THERE is “a sense of excitement and confidence” surrounding the new Thomond Community College, according to the Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board (LCETB).
The new school, due to open in September 2016, will emerge from the amalgamation of St Nessan’s Community College and Salesian’s Secondary School and will cater for up to 750 students at the existing St Nessan’s Campus at Moylish Park.
The school recently held its first open day and its patrons, the LCETB and the Salesians Sisters, say they were “extremely encouraged” by the interest shown by potential first year students and their parents.
“We had in excess of 90 prospective students from traditional feeder schools for both the Salesians and St Nessan‘s and there was very positive interest in what the new school has to offer.
“The curricular experience was of particular interest as given that the curriculum at both the Salesians and St. Nessan’s will continue to be on offer to students in the new school, this will result in a broad range of options overall,” commented LCETB education officer Bernadette Cullen.
The evening included presentations from Ms Cullen, LCETB chief executive George O’Callaghan, and principal of St Nessan’s Community College Eugene O’Brien on the benefits of the new college and the educational experience that will be available to students and parents.
“We gave the students an insight into the type of curricular and extra-curricular activity and services that Thomond Community College will offer in the hope that they would get an understanding of how exciting their education will be here. We were not disappointed as the reaction was really positive.
“We have come a long way since we set out on developing this new school through the amalgamation and we have a good distance yet to travel. But it certainly gave us great encouragement to see how much the students at our open night were engaged,” concluded Ms Cullen.”
