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HCK is a special place where we’re dedicated to providing an exceptional education in a warm and engaging environment. We focus on helping our students unlock their full potential by giving them the chance to explore academics, sports, and the arts in an atmosphere built on openness and trust. In 2012, as part of our mission to continually offer the best possible experience for our students, we launched a major development campaign. We identified key areas where more investment could really enhance our facilities and bring new, exciting opportunities to life.
In 2015 we built our brand-new Sports Hall with over 20 different activities on offer. Since then it has become a lively hub of activity, introducing our students to new pursuits and honing skills such as teamwork and resilience. We want all our students to have a love of sport so that they will stay in sport throughout their lives. This promotes good mental and physical health for them and their families. It will offer them opportunities, help them to learn and lead to better educational and life outcomes. Our new Sports Hall has had a huge impact, doubling the numbers playing Basketball and helping students to find a physical activity they love.
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 developed three new STEM Classrooms to encourage our students to blaze the trail of women in the science sector. By giving our students a modern learning environment that will embrace the changes that are happening in this sector, we will nurture their interest in the crucial Junior Cycle years. Our new STEM Classrooms promote team work, critical thinking, enterprise and creativity. Our students are inspired to develop their interest in an expanding field of inquiry with confidence and competence.
Over the past 20 years HCK has developed a strong reputation for competitive hockey. Now we have one of the highest representations of all schools in Leinster with eight students playing at that level and four students playing for Ireland this year. Last year, as part of the Building Our Future campaign, we installed a new sand-based hockey pitch to match the ambition of our players and the standard of coaching they receive. We replaced the carpet and fitted new shock pads to offer a different playing experience and give our students facilities to be proud of. Our new pitch allows a faster game and enhances the strength, speed and skill level of our players.
Our students are now enjoying a new school layout and design, offering a modern, warm, light filled space within the footprint of the traditional building. Our inviting corridors are colourful and cosy giving the school a friendly feel. Our school canteen has been redesigned to make lunchtimes more enjoyable and efficient, leaving plenty of time for food and chat! We are so proud to say that we are now accessible to anyone with a physical disability, which is in keeping with our ethos of inclusion.
We are now in the planning stages of developing a new Home Economics Suite to include a new fully equipped, state of the art Kitchen, and a new design and textile room. We will be creating more space so that students can work in smaller groups, maximising learning and making full use of all available technology. We will be ensuring that supply meets demand for this subject, which has grown hugely in popularity since the pandemic. As well as being a valuable life skill, Home Economics offers a pathway into the creative industries in Ireland. In addition, it provides meaningful opportunities for personal development and expression.
The demand for Art has always been strong in HCK and as the school has grown, we need to accommodate many more students. As well as hiring a second art teacher, our new art room will give us the space that we need. 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 to do just that. It will also allow us to store artwork, completed and in progress. It will also offer not only plenty of natural light but also the ability to create zoned/directional lighting (essential for shadows and shading and crucial for observation). Space and light are top of the programme of works for this facility.
Our design team is currently working on how these changes will look, how much they will cost and when it will be therefore possible to deliver them. Along with financing and the prudent allocation of reserves, philanthropy again will play a crucial role in accelerating the next phase of our development plans. Past experience tells us that by working together we can achieve our ambitions. Today, the same spirit and dedication is required from our HCK community. To maintain our preeminent role in education and advance our ability to deliver an exceptional education, we rely on support from our community as we receive no state funding at all for facilities.
If you would like to be part of the future of Holy Child Killiney by giving back please contact Melissa Harrison on 086 604 2849 or email mharrison@holychildkilliney.ie.
I would be very happy to welcome you back to the school to see the changes that are taking place and discuss how you may like to get involved. Thank you!
You can help our girls to become the leaders of tomorrow by backing their education today.
