Our School
Saint Thomas’ National School is a small rural school under Church of Ireland Patronage. We have two mainstream classroom teachers and one shared Special Education Teacher. St. Thomas’ National School welcomes children of all faiths and none. We are situated just off the N4 outside the village of Rathowen in County Westmeath.
Board of Management at St. Thomas’ N.S.
Chairperson – Canon Janet Catterall
Secretary & Principal – Mr. Killian Hales
Teacher Representative – Ms. Stephanie Mills
Patron Nomination & Treasurer – Mr.John Rogers
Parents Representatives – Mrs. Fiona Gaughan, Mr. Brendan Murray
Community Representatives – Mrs. Ethel Lloyd, Mrs. Geraldine Farrar
Our Staff
Junior Infants – 2nd Class: Ms.Stephanie Mills (Acting Deputy Principal)
3rd – 6th Class: Mr. Killian Hales (Principal)
Special Education Teacher: Mrs. Jennifer Thompson
Special Education Teacher: Ms. Aisling Kells
Special Needs Assistant: Pauline Linnane
Special Needs Assistant: Lauren Scrivens
Secretary: Mrs. Mary Kenny
School Mission Statement
Saint Thomas’ National School,
Rathowen,
County Westmeath.
School Philosophy
Saint Thomas’ National School is a community where all pupils are equally valued and respected, irrespective of gender, social background, family circumstances, educational achievement, religion, physical characteristics or intellectual functioning. Pupils experience a sense of caring and belonging. They are treated fairly and their spiritual, moral and religious development is encouraged, as is their intellectual, social and academic development.
It is a community where moral values such as honesty, truthfulness, justice, fairness, sensitivity to others and civic responsibility is nurtured and protected. The justification of these qualities is based on the Biblical teaching interpreted by the Church.
Our School History
Saint Thomas’ N.S was previously situated in Crom nearby Rathowen but in 1961 the school moved to its current residence in Rathowen. In 2004 an extension was built onto the school, providing a second classroom, pupil toilets, wheelchair accessible toilets and a new computer room. In 2009/2010 some repairs and improvements were made to the school, the school was painted, a new central heating system installed, new windows, new marmoleum floor covering and each classroom received an interactive whiteboard.