School Opening/Closing & Break Times

• 9.20 a.m to 2.00 p.m (Junior & Senior Infants) Junior Infants finish at 12.30 p.m for the first 2 weeks
• 9.20 a.m to 3.00 p.m (1^st-6^th Class)
• 11.00 a.m to 11.10 a.m (Short break)
• 12.30 p.m to 1.00 p.m (Lunch break)

a) Pupils should arrive in good time for school in the morning. The school bell will ring at 9.15, when pupils are expected to line up in an orderly fashion with their class grouping. The pupils will be accompanied into their classroom by a teacher and classes will begin at 9.20 a.m. Pupils who have a habit of continuous late arrival will be documented and parents will be notified at the end of the month. b) In the interest of fostering independence and self-confidence it should be unnecessary for parents to accompany pupils to the classroom after an initial “settling in” period. c) Pupils are not permitted to leave the school grounds during the school day. The pupil must provide a note to their class teacher and must be collected from the classroom or school yard by a parent or other adult. d) Pupils must remain inside the school gate until collected between 3.00 p.m and 3.05 p.m. e) The school does not accept responsibility for pupils who are on the school grounds before 9.10 a.m and after 3.05 p.m. f) Parents are asked to observe the school’s one-way traffic system i.e. enter the by-road at the Athletic Club and exit at the school end. Please do not double park and respect the property of nearby households.

School Collection

At home time, parents are asked to come to the school gate to pick up their child/ren. Pupils will not be dismissed by the class teacher until the parent/guardian is at the school gate. If another adult is collecting your child, please let the class teacher know this.

The P.E days for the 2021/22 school year are as follows:

• Junior & Senior Infants (Ms Molloy): Tuesday
• 1^st & 2^nd Class (Mr Molloy): Friday
• 3^rd & 4^th Class (Mr. Naughton): Thursday
• 5^th & 6^th Class (Ms. Fahy) Wednesday

Code of Good Conduct

• Each pupil in class has the right to receive education without disturbance from others. Equally, teachers should be able to fulfil their duties without having constant disruption from undisciplined and unmannerly pupils.
• Pupils are expected to work to the best of their ability during class time and when completing homework.
• Pupils must follow abide by school rules and follow instructions given by staff.
• Pupils must have manners, respect and courtesy at all times for other pupils, teachers, parents and visitors to the school.
• Offensive or inappropriate language is unacceptable at any time within the school, school grounds or when pupils are representing the school on any occasion.
• Pupils must have respect for school property and the school environment.

Please see our Code of Good Conduct for further information.

School Attendance

• There is a very strong tradition of good attendance in Scoil Naomh Cianain. However, we are anxious that parents be aware of the absolute necessity for regular punctual attendance at school.
• The school is open to receive pupils from 9.10 a.m and classes start at 9.20 a.m sharp. It closes at 2 p.m for infants and at 3 p.m for the other classes.
• The National Education Welfare Board (NEWB) has been established to monitor school attendance and transfer of pupils from one school to another. Under the Education Welfare Act 2000, pupils with erratic attendance or those who are absent for twenty or more days during the school year must be reported to the NEWB.
• For this reason, it is important that parents provide written note (on a sheet of paper) or an email stating reason for absence and these notes will be kept on file, should they be requested by the Education Welfare Officer.
• In promoting strong attendance, parents are asked not to withdraw children early from school unless in an emergency situation. Where parents need to take children out of school for an appointment or in an emergency,
• A note should be submitted to the school.
• The class teacher should also be informed, in person, before the child is withdrawn.

Homework

• Homework is a very important part of school work. It helps to consolidate work that has been done in class and fosters an ethic of work both within and outside school.
• Homework is not limited to just WRITTEN work. Reading, spelling tables, poetry and other learning work are equally important.
• Homework is set from Monday to Thursday nights only. The homework journal/homework pack should be checked every night by parents. We encourage parents to emphasise the learning aspects and neatness of the work. Parents should sign the journal every night to indicate that they have checked their child’s homework.
• Parents and pupils should choose a suitable time and location for doing homework where there is silence and minimal distractions. Some pupils like to do it immediately after school while others like to have a short break first and then do it. It is not recommended for pupils to do homework while listening to music or while the television is on.
• Pupils should not have to spend an inordinate amount of time at their homework and if they do, a problem exists and the matter should be discussed with the teacher. Here follows the recommended amount of time that should be spent on homework in each class:

