ETHOS
Pope John Pauls’ is a Catholic Primary School, where the policies and attitudes of the school are inspired by gospel values.
A Roman Catholic School (which is established in connection with the Minister for Education) aims at promoting the full and harmonious development of all aspects of the person of the pupil: intellectual, physical, cultural, moral and spiritual, including a living relationship with God and with other people. The school models and promotes a philosophy of life inspired by belief in God and in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Catholic school provides Religious education for the pupils in accordance with the doctrines, practices and tradition of the Roman Catholic Church and promotes the formation of the pupils in the Catholic Faith
BOARD OF MANAGEMENT
All Primary Schools have a Board of Management who are the Managing Body of the school. The Principal is responsible for the day-to-day management of the school.
The Board of Management consists of the following:
The Chairperson appointed by the Patron - Mr. Noel Murray-Hession.
The Principal – Mrs. Paddy McCarthy
A Patron’s Nominee – Mr. Sean O Riordan.
A member of the Teaching Staff – Ms. Caroline Farrell.
Two Parents - Ms Maura Kavanagh & Mr. Martin Brennan.
Two members appointed from the local community – Ms. Deirdre Lonergan & Mr. Derek Dunne.
The Board meets approximately eight times in the year.
SCHOOL
The school is constructed as a single storey building;
(a) 21 bright spacious classrooms - each with a tiled area for Art & drinking water supply. Each year level has its own door for easy access and quick exit in case of emergency;
(b) A designated state of the art Computer Room;
(c) 3 Learning Support Rooms and 2 Resource Rooms;
(d) Well stocked Rooms and 2 Resource Rooms;
(e) General Purpose Hall for Physical Education, Mass, extra curricular activities:
(f) Large play areas;
(g) There are computers in all classrooms and videos/televisions in most classrooms;
(h) English language room for International students;
PUPILS
We cater for girls & boys from Second to Sixth Class, including a number of children with special needs.
AIMS OF THE SCHOOL
Pope John Paul II - a Catholic school, provides a welcoming atmosphere where each pupil feels accepted in an environment that is both strive to foster the development of happy, responsible and confident children. The atmosphere of the school is an important influence in our pupils’ lives and an openness and respect towards other cultures and beliefs is also stressed.
SCHOOL TEACHING STAFF
Principal
The Principal is responsible for the day to day management of the school.
She works closely with the teachers towards ensuring the children are given a very high standard of education - something that staff and parents alike can be proud of.
Teaching Staff
Mainstream Class Teachers 20 Teachers
Learning Support Team 5 Teachers offering Learning Support and
Resource Teaching.
The learing support teachers provide extra help for children who are deemed to have specialized needs in English and Maths. Pupils with specific needs are catered for by resource teachers.
English Language Teacher 1 part-time English language teacher for our International students - depending on numbers.
Special Needs Assistants 5 Special Needs Assistants at present. They are allocated according to need.
The special Needs Assistants work with the teachers to assist the children in a worthwhile way.
SCHOOL NON-TEACHING STAFF
Administration
We have two secretaries (one part-time). The demands on administration are ever-increasing. We at all times endeavour to provide a high standard of service on the administration front and we appreciate your prompt support when requests are made from the office for documentation, forms, monies etc.
Caretaker
The caretaker is responsible for the day to day maintenance of the fabric of the school, requisites and the grounds.
Cleaners
We usually have a cleaning staff of four. It is a mammoth task to maintain high standards in a school of our size. We do expect the support of the children in tidying up after themselves and not leaving a mess for anybody else to clean.
SAFETY
Fingal County Council employ two traffic wardens who are on duty in the mornings and afternoons. Please help us to keep your children safe by reminding them regularly to obey the traffic wardens.
In the interests of safety - no left turn is permitted into the cul de sac by the Inbhir ide Drive entrance.
N.B. Pupils enter & exit the school by the pedestrian gate on Inbhir Ide Drive only.
Parking in the school grounds is limited to staff only.
(Parents/Guardians should warn their children against delaying on the way home and never to go anywhere with strangers.)
Please continue to remind your child not to talk to people in cars even if there are both men and women in them.
PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC LIGHTS AT YELLOW WALLS ROAD
We would ask parents/guardians to remind their children how to use these lights i.e. that the go signal for one road does not automatically mean they can cross the other one.
Please ensure that having crossed one road the lights indicate that it is safe to cross the next one, before they do so.
SCOOTERS
All scooters must be folded up before they are brought into school. Please be careful, as we have had some reports of children having near misses with cars.
POLICIES.
All parents receive an information pack with relevant School Policies.
These must be read and the Policy Acceptance Form returned to the School.
The School Policy on Child Protection and the School Safety Statement are available for reading through the office.
