On Friday, February 28th, Carlanstown National School was honoured to welcome the Minister for Education, Helen McEntee. The Minister was greeted by our Student Council, who gave her a warm welcome and shared the important work they do in representing their fellow pupils. They explained how they were elected to their roles, just like the Minister was elected to her position. One of our younger Student Council members took the opportunity to ask Minister McEntee about her role, sparking a discussion about the Minister’s work and responsibilities.
The Minister had the opportunity to visit various classrooms, where she saw the children engaged in lessons that ranged from the beginning stages of coding in First Class to more advanced coding projects presented by Fifth and Sixth Class. The Minister spoke to all the children about their projects and was impressed with the students’ creativity and problem-solving skills and how technology was integrated into the curriculum.
Following her visit to the classrooms, Minister McEntee met with the Principal and the Chairperson of the Board of Management to discuss the much-anticipated school extension. Currently at Stage 1 Design, the extension project is a vital step in meeting the growing needs of our school community.
The discussion also addressed the deteriorating condition of the main school building, which is a key concern in the overall building project. We highlighted issues such as crumbling windows, poor insulation, and a heating system that is no longer effective. The conditions make it increasingly difficult for teaching and learning to take place in the building. Minister McEntee listened attentively to these concerns and assured the Board of Management that she would do her utmost to bring these issues to the attention of the Professional & Technical Team within the Department of Education. She committed to advocating for the necessary improvements in the next stages of the building project. We are very grateful for Minister McEntee’s visit and her commitment to supporting the school.
