St Joseph’s Primary School was named as the winner in the ‘Changing the Life of the School’ category for its ‘Greenhouse’ project. Over 50 principals, parents and educationalists gathered for the awards hosted by MLA Michelle McIlveen, a member of the Assembly’s Education Committee. The event recognises the achievements of PTA committees throughout Northern Ireland, rewarding fund-raising innovation, good practice, parental involvement and community spirit across a number of categories, as part of the national PTA-UK Gold Star Awards scheme. Representatives from the school and PTA, Maria Gough, Denise Broderick, Gemma Plumb and Kieran Corrigan accepted a cheque for £500 from the MLA and Wendy Osborne, chief executive of Volunteer Now. The idea to fund a greenhouse is part of the PTA’s support of the school’s aspiration to create an outdoor learning environment for pupils and began several years ago with the funding of a science garden and willow sculpture. It is already proving a useful addition for the school’s Eco Club and pupils are given the chance to plant, tender, water, feed, watch and wait to harvest the fruits of their labour. St Joseph’s Primary School PTA will now join winners from Wales and England at the PTA-UK Gold Star Award national finals next Wednesday,day (June 12) in London when the overall winner will be announced.