Minister John O’Dowd Opens New Building at Shimna Integrated College
On 17th October, staff, students, parents and governors were delighted to welcome Minister John O’Dowd to open the Forbes building. The building provides home economics and science facilities for Shimna’s students. While he was there, the Minister also visited the science and technology facilities, which Department of Education funding has just refurbished. The Minister had plenty of good things to say about Integrated, academically excellent, all-ability education. David Thompson, Integrated Education Fund director, also came and was presented with a memento of the occasion in gratitude to the IEF for providing the funding to fit out the ground floor area as our new media suite. The Forbes building has been named after Jean Forbes, a governor of Shimna who served many years as chair of Shimna’s Estates Committee, and who made a particular contribution to the development of Shimna’s buildings and grounds. It was a pleasure to have members of Jean’s family at the opening ceremony. A level student Sinead Murray baked a very special cake for the occasion, and it was delicious!
