Elmgrove Primary School
{{EngvarB|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}}
{{Infobox school
| name = Elmgrove Primary School
| image =
| motto = Have the courage to do what you know is right
| principal = Mrs Jayne Jeffers BEd(Hons) PQH(NI)
Ms Pauline Russell BEd(Hons) DASE CCET
| website = {{URL|elmgroveprimary.co.uk}}
| classes =
| logo =
| address = Avoniel Road
| city = Belfast
| county = County Down
| postcode = BT5 4SF
| country = Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
| staff =
| years = 8
| gender = Co-Educational
| lower_age = 3
| upper_age = 11
| houses = {{colour box|green}} Bingham
{{Colour box|blue}} Jones
{{Colour box|red}} Morrison
{{Colour box|yellow}} Ervine
| colours = {{Colour box|green}}{{Colour box|red}}
| schooltype = Primary
| established = {{start date and age|9 January 1933}}
| status = Open
| local_authority = Education Authority
}}
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.{{Cite web |url=http://elmgrove.belfast.ni.sch.uk/htmlfiles/ourhistory/archive/1937/nwhig32.html |title=Opening of Elmgrove |access-date=2 September 2011 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120708181350/http://elmgrove.belfast.ni.sch.uk/htmlfiles/ourhistory/archive/1937/nwhig32.html |archive-date=8 July 2012 |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |url=http://elmgrove.belfast.ni.sch.uk/htmlfiles/ourhistory/archive/1937/nwhig33.html |title=Opening of Elmgrove |access-date=2 September 2011 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120711082940/http://elmgrove.belfast.ni.sch.uk/htmlfiles/ourhistory/archive/1937/nwhig33.html |archive-date=11 July 2012 |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |url=http://elmgrove.belfast.ni.sch.uk/htmlfiles/ourhistory/archive/btele.html |title=Opening of Elmgrove |access-date=2 September 2011 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120708012346/http://elmgrove.belfast.ni.sch.uk/htmlfiles/ourhistory/archive/btele.html |archive-date=8 July 2012 |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |url=http://elmgrove.belfast.ni.sch.uk/htmlfiles/ourschool/ourschoolindex.html |title=Elmgrove PS – Our School |access-date=2 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120201013429/http://elmgrove.belfast.ni.sch.uk/htmlfiles/ourschool/ourschoolindex.html |archive-date=1 February 2012 |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |url=http://elmgrove.belfast.ni.sch.uk/htmlfiles/ourschool/About%20Elmgrove.html |title=Elmgrove PS – About Elmgrove |access-date=2 September 2011 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120709020812/http://elmgrove.belfast.ni.sch.uk/htmlfiles/ourschool/About%20Elmgrove.html |archive-date=9 July 2012 |url-status=dead }}
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
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.[https://web.archive.org/web/20121106115945/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-17137242.html Day Peter was pushed around when he met UK establishment; ASSEMBLY NOTES – Belfast Telegraph | HighBeam Research] In 2009 Henry Winkler (The Fonz) visited the school to talk about reading books and his new book.{{Cite web|url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/community-telegraph/east-belfast/ayyy-happy-days-for-local-pupils-14314831.html?service=Print|title=The Independent – Print Article}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/community-telegraph/east-belfast/news/the-fonz-gives-local-pupils-a-happy-day-14308037.html|title=The Fonz gives local pupils a happy day – News, East Belfast – Belfasttelegraph.co.uk}}http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/community-telegraph/east-belfast/ayyy-happy-days-for-local-pupils-14314831.html {{Dead link|date=February 2022}} During elections, the school is used as a polling station.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/gallery/2010/may/06/general-election-2010-conservatives#/?picture=362280690&index=8|title = General election 2010: MPS cast their votes|newspaper = The Guardian|date = 6 May 2010}}
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
- John Sullivan 1932–1948[https://archive.today/20120708024925/http://elmgrove.belfast.ni.sch.uk/htmlfiles/ourhistory/archive/misc/sullivan.html Mr. John Sullivan]
- Arthur Clemitson 1948–1972{{Cite web |url=http://elmgrove.belfast.ni.sch.uk/htmlfiles/ourhistory/archive/misc/clemitson.html |title=Mr. Arthur L. Clemitson |access-date=2 September 2011 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120710180537/http://elmgrove.belfast.ni.sch.uk/htmlfiles/ourhistory/archive/misc/clemitson.html |archive-date=10 July 2012 |url-status=dead }}
- Dr Jim Hunter 1972-1995/1996[https://archive.today/20120711044034/http://elmgrove.belfast.ni.sch.uk/htmlfiles/ourhistory/archive/misc/drh.html Dr. Hunter]
- Frazer Thompson 1995/1996-2000{{Cite web |url=http://elmgrove.belfast.ni.sch.uk/htmlfiles/ourhistory/archive/ftretire/ftretire.html |title=Mr. Thompson's Retirement |access-date=2 September 2011 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120709094552/http://elmgrove.belfast.ni.sch.uk/htmlfiles/ourhistory/archive/ftretire/ftretire.html |archive-date=9 July 2012 |url-status=dead }}
