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The front
of the school, the red brick area is our new Library
The
Hisory of our school
Situated in a suburb
near Dublin
City , Our school was founded in 1952.
It was part of a fledgling organisation
called 'The National Association for Cerebral Palsy
Ireland (C.P.I.), C.P.I. moved from their
first home in Bull Alley to Sandymount Avenue
in 1953. They operated from a large house
for a number of years. The inadequacies of
this arrangement were soon discovered and plans
were set in motion to build an extension to cater
for the needs of the pupils with disabilities.
A state of the art facility
was opened in the early 60's. The school at
this time catered for 112 pupils, there were 6 teachers,
and the concept of classroom assistants had yet
to evolve. Without the great help given by
a large band of volunteers, the service provided
would not have been nearly as good as it was.
The pupil-teacher ratio was 16-1 and this remained
the same up to the late 70's. However, since
the beginning, the school has always concentrated
on "ability not disability." Times
change and greater understanding of the needs of
children with disabilities evolved and by the 90's
the building was seen to be totally inadequate.
The Department of Education recognised that a change
to the pupil-teacher ratio had to be made.
This now stands as low as 6-1
We were in the old building
until 1997, when permission was given to build a
new school and building. In late 1998
we moved to temporary accomodation while the old
building was demolished and construction began.
It shows how standards have changed, as when the
move came all staff remarked on how much better
the temporary Portacabin building was than the old
school.
The temporary building
was on the campus here in Sandymount and housed
both the clinic and the school. The Minister
for Health and Children Mr. Brian Cowen TD,
performed a "Topping Out" ceremony at
12 noon on Monday the 22nd November 1999 at the
site of the new School and Clinic. It
was a very exciting occasion for all!!
On the left
is Mr. Cowen TD. talking to some of the children
and on the right Mr. Jordan, who was our Pprincipal
at the time, with the then CEO of C.P.I., Mr. Michael
Cummins talking to Mr. Cowen.
The opening
of our new school was part of the launch of 'Enable
Ireland' the new name for CPI. President Mary
McAleese, patron of Enable Ireland, officially opened
the new school and clinic. The school is lovely,
bright and spacious.
The new building
has many features only dreamed of in the old.
Everything was designed with the children in mind.
Height adjustable sinks are standard in all classrooms.
There are height adjustible hot plates and ovans
and computer tables for the children. Toileting
and shower facilities are all user friendly.
Hoists are strategically placed in the bathrooms
and gym so that children can be transferred from
wheelchairs whicl still maintaining their dignity.
The extra space
will greatly increase the scope for school links
programme that currently exists. These links
provide the opportunity for the pupils to meet and
learn from otjer schools. The school also
has plans under way where pupils will be able
to attend their local schools on a regular basis,
enriching their own as well as the other schools
educational experience.
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