The Impartial Reporter Newspaper: New Principal!
The Impartial Reporter Newspaper
By: Victoria Johnston
It was a homecoming for Miss Aideén McGarrigle when she was appointed principal of St. Patrick’s Primary School, Derrygonnelly a place where she taught a generation of children over the past seven years.
Aideén originally from Belleek has been teaching for ten years. She began her teaching career in Newry before later returning home to County Fermanagh to take a post at St. Joseph’s Primary School, Ederney and later Tattygar Primary School before later taking on a permanent post in St. Patrick’s Primary School in Derrygonnelly.
Miss McGarrigle like all of the staff in St. Patrick’s Primary School is child centred in her approach to education. Looking ahead to what she plans to bring to her role as principal, Miss McGarrigle said: “I want to continue to deliver high quality teaching and learning for the children.
“My vision for the school is that our children would be happy, successful, motivated and challenged!”
She added: “I am really looking forward to working with the children, the parents and the staff.
Miss McGarrigle is a teaching principal and is back teaching P1 after a secondment last year where she was principal of St. John the Baptist, Roscor, Belleek. She said: “I teach P1, I love it, I missed out on our P2s last year [due to secondment] but apart from that I have taught all the other children in the school.”
Speaking about her school and their vision for learning, Miss McGarrigle said: “There are 125 pupils, we pride ourselves in knowing every child by name, knowing everything about them and having really close working relationships with our parents.
“We want our children to be the best they can be and we want our school to be the best it can be delivering outstanding teaching and learning for every child.”
The school enjoy a positive relationship with Derrygonnelly PS and Killyhommon PS through the Case Peace VI scheme and play their role in the community in Derrygonnelly.
Miss McGarrigle said: “We are connected in the community, in regard to Derrygonnelly Harps football club and the local community centre here in Derrygonnelly.
Paying tribute to her predecessor as principal, Mr. Paul Fitzpatrick, Miss McGarrigle said: “I am aware I have big boots to fill.”
There is a large staff at the St. Patrick’s with other 20 staff across teaching, support, admin and supervisor staff. Paying tribute to the staff, Miss McGarrigle said: “We are blessed with such hardworking staff who put the needs of the children first and foremost. I relish the opportunity to lead the staff.”
Looking to the future and challenges, Miss McGarrigle admits finding a work-life balance can be challenging but it is clear the principal is dedicated to her pupils and their education.
St. Patrick’s PS are in the midst of a fundraising effort as they encourage people to ‘Splash the Cash’ where next week special guest Derek Ryan will draw the winning ticket.
***
Click on the link or read what our new Principal had to say when The Impartial Reporter journalist Victoria Johnston caught up with her!
