Dunamase College in Portlaoise is going from strength to strength. It is a multidenominational, co educational second level school that opened in August 2017.
The college is currently enrolling students for the 2020 and 2021 school years. An Open Evening will be held on October 7 between 4.30 pm and 7pm.
The Principal, Aoife Elster, has invited everyone interested along and said: “The Open Evening is a great opportunity for parents and students to come along and to find out what we have to offer in Dunamase College.
“I will be travelling to the local primary schools and Gaelscoileanna beforehand to invite students along. We pride ourselves that our current students are our best ambassadors and we feel our rapid growth is down to the excellent reputation our students are achieving around the area.
“Dunamase College has an Aonad Lán Ghaeilge, where all subjects are offered through the medium of Irish. Many of these students have previously attended Gaelscoileanna in the area, but the Aonad is open to students from English medium primary schools also, with additional Irish language supports in place should they be required.
Dar le Aoife Ui Choirc, an múinteoir I bhfeighil ar an Aonad:“Faraimid fíor chaoin fáilte roimh dhaltaí an cheantair atá ag lorg oideachais trí mheán na Gaeilge.
“Is iontach agus is speisialta an deis í a bheith ábalta tabhairt faoi ábhair éagsúla go dátheangach agus a bheith mar bhall de phobal labhartha na Gaeilge go háitiúil.
“Is geal linn go bhfuil an Ghaeilge mar chroílár na scoile agus tugaimid cuireadh do chách teacht agus bualadh linn ar an oíche”
Digital technology is central to learning in Dunamase College and the school has embraced the opportunities offered by the new Junior Cycle.
Clár Mhic Ghearailt, Deputy Principal says that “The emphasis on collaboration and self directed learning wil be of great benefit to our students when they move on to third level and the world of employment, and the opportunities for non examination assessment, particularly in the new JC short courses such as Artistic Performance and Philosophy allow our students to develop styles of learning and competencies not tested or developed within the traditional examination structures”.
The College is constantly developing and adding to what is being offered to the students.
This week we played our first basketball matches and have commenced GAA training in the LOETB centre of Excellence with assistance from the Leinster Council schools division.
We play hockey and and travelled to several blitzes last year and are building coaching relationships with the local hockey clubs with a view to developing an all weather facility at our new site.
A site has been purchased for Dunamase College on the outskirts of Portlaoise and they are looking forward to work starting on their state of the art 1000 pupil school building shortly.
The building, along with the proposed all weather sports facilities will definitely be a landmark for education in Laois!
The Dunamase College Open Evening takes place on Tuesday, October 7, and begins at 4.30pm. You can meet the staff and view the facilities. There will be presentations at 5pm, 5.30pm, 6pm and 6.30pm.
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