St. Augustine’s National School is situated in the heart of Clontuskert community.
It is a two teacher school with a reputation for excellence in the area of teaching and learning. St. Augustine’s has a very active Parent’s Association and has forged strong links with the community in the area. It holds a Green Flag for Waste Management, three Discover Primary Science and Mathematics Excellence Awards and has been awarded the British Science Council Crest Award for participation in the FIRST LEGO® League.
It is a pioneering school in the use of digital technologies to aid the implementation of the Irish Primary school curriculum. They are the first school in Ireland to use WeDo LEGO® Robotics to facilitate cross curricular project work. Podcasting is used as a tool to aid many subjects. FIS (Film in Schools) is an annual event in Clontuskert where the children script, direct, act in and edit their own films. St. Augustine’s is the only Member of the Empowering Minds Group of Ireland in County Galway.
The school is linked to Oak Lake School, Manitoba, Canada and uses Digital Storytelling to develop literacy levels and encourage co-operation between the schools. Clontuskert is also linked to seven schools in England, Sweden, Spain, Estonia and France as part of a Comenius Partnership. This Partnership is called STAGE: Seven Towards A Greener Europe and explores Green issues such as waste management and wildlife conservation.
Mr. Joe O’ Riordan, who now teaches in Duniry N.S., Loughrea, was instrumental in setting up this project.
A French Language Teacher has taught French to all classes since September 2010.
Achievements and Projects:
Heritage and History:
The school is grateful for the help and support they receive from Clontuskert Heritage Group in the implementation of project work in this area. The following projects have been undertaken with their help:
1.Waterways of Ireland Project focusing on Pollboy Lock and Portumna Bridge and the Ballinasloe leg of the Grand Canal.
2.Monastery Project: This consisted of a visit to Clontuskert Abbey with Joe Molloy, Adeline Finneran and Eileen Curley, members of Clontuskert Heritage Group to learn about, photograph and film the site. The students were also invited to visit Cistercian Abbey in Roscrea to learn about modern monastic life by Abbot Richard Purcell. The students then created a virtual 3-D photo image of Clontuskert Abbey using Photosynth. This project has been nominated for a Galway County Heritage Award.
3.Keep on Track Project: Keep on Track was co-ordinated by Clontuskert NS and Holy Spirit BNS, Ballymun. The aim of Keep on Track was to link fifteen Rail Stations and Schools on the Galway-Dublin Railway Line. It integrated all subjects of the curriculum. This Project took place between January and June 2011. It was supported and sponsored by Irish Rail, the NCTE, the Empowering Minds Group and formed an exciting new alliance between Galway, Athlone, Portlaoise, Kildare and Drumcondra Education Centres. History and Heritage were an underlying element of the project as Clontuskert students learned about Ballinasloe Train Station and train travel in Ireland.
Sport:
■All Ireland Champions in Spikeball (Volleyball)
■County Champions Spikeball
■County Champions Chess
■County Finalists in Cumann na mBunscol Hurling
■County Finalists in Paddy Manton Hurling Tournament
■Handball Coaching received from Peter Mulryan
■Swimming after Easter
■Tag Rugby
Learn more about Clontuskert’s hardworking school team on their award winning blog; www.clontuskert.scoilnet.ie which is updated and maintained by the students themselves. This blog was shortlisted for an Eircom Junior Spiders Award in 2010.
Clontuskert Team:
Principal Teacher: Kate Murray
2 classroom teachers; Eimil Scott and Kate Murray
2 resource teachers: Nicola Burke, Colette Baynes
Special Needs Assistant: Angie Hannify
Secretary: Mary Callaghan
Part time Learning Support Teachers: Annette Hardiman
French Language Teacher: Ámelie Voyard Venard
Clontuskert National School can be contacted at clontuskertns at gmail.com or 
