AN
OFFICIAL sod turning event marked the first step in the creation of Sandyford’s
first girls’ secondary school recently.
The
commencement of construction at Rosemont School was attended by the
cathaoirleach of Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, John Bailey and Cllr
Neale Richmond, alongside the Rosemont Educational Foundation Limited school
board.
The
project, which has an estimated cost of
?¬17 million is being led by
construction group SISK.
Student
enrolments for the school, which is due to open in September 2012, are now
being taken.
Located
on Enniskerry Road on a 10-acre site, Rosemont School will be a fee-paying
secondary school.
It
will offer students a broad curriculum across mathematics, sciences, languages,
history and the arts.
Facilities
will include all-weather playing pitches, a fully equipped gym, science
facilities and an extensive library.
The
school, which will be housed in a 5,460 sq m building, plans to offer these
facilities to the local community outside of school hours.
Speaking
at the ceremony, Margaret Kelly, principal of Rosemont said:
“The Rosemont
teaching and project teams are delighted to be marking the commencement of
construction with this turning of the sod ceremony.
“We
are excited about offering the community a girls’ secondary school which will
provide a completely rounded education, focusing on pastoral care, as well as
academic excellence.
“We
are also very happy to be opening our facilities to the community, outside of
school hours, to create further amenities for local groups and families.
?
Commenting
on the project, a spokesperson for John Sisk & Son, said:
“We are delighted
to be appointed as the main contractor for the construction of the new Rosemont
Secondary School. We have developed considerable expertise in school building
over the years and look forward to building a lasting educational environment
to serve this community.
?
The
school project team includes architects Niall D Brennan Associates (NDBA),
quantity surveyors Bruce Shaw and engineering firm O’Connor Sutton Cronin.
Rosemont
School is currently located at Temple Hill, Blackrock and first opened in 1977.