£ 22m campus officially opens with heartfelt ceremony
Special occasion for pupils and staff was delayed for three years due to coronavirus
ANEW learning campus officially opened in North Glasgow. The Sighthill Community Campus has been housing pupils from Sighthill Nursery and St Martin’s Primary School for three years but due to the pandemic, the opening ceremony was held yesterday.
Hundreds, including pupils, teachers, staff and council officials gathered at the facility to mark the occasion in a festive manner.
With student performances, heartfelt speeches and a special plaque being unveiled, the afternoon focused on diversity and equality, two of the institution’s priorities.
St Martin’s headteacher Donna McKay said: “I am delighted that we have finally managed to open the campus after a three- year delay but I think that the timing is right.
“Moving into a new school, the focus is all about the school, whereas three years down the line, it’s rightly about the community that we aspire to be. I am happy with how this afternoon’s proceedings went and I am incredibly proud of my staff, team, children and families who ensured that today went without a hitch.”
Treasure Obeahon, 10, a P7 student at the school, praised the community and emphasised the importance of being together at assemblies.
She added: “It is a very nice place and it’s better than our old school.
It has a bigger playground and a beautiful wall when you enter.”
The institution was created by combining the local St Stephen’s and St Kevin’s schools and was named after St Martin de Porres, the patron saint of racial harmony.
Christina Cannon, city convener for education, communities and equalities unveiled the commemorative plaque as part of the event.
She said: “I think the opening is really important, even though the staff and pupils have been in the school for the past three years.
“It’s a chance for an official ceremony and to celebrate what they have already and what merging the two schools together means.
“We have heard from the staff, the headteacher, and also the students themselves, about the values of the school and I think that was a real highlight for me today.
“Inclusion, diversity and equity are everything that we need in the future generations and these students embody it so very well. I am so proud of them and it was a privilege to be there.”
The new building, located on Sighthill Avenue, contains 19 fulltime teaching classrooms, three general- purpose rooms, five nursery playrooms, specialist rooms, a sensory room, nurture room, multipurpose gym, amphitheatre and more.
Outside, students can utilise a seven- a- side pitch, planters, minibasketball court, covered bike storage, raised seating and external storage.