Dear Parents and Guardians/A Thuismitheoirí agus a Chaomhnóirí,
Welcome back pupils, staff and parents. We are delighted to welcome some new members on board, Niamh in 5th class, Aisling K in 4th class, David C in 2nd class, Grace in 1st class and also Justine.
Sadly, Danielle has left our team but is remaining within the Educate Together movement. We are hugely grateful for her immense contribution over the last 5 years and wish her, Paul and all of the team in SKY ETNS (Sallynoggin Killiney ETNS) the very best of luck with their new school opening today.
Fiche Bliain ag Fás
We marked our 20 years in operation today and launched our fully functioning library with a lovely gathering this morning. Representatives from past and present BoMs, staff, pupils and parents were present. Paul Rowe, retired CEO of Educate Together, once quoted “as one of the most influential people in Irish education” in The Irish Times and Fintan McCutchen, retired ET Principal and now budding author, also joined us in the celebration.
All of the above represent a wide community of people, many in a voluntary capacity, who have brought us to this point starting 20 years ago. The considerable work over the 20 years was acknowledged including growing from 25 pupils on the 1st September 2002 to a full single stream school and then to a double stream school; building a team to support all of the children; the campaign for a new building and in the last 5 years development of this space eg. library, sports equipment and facilities, log cabin, gardens, outdoor spaces and Art Percent.
An Art Percent committee came up with a brief. We wanted something that didn’t underestimate children’s appreciation of art and that connected us to our locality, rich in natural beauty and history, the outcome being the river and the heron.
- Calm – The Heron is a very still patient creature. We hope that all children will feel a sense of calmness within their school and its surroundings.
- Care – The Heron is a focused, attentive hunter with great balance and stability. We endeavour to be thoughtful and mindful of all children and their individual needs.
- Confident – The Heron is self-reliant and hunts alone, sometimes for weeks. However, when it comes to certain activities like nest buildings, the Heron is a team player. Each member of the team works off their own initiative and yet good teamwork is at the essence of meeting children’s needs as best we can.
From today on our school emblem will be the Heron, symbolising the sort of school and staff we want to emanate. Well done to Annie, now in 1st Year who designed the Heron and thank you to Johanna, Lucia’s Mum 1st class, who developed this into a graphic image. We are very proud of both Dylan, Gene and Henry who performed beautifully for us on guitar and piano respectively. Thank you to Aoife C who enhanced the occasion with beautiful harp playing.
Frása na Seachtaine: “Seo go bliain iontach!” – “Here’s to a great year!”
Le meas
Róisín Conlon
Príomhoide
