This article is from page 36 of the 2008-05-13 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 36 JPG
STAFF and students at St Clare’s School are counting on your vote in the AIB Better Ireland awards.
The school was shortlisted for the annual awards ceremony, which takes place in June.
The school is one of three groups from Ennis nominated. The Ennis branch of AIB Ireland will award €10,000 to the local project that tops the poll in a public text vote over a four-week period from May 6 to June oF
The local community can simply text ENNIS followed by C to 53099 to vote.
The award is part of AIB’s Better Ireland Programme which supports children with physical, sensory and
intellectual disabilities and also chil- dren affected by drug and alcohol abuse, homelessness or a lack of ac- cess to mainstream education due to poverty.
St Clare’s appearance on the short- list reflects the enormous contribu- tion the school has made to the com- munity in Ennis since it first opened its doors in 1967.
The school has operated from its present site on the Gort Road since 1986. Work on an extension to the original premises was completed in 2005.
St Clare’s caters for children with all disabilities, physical, sensory and intellectual.
There are currently 57 children en- rolled in the school supported by a highly dedicated staff. Last year was
one of the most significant in the his- tory of St Clare’s with the opening, by Dr Willie Walsh of a sensory gar- Clo
The garden is specially designed OMS AoMOOVECCUKcIIMMEDI COE IDONLOyI Kore mE:eeronts around the garden and allow them to discover something new at every nubaee
Children in electric wheelchairs are free to roam and to enjoy the beauty of the garden. The design is such that certain areas are specially planted to appeal to the sense of sound, while other areas appeal to the sense of touch.
If St Clare’s are successful in the awards then a large slice of the prize will be spent on adding to the sen- sory garden.
Deputy principal Clare McInerney
hesitates to say that work on the gar- den has been completed. Such has been the positive impact on school life; everyone at St Clare’s views the sensory garden as on ongoing project.
Clare said, “We are always looking to add to the garden because it’s been hugely positive for the students. A lot of our students spend a long time on the bus travelling to and from the school, so it’s good to have a place for activity”.
Students from St Clare’s have also participated in events for the Special Olympics.
A group representing St Clare’s also successfully took part at artistic and rhythmic gymnastic competi- tions which took place in Limerick and Cork.