As the buses from the local primary schools pulled into St Fanahan's College in Mitchelstown for the open day, the excitement was palpable, as the national school students got a real taste of what secondary school could hold for them.

The students started off their day with a delicious hot meal in the canteen, before sampling some of the many subjects through workshops and demonstrations.

Throughout the day, the students got to experience woodwork, art, home economics, solidworks, engineering and metalwork and the open day gave them a chance to try out something different.

Speaking to the parents and pupils after the day of activities, the Principal Colman Murphy said that they recognise that going from primary to secondary school can present a big change in a child's life and so they do everything they can to make that transition easier.

To help the students to bond with each other, in the first five weeks of PE, the first year students are taken to Ballyhass Lakes, where they can have fun trying out canoeing, rockclimbing and other fun activities. There is also a wide range of extra cirricular activities such as camogie, football, soccer, basketball, spike ball, hurling, young scientist, formual 1 and Fame.

He added that they offer a free breakfast club, which gives students a chance to mix before the school day begins and the homework club is also free to first and second year students, giving them the chance to get a step ahead with their homework. 

"Our commitment is to work with the parents, to give your child every opportunity to realise their full potential, in a friendly and safe environment.

"We have all the facilities and resources in the school to support every subject, but the most important asset we have is the interest and dedication of our staff to education," Mr Murphy said.

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