Intentionally Together
As we celebrate International Day of Peace as part of Good Relations Week. In pastoral groups we will watch our Peace Day Assembly and we also explore the work of ambassadors for peace, John Hume and David Trimble.
The Northern Ireland I Envision – Katie McMinn
Evens Laureate for Peace Education Award
Awarded by European Evens Foundation
The Evens Foundation is a public benefit foundation based in Antwerp, Belgium and with offices in Paris and Warsaw. The Evens Foundation initiates and supports sustainable projects, and awards biennial prizes, that contribute to the progress and strengthening of Europe based on cultural and social diversity. New-Bridge Integrated College is the Laureate of the Evens Prize for Peace Education.
We are the first recipient in UK or Ireland to win this prestigious award, a proud moment for our school. For the biennial European prize, the Evens Foundation looked for strategies implemented in secondary schools for dealing with ‘hot topics’ in a constructive way. Thirteen high quality projects from all over Europe were selected for the shortlist. According to the international jury of experts, “New-Bridge Integrated College developed an impressive and strongly embedded project that continues to break new ground in relation to integrated education in Northern Ireland, and of which the approach is very transferable to other EU countries and contexts. The project arose in the polarized education system in Northern Ireland, but also integrates more recent problematics (social and cultural mix, mixed-ability students). It helps teachers to respond to everyday diversity as well as to transform controversial subjects into a learning opportunity.”
In a letter to parents, Mrs Anderson and the Board of Governors thanked our pupils, staff and parents for the contribution they have all made in developing and promoting our integrated ethos, which is at the heart of everything we do. ‘It is wonderful for our school community to be recognised at European level with a Peace Education Prize’.
Evens Foundation 30th Anniversary
Excellence in Integration Award
Awarded by NICIE
New-Bridge Integrated College was presented with the Excellence in Integrated Education Award in June 2016 by Roisin Marshall, NICIE CEO. New-Bridge has used the EIEA process to develop and strengthen our integrated ethos as it also engages us in a process of continued monitoring and evaluation. The EIEA evaluation process provides an insight into the essential elements of a good integrated school. It also provides a steer on how the school can fulfil the NICIE Statement of Principles. Integration Education Image .The audit tool within EIEA has been influenced by the ‘Together Towards Improvement’ document from Education and Training Inspectorate (ETI) and is linked to the School Development plan in order to provide a familiar, appropriate structure.
Gold Compassion Award
Awarded by Children in Crossfire
On September 2020 New-Bridge was awarded the Gold Compassion Award from Children in Crossfire, a very fitting accolade to celebrate our school’s 25th anniversary. The Compassionate School Award celebrates our school’s work with the Educating the Heart programme along with Lessons in Forgiveness and the many programmes aimed at promoting kindness and compassion undertaken throughout the year. The story of Children in Crossfire has its roots in what began as a tragedy and ended as a triumph of the human spirit to overcome adversity. Founded in 1996 by Richard Moore who was blinded as a 10-year-old boy in 1972 during the Northern Ireland conflict. Children in Crossfire works with the general public to raise awareness of global justice issues.
Children in Crossfire – New-Bridge Lessons in Forgiveness and Compassion
Right Respecting School Award
The Rights Respecting Schools Award puts children’s rights at the heart of schools in the UK.
The UK Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK) works with schools in the UK to create safe and inspiring places to learn, where children are respected, their talents are nurtured and they are able to thrive. The Rights Respecting Schools Award embeds these values in daily school life and gives children the best chance to lead happy, healthy lives and to be responsible, active citizens.
The Award recognises a school’s achievement in putting the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child into practice within the school and beyond.
When the Adults Change – Partner School Award
We are privileged to announce that we have been awarded the prestigious title of When The Adults Change Partner School by Paul Dix in recognition of our work on building and developing relationships. Mrs Anderson, Principal and Mrs Harbinson Vice Principal were delighted to receive the partner school status from When The Adults Chnage in recognition of the outstanding relational practice we place such importance on here in New-Bridge . Indeed, we are delighted to say that we are the first school in Northern Ireland to be awarded such a high accolade and are very proud to see how our core values of Ready, Responsible and Respect continue to develop those strong relationships in our school every day. This title underlines the strong pastoral care invested in our pupils and we look forward to continuing this strong partnership with Paul Dix When The Adults Change. Our Pastoral team pictured here are excited to continue and develop our care and welfare focus which places our pupils at the centre of our work .
Integrated Education – Through the eyes of young people
Integrated Education – Through the Eyes of Young People explores integrated education through the lived experiences of past and current pupils in integrated schools in Northern Ireland.
Made using a grant secured by the Integrated Education Fund (IEF) from the Community Relations Council Media Programme.
Directed by leading independent filmmaker Michael MacBroom and produced by Paul Collins (IEF), the film explores the nature of good relations through an integrated schooling system.
