Limerick National School welcomes its first students

THE SUN was shining in Fedamore last Friday afternoon as Croí na Coille Community National school welcomed its first students and their families.

It was an exciting day as the children were introduced to their new school surroundings in the village of Fedamore in east County Limerick, which includes a beautiful mini woodland which both staff and students will get to explore and cherish.

Last May it was announced that the new Croí na Coille school would be established as a Community National School in the former Fedamore National School under the patronage of Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board (ETB). 

The school is co-educational and multi-denominational and is underpinned by the ETB’s core values of academic excellence, care, respect, equality, and community.

Speaking about the school’s first day in its new home, George O’Callaghan, chief executive of Limerick and Clare ETB, said: “This is a very exciting time for the Fedamore community, offering families living in the surrounding areas a new school choice that will cater to the diverse needs of the community whilst also embracing inclusivity and providing a dynamic learning environment where all students can flourish”.

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According to the school’s newly-appointed principal Jacintha Mullins, Croí na Coille will strive to promote a child-centred approach by embracing the principles of developing the whole child. 

“We emphasise the importance of physical, emotional, social and spiritual development as much as intellectual development. We deliver the National Primary School curriculum balancing academic learning with outdoor learning, nature-based play and Forest School activities,” she explained. 

Ms Mullins also spoke about the future of the school in Fedamore and the shared vision between parents and educators to create an environment that will inspire children to embrace the outdoors, cultivate a love for learning, foster creativity, encourage hard work, and build resilience. 

“We are at a very exciting time in education, with the growth of the community national school model, the development of our new national curriculum and the emphasis and importance that is being placed on our responsibilities towards our environment. I am very excited to be leading this new and developing school in Fedamore,” she said.