This article is from page 6 of the 2014-06-03 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 6 JPG
CHILDREN attending the region’s only paediatric ward can now attend school in a purpose-built classrooms, without leaving the hospital grounds.
The new purpose-built Children’s Ark School was officially opened in the University Hospital Limerick on Thursday, May 29. The school provides multi-denominational pri- mary- and secondary-level education for students attending the hospital.
The new facility is made up of a large classroom for primary students, a second classroom for secondary students, toilets, office space and an outdoor learning area.
The Department of Education and Skills has approved the installation of 100MB fibre broadband to enable access to the most up to date technology to support the education of the students.
Dr Liam Carroll, founding member and former Chair of the Children’s Ark School Board of Management and Jayden Conway Wood officially opened the new classrooms.
The school, like any other, is managed by a Board of Management and has two teachers. Both teachers, Mary Carr and Margaret McCarthy are members of HOPE, the organisa tion for hospital teachers in Europe.
Speaking at the opening, Ann Doherty, CEO, UL Hospitals, said, “We are very proud of having such a quality school on site and I want to acknowledge and thank the Board of Management and their staff for all the work they have done to make this school a reality.”
The Children’s Ark School was originally the brainchild of Dr Carroll, Consultant Paediatrician, who got sanction from the Department of Education and Skills to establish a school to cater for the ongoing education of children in University Hospital Limerick.
The school commenced in 2006 and originally operated from the dining room of the Sunshine Ward in the Children’s Ark Unit.
Frank Keane, Chair, Board of Management and former manager of Ennis Hospital, added that “the new school is a wonderful new development, encompassing the best available information technology to assist in providing continuity for those young people unlucky enough to be ill and requiring hospital care. Meeting the young person’s educational needs is a vital part of the holistic approach required to put them on the road to recovery.” Mr Keane also wanted to acknowledge the hard work of everyone involved but said that “a huge thank you must go to my predecessor as Chair of the Board of Management, Dr Liam Carroll, who was the true visionary who had the foresight to get the concept of education while in hospital off the ground back in December 2006”.