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The Newry Polish community celebrated a significant landmark at the weekend, marking the 15th anniversary of Newry's Polish Supplementary School. The school currently is based at St Malachy's Primary School in Martins Lane in the city and on Saturday past, 18 November hundreds turned out at the venue to help the community celebrate. The event was not just about celebrating the School's anniversary, but celebrating the whole Polish community in the region and their contribution to local life in business and community.
The aim of the school is to teach the Polish language as well as educate the children on Polish culture. Kamila Greszta who has been teaching at the school from the start summed up the school's journey perfectly "I was privileged to teach a lot of children but in fact, I actually could say that it was me who learned a lot." Ms Greszta was involved in many projects over the years including recording a song with the pupils.
She added "It's a privilege to be a teacher of bilingual children because at the end of the day it's our superpower. My adventure with the Polish School started 15 years ago and it's still ongoing. To our school and pupils I wish that each and every Saturday will be a challenge and even though they may prefer to sleep a bit longer, that they will have the motivation to come over and learn the Polish language and cultural traditions."
The school currently has around 120 pupils aged from 3 to 18 year old. They offer Polish language classes and currently have three pre-school groups and four primary school classes as well as courses preparing for GCSE and A level exams in the Polish language that will help the children in adult life and future careers.
Admiration
Chairperson of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, Cllr Valerie Harte spoke of her admiration for the Polish community "When the school was established 15 years ago, we were delighted and at the same time full of admiration for our growing Polish community and their ability to organise themselves so quickly in order to help their children retain and develop their mother tongue." Cllr Harte said.
The Chairperson continued "It is great to see John Feehan here today. John was a great supporter of the school during his time as Mayor of Newry and Mourne. Since its opening in 2008 the Polish Supplementary School has provided a vital link between our cultures, ensuring the children of Polish parents are educated in the history and culture of their native country through the Polish language. We are very proud of our migrant communities and have always been ready to provide support. The existence of the Ethnic Minority Support Centre in Newry Town Hall is testimony to our ongoing commitment to supporting those in need and making our district welcoming to all. On behalf of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council I'd like to thank the staff and all involved in the running of the Polish Supplementary School, offer our continued support and wish you every success for the future. Can I just say thank you very much to the teachers and the parents for the brilliant performance you've put on for us this morning."
Inspiration
Polish Consul General, Mariusz Stus was in attendance and was incredibly impressed with the school's teachers and pupils and the local Polish community. Mr Stus said "It was great to see young Polish students of different ages who speak so fluently both in Polish and English. It is something outside incredible and I think you are an inspiration for local children who maybe wish to learn not only English but also other languages, Irish or other. I think you're a big inspiration for them and I think you're a big inspiration for all of us."
"I would like to say thanks to all teachers and students that are part of this great school here, one of the best Polish Supplementary School's in Northern Ireland. I'm really glad that I can come here and be part of this big celebration."
The Consul General spoke of his delight that current council chairperson Cllr Valerie Harte and former chairperson Michael Savage were present, adding that it says a lot about the attitude of the local authority towards the Polish community. He congratulated them on the great Polish community in Newry, now an integral part of the overall Newry community.
Unique
Another speaker spoke of the uniqueness of the event. "I stand before you with real emotion as I'm aware of the uniqueness of this moment in which people gather together and are connected by one place, the Polish Supplementary School in Newry. Today we are experiencing an extraordinary day the 15th Anniversary, which is an opportunity to reminisce. Although they belong to the past they have shaped the present and the future. From the very beginning the aim of the school was to promote Polish language, Polish culture, history, traditions. That is why it's so important to send children to the Polish school to give them a chance to broaden their horizons, look from a different Polish perspective and be able to speak two languages fluently. The Polish school is not only about learning to read and write but also about a specific place on the child's education path.
"In 15 years it has been the witness to the history written by all of us, which cannot be erased. The Polish school has never been just a place or an institution, but the tight knit community created by students and their parents, teachers and above all volunteers who gave their school their skills, enthusiasm, hearts and time, although it has not always been easy. It's difficult to be in a different place where you have left part of your life. I wish everyone courage to take on new challenges and effective cooperation based on trust tolerance and understanding."
History
Jerome Mullen, Honorary Consul of Poland added "Anita Dabek was the person who came to me when I was appointed Honorary Consul for Poland in August 2008 and she wanted to set up a Polish School and the question was where would she hold the school. I set about to try to find a location for her and contacted the principal of the Abbey Primary School, Eddie Sweeney. Eddie were very accommodating and immediately said 'Yes, we would be delighted to have the Polish community have a Polish Saturday school in Newry'."
"That was the start of the Polish school in Newry in 2008 and of course changes took place over the years. St Colman's Abbey Primary School closed down and was moved to a new building in the area so the Polish School had to find another place to go to and Declan Murray the principal of St. Joseph's High School on the Armagh Road was very accommodating. You had the school there in St. Joseph's for a number of years and now you're here in St. Malachy's Primary School and I'd like to offer my my sincere thanks to the principal for accommodating the Polish School here."
This is one of the largest Polish schools in Northern Ireland with over 100 children here and it is a great credit to all of the people who have been associated, the teachers, the managers of the school over the years to have maintained this school and to have had the huge numbers. I was trying to think just how many children must have gone through this school, and it must be very close to 1000 children. Many of them have grown up to be adults and are now making huge contributions to the economy here in Northern Ireland or in other parts of the world. No doubt that is the case. Polish is still the largest ethnic minority population here in Northern Ireland even though many Poles have left over recent years, nevertheless, you are still the largest community and this is just an example for the local people to see, the children that were assembled here on stage this morning performing, all of them from the little ones to the big ones, basically to see how how the Polish community has grown and many of them have been born here in Northern Ireland and are growing up within our community here and our education system."
Local Polish businesses also took part in the event including MAjukooo www.majukooo.co.uk , Me Time Studio, Larens and Kasia's Sewing Room.
In conclusion Mr Mullen pointed out that Newry headquartered business MJM Marine had sponsored the anniversary event and thanked them for their involvement. He said they were a perfect fit for the event."MJM Marine are one of the largest employers of Polish people, not only here in Northern Ireland but also in Poland"
