'It's the best day of the year': 210 North Mon pupils and teachers enjoy Christmas dinner together 

The North Monastery Primary School community had a special festive dinner together ahead of the Christmas break this week.

Pupils, staff and parents all gathered in the school hall on Thursday to enjoy the festivities as over 210 Christmas meals prepared by dedicated kitchen staff were dished up.

Those in attendance also enjoyed the annual Christmas raffle organised by the Parents’ Association.

Speaking to The Echo following the Christmas dinner event, deputy principal Colin Daly said: “It’s the best day of the year for us since we started the tradition. It’s the one time the entire school can get together because we’re all working off different timetables and different schedules.

“We all have our own individual objectives and collective objectives that we have to strive for but this is a day where we can sit back and take stock of all the successes of the year and enjoy with the children the festive atmosphere and get a bit of good food in as well.”

This is the third year in a row that the entire school has gathered in the main hall for the festive celebrations, an event that Mr Daly said has quickly become tradition.

He acknowledged all those in the kitchen who gave out over 210 meals which included turkey, ham, and all the trimmings. 

“You’re privileged to be part of a school community like that. For the children to be able to say in 10 or 15 years that they always got together as a school and had a Christmas meal.

“I know in different fields and different jobs there is the satisfaction you get but being able to sit down with amazing children, amazing staff, amazing parents, that’s what a school community is.” 

He said the Christmas raffle, which had the main prize of a Nintendo Switch, was also very well received this year.

The school’s last day before the Christmas break was Friday, during which Mr Daly said pupils reflect on the past year and set new goals for 2024.