Sacred Heart School and St Finian’s College building bridges with creativity
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Logan Gavin, Maeve Murtagh and Charlene Joyce.Image 3 of 12
Jesse Galvin, Ryan Matthews, Charlene Joyce, and David Keary, deputy principal.Image 4 of 12
Bernie and Fergal Fox with James Lowry, teacher.Image 5 of 12
Helen Kelly, SNA, with Lucas Kovacik and Kitty Lynam of Sacred Heart School with friends from St Finian’s College.Image 6 of 12
Alicia Flynn and SNA Olive Kennedy.Image 7 of 12
Molly Collins, student at St Finian’s College, with Alex McDermott of Sacred Heart School.Image 8 of 12
Students from the two schools working together.Image 9 of 12
Rose Carey, Neeve Schouten, Sacred Heart’s Garda Albie O’Neill, Jessie Galvin, Anne-Marie, Sonic Evan Bibin, Cathal Mallon and Brian Gunning.Image 10 of 12
Anne-Marie Connolly, Sacred Heart School principal with student Nessa Groome and teacher Niamh Wheeler.Image 11 of 12
Mary Perry, Maeve Murtagh, Kayden Cleary and Princess Rebecca Walsh-Lyons.Image 12 of 12
David Keary, Kayden Cleary, Maeve Murtagh, Alex McDermott, Brian Gunning, Kitty Lynam and Claire Flanagan at the Halloween event in Sacred Heart School last week.If you’re passing the new Sacred Heart school on Tuesdays, you wouldn’t know what new project and adventures the TY students of St Finian’s and all the children of Sacred Heart special school are working on. Last week, creativity, laughter and Halloween excitement kept them busy, along with a pumpkin-carving activity, under the guidance of St Finian’s TY coordinator Emma Morris, and all the team at Sacred Heart.
The seasonal activity provided the opportunity for the pupils to explore their artistic talents and enjoy the fun of preparing for Halloween, while also sharing a special experience with friends from St Finian’s.
The finished pumpkins reflected the imagination, effort and enjoyment that went into the activity.
The activity also highlighted the growing partnership between Sacred Heart School and St Finian’s College. The involvement of the college students is an example of how schools can work together to build friendships, encourage inclusion and create meaningful connections within the local community.
Principals Anne-Marie Connolly of Sacred Heart and John McHale of St Finian’s are delighted with the way the project is building educationally inclusive encounters, forging new friendships for all the students, and giving the teachers opportunities to collaborate and share skills and knowledge.
Both school teams are grateful for the support of the Dept of Education.
For the pupils of Sacred Heart, the shared experiences are about friendship, participation, belonging and having opportunities to enjoy new experiences alongside their peers. Sacred Heart School (formerly St Mary’s Special School) has always placed great importance on recognising and celebrating individual abilities, and the pumpkin-carving activity was another example of that approach in action.
A staff member said it was hard yet exciting journey for Sacred Heart School to leave their old home at the South Hill St Mary’s Campus in Delvin, and especially their friends and founders, Srs Ann and Katherine of the Sisters of Charity of Jesus and Mary. In their words though, the ‘vision unfolds’ and after a busy first year, the new Sacred Heart School is putting down healthy roots and flourishing in a new neighbourhood alongside neighbours at St Finian’s College.
School management expressed gratitude to Fox’s Fruit and Veg for their evergreen support and friendship. Their Irish-grown pumpkins and gourds gave the students and children a wonderful art and culinary educational experience.
The event was a celebration of friendship and inclusion, and proved that sometimes the simplest activities can create the happiest memories.