About Our Lady of Mercy N.S
Our Lady of Mercy N.S. is a Catholic primary school located in the beautiful seaside village of Stradbally, Co. Waterford. It is a co-educational school, serving junior infants to sixth class, providing the children of the community with an open, friendly and secure learning environment where the intellectual, spiritual, physical and emotional needs of the pupils are identified and nurtured by a dedicated teaching staff.
We have a current enrolment of over 110 pupils, with 5 mainstream class teachers, 1 full time S.E.T teacher, 1 full time SNA post (being fulfilled on a job share basis between two people at present) as well as having access to more S.E.T hours. The school is situated just outside the seaside village of Stradbally on the foothills of the Comeragh mountains and only a few minutes walk from the stunning Stradbally Cove. The school building consists of 5 mainstream classrooms, 2 resource rooms, a sensory garden, a state-of-the-art playground, an office and a kitchen/staff room.
Our Lady of Mercy N.S. is wheelchair accessible, with a ramp at the entrance. All classrooms are fitted with interactive whiteboards, with access to two sets of iPads and many classrooms have the additional benefit of visualisers and laptops.
In 2023, Our Lady of Mercy N.S. built an extension onto the school comprising a new state-of-the-art classroom and S.E.T room. The playground was also renovated adding a new soft-play area complete with a slide, a climbing frame, windchimes and a wobbly bridge.
Our school library is growing with additional books being added each year and our sports’ equipment is well maintained and kept updated. In addition to our school grounds, Our Lady of Mercy also has access to the local G.A.A pitch, soccer pitch and also the grounds at the former Boys’ School.
Our Active School: Safer Routes to School (SRTS)
The SRTS programme installed safer infrastructure around Our Lady of Mercy National School. This new infrastructure has played a key role in encouraging the children in our school to walk and cycle to school or park and stride, while ensuring their safety.
The improvements made to our school have strengthened the connection between the school and the village, made the school environment safer, and promoted healthier habits including a reduction in cars for pick-up/drop-off times.
History of Our Lady of Mercy N.S. - Compiled by Mary Crowley
The Convent of Mercy school was built by the Sisters of Mercy and opened on the present site in 1890.
Boys were enrolled until First Communion class. They completed their primary school education at the Barron Hall and from 1965 at Scoil na Croise Naofa. Girls continued their education at the Convent, many up to the age of 14. The nuns offered a varied curriculum which included cookery, lace- making, house-keeping, drama and prayer. The school building underwent extensive renovation in 1962.
The Sisters of Mercy continued to teach at the school alongside lay staff until 1986. The first lay Principal was appointed in 1988. The school was renamed Our Lady of Mercy N.S.. The school became co-educational from junior infants to sixth class in 2014. A spacious infant classroom was built in 2017.
The most recent extension comprising a classroom, S.E.T room and link corridor was completed in 2023.
Ethos of Our Lady of Mercy N.S.
The ethos of this school encompasses collective attitudes, beliefs , core values, traditions, aspirations and goals. These are reflected in the actual practices which are carried out in the school on a daily, weekly and yearly basis. The following characteristics are experienced and promoted as essential elements in the establishment of a supportive and positive ethos.
In Our Lady of Mercy N.S., where the ethos is that of a Christian Catholic school, religious instruction, in accordance with the doctrine and tradition of the Catholic Church, is part of the education given to children who belong to that Church.
The pupils are prepared for the reception of the sacraments of First Penance, First Holy Communion and Confirmation, in accordance with arrangements in the diocese.
Prayer is a feature of the school day.
The school aims to promote the full and harmonious development of all aspects of the pupil, including his/her relationship with God, with other people and with the environment.
A spirit of mutual respect is promoted within the school community. Pupils are led by example and taught to appreciate and respect people of different religious affiliations and of different nationalities.
Close contact is maintained between school and home. parents , guardians and teachers support one another and collaborate with one another in leading the children to fullness of their potential at the different stages.
Ancillary staff in the school are held in high esteem. It is recognised that their work makes a valued contribution to the process of education.
Aspirations of Our Lady of Mercy N.S.
In Our Lady of Mercy N.S. we are committed to creating a warm, happy atmosphere where we all work together in a spirit of co-operation and trust.
We aim to:
- Foster good Christian values and practices.
- Discover and develop the individual gifts of each child.
- Develop a sense of self-discipline and respect that will lead each pupil to achieve his/her ability.
- Encourage respect and awareness of others and the environment.
- Work together: teachers, parents, pupils and the Board of Management in a spirit of mutual respect and openness.
- Provide a bright, comfortable and well maintained school which is conducive to learning.
- Encourage children to take responsibility for day to day activities, keeping equipment and books in order as well as becoming members of and supporting the Green Schools Committee and Student Council.
- To promote an interest in the Irish language and Irish culture.
Mission Statement
We provide the children of the community with an open, friendly and secure learning environment where the intellectual, spiritual, physical and emotional needs of the pupils are identified and nurtured by a dedicated teaching staff.
We foster an appreciation of culture, language , history and traditions in the children.
We strive to provide a well-ordered, happy and secure atmosphere in the school where the self-esteem of each child will be enhanced. We aim to foster a strong sense of community involving children, school staff, parents and the wider community of Stradbally.
We recognise that the parents are the primary educators of their children, the school aims to collaborate with them in their child’s balanced growth and development.
Equality, Access and Participation
Our Lady of Mercy National School seeks to promote the principles of justice and equality for all members of the school community.
The enrolment criteria of Our Lady of Mercy National School will not differentiate between pupils from different social strata. There is an equal right of access under the school’s Enrolment Policy. ( Insent link here?)
It is school policy to provide a gender balanced range of resources in curricular areas -textbooks, ancillary materials, software, sports equipment etc.
Every opportunity will be taken to promote gender equality through the discreet and hidden curriculum.
Teachers will ensure that the language used in the school to mediate the curriculum is gender balanced and will avail of opportunities to raise pupils’ awareness of unconsciously held attitudes.
As agreed with the Board Of Management and parents, all pupils in Our Lady of Mercy National School will wear a school uniform.
Nothing may appear in an advertisement which would indicate a preference for one gender over another.
No question will be asked at an interview which could be interpreted as discrimination on gender grounds.
This school is an Equal Opportunities Employer.