KWETB Integration Newsletter May Edition | Page 7

Profile: Naas Community National School KWETB by Marianne Uí Fhoghlú I n September 2010, Naas Community NS, opened to serve the needs of the areas of Naas, Sallins, Two Mile House, Caragh, Johnstown and Kill. As a Community National School, we are part of a new model of education in providing primary education and it is providing choice to parents in a way that compliments what is already available in the area. It’s a choice that parents are making. Having opened in 2010 with just 6 children, in September 2014 we have 230 students. Our mission is to provide a new model of primary education that reflects Ireland in the 21st Century. The Community National Schools provide a welcome to each child in the community we serve and creates learning opportunities in a setting of diversity and inclusion. Our schools cater for the physical, academic, social, emotional and spiritual needs of children within the school day in a supportive and caring environment. Our school operates through an ethos of inclusiveness and respect for all beliefs, both religious and non-religious and offers the belief nurturing programme “Goodness Me Goodness You” to all students. This programme can be accessed on line through the NCCA and is being developed by Dr. Clare Moloney and Dr. Jones Irwin. While we teach the state curriculum and are supported in our work by the Inspectorate, we February 2015 differ from traditional models in that our Patron in Waiting is KWETB and not the local bishop. We differ from Educate together in that we nurture belief (all beliefs) during t