CBS New Ross - Past, Present, Future ...

C.B.S. Past, Present and Future . . .

The Christian Brothers first came to New Ross just after the famine in 1849, over 150 years ago. They dedicated their school to St. Joseph, hence the name Mount St. Joseph on which the school stands today. The school was the first Christian Brothers school in Co. Wexford and one of the first in the country as a whole.

The Christian Brothers gradually consolidated their position in the town, often surviving on the precarious but heroic contributions of an already hard-pressed local population. By 1926 however things were looking up when staff and pupils proudly moved into new buildings, which are presently in use by the Christian Brothers Primary School.

While the school made steady progress in the 40’s and 50’s (particularly in the science area) the next significant development occurred in the 1960’s with a large increase in pupil numbers and a big spread in the geographical areas from which the pupils were drawn. This was partly due to the development of free school transport but also to the fact that the school was blessed with gifted and dedicated teachers, both lay and clerical. One of the latter, Brother Long, pioneered the construction of the ‘original part’ of the present Secondary School building in 1971 and also achieved notable success in Gaelic Games. Later in the same decade, the school came to national prominence due to its success in the Slógadh competitions.

It was however in the late 80’s and early 90’s that the school underwent its most profound changes to date, when a Board of Management took over the running of the school. This period saw staff and student numbers double, an expanded range of subjects on offer to pupils, the introduction of co-education and the construction of an extension to the school building.

Today CBS New Ross is a co-educational secondary school, under the trusteeship of the Christian Brothers, providing a comprehensive education for its students in a truly caring and responsive environment, following the proud tradition of Blessed Edmund Rice. A Board of Management that is composed of parent, teacher and Trustee nominees runs the school.

The relatively small size of the school enables every student to be known by the teachers and the Principal. Each student’s particular strengths and weaknesses are more easily identified and worked upon as a result. The small size also gives each student a greater sense of identity and belonging.

The comprehensive education in the school is reflected by the fact that seventeen subjects are on offer to the current First Year students with twenty subjects available to the Leaving Certificate students. The wide subject choice allows the school to cater for the unique educational talents and abilities of each individual student. Maximum flexibility is allowed to students in selecting their subjects and levels, all of which leads to extremely good examination results each year. The academic achievements of students within each year group and each class are annually celebrated.

Student Art

While being conscious of the need for academic excellence the school also places great importance on the welfare of its students. To this end the school operates a Student Welfare Committee, Learning Support Programmes, Guidance and Counselling services and provides a Health Education Co-ordinator. Each student participates in the Social, Personal and Health Education programme. The Meitheal Scheme is also in operation, whereby some Sixth Year students are trained in leadership skills so that they can support First Year students when they come in to the school. The school is also a member of the Irish Network of Health Promoting Schools.

All of our students are strongly encouraged to participate in the broad range of co-curricular activities available to them. Such participation contributes to the all-round development and education of each individual student.

Discipline in the school is maintained at a very high level through the use of a balanced Code of Behaviour, monitored by Deans of Discipline for each year group and by the co-ordinating Discipline Committee.

The Principal and teachers of the CBS are always open to new ideas and programmes for the benefit of their students. A new system of Academic Awards has been introduced and the Transition Year Programme and the Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme are provided to students in the school. The school also offers recognised accreditation in Computer Learning for all its students through the European Computer Driving Licence programme. Students are also encouraged and given the opportunity to participate in numerous educational competitions.

The Board of Management has reached agreement with the Department of Education and Science regarding the provision of substantial additional accommodation. This project will be vigorously pursued to ensure that in the next few years the students of the CBS will enjoy the most modern facilities available. The “new” CBS will proudly offer specialist subject rooms and additional classrooms including Lecture Rooms, two new Science Laboratories, a Multimedia Learning Laboratory, Technology Room, Technical Graphics/CAD Room, Home Economics Room, a Dining Area, new Art and Computer Rooms and a full size Physical Education Hall.

We have recently been proudly celebrating the 150th anniversary of the arrival of the Christian Brothers in the New Ross area. We are confident as we move into the new millennium that we are carrying on in the very best traditions of the early founders of the school while at the same time adapting to the considerable demands of an ever changing and complex educational environment.

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