MOBILE PHONES
We strongly discourage the bringing of mobile phones to school. The following rules apply if you think it a necessity for your child to have a phone in school.
- Phones must be switched off during the school day
- Phones are to be kept in school bags at all times.
- Phone calls, texting and taking pictures is not allowed.
Phones will be confiscated if the above rules are not adhered to. Parents will be contacted if a phone has to be confiscated. Phones will be returned after 1 week.
A phone call will always be made from the school if there is an emergency or if a child is not collected in the afternoon.
SCHOOL ATTENDANCE
With the implementation of the Education Welfare Act we are obliged to officially inform the National Education Welfare Board of the absences of all children that exceed 20 days.
1. All absences of pupils must be accounted for by a parent. (See back of Homework Journal for Explanation of Absence forms).
2. The date, the reason for the absence and a parental signature must be on the note.
3. Notes in relation to absences may no longer be sent in the school journal.
4. If you have children in different classes you must send an individual note to each teacher in the event of more than one family member being absent on a given day.
5. These notes will be retained in school and will be available on request.
Parents/Guardians are strongly advised not to take children out of school for holidays during the academic year.
COLLECTING CHILDREN EARLY FROM SCHOOL
If children have to be collected early, a written note is essential.
On coming to the school, please report to the office before calling to the classroom.
Please sign the book on the table in the foyer before leaving with child, and return e.g. if going to dentist.
HOME/SCHOOL LINKS
We find that a combination of formal/informal contact is a valuable way of updating parents/guardians about their child’s progress in school and of keeping the teacher informed of anything significant at home which might affect a child’s behaviour at school.
1. A Parent/Teacher meeting takes place in November for all pupils.
2. There are meetings in connection with Confirmation/Communion.
3. Induction night in May/June for new 2nd class parents.
4. We are always happy to meet parents/guardians but we please ask you not to interrupt the days work by popping into the classroom - “just to have a word”. An arranged appointment is more convenient for all concerned.
5. School Reports are issued at the end of the school year.
6. The Pupil’s Homework Journal, as well as incorporating the school’s rules and procedures and daily homework, also has a useful section for teacher or parent - notes/messages. Please keep a regular eye on the daily entries and sign when necessary.
7. Newsletters and other notes are regularly sent home - please develop in your child a sense of responsibility regarding the importance of passing on all school notes. Please check daily for any notes.
8. Pupils Remaining Indoors During Breaks.
We earnestly ask parents/guardians not to send children to school if they are unwell. If for some exceptional reason the Parent/Guardian wishes the child to remain indoors during break time, a note requesting same has to be specifically signed and dated.
9. Pupils leaving school between 8.40a.m. & 2.20p.m.
In the interest of safety pupils cannot leave the school unaccompanied.
(a) The pupil must be collected by the Parent/Guardian in the school.
(b) A written note requesting permission for the child to leave the school is necessary from the Parent/Guardian even when the child is collected, in person, by the Parent/Guardian.
(c) On collecting a pupil please sign the book in the foyer.
CHILD PROTECTION.
The School strictly follows the ‘Children First’ guidelines.
The School Policy on Child Protection is always available to Parents/Guardians through the School Office
HEALTH/SAFETY
1. Parents/guardians are asked not to send children to school when sick or taking antibiotics.
2. Parents/guardians are asked to make the teachers aware of an physical disabilities or allergies from which the child may be suffering.
PLEASE NOTIFY THE SCHOOL OF ANY CHANGE OF PHONE NOS:
HOME/WORK/MOBILE OR EMERGENCY NOS. WITHOUT DELAY.
ACCIDENTS
Small cuts or grazes are attended to. In the case of more serious accidents every effort will be made to contact the parents by phone.
In the event of a child being brought to a Doctor or home by car, the Principal or any members of the Staff cannot accept responsibility for any accident or injury to the child while being transported.
HOMEWORK
Homework can vary from Teacher to Teacher. Should a difficulty arise please make an appointment to discuss it with Class Teacher otherwise it can escalate.
(a) 2nd & 3rd Classes
Sums and/written work.
Duration: Approximately 25 minutes plus learning of tables, spellings and reading.
(b) 4th Classes
As for (a) only approximately 10 minutes longer for written work.
(c) 5th & 6th Classes
Maths/Irish. Maths/English. Other combinations.
Duration: Approx. 45 minutes plus learning.
It is advisable to create a good study environment in your home and to help your child become more responsible and independent in doing his/her homework. It is very important that spellings, tables and other oral work are learned thoroughly and examined by a parent.
Please ensure that your child comes to school fully prepared with a 12 inch/30 cm ruler, pencil/pen, sharpener, eraser and colouring pencils. Children need to have their own equipment for school. Class teachers may suggest variations on the above guidelines. Tippex and Permanent Markers are not allowed by the pupils.
