The future of CETNS
Hot Meals Scheme
We applied for the Hot Lunches/Free Meals scheme in May 2024. We look forward to beginning this scheme in early 2026. Our vision for this scheme is that the pupils would have an active role in menu planning and contribute some ingredients. We hope to start our raised beds “ Garraí Glasraí” project in the coming months and our aim is that pupils are interested and motivated to try new recipes and foods. They may start small by growing herbs and simple vegetables which can be easily incorporated into meals and we go from there. Ideally we would like an in-house cook that can ensure foods are nutritious and not overly processed.
Grown your Own Raised Beds-Garraí Glasraí
Together with Castlebar Men’s Shed we are engaging in a project that will bring young and not so young together. Our aim is to establish a school garden at our new premises on the Newport Road. At the front of these buildings it looks like one big concrete structure but where there was once a chimney stack in this middle section, it is all fertile ground. We plan on using this green space for raised beds, planting and digging and lots of earthy endeavours. Pupils can sow vegetables to harvest for tasty meals or sow flowers to help decorate the front of our building and surrounding area.
Development of our outdoor space
We all love the outdoors and try to get out at every opportunity. With Lough Lannagh on our doorstep it’s easy to go and see the seasons change and take note of the nature all around us. This year we have engaged in projects with Lough Carra Catchment Association and will be working with the Joyce Country Geo-Park in Term 3. Last year 5th class took part in a project with inland fisheries Ireland and we have regular visits from Wild Nephin National Park. An awareness and appreciation of the outdoors is important to us and we make the best use of spaces around us. As we develop our school yard you will see this at every turn. Pupils design and make bird feeders, they play in the mud kitchen and go outside no matter the weather.
Creativity Alive
We pride ourselves on being very open minded and creative. We don’t wear a uniform so we can celebrate differences. Continually creative practitioners comment on how creative the pupils in are school are. We have again applied to be a creative school in 2025/2026 and have taken part in many arts initiatives to date. These include -The Murmur of Bees with Cas McCarthy, Poetry Workshops with Aoife Casby and funded by Poetry Ireland, Arts Blast, Creative Clusters with Midie Corcoran and JoJo Hynes. Every two years we celebrate this creativity with a Winter Show in the TF theatre.