INTRODUCTION

Scoil Chroí Ró Naofa is a co-educational Catholic primary school under the patronage of the Catholic Bishop of Ferns and operates under the regulations of the Department of Education & Science. Our current enrolment is 126 children, ranging from Junior Infants to 6th class.

LOCATION

Scoil Chroí Ró Naofa (Roll No. 05070W) is situated in the village of Ballymurn, approximately 7 miles from Enniscorthy and 9 miles from Wexford. The school is managed by a Board of Management comprising of Teacher, Parent, Community and Patron’s Nominees.

The School Building (1847 -2008) & School Personnel

The school building itself is built of stone and dates from 1847 when it was in use as a grain store. This was converted into a two-roomed school which, in the 1980’s, grew to three classrooms with the addition of a prefab classroom. It was extended in 1994 by two additional permanent classrooms (one added at each end of the original building) and a connecting corridor.

The teaching staff at this time consisted of four class teachers (including the Principal). In 2000 a part-time Resource Teacher was appointed. Ancillary staff included the school Secretary, part-time cleaner and a part-time caretaker. The teaching staff increased further in 2005 with the appointment of a full-time Learning Support Teacher. A part-time Special Needs Assistant was also appointed at this time.

In 2006, in view of the increasing numbers of children living in the area, the Board of Management identified possible sites for the building of a new replacement school building and notified the Buildings Unit of the DES of these as part of its application for a new school building. It is currently waiting for the DES to advance the application.

In September 2007, due to increased enrolment resulting from considerable growth in housing in the parish, the staff grew to six teachers and one part-time Resource Teacher. The Department of Education & Science (DES) arranged to rent a temporary (prefab) classroom to accommodate the part-time Resource Teacher. At this time also the two original classrooms were deemed both unfit for use and unsuitable for refurbishment and the DES has rented a further two prefab classrooms as replacements.

In 2008 the Board of Management, at its own expense and supported by voluntary fundraising within the school community, refurbished the two original classrooms to provide a new Staffroom (to accommodate the increase in staffing levels), a Principal’s office, a Secretary’s office and a General Purposes Room. These recent developments, coupled with the additional classroom accommodation, have greatly improved daily life in the school for pupils and staff alike.

Today in 2018 the school staff consists of 5 mainstream teachers, 1 SET (Special Education Teacher), 1 SNA (Special Needs Assistant), 1 Secretary, 1 part-time Cleaner and 1 part-time Caretaker.

Green Flag School

In September 2007 Scoil Chroí Ró Naofa proudly raised its first Green Flag at the front of the school grounds. This hard-won prize was awarded by An Taisce to schools which have met specified targets in litter awareness and waste reduction. Children representing all classes, 2 teachers, 2 parents and 1 representative from the local community formed a Green Flag Committee to achieve these targets. The committee, in turn, successfully sought ways to engage the entire school community in these efforts and, in so doing, raised among the children and their families an awareness of the environment and our relationship with it.

In January 2009 the school succeeded in being awarded with its second Green Flag, this time for outstanding efforts to reduce energy consumption and for raising awareness of environmentally-friendly ways of energy generation.

In June 2011 the school was awarded its third Green Flag, for efforts in the conservation of water. This included initiative such as changing the taps in the school to push taps, the use of hippo bags in the toilet cisterns, rainwater collection systems.

The School Crest

The school crest, adopted in 2004, features on the official school letterhead and also on the school tracksuit. A competition to design a school crest was held among the children in the school. The competition was won by Louise Murphy whose design shows (a) the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Scoil Chroí Ró Naofa), (b) the oak tree to reflect the rich woodland vegetation found in the locality and (c) an open book to symbolise the school as a place of learning.

Religious Occasions

In fulfillment of its ethos as a Catholic school the children are prepared for the sacraments of First Confession, First Holy Communion and Confirmation. School Masses are held on average 6 times a year with confessions on average once a term. Some children, with written parental consent, receive training to become altar servers and may be required to serve wedding or funeral Masses on occasion.

Parental Links

In April 2008 the Parents’ Association was formally established and has affiliated to the National Parents Council (Primary).