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| Rathfriland
Hill digs in for new school |
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| A
new £3.1million school for children with special
needs in Newry is expected to be complete by June next
year after work recently commenced on site.
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| The
new school for Rathfriland Hill will be located on a
site at Carnagat, Newry. School Principal Raymond Cassidy
welcomed staff, parents, governors, children and guests
to the official sod cutting ceremony on Thursday 6 March,
where he invited Sister Olive McConville to cut the
first sod. He also extended a warm welcome to representatives
from the Southern Education & Library Board (SELB)
including the Chairman Mrs Alexander, local councillors,
MLA’s and members of the local community. s. |
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Mr
Cassidy said, “Today is a special day for all
involved in Rathfriland Hill School. For the pupils,
staff, parents and governors it is a future to look
forward to with optimism. Our new school will have
the most modern educational resources and facilities
for children with Special Needs.” He continued,
“On behalf of everyone at Rathfriland Hill School
I would like to thank SELB Chief Executive Helen McClenaghan,
the Department of Education, our local councillors,
MLA’s, the local and national media for their
tremendous support which has helped to make our new
school a reality.”
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The
school costing £3.1million and designed by SELB
Architects is due for completion in June 2004. The
building comprises 12 classrooms, a multipurpose hall,
home teach unit, dining area, soft play and sensory
rooms and separate rooms for speech, physio and occupational
therapists. Also included is a nursery/preschool area.
The new school will be single level with free access
to all external play areas. Sister Olive, ex-Chair
of the School’s Board of Governors has been
an active campaigner for a new school for many years,
she commented, “I am delighted to see this day,
we have been hoping and waiting for a new school for
many years. This new provision will provide first
class facilities for children with special needs in
Newry and the surrounding areas. I wish Principal
Mr Cassidy, staff, pupils and their families many
happy years in their new school.”
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| Helen
McClenaghan, SELB Chief Executive also attended the event
where she reaffirmed the Southern Board’s commitment
to Special Education, she said, “This new school for
children with special needs in and around the Newry area will
be the largest special school in the Southern Board, both
in terms of pupils numbers and size. It is the last of the
5 special schools in the board to be replaced with modern
and up to date facilities, symbolising the Southern Board’s
continued commitment to children with special education needs.”
The main contractor on site is Glasgiven Contracts Ltd, Annalong.
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