Junior & Senior Infants-         20 mins max

First & Second Class-             30 mins max

Third & Fourth Class-             40 mins max

Fifth & Sixth Class-                60 mins max

Please see our Homework Policy for more information

Parent Teacher Communication

Communication between the school and home is essential in ensuring a full and appropriate education is provided to each pupil in Scoil Naomh Cianain. Formal parent/teacher meetings are held annually in the school. In the event of a parent wishing to discuss an issue with a teacher in detail, you may contact the school office and make an appointment with the relevant teacher. Please do not interrupt the class learning time to talk to your child’s teacher unless in an extreme emergency.

Notes

Notes between teacher and parent can be a useful form of two-way communication between home and school. Pupils must provide a note from their parents to explain the following:

• Absences from school (please write these notes on sheet of paper rather than school journal as these notes need to be filed in the office).
• Appointments-dental, hospital, optician etc.
• For not wearing school uniform
• Pupils leaving school early
• Homework not done
• If pupil/s are being collected by someone who doesn’t normally collect them
• Late arrival at school
• Not being able to participate in a school activity e.g P.E

Communication from School to Home
Information relating to school business and events is sent home to parents via a school note/newsletter. These notes will also be sent by email to all parents who provide the school with an email address.

Texting Service
The school has a school mobile which is used to text parents reminders or updates relating to school activities, deadlines etc. The phone is also used to ring parents in an emergency. Please save the school mobile number (085) 7085818 on your phone. This number is not to be contacted after school hours, unless in an emergency and is not to be used to inform the school of a child’s absence (please send in a note for absence).

Please ensure that the school has the most current and up to date mobile numbers for both parents/guardians and child minders.

Child Protection

The Board of Management (BOM) of Scoil Naomh Cianain recognises that child protection and welfare considerations permeate all aspects of school life and must be reflected in all of the school’s policies, practices and activities. The Board of Management has adopted and will implement fully and without modification the Department’s Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post Primary Schools as part of this overall child protection policy.

The Designated Liaison Person (DLP) for Child Protection is Mr. Colm Naughton.

The Deputy Designated Liaison Person (DDLP) for Child Protection is Mr Michael Molloy.

The staff members of Scoil Naomh Cianain have identified a number of areas of specific concern in relation to child protection:

Toileting Accidents

• Clean underwear and change of clothes will be kept in the Infant classroom and in the staff room.
• In the event of a soiling accident, a parent/guardian or emergency contacts will be contacted
• If a pupil for whatever reason cannot clean or change themselves and the parent/guardian or emergency contact cannot be contacted, the child will be assisted by two staff members familiar to the child.
• Junior Infant parents will be notified of above practices at induction meeting in June.
• A record of all incidents will be kept and the Principal and the parents will be notified.

Behaviour/Bullying

• Children are encouraged at all times to play co-operatively and inappropriate behaviour will be addressed under our Code of Behaviour. If an incident occurs which we consider to be of a sexualised nature, we will notify the DLP who will record it and respond to it appropriately
• Bullying behaviour will be dealt with under our Anti-Bullying policy and if it is of a sexualised nature it will be reported to the DLP.

Transporting/Escort of Pupils

• For child protection and Health and Safety reasons all pupils going on day trips, to sports matches, to the church etc are brought via bus. The bus company used by the school is fully insured and its drivers are all compliant with Garda Vetting regulations.
• Parents of all pupils coming into Junior Infants or transferring from other schools are required to sign a consent form to say that in the event of an emergency, a staff member would have consent to escort the child to hospital/doctor. In such a case, a full record of events will be written down and reported to the Principal.

One-to-one teaching

• One-to-one teaching may be deemed as the most appropriate form of instruction for pupils with specific educational needs
• Every effort will be made to ensure that this teaching takes place in an open environment-i.e in a classroom alongside the class teacher or in the special education room with the door open.
• Parents of pupils who are involved in one-to-one teaching will be informed and their permission sought.
• Work being carried out by SNAs will be carried out under the direction of the class teacher in an open environment.

Record Keeping

• Teachers will keep records of each child’s progress in their own files.
• Attendance records will be updated daily.
• Sensitive information regarding children will be shared in line with the school’s Data Protection Policy.
• All educational files of pupils who no longer attend the school are kept securely in the office filing cabinet.

