Spa PS celebrates 50th anniversary
SPA Primary School marked its milestone 50th anniversary with a series of special events last week.
Five decades of generations-spanning history was the focus of celebrations for everyone connected to the village school, which came into being in the 1973/74 academic year through the amalgamation of three local rural schools.
Speaking to the Mourne Observer on Thursday, principal Audrey Fitzsimons explained that last week’s events included a sponsored walk for the pupils at Montalto Estate and a school fair on Tuesday 4 June, and a special assembly on Thursday.
The fair, which featured a display of old photographs and historic items such as roll books, afforded parents and past pupils the opportunity to go down memory lane.
“We have an awful lot of pupils whose mums and dads are in the photographs, and even some of them have their grandas and grannies in the photographs,” said Mrs Fitzsimons.
“That’s generations of families that have come to the school – it is very much part of the community.
“I know that there were a lot of parents and grandparents here on Tuesday night, who just spent their whole time in the hall reminiscing and going down through the photographs and looking at the roll books, and even at the attendances and people in their classes and things like that.
“The photographs were very popular.”
Thursday morning saw former teachers Leah Sterling and Tilly McCoubrey visit the school for the special assembly.
Miss Sterling held a question and answer session with the pupils, and, using old photographs, explained some of the school’s long history and how things were at certain points in time to the children.
Mrs McCoubrey cut a special anniversary cake, at which point the assembly turned into a tea party.
A special presentation was also made to retiring governor Wilfie Key, who served on the school’s board for 40 years.
Mrs Fitzsimons said that the week’s events had reinforced “just how proud and lucky we feel to be part of such a very strong school community”.
“We have had – and still have – wonderful families and wonderful children down through the years,” she added.
“I think, with our kids, it has even embedded their belonging as well, and even though we see the likes of our P7s, who are moving on now, they still feel – and will be part of – the Spa community.”
The school is currently working on a mosaic – made up of clay tiles designed and contributed by all pupils – that will be displayed there for years to come, and commemorative tea towels and bespoke key rings have also been created to mark the anniversary.
Concluding, the principal said: “I would like to thank our governors, our staff and our parents for being so supportive and for being part of the community, and the children for making the school such a special place.”