AC - V1 Monday, April 22 Sinéad Kennedy, Jennifer and Rachel Murphy, all of Incidium Marketing, at the launch of World Social Media Day at the Electric Bar on the South Mall. Picture: David Keane School gets the go-ahead for work ● Churchfield celebrating as extension dream becomes reality By PAUL HOGAN CORK CELEBRATES WORLD SOCIAL MEDIA DAY IN STYLE SCOIL PADRE PIO in Churchfield is celebrating news that work on its long- awaited extension is about to commence. The extension is to include a state-of-the-art autism unit, school hall, multi-sensory room and re- source rooms. It will also include refurbishment of the existing building. The school’s board of manage- ment has acquired an extra three- quarters-of-an-acre of land from Cork City Council to accommodate a staff car park. Principal Ken Foley was delighted with the announcement that the work on the school would now get under way. “We currently cater for 225 main- stream pupils, an additional four early start classes and four autism classes attached to our mainstream school. The school hall will be a great addition to our school as we are involved in so many sporting activities,” he said. “It will be great to showcase our school choir, our newly formed school band and all our dance and drama activities. “This extension will be of major benefit to the services we provide to the students with autism, such as occupational therapy and speech and language therapy. “Scoil Padre Pio has always had deep roots in the parish and com- munity and this extension ensures the continued growth of the school as it goes from strength to strength,” added Mr Foley.