Black tie ball for school to mark landmark year

A lavish event will be held this weekend to celebrate a landmark year for a school in the West of the Island.

The 2019-20 academic year marked the 125th anniversary of Michael School which welcomed 117 children through it's doors when it first opened on November 16, 1894.

To celebrate the occasion, the school will host a black tie ball at Ramsey Park Hotel from 7pm on Saturday.

Headteacher at the school, Karen Riley, says: "One of the things we are most proud of at Michael School is our ethos- we are a school family, everyone matters and we care.

"20 years ago this month, I walked through the doors of Michael School as a nervous but excited newly-qualified teacher. 

From the moment I was inside, I was greeted by smiling, happy, accepting children and immediately felt ‘the hug’ that people talk about when they visit Michael School - this is something that can’t be measured, but says so much about our local community."

School pupils have also played a part in marking the moment by dressing up as they would have in 1894 when the first pupils entered and started their lessons and also participated in Victorian-style lessons, even having separate playgrounds for boys and girls for one day only.