User:Spideog/Sandbox/St. Pius X National School

St. Pius X National School is a primary school in Templeogue, Dublin, Ireland. It operates as two associated schools, for boys and girls.

History
The school opened on 15 February 1965 in six pre-fabricated classrooms sited around the side and rear of the Templeogue parish church, St. Pius X at College Drive in Templeogue, and on adjacent ground immediately to the east leased from St. Mary's Rugby Football Club, land that has been developed as the Fortfield Square apartment complex. There were six teachers and 176 pupils at the time: 117 boys and 59 girls, a 2:1 ratio.

Classes were taught in the early years in these temporary units without the proper accommodation and amenities of a modern school. As more children joined the school, more pre-fabricated classrooms were installed, and classes were held also in the church sacristy and in St. Mary's room in the church.

A newly built school to replace the temporary pre-fabricated units was built and occupied in the late 1960s at Fortfield Park in Templeogue. It was officially opened on 19 January 1971, and was subsequently blessed by the Archbishop of Dublin, John Charles McQuaid. The school then comprised 32 classrooms, 16 each for boys and girls; a library; a cookery room; medical room; gym hall; staff rooms and principals' offices. The first principals of the boys' and girls' schools were a married couple, and there were 28 teachers and 1,130 pupils.

The school celebrated its fortieth anniversary on 30 September 2005, and President Mary McAleese visited on 15 December 2005.

Classes and activities
There is one teacher for each class, assisted by a helper in some classes with special needs. There are mathematics and English resource teachers, while sports teachers give instruction in Gaelic football, camogie and physical education.

St. Pius X School has won numerous awards for sport, and along with physical education, it teaches Gaelic football and camogie during normal school hours. After school activity includes Olympic handball, Gaelic football, camogie, golf, basketball, tennis, athletics, cricket and swimming.

There are two music teachers. Pupils from second to sixth class learn the recorder, and there are two choirs: a special choir which students join after auditions, as well as a choir composed of the students of 5th and 6th classes, or of 4th and 5th classes; this choir sings when the Catholic sacraments of First Holy Communion and Confirmation are celebrated.

The boys' and girls' schools share the same address and campus at Fortfield Park in Templeogue, and they have a common school crest, school tie, gym hall, and parents' association.