Our School: A school that defies its size

2/4/2002 -

WITH just 37 pupils in this small rural national school, one would expect that not much activity happens in Timolin NS. Nothing could be further from the truth.

This is an amazing school, defying its size through sheer determination to make the most of school life, through sporting activities, projects and school tours.

In Principal Lily (Elizabeth) Carpenter, the school has a leader and teacher willing to make education an enjoyable experience.

Indeed, listing just some of the pupils curricular, extra-curricular and past-time activities, these include soccer with John Farrell, PE with Olga Braithwaite, scouts, swimming, piano lessons, guitar lessons, rugby, athletics, computers, Irish dancing, horse-riding, speech and drama, quad racing ... and so on, and so on and so on.

The school prospectus, drawn up by parent Liz Holmes, underlines the school’s drive for excellence, explaining that “the school endeavours to promote the spiritual, emotional, intellectual, physical and social development of all the pupils in its care”.

It continues: “The school projects the ethos of the Church of Ireland and values of honesty, charity, kindness, patience and responsibility are encouraged.”

Certainly, this is an ethos they live by, with charities such as the Irish Cancer Society and Concern, among others benefiting from their kindness.

Meanwhile, the staff at the school are as follows: Principal, Mrs Elizabeth Carpenter (senior classes); assistant teacher, Ms Carolyn Good; learning support teacher, Ms Mary Lacey; part-time support teacher, Mrs Seona Wilson; PE teacher, Mrs Olga Briathwaite; soccer coach, Mr John Farrell; secretary, Mrs Patricia Twanley; caretaker, Mr Tony Murphy; and special needs assistant, Mrs Michelle Maher.

The Board of Management, elected every three years, consists of: Chairperson, Canon Jenny Kennerley; treasurer, Mrs Hazel Wynne; Patron’s nominee, Mr Charles Chambers; community representative, Mr Ken Stanley; parents’ representatives Mrs Linda Stanley and Mr George Hendy; principal, Mrs Elizabeth Carpenter; staff representative, Ms Carolyn Good.