About Scoil Mhuire Strokestown
Our school has a long tradition of excellence in education. Each of our students are valued and cared for as a part of a learning community, we believe in enabling each student to achieve their full potential. We are constantly striving to do our best for our students, creating a good, caring, disciplined learning environment where our students can flourish.
We encourage and challenge our students on a daily basis, we are committed to the holistic development of each of our students so they will become well rounded individuals who will contribute positively to their community. We believe in and value parental involvement, we have a very vibrant Parents association and need parents to become involved in school life. We believe parent’s involvement in their child’s education is a key factor to their child’s success in school and life.
In our school we offer the best of teaching to the highest standard, with a very broad range of subjects and with many extra-curricular activities. Our facilities are to a very high standard which is a great benefit to our students. We would be delighted to welcome your child to our school, we have been serving the community of Strokestown and surrounding area for many years now and look forward to continuing this rich tradition of education into the future.
Scoil Mhuire Mission Statement
Scoil Mhuire Strokestown is a caring Christian community, valuing all students equally irrespective of ability.
Adhering to the Ceist philosophy we aim to adopt a holistic approach to education; enabling all students to achieve their full potential in all areas – intellectual, physical, spiritual, social and cultural.
We aim to foster teamwork, collegiality and inclusivity within the staff. We aim to build upon the talent, skills and professionalism of the staff to devise and develop, in a coordinated and collaborative manner, the appropiate strategies to address the challenges of modern education.
Within our teaching, we aim to encourage a sense of responsibility, self-discipline and self-motivation among students.
We aim to foster a mutually respecting and supportive relationship between management, staff, parents, as well as the wider community.
Background of Scoil Mhuire
The Pioneer of second level education in Strokestown was Miss Mary Carlos, who founded the original Scoil Mhuire in Bawn Street in the late 1920’s. This Co-educational school served the locality with distinction for four decades.
The Convent Primary School was founded in 1891. The present school building was erected in 1954 and its completion meant that from 1955 onwards, girls stayed on to do their Leaving Certificate. The Convent Primary School continued with its ‘secondary-top’ until 1967.
By 1967, plans were in existence to construct a five-roomed vocational school in Strokestown to provide technical subjects.
Strokestown could have ended up with three very small second level schools each struggling for survival. However, the co-operative effort, evidenced in other areas of enterprise in Strokestown, prevailed. An agreement was reached between all parties interested in school level education in the town. Scoil Mhuire, Bawn Street, amalgamated with the Convent secondary top to form a new secondary school, independent of the primary school. An agreement was reached whereby the school born of the amalgamation would be comprehensive, offering subjects taught in vocational schools as well as those traditional to the secondary system.
The new Scoil Mhuire opened on the Convent Campus in September 1967 as a voluntary secondary school which had opted to enter the O’Mally Free Second Level Education Scheme. The new school retained the name of the Bawn Street School, Sr. M. Rosarii Rushe was the first principal, Miss Carlos continued her work for education in Scoil Mhuire until her retirement in 1973.
Stage Developments of Our School
Further developments were: completion of stage one of the permanent building (1972); introduction of Agricultural Science (1973); first musical stage productions – Joseph and His Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat (1975); foundation of Parents’ Council (1976); provision of Guidance Counselling Service (1979); blessing and opening of stage two of school building, and provision of Education Liaison Officer (1982); provision of Specialist Remedial Service (1983); introduction of Vocational Preparation and Training Programme (1984); Transition Year (1989); Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme (1990); completion of two new classrooms (1990); addition of four further rooms, including new Art Room, Technical Graphics Room and Computer Room. Our school buildings and services have been developed through the self-sacrifice and dedication of many people including pioneers like Miss Carlos, the Sisters of Mercy, the teachers, secretary, caretakers, parents and pupils of the past and present. The provision of these facilities and services was a magnificent community effort.
On 12th October 2012 the official opening of the New Extension, Gymnasium and school refurbishment was performed by minister Pat Rabitte T.D. This includes two new Science Laboratories, new Woodwork room, new Metalwork room, new DCG room, new Multimedia room, new fully equipped Gym and P.E. Hall, new classrooms, meeting rooms, offices and store rooms. Many areas of the original school building got refurbished at the same time. Also opened in 2012 was the new Astroturf pitch which is an excellent facility for all our students at Scoil Mhuire.