SCHOOL LUNCH
Please ensure that your child has a small but adequate lunch in a lunch box. Healthy lunches are encouraged. Drinks brought in by the pupils should have secure tops and be properly fastened to avoid spillage. Under our Green School policy we encourage our pupils to use reusable drink containers/or tetra packs as they can be recycled. Drinks high in sugar should also be avoided.
Junk food’ is discouraged.
N.B. Crisps, popcorn, fizzy drinks and chewing gum are not allowed in the school.
Pupils are asked to bring their lunch ‘waste’ home with them.
DISCIPLINE
Discipline is based on respect - respect of the pupils for themselves, their friends and their teachers. Pupils are expected to behave in an acceptable manner both in the classroom and in the playground. We know that you would appreciate being told if your child’s conduct is giving cause for concern so we will inform a pupil’s behaviour is unsatisfactory. We do this through Our Code of Behaviour - a copy of which is given to all parents when they enrol a pupil at the school.
SCHOOL UNIFORM.
Pupils are expected to wear the full school uniform. Being particular about wearing the correct uniform is a good discipline and helps the children develop a sense of responsibility. Tracksuits are worn on P.E. days and pupils remaining after 2.20p.m. for school related extra-curricular sporting activities may wear tracksuits with permission from the school.
School Jacket (optional) - Navy fleece lined jacket with foldaway hood and school crest.
Girls: Tartan skirt or grey slacks, blue blouse, wine jumper with crew neck and crest, black shoes - see below. The skirt is the preferred/recommended option for the girls.
Boys: grey slacks, blue shirt, wine jumper with crew neck and crest, black shoes - see below.
P.E.: School Tracksuit & Blue Polo Shirt, runners.
The uniform is available from Pat O’Farrell, Schoolwear, Portmarnock 8463512.
Shoes: Sensible black shoes are to be worn by all pupils. If they have laces they must be properly tied at all times in the interest of safety. Boots are not allowed. Runners and shoes must be kept clean and always be presentable. It is expected that any tear in uniform/tracksuit will be mended immediately.
Ear-rings: A simple stud ear-ring is permitted. Dangling/long/looped earrings and glass earrings are prohibited.
Nail varnish: Children are not permitted to wear nail varnish to school. In the event that they do, they will be asked to remove it.
Hair Styles: Children must keep their hair neat and tidy. Long hair must be tied back.
Hairbands: If a child wears a hair band it is to be: Black white or wine. Fashion accessories e.g. wax, gel, sprays, highlighting and colouring are prohibited.
Correct School Uniform is expected to be worn each day.
A parental/guardian signed note must be presented to the Principal in the event of a child being unable to wear his/her uniform
N.B. Sports shoes to be worn on P.E. days only.
NAME TAGS
All tracksuits tops, jumpers and jackets etc. must be clearly marked. It is impossible to identify ones own items of clothing if they are unmarked. An amount of time can be wasted trying to trace jumpers etc. The school accepts no responsibility for the loss of clothing.
There is a lost property press in the school in the corridor by the ‘Japanese Courtyard’ At the end of each academic year unclaimed coats, hats and uniforms are recycled.
PHOTOGRAPHS.
As a part of school life, photographs of pupils are taken from time to time. These may be used for school displays, on the school website, in the local papers, or other educational contexts.
CURRICULUM
The full programme as laid down by the Department of Education is catered for:
Religion History Science
Irish Geography Physical Education
English Visual Arts Social Personal & Health
Mathematics Music Education
Each subject is taught in such a way as to allow the pupil to develop according to her or his own ability and gifts. We place a great emphasis on fostering attitudes such as friendliness, team spirit,
co-operation, self-motivation and tolerance. In this way we help our pupils to fulfil their maximum potential so that they can be happy and emotionally balanced persons capable of enjoying their formative years of their lives.
LEARNING SUPPORT
The school also caters for pupils through its highly developed learning and resource support. The work here runs concurrently with and complementary to the classroom work. It is carried out using a “team approach” involving pupils, class teachers, parents and learning support teachers.
Each pupil is tested when they enter the school. If support is necessary, parents/guardians are consulted and a supplementary programme of work may begin. The pupils’ progress is closely observed and parental involvement is strongly encouraged.
Supplementary help is usually offered in small groups.
Learning support offers additional help to children experiencing difficulties in aspects of Literacy & Numeracy.
OTHER DIFFICULTIES
If you have serious concerns about the progress of your child in school, their ability to concentrate/learn, language difficulties, or general development, please discuss this with the Principal of the school of Class Teacher.
