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Young CBS Primary School pupils Danny Smith, Daniele Gedminaite, Olivia Okanume and Brody O’Leary McElligott with Minister Norma Foley, Bishop of Kerry Ray Browne and Principal Denis Coleman at the official opening of the Edmund Rice Buildingon Monday. Photo By : Domnick Walsh © Eye Focus LTD
THE Edmund Rice Building, a new two-storey extension at CBS Primary Tralee, was officially opened on Monday by Norma Foley TD, Minister for Education.
The building contains four new classrooms on the first floor and a modern special educational needs facility on the ground floor.
The project, which was completed in September 2020, also features a new school entrance, a reception area and secretary’s office at the front of the school.
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The original application for building works began in 2007 but despite a number of delays, the patience of all involved has been rewarded.
The Principal of CBS Primary Tralee, Denis Coleman, said: “We are delighted to be in a position to finally celebrate the completion of work. Our school has greatly benefitted from the many elements of the building project. It has greatly enhanced the local streetscape and we have received very positive feedback from within the school community and from the general public.
“From the outset, the safety of the 400 children and in excess of 50 staff in the school has been a key priority of the building project.
“Located in the heart of Tralee beside some very busy roads and previously easily accessible to the general public, the works have greatly enhanced the safety of the pupils and staff.”
The original school building is a landmark in the town that has always been associated with the Christian Brothers who have been educating children in Tralee since 1855 before moving to present site in Clounalour in 1959.
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Additional funding during the building project assisted with the upgrade of the school’s heating system, the replacement all of the water pipes within the school grounds and the installation of a new fire alarm.
Department of Education grant-aid has also enabled CBS Primary Tralee to install a new wi-fi system throughout the school, which facilitates the use of over 100 laptops by children throughout the school.
The Christian Brothers handed over their schools to the Edmund Rice Schools Trust in 2008 and since its inception ERST has supported over 90 schools throughout the country promoting traditional values in the modern setting through The Edmund Rice School’s Charter. Indeed our new school logo captures some of the key values within the Charter, namely, a high standard of teaching and learning within a caring school environment that promotes inclusion – ‘Where everybody is a somebody’.
The official opening has presented the school management with the opportunity to have a local celebration.
The stone which was unveiled by Minister Foley was carved by local stonemason, Billy Leen and the Per Cent for Art Scheme which is just beginning this term will be completed by yet another local artist, Billy’s daughter Mary J Leen.
Of course, the occasion was all the more special when the official opening was performed by the Minister for Education, Norma Foley TD who is also from Tralee.
As part of the ‘Official Opening’, The Bishop of Kerry, Ray Browne was in attendance and he blessed the building.
