Pupils at the 40th Anniversary Mass

A west Belfast school celebrated four decades of education and pastoral care yesterday, providing a "haven" in times of trouble in Ballymurphy. Parents, staff and pupils connected with St Bernadette's Girls PS marked the occasion in a Mass with Bishop Donal McKeown at Corpus Christi Church.

Principal Celia O'Reilly said the ethos of pastoral care had been developed throughout the last 40 years. "Now in 2001 we aim to develop children as learners for the 21st century" she said. "We see our children as problem solvers and independent learners. Our focus is on knowing how children and adults learn, using the latest neuroscientific research about the brain."

The current review of the curriculum can't come soon enough for St Bernadette's, which has forged ahead with the concept of an 'effective learning cycle'. Teachers explain what they will teach to pupils, make connections to things they already know, and help reflect on lessons afterwards. "We are already enriching the P1 and P2 curriculum through the multiple intelligences - linguistic, mathematical, kinesthetic, artistic" Ms O'Reilly said. Pupils helped marked the anniversary with a liturgical tableau during Mass.

December 2001

Martin McGuinness, Minister of Education, visited St Bernadette's Primary School on Tuesday 8th October, 2002.