If your child has any form of an assessment that we need to be aware of, it is your responsibility to present it to the school.
READING
It is primarily at home that the habit of leisure reading is fostered. Encourage your child to join the local library. She/he may need help at first in selecting books. The books could be based on her/his special interests e.g. sport, animals etc. which help her/him to appreciate that reading can be fun and not a chore which is confined to school or homework. What he/she enjoys reading is the best start for leisure reading at home - even if it is ‘comics’.
It is desirable however, that leisure reading is not confined to comics alone.
PROBLEMS WITH READING
Pupils with reading difficulties may be referred to the Learning Support Teacher. For a learning support programme to be successful it will require the encouragement and active co-operation of the parents. Specifically, parents in the situation are asked to listen to the child read nightly. If she/he does not know a word, tell her/him what the word is and ask her/him to read it again. Don’t make the child say it over and over again. Word drill does not aid good reading. Alternatively, the child could be encouraged to take a guess at the unknown word, using clues from the context. A good understanding of what he/she is reading, is more important than how he/she reads it. Don’t panic about your child’s reading or cause him/her to worry about it . Be positive - praise your child for her/his progress and let reading time at home be as relaxed as possible. The road to good reading is not always smooth, but your child will get there in the end.
EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
The following activities are organised through the efforts of Staff/Parents’ Council and external personnel.
Boys Junior & Senior Gaelic Football, Girls & Boys Soccer, Tennis, Speech & Drama, Martial Arts,
Swimming, Modern/Tap-Dancing, Basketball, Cricket, Athletics, Chess, Irish Dancing, Girl Guides & Tag Rugby.
SCHOOL TIME-TABLE
8.40 a.m. School is open to receive pupils. Pupils are not allowed to enter the school building before this time. (This stipulation is for insurance purposes).
10.40a.m. Short Break.
12.30 - 12.55 p.m. Lunch. Pupils are permitted to eat lunch in the classrooom. If weather is wet, all pupils are kept indoors.
2.20 p.m. Closing time.
School closes at 11.50 on the day of school holidays - Christmas, Easter & Summer.
On the days of Staff Meetings the school closes at 12.20 p.m. or 1.20 p.m. - you will be notified in advance - (1st Wednesday of every month).
On the first day of the new academic year in September 2nd class pupils are expected to arrive between 8.50 a.m. - 9.20 a.m. where they go to their new classroom. They will be shown where to line up by their teacher for subsequent mornings.
All other new pupils please report to school office at 9.20 a.m. - when they will be brought to their classrooms.
SCHOOL CALENDAR
While the school calendar is variable and subject to change , a recent format from Sept. 2009-2010 may help you understand some of the general activity involved at the school.
1st Term
1. Welcome back.
2. Parents’ Council AGM.
3. Parents’ Council Re-cycled Christmas Decoration Exhibition.
4. Living Seas/living coasts – Pilot Programme (3 terms x 4 classes).
5. Healthy Eating Day
6. Cycle School for 5th Classes
7. Vincent de Paul hampers.
8. Shoeboxes - Operation Christmas Child (6th/5th/4th classes) .
9. Parent/Teacher meetings
10. 5th Classes at The Helix.
11. Irish Wildlife Talks
12. Rehab Recycling Collection of electrical items.
13. ‘Dear Grace’ Literary Awards - 2 x 5th Class winners
14. Communion & Confirmation meetings.
15. Tree Walks.
16. Tree Planting.
17. Pobal Scoil Íosa Transition Year School Links with our school.
18. Fingal Cleaner Schools Awards.
19. Garda Community Education Course - 5th classes.
20. Christmas Liturgies in school.
2nd Term
1. Accord programme for emerging young adults 5th & 6th classses.
2. Garda Community Programme for 5th classes.
3. Céilí – 3rd classes.
4. Ceremony of Light.
5. Confirmation Retreat in Emmaus.
6. Confirmation & Reception.
7. Confirmation photographs.
8. Confessions Rite 1 & 2
9. Pobal Scoil Íosa Transition Year School links with our school.
10. Trócaire collection
11. Cricket.
12. Chess League.
3rd Term
1. Communion & Reception.
2. Communion Photographs & Communion Charity.
3. Standardised Testing: Micra T. & a Standardised Spelling Test.
4. 1st Class pupils visit new classrooms.
5. Induction Day for new 2nd class pupils.
6. Schoolbooks/Tracksuits ordered.
7. 6th Class Graduation & Reception.
8. Garda Community Programme for 5th Class
9. Cricket
The Board of Management & Staff wish your child every success in our school, where we will endeavour to provide your child with an education that fosters growth spiritually, emotionally, academically & socially.
‘Mol an óige & tiocfaidh si'
Our School Crest