Important Information for Parents of St. Paul's Secondary School First-Year Students

HOUSEKEEPING.. BEFORE WE START Switch off Camera Switch off mic Use chat function to ask questions Have your child s school journal to hand Meeting will begin @ 7pm

St Pauls Secondary School First Year Parents Information Evening Wednesday 29th September 2021

Welcome Please turn off your microphone and camera and keep them off. Feel free to use the chat function, Ms Mullally will respond to questions.

Agenda Introduction Transition from Primary School & Guidance Rules, Procedures & Practical Issues Guidance & Subject Choice Year Head Role & Bullying New Junior Cycle Homework, Study & Assessment Home School Liaison Active Students & Extra Curricular

Transition from Primary - Secondary Larger school and Layout From being the biggest students to the smallest Teachers move mostly students stay put Timetables transfer to journal, copy in locker Managing Lockers keys, access, zip lock bags Managing the school bag, PE day, lost belongings Homework different amounts depending on the subject or the night/weekend Form Teacher, Year Head, Guidance Counsellor, Home School Liaison, Behaviour for Learning, School Completion Coordinator etc...

Transition from Primary - Secondary Getting to know teachers from one to possibly twelve or more, leave and substitute teachers Getting information to all the teachers, i.e. learning, medical or personal difficulties Getting to know new students, co-ed Longer day -Tiredness Adjusting up to Halloween Toilet breaks - over use Leaving school at lunchtime- unsupervised

What can parents/guardians do? Spend time chatting about their day. Check Homework and sign the 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. Leave school for lunch = Reward Contact the school or the HSCL if you have concerns. Actively promote maximum attendance unless Covid symptoms

What can parents/guardians do? Communication through the student journal Relevant information should be passed on Family Issues, Health Concerns, Learning Needs, Physical through the Year Head Ms Dowling who will ensure that the information is passed on. Difficulties in individual classes should be addressed with the subject teacher concerned. Note in journal or phone for a return call, 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 SIGN JOURNAL

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.

Covid -19 - Measures and Actions Hand Hygiene Face Coverings Minimising Interactions - base classes Maximising Separation - staggered breaks Sanitising Equipment - Practicals, ICT Cleaning Recent Covid inspection. Successful measures so far See the Covid 19 Supports Section of the school website for more information

Covid-19 Symptoms and Tests Don t send your child to school if they are symptomatic. Vulnerable students and staff. Do communicate with the Principal on Covid related absences in confidence. Have arrangements in place to collect your child if they present unwell in school. Isolation Room. Siblings remain at home if a student is sent for a Covid test. Negative test- return to school Positive test- Follow HSE guidelines.

Covid-19 Implications for School Life Wellbeing of all is paramount. Compliance with measures and actions. Different Homework and Assessment strategies. All upskilling in the use of Google Classroom. Breakfast Club, Homework Club, Study .. Different Open Nights and PT Meetings. Different Whole School celebrations. Resumption of extracurricular activities

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

Ethos & Expectations Respect for oneself and others Courtesy and good manners Fairness and forgiveness Kindness and willingness to help others Honesty and doing one s best Willingness to resolve conflict and differences with respect

Respect School Rules and Doing One s Best

School Rules and Regulations Importance of an orderly environment within the school and classroom. Courtesy and good manners. Attendance and punctuality P7 School Uniform. P8 School Environment P9 A detailed but not exhaustive list of minor, major and serious offences may be found in school journal on P13. 3 steps

The Student Journal Page 1 Page 2 Pages 17-21 Page 23-25 Academic Mentoring Junior Cycle Section Wellbeing Section Homework Recording Section Teacher Comments Absence Notes Names of teachers (P/T meetings) Attendance (link to pg 7 and 22) Reviews (effort and target setting)

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

RELATIONSHIPS SCHOOL BAG X-BOX FACEBOOK PHONE TEXT MESSAGES HISTORY SCIENCE FRENCH...... .......... WHY? WHY ? WHY? NO-ONE UNDERSTANDS ME MY BODY IS CHANGING FAMILY 23

The 5 main areas of change Physical: Your child is growing and developing into a young adult. Social: The family may no longer be their social centre. Friends and peers become important. Sexual: Adolescence can be a difficult time as your child becomes aware of their sexuality.

Contd... Vocational: Adolescence is a time for and identifying possible careers Moral: Teenagers question the things they are taught. They are not always doing this just to rebel. This questioning helps them find their own identity and independence. Their questions are often genuine questions they have for themselves.

