Fáilte romhat agus roimh do pháiste.

Starting school will be the first big change in the life of your child.  Up to this she has felt safe and secure with you in the home and family but now she is facing the wider world of classroom and school.

This may seem a big step for someone so small but most children manage it without any great fuss or stress - and in fact, take to it like ducks to water.

However, it is also a time when parents and teachers should take special care to ensure that the transition from home to school is as smooth as possible.  If the child's first experience of school is one of happy involvement, a very good foundation will have been laid for fruitful schools years ahead.

Preparation for school:

Starting school is a milestone in the life of a child and is often a time of stress and anxiety for parents.  Parents, however, can do much to reduce such anxiety - both for themselves and their child.

This preparation should begin some months before the child starts and should be carried out gradually.

• label all your child's clothes and belongings clearly - help them to identify their own belongings.
• your child should know her home address. You will be asked to provide the name and telephone number of a person to be contacted if you are not at home.  Explain this arrangement to your child.
• Junior Infants will be dismissed from the exit doors. Parents are asked to come to the relevant door to pick up their child.  Please note that no child will be allowed to walk out to the road on their own.
• Parents are asked to inform the class teacher as to who will be collecting the child from class on a regular basis. Should this person change at any time it is of vital importance that the teacher be informed of this change.   Even if there is just an occasional change the teacher should be told either by meeting the teacher beforehand, by note or by phone.
• It is school policy that following a child's absence from school the parent supplies the class teacher with an explanation of this absence by note.

Handy Hints:

• School bag. Buy a bag large enough to carry all the books/copies etc.  remember that most of the workbooks are quite big.
• Please have workbooks covered with the child's name clearly printed on the outside for the first day.
• Notes. Please check your child's bag each day for notes.
• Check your child's hair regularly for head lice and treat accordingly.
• Praise their efforts at every opportunity.

The First Day:

It is important that you establish a good routine early.  Check that all items - uniform, bag, are ready for the morning.  Do this in a calm fashion - don't let your child get over excited or anxious going to bed.  Give plenty of time in the morning for dressing, washing and eating a good breakfast.  It is important that your child arrives at school before class starts as children can find it very intimidating to walk in to a class already in progress.

On the big day, if you are feeling upset, don't show it, leave your child with the teacher and tell her that you will be back at the appropriate time to collect her.  If your child is upset, trust the teacher.  The teacher is very experienced and knows how to comfort an anxious child.  Sometimes a small toy from home can be a comfort.

It is important that you arrive on time to collect your child from school.  Children will become very upset if they see other children being collected and feel they are being left behind.  It takes time for children to adapt to school life and routine.  Don't expect too much too soon.  Talk to them about what happened and allow them to respond in their own way.

If you ask:  "What did you learn today" you will most likely be told "nothing".  Most of the work at infant level is activity based and children are not conscious of "learning" as adults understand it.  If however, you ask "What happened in school today?"  "What did you do?" "Did you sing?" "Did you draw?" "What games did you play?" you will have more success.

Your child will be tired coming home from school and occasionally may sleep for an hour or so when they come home from school.  It is very important to set a routine of quiet time together and early to bed.  If you feel that your child is worried about something school related, talk to teacher.

General Information

School Staff

Mary Andrews                          Principal

Gayle Noonan                          Deputy Principal/Class Teacher

Bernadette Kennedy                 Class Teacher

Anne Cawley                            Class Teacher

Aileen Flanagan                Class Teacher

Frances Horan                          Class Teacher

Aisling Quinlivan                      Class Teacher

Rachel Power                           Class Teacher

Sara McGlinchey                       Class Teacher

Maggie O’Brien                        Class Teacher

Amy Ryan                        Class Teacher

Natascha O’Brien                      Class Teacher

Laura Quinlan                          Class Teacher

Bríd Martley                             Special Education Teacher

Audrey Ryan                            Special Education Teacher

Catherine McGuire                   Special Education Teacher

Breda Coffey                            Special Needs Assistant

William Hally                            Caretaker

Geraldine Laffey                       Secretary

Gail O’Keeffe                            Secretary

Angela Turner                          Cleaning Staff

Catherine McCarthy                 Cleaning Staff.

Dress Code

1. All pupils are expected to wear the school uniform.

• Grey skirt, pinafore or trousers.
• Grey jumper with school logo (can be purchased at Uniform World, Clonmel).
• White shirt
• Red tie
• Grey, Black or White socks/tights

1. The school tracksuit consisting of a navy crested legs and top with a red polo shirt, can be purchased at Uniform World Clonmel. Runners are compulsory for PE class.

1. On PE days pupils may wear the tracksuit and runners to school. Parents will be informed of the relevant days when the time-table is finalised during the first week of

        September.

       

1. Parents are asked to give due care and consideration when choosing shoes for school. It is recommended that pupils wear proper school shoes rather than pumps, Ugg boots, etc.
2. Stud earrings only are allowed. Nose studs, body piercing etc. are strictly forbidden.
3. Pupils are expected to be neat and tidy in appearance at all times.
4. Pupils may not wear make up in school.
5. All items of clothing should be clearly marked with pupils name and class.

Timetable

1. The daily timetable is as follows:

        9.00 a.m.                 School opens to receive pupils.  All pupils go to                                         the Hall for assembly and prayers. No pupil                                              should be on the school premises before                                                   9:00a.m.

9.20 a.m.                 Class begins

11.00-11.10 a.m.         Short break

12.30-1.00 p.m. Lunch break

2.00 p.m.                 School finishes for Junior Infants and Senior                                             Infants

3.00p.m.                  School finishes for all other classes.