- David Hutchinson 2000–2011 (his death, 11 August 2011){{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/ripdavidhutchinson?ref=ts|title=Facebook|website=www.facebook.com}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/ulster-school-principal-dies-after-ladder-accident-16036100.html|title=Ulster school principal dies after ladder accident – Northern Ireland, Local & National – Belfasttelegraph.co.uk}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.seaviewps.org.uk/home|title=Seaview Primary School, Belfast|website=www.seaviewps.org.uk}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.bigdug.co.uk/shelving-and-racking-blog/company-news/ulster-principal-dies-following-a-ladder-accident-bl3157|title=Ulster Principal Dies Following a Ladder Accident | BigDug News|access-date=2 September 2011|archive-date=23 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110823145413/http://www.bigdug.co.uk/shelving-and-racking-blog/company-news/ulster-principal-dies-following-a-ladder-accident-bl3157|url-status=dead}}
- Andrea Brown 2011–2013 (Acting)
- Jayne Jeffers April 2013–present
- Pauline Russell 2024–present (Acting)
Former pupils
- Billy Bingham, footballer{{Cite web |url=http://elmgrove.belfast.ni.sch.uk/htmlfiles/ourhistory/archive/misc/bingham.html |title=Billy Bingham |access-date=3 September 2011 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120711172311/http://elmgrove.belfast.ni.sch.uk/htmlfiles/ourhistory/archive/misc/bingham.html |archive-date=11 July 2012 |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |url=http://elmgrove.belfast.ni.sch.uk/htmlfiles/ourhistory/archive/40ball/40ball.html |title=Elmgrove 1940s Football Team Presentation |access-date=3 September 2011 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120717220349/http://elmgrove.belfast.ni.sch.uk/htmlfiles/ourhistory/archive/40ball/40ball.html |archive-date=17 July 2012 |url-status=dead }}
- Van Morrison, musician{{cite web| url = http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/community-telegraph/east-belfast/163235m-lottery-cash-boost-for-connswater-13889694.html| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121021010238/http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/community-telegraph/east-belfast/163235m-lottery-cash-boost-for-connswater-13889694.html| archive-date = 2012-10-21| title = £23.5m lottery cash boost for Connswater - East Belfast, Community Telegraph - Belfasttelegraph.co.uk}}
- George Cassidy, jazz musician{{Cite web |title=History {{!}} Elmgrove Primary School |url=https://www.elmgroveprimary.co.uk/history/ |access-date=2024-11-20 |website=www.elmgroveprimary.co.uk}}
- Sammy Wilson, politician{{Cite web |url=http://elmgrove.belfast.ni.sch.uk/htmlfiles/ourhistory/archive/samwilson/sam.html |title=Lord Mayor's Visit |access-date=11 September 2011 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120721121631/http://elmgrove.belfast.ni.sch.uk/htmlfiles/ourhistory/archive/samwilson/sam.html |archive-date=21 July 2012 |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |url=http://elmgrove.belfast.ni.sch.uk/htmlfiles/ourhistory/archive/misc/wilson.html |title=Picture of Girl and Boy in Uniform |access-date=11 September 2011 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120709154433/http://elmgrove.belfast.ni.sch.uk/htmlfiles/ourhistory/archive/misc/wilson.html |archive-date=9 July 2012 |url-status=dead }}
- David Ervine, politician
- Ian Paisley Junior, politician
- George Jones, musician and presenter
Projects
=Out of this World=
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.{{Cite web|url=http://www.rewardinglearning.org.uk/newsroom/2006/031106.asp|title = 404 Not Found}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.rewardinglearning.org.uk/newsroom/press/2006/press_031106.asp|title = 404 Not Found}}
=Connswater Community Greenway Project=
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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.eastsidegreenways.com/|title=EastSide Greenways}} The school has represented the project several times, first on 14 November 2007 and the second on 24 October 2008. One of the bridges along the Greenway was named after former principal David Hutchinson.
=Over the Halfpenny Bridge=
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.{{Cite web |url=http://www.danceunitedni.com/index.php/projects/closing-the-gap/ |title=Closing the Gap « Dance United |access-date=2 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120120154952/http://www.danceunitedni.com/index.php/projects/closing-the-gap/ |archive-date=20 January 2012 |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web|url=http://www.culturenorthernireland.org/article/2651/dance-united-ni|title=Dance United NI|access-date=2 September 2011|archive-date=9 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110409155827/http://www.culturenorthernireland.org/article/2651/dance-united-ni|url-status=dead}}
=Eco-Schools programme=
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{{Cite web |url=http://www.eco-schoolsni.org/news.aspx?dataid=431384 |title=Eco-Schools Northern Ireland |access-date=15 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425070109/http://www.eco-schoolsni.org/news.aspx?dataid=431384 |archive-date=25 April 2012 |url-status=dead }}
=Sesame Tree=
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.http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/community-telegraph/east-belfast/news/elmgrove-children-branch-out-into-new-sesame-tree-14886102.html?r=RSS {{Dead link|date=February 2022}}
References
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{{Education in Northern Ireland}}
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Category:Primary schools in Belfast