Following its premiere at QFT, the film is now available on QFT Player as part of Community Relations Council Good Relations Week 2021: https://www.goodrelationsweek.com/
For more information about the work of the Integrated Education Fund visit: https://www.ief.org.uk/
Check out the film here: https://qft.vhx.tv/videos/integrated-education
‘Let’s Talk Documentary’
by Paul Moorehead, Kettleoffish
Promoting Community Relations, Equality and Diversity (CRED)
The Community Relations Equality and Diversity team (CRED) within New-Bridge is a group of teachers from a range of subject areas who have formed to explore learning opportunities based on cultural relations. The CRED team contribute to improving relations between communities by educating children and young people to develop self-respect and respect for others. The CRED team provide our pupils with opportunities to build relationships with those of different backgrounds and traditions. Recent events include accommodating the Forgiveness Lessons pilot programme for Children in Crossfire, hosting the Conflict Matters Lab conference for international participants in association with The Evens Foundation, INCORE and Ulster University. The CRED team have also been involved with Corrymeela Community in promotion of Peace Education.
Fact Files
In New-Bridge Integrated College our Community Relations, Equality and Diversity (CRED) team identify opportunities for teaching and learning about controversial issues. It also highlights how subjects contribute to meeting Section 75 equality legislation and to promoting diversity and inclusion across the curriculum.
The following fact files produced by the CRED team are an example of the anti-bias approach to teaching and learning used when working with sensitive issues and topical news.
“Integration encourages teachers to gain experience in managing difference in the classroom and finding learning moments in class to hear and question assumptions and stereotypes to help grow tolerance and understanding in the school population.”
Roisin Marshall CEO NICIE
Recognised for Good Practice
Acknowledgement from CCEA Council for Curriculum Education Authority NI.
Carson Prize Winners
“What Integration Means to Me”
The Carson Awards aim to support integrated school students who are interested in demonstrating ‘What integrated education means to me’ through their creative talents.
In keeping with the characters of Frank and Tony, creativity is the key and submissions include a wide variety of mediums. The Carson Awards are named in honour of the legendary Northern Ireland comedian Frank Carson and his son Tony. Frank and Tony are both passionate supporters of integrated education and have a long standing relationship with the Integrated Education Fund. The awards are of great benefit to the individual winners, the integrated schools they attend and the wider Integrated Education Movement in Northern Ireland.
“I believe Integration is a Building Block in exposing young people to other cultures and beliefs. I find learning about my friends’ beliefs and opinions extremely fascinating and fun. I think everyone should have the chance to experience different ideas without prejudices”.
Sancia Kennedy 👩
“Integration in education means everything to me. I have been through integrated education my whole life, I feel it has helped shape who I am. My garden sculpture inspired by our school crest demonstrates what integration means to me as it shows bringing all aspects of our school community and our wider community together. We have forged strong links with the local nursing home Bannview House and I have worked with some of the residents there, their ideas have helped shape my design. Mr McGrath, a retired gardener who lives close to the school has been instrumental in guiding me in my planning for this work. I have also had so much help from our school Eco Committee and I think that integrating all these aspects of our school community and beyond have been helped in bringing the project to completion”
Rachel Kitchen 👩
“My work for the Carson Prize is about how we, in integrated schools, try to reinforce sound and inclusive values every day in our daily lives. We have chosen to be part of the integrated education system and because of this we try our best to share the values of respect, inclusivity, tolerance for others and an appreciation of other’s differences. Integrated education encourages us to develop an open minded attitude as well as building the confidence to observe, listen and make informed decisions about what we see and do.!”
Toni Magennis 👩
“My art work is arranged as an open book which symbolises the knowledge and skills that I have acquired in my time in integrated education. It also represents the way that our faith and tradition has been an influence on our lives for generations and still is. The book represents integration allowing us to learn about and share our mutual respect for our fellow man. I am lucky to be in a school where this is encouraged, celebrated and rejoiced. I believe that being educated in an integrated school in this way gives everybody the opportunity to be ‘outstanding in their own way’.”
Nathan Hood 👨
“The Carson Bursary has given me the confidence to believe in my own abilities and to understand that I really do have a voice and I can be listened to. If we are the architects of the future and we are the generation that will be making decisions and choices that point towards a more positive future then, I really do think that it is up to the young people who have come through integrated education to influence and change the mind-set, dispositions and attitudes of others. I think that young people leaving integrated colleges are equipped with the right sort of vision for a better society. I think our perspective for the future can be better because we are secure in ourselves. Having been educated in an integrated school, we have developed the attitudes and dispositions that are necessary for a positive perspective for our future. I am so pleased with myself that the Carson Bursary has provided me with a lasting legacy in the school”
Deimante Keturakyte 👩
Cross Border Project
Promoting North/South Relations funded for by Irish Department of Foreign Affairs