Fivemiletown Primary School yesterday (Wednesday) celebrated the extension of their premises when a building project joined the older National School building to the more recent school premises.

The School now has additonal classrooms as well as improved toilet facilities, additonal storage, resource areas and a library.

A special ceremony took place at the School when pupils, staff and visitors from the Board of Governors, the Education Authority, PTA members, local political representatives and members of Fivemiletown Chamber of Commerce gathered for the official opening of the extension carried out under the Minor Capital Works Programme.

Miss Melanie Houston, Principal, thanked the Department of Education and the Education Authority’s Southern Region for providing Fivemiletown with a school building which linked the past with the present and equipped the school to move forward into the future facilitating learning opportunities for children from the surrounding area.

She said the School was justly proud of its history including the National School building dating from 1880.

She also thanked their staff for enduring the building work and ensuring the children’s education was not disrupted but enriched by the learning opportunities presented to them.

Mrs. Baxter, Chairperson of the Board of Governors, said the community in Fivemiletown should be grateful for the vision and commitment of Hugh Montgomery of Blessingbourne who established a village school in 1834 and how they could look forward with confidence to a promising future after 180 years serving the community.

The building work was completed by Bavan Contracts, Wheelan and company, Williams and Shaw Limited and Nicholas O’Dwyer.

The guests on Wednesday were entertained by musical and dramatic performances by the pupils and everyone enjoyed listening to the reminiscences of special guest, Mr. Hugh McMahon who attended the National School from 1932 to 1935.

Celebrations will continue tomorrow (Friday) when there is a community open morning when parents and friends of the school are invited to visit either at 10am or 10.45am. The invitation extends to members of the wider community. The week of celebration finishes with a P.T.A. May Fair tomorrow evening which includes a fancy dress parade through the town.