New technology a big boost for Gurteen NS

THE installation of interactive whiteboards and the greater use of computers is a big boost to education, especially in smaller two teacher schools such as St Kerrill's NS, Gurteen, according to principal Ann Ward. She says that the interactive whiteboards, in particular, make it far easier for teachers in smaller schools to give greater personal attention to multiple classes in the one room. 'The children love the interactive whiteboards and one group of pupils can be working away on projects via the whiteboard while the teacher is dealing with the work of children in another class at the same time,' says Ann. The principal says that numbers are remaining steady at the Gurteen school and she is confident for the future, if the Minister for Education appreciates the excellent way that new technology, combined with greater personal attention, can result in a more holistic primary education for children from two teacher schools. 'Closing small rural schools would spell the end for many rural communities and the parents around here are brilliant in the way they rallied around our school in recent years,' says Ann. Parents have built an attractive willow dome, from locally grown willow, in the school grounds and this is just the start of further developments in the grounds with the parents very much at the helm. The parents have also been planting trees around the grounds recently. In the brightly painted classrooms there is a large number of laptops and while the school is keeping up to speed with all the technical developments, there is still a strong emphasis on personal attention to the students, which is hallmark that the Gurteen school is proud of. Perched high on a hill, those attending the school have a panoramic view of the surrounding countryside from the classrooms. The view of the woods and hills is breathtaking and on a clear day Croagh Patrick is clearly visible from the front of the school as are the Clare hills to the south west. A number of schools were located in the area as far back as the early 1830s and later on during that century some of those amalgamated as happened again in the last century when three schools amalgamated in the 1970s and early 80s to form the current Gurteen NS. The schools which came together were Cloonkeenkerrill which operated from 1902 to 1975, Tample which was in existence from 1887 to 1981 and Shanbalard, established in 1896, and which also ceased to operate when the new central school opened in Gurteen in 1981. Sport plays a big part in activities at Gurteen NS. 'The school has a proud record of success in various sporting events including hurling, camogie, football etc,' says the principal. The three-goal hero of Galway hurlers' recent win over Westmeath, Cyril Donnellan, is a past pupil of the school as are a number of other very successful Galway Minor and Under-21 hurlers of recent times. Ann and the staff, assistant principal Seamus Walsh and Learning Support Assistants Mary Ryan and Angela Kenny are all very enthusiastic about activities at the school. Gurteen pupils are involved in many activities, both extra-curricular and academic and there is an air of optimism about the future for this picturesque two-teacher school, which, at 400 feet above sea level, is possibly Galway's highest school.