School Highlight

RATHCOOLE ETNS

DCU Changemaker School since 2024

Rathcoole ETNS is a developing school that opened in the height of the pandemic in 2020. 

It is growing steadily in one of the fastest growing communities in Ireland. 

As an Educate Together school, the community follows the four pillars of child centred, equality based, democratically run and co-educational. 

These led nicely into the 4 pillars of Empathy, Creativity, Teamwork and Leadership that the children are now starting to recognise and engage with. 

The principal, Gemma Maher, was nominated and won the Teacher Inspire award from DCU. This led to Rathcoole ETNS being nominated to become a DCU Changemaker school as the same values were evident in the new school being set up. The staff, children, parents and Board of Management were clear that they wanted a school that put the children at the heart of everything they do. 

Rathcoole ETNS has Junior Infants up to 2^nd at present with 2 Autism classes. Third class will be added in September and it is hoped that the school will move to its permanent site. 

As a new school, the values and ethos of the school grow and change. With no mission statement yet, the Changemaker programme helps to identity who the school is and what we want it to be. 

Our focus is always on each individual child reaching their potential. To ensure we do this the following are important to us.

Inclusive: All children have the opportunity to come to our school and be included in a way that suits their needs. Inclusive language is important and this is discussed by staff and parents regularly to make sure everyone is comfortable. 

No Textbooks: to aid inclusive practises, there are no textbooks. The children learn through collaboration, investigation, critical thinking, pair work, outdoor learning, cross class learning and more. 

Nurture, Regulation, RP: Within the limited spaces of a temporary build, the staff have created a welcoming space where the children can co-regulate with staff, join nurture sessions to work on feelings of belonging and community, learn how to use restorative practise and be ready to learn.