Frequently Asked Questions
Enrolment and Parents
How can a child be enrolled in the school?
Children can be enrolled in the school, during the first three weeks of October in the year prior to entry.
Contact with the school should be made through the secretary, Ms. Anne Cummins, who is available between 9.00 a.m. and 3.15 p.m. The parents/guardians of each prospective pupil must supply a copy of a birth certificate for each child when registering.
Parents of children with special needs are encouraged to discuss the child’s needs with the Principal.
Parents and prospective pupils are invited to meetings in June to collect information packs and meet the teachers. At this meeting, parents are addressed by the school Principal, the Learning Support Teacher, the Resource Teacher and two parents of the previous year’s infants. Parents and prospective pupils have an opportunity to get to know one another.
How does the school communicate with parents/guardians?
Messages are sent regularly on the School App.
Does the school have a Parents Association?
Yes, parents are involved in many activities during the year. The work of the association is very much appreciated. Parents provide tea/coffee on First Communion/Confirmation morning, to give one example of an actiivity.
Does the school hold Parent/Teacher Meetings?
Parent Teacher meetings are held in the third week of November. Parents who are not in a position to attend on the given day will be seen at a mutually suitable time. A parent may arrange a telephone call with a teacher, once pior arrangement is made via the school secretary.
Where do the majority of children attend post primary school?
Many children attend Mount Mercy College or Bishopstown Community School, but children also attend schools all over the city.
The B.O.M. of Scoil an Spioraid Naoimh Cailíní recognizes the importance of regular contact with the post primary schools our pupils wish to attend.
Visits from post primary principals and teachers are facilitated to ensure a smooth transition from primary to post primary for our pupils.
Assessments and reports relating to a pupil will not be released to another school without written parental permission.
What extra curricular activities are available to children?
The following activities are available to the pupils of the school.
Tennis, Swimming, Choir, Violin tuition, Football, Camogie, Scór participation, Cór Fhéile participation, Junior Band, Senior Band, Cookery, Computer Club, Book Club, Science Club, Art and Crafts and Musical Theatre Classes.
When do children receive first Holy Communion?
The First Holy Communion Ceremony is held generally on the first or second Saturday of May.
To and From School
At what time may children be brought to school?
Children wait in designated areas from 8.40 to 8.50 a.m. Children are collected by their teachers at 8.50 a.m. and brought to their classrooms.
What time does the school open each morning?
- 8.50 a.m.to 10.50 a.m.
- Lunch from 10.50 a.m.to 11.00 a.m.
- 11.00 a.m. to 12.50 p.m.
- Lunch from 12.50 p.m. to 12.57 p.m.
- Infant day finishes at 1.30 p.m.
- 12.57 p.m. to 1.20 p.m.
- 1.20 p.m. to 2.30 p.m.
Is a child allowed to leave school early?
Children leaving school early must have prior arrangement made via a message in the School App.
If a child leaves school early, details should be recorded in the child’s journal and the blue book, at the entrance, must be signed by the adult collecting the child.
Are cars allowed on the school grounds?
Parking is available in the school grounds for a number of staff cars.
Parents are also advised that it is not safe to turn cars at the Allendale Avenue entrance when children are coming to and going from school.
Parents are advised to park cars at the outer end of Allendale Avenue and walk to the school with children.
How will we know when the school is closed for holidays?
A list of school closures (for the following year) is circulated to families and is available on the school App and the school website.
School and Home work
Are infant pupils expected to work a full day from their first day at school?
Infants begin school on the first day of the first term for a period of about two hours. For the remainder of that week and all of the following week the school day for infants is 8.50 a.m. to 12.00 noon.
For the remainder of the year the day is 8.50 a.m. to 1.30 p.m.
How often do children get a break from academic work?
- 10.50 to 11.00 a.m.
- 12.50 to 1.20p.m.
Lunch must be eaten indoors, litter must be taken home.
Is homework given?
Homework is set on Mon., Tues., Wed., & Thurs. nights. Homework is graded according to class level.
- Infants 10/15 minutes
- First/second 15/20 minutes
- Third/Fourth 30/40 minutes
- Fifth/Sixth One hour
The staff of the school remind parents of the importance of attending meticulously to homework especially oral work.
The school journal must be signed each night by parents (Senior Infants to Sixth Class).
Homework Guidelines for each class level are also available for downloading on the Home/School page of this site.
What should children bring for lunch?
Children should bring a healthy lunch, sandwich, fruit etc. Crisps, Popcorn or Fizzy drinks or Nuts are not allowed.
Is milk provided in school?
All children are encouraged to take milk which is delivered to the school daily. An App message is sent to each home at the beginning of each term outlining cost of milk for the term.
In the case of financial difficulties a child is supplied with milk from school funds.
Safety
How does the school manage bullying incidents?
Bullying in any form is not acceptable. See our School Rules, Code of Discipline and Anti Bullying Policy.
How often is a fire drill held?
Held twice during the school year. Fire extinguishers are located throughout the school.
Are entry/exit doors open at all times?
External doors are fitted with programmed codes and bells. All entry/exit points are fitted with security cameras.
Do children have access to the internet?
Yes but with limited access.
All internet activity must adhere to the guidelines in the school’s Internet Acceptable Use Policy. The school’s internet is subject to a high level of filtering which is supplied by the National Council for Technology in Education under the auspices of the Department of Education and Skills.
School Books / Uniform
Has the school a book rental scheme?
Children can avail of the school’s book rental scheme, or alternatively parents can buy all the books themselves.
Is there a Free Book scheme operating in the school?
A child is offered free books in cases of financial hardship.
When are booklists circulated?
Each family is written to in early June outlining details of the text books required for the following year and giving details of the School Book Shop.
In an attempt to keep disruption in the classes to a minimum in September, parents are encouraged to settle expenses for the rental scheme, art and craft, photocopying etc., before the end of June but if at all possible on the Book Shop Day which is held during the third week of June.
All workbooks, which require to be written in, are purchased by the children. All other books are supplied under the rental scheme.
Must Children wear a uniform?
School Uniform must be worn at all times other than when the child’s class is scheduled for a P.E. lesson or is in involved in a sporting activity on a given day, e.g. camogie match.
| Regular Uniform | Sports Wear |
|
Pink/White Check Blouse Teal Pinafore Teal Cardigan Bow Tie (Infants to Second Class) Regular Tie (Second to Sixth Class) Black Tights Black Shoes School Coat |
Teal Tracksuit School T-shirt White Socks Runners |
Enviromental Awareness
Are children encouraged to be waste aware?
Recycling is encouraged whenever possible.
Waste paper collection boxes are located on all floors of the school. This is collected each Wednesday.
Is Scoil an Spioraid Naoimh a Green School?
Yes. The Green School committee has teacher, parent and pupil representation. The school currently has four green flags.
Details on Extra-Curricular Activities
School Concerts
The school holds a carol concert in the Church of the Real Presence each December. There is no charge for the Carol Concert.
The School Concert / Musical was held for two/three nights in May every two or three years Honk Junior was staged in 2010, Annie Junior in 2012 and Alice in Wonderland Junior in 2015 each for six performances in the M.T.U. theatre.
Camogie
Camogie training takes place at lunchtime. All girls from 3rd to 6th class are welcome to attend. All players must wear a helmet.
Cookery
Cookery is taught to Fifth class each year.
