All systems go as Educate Together opens in Holywell
EXCITEMENT MOUNTS FOR FIRST STUDENTS
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IT'S all systems go for Swords' newest school, as it prepares to welcome its first set of pupils this week. After months and years of planning, Holywell Educate Together will begin teaching this Wednesday, September 1st, initially with a single class of junior infants. An open evening drew wide interest from the surrounding community last week, where parents and children got the chance to meet with teacher, Jill O'Reilly, and principal, Maria Boyne.
' We're very excited, things are really picking up now,' Ms Boyne told the Fingal Independent. ' We have our building in and every day different developments take place, so it'll be all ready for Wednesday, full steam ahead.'
The primary school is currently housed in a temporary prefabricated building, which formerly housed Balbriggan Educate Together, who themselves moved into a permanent home earlier this year.
A total of 20 pupils will make up the first junior infants class as enrolment for other years continues to attract large numbers and a range of events have been planned for the opening day.
' It's certainly been a busy summer,' Ms Boyne continued. ' There have been a lot of phone calls and a lot of organisation, but it has all come to fruition now. We're starting with 20 children, but it may rise.
' We'll have a tree planting ceremony – our school logo is a tree, so in keeping with that we have an apple tree we're going to plant – and dignitaries have been invited. To mark the opening of the school, each child will also release a balloon and have their name attached.'
Educate Together's regional development office, Gerry McKevitt, welcomed the completion of the temporary home, saying ' Educate Together is looking forward to the first official school day for on September 1st'.
Holywell Residents' Association also heralded the news, with chairman, Maurice Cunningham reflecting on the ' exciting times ahead for all parents and children in and around the area of Holywell'.
Meanwhile, a formal planning application for a 24-classroom school and community sports hall on the same site is expected to be lodged shortly, capable of housing 720 pupils and 48 members of staff, scheduled for completion in September 2012.
- Robin KIELY
