The School day
9.20 a.m. School begins
11.00 a.m. – 11.10 a.m. Break-time 12.30 a.m. – 1.00 p.m. Lunch-time 2.00 p.m. Home-time for Junior & Senior Infants 3.00 p.m. Home-time for all other classes The school is opened to receive pupils at 9.20 a.m. No responsibility is accepted for pupils arriving before that time. |
School uniform
The school uniform consists of navy trousers, skirt or pinafore (knee length), white polo T-shirt and maroon school jumper. Crested jumpers can be purchased in the Craft Cabin in the Réalta Shopping Centre, Ballyconnell.
The wearing of the proper school uniform is part of the school discipline policy. Pupils are requested to wear appropriate footwear. Pupils should have all clothes likely to be removed, in particular jumpers, clearly labelled with their name. |
Punctuality and Attendance
Pupils are expected to be punctual and to attend school every day.
In accordance with the Education Welfare Act, the school authorities are obliged to notify the National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) if a child has been absent for 20 days in any school year. The NEWB may then pursue this matter further, which may include a visit from an Educational Welfare Officer.
In the event of a child being absent through illness or for any other reason, the parents should complete a School Absence Record note on the child’s return to school. Each family will be given an Absence Record Booklet at the beginning of the year. If it is anticipated that the absence will be of lengthy duration, the class teacher should be informed by note as soon as possible.
When it is necessary for a child to leave school early, a note must be sent to the class teacher. Parents are asked to call personally to the classroom to collect the child.
In accordance with the Education Welfare Act, the school authorities are obliged to notify the National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) if a child has been absent for 20 days in any school year. The NEWB may then pursue this matter further, which may include a visit from an Educational Welfare Officer.
In the event of a child being absent through illness or for any other reason, the parents should complete a School Absence Record note on the child’s return to school. Each family will be given an Absence Record Booklet at the beginning of the year. If it is anticipated that the absence will be of lengthy duration, the class teacher should be informed by note as soon as possible.
When it is necessary for a child to leave school early, a note must be sent to the class teacher. Parents are asked to call personally to the classroom to collect the child.
Homework
Homework is given in St. Aidan’s N.S. to:
· reinforce what the child learns during the day.
· provide a link between teacher and parent.
· develop a child's concentration skills and develop a work ethic.
Parents are asked to check that their child has completed all homework given by the teacher which could include written work, oral work and reading.
· reinforce what the child learns during the day.
· provide a link between teacher and parent.
· develop a child's concentration skills and develop a work ethic.
Parents are asked to check that their child has completed all homework given by the teacher which could include written work, oral work and reading.
Healthy Lunches
We have a Healthy Lunch Policy in operation in the school. We encourage children to bring sandwiches, cheese, meat, fruit, vegetable sticks and yogurts, with fruit juice, water or milk.
Chewing gum, fizzy drinks, lollipops, chocolate, sweets, biscuits and crisps are not allowed. We also ask that children do not bring in nuts or spreads containing nuts, as there are some pupils with a severe nut allergy in our school.
Choose a lunch box and beaker/bottle which your child can open/close easily. Practise at home before starting school. All leftover food will be returned home in the lunch box so that parents will know what their child has eaten.
Chewing gum, fizzy drinks, lollipops, chocolate, sweets, biscuits and crisps are not allowed. We also ask that children do not bring in nuts or spreads containing nuts, as there are some pupils with a severe nut allergy in our school.
Choose a lunch box and beaker/bottle which your child can open/close easily. Practise at home before starting school. All leftover food will be returned home in the lunch box so that parents will know what their child has eaten.
Text-a-parent
We operate a text-a-parent system. We send one text per family to notify parents of some school closures, important events or emergencies. It is essential that parents let us know if they change their mobile phone number so that we can up-date our list.
Learning support
All children are regularly screened through the administration of standardised and observational tests. Early identification of learning difficulties is crucial in their remediation. Support will be provided for children who need it by our Learning Support Teacher.
School books
All classes will receive a book list at the end of June. Books may be purchased in the bookshop in SuperValu in Ballyconnell.
A School Book Rental Scheme is operated within the school to facilitate parents in the provision of school textbooks and readers. Through this scheme all necessary textbooks and readers will be provided by the school for an annual rental charge. Workbooks or any other books which are written on or coloured in and therefore cannot be used by another pupil must be purchased outright.
A School Book Rental Scheme is operated within the school to facilitate parents in the provision of school textbooks and readers. Through this scheme all necessary textbooks and readers will be provided by the school for an annual rental charge. Workbooks or any other books which are written on or coloured in and therefore cannot be used by another pupil must be purchased outright.
The Curriculum
The curriculum is laid out in seven curriculum areas, as shown below. Some areas consist of just one subject, others contain more than one subject. There are twelve subjects in all.
Language English Gaeilge Mathematics Social, Environmental and Scientific Education History Geography Science Arts Education Visual Arts Music Drama Physical Education Social, Personal and Health Education Religious Education |
Health and safety
As part of our school health programme we encourage regular washing of hands, particularly around eating time and after toilet use.
We recommend that parents check their child’s hair regularly for head lice and inform the school if any are found. If there is an outbreak of head lice in a class, all parents will be informed and asked to take immediate action to treat infestation. If a child develops a contagious illness such as chicken pox, they should be kept at home until the period of contagion is over and the class teacher should be informed immediately. When the class teacher feels that a child is not well enough for school either as a result of becoming sick or an accident, the parents will be contacted immediately. It is very important that we have a contact number of somebody who will be able to collect the child if the parent is not available. Emergency contact numbers must be valid and any change of phone numbers or address notified immediately to the class teacher. |
Parent Teacher Meetings / Reports
Parent Teacher Meetings are
held once a year, usually towards the end of November. It is important
that parents attend this meeting. However,
parents may contact the school at any time during the year if they wish to
arrange a meeting with a class teacher or the school principal to discuss their
child’s progress or any concerns they may have about their child in school.
At the end of the school year a formal report of a pupil's progress is forwarded to parents.
At the end of the school year a formal report of a pupil's progress is forwarded to parents.
Behaviour and Discipline
Pupils and staff are all expected to respect the following rules:
A complete copy of the Discipline Policy is available from the school.
Copies of the school's Anti-Bullying, Child Protection, Enrolment, Homework and Healthy Eating Policy Statements are also available to be viewed by parents by arrangement with the school secretary.
- We will be kind to one another.
- We will call each person by their proper name.
- We will move quietly around our school.
- We will listen well, to our teachers and to each other.
- We will always try to do our best work.
A complete copy of the Discipline Policy is available from the school.
Copies of the school's Anti-Bullying, Child Protection, Enrolment, Homework and Healthy Eating Policy Statements are also available to be viewed by parents by arrangement with the school secretary.
Mobile Phones
Children are not permitted to bring mobile phones to school.
In the event that a child needs to bring their mobile phone, parents should write a note explaining why.
The child will then give their mobile phone to the class teacher until school finishes.
In the event that a child needs to bring their mobile phone, parents should write a note explaining why.
The child will then give their mobile phone to the class teacher until school finishes.
Parents’ Association
St. Aidan’s N.S. has a very active Parents’ Association who work hard and enthusiastically in support of the school. Throughout the year they meet on a regular basis and hold fundraising events which help towards subsidising activities for pupils. Your support will be crucial in helping to make the Parents’ Association a success.