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Elmgrove Primary School

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Coordinates: 54°35′29″N 5°53′29″W / 54.5913°N 5.8914°W / 54.5913; -5.8914
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Elmgrove Primary School
Address
Map
Avoniel Road

Belfast
,
County Down
,
BT5 4SF

Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
Information
School typePrimary
MottoHave the courage to do what you know is right
Established9 January 1933; 91 years ago (9 January 1933)
StatusOpen
Local authorityEducation Authority
PrincipalMrs Jayne Jeffers BEd(Hons) PQH(NI)
Ms Pauline Russell BEd(Hons) DASE CCET
Years offered8
GenderCo-Educational
Age3 to 11
Houses  Bingham
  Jones
  Morrison
  Ervine
Colour(s)  
Websiteelmgroveprimary.co.uk

Elmgrove Primary School (Sometimes referred to as simply Elmgrove and originally known as Elmgrove Elementary School) is a state-controlled Primary School situated in East Belfast, Northern Ireland. It opened on 9 January 1933 as Elmgrove Elementary School.[1][2][3][4][5]

The original Elmgrove building at Beersbridge Road closed in November 2024. A new building at the former Avoniel site will be home to Elmgrove from December 2024.

History

[edit]

Elmgrove opened in 1932/1933 as Elmgrove Elementary School. Pupils from nearby schools were all moved into Elmgrove. Several famous/well-known people from Belfast attended the school. In 2008 Peter Robinson visited the school and several P7 pupils got to ask him questions about his childhood and career.[6] In 2009 Henry Winkler (The Fonz) visited the school to talk about reading books and his new book.[7][8][9] During elections, the school is used as a polling station.[10]

In 2008 Elmgrove celebrated its 75th anniversary. Special medals made from Mambco, were given to all the pupils. Special balloons were also present and two students from each year group got a balloon and released it into the air with a note attached saying that, when found, contact the school, to see how far the balloon travelled. The farthest known distance was to Scotland.

Nearby Avoniel Primary closed in 2015 and was merged with Elmgrove. With the school building still used to teach students in.

The school introduced a house system named after four past pupils of the school, Bingham, Morrison, Jones and Ervine.

The original Elmgrove at Beersbridge closed in November 2024, after a final tour for past pupils and staff to see the building one last time. A new site was built on the former Avoniel Primary School site, with Elmgrove at Avoniel due to open in December 2024.

Principals

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  • John Sullivan 1932–1948[11]
  • Arthur Clemitson 1948–1972[12]
  • Dr Jim Hunter 1972-1995/1996[13]
  • Frazer Thompson 1995/1996-2000[14]
  • David Hutchinson 2000–2011 (his death, 11 August 2011)[15][16][17][18]
  • Andrea Brown 2011–2013 (Acting)
  • Jayne Jeffers April 2013–present
  • Pauline Russell 2024–present (Acting)

Former pupils

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Projects

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Out of this World

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In 2006, pupils from Elmgrove took part in a new CCEA teaching resource called Out of this World. They were joined with St. Teresa's Primary School for the activity. Pupils made different objects with recycled materials.[25][26]

Connswater Community Greenway Project

[edit]

Elmgrove has been involved with the local project to refurbish the local walkway and river next to the school. Over the years, the Conn O'Neill bridge and river nearby has been vandalised.[27] The school has represented the project several times, first on 14 November 2007[27] and the second on 24 October 2008.[27] One of the bridges along the Greenway was named after former principal David Hutchinson.

