We have been planning our new academic facilties here in HCK for some time. We launched our Building Our Future campaign, to finance and develop our STEM, Art and Home Economics facilties in September 2018. Since then our generous parent, alumnae and wider community have contributed almost €1.4 million of the total cost of €2.6 million needed. We have also submitted and received full planning permission for the build. COVID 19 stopped us in our tracks temporarily last March. However with the school safely open, we are ready to get going again now! We thought you may like to read a little about what exactly we are doing and why.

Women and girls are underrepresented in STEM studies and careers. In addition changes are taking place in the way that STEM is taught and learned. We have to change as education changes. We want to use this opportunity to encourage our students to blaze the trail of women in the science sector by nurturing interest from the very beginning. It is our role as educators to give our students a modern learning environment that will embrace the changes that are happening in this sector. Our new STEM Classrooms will promote team work, critical thinking, enterprise and creativity. Our students will be supported in developing their interest in an expanding field of inquiry with confidence and competence.

Demand for Home Economics (H.E.) as a subject in HCK, has outstripped our ability to deliver it with our current facilities. We will be developing a new H.E. Suite to include a new design room and kitchen facilities. We need more space so that students can work in smaller groups, maximising learning. We require computer access in our H.E. facility. We want to make sure that every student who wishes to study H.E. can do so. Home Economics not only offers a pathway into the creative industries in Ireland but also meaningful opportunities for personal development and expression.

The demand for Art as a subject has increased and we need to accommodate many more students than ever before. As well as hiring a second art teacher, our new art room will facilitate this demand. In addition, we pride ourselves on challenging our students in their creativity by offering them a huge variety of media and materials. Our new art room will allow us to use these materials, and to store them and the resulting art work. Our new art room will also offer not only plenty of natural light but also the ability to create zoned/directional  lighting (essential for shadows and shading) which is not possible at the moment. To an artist, light is crucial for observation.

If you would like further details of how to get involved in Building Our Future please contact Melissa Harrison at mharrison@holychildkilliney.ie. or 086 604 2849.