| Welcoming those attending the ceremony, principal Raymond Cassidy said Rathore’s pupils and staff have the wonderful facilities they deserve with the provision of such a bright, modern school.
Rathore is built on a new site at Carnagat and it replaces Rathfriland Hill School . The school has 15 teaching staff and 26 classroom assistants catering for 93 pupils who have special educational needs.
Moira Alexander , SELB Chairman attended the official opening on behalf of the Board, along with Helen McClenaghan , SELB Chief Executive.
Mrs Alexander said: “This new school reflects the continued commitment of the SELB to providing high quality facilities for children with special educational needs. I pay tribute to Mr Cassidy and his colleagues for their commitment to the children and young people placed in their care and for ensuring that Rathore lives up to its motto ‘A chance for all’.”
Speaking at the event, Rev Fr Column Wright said: “Rathore is one of those schools where very small achievements merit huge celebrations and where massive mountains are climbed with one very small step at a time. The new school building with its extensive playgrounds, lavish gardens, multi sensory and health units is simply perfect - fought for with tooth and nail by Mr Raymond Cassidy and his Board of Governors. These are the people who make sure that our children are never going to be without.”
Also participating in the opening ceremony was Rev Dr Michael Barry who said the school which Rathore replaced - Rathfriland Hill - had played an important part in the education and development of young people with highly trained staff working under less than ideal conditions.
Rev Dr Barry said: “I have seen and heard of their dedication and hard work, and cannot praise them highly enough. With the provision of these new premises, the staff will have a wonderful opportunity to continue that tradition. The principal and staff are acutely aware that the education of young people involves more than academic and social training. They
have integrated the spiritual welfare of the pupils into the life of the school and I thoroughly enjoy the opportunities I have to visit them.''
Thanking those who attended, Raymond Cassidy, Rathore principal, said: “I wish to pay tribute to the Department of Education for the funding for the new school, to the SELB for prioritising Rathore School, to the governors who work on behalf of the pupils and staff and to the staff who have worked hard to ensure a smooth transition for the pupils from the old school. I also wish to acknowledge the roles played by the public representatives who contributed towards this very special day.''
The principal finished by congratulating Todd Architects and the main contractor, Glasgiven Contracts, for the quality of the design and the building.
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