School News from across Waterford
Pupils Keisi Llushkaj, Aicha Camara, Kaci Keating and Ellen Carroll with Minister John Cummins and Principal Sally Ronayne at Presentation Secondaru School. Photo: John Power
Butlerstown National School are set to take on the Waterford Greenway on November 15 as part of their efforts to raise €40,000 for new outdoor facilities.
Meeting at SETU Greenway car park at 9am, participants can choose to either walk or cycle as far as Killoteran where there will be a refreshment break. From there, participants will have the option of either continuing on to Kilmeaden or returning to the starting point, with an estimated finish time of 1pm.
Funds raised by the event will go towards the development of the school’s outdoor facilities, with both play and educational areas planned.
Some of the funding will go towards a school garden, with the aim of informing pupils about nature, growing, sustainability and the environment. Alongside this, an outdoor classroom will offer different ways of learning and engaging with students.
A sensory playground is also planned, which would help the sensory development of students, as well as encouraging their creativity and offering a place of calm.
A new playground is also planned for the school and has already been partially funded by the Department of Education.
Principal Mary O’Connor is calling on anyone with interested to join them on the day.
“The Butlerstown community have already been so supportive,” she said.
Information on how to donate can be found at butlerstownns.fundmajor.com
Presentation Secondary School welcomed students, staff and guests this week as they hosted the official opening of new specialist facilities on November 6.
The ceremony was attended by the school’s community, as well as Government Chief Whip and Minister of State for Mental Health, Mary Butler; Minister of State for Local Government and Planning, John Cummins and Mayor of Waterford, Cllr Liam Brazil.
The event saw the opening of the school’s two new special classes and sensory room, as well as a new graphics and applied technology suite.
Minister Butler welcomed the new facilities, saying they are “providing a welcoming and supportive environment where students can learn, develop and participate fully in school life.”
The new special classes and sensory room will provide dedicated spaces for the students enrolled in them, as well as being a resource for the wider school community.
Aicha, one of the students at the school, said the facilities offered her the space and support to enjoy school and be “more myself”.
Speaking at the event, Minister Cummins expressed the importance of developing the graphics and design facilities, the positive impact that access to these subjects has in creating space for women and girls to excel in STEM.
The new suite is equipped with high-specification devices and machinery and will be of benefit to junior cycle students taking up the school’s new graphics and technology classes, which have both been added since 2025.
Senior cycle students will also benefit from the new suite, as this year they will have the option of taking Design and Communication Graphics.
Principal Sally Ronayne said it was part of the school’s vision to broaden the opportunities available to students at the school, thanking those involved with the development and construction.
She said it was the realisation of a vision the school had to “broaden the opportunities available to our girls, strengthen our STEM provision and create an even more inclusive school”.
“Inclusion is not simply about having a place in a school,” she said. “True inclusion is about feeling that you belong there.”
It was a triumphant week for sport at St Declan’s, with wins in hurling, both men’s and women’s football, and show jumping.
The Minor C Ladies team took on Blackwater CS on November 6, which saw them leading by half time, and continuing a strong performance to secure a win to launch their campaign.
The U17s boys faced Blackwell College on November 5, with a strong start followed by a well matched second half. St Declan's won on the day, with a final score of 4-10 to 0-06.
The U19 senior hurlers secured a hard-fought victory against Coláiste an Phiarsaigh, Glanmire, Cork when they met them on November 4 in Cappoquin.
It marks two wins from two games in the Munster Championship, and sets them up for an upcoming fixture against Rice College.
The Interschools Show Jumping in Shanakil on the bank holiday saw St Declan's bringing home several rosettes.
The school’s novice team of Eva Coghlan, Ellie Hearne, Louise Flynn and Mia O Donnell came 3rd, while their Open Team of Louise Flynn, Abbey Murphy and Mia O Donnell came 1st in the Team event.
Individual riders also had success, with Clodagh Dunne placing 4th in the 90cm Individual, Mia O'Donnell placing 3rd in the 1m Individual and Louise Flynn placing 4th in the 1m Individual competition.
