Kildare community pulls together for new school equipment
Churchtown National School pupils are delighted with their new benches and tables
YOU know the expression ‘it takes a village …’, well, in the case of Churchtown National School outside of Athy that is exactly what it took to create the new picnic tables and ‘buddy benches’ that now grace the schoolyard. The tables and benches were officially unveiled at the school last week.
“Maria Leonard from the parents’ council was in touch with the Men’s Shed in Athy, who made and painted them,” explained Lorraine Murrin, chair of the parents’ council. “The wood was donated by Raymond and Mary Kavanagh, and the paint supplied by Monto’s in Athy,” she added.
So where did the idea come from?
“The parents’ council puts together a wish-list for the school year for what we should fundraise for, what things the school needs and doesn’t get,” she said.
“With our low numbers – it’s just a country school – we are usually outside of government grants,” she pointed out.
“At the moment we have to paint the schoolyard, get new basketball nets and replace the IT system.
“It’s all little by little,” she said.
“We’re having a clothes collection coming up just after Halloween at the school. All the clothing can be dropped into the school [5km out the Stradbally Road], and we’re also setting up bins at the school to collect the cans and bottles with the Re-turn deposit logo on them,” said Lorraine.
“Every little helps,” she concluded.
