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Welcome to
St. Joseph's Secondary School
Rush, Co. Dublin
Established 1961
History
St. Joseph's Secondary School, Rush, Co. Dublin was founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1961. Rush is situated in Fingal, approximately 16km from Dublin Airport. The school is located near the South Shore Beach overlooking Lambay Island. In 1980, the school which had until then catered for girls only, became co-educational to cater for further local needs. Presently we have a pupil population of almost 500.
Mission Statement
We aim to provide a secure and caring environment which promotes effort, achievement and the enjoyment of learning, where students develop self esteem, responsibility and self management skills in an atmosphere of respect and mutual support, inspired by our Catholic tradition.
Principal's Welcome
I hope this site will give visitors a sense of the reality of our vibrant and wonderful school, whilst also providing information and updates for our large community of pupils, parents, and staff.
St Joseph’s Secondary School is situated in the centre of the town of Rush. It shares the rich tradition and strengths that are part of the Mercy/CEIST ethos. Excellence, inclusion, creativity, courage, opportunity, and a global vision are very much our living ethos. We affirm our Catholicism in the context of a new Ireland which welcomes diversity. We robustly engage our pupils in the spiritual, intellectual, and physical rigours of a young, full life...
[Read the full Welcome]
News
Happy Christmas
We wish you all a very Happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year!
Jubilee Book
Our Jubilee Book - The Story of St. Joseph's: 1961 - 2011 celebrating 50 years of St. Joseph's is available from Jacinta Owens - Deputy Principal. Cost €10
Trial One-Way Traffic System
Due to the increase in traic volume since the school reopened in August last, we are seeking your support in
implementing a one-way system to ensure there is minimal disruption outside the school at peak times. Please
see the direction of the arrows on the map for further information.
In the interest of road safety, we would prefer if cars entered Convent Lane at the Lower Main Street (Michael
Collins) junction and exited by St Joseph’s Road and via Hand’s Lane back onto Rush Main Street. We hope this
will encourage a constant low of traic to eliminate any congestion that may occur during dropping of and
picking up students. We also ask that during peak times you would not park on Convent Lane as this may cause
pedestrian safety issues due to traic movement.
The school management wish to take this opportunity to thank you for your cooperation as we endeavour to
implement this plan.
Yours sincerely,
The Board of Management
RUSH GETS BOOST WITH NEW POST-PRIMARY SCHOOL ON THE WAY
St Joseph’s Secondary School in Rush is to be given a massive boost in the coming months with additional school buildings being provided at a cost of around €1 million, to cater for the growing school population in the area.
The buildings which will include an Arts and Science block will cater for admissions for the 2011/2012 term. The current expansion of the school does not stop there. A Masterplan is to be carried out at the current Convent Lane location to assess the feasibility of building a new school on the existing site. It is envisaged that the Masterplan on the site will be completed by the first quarter of 2012. In addition there will be a study of the Post Primary school site which was reserved as part of the Kenure LAP in 2009, to analyse if that is a better option. That site is 12 acres in total with playing pitches and open space specifically for use by the school.
Principal Patricia Hayden said, “We are very pleased that the Department of Education is taking a proactive approach to what we are seeking to achieve at St Josephs in Rush. We have had several meetings with representatives of the Department, here in Rush and in Tullamore. They have always been enthusiastic about our plans for the school. The announcement of the Masterplan and the study of the Greenfield site in Kenure is very welcome progress in our overall plans for the school.”
Ms Hayden also said, “We have over 126 enrolments for the 2011/2012 term and this number is increasing each year. Our school is providing a high standard of teaching and learning for our students and we are looking forward to our school population growing into the future. There are a number of progressive developments occurring over the coming two years, not least the use of technology as part of the learning experience at St Joseph’s. It is planned to introduce Tablet computers for all of our incoming first year students in August 2012 which will go some way to alleviating the burden of carrying a heavy school bag and reduce the cost of schoolbooks for parents as well.”
St Joseph’s Secondary School is the only co-educated faith based post primary school in the region, which makes it quite unique and attractive for parents wanting to provide a catholic education for their children, in an inclusive atmosphere. Patricia Hayden took over as Principal in 2007. St Josephs Secondary School was established in 1961 by the Sisters of Mercy religious order as a post primary school for girls and became a co-ed school in 1981. When the Sisters of Mercy handed responsibility of the school to CEIST in 2008 it became one of the 112 schools managed by the organisation.
If you are interested in having more information about enrolments at St Joseph’s Secondary School, Rush for the August 2012/2013 school year, call 018437534 or email office@stjosephrush.ie
Archbishop of Dublin Celebrates Golden Jubilee Mass with St Joseph’s Secondary School Rush
This year St Joseph’s Secondary School in Rush is celebrating its Golden Jubilee following 50 years as the only post-primary school serving the Rush and Lusk area of North County Dublin.
To mark the Golden Jubilee Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Diarmuid Martin celebrated mass at St Maur’s Church in Rush. The Mass was attended by parents and past pupils as well as current pupils. There were some past pupils in attendance who were the first girls to be enrolled in St Joseph’s in 1961 which made it a very special occasion indeed.
There have been many changes in the school since it was officially opened by the then Archbishop of Dublin, John Charles McQuaid. Since then, the Mercy Sisters have transferred patronage of the school to CEIST, and the Board of Management are about to embark upon the largest expansion programme in the history of the school, which will see a new school building for the area.
Following the Mass, everyone went to St Joseph’s Secondary School for light refreshments. There was a great atmosphere in the school as past pupils met, some for the first time in a long number of years. Speaking after the Mass School Principal, Ms Patricia Hayden thanked the Archbishop for taking time out of his busy schedule to visit Rush and celebrate the Jubilee Mass with the community. Ms Hayden also thanked the School Choir, the teachers and parents for their tireless work in making the Jubilee Mass such a special occasion.
The St Joseph’s Rush Golden Jubilee celebrations will conclude on Saturday, 15th of October next with the opening of a memorial garden and the unveiling by the Mayor of Fingal of a commemorative sculpture.
2011 Newsletter & Booklists
The 2011 Newsletter and book lists for all years are now available.
President McAleese Visits St Joseph’s Secondary School
President of Ireland, Mary McAleese visited St Joseph’s Secondary School on Friday 28 January. Local people lined the streets as her car approached the school. Once in the school, the President was formally welcomed by the Principal, Patricia Hayden, Chair of the BoM, Jim Kilgarriff, Deputy Principal, Jacinta Owens and Deputy Head Boy and Girl, Sean McCormac and Shauna Lynch. Second Year student Sam Smith presented President McAleese with a Braille message of welcome. It was a lovely gesture and Sam did the school proud.
