A SHARED campus with Ennistymon Community School means a shared vision between the schools, says Principal of Ennistymon National School Noreen Murphy.
Having joined the staff in Ennistymon in 2022, Noreen admits that a key support in the delivery of the new school and its smooth transition was their relationship with Ennistymon Community School.
“We were very lucky that we had a great relationship with Orla Conway, the principal in the Community School, and Karen O’Neill the Deputy Principal,” Noreen tells The Clare Echo. “She allowed us to share their facilities such as the yard while we were in prefabs and that cooperation between the two schools is very important. Even with the build, they really helped us out because they had been through it.”
Ennistymon National School’s relationship with the Community School goes further than this, with programmes in place to forge links between students and staff. “We link with the secondary school as much as we can as we are a feeder school here on campus,” Noreen tells this reporter as we tour the new library. “These are transition year boys who are here to do a four-week buddy reading programme with our second and third class students. After four weeks we will rotate and have different groups coming in here.
“Meanwhile our children went over for a Cultural Day in September and they are coming here to do a languages day in November with us. We’re really trying to forge the links there.”
Noreen explains that they also have strong ties to Little Deers preschool who arrange pick-up for pupils after school.
Delving deeper into the school life, Noreen notes that sport plays a major role at Ennistymon NS with swimming, gymnastics, and GAA all an integral part of their programme with the assistance of GAA development officers Dermot Thornton and Peter Casey.
Meanwhile, every Friday all the classes are mixed together “for what we call Golden Time” where children learn on iPads in one room; lego and construction in a creative room; and finally PE.
She adds, “The kids must happy before they learn. That’s the very first step. I know child-centred learning is really important in the academics, for us their wellbeing and a positive atmosphere is utmost.”
Noreen stressed the vital role played by volunteers on the board of management, including chairperson Kevin Byrne, Pascal Malone, Maria Cullinan a nurse, parents Grainne Casey and Thomas O’Halloran, Fiona Moloney the teacher representative and Gerry Reidy.
Anne Connaire, an SNA at the school who is from Liscannor, has worked at the school since December 2003 when Sister Rosarie was principal and prior to the school amalgamation.
“I’ve seen a lot of changes, it’s my third move,” she tells The Clare Echo. Speaking about the move, she adds, “The kids are coming in with a smile on their faces. Noreen is wonderful. Full credit to her, she was thrown in at the deep end when this was happening, she was always calm and has a great way with the kids. The one thing about our school here, we’ve always had a wonderful staff. Anyone who comes in subbing, they always say it. There’s great teamwork.”
