o2 Technology Team Building Day!

On Friday 14th August, approx 80 members of the O2 Technology Team headed out to Our School for their Team Building Day.

The O2 team's task was to paint the classrooms and main areas in the school which were in dire need of a make over.

Painting, Gardening and Decorating may seem a trivial, after all it is the teaching rather than the classrooms that are helping our children.
But working in a run down and lets face it, kind of tatty environment is not great for morale.

However, our fundraising priority as a parent's association is always to provide services like our Occupational therapist, Additional Supervisor and the Group Work Tutor and we have never found the neccessary extra cash to get the place spruced up.

Thats where the O2 volunteers stepped in, not only offering to repaint our school but to do it in a day!

Lots of preparation work had to be completed in the weeks prior to the event with surveys carried out by members of the engineering team to assess what equipment was required.

Our school is a converted convent with lots of high walls and ceilings so scaffolding had to be brought in and fitted to facilitate the main reception areas, hallway, stairs and landing.

The day kicked off at 9am and the team got down to some serious painting work. With a huge amount of work completed by lunchtime, way more than was expected, there was an urgent trip to the local DIY store to buy more paint in order to continue through the afternoon and get as much work done as possible.
By close of business, the team had painted the ceilings, skirtings, walls and doors of 8 classrooms, the common areas including hall, stairs and landing, the reception area, three bathrooms and the full basement area of the school.

To top it off, a ½ acre area at the back of the school got a going over with the lawnmower…..one of those cool ones that you drive around!

This was an incredible achievement and also thoroughly enjoyed by everyone who participated.

Pat Moynihan, O2 Technology Director, commented

“ this was a humbling experience helping improve the life of the families, staff and of course the pupils of Saplings, the team worked really hard and left with a great sense of achievement”

Keith Mulhall, a parent and board member of the school, who was there on the day, said: ‘The work o2 did in Saplings Rathfarnham will change the building for the new term. To have this work done during the summer break will make a huge impact on the lives of all the people whom use this building when they return to school in September. The work of o2 will be eternally appreciated.’


Kevin Whelan, CEO of Irish Autism Action, expressed his thanks for the continued success of the O2 and IAA partnership.

‘We are overwhelmed with the support and dedication from O2 employees to raise funds and volunteer for Irish Autism Action. It is very rare that such a partnership works so well and the difference it is making to our organisation and to the families of children affected by autism is second to none.’