First day at school for hundreds of Carlow children 

HUNDREDS of children from Co Carlow had their first day at big school last week when they started in their local primary school. Gone are the days of high drama amid the wailing and gnashing of teeth that would have characterised the first day of school years ago. 

Instead, the little ones are more than ready to start their formal education as they’ve already been through several years of early, pre-school education.

Rathoe NS opened the doors to its new cohort of  junior infants last Wednesday, including three sets of twins – one set of boys, one set of girls and a mixed set. Michael and Darragh Hickey, Emily and Isabelle Grothier, and Brian and Mia de Souza Pereira, all aged five years’ old, breezed in through the front doors of the school without a bother.

 Junior infants class teacher Tríona Finnegan encouraged the little ones to wave their parents goodbye at the school gates from the playground, allowing the children to focus on their new adventure.

 “They’re all doing great. I think that pre-school education has such an impact on the children. By the time national school comes around, they’re ready for it. They’re into a routine. For instance, over half of our children come from Rathoe Community Childcare Centre or other similar childcare services,” said principal Erica Murphy. 

“It all lays a good foundation for the children. They come in here with their buddies, all ready to make new friends, too. They were all so good (this year). They’re doing brilliantly. They’re a super bunch.”