by Kathy Masterson
THE name of the new school formed by the amalgamation of St Nessan’s Community College and Salesian’s Secondary School will be Thomond Community College.
The school, which held its first open night this week, will open its doors at the recently-developed St Nessan’s Campus at Moylish Park, Old Cratloe Road for the 2016/2017 school year.
For 2015/16 the new school will be named on the Common Applications System as St Nessan’s Community College, but from 2016/2017 the new name Thomond Community College will come into existence.
The patron for the new school will be Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board (LCETB), in partnership with the Salesians Sisters.
The LCETB said that Thomond Community College “will build on the strengths of both existing schools to provide an enhanced co-educational opportunity for up to 750 students from a wide catchment area in Limerick”.
Bernadette Cullen of the LCETB commented: “Now that we have finalised the name, we are very excited as we move towards establishing Thomond Community College in September of next year. Its commitment to excellence is reflected in its mission statement, which affirms its aim is to create a welcoming, caring, positive and supportive learning environment for students.
“In realising this mission statement, Thomond Community College will embody a holistic approach to education, providing a school experience which is responsive to student’s strengths, their potential and individual learning styles.”
The curricular experience that was available in both of the schools will continue to be on offer to students in the new school, resulting in a broader option for all students.
In addition to the traditional Junior Cycle and Leaving Certificate programmes, the school will offer a first year induction and subject taster programme, the Junior Certificate Schools Programme, Leaving Certificate Applied and the Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme.
The LCETB said Thomond Community College will continue to build on existing links with Limerick Institute of Technology, Mary Immaculate College, University of Limerick and other colleges “to expand opportunities for progression to third level”.
The school also plans to offer an extensive extra-curricular programme featuring art, craft and design, music, sport and multimedia facilities, among others.
