Athlacca National School marks significant milestone in commitment to inclusive education

ATHLACCA NS has officially opened its special class for autistic children, marking a significant milestone in its commitment to inclusive education.
Students and teachers along with Mayor of Limerick, John Moran and TDs Niall Collins and Richard O'Donoghue all attended the special event on March 20.
It kicked off with a concert led by Ms O'Dwyer and speeches in the parish hall in Athlacca before everyone returned to the school to officially open the ASD classroom in room seven.
Speaking at the opening of the new classroom, acting principal of Athlacca NS, Michelle Ryan Lonergan said: “This represents our commitment to be inclusive and support children with autism in our school.
“We believe all children deserve a learning environment that recognises their strengths and helps them to reach their potential and supports their individual challenges. Conor, Leeson and Blaithin cut the ribbon, this reaffirms our commitment to an inclusive future where every child is given the opportunity to succeed.”
The school is looking forward to welcoming Minister Patrick O'Donovan and president of Macra, Elaine Houlihan to see its facilities over the coming weeks.
Ms Ryan Lonergan added: “A lot of planning and hard work went into making room seven a reality. Our Board of Management, our school management team and our SENO (Special Educational Needs Organiser) Gerry Ryan have worked tirelessly to make this classroom a reality.”
Reconfiguring work began on the extension for the new classroom last summer. KSN Project Management Company and Vision Contractors worked with architects to create environments suitable for autistic children, such as quiet rooms, sensory-friendly lighting, and minimised noise pollution. They held regular meetings with school leaders to update them on the progress.
The primary school currently has four children enrolled in the ASD classroom and they're looking forward to welcoming more children next September.

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Ms Ryan Lonergan hopes the new classroom will be a place of learning, joy and endless possibilities for the children.
She said: “Class teacher Mr Jer Lynch, our SNA's Leanne, Maria and Nora with the support of our staff in the greater school continue to work together to create an inclusive, nurturing and educational experience for all in room seven. Their passion and dedication is truly amazing.”
She thanked the families of the students for their understanding and unwavering support and the Parents Council and Board of Management for their hard work in preparation for the official opening of the ASD classroom.
The school has also launched a new fundraiser to help ensure it provides the best quality education for its students.
They have run many successful fundraisers previously.
They're anticipating that the school lotto will be the main source of fundraising going forward.
The staff and pupils are appealing to families, friends, past pupils, members of the local community, stakeholders and supporters to get behind the school's weekly lotto.
The first draw will take place on Thursday, April 10 and details can be found on the school's website and Facebook page.