ANNUAL REPORT 2008-2009
The academic year ‘08-‘09 started with a great degree of uncertainty as the school stood to loose two specialist RPT teachers. Having been through the appeals process the Board of Management decided to continue the struggle to retain the teachers and their subjects. St Joseph’s Spanish Point is a sole provider with the stated aim of meeting the needs of the local community. In areas such as west Clare it is imperative that schools offer as broad a curriculum as possible in order to provide equality of opportunity for all. We are delighted now to report that the school has both subject areas on the curriculum and will continue to offer them into the future.
The second major advance for St Josephs is that the school will undergo major refurbishment over the summer and into the new academic year. The existing roof will be replaced with a slate one and other attendant works will take place. The Board of Management is very pleased with such developments particularly as parents have given of their time to repaint and refurbish other parts of the building in the course of the school year.
The beginning of the academic year ‘09-‘10 will coincide with the inauguration of the 80th anniversary celebrations of the school. St Josephs opened its doors in Spanish Point on the 4th September 1929. The school was founded by the Mercy Order initially as a girls boarding and day school. Over time the school changed with societal changes and today is a co-ed day school offering a broad curriculum to the whole west Clare area. It is intended to spread the celebrations over the year with the following giving a flavour of some of the events taking place – a Mass of Celebration which will be celebrated by Bishop Willie Walshe, a Fashion Show spanning eight decades, a Musical Production, a Photographic and Art Exhibition, a Publication with contributions from past and present pupils and a Gala Dinner on February 27th 2010.
In the course of the year the Transition Year students worked with Mr Hughes on a Folklore Project which has been selected for grant aid by the Irish Heritage Council. The project itself involved working with the local primary schools and the Bealoideas Project of 1938 and will culminate in a publication.
St Josephs was happy to work with the University of Indiana on their Teacher Internship Programme. A U.S. teacher worked in Spanish Point for term 3 and engaged with the staff, students and community in what was a very enriching experience.
We were delighted that one of our past pupils, Ms Orla Sexton, offered a Deportment and Modelling course this year and another past pupil, Ms Lourda Talty, offered a Fashion Design course to our present students. The students were in awe of the courses and we look forward to an even bigger uptake next year.
The school year ended on a high note with our under 16½year old boys winning the Munster Final and on that note we look forward to an action packed ’09-’10 even if it is in more strained budgetary circumstances.