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SURPRISES were on the timetable at Killarney Community College as it opened its doors for the new school year. Not only has there been a dramatic change in class duration, but on their return to the classroom, students were greeted by a new principal as well as finding themselves enjoying much more space in the beautifully extended premises on New Road.

Stella Loughnane, who has been deputy principal for eight years, has replaced Fiona O’Brien as principal, with Fiona being seconded by the Department of Education in a leadership capacity to roll out the new Junior Cert programme.

Meanwhile the college welcomes Eilish O’Leary as new deputy principal and six new teachers in a variety of teaching capacities.

Of its impressive new extension, Stella said: “Due to growing numbers in the college we were granted four new classrooms by the Department of Education and Skills. These rooms will be fully equipped with Wi-Fi and data projectors. The parents’ council fund-raised to create a foyer or meeting space between the rooms along with a corridor out into the new wing. We have a beautiful tree on the property that was important to us to preserve so we took this into account when planning, and also designed a walled window so that the tree is now a focal point of the foyer.”

Killarney Community College is also the first school in town to move to one-hour classes. “Because of this, room for teachers and students to participate in active classroom methodologies and instructional strategies is now of paramount importance,” said Stella.

“The building was also designed to be 'future proofed' so that if we are ever fortunate enough to receive more funding in the future we will be in a position to continue this style of modern build. The college has also just completed a comprehensive renovation of all bathrooms, all are now brand new!”
 

 
Above: Killarney Community College principal Stella Loughnane, right, and deputy principal Eilish O'Leary.