New autism classrooms officially opened at Halverstown NS
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| Fr Gary Darby blessing the new buildings. |
There was a deliberate circularity for the official opening yesterday of two new classrooms at St Joseph's NS in Halverstown, writes Brian Byrne. It was 65 years to the day when the late Canon Furlong blessed the original school building prior to its opening the following day.
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| Principal Áine Cullen welcomes all. |
The new classrooms cater for 12 pupils with autism from the locality and other parts of Kildare and were described yesterday as a 'wonderful new space for learning' by the Principal, Áine Cullen, as they were blessed by Kilcullen's current Parish Priest, Fr Gary Darby.
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| Deputy Martin Heydon cuts the ribbon, watched by Cllr Tracey O'Dwyer and BOM chair Sabina Reddy. |
A ribbon was cut by Deputy Martin Heydon and Cllr Tracey O'Dwyer to mark the occasion, to whom Áine Cullen expressed her appreciation for their commitment to the school, and to helping with challenges during the 2-year project. "Both are always on the end of the phone," she said. "And I can tell you that I have had to ring them a lot — they were both always willing to make a call or follow up in order to keep the project moving."
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| The Principal thanked all for support during process. |
She also thanked the school staff, the teachers, SNAs, caretakers and secretarial, and the Board of Management for their support during the process, as well as the National Council for Special Education for sanctioning the project and the Department of Education for funding it.
The Principal had a special word of thanks to the school pupils, "for being kind and funny and always welcoming new children to our school, for your patience while the school was a construction site, and for always making me smile."
Chair of the Board of Management Sabina Reddy thanked Áine for her hard work towards the completion of the project, which had been in train before she took up her position. "When you came on board you grasped the nettle and ran with it," she said. "It was a long process, which was trying at times." She also had a special mention for Liam Aylward, former parent and fellow board member who, even after he had left it, stayed involved to see the project out.
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| Cameron Duffy and Principal Áine Cullen. |
A poem, All Are Welcome, was read by pupil Cameron Duffy, and then the school's 49 pupils sang Sky Full of Stars.
The event concluded with the release of fully-biodegradable balloons by children from the new classrooms, which are called Buttercups and Daisies, in the traditional St Joseph's style of flowers names.
After a viewing of the classrooms, visitors who included former parish priest Fr Niall Mackey were treated to tea and cakes in the school.
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| "We have liftoff ..." |
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| Back: Sophie Byrne, Aoife Bond, Fraces Clare, Aoife Dalton, Emma Dempsey, Mary Hegarty and Emma Wheeler. Middle: Alison Finn, Leanne Kelly, Louise Gainey and Cheryle Garrett. Front: Colette Hynes, Susan Dwyer and Áine Cullen. |
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| Keith Pearson, Colette Wall, Sinead Phelan, Áine Cullen, Suzanne Hannon, Leanne Darker, Bridget Hannon, Fr. Niall Mackey. |
