Galway’s newest school, Tuam Educate Together National School, is set to open in September.
Newly-appointed principal Nuala Bourke will host a ‘Meet the Principal’ evening at the Ard Rí House Hotel in the town on Tuesday July 14 at 7.30pm. Anybody interested in the school, the Educate Together ethos, or any other issue is welcome to go along.
Ms Bourke, a native of Castlebar, is coming to Tuam from Scoil Mhuire gan Smal, a 24 teacher DEIS school in inner-city Dublin.
An experienced infant teacher specialising in literacy, she has a passion for Irish culture, being a world champion Irish dancer and GAA enthusiast. She also has a keen interest in Múineadh na Gaeilge and will teach the language in a fun and interactive manner.
Nuala feels that parents are at the heart of their children’s education.
"Throughout my teaching career, I have witnessed the enormous rewards from including parents and the family in their child’s education, and I have always had an open door policy in my classroom. I believe that parents are the primary educator of the child. Educate Together actively seeks to involve the family and empower the parents, and having meaningful parental involvement is always something I have prioritised."
Tuam ETNS will be located in the old St Patrick’s CBS school on the Dublin Road, a vacant premises formerly used by the Christian Brothers. Tuam ETNS is one of three new Educate Together schools to open up this year as part of the Government’s divestment programme, which aims to create more diversity and inclusiveness in the Irish primary school system. Two other schools will also open in Castlebar, Co Mayo, and New Ross, Co Wexford, as divestment schools.
Part of the building is currently being refurbished and will be ready in plenty of time for the school’s opening. The school will initially consist of a four classroom unit with toilets, staff-room and administrative offices.
School manager Jarlath Munnelly says Tuam Educate Together National School will provide further choice for the parents living in Tuam, and goes another step on the road to providing Educate Together schools right across the country.
The school will open its doors to Junior Infants this September. Pre-enrolments are currently being taken at www.educatetogether.ie/tuam
