We had a busy start to 2012; the Department of Education carried out a whole school evaluation (WSE) in our school during the second week of term. Our inspector, Margaret Dunning, met the principal, teachers, Board of Management and Parents Association, to discuss the work, role and vision of the school, as well as spending almost a week in the school, observing and interacting with the teachers and pupils. Thank you to the Board of Management and Parents Association Committee, who made themselves available to meet Mrs Dunning, and to everyone who completed questionnaires to help with the evaluation.
A special thank you to all our pupils, whom Mrs Dunning found to be very courteous, respectful and pleasant, during her time in the school and to Rev Cliff, whose assembly Mrs Dunning really enjoyed. Mrs Dunning has been very positive in her evaluation of the school’s strengths, and also most helpful in advising us of areas which we can further develop.
All of us in the Model School have found it to be a very reaffirming and useful experience but are, needless to say, delighted to have it behind us!! The report will be published on the internet within the next six months.
Well done to Ellen Burns who reached the semi finals of the Doodle for Google competition with her picture and caption,’ I wish for a Cleaner World’.
Chess with Ben Pateman is up and running again for pupils from 2nd to 6th class every Wednesday. The children really enjoy these sessions and are learning lots about chess.
We send our get well wishes to Nicola Halford. We look forward to seeing her in school again soon and involving us in her assemblies which everyone enjoys so much .
Applications are now being invited for September 2012 enrolment. Please call to the school for a Notification of Intent to Apply form if you are interested in your child starting school with us in September.
Yvonne Griffin
Athy Model School is a primary school under the patronage of the Department of Education, with a Church of Ireland ethos. We endeavour to enable each child to acquire a set of moral values based on the ethos of the school.