1. School reopens on Friday, 1^st September, 2017
2. From the 1^st to the 15^th of September Junior Infant pupils will be allowed home at 12.00 p.m. and may be collected from their classroom. From Monday 18^th the children must be collected at 2:00p.m.  

 

 

Lunch

 

1. The school operates a healthy eating policy. A copy is enclosed in the information pack.

1. A milk scheme is in operation in the school. Details of the scheme are issued at the start of the school year.

1. Glass bottles are not allowed.

1. Crisps and popcorn are not allowed.

1. Nuts and nut products are not allowed in the school.

1. Chewing gum is strictly forbidden.

1. Lunches should be packed separately to avoid spills in the school bag.

1. In accordance with our environmental policy and 'green code' parents are asked to use recyclable bottles for drinks and to use lunch boxes thus avoiding the use of cling film, plastic bags and tin foil.

Health/Safety

 

1. Children who are ill should not be sent to school.

1. Parents are asked that teachers be made aware of any physical disability or allergy that their child might have.

1. Check your child’s hair regularly for head lice.

1. If your child has an accident at school, teachers will respond in a caring and professional manner. Minor cuts and grazes are normally treated by cleaning with disinfectant and water.  Parents are requested to inspect wounds when the child comes home from school.

1. In the event of an accident or child becoming ill, every effort will be made to contact the pupil's parents or persons delegated to take responsibility for the pupil. Please ensure the school has up to date contact phone numbers.

1. In the interest of safety, parents are asked not to park in the staff car park.

1. At assembly and dismissal time, parents are asked not to park in the bus bay and on the pedestrian crossing outside the school.

 

School Books

1. We are very conscious of the cost of school books and consequently the books in use in the school are changed as rarely as possible.

1. All books should be covered and pupils are expected

to keep them neat and tidy.

3      Following Department of Education grant aid the school operates a book rental scheme for all classes see enclosed policy.

1. Regarding stationery (copies, pencils, cases, erasers, etc.) we recommend that parents supply plain items and avoid logoed items. Items with the Playboy logo are strictly forbidden.

 

Mobile Phones:

 

Pupils are forbidden to have or to use mobile phones while on the school premises.  Pupils needing to contact home during school hours may do so from the school phone, following permission from a teacher or the principal.  Should a pupil need to bring a mobile phone to school for use after school hours, she may hand it to the principal for safe keeping until dismissal time.

 

 

 

 

Insurance:

 

The Board of Management facilitates the operation of a personal accident insurance policy for pupils.  The policy runs from 1^st September to 31^st August annually.  Application forms are available from the school secretary.  Participation is entirely optional.  Forms will be handed out during the first week in September.

 

Attendance:

 

1. Regular attendance at school is essential. Under the Education Welfare Act this is also a legal requirement, see Attendance Policy enclosed.

1. In the event of a pupil being absent through illness or for any other reason, the class teacher should be informed by note on the pupil's return to school. The note must state the date of absence and the specific reason for this absence.  If it is anticipated that the absence will be of a lengthy duration, the class teacher should be informed by note as soon as possible.

1. In accordance with the Education Welfare Act absences of 20 days and over will be notified to the Education Welfare Officer with Tusla by the principal.

1. When it is necessary for a child to leave the school early, parents/guardians are asked to call in person to the classroom to collect the child. Any person collecting the child on behalf of the parents should present written authorisation with a telephone contact number. A Sign Out book must be signed by the person collecting the child.

 

Homework Policy:

 

Aims of homework:

• To reinforce what the child learns during the day
• To provide a link between the teacher and parents
• To develop the child's concentration skills and develop a good work ethic
• To promote an ability to work independently

How often is homework given:

• Homework is given on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday - no homework is given on weekends except where work has not been completed during the week.
• At the discretion of the class teacher or the principal, children may be given "Homework off" as a treat or as an acknowledgement of some special occasion.

Content of Homework:

• The following are guidelines for time spent on homework. Different children will complete the same homework in different lengths of time.  Time will vary from day to day and also from the beginning to the end of the school year.  It is the quality and not the quantity of homework that matters:

Infants      -       10-15 mins.

1st Class    -       20 mins

2nd Class -       20 mins

3rd Class   -       30 mins

4th Class   -       40 mins

5th Class   -       50 mins

6th Class   -       60 mins

Procedures:

 

• Each pupil has a homework journal
• Parents are asked to sign the journal each night.
• Teachers and parents use the journal to communicate messages to one another
• School letters and school newsletters are sent home in the journal.
• In 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th Classes a record is kept at the back of the journal of uncompleted work.

 

Procedures when homework is not completed:

 

• If homework is not completed the pupil is expected to do it the following night.
• Work accumulated over the week must be done at the weekend.
• Work still not completed must be done in school at a time designated by the class teacher.
• In the case of continuous non-completion of homework parents are informed and asked to co-operate in ensuring that all work is done.
• Parents are encouraged to visit the school to speak to the Class Teacher if problems arise at home with homework.

 

Communication with Parents:

• Letters are sent out regularly to parents.
• A TextaParent service is used
• Information is uploaded to the school website
• A notice board is located at the school gate.
• A newsletter is issued four times per year.
• End of year reports are issued on every child
• Teachers communicate with parents through the child's journal.
• Parent - Teacher meetings are held during the second term.
• Parents are invited to meetings in the school
  • Junior Infant Information Night
  • Shared Reading Information Night
  • Class meetings
  • First Communion / Confession
  • Confirmation
• Parents are welcome in the school at any time, but are asked to make an appointment if they wish to discuss something with the class teacher.