Co. Down schools celebrate partnership with creative activities

This creative partnership, part of the ongoing PEACEPLUS ASPIRE programme, is not only strengthening inter-school friendships but also nurturing imagination and teamwork among the pupils.

Activities undertaken were inspired by a workshop held at the recent PEACEPLUS ASPIRE Good Relations Symposium, called ‘What worlds open when we play together?’ Delivered by Early Years - the organisation for young children and National Childhood Network.   

Children began their collaborative journey by sculpting woodland animals from clay and natural materials. They offered feedback on each other’s creations using the “Two Stars and a Wish” approach, encouraging confidence and positive peer interaction.

The partnership continued with a lively bowling trip to Airtastic, Lisburn, where pupils mixed well and shared pizza, creating a relaxed environment that helped build new friendships. In the festive season, both classes used Just2Easy to design and exchange digital Christmas cards and create a shared journal, supported by their teachers’- who had received training through the project’s professional learning programme. 

Music and inclusive communication were the focus of a session at Knockevin School, led by music teacher Rory. Children explored instruments and learnt basic Makaton signs, enhancing their understanding of accessible communication while bringing the story of Jack and the Beanstalk to life with sound effects.

For World Book Day, pupils immersed themselves in the magical world of The Wizard of Oz. Activities included themed stations, sensory play, movie screenings, and creative cooking, allowing the children to learn and have fun side by side. The diverse programme has set a positive tone for continuing collaboration, supporting relationship-building and shared learning between both schools.

PEACEPLUS ASPIRE (Advancing Shared Partnerships through Inclusive Relationships in Education) is led by the Education Authority (EA), alongside Léargas, Early Years- the organisation for young children, National Childhood Network (NCN) and the Fermanagh Trust. The project is supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB). It aims to provide direct and sustained contact between children and young people from all backgrounds.