One Community Many Bridges

 

In Belvoir Park Primary School we are proud to have a diverse community of people who come from all over the world. We believe that by bringing Catholic, Protestant and children of other faiths, and none, together in a shared learning environment, they can learn to understand, respect and accept their differences.  By choosing to come to Belvoir the, children and their parents are contributing to the peace and reconciliation process in Northern Ireland. We are One Community that is building Many Bridges to Peace & Reconciliation.

 

We must encourage all children to become personally, emotionally, socially and physically effective to lead healthy, safe and fulfilled lives and to become confident, independent and responsible citizens, making informed and responsible choices and decisions throughout their lives.

 

Our focus in school is to provide a quality service where the children are engaged with their learning. One of the themes we have taken is in relation to community relations under the title of “Building – People - Bridges” because we want a better future for our children. We want to leave the past behind us and to develop our relationships with all those communities who live in Northern Ireland.

 

Our school logo, which is printed on our sweatshirts, is a tree and a river. This is directly linked to Belvoir Forest and the River Lagan. However, it also reminds us of the little verse "the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations" and the river of life that brings us refreshment. We want to see a healing of the communities in Belfast & Northern Ireland and to experience life to the full.

Belvoir has had a long tradition of families who want more for their children those who want to reach out to the whole community. We are proud of the tolerance that our children have shown to all creeds and colours within the school and the wider estate.

We have introduced Gaelic Football, as part of our PE curriculum, at the request of some the children. The Belvoir area has had a tradition of Irish dancing with a large number of children participating in classes. This is unique and is a visible sign of the tolerance of the parents in the estate.

Mutual understanding in the local and wider community require us to engage in developing learners who can:

• initiate, develop and sustain mutually satisfying relationships;
• adhere to human rights and social responsibility;
• evaluate the causes of conflict and appropriate responses;
• value and celebrate cultural difference and diversity;
• play an active and meaningful part in the life of the community and being concerned about the wider environment. 

Belvoir is a special place, a village community nestled in the centre of a city, striving to be different.