St. Felim’s N.S. (The Vale) is situated in the townland of Leiter about 2 miles outside the town of Bailieborough in Co. Cavan. We currently have 208 pupils and a staff which consists of a Principal, eight mainstream teachers, two full time and a one part time special education teachers and four SNAs.

Contact Details

Address: Leiter, Bailieborough, Co. Cavan

Phone - 042-9665605

Email - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

      Website - www.thevalens.com

ST. FELIM’S NATIONAL SCHOOL

History of the School - 1961-2016

The original school building was built in 1961 following the closure of two similar schools in the area. It consisted of a three-classroom structure, built to a design widely used throughout the country in the mid-twentieth century. It included play-shelters and the striking water-tower necessary in those pre-group water-scheme days.

In 1967, when Drumanespic N.S. and St. Felim’s were amalgamated a new classroom was required, this need was met with the provision of a pre-fab. In 1982-83 an extensive building programme was undertaken. A large classroom, assembly room (the halla mór), toilets and kitchen were built to the rear of the original building. A tarmac basketball court was also provided.

In recent years, increasing enrolment figures led to further building and renovation. In 2008 an additional classroom was built, which was then converted into the present large school hall in 2011. The original halla mór was also divided to form two additional classrooms. Also in 2011, toilets were been up-graded and the building, inside and outside, has been painted. Again, in 2014, we had another big extension with the addition of two new classrooms, a principal’s office and a new disabled toilet. One on the current classrooms was also converted into a corridor and a new learning support room. The playground has also been extended outside.

Now in 2016, the school currently has seven mainstream classrooms, two support teaching rooms, a disabled toilet, a Principal’s office and a secretary’s office and an application has been made to the department for a further extension consisting of one classroom, a support teaching room and an upgrade to our existing staff facilities.

Our School Vision

School Ethos

Our school recognises the central role of the family as the primary educator of the child. Our school also accepts and supports the constitutional right and duty of the parents to provide for the religious, moral, intellectual, physical and social education of children.

Our school aims to provide the best possible environment to cater for the cultural, educational, moral, physical, religious, social, linguistic and spiritual values and traditions of all its students with the resources available to us. The focus of our school′s philosophy is the education of the whole child to reach his full potential. We show special concern for the disadvantaged, respecting the dignity and uniqueness of each person. We cater for young people from a diverse range of backgrounds and have been quick to respond to the emerging needs of students and communities.

Our school upholds the values and principles of a Christian education in the Catholic tradition. Working together as a school community, the Board of Management, Principal, staff, parents and pupils will strive to provide an environment, which will allow all students to develop to their maximum potential and fulfil their role in society.

Finally, and equally as important as academic success, is the attitude of the children. We hope that when they leave St. Felim’s N.S. they would:

1. Have concern and respect for the welfare of others and for the rules, which govern the community.
2. Enjoy learning and be prepared to tackle further education.
3. Be confident in their abilities.
4. Be proud of their school and be a credit to their families.
5. Respect the dignity of the student with his/her background, tradition and beliefs, valuing the potential of each and encouraging the strong to support the weak.
6. Enable the student to develop a healthy self-image and to form positive relationships with others.
7. Encourage in the student a sense of creativity and of collaboration with others.
8. Promote the student‘s appreciation of his/her cultural heritage.
9. Prepare the student through academic training for his/her vocational role in life.
10. Provide opportunities for the student to experience God in the wonder of creation, in worship and in service of others.
11. Provide a disciplined atmosphere in which the student is encouraged to grow in freedom and to take increasing responsibility for his/her own education and for the life of the school community.

Our Aims

The school community of St. Felim’s N.S. aspires to promote a nurturing inclusive environment where each child in encourages and motivated to become a responsible and happy individual.

We aim to create a school where each child achieves his/her full potential as a well-rounded responsible member of society through encouragement and example; where teaching the child includes the spiritual, intellectual, moral, physical and social aspects of human development; and where a love of learning and an appreciation of life and the world are engrained.

The school aims in particular to:

1. Respect the dignity of the student with his/her background, tradition and beliefs, valuing the potential of each and encouraging the strong to support the weak.
2. Enable the student to develop a healthy self-image and to form positive relationships with others.
3. Encourage in the student a sense of creativity and of collaboration with others.
4. Promote the student‘s appreciation of his/her cultural heritage.
5. Prepare the student through academic training for his/her vocational role in life.
6. Provide opportunities for the student to experience God in the wonder of creation, in worship and in service of others.
7. Provide a disciplined atmosphere in which the student is encouraged to grow in freedom and to take increasing responsibility for his/her own education and for the life of the school community

Our Mission Statement

St. Felim’s N.S. is a co-educational Roman Catholic school under the patronage of the Catholic Bishop of Kilmore.   Its aim is to promote the full and harmonious development of our pupils: intellectual, physical, cultural, moral and spiritual, including a living relationship with God and with others.   The school models and promotes a philosophy of life inspired by belief in God and in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

St. Felim’s provides religious education for the pupils in accordance with the doctrines, practices and tradition of the Catholic Church and promotes the formation of the pupils in the Catholic faith.