The Dos and Donts Do treat your child as an individual. Don t compare them to other children or siblings Do put boundaries in place for them. Its ok to say no. Have a routine in place. Do encourage your child to get involved in school life outside of the classroom. Do work on your relationship with your child. This is very important and can affect their self esteem. Don t forget you are the primary educator and the biggest influencer in their lives.

The Dos and Donts Do encourage them to sort difficulties out themselves if they can. This is good for self esteem and development of independence. Don t jump in let them try and sort out minor even major squabbles themselves. Do encourage wider friendships (remember junior infants) Invite friends over. Get to know the friends. Do encourage them to seek support within the school when required Do talk to them about your own expectations and standards of behaviour.

Support Structures (High Five) Subject Teacher Form Teacher Year Head Guidance Counsellor School Management

Guidance & Counselling Weekly Care meeting - Referrals One to one if required, based on confidentiality and trust. Common issues Struggling with class content. Lockers and getting to class on time. Making friends and mixing in a co-ed setting. Bullying past or new experience. Building resilience, making better choices, self esteem and independence.

Subjects & Subject Choice Mixed Ability classes Common, Higher, Ordinary. Wellbeing French, Spanish and Language Exemptions Optional Subjects Visual Art Home Economics Wood Technology Graphics Music Science

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

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

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. Anti-Bullying Policy on school website Contact Teacher: Ms Behan

Bullying- Who to Speak to? Meitheal Leaders Prefects Any member of staff Anti Bullying Co-ordinator Year Head Deputy Principal Principal

Homework & Study Weekend Homework- do on Friday 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 Study: Note taking, revision and preparation for class tests, House and State Examinations. Use the homework journal to communicate one off and ongoing difficulties with teachers.

Homework and Study Recommended duration of study time 1 to 2 hrs five/six days a week (Quality not Quantity) Differentiated homework for some Prepare a study/homework plan. 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. After school study

Continuous Assessment & House Exams Each subject will have in class tests-we record the results of these through website on e-portal and the students records in their journal Page 20 Do your best but everybody s best is different There will be Christmas (Review 3) and Summer Exams of 1 or 1.5 hr in length. Page 20 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 subject related concerns to the attention of the subject teacher.

New Junior Cycle Subjects New Assessment Arrangements Classroom Based Assessments (2ndYr & 3rdYr) Assessment Task Junior Cycle Profile of Achievement Wellbeing Other Areas of Learning (Active Student) Teacher training and whole staff days

State Exams Classroom-Based Assessments Distinction Exceptional Higher Merit Above expectations Merit In line with expectations Achieved Yet to meet expectations Partially Achieved Not reported Not Graded

eportal http://stpaulsmonasterevin.ie/

Programmes for Academic Support Learning Support, Resource and Rotational Classes. Junior Certificate Schools Programme (JCSP) Reading and Maths Competency Tests. A small number of educational assessments. Homework Club - targeted students Literacy & Numeracy Initiatives Team Teaching and small group withdrawal Academic Mentoring -subject teacher -form teacher

Home School Community Liaison When will I contact you? When we are running courses for parents Prior to Parent Teacher Meetings Signing of student journal Provide support to you and your child Discuss opportunities for you and your child Looking for volunteers to: 1. Take part in initiatives in the school 2. Policy review 3. Help in a variety of ways in the school

Home School Community Liaison When should you contact me? If you have any questions If you need to meet me to discuss something If you want to help out or volunteer in the school My role is to encourage and develop partnership between the school and you the parents We want you to play an active role in your child s education.

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. 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.

PE & Sports Teams All students do Physical Education Training/Matches after/before and during school for bus Basketball Gaelic Football Soccer/Futsal Spikeball Cross Country Running/Track & Field Athletics/Running Club Sports Day

Active Student & Extra Curricular School Tours -Christmas & Year End Breakfast Club- Every morning free Homework Club- targeted students only Musical Society- Student Council- lunchtime meetings After School Classes Green Schools Reading Room- with Meitheal leaders

Matters Financial Student Expenses include locker rental, student journal, student insurance, photocoping and printing, practical subjects, guest speakers, postage etc 2 local 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.

Some final words of advice We are here to help do not hesitate to contact us There is an excellent Student Support 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 early School is about relationships. It s a three way experience. The greatest possibility of your child achieving to their potential is when we all work together to make that happen. Check out the school website and e-portal regularly. Support the work of the Parents Council

Attend Participate RESPECT Do your Best

Questions and Answers

Thank you for your attention. When we aspire, believe and achieve, together we can succeed.