Press Release 25 May 2017
Immediate use
Drama at Millennium IPS as special guests arrive from USA
Children at Millennium Integrated Primary School near Saintfield welcomed some very special guests this week, all the way from Georgia, USA. Bill and Molly Norrett, donors and long-standing supporters of the Integrated Education Fund (IEF), were welcomed to the school by Principal, Mary Roulston and founding Chair, Christine Trueman.
Molly Norrett (Moroney), an actress and playwright, led a master-class in drama and was only too happy to share some of her skills and techniques with the delighted pupils.
Molly commented
“It was fabulous. Bill and I had a ball. The Millennium children were very engaging and confident. We all know how important reading and writing is to a child’s education but good communication skills are essential too, helping us make friends, get the most out of school. That is why drama is so important, it helps children speak clearly and with confidence, and develop empathy.”
Bill Norrett added
“Visiting Millennium was very satisfying. Molly and I feel very strongly that integrated schooling plays a major part in developing a better society in Northern Ireland. Judging by Millennium, it offers a first class educational experience. As soon as you walk in the door you feel the positivity and stimulating learning environment. Molly and I want to play our part in helping the IEF help more schools like Millennium, and increase access to integrated education for the many parents that want it.”
During their trip to Northern Ireland, the Norretts also met Baroness May Blood MBE, the IEF’s Campaign Chair.
Baroness Blood said
“I first met Bill and Molly almost ten years ago when visiting America with the IEF. They’ve become great friends and supporters of integrated education. It is very humbling when people are prepared to travel such distances to see the work first-hand and actually get involved in a very practical way. It’s friends like the Norretts that help keep integrated education moving forward.” [Ends]
In the picture: 1. Pupils at Millennium Integrated Primary School enjoy a drama workshop with visiting actress and writer Molly Norrett (back, centre) with her husband Bill (back, right) joined by (back row left to right) teacher Judith Taggart, Principal Mary Roulston and Founding Chair Christine Trueman
2. Actress, writer and supporter of integrated education Molly Norrett runs a drama masterclass for children at Millennium Integrated Primary School, watched by Founding Chair Christine Trueman and Principal Mary Roulston
3. Children from Millennium Integrated Primary School threw themselves into a drama masterclass run by actress and writer Molly Norrett when she visited from the USA with her husband Bill Norrett
Note for editors:
The IEF is the charity (registered as NIC104886) which provides financial support for the development and growth of integrated education. Our aim is to enable children to learn together in an environment that celebrates religious and cultural diversity, making integration, not separation, the norm in the Northern Ireland education system. On the basis of parental demand we continue to support the establishment of more integrated school places, the transformation of existing non-integrated schools to integrated status and cross-community school initiatives that provide meaningful interaction between pupils, parents, staff and the wider community.
Contact details:
Paul Caskey, Head of Campaign IEF 028 9069 4099 www.ief.org.uk