AIMS OF THE SCHOOL
Our school subscribes to the general principles of the National School Curriculum which are:-
- To create an ordered and orderly environment in which pupils can feel secure and happy
- To encourage and enable each child to attain their optimum potential as individuals.
- To equip each child to avail of further education so that they may go on to live a full and useful life as an adult in society.
ETHOS STATEMENT
St Cronan’s National School is a Parish School reflecting and promoting the ethos and characteristic spirit of the Church of Ireland. The school seeks to uphold and express the doctrines, moral teachings, traditions, practices and customs of the Church of Ireland as defined by the General Synod. This distinctive spiritual and moral dimension undergirds and permeates the core values and daily life of the school.
BOARD OF MANAGEMENT
The Board of Management is the statutory body which has charge of the affairs of the school. It is accountable to the Department of Education for ensuring that the school is run in accordance with the Department’s “Rules for National Schools”.
Members
The Principal
Diocesan Representatives (2) appointed by the Patron – Bishop of Limerick & Killaloe
Staff Representative -elected by the teachers
Parents’ Representatives (2) – one mother and one father, elected by the parents
Wider Community Members -appointed by other Board Members
The Board holds office for a four year period, beginning in the Autumn Term.
Elections by the various bodies take place during September of that year.
FUNDING – PARENTAL SUBSCRIPTION
The Department of Education provides a subsidy in the form of a capitation grant for every pupil on the Roll. However, this subsidy meets only a small part of the running costs of the school and so additional funding is required. An annual voluntary subscription is agreed by the Board and is advised at the beginning of the year.
PARENTS’ ASSOCIATION:
We have an active Parents’ Association. They organise fundraising events, support staff in organising school activities and are actively involved whenever requested by The Board of Management or School Staff.
SOME GENERAL INFORMATION
Classes
St. Cronan’s N. S. is a three teacher school,
Junior + Senior Infants Ms Veighey
First + Second + Third Class Mrs. Talbot
Fourth + Fifth + Sixth Class Mrs. Powell
Learning Support / Resource Teacher Mrs. McManus
Part Time Resource Teacher Mrs Egan
- School Hours
Official school opening is 9.05am. For insurance purposes children should not be left before 9.05am. Pupils must go directly to their classrooms and may not leave without their teacher’s permission. Formal School Instruction begins at 9.25am and children are required to attend punctually. Structured Activities are provided in all classrooms from 9:05am and we would encourage children to take part in these as they are curriculum based, reinforcing activities and concepts already taught.
- The School Day for Junior and Senior Infants ends at 1.45pm and children should be collected punctually at this time.The School Day for children in 1st– 6th class ends at 2.45pm and again, children should be collected punctually.Supervision is provided until 2.55pm. When children leave the school playground they should be supervised by a parent/guardian or responsible adult.
Absences
An explanatory note is required –
- For any absence from school.
- If your child needs to leave to attend an appointment.
Holiday lists
Holidays lists for the year will be issued in the first term.
Lunch
Please provide your child with a nourishing lunch as this aids both his/her concentration and attentiveness, as well as his/her physical well-being.
The following items are banned:
- Chewing Gum
- Crisps
- Fizzy drinks
- Glass Bottles
- Food in the Playground
Telephone
If you wish to telephone the school, please do so during office hours (between 9.00 am and 1.30). In case of emergency however, you may contact the school as required and leave a message on the answering machine. This may not be heard during school hours.
Parents Responsibility.
The school is not responsible for the safety of your children outside official school times 9.05am – 2.55pm.They must not be left alone or unsupervised before or after school.
Valuables
Personal items of value should not be brought to school as they can get lost or cause major distraction from work.
Dress
Children are expected to dress neatly. Jewellery, hair styles etc. should be kept simple. It is helpful if items of clothing are named. A School Uniform was introduced from September 2010. All children enrolling in St Cronan’s must wear the uniform.
P.E. clothing
Suitable clothing and footwear (ie. runners) should be worn for P.E.
School Trips/Outings
From time to time children may have educational visits or trips. Details will be given in advance.
School Photographs
A School photographer comes every year. Proofs are sent home with your child/children but you are under no obligation to buy the photographs.
THE CURRICULUM
Religious Education
Irish
English
Mathematics
Art & Craft
Music
Drama
S.E.S.E. –
(Nature, History, Geography, & Science)
S.P.H.E.
(Social, Personal & Health Education)
eg.
- The Stay Safe Programme
- Relationships and Sexuality
LEARNING SUPPORT/ RESOURCE TEACHING
Our school enjoys the services of a Learning Support/ Resource Teacher.
A learning support teacher caters for children with learning delays or with a high incidence disability such as mild general learning disability and dyslexia. They add to the support given by the Class Teacher. The main aim of learning support is to help pupils with learning difficulties to improve their literacy and numeracy.
A resource teacher caters for children who have been allocated individual teaching hours by the Special Education Needs Officer (SENO) of the Department of Education. These are referred to as low incidence category.
EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
Swimming Presently, the Aquatics Strand of the P.E. Curriculum takes place in the Roscrea Swimming pool for 1st – 6th class pupils.
Soccer Ms. Sylvia Gee (FAI coach) takes all pupils for a Soccer Module each year.
Tennis Ms. Gail O’Meara takes all pupils for tennis lessons each year.
Tin Whistle Tin Whistle lessons are provided for two terms during the year by Mrs Joan O’Meara for 1st – 6th class pupils.
Details of cost for the above will be advised
Green School
We have achieved our 5th Green School Flag and are extremely proud of our tidy school helping to play its part in looking after the environment.
TRANSFER OF INFORMATION
The school is required to provide pupils’ details from time to time eg.
- H.S.E. eg. names are given to H.S.E. for vision / hearing test.
- Educational Welfare Officer – as required regarding absences, suspensions and expulsions
- D.E.S. (Department of Education and Science)..- Statistics, D.O.B. etc.
- N.E..PS. (National Educational Psychological Services) – with parental consent
HOMEWORK : How can you help?
- You can organise a definite time and place for doing homework each day, preferably early. Homework completed later in the day will take longer and be more arduous as children get tired and irritable. Direct supervision, especially during the early years, is important as it helps children develop regular, disciplined, independent work habits.
- You can enjoy listening to your child reading, hear spellings and tables, ask questions about oral work and encourage children to be neat and tidy, and to take pride in their written work. Be positive about homework and let your child know that you look forward to sharing this time with them, seeing what they are doing and how they are getting on.
- Remember to check and sign your child’s homework notebook each night. It is an immediate link between you and your child’s teacher and can be used for notes and comments from one to another.
- Praise your child for his/her effort and achievements, whether they be great or small, i.e. showing an improvement in work, but take care that the praise is deserved.
- You can help your children to be organised and ready for school each day by making sure they have the necessary books, copies, writing materials and personal requisites. ie. tissues. Secure in the knowledge that anything they need is there in their bags – they are then ready to begin the day on a positive note.
Good organisation generally means good work!