Photographs of first schooldays always have a special importance for families. And the Harbinson family will treasure this one, taken last week at St Mary’s Primary School in Newcastle.
Way back in 1996, four-year-old Marc Harbinson had his photograph taken by the Mourne Observer, alongside his mother, to mark his first days at St Mary’s—made even more special because his mum, Jacqueline, was a teacher in the school.
Twenty-nine years later, that same little boy is now a teacher in the very same school (though back then it was a boys’ school). His son, Zach, is just starting his schooldays at St Mary’s, and his mum still teaches there as the Primary One teacher.
Last week, the Mourne Observer was able to capture the three generations of the Harbinson family at the school, with a photograph of them holding the image of Marc and Jacqueline that ran on the front page of the paper back in 1996.
Marc said: “I felt very proud to be included in the photo with my mum and son today.”
Marc has been a teacher for 12 years. He joined the teaching staff at St Mary’s this year, where he will be the Primary Five teacher. His mum Jacqueline is the P1 teacher and will teach her grandson Zach. She has been teaching at the school for 35 years.
Marc also shared his main memory of attending the school where his mum taught: “I have memories of behaving well because everyone could send me down to mum if I wasn’t!” he joked.
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