe South Belfast Soccer LeagueThe football ‘B’ Blitz – twiceThe Monsignor Toner CupThe Allianz Cumann na mBunscol D league

There was a great interest from the children in P5, P6 and P7 when Mr Michael White began a basketball team at the start of 2011.

The sport, new to St Malachy’s, has generated great excitement and fostered a host of budding Harlem Globetrotters ready to ‘slam dunk’ for the school.

There are now two teams and they have already taken part and been victorious at ‘basketball blitz’ tournaments. At a tournament in Shaftesbury Recreation Centre the girls who play basketball in the school got to play in competitive matches for the first time.

As a result of so many children taking part in basketball Mr White says that plans to start a league and strengthen the coaching approach are in the offing. He believes basketball is a sport on an upward trajectory and with a bright future.

Meanwhile the fortunes of the school in Gaelic games are being boosted by Mr Dermot Flynn. With help from former vice principal Sean Campbell and coaching and club links with St Malachy’s GAA Mr Flynn is continuing the successful tradition in Gaelic games. His footballers won the Monsignor Toner Cup in 2011 and Allianz Cumann na mBunscol D league in 2012. The players have been training hard and there are great hopes for the coming times.

P2 Mrs Owens and Mrs Rafferty

P2 Miss Deazley

P1 Mrs McSherryL-R, back row: Jordan White,

Miss A Burns, Callum Cunningham,

Mrs C McSherry, Anton Keenan,

Miss S Elder, Aiden McCarthy;

second row: Srijani Palwai, Molly O’Reilly,

Kamya Panchagnula, Rachel Barr,

Michael Collins, Samantha Green,

Amelia Bojanowska, Daniel Hasty;

third row: Laura Casey, Isha Deshpande,

Girish Adapa, Ruth Prabeen,

Anushree Tendulkar, Maria Lewandowska,

Janae Mulligan; front row: Dawid Giza,

Callum McGeown, Conor McCleave

L-R, back row: Raymond Hui,

Mrs M Owens, Julia Powaszynska,

Niamh Carson, Mr S White,

Farhan Rakeeb; middle row:

Sean Michael Beckett, Beth Murray,

Rohith Ramavath, Dominic McGuigan,

Jaden Stitt, Sarvesh Sridhar,

Eoghan Thompson; front row:

Saura Velpuri, Varsha Manoj Kumar,

Zainab Faisal, Molly O’Rourke Carlisle,

Meida Bleizgyte, Ispraha Krishal

L-R, back row: Ridhi Tomar, Miss C Deazley, Shreya Ananthanarayanan, Chanakya Rajararapu, Sriram Yandava, Harshit Kokate, Gavin Behan; middlerow: Ishika Pattnaik, Aadya Prabha, Beryl Landry Kengne, Connlaith Dobbin, Tushita Modi, Callie Burnett, Zoe McMullan, Darren Kalungi; front row: Wiktoria Lewandowska, Conor Duffin, Joshua Clinton, Leah McDermott, Luke Mallon, Tomas McDonnell, Rachael Lunney

P4 Mr Flynn

P3 Mrs Torley

P3 Miss White

P3 Mrs Torley

L-R, back row: Katie Leigh Arbuckle; Miss M Black, Chloe McNally, Miss A White, Christina Hart; middle row: Stiofan Bruce, James O’Kane, Sidharth Nandula, Sushmitha Ponsailapathy, Aarohi Pawar, Manas Sadasivuni, Demi Flynn; front row: Liam McMullan, Rohan Ramavath, Rishon George Thomas, Eoin Morgan, Shannon Whyte, Nicole Fields

L-R, back row: Mollie Clinton,

Mrs J Rashbrook, Aimee Bowman,

Mrs R Torley, Brogain Moore, Miss T Elliot,

Sreepailavi Damireddy;

