Growing Réalta Geal celebrates third anniversary

Réalta Geal Montessori School on the Coosan Point Road has been going from strength to strength since it opened its doors in September 2008. Proprietor Maireád Hennessy enjoys the challenge of both teaching and running her own business, a long-held ambition. In fact, the Doon native will be celebrating her school's third anniversary later this year by expanding her business further and employing a third teacher in the school to cater for an increase in numbers in the new term. Maireád is currently in her last year of a five-year BA degree in Montessori Education. Combining her teaching and running a business with studying is tough, she admitted, but worth it. “I absolutely love it and I will always be in a classroom with children, they're great,†she said. “It's been all that I've expected. A typical day for me would be working with the kids in the morning and then the afternoon is just as busy doing the various administration work such as setting up the children's work for the next day and remainder of the week, contact parents, fill out forms and various other tasks to ensure that the school is run efficiently and effectively.†By studying for a degree, Maireád's ambition was to not only further her own education but also to further the potential for her school and her pupils. She spent two to three nights a week attending class in Galway for four years and now in her final year she attends night classes once a week in Galway and once a week in Limerick. There is also the odd Saturday. “It's a huge commitment but I will be finished in May and will qualify with a BA and after that I will be a qualified resource teacher. I always wanted to do teaching and my true passion for teaching is in working with younger kids,†she said. “This qualification will further enhance the higher quality facility and education already provided to the children.†Although teaching may well be Maireád's vocation, her career path could have taken another turn, as she originally spent two years studying for a BA in Rural Heritage Studies. However, she decided that wasn't for her and took a Diploma in Montessori teaching in Galway. She spent a number of years working and also time in Australia, before returning to Athlone for work, and then set about establishing Réalta Geal. The Montessori ethos was founded by an Italian woman Maria Montessori who worked with underprivileged children. The teaching is all about giving children the best start in their path of education. Réalta Geal Montessori School teaches children between the ages of two and five, from 9am to 1pm, five days a week. The school is a higher-quality facility and is also St Nicholas-approved for another two years following a recent inspection. The school provides a stimulating environment for children and places a special emphasis on developing each child's grasp of the Irish language. She said that by the time they are ready for primary school, most of the children are already able to read short sentences. Maireád teaches the senior class of ten children, while Mary Curley, also a fully-trained Montessori teacher, takes the junior class which has eight to ten children. “Mary is fantastic and very reliable. She's been with me since day one,†added Maireád. A normal school day is a busy one. Maireád's class learn together, but the children also receive one-on-one lessons with Maireád who can then keep close track on each child's progress. They also get to do arts and crafts, painting, singing and story-telling. The children expel that extra energy in the playroom and the outdoor play area. Friday is 'fun day', so Maireád and Mary bake with the children and do exercises. “Keep them occupied and they're fantastic, there's always something to do,†she said. “We go on regular outings transported safely from and back to school by Hennessy Bus Hire, and we also have people in to give the children talks. We learnt about the farm and farm animals as one of our themes and we had a farmer, Farmer Joe, in to show the kids pictures of the animals and machinery, and also each child got a bag of potatoes and vegetables to take home which Farmer Joe grew on his farm, he was a huge success,†said Maireád. “This Thursday we are going to the library for story-telling morning. A member of the library staff will read the children a story.†The ratio for Montessori is ten pupils to one teacher and the school is currently full. Maireád is thrilled by the school's success in such a short space of time. “I'm hoping to open a third class in September and of course then I'd need a third teacher as well,†she said. “In September 2008 when I started off the recession was just beginning to hit. I was a bit weary but thank god with word of mouth, it's really taken off.†To contact Réalta Geal, call Maireád on 087 6522101, or email realtageal@gmail.com.