THE MINISTER for Education Norma Foley TD has officially opened Tipperary’s first Community National School during a special ceremony including members of Tipperary Education and Training Board (ETB), members of the school Board of Management, teachers, parents and pupils at the school in Nenagh this morning (Friday, January 27th, 2023).
Nenagh Community National School, located on the site of the former St Mary’s Junior Boys National School on St Flannan St, has become the first primary school in the county to deliver a co-educational and multi-denominational education programme, under the management and patronage of Tipperary ETB.
Minister Foley unveiled the school’s new signage during a ribbon cutting ceremony attended by the Chair of Tipperary ETB, Cllr Mary Hanna Hourigan, Tipperary ETB Chief Executive, Ms Bernadette Cullen, Bishop Fintan Monahan, Diocese of Killaloe, Oireachtas members, Tipperary County Council Chief Executive, Mr Joe MacGrath, Nenagh CNS Principal, Mr John Gunnell, Deputy Principal, Ms Bríd Walsh, past and present staff, members of the past and present Boards of Management, and students of the school.
The reconfiguration of the 108-year-old former all-boys school was agreed between the Diocese of Killaloe and Tipperary ETB in late-2021, and Nenagh Community National School is currently in its first school year catering for pupils from Junior Infants up to Second Class, with Third Class students currently enrolling for 2023/24.
Community National Schools (CNSs) are State, co-educational, multi-denominational primary schools underpinned by five core values: Excellence in Education, Care, Equality, Community and Respect. This school model has been developed in response to increasing diversity in Irish society, and a growing demand from parents for the provision of multi-denominational education. Nenagh Community National School is part of a pilot divestment project, the lessons from which will inform future projects.
Minister Foley outlined her delight when officially opening the Nenagh school:
“I am delighted to mark this landmark occasion of the official opening of Nenagh Community National School, the first multi-denominational primary school in Tipperary. The Schools Reconfiguration process, supporting transfers of schools in response to the wishes of school communities, has been developed in order to accelerate the delivery of multi-denominational schools across the country.
“I want to thank all those involved in the engagement process which has culminated in the creation of Nenagh Community National School. The school community now embarks on a new journey under the patronage of Tipperary ETB and I have no doubt it will continue to thrive.
“I wish the students every success and happiness today as they continue on their exciting new journey. I would particularly like to acknowledge the school staff for their passion and endeavour to educate the young people of Nenagh and the surrounding areas.”
Chair of Tipperary ETB, Cllr Mary Hanna Hourigan, congratulated everybody involved in bringing this project to fruition:
“This is an exciting day as we welcome the Minister for Education to officially open the first multi-denominational Community National School into our community of schools across the county. The process that commenced in December 2021 has involved all stakeholders, Tipperary ETB members, the Board of Management, parents, staff and the community. This unity will continue to ensure a partnership approach to the future development of the school.”
Chief Executive of Tipperary ETB, Ms Bernadette Cullen, outlined the importance of this project for the future of education in the county:
“This a very important day in the history of St Mary’s Junior Boys National School, for the students who attended the school down through the years and its long tradition of being at the forefront of educational development.
“The decision by Bishop Fintan, following consideration by the Board of Management of the various patron options, to reconfigure the school to a Community National School under the patronage of Tipperary ETB has provided the families in Tipperary with the first multi-denominational national school in the county. It’s a testament to Bishop Fintan’s leadership, and we look forward to supporting the school on its new journey.”
Principal of Nenagh CNS, Mr John Gunnell, said he’s excited about the future of the school:
“Our school is a very special caring place where we put the children front and centre of everything we do. We are very proud of our caring respectful school, our roots in the town of Nenagh, our heritage, and our bright future.
“We are a pioneering school, which is not afraid to make big decisions and take on new challenges in the best interest of our pupils and our community. We are the first CNS to open in Tipperary and the largest school to divest to date to ETB patronage in the country. We are deeply honoured to be chosen as the pilot school for transition to CNS in Tipperary.”
