Red letter day as Scoil Aonghusa in Mallow moves into new home

GREAT EXCITEMENT AS NEW SCHOOL OPENS ITS DOORS FOR THE FIRST DAY

WHILE this week may have started of with a ‘Blue Monday’ for some, it was a day of much celebration in Mallow as the sound of laughter and cheers echoed through the corridors of one local school.

It was very much a day for celebrations at Scoil Aonghusa NS as staff and pupils arrived for their first day at their new purpose built permanent home in Castlepark.

Established in September 2014 by the Cork Education and Training Board (CETB), the school had been operating out of a temporary base at the Mallow GAA grounds in Carrigoon while the new school building was under construction.

With a complement of 81 pupils and 13 teachers, the two-story school building boasts the very latest in modern educational facilities, including 11 class and support rooms, a suite of resource rooms, a multi-purpose hall, library, music room and play areas.

Community national schools are a relatively new addition to the Irish educational system, with Scoil Aonghusa the first open to its doors outside of the greater Dublin region.

Like its counterparts, the Mallow school promotes the holistic development of each child, offering Mallow families a range of new Department of Education initiatives including Aistaer (structured play), Literacy Lift Off, Jolly Phonics and mindfulness training.

Community national schools also have a multi-belief and values education programme that caters for children of all faiths and secular beliefs.

School principal Catherine Fleming said Scoil Aoughusa’s mission was to provide a model of primary education that reflects Ireland in the 21st Century and that their new Castlepark home gives them the foundation to ensure this becomes a reality.

“Today’s excitement at the opening of our new home has been immense. There is such a great atmosphere and we are all thrilled at the reaction of our students,” said Ms Fleming.

“Our new home is a perfect fit, and much deserved, for the world-class education that the teachers of Scoil Aonghusa deliver,” she added.

Rhianha Atkinson and Kimberly Anago are all smiles at the opening day with their teacher Stephanie Mulcahy.

School principal Catherine Fleming was on hand to meet Louis Keigher and other pupils as they arrived to their new school building on Monday morning.