Nov 13 2013
About the School
St Patrick’s N.S.
Johnstownbridge,
Enfield, Co. Kildare
Telephone Number: 046 9541907
E-mail: stpatsjtb@yahoo.ie
Introduction
This prospectus has been produced with the express purpose of sharing information with parents concerning school policies, rules and routines. St Patrick’s N.S. operates in accordance with the Education Act 1998 and the rules for National Schools as determined by the Department of Education and Science.
Board of Management
The Board of Management consists of 8 members; two nominated by the school’s Patron (In our case the Catholic Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin), two teachers representatives (including the Principal), two parents representatives (mixed sexes) and two Community representatives who are nominated or asked to serve by the existing six. The term of office is four years. The current Board members are;
Patrons Nominees ; Fr Breen Mr John O’Haire
Teachers Reps ; Colm Ó Conchubhair Ms Sinead Curley
Parents Reps ; Ms Laoighse Corcoran Mr Paddy Kennedy
Co-Opted Community Reps ; Ms Mandy Tansey Ms Suzanne Quinn
Chairperson : Mr John O’Haire
The Board must act as a Corporate Body and must maintain confidentiality in its proceedings.
If a parent has a concern which they do not feel has been or can be adequately dealt with by the Principal they should raise the matter with the Chairperson with a view to resolving matters or more formally through writing to the board.
Mission Statement
St Patrick’s N.S. is a co-educational, Catholic, primary school which strives to provide a welcoming, caring, happy and secure atmosphere and endeavours to enhance the self-esteem of everyone in the school community. St Patrick’s N.S. will identify and endeavour to meet the intellectual, spiritual, physical, moral and cultural needs of all its pupils.
While St Patrick’s N.S. is a school with a Catholic ethos, it also gives due recognition to other religions and will, to the best of its ability, strive to have respect, in words and deeds, for other communities of faith and for those of none.
St Patrick’s N.S. will strive to promote, both individually and collectively, the professional and personal development of staff.
St Patrick’s N.S. will encourage the involvement of parents through home/school contacts and through their involvement in the board of management , parents association and in all school activities.
St Patrick’s N.S. will ensure that our school is central to the parish, reaching out to embrace the wider community, and will endeavour to equip the children with the values, attitudes and skills necessary to meet the challenges of a fast-changing society.
No child should feel excluded for reasons of social deprivation/poverty and we will strive within our means to include every child in every activity. To that end if any parent finds themselves in difficulty please contact the Principal so that the difficulties can be addressed.
Our school motto is: ‘Treat others, as you yourself would like to be treated.’
Parental Involvement and Home/School links
As a Catholic school, we believe that the school is not an isolated unit but a union of many people who come together to give it its life and meaning. The triple partnership of home, school and parish/ community is essential if the school is to live up to its mission statement. We aim to establish this relationship through: encouraging a shared commitment to the success of each individual child; encouraging an ethos of understanding and openness in home-school-parish / community relationships; helping parents to develop a positive role in complementing and supporting the work of the school in educating their children.
Parental involvement in the life of the school is encouraged in many ways: Involvement in celebrations and school masses. Involvement in sacramental preparation. Parents co-operation is enlisted in ; Music; Fundraising; .; Organising sports day; Checking homework (signing diary) Our school journal is an important means of communication between parents and teachers and parents are requested to check and sign it on a daily basis.
We are committed to methods of evaluating and improving channels of communication between school and parents. Our evaluation shall be ongoing and continuous, as we make every effort to make parents feel welcome and valued at all times. Teachers write notes in child’s diary if necessary (homework not completed, etc.) Notes/Letters and texts will be sent to parents regularly to keep them informed on course days, excursions, school masses etc A School Notice Board is situated on the wall in front of the assembly area.
Parents are invited to visit the school to discuss their child’s education with the teacher, formally once a year and anytime which merits urgent discussion……child’s behaviour, family problems etc. Parents are encouraged to make an appointment with the teacher immediately if they have any worry about their child. Arranging this appointment through the office would be beneficial for all concerned and is a Board of Management requirement. If a parent is unhappy with this initial meeting they may make an appointment to see the principal. Parents who still feel that they have not got a satisfactory response may then informally progress the matter to the Chairperson B.O.M. with a view to resolving matters. If still unhappy with the matter they can then formally raise the matter in writing with the Board of Management.
Staffing and organization.
Organization is dependent on pupil-teacher ratios set by the Department of Education; on practical considerations such as class size, curriculum considerations and accommodation constraints, and on managerial issues. Split classes are an unfortunate reality in almost every country school. In all classes the curriculum is mediated to cater for children of different abilities, including children with special educational needs.
Staff Schedule ’16 – ‘17
The following is the class division for Sept. 2016.
J.I./S.I. Ms. Julie Derivan
S.I./1st Ms Laura Nicolson
1st/2nd Ms Bernie Durkan
3rd Ms Miriam Smyth
4th/5th Ms Sinead Curley
5th/6th Ms Maura Nicholls
S.E.N. Ms Concepta Holton ( Deputy Principal)
Mr Colm O Conchubhair (Principal)
Finally the school has completed a number of policies, copies of which can be had on request. These policies include:
School’s Enrolment Policy
School’s Code of Behaviour.
School Policy on Countering Bullying Behaviour.
School Policy on Special Educational Needs.
School Policy on Safeguarding Children (Child Protection.)
School Policy on Relationships and Sexuality Education.
School Policy on Assessment.