Info For Parents

Timetable

School starts at 8:40 a. m. and finishes at 2:20 for all pupils except Junior & Senior Infants, who go home at 1:20 (12:20 in the first week of September for Junior Infants). Staff Meetings are held once a term on the 1st Wednesday, and the school closes early on these days. School Calendar 2012 /2013 >>

Uniform

There is no school uniform, but the children are expected to be suitably dressed for work and play, e. g. no high heels! Runners must be worn for P. E. and long hair must be tied up at all times.

Fees

A Book Rental Scheme is in operation. All books are supplied by the school and are expected to be returned in good condition at the end of the year. The book rental fee is currently €80 for infants and €100 for all other classes. We also ask all parents to make a voluntary donation of €100 per child per year to help cover the cost of educational materials, heating, lighting etc. Parents are also asked to pay a voluntary contribution of €50 towards orchestra and €20 towards swimming.

Code of Behaviour

A copy of the school Code of Behaviour is issued to all parents at the start of each year. We expect full parental support and co-operation in this area; however parents are welcome to contact their child’s teacher if any disciplinary incident causes them concern.

Extra Classes

The school employs extra teachers from time to time on a short-term basis, e.g. a football coach, a cookery teacher, a gymnastics teacher and a dance teacher. The school also organises swimming lessons for some of the classes. There is no extra charge for these classes as they take place during the school day and are compulsory.

Special Projects

The school is currently involved with the Liberties Learning Initiative which is sponsored by the Digital Hub. This initiative focuses on helping the children to learn to use digital technology while working on a variety of educational projects. We are also involved in the Green Flag project, aiming to make our school more environmentally aware. We earned our first green flag in 2008 and are currently worked towards our third one.. We also take part in the National Children’s Choir, and occasionally in musical competitions, e.g. the Wesley Feis. From time to time the school is involved in charitable fund-raising events

Extra-Curricular Activities

These vary from time to time according to demand. Currently on offer are basketball, arts and craft, computers, drama and swimming. These activities are organised by the Parents’ Association. Have a look on their webpage for more details. We also have a chess club which meets within school hours on Friday afternoons, and the school chess team takes part in national competitions.

Tours and Visits

Each class is taken on a “school tour” during the summer term. We generally aim for a tour which is both educational and enjoyable, with an emphasis on “fun” activities. Class teachers also take their classes on trips from time to time, to such places of interest as museums, art galleries, the Ark, the Concert Hall, theatres etc. Parents are expected to pay the cost of these visits, with a small subsidy usually paid by the school. We also invite music and theatre groups to bring performances and workshops to the school occasionally.

Lunches

An important school rule is that NUTS are banned, this includes peanut butter and chocolate spread. All children are expected to have a healthy lunch and on Friday one treat only is allowed. Treats are such items as crisps, sweets, chocolate bars, fizzy drinks etc. Chewing gum is also banned as it tends to cause a mess. Why not have a look at our Draft Policy on Healthy Eating.

Fund-raising

A number of fund-raising events are held during the year which we ask parents to support as much as possible.

Parent-Teacher Communication

A parent-teacher meeting is held once a year. At other times, parents are welcome to arrange an appointment if they would like to discuss a child’s progress, or any difficulties they may have. Teachers are not normally available at 8:40 a. m. but brief messages may be passed on to the teacher at the door. School reports are issued at the end of each academic year. Please check your child’s bag regularly for letters, and the homework journal for messages. All newsletters are displayed on the school's website. Please remember to check your emails regularly for updates.

Absences

Children should not be absent from school for any reason other than illness. Holidays, shopping for Christmas or the illness of other family members are not acceptable excuses. Under the terms of the Educational Welfare Law, all children who are absent from school for 20 days or more in any one academic year, or whose attendance record gives any cause for concern, must be reported to the Educational Welfare Officer who will contact the parents to discuss the matter. A written explanation for any absence is required and we expect a medical certificate if the absence has been longer than three days.

Religious Services

Our school is affiliated to the local Church of Ireland Church, St. Catherine and St. James. The Harvest Service is usually our first service. A carol service is held at Christmas time and we also hold short services once a week during Lent. All children are expected to take part in these unless their parents object; such an objection must be discussed beforehand with the school principal. Parents and friends are most welcome to attend these services.
View the parish website >>

The Board of Management

The body responsible for the running of the school is called the Board of Management and is made up of 8 people. The Board is elected every 4 years. The members of the board are representative of the various partners in education. The Chairperson and one other member of the community are appointed by the Archbishop of Dublin, 2 parents are elected by the general body of parents, 1 teacher is elected by the teaching staff, 2 others are chosen from the local community and the school principal is also a member. The Chairperson of the BOM is Canon Mark Gardner.

The Parents' Association

The school has an excellent Parents' Association which organises many worthwhile activities. These include extra-curricular classes, fund-raising, social events for both parents and children, road safety campaigns etc. A committee is elected every year. The A.G.M. is generally held before the end of October. The present chairperson is Mrs. Orla Honer. If you would like to offer your time, ask a question or offer your expertise please contact the Parents' Association. All parents and guardians are very welcome to become involved.