3. • Harry Allen walked the children up the “side
road” (Beechpark Ave) to the new school on Feb
1st 1971.
• All children carried the books, maps, boxes.
• 32 lower road children joined the new school
• The entrance was on Beechpark Avenue and
there was a long narrow driveway leading into
the school.
4. A Modern Building
• The new school had 8 classrooms , twice as many
as the old school.
• There was a library full of books, a General
Purpose Hall , an office, a staffroom and indoor
toilets with running water.
• Each classroom had big blackboards on the walls,
lots of light with big windows on both sides , a
sink , worktop and fitted presses.
• The office had a phone line and there was a tv in
the library.
5. Outside
• The yards were big and smooth
• There were basketball hoops and a big field
for sports
• Children started staying for lunch so they
could play football at lunchtime.
8. • 1971 the new child centred curriculum was
published
• School was a happier less formal place
• A past pupil remembers quizzes, nature walks,
projects, listening to the radio, tape recorders
and Irish taught using film strips.
• Children sometimes worked in groups
• Mrs. Murphy developed a school garden at the
front of the school.
11. • In 1973 the first PTA was formed to fundraise for the
school.
• The annual dance was held at Christmas in the GP
Hall. Supper was served in the classrooms in the
middle school.
• 1979 The Pope visited Ireland and Fr. O’ Driscoll held a
prayer service for the whole school in the yard.
• School continued to grow at a fast rate and had
doubled again in size by 1980. Some classes were now
in prefabs.
• In 1980 another extension was completed
13. 1980 Extension
• The current Junior Building opened in 1980
• 8 bigger classrooms with toilets in each
room ,wet areas for art and carpets
• Emergency doors in each downstairs room
and a fire escape upstairs
• Wide corridors
• Hot water
• Staff room and Learning Support Room
14.
15. • Junior Infants remained in the old building and
Senior Infants moved to the new building
• Prefabs were still in use for 1st
and 3rd
classes.
• Numbers continued to grow. We already had 3
Junior Infant and 3 Senior Infant Classes.
• 5th
and 6th
played at front of the school
• On the day of the Summer Holidays the teachers
played each other in a basketball match at the
front of the school as pupils watched.
17. • 1980s Ann and Barry was the first reading
scheme used to teach reading . Before this we
used Ladybird Books.
• 1982 corporal punishment was abolished.
• A photocopier was purchased by PTA
• TVs on trolleys and video players were bought
20. 1983 on
• Holy Communion and Confirmation were held in Porterstown .
Parents helped bring children up every day for practices the week
before the ceremony
• After each communion the priest had a garden party in his house
next door for children and parents.
• School Uniforms were introduced in 1986
• In 1983 the church was built . In the same year a prefab was set on
fire one Halloween. There was a lot of vandalism around the school
so a fence was built.
• The entrance to the school was moved from Beechpark Avenue to
Beechpark Lawn. The long drive up to the school became the
footpath outside Chrysalis.
• “Oliver” the musical was performed nightly for a week. It was
produced by Mr. Doyle
22. • In 1987 the Infant Building opened.
• While it was being built we were allowed use
prefabs in Blanchardstown as temporary
classrooms so three 6th
classes were bused
there every day
• In December 1990 the first school magazine
was published.
23. 1990s
• The School Sponsored Walk was held on the
M50 in March 1990 the day before it opened.
• 1991 The Library was moved to a prefab and
a year later after a big donation from Ben
Dunne, the computer room was opened. A
printer was also installed.
• 1994 Mrs. Williams took over the Senior Choir
and in 1996 they won Feis Ceoil.
25. Sports Days
• 1970 School sports held on the field (where sports hall
is)
• 1976 Sports moved to Sundays in Castleknock College
• One year we held the Sports during school on Church
Green
• Sports were then moved to St.Brigid’s All Weather Pitch
26. 2000’s
• 2003 Mr. Courtney became Principal.
• 2005 President Mary Mc Alese visited us.
• Whiteboards were installed
• 2007 Library was computerized.
• 2009 Digital School Award
• 2011 All three buildings were refurbished during
Summer Holidays.
• Mrs.Murphy’s garden and school field were
demolished
• 2012 Senior Building and Sports Hall built. Split Break
and reduced yard space
28. 2012 New Building
• 8 new classrooms with sliding storage areas
• 3 story building
• 5 Learning Support Rooms
• Staff Room , Conference Room, 3 offices and
disabled shower room.
• New garden, Library and Sports Hall
• Soft Surface in Infant Yard
• Staff Carpark
29. The Number 3
• 3 Important Years 1865 1971 2013
• 3 Principals: Harry Allen, Dave Nolan, Denis
Courtney
• 3 Deputies: Dave Nolan, Terry Beirne, Noelle
Mac Donagh
• 3 Secretaries: Mrs. Kitterick, Mrs.Lineen,
Ms.Mooney
• 3 Caretakers: Peter George, Peter Walsh,
Derek Kelly
•
30. • 2013 Official Opening
• Cloak Sculpture at front of school
• 2014 Grandparents Day in 2nd
• Choir of the Year
• Many Sporting Successes
