St Mary’s University College was once again delighted to host the annual Summer Transition School in cooperation with the West Belfast Partnership Board, the Department of Education and the post-primary schools in the West Belfast constituency area. The Summer Transition School catered for approximately 200 young people in classes on campus during the week commencing Monday, 13 August.
The programme is delivered by fully qualified local teachers, along with support staff and students from St Mary’s University College, and taught in both Irish and English. The classroom activities include everything: from how to make a new friend, to how to read a timetable and pack your schoolbag for the school day. The summer school encourages learning by making it a fun experience with classroom activities and a trip out to a place of educational interest. This year it was the Cultra Folk and Transport Museum.
The highlight of the week was a visit from Belfast's first citizen, Councillor Deirdre Hargey, Lord Mayor of Belfast. The Lord Mayor visited classrooms and engaged with pupils, teachers and support staff. She was keen to find out about all aspects of the transition programme and its positive impact on the pupils. Her communications team filmed video footage of her visit, and a link to this short video is included below.
The Summer Transition School makes an important contribution to the College mission by supporting young people in achieving their full potential and, if appropriate, aspire to higher education. This year fifteen BEd and Liberal Arts students from the College participated in the school, providing teaching assistance in the classrooms and working with the pupils on a one-to-one basis. The St Mary’s student ambassadors were as follows: Aisling Johnston, Ruairi Mooney, Ruairi Hegarty, Ruairi Geehan, Aisling Malone, Cliona Magennis-O’Brien, Paula O’Neill, Rachel O’Neill, Cara Stewart, Bronagh McGilligan, Michaela Mimnagh, Ciara Marshall, Mary McStravick, Natasha McClorey, Caithair McKinney.
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