middle row: Brandon Slavin Fitzpatrick,

Eamonn McWilliams, Aayush Sunil Bhari,

Aleksandra Witczak, Lena McManus,

Mohamed Aahil, Jordan Lunney,

Ethan Brown; front row: Anthony Stow,

Amelia McAllister, Christopher Weatherall,

Codi Marie Bassett, Rohan Ambrale,

Kane Magennis, Oisin McKee

L-R, back row: Ms W Xia, Ellie McCaul, Jhagadeswararao Rajavarapu, Yaswant Sivatatri, Natalia Jankowiak, Gerard Flynn, Mr D Flynn, Mrs C Doherty; secondrow: Riannon Timperley, Laoise O’Kane, Sahitra Sengupta, Rudransh Tomar, Shayna Velasquez, Xin Wang Yang, Kintan Raaman, Vidhya Gummadavelli, Holly Wallace; third row: Toni Lynass, Leona Lane, Shauna Behan, Saorlaith Maxwell, Lindsay Jane McGrattan, Mimi Rubar, Clodagh O’Rourke, Annaleigh Lunney; front row: Odhran McKee, Dillion Valliday, Kieron Cunningham, Frank Sikalie, Niall O’Kane, Frankie Maguire

One of the most enduring and popular characters at St Malachy’s Primary School over the last 25 years has been the former Belfast Celtic player, Jimmy Donnelly – current Vice Chairman of St Malachy’s Board of Governors.

Having served the board in total for over 20 years now, Jimmy has helped to steer the school though all kinds of

developments. But it’s no surprise. As probably the most active 84 year-old in Belfast, and with

a mind and a memory as sharp as a razor, Jimmy could steer pretty much anything to victory, such is his energy and ability to achieve.

Astonishingly, Jimmy ‘retired’ from playing five-a-side soccer only just a couple of years ago, ending a chequered sporting a career of

over 70 years that included capturing minor all-Ireland hurling medals, spells as a soccer player for Longford Town in the Republic and playing for the legendary Belfast Celtic, one of the most successful football clubs in Irish

history.

As a 21 year-old Jimmy was one of the players signed over to Crusaders FC (though he never played for them) after Belfast Celtic was forced to withdraw from the Irish League in 1949 due to its inability to protect its players from sectarian strife. Irish football has never recovered from its loss. The folklore surrounding their legendary players, classic football style, the intensity and passion of the fans has been passed from generation to generation.

As an ex Belfast Celtic half back Jimmy was brought over to Glasgow Celtic in 2001 to celebrate the team’s first championship win under the then manager Martin O’Neill, who Jimmy knows well and keeps in close touch with. Jimmy is also a qualified IFA coach and one of the founders of the St Malachy’s College old boys’ team Malachians.

Perhaps he was attracted to the school’s name when he joined the Board of Governors, but he rates St Malachy’s Primary School very highly, saying that is runs “very smoothly” and citing the children’s manners, dress and pride in their school as important measures of its success.

He says he’s never really retired, but a former accountant with his own practice Jimmy has been of invaluable help over the years with the school finances – not to mention sport!

Mary Waddell is the Department of Education appointee on the school’s Board of Governors. A former Director of Nursing,she enjoys her role and has a strong belief in the school. “I wish St Malachy’s could be lifted and planted all over Northern Ireland,” she says. “The school is a credit to its pupils, their parents, the staff and the community. The key thing is that everyone I meet understands the vision for the school and is working as a team to achieve the potential for every child at the school.

“What’s more, they are knowledgeable about every pupil and understand the child’s potential. It’s quite remarkable, and it is done with such calmness and such ease.”

The Belfast Education and Library Board appointee to St Malachy’s Board of Governors is local man and SDLP city councillor Pat McCarthy, a well-known and valuable ally to St Malachy’s Primary School.

He was first elected to Belfast City Council in 2001 and was chosen as Lord Mayor of Belfast in 2006. Pat used his year as Lord Mayor of Belfast to promote the school and host visits from the school and parish – he even set up what probably remains as the one and only meeting of a school board of governors in a Mayor’s Parlour in Northern Ireland.

Aside from his work with the Council – he has served on many City Council committees a number of outside bodies such as the Belfast Harbour Commissioners and the South Belfast Partnership Board – he has also been heavily involved in the local community and helped to secure funding for the new youth and community facility based in the schools grounds. He is also on the management board of three local youth clubs and has always played an active part in church activities, including serving on the St Malachy’s Pastoral Council for several years.

Trustee Representative (Chairman) Very Rev M. McGinnity PP Trustee Representative Mrs. D. Mc LoughlinTrustee Representative (Parent) Mr. N. BurnsPrincipal Mr. B. WhiteBELB. Representative (Vice chairman) Mr. J. DonnellyBELB. Representative Mr. P. Mc CarthyDENI Representative Mrs. M. WaddellElected Teacher Representative Mrs. K. McGuiganElected Parent Representative Mrs. E. Murray