Over the Halfpenny Bridge

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In 2009, Elmgrove stated that a new production was in the works with Dance United NI. The show was later named Over the Halfpenny Bridge. It was about the History of Belfast and starred the P7 pupils of that year, and Elderly members from nearby nursing homes, Elmgrove Manor and Greenville Court. 'I am staggered by the range and the quality of what has been produced this evening,' said school principal David Hutchinson. 'The children have acquired so many new skills by working with this terrific company and, through them, all of our minds have been opened.' The children worked with Writer Ruth Carr, Rastafarian poet Levi Tafari, printmaker Robin Cordiner, musicians Nikki Such, Patrick and Bronagh Davey and Irish, Greek and Indian dancers. On 2 April 2009, the show was performed live in St George's Market, Belfast.[28][29]

Eco-Schools programme

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Since 2009, the school has taken part in an Eco programme to make the school more eco-friendly. The School has Recently won the Green Flag Award[30]

Sesame Tree

[edit]

In 2010, P2 pupils from the school starred in a T.V series that aired on CBeebies called Sesame Tree, Northern Ireland's version of Sesame Street.[31]

References

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  1. ^ "Opening of Elmgrove". Archived from the original on 8 July 2012. Retrieved 2 September 2011.
  2. ^ "Opening of Elmgrove". Archived from the original on 11 July 2012. Retrieved 2 September 2011.
  3. ^ "Opening of Elmgrove". Archived from the original on 8 July 2012. Retrieved 2 September 2011.
  4. ^ "Elmgrove PS – Our School". Archived from the original on 1 February 2012. Retrieved 2 September 2011.
  5. ^ "Elmgrove PS – About Elmgrove". Archived from the original on 9 July 2012. Retrieved 2 September 2011.
  6. ^ Day Peter was pushed around when he met UK establishment; ASSEMBLY NOTES – Belfast Telegraph | HighBeam Research
  7. ^ "The Independent – Print Article".
  8. ^ "The Fonz gives local pupils a happy day – News, East Belfast – Belfasttelegraph.co.uk".
  9. ^ http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/community-telegraph/east-belfast/ayyy-happy-days-for-local-pupils-14314831.html [dead link‍]
  10. ^ "General election 2010: MPS cast their votes". The Guardian. 6 May 2010.
  11. ^ Mr. John Sullivan
  12. ^ "Mr. Arthur L. Clemitson". Archived from the original on 10 July 2012. Retrieved 2 September 2011.
  13. ^ Dr. Hunter
  14. ^ "Mr. Thompson's Retirement". Archived from the original on 9 July 2012. Retrieved 2 September 2011.
  15. ^ "Facebook". www.facebook.com.
  16. ^ "Ulster school principal dies after ladder accident – Northern Ireland, Local & National – Belfasttelegraph.co.uk".
  17. ^ "Seaview Primary School, Belfast". www.seaviewps.org.uk.
  18. ^ "Ulster Principal Dies Following a Ladder Accident | BigDug News". Archived from the original on 23 August 2011. Retrieved 2 September 2011.
  19. ^ "Billy Bingham". Archived from the original on 11 July 2012. Retrieved 3 September 2011.
  20. ^ "Elmgrove 1940s Football Team Presentation". Archived from the original on 17 July 2012. Retrieved 3 September 2011.
  21. ^ "£23.5m lottery cash boost for Connswater - East Belfast, Community Telegraph - Belfasttelegraph.co.uk". Archived from the original on 21 October 2012.
  22. ^ "History | Elmgrove Primary School". www.elmgroveprimary.co.uk. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  23. ^ "Lord Mayor's Visit". Archived from the original on 21 July 2012. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  24. ^ "Picture of Girl and Boy in Uniform". Archived from the original on 9 July 2012. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  25. ^ "404 Not Found". {{cite web}}: Cite uses generic title (help)
  26. ^ "404 Not Found". {{cite web}}: Cite uses generic title (help)
  27. ^ a b c "EastSide Greenways".
  28. ^ "Closing the Gap « Dance United". Archived from the original on 20 January 2012. Retrieved 2 September 2011.
  29. ^ "Dance United NI". Archived from the original on 9 April 2011. Retrieved 2 September 2011.
  30. ^ "Eco-Schools Northern Ireland". Archived from the original on 25 April 2012. Retrieved 15 October 2011.
  31. ^ http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/community-telegraph/east-belfast/news/elmgrove-children-branch-out-into-new-sesame-tree-14886102.html?r=RSS [dead link‍]

54°35′29″N 5°53′29″W / 54.5913°N 5.8914°W / 54.5913; -5.8914

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