11.10.2013
Celebrations in Malahide as St Andrew’s National School Extension Opens
The latest step in the long history of St Andrew’s National School in Malahide was celebrated today (October 11) with the official opening of the school’s new extension. The fabulous new facility is the result of a 10 year campaign and the official opening was performed by Susie Hall, a long standing member of the school’s board of management. The new building was dedicated by the Archbishop of Dublin, the Most Revd Dr Michael Jackson.
The ribbon cutting ceremony followed a service in St Andrew’s Church across the road. Introducing the service the Rector, the Revd Dr Norman Gamble noted that the day came at the end of a long, long process. He observed that the last time the school had had a similar service was in 1995 and at that time the whole school had been able to fit into the church. Now however, the school had grown so much that only a selection of the pupils could attend today.
In his address Archbishop Jackson referred to the Gospel reading (Matthew 7, 24–27) and said it contained a warning that any project needed homework and preparation. He said he was sure that in the case of the new school extension, both homework and preparation had been done.
He said it was important that school should be a safe and happy place for children and that it should be a place where children can grow in a community which is religious in an easy way. He added that there should be a sense of fulfilment for the pupils that they are making progress socially and academically.
The Archbishop thanked the Department of Education and Skills for making the extension possible and all those who had helped to bring it to fruition. He also paid tribute to the board of management and the rector.
All the children were able to join the official opening ceremony which took place in the schoolyard. There, Dr Gamble pointed out that the school had served the parish and the community for 189 years and pre–empted the National Education System itself.
He gave a brief outline of the purpose of Church of Ireland schools. He said that traditionally the schools have been truly multi–denominational, catering for the children of the various Reformed Christian traditions and shared a vision as Christian schools, seeking to educate all aspects of a child’s life in harmony, body, mind and spirit. “We seek to help children develop in Christian faith in whatever tradition they may come from, at the same time seeking to provide the best possible academic and physical development as we can,” he said.
School Principal, Trevor Richmond, said that the memorable day marked the end of a 10 year wait during which staff and pupils had put up with terrible conditions. He said there were many people who had helped along the way and thanked the architects and contractors for their work. He also thanked the parents’ association for their fundraising efforts and the Department of Education and Skills for their funding.
Susie Hall said it was an enormous honour to have been asked to open the extension. “It has been a long hard road. Over 10 years we have been campaigning. We didn’t get it in the good times,” she said. She recalled offers of prefabs from the department and thanked the principal for agreeing to stay with the fight for the extension.
She paid tribute to all her colleagues on the board of management and those who served on previous boards whose efforts were being seen today. In a message to the Minister for Education, who was not present, she said that investment in education was one of the biggest investments made in society and pointed out that money invested in education came back to society 100 fold.
Mrs Hall told the pupils that they were very lucky as there were millions of children all over the world who did not have the right to education. “This is the key to your future and you can be whatever you want to be if you work hard enough,” she stated.