March 10th 2019 was a very exciting day for the children and staff at Whitecross School in Julianstown asTaoiseach Leo Varadadkar dropped by to cut the first sod for what has since become their new school building.
Next Friday, November 18, will see another milestone in the history of the school reached when the new building will be officially opened by the Bishop of Meath, the Most Reverend Tom Deenihan.
There have been a number of school buildings and extensions built on or near the present site going back as far as 1842 when Whitecross School first opened thanks to funds raised by the local community. The first teacher was a Mr Kavanagh.
The school moved into a new building in 1951 with Mr CJ Walsh as principal, it consisted of only two classrooms until 1958 when, due to growing student numbers, a third teacher was employed and some classes were held in the old school.
A third classroom was completed in 1961 when running water and toilets were also installed to replace the old dry toilets.
In 1962 Mr Walsh retired and was replaced by Mr Thornton who had previously taught in Bellewstown and then Stamullen for a great many years.
In 1967 central heating was installed in the school. Before this two or three classes were taught in each room and in cold weather the fire was lit at the top of the classroom and each class used to take turns standing around it in a big ring while doing reading exercises.
Mr Boylan took over as headmaster in 1971 and he was succeeded by Peter Gordon in 1979. In 1980 major extensions to the school were completed with four new classrooms and the hall being built which replaced old prefabricated classrooms in the yard.
Peter Gordon served for over twenty years and was only replaced in 2003 by Liam Burke. Since then the school has expanded greatly and grew to an enrolment of over 400 pupils. Liam Burke retired in 2018 and was replaced by Patrick Doran as principal.
Since last September the latest new school building has accommodated all classes but that is by no means the end of the story.
The Board of Management are currently engaged with the design process for a permanent extension to the new school which has been approved and when built it will accommodate three Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) classes.
The school now employs 24 teachers, 9 Special Needs Assistants, a secretary, a caretaker and two assistants to run the Infant After-School Club.
Next Friday’s opening ceremony starts at 11.00 am at St. Mary’s Church followed by a tree planting and tape cutting at the school. Refreshments will be served airwards and everyone is invited to attend.
