Ratoath gets new primary school delivered in 'rapid' timescale

St Paul's National School in Ratoath was officially opened recently in a dedication ceremony involving students, staff, parents and local community members The new school building, which was designed to accommodate more than 600 pupils, was delivered as part of the Department of Education's Rapid Delivery Programme and took just 26 weeks to complete. The two-storey school houses 24 classrooms, a large sports hall and additional accommodation for extra curricular activities. St Paul's has four special needs classrooms and a 72-space car park. Hundreds of parents gathered outside the school as the official opening began with a song from the school choir. Bishop Michael Smith planted a tree to commemorate the day before he cut the ceremonial ribbon at the entrance of the school. Parents and guests were then invited in to the hall where the Bishop said Mass and blessed the new building. Maeve Gallagher, chairperson of the school's Board of Management spoke to guests about Ratoath's vibrant community spirit and the rapid change that has taken place in recent decades. She highlighted the diverse community that has come to make Ratoath their home. "I am confident that the young students at St Paul's will have an education of the highest standard, and their fulfilment and success will, in turn, be a source of pride to their parents and to all of us," said Gallagher. Principal Morag McGowan thanked the students and teachers involved in the planning of the day, the Department of Education and Western Building Systems for completing the project 'smoothly and efficiently'. "What we in St Paul's strive to do is to create human beings who can then go out and learn to fly; take everything that they have been given and use it to learn to do great things. The children in St Paul's constantly do great things and we hope and pray that they will continue in the pursuit of great things for the rest of their lives," said Ms McGowan.