ST LAURENCE’S MARKS 40 YEARS
ST Laurence’s National School in Greystones held a day of celebrations last Friday to mark their 40th anniversary.
The school boasts a number of well-known past pupils, including golfer Paul Dunne, the Flynn twins (David and Stephen) of Happy Pear fame, and Minister Simon Harris, who was there on the day.
Principal Catherine Coveney welcomed everyone – including past pupils, retired members of staff, former board members, TDs and councillors, clergy, and principals of neighbouring schools – to the celebrations.
The school first opened its doors on July 1, 1977. The need for the school was evident following a Census taken by the parish in 1976.
Plans were developed by the Diocesan Authorities in consultation with the Department of Education to open a 16 room Junior Primary School on the site, formerly part of the Ryan family farm. ‘We are now standing on what was once their asparagus field,’ Mrs Coveney told the guests last week.
After three years in temporary accommodation, the school moved into its permanent home in September 1980 with 170 pupils and five teachers.
By 1987, all 16 mainstream classrooms in the new school had been filled. Ten years later saw the opening of the first Learning Support Unit.
Up go 1998, St Laurence’s was a junior primary school. That year they began to take pupils up to sixth class.
‘Over the last 20 years we have seen further expansion and the school has grown to a 24 main- stream vertical school with a student population of 662 and a staff of 36 full-time teachers and 12 support staff,’ said Mrs Coveney.
‘ Today is a happy day for us all. It is a day to celebrate our school and community which involves all of us and has been made possible by the support of very many people.’
She thanked a host of people, including all of the parents in the school community, the Parish and Diocesan clergy, the department, board of management, fundraising committee, parents association members, staff, and the children themselves.