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St Paul’s Secondary School

St Paul’s Secondary School. First Year Parents Information Evening Wednesday September 24 th 2014. Changes: Primary - Secondary. Larger school and Layout From being the biggest students to the smallest Students move – teachers stay put Timetables

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St Paul’s Secondary School

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  1. St Paul’s Secondary School First Year Parents Information Evening Wednesday September 24th 2014

  2. Changes: Primary - Secondary • Larger school and Layout • From being the biggest students to the smallest • Students move – teachers stay put • Timetables • Managing Lockers – getting to and from / times • Homework – different amounts depending on the subject • Managing the school bag • Form Teacher, Year Head, Guidance Counsellor

  3. Changes: Primary - Secondary • Getting to know teachers – from one to possibly ten or more • Getting information to all the teachers, i.e. learning, medical or personal difficulties • Getting to know new students • Longer day -Tiredness • Adjusting – up to Halloween

  4. What can parents/guardians do? • Spend time chatting about their day. • Check Homework and Student Journal • Discuss concerns regarding new subjects. • Talk about their friends new/old. • Look at timetable and help pack bags. • Monitor pocket and lunch money. • Contact the school or the HSCL if you have concerns.

  5. What can parents/guardians do? • Communicate through the student journal • Relevant information should be passed on – Family, Learning, Physical – through the Year Head Ms Behan – who will ensure that the information is passed on. • Difficulties in individual classes should be addressed with the teachers concerned. Note in journal or phone for an appointment. • Difficulty with a number of subjects contact Form teacher or Year Head. • Inspect student journal on a regular basis – recommend nightly but not less than once a week.

  6. What can parents/guardians do? • School comments in journal can serve as an early warning mechanism and head off trouble in the future. • Be sensitive to the needs of your child. Don’t discuss problem(s) with other students/parents.

  7. Christian Ethos • Catholic Secondary School for all faiths and none. • Religion is a Junior Cert Subject for all students. • Christian Action fundraising masses/prayer services liturgies, meditations and retreats Catholic Schools Week self esteem programmes • St Paul’s Chaplain Fr Liam Merrigan

  8. Guidance & Counselling • Meet all first years in SPHE classes. • Referrals and one to one to assess concerns and needs. • Confidentiality and trust. • Common issues Finding their classrooms. Lockers and getting to class on time. Making friends and mixing in a co-ed setting. Bullying – past or new experience. • Building Self Esteem. • Will meet students regularly – as needed.

  9. Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) First Year Content • Bullying • Settling in to new school • Getting Organised • Study Skills • Introduction to Careers

  10. Role of the Year Head • Oversees academic progress of students • Takes soundings from students • Facilitates parental contact • Supports students at risk, addresses the needs of vulnerable students • Supports families in difficulty and reports to staff in relation to the year group.

  11. Role of the Year Head • Meets regularly with the Principal and Deputy Principal to discuss and review issues concerning the Year Group • Organises assemblies • Ensures the year group follow the Code of Behaviour • Monitors lateness and absenteeism • Checks and reviews the students’ journals

  12. Bullying – The Tell Tale Signs • Loss of appetite • Change in sleeping patterns • Not mixing • Mood swings • Withdrawal from games, etc • Fear of what might happen if your child reports bullying can be as bad as bullying itself • Bullying Policy on school website Contact Teacher: Ms Behan

  13. Homework & Study • Entering of all homework in students homework journal. NOT JUST WRITTEN WORK • Completion and presentation of written assignments when due. • Preparation of classwork-reading, compulsory learning and revision all need to be addressed • On-going revision and preparation for class tests, House and State Examinations. • Use the homework journal to communicate with teachers.

  14. Homework and Study • Recommended duration of study time 1 to 2 hrs five/six days a week • Prepare a study/homework plan. • After school study. • Show discipline by doing homework before fun and going out. • Communicate with teachers via the student journal if there are on-going problems with homework.

