We are no strangers to building work at Citywest ETNS. Every year of our existence so far has seen us need newly-refurbished classrooms. The biggest project was in 2015 when we moved into the front of the building, acquiring our fabulous PE Hall as well as GP Hall, library, suite of rooms for the class for children with autism and numerous classrooms and teaching spaces.

In 2016, we added three rooms to that wing. It wasn't a massive project in 2016, much more modest than the addition in 2015, but the classrooms we opened in 2016 are impressive teaching and learning spaces.

Now in 2017, we are back to another big project. We are acquiring 8 new teaching and learning spaces this year and will fill the front wing of the building, right to the end of the block. 

There will remain a vacant block at the end of the campus. It is not intended that we will ever occupy that space.

As our neighbouring school, Citywest and Saggart CNS, is also growing and expanding, they have now reached the capacity of the block they are occupying and need more space. We are therefore giving them the top floor of our block and acquiring additional spaces in lieu of those at the front of the building. All of this work is commissioned by our landlords, DDLETB, and paid for by the Department of Education and we are very grateful to both for the high quality accommodation they provide us with.

At the rear of this new space, facing our Junior Infant classrooms, we will have 3 new classrooms, which will be used by the two 2nd classes and Julie Ann's 3rd class. All classrooms will have en-suite toilets, wet area including sink and storage space.

There will also be a new accessible (wheelchair-friendly) toilet accessed off the corridor.

At the front of the new building, facing out into the car park, we will have 5 new work spaces. Those 5 spaces will be used as follows:
- additional classroom for the early years and wrap-around care programme, provided by Kidorama Academy
- 4th class classroom
- 5th class classroom
- support teaching room for 2nd and 3rd classes
​- support teaching room for 4th and 5th classes

We are hopeful that the work can be completed before the end of September and we very much look forward to showing it off to our school community.

We have had a lovely four weeks here in July, with 5 different summer camps on:

• July Provision for children with autism, including some lovely day trips to playgrounds, play centres, gardens and farms, run by teachers in Citywest ETNS
• Sports Camp, run by teachers in Citywest and Saggart CNS
• MADD (Music, Art, Drama, Dancing) Camp, run by teachers in Citywest and Saggart CNS
• LEGO camp, run by Bricks4Kids
• Arts and Crafts camp, run by Artzone

There will now be three weeks with no children on site until the second LEGO camp starts on 21st August. There are still places available so sign up if you're interested!

The empty school building will allow our builders to get stuck into the heavy work of connecting up our new classrooms, which are to be added in September. We are very excited to be getting 7 new teaching and learning spaces for our school and we look forward to using them. When the new classrooms are ready, which we expect will be at least the middle of September, we will be vacating the classrooms on the 2nd floor so that our friends in Citywest and Saggart CNS can use those classrooms, as they too have expanded and need extra space.

John continues to be very busy making use of the almost-empty school, giving every room a deep clean and painting corridors. Make sure to appreciate his hard work when you come back!

We have been busy recruiting new staff for our school. Our Staff page is updated so that you can know who everyone is before coming back to school.

As the summer continues, remember to check the booklists and make sure you have everything you need for coming back to school. Parents of children in Junior and Senior Infants don't need to buy any books, copies or stationery. Parents of children in higher classes have some books, copies and stationery to buy. Remember to click onto the Web view of the booklist page so that you can see the lists.

The school office will reopen on Tuesday 29th August.

School reopens for children in existing classes at 8.30am on Thursday 31st August and for children starting Junior Infants at 9.10am on Thursday 31st August. 

As in previous years, we regret that the amount of families accessing our campus does not allow for classrooms visits on the first morning. However, we invite parents to visit classrooms on Wednesday 6th September. Visits will be from 12.45pm for families of children in Senior Infants and from 1.45pm for families of children in higher classes. Siblings, grandparents and childminders are welcome too, of course!

​Enjoy the rest of your summer! See you on 31st August for another great year!