The continued growth of Portlaoise College was there for all to see again on Friday as the school opened its doors to another first-year cohort of 192 students and their families.
Students began arriving at the Mountrath Road campus at 8:15, having their photographs taken and mingling with their new classmates.
Principal Noel Daly said: “The first day at secondary school marks a significant transition in a student’s life.
“The school was buzzing with anticipation and nervousness as the students mingled in the hall.
“There was a hum of introductions; new friendships forming, old ones rekindling.
“Through our successful Open Nights last autumn, through to our Information Night in January and our induction workshop in June, we have tried our best to ease that transition and make it a memorable experience for our students and their families.
“Each of our first-year students has been assigned a Meitheal Leader to help them settle into the school.
“We will also be running some activities in the hall for first-year students in September to help them cement their new friendships.
“It is our student-centred approach, backed by the excellent staff at the school that has built the excellent relationships we have with our students and parents that have fueled our growth.”
This growth has seen numbers in the school head towards the 1000 mark, which shows huge demand for places.
The school will be holding two Open Nights again this year on Wednesday and Thursday, September 27 and 28.
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