The management of Beech Hill College has taken the very progressive decision to introduce Lithuanian as a Junior Cycle Short Course. To celebrate this important event the Lithuanian Ambassador to Ireland Mr Egidijus Meilūnas and his consular assistant Mrs Virginija Umbraziene attended Beech Hill College to meet the parents and pupils who will undertake these new and exciting lessons on Wednesday afternoons. Ms Kristina Jankaitie will be teaching this course.
As a school Beech Hill College welcomes students from all backgrounds. At present there are many Lithuanian students in our school from 1st to 6th Year. These students will now be given the opportunity to study their native language and will be facilitated to include this as part of their Junior Cycle Profile of Achievement. In addressing the event Principal Mr Patrick Mc Ardle stated that he wanted to give all the students in Beech Hill College every opportunity to reach their potential. Mr Mc Ardle addressed the Lithuanian parents directly when he said “I recognise how important it is for you to keep alive your culture and identity as you seek to make a new life for your families here in Ireland. Your story is very similar to that of generations of Irish people who have made the four corners of the world their home. I honestly believe that by allowing your child to study Lithuanian in our school that you will keep your language and traditions alive, that you will help your child reach their full potential and that they will make a massive contribution to Irish society in the future”.
In addition to this Mr Mc Ardle has contacted the Principals of the other secondary schools in Monaghan Town to invite their Lithuanian students to attend Senior Cycle classes also to take place in Beech Hill College to help prepare pupils to take Lithuanian as a Leaving Certificate subject.
Northern Standard: https://www.bhc.ie/about/latest-news/257-beech-hill-college-launches-new-junior-cycle-short-course-in-lithuanian
