American visitors welcome at college
On
Wednesday 6 June we welcomed some American visitors to the College. The guests
included Dr Paula Dobrianski, the US Envoy to Northern Ireland, Executive
Assistant, Jeff Delaurentias, Cathy Blank and our long time friend and supporter
Dean Pittman, the US Consul General. Miss Geraldine Tigchelaar, Mrs Christine
Harpur and Mr Sam Fitzsimmons represented our funding body, the Integrated
Education Fund.
Dr Dobrinanski is a graduate of Georgetown University and of Harvard University. On February 1 this year she became the US envoy to Northern Ireland, taking over form Mitchell Reiss who held that position for three years.
Dean Pittman has been a strong supporter of Rowallane Integrated College since he first came to Northern Ireland. His tour of duty ends in August when he returns to Washington to take up another post; we will all miss him greatly.
The guests joined us for a special assembly, during which two of our pupils, Sarah Graham and David Kerr, told something of their first year at Rowallane Integrated College and Jack Steers gave a wonderful rendition on the trumpet of ‘Gigue’ by Bach. After the assembly the guests were treated to a tour of the College.
We are very grateful for the ongoing support which we receive from the United States.
Success for Rowallane at County Down Athletics Championship
21st May 2007
On the 10th of May, 8 pupils from Rowallane Integrated College competed
at the County Down championships at Mary Peters Track. Students competed in
the 100m, High Jump, 100m Team Relay and the 800m. Due to the small numbers
of the college there was limited success in all the races - except one. Lauren
(8MR) won the 800m in the Junior age group.
A week later Lauren went on to complete the double by finishing 1st again this time in the Ulster championships. Our school now has Northern Ireland's fastest 800m runner for her age. Amazing!
This was a tremendous success
and Lauren is definitely a name to look out for in the future of middle distance
running. There was a public announcement celebrating the college's first success
at the athletics completion and the pupils were a credit to the school. Well
done everyone.
Photography Success
14th January 2008
Rowallane Intergrated College had three winners in the "Transforming Images - What Diversity Means To Me" competition. The photograph "happy being diverse", "2 gardeners - 80 years of difference and "a diverse family". Each child has won a digital camera which will be awarded at a cermony in January. Pupils, their families, school principal and teachers will be invited to attend. (date to be arranged).
Ms Wilson congratulated Rowallane on it's fantastic achievement saying that over 200 schools throughout Ireland entered the competition and that 12 prizes of digital cameras were being awarded, the fact that Rowallane Integrated College had won three of them was amazing.
The Equalities Commission are planning to produce a callender using all 12 winning images.
Integrated School Students will join President Bush
NICIE Website 15th March 2007
12 year old students, Ryan Montgomery and Tony O'Malley, flew to Washington on March 12 with school Principal, Dr Olwen Griffith, to attend a series of events celebrating St Patrick's Day, and culminating in representing the Integrated Education Movement at the White House celebrations on Friday.
Tonight the students will attend the 15th National Gala of The American Ireland Fund, in the presence of the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, and over 800 leading Irish-American political and corporate leaders. The American Ireland Fund has been a long standing supporter of Integrated Education, which is viewed as making a vital contribution to a truly shared future in Northern Ireland.
The White House invitation comes after a recent announcement by the
Northern Ireland charitable foundation, the Integrated Education Fund (IEF)
to pledge up to £1 million, inclusive of a massive $500,000 grant from
The American Ireland Fund, to support Rowallane Integrated College whilst
it awaits government approval. The invitation will be seen as a further vote
of confidence by the many parents who are working to provide an Integrated
choice for their children in the mid-Down area.
Geraldine Tigchelaar OBE, Chair of the Board of Trustees of the IEF, said "The invitation extended by President Bush is a great honour for the Integrated Movement in this the 25th Anniversary year of the founding of the first Integrated school. I would like to extend our gratitude to the US Consul General Dean Pittman and his staff for their unceasing support and for facilitating this once in a lifetime opportunity for Tony and Ryan."
Rowallane pupils to attend party at White House
Belfast Telegraph 15th March 2007
Two pupils from an Ulster integrated school which was turned down twice
for Government funding are to attend the famous St Patrick's Day celebrations
at the White House.
The much sought-after invitation from President George Bush is a
strong show of American support for Rowallane Integrated College - which has
already received a vital $500,000 grant from The American Ireland Fund to
secure its survival.
Ryan Montgomery and Tony O'Malley, who are both 12, flew to Washington
this week with principal Dr Olwen Griffith.
Tony said: "When I heard that I had been chosen to go to Washington
I just couldn't stop smiling. I even woke up the next morning still smiling."
The pupils are attending a series of events organised to mark St
Patrick's Day and will represent the integrated education movement at the
White House celebrations tomorrow.
Last night they attended the 15th National Gala of The American Ireland
Fund, in the presence of the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, speaker of the US House
of Representatives Nancy Pelosi and more than 800 leading Irish-American political
and corporate leaders.
The American Ireland Fund has been a long standing supporter of integrated
education.
IEF Financial Pledge Secures Future for Rowallane Integrated College
6th February 2007
The announcement today by the Northern Ireland charitable foundation,
the Integrated Education Fund (IEF) to pledge up to £1 million to Rowallane
Integrated College will be seen as a vote of confidence to the many parents
who are determined to provide an Integrated Education for their children in
the mid-Down area.
The pledge includes a massive $500,000 grant from the American Ireland
Fund, the largest worldwide network of Irish people, dedicated to raising
funds to support programmes of peace and reconciliation.
Click
here to view the IEF Media Release 6th February 2007