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Our School

Our Mission Statement

Ethos And Vision

St. Joseph’s Secondary School is committed to creating and developing conditions for learning in a caring and safe environment, where everyone is respected, listened to and enabled to approach life with confidence.

St. Joseph’s Secondary School is a Voluntary Catholic School, which is non-selective in its intake of students. It strives to foster Christian values. It supports the Mercy philosophy of education, which calls for a system that is based on justice, respect and equal esteem for all. It aims to provide for the full development of its students as informed, Christian people.

The aim of management and staff of the school are:

  • To create an atmosphere of trust and open communication where students, staff and parents may work in partnership together as a community fostering respect for others and respect for the environment.
  • To provide a broad-based education in which students are afforded the opportunity and the encouragement to realise their full potential in the best educational facilities that management can provide.
  • To meet and adapt to the changing needs in education as effectively and efficiently as possible.

“One of the most striking features of the school’s leadership of students is the excellent programme that it operates to support first year students in their transfer from primary to post-primary school.”
DES Inspection Report- WSE MLL

Our History

1947

Laying the ground.

In 1947 due to demand for Secondary Education and a lack of such facilities in the area, permission was sought from the Bishop to set up a Secondary School at St. Joseph’s in Rochfortbridge. Permission was granted and in order to fund this venture shares belonging to St. Joseph’s Deaf Mute Institute were sold.

1954

School founded

St. Joseph’s Secondary School is a Sisters of Mercy School and was founded in 1954 with an enrolment of 13 students, most of whom were boarders.

Late 1940's

Expand the field of activity

The department required a certified Secondary Teacher so a Secondary Top was established. This worked in conjunction with the national school. In 1948 on 7th September, 14 students, mainly boarders, began their academic career in St. Joseph’s. Conditions were very primitive all over the country at this particular time and the situation improved in 1949 when ESB was brought to the locality. In 1949 two lay Teachers were appointed, Ms. Maureen Doyle, BA H Dip and Ms. B. Galvin. Sr. Magdalene completed her BA and H Dip and at this stage it was decided to discontinue the Secondary Top and to establish a proper Secondary School with Sr. Magdalene as Principal.

2018

Our First Exams

For two years state exams were held in Loreto, Mullingar for the Rochfortbridge students and in 1952 some of the Sisters visited No 1 Hume Street to secure a centre for exams and we had our first Inter Cert Exams in Rochfortbridge. In 1953 a Leaving Cert Centre was established in the school and gradually the enrolment increased with 65 boarders registered in 1957.

1963

New Chapter

1963 saw a new chapter in education in Rochfortbrige when the Bishop announced the extension of St. Joseph’s to accommodate the boys of the district. The Curriculum was expanded to include subjects such as woodwork, metalwork and science.

1973

An increase in numbers!

Due to the increasing numbers further accommodation was required and in 1973 a house and land adjoining the school was purchased.

1983

A major building project

This was the start of plans for a major building project which involved a tremendous amount of fundraising and culminated in the opening of a new school in 1983.

Late 80's to Early 90's

School expansion

Still planning further expansion the Parochial House and gardens were purchased in 1987 and work began soon after on a new Sports Hall (Gym) which was opened in 1990. The enrolment numbers continued to increase and a new science lab and seven classrooms were opened in 1992.

1990

School Management

The Trustee of the school is Ceist and the school has been managed by a Board of Management since 1990.

Convent Handover Ceremony

On friday the 8th of June the Convent of Mercy was officially handed over to St Joseph's Secondary School. The school has refurbished some of the convent and will use them next years as additional classrooms. In addition the convent chapell has been refurbished and will be used as a sacred space. On behalf of the school community Ms. Alford offered a sincere thank you to the Sisters of Mercy for their very generous gift.

Facilities

The facilities on offer at our school are second to none. The combination of our spacious rooms and experienced staff provide our students with the best possible learning environment they could ask for. We are constantly updating our facilities, not only in an effort to meet the demands of the students, but also with a view to the future needs of the school. Our current facilities are listed below:

 

Career Guidance

Counselling Offices

Computer Room

Five travelling tablet trolleys for IT in the classroom

Three Science Laboratories

Demonstration Room

Two Woodwork Rooms

Technology Room

Engineering/Metalwork Room

Music Room

Gymnasium

Fitness Suite

Canteen (Managed by David Smyth Catering)

Broadband access in each classroom

Art Room

Two Home Economics Kitchens

Needlework Room

Basketball Courts

Playing Pitches

Specialist Rooms e.g Geography Room, Demonstration Room etc. 

Outdoor Seating Areas

Table Tennis Facilities

After School Study (takes place each evening after school. Students should contact Mr Whittaker for details).

IT Facilities

We have recently updated our IT facilities and our Computer Rooms along with our five travelling tablet trollies allow students to have access to a wide variety of learning tools. Each classroom has a data projector and internet access and staff are constantly up skilling in ways to enhance the teaching and learning experience through the use of ICT. In recognition of the importance placed on ICT skills we have a coder dojo group which meets once a week and allows interested students to develop coding and programming skills. We have been awarded the status of Microsoft Showcase School due to the fantastic progressions we have made in the area of IT.

Achievements

First Year Fun!!!

“A night of Creativity, Music and Art” Our First Year Art Students really showed off their creative abilities at their fashion show at tonight’s event.

Read More »

Pastoral Care

The School’s commitment to the growth and development of each student is given practical and concrete expression in its structures of care:

  • To help the pupil recognise his/her own capacity and potential
  • To accept and find ways to overcome herself/himself; to aspire not to have more but to be herself/himself.
  • To find ways of stimulating and helping each pupil according to his/her needs, keeping in mind his/her real situation and family and social background.
  • To encourage a sense of responsibility in his/her work and life.
  • To promote the social dimension of the educative process in team-work and co-operation.
  • To help the pupil take pleasure in his/her work, relationships and formative activities.

St Josephs Secondary School promotes an atmosphere in which the needs of every individual are recognized and the highest standards of concern for others are fostered.

Pastoral care lies at the heart of our Mission Statement and the school recognises its responsibility to the whole person and endeavours to prepare its pupils fully for adult life in all its aspects.

All members of staff share the responsibility for providing pastoral care within the school, and are part of a team ready to support and encourage the students in their welfare and progress.

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