This week will see the end of an era as the students at Clonmany National School bring to a close the Junior School Warden Crossing Service. It is believed that the service has operated for over twenty years with senior students providing a safe crossing environment for pupils wishing to cross the road at the school gate. The scheme is promoted by Donegal County Council under Section 96 of the Road Traffic Act 1961 and specific safety training for those involved is provided by An Garda Síochána.
Junior School Wardens are drawn from volunteers in the senior classes and are designed to provide safe crossing assistance in the vicinity of primary schools in towns and villages. Whilst a number of services have operated in Donegal over the years, Clonmany National School have demonstrated an ongoing and outstanding commitment to the programme.
Speaking about the decommissioning of the service, School Principal, Noelle Doherty said, for over twenty years now, the senior pupils in this school have participated in the Junior Warden Scheme. They have ensured the safety of children crossing the road at 2p.m. and 3p.m. during the school week, in all sorts of weather. We hope that the lessons they have learned about the importance of safety on the roads will stay with them for life, and that they will continue to be responsible road users.
Donegal County Council’s Road Safety Officer, Eamonn Brown complemented the school for the high level and safe service provided. He stated, “ We are delighted to hear that the school is moving to a new site and we wish them well. It is also very important for us to acknowledge the contribution made by students at the school, past and present, to road safety in the area. Their commitment has meant safer journeys for thousands of students on the way to and from school. So on behalf of Donegal County Council I wish to thank the Principal Noelle Doherty, parents, the school management team and most importantly the pupils for giving their time so freely and keeping so many students safe over the years.”
The Road Safety Authority is currently reviewing the Junior School Warden Service and Donegal County Council is awaiting the outcome of the review before deciding on further promotion of the scheme in the County.
The first school on the existing site at Clonmany was built in the year 1836. This building was demolished, replaced and extended at different times during the past two centuries, with the last extension added in 1953. Many past pupils have vivid memories of the time they spent ‘at school’ in the Parochial hall during that time. The Parents of children attending the school have been extremely generous in terms of their support of various fund-raising ventures—both directly to the school Management team and also towards events organised by the hard-working Parents’ committee. To date they have contributed an amount in the excess of €45,000.00 which will be used to enhance the learning experiences of the children, by helping to provide library books, computer software, television/DVD players and hopefully some playground furniture /equipment.
The school Management team plan to begin moving to the new school in late June, so as to be ready for the new school year beginning in September. Once it is cleared out the existing building will be demolished, and the site will be used as extra playground space for the school, and hopefully the sound of children playing happily will continue to be a feature of life in Clonmany Village