This article is from page 20 of the 2011-09-27 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 20 JPG
A MAJOR fundraising effort that got underway in January has so far secured € 85,000 for the development of new classrooms at Knockanean National School.
Construction on a new two-storey development, which encompasses four new classrooms, is currently underway at the school on the outskirts of Ennis.
Work on the € 100,000 project is expected to be completed by December.
The school was built in 1949 with a further extension in 1997. Since then the number of pupils attending the school has more than doubled to 280. Four classes of children plus the school’s resource teachers are currently being catered for in prefabricated cabins.
In 2010 the school received a grant from the Department of Education and Science for new facilities. However the grant fell short of what was required to complete the work. Last September, the Board of Management appointed a fundraising committee to raise the shortfall of € 100,000 required to complete the extension.
Now as a result of the dedicated efforts of staff, the local community and the 175 families with children attending the school, € 85,000 has been raised to date.
Caroline Purcell of the Knockanean fundraising committee explained, “This puts the fundraising right on track to reach their target. The build- ing work is also on track as painting begins on the outside of the new building this week. There is an air of excitement around the school as pupils, staff and families look forward to the new classrooms being opened on schedule.”
The fundraising drive has so far included a buy a brick campaign and a charity CD. Caroline said the campaign would continue over the coming months. She added, “To help the school reach the target, the fundraising committee have organised a flag day and bag packing days over the next few weeks.”
School principal Pat McNamara paid tribute to the efforts of parents and parents of past pupils. He said the fundraising campaign had exceeded all expectations. He added, “We thought this might have been a two year thing but people have really rowed in behind it.”