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Rogha níos leithne Oideachais i dTiobraid Árann agus Pobalscoil Náisiúnta oscailte go hoifigiúil ag an Aire Oideachais
AN AONACH, CO. THIOBRAID ÁRANN: D’oscail an Aire Oideachais Norma Foley TD an chéad Phobalscoil Náisiúnta i dTiobraid Árann go hoifigiúil ag searmanas speisialta san Aonach ar maidin. Bhí baill Bhord Oideachais agus Oiliúna Thiobraid Árann (BOO), baill de Bhord Bainistíochta na scoile, tuismitheoirí, agus daltaí i láthair ag an searmanas.
Is í Pobalscoil Náisiúnta an Aonaigh, atá lonnaithe ar sheansuíomh Scoil Naomh Muire do Bhuachaillí Sóisearacha ar Shráid Fhlannáin, an chéad bhunscoil sa chontae a sholáthróidh clár oideachais comhoideachais agus il-sainchreidmheach, faoi bhainistíocht agus faoi phátrúnacht ag Bord Oideachais agus Oiliúna Thiobraid Árann.
Nochtaigh an Aire Foley comharthaíocht nua na scoile ag searmanas agus an ribín a ghearradh agus bhí Cathaoirleach BOO Thiobraid Árann, Comhairleoir Mary Hanna Hourigan, Príomhfheidhmeannach an BOO, Bernadette Cullen Uasal, an tEaspag Fintan Monahan, Deoise Chill Dalua, baill Oireachtais, Príomhfheidhmeannach Chomhairle Contae Thiobraid Árann, an tUasal Joe MacGrath, Príomhoide Phobalscoil Náisiúnta an Aonaigh, an t-Uasal John Gunnell, Leasphríomhoide, Bríd Walsh Uasal, baill agus iarbhaill foirne, baill agus iarbhaill an Bhoird Bainistíochta, agus daltaí na scoile i láthair.
Beartaíodh an t-athchumrú ar an scoil bhuachaillí a bhí ar an bhfód le 108 bliain, go déanach i 2021, agus tá an chéad bhliain acadúla faoi lán seoil i bPobalscoil Náisiúnta an Aonaigh agus iad ag freastal ar dhaltaí ó Naíonáin Shóisearacha suas go dtí Rang a Dó, agus tá daltaí Rang a Trí á gclárú faoi láthair ag an scoil don tréimhse 2023/24.
Is bunscoileanna comhoideachais il-sainchreidmheacha Stáit iad Pobalscoileanna Náisiúnta (PSNanna) a bhfuil cúig bhunluach mar bhonn taca acu: Barr Feabhais san Oideachas, Cúram, Comhionannas, Pobal agus Meas. Forbraíodh an múnla scolaíochta seo mar fhreagra ar mhéadú na héagsúlachta i sochaí na hÉireann, agus mar gheall ar mhéadú san éileamh ar sholáthar oideachais il-sainchreidmheach, ó thuismitheoirí. Tá Pobalscoil Náisiúnta an Aonaigh mar chuid de thionscnamh dífheistithe ar bhonn píolótach, a dhéanfaidh eolas do na tionscnaimh a bheidh idir láimhe san am atá le teacht.
Dúirt an Aire Foley:
“Tá lúcháir orm an ócáid chinniúnach seo a cheiliúradh agus Pobalscoil Náisiúnta an Aonaigh á hoscailt go hoifigiúil agam, an chéad bhunscoil il-sainchreidmheach i dTiobraid Árann. Forbraíodh an Próiseas Athchumraithe Scoileanna, ag tacú le haistriú pátrúnachta scoileanna mar fhreagra ar mhianta phobail na scoileanna, le borradh a chur faoi sholáthar scoileanna il-sainchreidmheacha ar fud na tíre.
“Ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil le gach duine a raibh baint acu leis an bpróiseas comhairliúcháin a raibh bunú Phobalscoil Náisiúnta an Aonaigh mar thoradh air. Tá pobal na scoile ag tabhairt faoi aistear nua anois faoi phátrúnacht BOO Thiobraid Árann agus níl aon amhras orm ach go bhfanfaidh sí faoi bhláth.
“Guím sonas agus gach rath ar na daltaí inniu agus iad ag leanúint orthu ar a n-aistear iontach nua. Ba mhaith liom aitheantas a thabhairt do fhoireann na scoile go háirithe, agus iad ag obair go dícheallach agus go paiseanta le hoideachas a chuir ar fáil do ghlúin óg an Aonaigh agus sna ceantair mháguaird.”
Thréaslaigh Cathaoirleach BOO Thiobraid Árann, an Comhairleoir Mary Hanna Hourigan le gach duine a raibh baint acu leis an tionscnamh seo a thabhairt chun críche:
“Lá iontach is ea an lá inniu agus fáilte á chur againn roimh an Aire Oideachais agus an chéad Phobalscoil Náisiúnta il-sainchreidmheach a bheidh mar chuid dár bpobal scoileanna á hoscailt go hoifigiúil aici. Bhí baint ag gach páirtí leasmhar, baill BOO Thiobraid Árann, an Bord Bainistíochta, tuismitheoirí, baill foirne agus an pobal leis an bpróiseas seo a thosaigh i mí na Nollag 2021. Leanfaidh an aontacht seo ar aghaidh ag cinntiú cur chuige comhpháirtíochta ar mhaithe le forbairt na scoile amach anseo.”
Chuir Príomhfheidhmeannach BOO Thiobraid Árann, Bernadette Cullen Uasal, béim ar thábhacht an tionscnaimh seo do thodhchaí an oideachais sa chontae:
“Lá an-tábhachtach is ea inniu i stair Scoil Náisiúnta Buachaillí Naomh Muire, do dhaltaí a d’fhreastail ar an scoil tríd na mblianta agus dá traidisiún fada agus í mar cheannródaí maidir le forbairt oideachais de.
“Tá an cinneadh seo a thóg an tEaspag Fintan, i ndiaidh do bhreithniúchán an Bhord Bainistíochta maidir leis na roghanna éagsúla pátrúnachta, an scoil a athchumrú ina Pobalscoil Náisiúnta faoi phátrúnacht BOO Thiobraid Árann, tar éis an chéad scoil il-sainchreidmheach sa chontae a sholáthar do theaghlaigh Thiobraid Árann. Is léiriú é seo ar cheannasaíocht an Easpaig Fintan, agus tá muid ag súil le tacú leis an scoil ar a haistear nua.”
Dúirt Príomhoide Phobalscoil Náisiúnta an Aonaigh, an tUasal John Gunnell go bhfuil sé ar bís mar gheall ar thodhchaí na scoile:
“Áit speisialta agus lách is ea ár scoil agus bíonn ár leanaí lárnach maidir le gach gné dár gcuid oibre. Tá muid an-bhródúil as ár scoil ina bhfuil meas agus cineáltas lárnach, as na fréamhacha atá curtha againn i mbaile an Aonaigh, as ár n-oidhreacht, agus as an saol maith atá i ndán dúinn.
“Scoil ceannródaíoch is ea sinn, nach bhfuil eagla uirthi cinntí móra a ghlacadh agus dul i ngleic le dúshláin nua ar mhaithe lenár ndaltaí agus lenár bpobal. Is sinne an chéad Phobalscoil Náisiúnta i dTiobraid Árann, agus an scoil is mó a rinneadh dífheistiú go pátrúnacht BOO uirthi sa tír go dtí seo. Tá muid an-mhórálach a bheith roghnaithe mar scoil phíolótach don aistriú go Pobalscoileanna Náisiúnta i dTiobraid Árann.”
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