School Building
The building was built in 1976 and was totally renovated in 2009.
Universal Access
The school is specifically designed and resourced to cater for wheelchair users. The school building is universally accessible with ramps to all entrance doors. There is a spacious, fully furnished, universally accessible toilet complete with changing bench and lifting hoist.
Church Services
There are strong connections between the Mountmellick Group of Parishes and the school. The school participates regularly in church services where pupils have the opportunity to help to lead the worship.
Assembly
Assembly is held Once a week, when the whole school comes together for hymn singing and prayer.
Religious Education
The Church of Ireland ‘Follow-Me Programme’ is the main R.E. programme followed in the school alongside the Postal Bible School.
Art
Pupils are given the opportunity to participate in many local and national art competitions. Each year, the pupils have the opportunity to make a piece of Mountmellick Work in time for Mother’s Day.
Physical Education
It is endeavoured that pupils in the school are exposed to as many areas of Physical Education as possible. Pupils complete a certified six-week course of swimming lessons each year. Pupils in the Junior classroom experience a course of Irish dancing each year. Pupils also attend gymnastic classes in the local gymnastics hall as well as athletics sessions organised by Laois Sports Partnership.
IT
Each classroom is equipped with an inter-active whiteboard and a teacher laptop. There are sixteen laptops in the schools for pupils use.
Playground
Pupils enjoy the advantage of extensive playground areas including grass pitches and and a tarmacadamed court.
Garden
Each classroom has a vegetable patch outside their classroom window, which the pupils get to attend to in the Spring. A salad party is enjoyed each Summer. We have a polytunnel which the children also use from spring to summer.
Music
As well as enjoying the strands of the music curriculum, pupils in the Senior Classroom are given the opportunity to learn the recorder. The end of year musical is a real highlight for the whole school community.
Science
The school has been awarded the DPSM Plaque for Science and Maths Excellence for the tenth year in a row.
Resources
The school is well resourced for all curricular areas with interactive whiteboards and laptops.
Learning Support/Resource Teaching
There are currently two Learning Support teachers and two Special needs assistants based in the school.
School Times
School Opening hours are as follows:
8:50 a.m. – 1.30 p.m. (infant classes)
8:.50 a.m. – 2.30 p.m. (1st – 6th class)
Enrolment
If you wish to enrol you child(ren), please fill out our Intention to enrol form. Any prospective pupils and their families are welcome to contact the school and arrange a visit.
School Contact
St Paul’s N.S., Irishtown, Mountmellick, Co. Laois R32WK79 Tel: 057-8624781