Internet Safety

• The parents of each child who enrols in Scoil Naomh Cianain will be asked to sign consent to the school’s Acceptable Use policy which forms part of the school’s ICT policy. The Stay Safe lessons in each classroom will be supplemented with a lesson from the Webwise resource pack on Internet Safety.

Child Abuse Prevention

The “Stay Safe” programme is the primary resource in this school to provide education for children on child abuse prevention. The programme is taught as part of the school SPHE curriculum under the strand unit Safety and Protection. The formal lessons will be taught every year in each class grouping in their entirety every year in accordance with our SPHE plan.  A meeting of new parents will be held every year and a copy of the the Stay Safe “A Parent’s Guide” provided.

Staff will make every opportunity to ensure that the messages of the programme are reinforced wherever possible through Walk Tall, RSE, Circle Time, Grow in Love etc.

Healthy Eating

Scoil Naomh Cianain is a health promoting school and has a healthy eating policy. The aim of the policy is to eliminate the consumption of junk foods and to advocate lunches that are:

• Low in sugar
• Low in fat
• Low in salt
• High in fibre

Pupils are expected to adhere to the policy and parents are expected to encourage their children by providing them with healthy lunches.

Recommended Food/Drinks

Parents are recommended to consult the Food Pyramid to ensure that their children get a balanced amount of all the different food types. We recommend that parents choose from the following:

• Wholegrain sandwiches or crackers
• Fresh fruit, salads, raisins, nuts
• Low fat butter/spread on sandwiches
• Fish, chicken, lean meat or eggs
• Cheese, low fat yoghurts
• Water, milk, milkshakes, sugar-free fruit juice, vegetable soup (in cold weather)

Banned Food/Drinks

Crisps, popcorn, chocolate, sweets, fizzy drinks, cereal bars with chocolate and/or sweets and chewing gum are not permitted for lunch.

Pupils are not allowed to eat during class time unless they have permission to for medical reasons. Food is not allowed to be brought into the school yard at break times. Pupils will be given time by their teacher to eat before the bell sounds for break time. Students may have a drink during class time with the teacher’s permission.

Please see our Healthy Eating policy for further information.

Health

• Parents are requested not to send children into school if they are sick or have been feeling sick in the morning prior to school time.
• Parents are asked to inform the school if their child picks contracts an illness e.g chicken pox, measles, impetigo, slap cheek or if their child becomes infected with head lice. This is to ensure the condition is not passed on to other pupils.
• It is the responsibility of parents to inform the school and class teacher if your child has or develops any medical conditions or allergies.

School Property

a) Pupils must respect school property and the property of others at all times. Any damage caused to property, accidentally or otherwise, must be reported to a teacher immediately. Pupils may be asked to contribute towards the cost of repairing any damaged property.

b) Writing on any school property, particularly tables, is forbidden. Pupils who are found to be doing so may be fined and for pupils who reoffend fines will continue to accrue.

c) The school rooms and grounds are expected to be kept litter free at all times. There are litter bins provided so please use them.

Forbidden Items

The items listed below are forbidden in school for health and safety reasons:

TIPPEX, AEROSOL DEODERANTS, OTHER SOLVENTS, CIGARETTES, ALCOHOL OR OTHER DRUGS, LASER LIGHTS, GAMES CONSOLES, MP3 PLAYERS, IPODS, CHEWING GUM, COMPASSES (unless under the supervision of the teacher) PEN KNIVES.

Mobile Phones

Pupils are not allowed to have mobile phones in school under any circumstance. If a pupil is found to have a mobile phone it will be confiscated immediately and will only be returned to parents/guardians. If a parent wishes their child to have a mobile phone, for an emergency situation, the child must switch off the phone and hand it to the class teacher who will put it away securely until school closes.

Birthday Party Invitations/Christmas Cards/Birthday Cakes:

Invitations and Christmas cards may not be distributed in school. At this age children feel excluded when not invited to a party and can become upset in class as a result. We would appreciate your help and co-operation with this. We ask parents to discreetly distribute birthday invitations to children at home time.

While we like to acknowledge and congratulate children on their birthdays, we ask parents not to send in a birthday cake to your child’s class to be cut and distributed to the children in the class. We feel this is an activity best done in the child’s own home. We also have many children in the school with food allergies and therefore bringing in unknown foods may be harmful to them.