Parent Information
School Hours
Junior & Senior Infants
9.00 a.m. – 1.40 p.m. Junior & Senior Infants
First Class to Sixth Class
9.00 a.m. – 2.40 p.m. First Class to Sixth Class
Board of Management does not accept responsibility for children before official class time or after school finishes.
Children are obliged to attend school on school days and to be on time for school. Please come dressed in full uniform, have all books and necessary items for the day’s work.
Play areas are divided with regard to games:
Football and hurling in the field.
Basketball in playground.
Children from 3rd to 6th are encouraged to play football and hurling in the field – change of footwear and clothing essential.
Parent Information
School Uniform
The school uniform (available in most department stores) is worn for Confirmation (6th Class) and formal school events e.g. choir singing, representing school etc. It is advised that parents would buy a uniform for their children even if it is parent’s/child’s wish to generally wear tracksuit. The need to buy a new uniform for Confirmation would thus be eliminated as this seems to be a wasteful expense on parents.
Remember to mark all your child’s belongings clearly – jumpers, tracksuits, coats. Please remember there will be 20 to 30 similar items in the class.
Girls
White shirt, Royal Blue Jumper/Cardigan, Royal Blue Pinafore/Skirt, School Tie.
Boys
White shirt, Royal Blue Jumper / Cardigan, Grey Trousers (Gabardine, Cotton etc), School Tie
Tracksuit
School tracksuit (optional) acceptable with white polo shirt, at any time. Available at Gemma’s Uniform Shop on Henry St. or Fennessy’s in William St.
Summer
In summer, plain royal blue or grey shorts (no logo’s or brands) are acceptable instead of skirt or trousers.
School Bag
Buy a school bag that your child will be able to open easily. Bags with zips are better than bags with fasteners as they are easier to open and close. Make sure the bag is big enough, as many of the books are large ie A4 size and bigger.
Jewellery
Only one pair of earrings to be worn – preferably studs or sleepers. No other piercings acceptable.
Parent Information
Communications
Parent/teacher meetings
Parent/teacher meetings are held annually before Christmas. Parents are encouraged to use the opportunity to meet with their child’s teacher to discuss his/her progress at school. Teachers can meet parents at other times by making an appointment through the school office or Homework Journal.
School Communications
Throughout the year, a school newsletter is sent home informing parents of school closures and activities. This information is also available on the school website and school App.
School App
Parent Information
Extra Curricular Activities
Speech & Drama, and Athletics
School Choir
Sammy's Savings Stamps
Sports
– Hurling, Football, Soccer, Basketball.
Parent Information
Lunches and Healthy Eating
A Healthy Eating Policy has been introduced by the school to encourage pupils to bring a healthy lunch to school. Include a sandwich, a piece of fruit and a drink in lunch box each day.
Healthy Eating
Eating habits throughout life are established at a young age. Therefore learning to choose and enjoy different foods in childhood provides the foundation for healthy food choices in adulthood.
Please read our Healthy Eating Policy for lunch suggestions and further information.
Lunches
Certain foods e.g. chewing gum, taytos, fizzy drinks etc. are not to be included in lunch boxes.
Children have 2 breaks during the day
Sos – 10.40am – 10.50am
Lon – 12.10pm – 12.40pm
Please make sure your child’s name is on their lunch box & drink bottle
Parent Information
Attendance
Children are not allowed to leave school without request from parents. A ‘Sign Out’ book must be signed by an adult when taking children out during school hours eg dentist visit.
A note of explanation in the Homework Journal regarding child’s absence will be requested.
To comply with Department regulations Tusla will be notified when a pupil has been absent for 20 days or more.
We appeal to parents to organise family holidays during school breaks. Children missing school to go on holidays is not recommended and is very disruptive.
Your co-operation is appreciated.
Parent Information
Head Lice
Headlice is an ongoing problem in schools. Head lice can spread rapidly within a school unless all affected children are promptly treated. Delay in identifying and treating all affected children can result in a cycle of repeated infestation with treated children rapidly becoming reinfected.
What are head lice?
They are tiny greyish white insects that live in the hair and feed on the scalp. The female lays her eggs (the nits) on the hair close to the scalp. 7 to 10 days later the nits hatch and live 20 to 30 days during which time the female can produce 250 to 300 eggs. The empty nits are white in colour. They remain firmly glued to the hair and become more obvious as the hair grows, carrying them further from the scalp.
How could my child get headlice?
Anyone can pick you head lice. However, infestation is most common among children who often put heads together during play allowing the lice walk from one head to the next. Lice can also be passed indirectly through the common use of brushes, combs and hats. Head lice do not reflect standards of hygiene in the home or in the school. They are just as willing to live in clean hair as in and unclean head.
How will I know if my child has head lice?
Head scratching is usually the first sign that a child has head lice. By the time a child is consciously irritated by their presence, the lice will have been there for quite a while. It is better to check your child’s hair on a regular basis. This should be done, using a special fine-toothed comp (available from any chemist) and combing the hair carefully down onto a white towel or cloth. Adult lice can be removed in this way and will be seen as dark oval specks as they fall onto the towel.
The hair should also be checked for the presence of nits, pearly grey specks smaller than a grain of caster sugar. These are most commonly found around the nape of the neck and behind the ears. They stick firmly to the hair. If you see a white speck on the hair shaft, gently place the hair between two fingers and slide the fingers down along it. Dandruff or dust will readily come away. Nits stick and can be felt as the fingers pass over them.
What should I do if I find lice or nits?