  15. Continuous Assessment & House Exams • Each subject will have class tests. • There will be Christmas and Summer Exams of 1 or 1.5 hr in length. • Exams should be a positive experience. • Students should be encouraged to challenge themselves. • The First Year Parent/Teacher Meeting is the ideal time to bring minor concerns to the attention of the subject teacher.

  16. Programmes for Academic Support • Small Classes • Learning Support and Resource Classes • Reading and Maths Competency Tests • A small number of educational assessments • Junior Certificate Schools Programme (JCSP) • Homework Club • Literacy & Numeracy Initiatives • Team Teaching

  17. Home School Community Liaison ROLE “To encourage partnership between parents/guardians and the school. To ensure the best possible educational, social and emotional out comes for each student” HOW Empowering parents/guardians to play an active role in their child’s education

  18. Home School Community Liaison Developing Partnership with Parents by being actively involved in your child’s education • Attend Meetings & P/T Meetings • Encourage attendance, punctuality, participation and behaviour • Volunteer to help the school through the Parents Council, Fundraising, Driving Bus etc…. • Sign the student journal • Avail of Adult Education Opportunities • Encourage Literacy & Numeracy by participating in initiatives

  19. Junior Certificate Schools Programme JCSP “Develop Literacy and Numeracy Skills of young people in the Junior Cycle” • All first years are part of the JCSP Programme and we will have a JCSP target group also -Testing -Subject Profile Journal -Subject Statements -Learning Targets -Acknowledge Success -View at P/T Meeting -Initiatives such as DEAR, Book Review Readalong, Flashmaster, Spelling Challenge Reading & Maths Labs, Oral Language Development and Music (timetable of Initiatives enclosed) • Experience Success and Reward

  20. RESPECTandDOING ONE’S BEST

  21. School Rules and Regulations • Importance of an orderly environment within the school and classroom • Courtesy and good manners • Attendance and punctuality –target setting • Mobile Phones, MP3 players • Respect for property • Smoking and Substance Abuse • School Uniform • A detailed but not exhaustive list of minor, major and serious offences may be found in school journal on P10

  22. Sanctions • Verbal and written warnings • Penalty exercises or “Community Service” • Detention within school hours, 11am and Lunchtime • After school detention • Pink Offence Forms • Diary Signing • Yellow Report Card • Red (Probationary) Report Cards • Suspension -repeated misconduct after above sanctions have been applied -serious intimidation, fighting • Exclusion

  23. Awards & Rewards • TARGET SETTING • Positive Verbal Comments • Positive Comments in Journal • Positive Comments at the Parent/teacher Meetings • Behaviour Reward Trips • Awards at end of year • Attendance Awards • JCSP Awards • Trips and Tours

  24. Practical Matters • All textbooks and copies should have the students name on them. • All items of clothing should be labelled with students name. • The school should be informed regarding students health issues. • Please inform us of any changes to your contact details, particularly phone numbers should they change.

  25. Practical Matters • The school is supervised during breaktime and lunchtime and it is recommended that first year students stay in school during lunchtime where possible. • Hot food, rolls and sandwiches are available in the school. • The school encourages a healthy diet. • One way system -different entrances • Throwing of litter is forbidden . • Hooped earings are forbidden.

  26. PE & Sports Teams • All students do Physical Education • Training after/before and during school • Basketball • Gaelic Football • Soccer/Futsal • Cross Country Running • Running Club • Rugby • Sports Day

  27. Matters Financial • Student Expenses include locker rental, student journal, student insurance, photocopying and printing, practical subjects, guest speakers, postage etc • €2 for Buses/Matches • Phones, MP3 players, large sums of money, expensive items should not be brought to school • As part of being an inclusive school we don’t want any student excluded for financial reasons • Monitor lunch money

  28. Some final words of advice • We are here to help – do not hesitate to contact us • There is an excellent pastoral care system in place in St. Paul’s – use it if you need to • Encourage your child to seek help if necessary • Report incidents of bullying behaviour • School is about relationships. It’s a three way experience. The greatest possibility of your child achieving their potential is when we all work together to make that happen. • Attend, participate, RESPECT and Do your Best

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