About Us
About Derrywash NS: (click on any link below to go straight to that topic:
1. Introduction 2. School Day 3. Facilities 4. Staff 5. Parents Association 6. History
The School Day
School begins at 8:55 am and finishes at 2:35 pm.
Junior and Senior Infants finish at 1:35 pm.
A ten-minute break is at 11 am.
Lunch time is from 12:35pm to 1:05pm.
Facilities (pics right)
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One of the two lifts
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Toilet facilities for disabled pupils.
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Purpose-built playground
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School basketball court and pitch.
Introduction
The school promotes a wide educational,
The school is located on the link road between the Ballinrobe Road and the Westport Road just two miles from Castlebar town.
St Joseph's, known locally as Derrywash N.S. is a primary school for boys and girls open to all denominations.christian and cultural agenda and caters for the abilities and skills of a growing population of dedicated children.
The dedicated and committed staff serve the interests of the children of the wider Derrywash community in promoting the spiritual, intellectual, physical and social development of each child under their care.
The Facilities
Our four mainstream classrooms are supported by two learning support/resource room, a P.E. room, staffroom, secretary and Principal's offices.
Our two-storey building has two elevators which gives full access to all facilities.
Our newly constructed, modern school is equipped with state-of-the-art technological facilities for a modern education system.
Our classrooms are furnished with interactive Smart Boards and are facilitated by an Apple Mac mobile laptop cart.
All classrooms are equipped with the latest appropriate equipment and teaching resources.
Outdoor facilities include two spacious playgrounds and a football pitch.
Our Staff
The Staff
Derrywash N.S has four mainstream teachers including principal, together with learning support/resource teacher and a shared resource teacher. Our ancillary staff include special needs assistants, secretary and caretaker.
All are dedicated to creating a safe, happy, learning environment for the children.
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Principal: Mrs McDonnell Deputy Principal: Ms O'Donohue Secretary: Mary Gibbons
The Parent's Association
Derrywash N.S. Parent's Association is very active and co-operates with all school activities.
The association is involved in many activities throughout the year which include the annual Sports Day and Barbeque and End of Year Mass.
Annually the parents are invited to a general meeting and encouraged to participate in all school activities.
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Musical
Every two years Derrywash NS puts on a public performance in the TF Royal Theatre, Castlebar. All the children from Infants to Sixth participate in the stage performance. With professional stage, sound, lights and music, it all adds up to a very exciting and eagerly awaited event. Hard work and great fun for all involved. "Shrek the Musical" will be this years performance. Past performances include 'Oliver', 'Annie', 'Joseph and his Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat', 'High School Musical' and 'The Sound of Music'.
On Friday 12th June 2015 the children of Derrywash N.S. once again took to the stage in the T.F. to perform the hilarious "Shrek the Musical". The show included all the original characters from the movie, music from the Broadway musical and a few additions of our own. It promised to be a great nights entertainment for all the family and so it proved to be.
History of our School
The proud history of Derrywash N.S. goes back to October 1887 and since that time has enjoyed a tradition of learning, culture and community support.
The one room building with open fireplace of that time has been renovated and enhanced during the past hundred years to cater for increased numbers and educational needs.
Today Derrywash N.S. is a magnificent new building officially opened and blessed by Archbishop Michael Neary on the fourteenth of March, 2011.The new school is ultra modern in design and facilities and occupied with the latest up-to-date technology. It is an educational facility catering for the needs of a demanding social environment and changing economy.
The new school, with its dedicated staff and loyal community support, looks to the future with hope and confidence in nurturing the great tradition of educational achievement that is Derrywash N.S.
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Some pics from Archives on left - many, many more here in Archive Slideshow.