The
earliest records available tell us that Clontarf Girls’
and Boys’ National Schools operated from a building in
Vernon Ave from 1901 to 1940 when all pupils transferred
to Belgrove House on Seafield Rd West. This house,
called St John’s house served
as both school and parish hall, presently accommodates
Clontarf GAA and crèche.
The title of the schools then officially changed to “St
John the Baptist” National Schools. This name never
really became popular and the schools have been
affectionately known as Belgrove schools ever since. The
curriculum then was quite narrow, consisting of mainly
the “3-Rs”- Reading, writing and Arithmetic, with a
great emphasis on Handwriting and “Tables”. Belgrove
schools subsequently earned an excellent reputation for
high educational standards and as fame spread the
numbers increased rapidly. By 1956 Belgrove was
catering for 700 boys and 600 girls! Belgrove House
could no longer cope with such huge numbers as teachers
were holding classes in corridors, sharing rooms, in
makeshift huts – all over the grounds!
In January 1964, both schools divided into two,
making
a total of four schools with four principal teachers.
The girls remained in Belgrove house until the “new
schools” opened in 1971. It was with great pride that
the transition was made from the old schools to the new
and Mrs Mc Carthy was appointed Principal of the
nine-teacher Junior Girls School. Mrs Hughes was in
charge from 1974 and implemented the introduction of
the “New Curriculum”. Mrs Mc Hugh was appointed
Principal in 1978 with a staff of highly dedicated
teachers, continuing Belgrove Junior Girls’ school’s
reputation as one of the best in Dublin.
Mrs Mary Kenny was appointed Principal in 1999 and
during her time as principal there were quite a few changes.
We had the
appointment of a resource teacher, a shared learning
support teacher with the Senior School and a TEFL
teacher for children who do not have English as a first
language.
Mrs O'Donoghue is the present principal of the school.
During
the last few years and with the help of our Parents
Association we have been able to refurbish our school
yard with a soft surface and erect a bright shelter.
We have repainted and restocked our school library and
installed an interactive whiteboard. We have
restocked the Music Room with a wide variety of
percussion instruments. Extra Science and
Mathematics equipment has been purchased to facilitate
the implementation of the Revised Primary School
Curriculum. The school garden is maintained by the
Parents Association and it provides the children with
the opportunity of seeing at first hand the origin of
our food. The garden has proved to be an
invaluable resource and is also used for Mathematic and
Science Trails.
This year with the aid of government grants we have
installed interactive digital projectors in every
classroom in order to enhance the children's digital
learning.
Just take a look at the subject areas below for the year
2006 and beyond and think what the children faced in
1940!
Languages: Gaeilge and English
Mathematics: Computation, concepts problem solving
Religious Education
Social Personal Health Education
Arts Education: Visual Arts, Music and Drama,
Physical Education,
Social, Environmental and Scientific Education,
