St. Mary's B.N.S.

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St. Mary's Boys National School (Scoil Mhuire in Irish) is a primary school for boys in Rathfarnham, Co. Dublin. It is situated on the Grange Road. St. Mary's Boys National School is a Catholic Primary School under the Patronage of Dr. D. Connell, Archbishop of Dublin.

1 The Curriculum
2 Extra-curricular Activities
3 History
4 An Bradán Feasa
5 References

[edit] The Curriculum

As stipulated in the revised curriculum of 1999 subjects taught in St. Mary’s are:

Language - Irish and English
Mathematics
Arts
Visual arts/Music/ Drama
Physical Education (P.E.) In P.E. a 10 week course of swimming lessons are arranged for pupils from 1st 2nd and 3rd Classes.
Science and Environmental and Social Education (SESE) SESE includes History and Geography.
Social Personal Health Education (SPHE) SPHE includes Stay Safe Programme and Relationships and Sexuality Education

[edit] Extra-curricular Activities

[edit] Games

In St. Mary’s the major team games are Gaelic football and hurling. They compete in the inter school leagues in these sports. They take part in the inter-schools athletics competitions also organised by Cumann na mBunscol.

[edit] Choir

St. Mary's has a very successful choir. It is made up of boys from Rang 4,5, & 6. As well as singing at the major church services they have performed in locations as diverse as ‘The Point’, Austria, and the Shankill Road in Belfast.

[edit] Quizzes

The senior boys have enjoyed their participation in inter-schools events.

[edit] History

In July 1971 the late Mgr. O’Donnell, P.P. started the nucleus of a new boys’ school in Loreto National School, Grange Road, with the kind co-operation of the Loreto Sisters. The Sisters had already donated to the parish, a magnificent site for a new boys’ school.

In July 1973, St. Mary’s became a separate school, still in Loreto N.S. as the new school had not yet been built. Two prefabs were built in Loreto yard and the old school on Willbrook Road was re-opened in 1975 to accommodate two classes. Fr. Paddy Tuohy P.P. was then Manager of St. Mary’s B.N.S.

On January 10th 1977, 243 boys and their teachers-Jim Molloy, Pat Corbett, Fintan Walsh, John Mc Elligott, Kevin Hennigan, Dónall Ó Murchú and Ivan O’Callaghan, moved into the new St. Mary’s.

The school has since developed into a 16 class school with 2 class groupings at each level from Junior Infants to Rang VI. For 25 years the school flourished under the stewardship of Mr. Jim Molloy who retired in March 1998. He was succeeded by Dónall Ó Murchú our present Principal. The school is administered by a Board of Management, comprising representatives of the Patron, the parents and the teachers. Fr. Joe Hanlon P.P. is Chairperson of the Board.Elections to the Board are held every three years.

[edit] An Bradán Feasa

An Bradán Feasa is a sculptural garden in St Mary's B.N.S..

The idea for the project had the simplest origins: in the wish of a teacher to make something memorable and beautiful out of a part of the school which had been underused, neglected and ignored.

From that idea grew the notion of a work of public art; a work in which the schoolchildren and installation artists could be active partners. In the event, the project involved much more than just the pupils and the artists; in effect the entire school community became drawn in as the process grew and developed.

The idea continued to grow. During this phase the artists, Una Keeley and Daniel Cullen ran three workshops with every class in the school.

The children explored clay and dry materials and used the story of the Salmon of Knowledge and the theme of knowledge generally to inform their work. They made thumbprints and footprints, and these became incorporated into the finished work.