29.02.2016
New Chapter Begins at Newpark School as New Building is Officially Opened
“This school is built where a great school used to stand. This is our blank canvas. This is our beginning.” These were the words of Olivia Drennan, a sixth year student at Newpark Comprehensive School at the official opening of the school’s new building today (Monday February 29). Students, teachers and staff were joined by parents, friends and supporters to celebrate a momentous day in the school’s history. The new building, which is the result of many years of hard work and campaigning, was dedicated by Archbishop Michael Jackson.
School principal, Derek Lowry, was joined by all three of his predecessors: the Revd Michael Classon, John Harris and Derek West. During the morning students’ musical talents were showcased with performances by the school choir and jazz trio Matthew Breen, Jonah Byrne and Finn MacAnna, a harp solo by former student Claire O’Donnell and a piano duet by Maya Baum and Norah Corcoran–Chan. The festivities concluded with a performance by the choir of ‘A Day Like This’ with lyrics by Emma Horsfield of fifth year. Cian Malin provided music on the piano before and afterwards and second year student, Emily Keogh read from Colossians.
The principal acknowledged the contribution of the Department of Education in providing €12.5 million in funding for the building at a time when budgets were tight. He thanked all who had helped bring the project to fruition. He also paid tribute to the teaching staff but said the most important people were the students. “We hope they will get the most out of the six years they are here. It is important that we provide a school for all of the students and they are all of equal importance,” he said. The principal acknowledged the support of the deputy principal, Mark Cookman, chairman of the board of management, Robert Grier and his own family.
Robert Grier said it was a remarkable day for Newpark and praised the many people who had worked towards achieving the new building. He highlighted the school’s ethos of respect, tolerance and desire to include people from a wide range of backgrounds which meant that they embraced diversity and all students could fit in there. The school’s history had been characterised by generosity of spirit and a sense of fun as well as inclusivity and the desire to see each student reach his or her full potential, he added. He paid tribute to the principal and deputy principal, all the teaching staff and the chaplain who ensured students left Newpark ready for life.
Olivia Drennan recalled life in the old building from the smell in C Corridor to the great school spirit. She said the some students had worried that the Newpark spirit would be lost during the move into the new building. “But let’s be realistic. It isn’t all about the building, Newpark is about the people.
Fourth year student, Karim Tamu, spoke of the great welcome he received in arriving at the school over two years ago having moved to Ireland from Sierra Leone. Having seen the new school being built from the ground up, he said Newparkers now had the school they deserved. “But it is the Newparkers themselves who make this school and I am proud to be part of this new chapter with the new building,” he said.
Former head boy, Ben Melvin, spoke of the qualities the unique learning community equipped its students with. “The scope of opportunities we were afforded with here gave us all a chance to flourish,” he said paying tribute to the staff and the schools free thinking ethos for allowing the students to develop independence, reason, logic and critical thinking.
Dedicating the new school building, Archbishop Jackson said visitors had been treated to an amazing snapshot of Newpark life in an electrifying morning. He prayed for those whose beliefs had held firm and who had overcome the difficulties which at times may have seemed insurmountable. He gave thanks for those who enabled an ethos of compassion and respect to flourish in the school and gave thanks for all who would experience the school’s spirit in the future.
Photo captions:
Top – Chairman of the board of Newpark Comprehensive School, Robert Grier; Archbishop Michael Jackson; Deputy Mary Mitchell–O’Connor; and school principal, Derek Lowry.
Middle – The choir of Newpark School performing during the official opening of the new building.
Bottom – All four principals of Newpark – the Revd Michael Classon, Derek Lowry, Derek West and John Harris.