A very positive start to the new school year

Despite opening the school in the most difficult and unprecedented of times, the management and teaching staff of St. Farnan’s Post Primary School in Prosperous have had much to be proud of as the new school year commences. With a rigorous safety plan and various special measures in place to ensure adherence to public safety guidelines, including coloured zones within the school for each year group, staggered breaks, socially distanced classrooms, obligatory masks and sanitising stations, the St. Farnan’s school community has responded very proactively and positively to the new teaching and learning environment.

For the new academic year, St. Farnan’s has an increased intake both in terms of their First Year cohort and in all years throughout the school. Principal Eddie Collins welcomed students from Prosperous and surrounding areas to the school and the student body has settled in well and has been highly praised by school staff for their compliance and cooperation with the new necessary safety measures.

The school has had a long tradition of excellence in terms of academic achievement, sporting success and community involvement. This year sees St. Farnan’s also celebrating continued valued links with the business world through its links with SAP Ireland, Croí Laighean Credit Union and the Mini-Companies initiative.

The school’s innovative Transition Year Programme continues to grow in popularity with two classes now involved. The TY Programme has a broad range of modules, educational trips and guest workshops planned which will see students engaged in a wide variety of activities including film making, coding, modern languages, heritage studies, fitness, wellbeing, photography and driving.

The positive beginning to the new academic year follows on from a very happy Leaving Certificate results day recently which saw both our 6th years and school staff very pleased with the grades received and the subsequent offers of third level places, apprenticeships, Post Leaving Cert. offers and immediate employment options.

Among the many happy students to receive their results were Amy O’Rourke, who will be going to UCD to do Law, Alannah and Molly Francis who will be studying Early and Modern Irish & Midwifery respectively in Trinity College Dublin, Ruth Harman who will be studying Primary School Teaching in Maynooth University and Aoibh Harman, and who will be doing Veterinary Nursing in Athlone. Matthew McNally will shortly be commencing his Sports Science and Health Studies in DCU while Laura Kelly is heading to the Technological University of Dublin to study Science.

Other students are looking forward to commencing courses in a wide variety of disciplines including Law & Business, Arts, Nutritional Health Science, Nursing, Theology & Arts, Dental Nursing, Musical Theatre, Accounting and Finance, Planning and Environmental Management, Childcare and Beauty Therapy in institutes and colleges all over the country. A number of our students have also secured excellent apprenticeships.

Principal Eddie Collins reported that students were generally extremely pleased and that many had outstanding results with very high grades achieved in a wide range of subjects. “We are very proud of all of our students”, Mr. Collins explained, and he also highlighted the hard work of the school’s dedicated staff. “We look forward to another very successful year and we very much value the important collaboration of the students, staff and families that make up our school community“.