About Us
History
During the late 1960's a small but significant number of children presenting for assessment by COPE Foundation were found not to be intellectually disabled but to have a learning difficulty. All of them were attending main stream schools where they were falling behind in their classes. Even if the child was identified as having educational difficulties there was little that main stream schools could do to remedy the difficulty. Classes were often too large and personal tuition was not possible. Remedial education is where the child is educated in the very small class situation for one to three years until the difficulties are helped by strategies and the child can return to main stream school.
Continue reading
1969
In 1969, to meet the needs of these children, St.Killian’s was founded by John Birmingham, of COPE Foundation, and Monsignor J. Bastible, of South Parish, under the wing of Queen of Angels. It had 19 pupils - 16 male & 3 female. Noreen Minihan was class teacher.
On the 21st April
1969 St.Killian’s moved to South Mall, to the premises where 'Jacobs on The Mall' presently occupy.
1970
In
1970 they moved to 133 Oliver Plunkett Street and in
1971 moved again to 9 Dyke Parade across from The Maltings.
1972
In 1972 St.Killian’s was formally recognised by the Department of Education as a special school and the school moved yet again to Strawberry Hill. Grace O'Riordan was appointed it's first principal.
Over Ms.O'Riordan's term of office of seventeen years St.Killian’s, in spite of some obstacles of location, grew in size and expertise with up to as many as 50 pupils at any one time and five teachers. In September 1975 the school moved to 34 Paul Street - the present Diocesan office.
1975
Marie Finn became school secretary in December 1975 and retired after 40 years in December 2015.
1970s
1980s
Through the 1970s and 1980s the Department of Education and COPE Foundation jointly funded, at St.Killian’s, a number of in-service courses on remedial education for teachers in main stream schools - the aim being to increase the number of remedial teachers in main stream teaching. In spite of this increase the numbers attending St.Killian’s have not fallen.
1984
September
1984 saw the school move to Evergreen Street to a vacated primary school for infant boys originally managed by the Presentation Sisters and close to their convent in Douglas Street.
1989
Grace O'Riordan was succeeded as principal by
Maureen Peters in 1989. Noreen Minihan became deputy Principal also in 1989 and served in this appointment until August 2002, when
Martin Shiel was then appointed deputy.
2004
Maureen Peters and Martin Shiel continued the good work at the school's new home on Westgate Rd. in Bishopstown where they moved to in September 2004.
Both Maureen Peters and Martin Shiel retired at the end of June 2014.
2014
Sue Lenihan was appointed Principal on September 29th 2014 and Kerri Hollywell was appointed Deputy Principal in November 2014. Kerri left in February 2019 to take up the position of Principal at St. Mary’s School, Rochestown.
2016
School Secretary, Evelyn Humphries, was appointed in January 2016.
2018
For the first time in the history of St. Killian’s the school moved into their own premises in August 2018 at
Old Youghal Rd. Mayfield. where the school continues to grow.
2021
Evelyn Humphries resigned as school secretary in July 2021 and Joanna Walshe was appointed to the position in August 2021.
Present
Presently there are 14 class teachers, 36 Special Needs Assistants and 3 Resource/SET/Support Team teachers.
In 1977 a pupil of St. Killian’s, (who went on to 3rd level education), wrote:
"I did not like it at first, but now I have some friends and my reading is getting better. I have a long trip up to Cork and back again. I have been at the school for one year and three months. I have made it on to the Student Council. It is dark when I get up. It is dark when I get home but it is worth it all."
Information for this article was taken from:
'An Ill Wind Blowing Good - The story of COPE Foundation' by John R. Teegan.
Curriculum
St. Killians provides a co-educational, inter-disciplinary educational service to children who experience a range of specific educational disability.
Continue reading
This is addressed by the Revised Primary School Curriculum differentiated to meet the needs of the pupils.
Oral and written language, reading skills and maths are framed in an Individual Educational Plan (IEP). Comprehensive inter-disciplinary assessments provide the staff with the information that scripts these IEPs.
The curriculum in the other areas is taught in small groups and class groups.
All learning in St. Killians is directed to help the child to remediate their weaker learning style, while acknowledging their strengths.
Emotional Wellbeing
In St Killian’s we focus on the development of each child’s emotional health and well-being through the curriculum and in a pastoral capacity.
Continue reading
All children access the SPHE curriculum, the key principles of which are enhanced by the use of a range of teaching and learning strategies such as: circle time, reflection, mindfulness, positive affirmation and peer affirmation. Pupils are encouraged to verbalise problems and concerns they may have, and teachers, SNAs and support staff support them in finding suitable solutions to the concerns pupils raise. This could be seen at class level or more individualised support plans put in place as necessary.
Whole school approaches to promoting each child’s emotional health and well-being focus on giving all pupils the opportunities to take on responsibilities as prefects and class monitors. Specific tasks are assigned to pupils through these roles which aim to acknowledge and strengthen individual skills, such as organisation, planning and problem solving. These roles give pupils a sense of pride in themselves, and a sense of responsibility.
Star of the Week is awarded to a pupil from each class on a weekly basis, the awards are individually tailored to recognise a pupil’s individual talents and strengths. The regular Friday Star of the Week assembly is enjoyed by pupils and staff alike.
Celebration assemblies at the end of the year result in awards for pupils in Swimming, Pupil of the Year for each class, and the overall title of Pupil of the year for one student.
Class Assemblies also provide an opportunity for individual classes to share their excellent work with the rest of the school.
Teaching Reading & Writing
We follow the Wilson Reading System designed for language-based learning difficulty, dyslexia or late introduction to English.
Continue reading
This is a multi-sensory reading system which uses movement, auditory and visual methods.
It directly teaches the structure of the language to students who have been unable to learn with other teaching strategies.
Reading, writing and oral language are a very important part of our day and we provide lots of opportunities, throughout the curriculum, for children to develop the skills they have learned, with support.
Multi-Sensory Approach
Multi-sensory teaching strategies are used throughout the whole school curriculum. Primary curriculum subjects are taught using specific strategies, tailored to pupil's individual learning styles.
Continue reading
The use of ICT (iPads/laptops) and software such as Text Help Read Write Gold is also encouraged.
We focus on the development of children's problem solving skills.
Classes start the day with physical warm ups and some use meditation/relaxation strategies too.
Every class has an interactive whiteboard which contributes to stimulating the children's interest.
The school has several quiet sensory areas and has recently completed a fully equipped sensory room.
Social Skills
Social Skills are very important in the modern world. In St Killian’s we recognise the importance and value of Emotional Intelligence (EQ) which is proven to have as much impact in the adult world as IQ.
What Is Emotional Intelligence?
Emotional Intelligence is the ability to identify and manage your own emotions and the emotions of others. It is generally said to include 3 skills:
1. Emotional awareness, including the ability to identify your own emotions and those of others.
2. The ability to harness emotions and apply them to tasks like thinking and problems solving.
3. The ability to manage emotions, including the ability to regulate your own emotions, and the ability to cheer up or calm down another person.
St Killian’s prides itself on delivering programmes at class, group and individual level to support development of EQ.
All classes participate in a range of social activities based on strengthening EQ. Pupils in all classes have daily opportunities to work with peers in a structured way through playing games in the classroom and outside in the yard. They visit local amenities such as the shops, the library, the cafe and attend mass in order to develop important social skills in a range of locations. Older pupils also learn to use public transport to travel to other parts of the city for educational experiences.
We also work on strengthening partnership with community. We have visitors to assemblies to talk about roles in the wider community, such as representatives of Community Policing - An Garda Siochana, the Samaritians, Penny Dinners, Team Hope shoebox appeal, etc.