About Us
Our School History
St. Thomas National School was established in April 1980 to cater for the school going population of the developing Parish of Jobstown. Fr. Con McGillicuddy was the first Parish Priest in the area and he became the first Chairperson of the Board of Management of the school.
Seamus Massey was appointed Principal and was the first teacher to start in St. Thomas National School on 14 April 1980. Together Fr. Con Mc Gillicuddy and Seamus Massey appointed the Deputy Principal, Michael Murphy and the subsequent teaching staff of the school. The school population grew rapidly in Jobstown during 1980 and so too did the teaching staff.
There was no school building in Jobstown when the school first opened in 1980, consequently for two years the pupils were accommodated in various national schools in the locality. For the first year half the pupils walked every day from Jobstown to the Junior School in Killinarden while the remainder walked to the Junior School in Knockmore. The following year there were over 500 children on rolls. These pupils were bussed from Jobstown, half to St. Martin de Porres School in Aylesbury and half to St. Killian’s School in Castleview.
Seamus Massey was appointed Principal and was the first teacher to start in St. Thomas National School on 14 April 1980. Together Fr. Con Mc Gillicuddy and Seamus Massey appointed the Deputy Principal, Michael Murphy and the subsequent teaching staff of the school. The school population grew rapidly in Jobstown during 1980 and so too did the teaching staff.
There was no school building in Jobstown when the school first opened in 1980, consequently for two years the pupils were accommodated in various national schools in the locality. For the first year half the pupils walked every day from Jobstown to the Junior School in Killinarden while the remainder walked to the Junior School in Knockmore. The following year there were over 500 children on rolls. These pupils were bussed from Jobstown, half to St. Martin de Porres School in Aylesbury and half to St. Killian’s School in Castleview.
The 19 April 1982 was a very significant and happy day for the pupils, parents and teachers of St. Thomas National School. On that day 522 pupils and 18 teachers moved into their very own school building in Jobstown. A full-time caretaker and secretary were appointed to the school at this time.
The school population of St. Thomas National School continued to increase during the following years and eventually on 13 December 1983 the school divided between a Junior and Senior School, namely St. Thomas Junior National School catering for pupils from Junior Infants to 2 class and St. Thomas Senior National School catering for pupils from 3 to 6.
Michael Murphy was appointed Principal of the Senior School and with 250 pupils and 9 teachers moved across the yard to the new Senior School building. Seamus Massey remained as Principal of the Junior School, Eva O’Carroll became Deputy Principal and with over 500 pupils and 17 teachers St. Thomas Junior National School began. The official opening of the school took place on 9 May 1983.
The school going population continued to increase during the 1980s and reached a peak in September 1985 when a record 227 pupils were enrolled in Junior Infants. This increase in numbers necessitated the provision of six new classrooms. To this day these classrooms are still referred to as "the new extension"! The numbers of pupils enrolling in the school eventually levelled off and has remained stable over the years.
The school population of St. Thomas National School continued to increase during the following years and eventually on 13 December 1983 the school divided between a Junior and Senior School, namely St. Thomas Junior National School catering for pupils from Junior Infants to 2 class and St. Thomas Senior National School catering for pupils from 3 to 6.
Michael Murphy was appointed Principal of the Senior School and with 250 pupils and 9 teachers moved across the yard to the new Senior School building. Seamus Massey remained as Principal of the Junior School, Eva O’Carroll became Deputy Principal and with over 500 pupils and 17 teachers St. Thomas Junior National School began. The official opening of the school took place on 9 May 1983.
The school going population continued to increase during the 1980s and reached a peak in September 1985 when a record 227 pupils were enrolled in Junior Infants. This increase in numbers necessitated the provision of six new classrooms. To this day these classrooms are still referred to as "the new extension"! The numbers of pupils enrolling in the school eventually levelled off and has remained stable over the years.
ST Thomas' JNS