A variety of effective preparations, shampoos and lotions are available at the chemist. It is important that the instructions are accurately followed. Shampoos kill the head lice but do not kill the eggs and thus must be used repeatedly until all hatched nits are killed. The lotions, applied correctly, kill the nits and the hatched lice. Nits remaining in the hair after a treatment programme such as this should be dead. However to ensure that none have escaped, it is a good idea to wash the hair with one of the anti-head lice shampoos 7 to 10 days after the initial treatment. Getting rid of the nits is difficult. A solution of vinegar and water applied to the hair helps loosen the nits which can then be removed using a fine-toothed nit removal comb.
Personal clothing, bed linen and anything that might have become infested should be washed in HOT water where possible. (The hot cycle of most washing machines is adequate). Brushes and combs should either be boiled for 10 minutes or soaked in a dilute bleach solution for 1 hour. As head lice pass rapidly from one family member to another it is a good idea to treat the whole family at the same time.
Your family doctor or chemist will be able to answer any further questions that you might have concerning head lice and the available lotions and shampoos
Parent Information
Homework
Homework is given on a daily basis, some written, some oral:- reading, learning (excluding Fridays). Homework is an important extension of the day’s work at school and is generally within the child’s capability.
Parents are encouraged to supervise children’s homework, check that all homework is completed and sign Homework Journal each day.
If difficulty arises help could be given, but teacher should be informed.
Parents wishing to meet teachers are requested to make an appointment.
Times
Juniors & Seniors: 15 mins
First & Second: 30 mins
Third & Fourth: 30 – 40 mins
Fifth 50 mins – 1 hour
Sixth: 1 hour – 1.5 hours
All times are approximate.
Books
Teachers are aware of difficulties arising from weight of school bags and provide for books, not in use at home, to be kept at school – no responsibility accepted by B.O.M. for loss or damage.
Parent Information
First Aid Provision and Sick Pupils
Sick Pupils
If a pupil is not well enough to continue working in school, parents will be contacted to organise taking home of pupil.
Administration of medicine
Where possible, administration of prescribed medicines should be outside of school hours.
Parents of a pupil requiring regular medication during school hours should write to the Board of Management to authorise a member of staff to administer the medication in school.
Pupils take responsibility for personal inhalers.
First Aid and Accidents
In the case of a minor accident, cut/graze arising out of a fall, teacher will wash the affected area with clean water and when appropriate, apply a plaster.
If a pupil is injured and needs medical attention, parents or other nominated personnel will be contacted. If attempts to contact parents fail, pupil will be taken to hospital by Principal plus another staff member so authorised by the Board of Management.
In the case of a serious accident, when moving a child may be dangerous, an ambulance will be called.
Parent Information
€2-a-week collection
The Parent / Teacher Association run a ‘€2-a-week’ voluntary fund-raising scheme. Each family is asked to contribute €2 each Friday or €70 at the beginning of the school year.
Monies received are used to fund educational projects for the benefit of every pupil.
Parent Information
School Policies
Children enrolled in our school are required to co-operate with and support School/Board of Managements Code of Behaviour as well as other policies on enrolment, curriculum, organisation and management. All policies are available to parents on request.
The BOM places parents / guardians responsible for ensuring that their children co-operate with said policies in an age appropriate way. In accordance with the Department Of Education’s rules for National Schools a child may be suspended.
These policies may be added to and revised from time to time.
Please see our Policies Page for downloads and further information.
Parent Information
Discipline
School rules are kept to a minimum and are devised with the health, safety and welfare of all members of the school community in mind.
School Rules
- Children are expected to respect and obey teachers at all times.
- Children are expected to respect themselves and their peers.
- Children are expected to behave properly in the playground, classroom etc. i.e. no bullying, fighting, rough play or offensive language.
- Honesty and integrity are expected at all times.
- No mobile phones allowed in school or at school activities ie school tours, sporting events etc
Indiscipline
Problems with indiscipline will be dealt with as follows:
- Verbal correction, reason with pupil and reprimand if necessary.
- Apology to offended child / teacher.
- Separation from peers in the playground / walk with teacher.
- Tidy up play area, community work.
- Loss of privilege.
- Additional homework.
- In the event of continuous disruption, parents will be contacted.
- Participation in all extra curricular activities is subject to full co-operation by the student in all school related matters and best effort is always rewarded.
Parent Information
Bullying
Bullying is unwanted negative behaviour, verbal, psychological or physical, conducted by an individual or group against another which is repeated over time.
It includes behaviour such as teasing, taunting, threatening, hitting, exclusion or extortion by one or more pupils against a victim.
Isolated incidents of aggressive behaviour, while not to be condoned, cannot be described as bullying.
Aims
- Eliminate possibility and opportunity of bullying through effective supervision.
- Foster a climate where children will have confidence to tell.
- Hear both sides and where appropriate, get written accounts.
- Highlight feelings of victim to the bully.
- Make bullying totally unacceptable.
Procedures for noting and reporting incidents
If parents have concerns about their child being bullied they inform the class teacher.
Reports of bullying either from parents or staff members will be recorded. The teacher will investigate and act appropriately, using the restorative procedure needed.
Parents of those involved will be notified if the behavior is repeated or if the first incident is of a serious nature. An opportunity to discuss the matter with the Teacher / Principal will follow.
It will be made clear that children reporting incidents of bullying are acting responsibly.
A record will be kept of how the matter was handled and the outcome. When the class moves on the succeeding teacher will be informed of any problems that existed if relevant.
Procedures for investigating and dealing with bullying
- Calm, unemotional, problem solving approach.
- Incidents are best investigated outside of the classroom situation.
- Teachers speak separately to the children involved.
- Members of a group will be met separately and as a group.
- Parents will be informed where necessary.
- Lessons in Stay Safe, SPHE to allow for the enhancement of each child’s self esteem will be revisited.
- Check with the child / parents of the child bullied later to check that no further difficulties have arisen.
- It is advised that if parents still have concerns that they make an appointment to meet the Principal.