1. Senior Is: 24th September 2013
St. Joseph School - Sliema
PARENTS’ MEETING
Senior Is: 24th September 2013

2. Parents’ Prayer
O Lord, we give you thanks for having given us children. They are our joy, and we accept with serenity the worries, fears, and hard work which bring us pain.
Help us to love them sincerely. Through us you gave life to them; from eternity you knew them and loved them.
Give us the wisdom to guide them, patience to teach them, vigilance to accustom them to the good through our example.

3. Parents’ Prayer
Support our love so that we may receive them back when they have strayed and make them good.
It is often so difficult to understand them, to be as they would want us to be, to help them go on their way.
Grant that they may always see our home and school as a haven in their time of need.
Teach us and help us, O good Father, through the merits of Jesus, your Son and our Lord. Amen.

4. MISSION STATEMENT
Inspired by Gospel values and the teachings of Saint Emilie, our school aims at creating a team of dedicated professionals to give our girls a holistic education, developing their individual, intellectual, spiritual, emotional, creative and physical potential to the full, in the knowledge that such gifts come from a loving God who asks us to use them for our good and that of others.

5. AIMS To inculcate in the girls the right Christian values.
To inspire our girls to be sensitive to the needs of others and to do all the good they can.
To foster an environment which will encourage every girl to reach her full potential and self esteem.
To develop an appreciation of the beauty in the world around us.
To instil a love and desire for learning.

6. AIMS
To encourage the highest possible achievement and to recognize and celebrate success in all areas.
To expose the girls to the appropriate use of modern technology.
To encourage the girls to realize the importance of fitness and good health and to develop an awareness of sporting ideals.
To establish a working partnership between school, parents and community and to encourage parents to play a supportive role in the life of the school.

7. School Motto
Believe
and
Achieve

8. SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2013-2016
Our three-year plan focuses on:
Strengthening the school ethos and focusing on the charism of our foundress St Emilie de Vialar, with an emphasis on gospel values and social justice.
Strengthening inclusion in a mixed-ability student population.
Improving feedback on assessment.
Empowering parents to better assist in their daughter’s holistic development.

9. SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT
SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT
HASSCOM Level 1 accreditation

10. SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT
EKOSKOLA Green Flag

11. SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT To date we have implemented the following:
IT Financial Plan and purchasing of the necessary hardware and software
Staff training in e-Learning and e-Communication
Staff training in the Klikks School Administration System
Parent and student accounts on Klikks
School website as a major source of information for parents, students and the general public
Strengthening inclusion with the introduction of subject LSAs

12. SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT Setting in English in Senior I and Senior II
Increase in General Science lessons and introduction of half-class teaching groups
Increase in PE lessons
Increase in PSD lessons to improve pastoral care
An enhanced Pastoral & Spiritual Programme for students
Open selection of Option Subjects in the upper seniors
Introduction of PE Option leading to SEC Exam

13. SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT
E-Learning and e-communication are central to life in the Senior Section, and the school is equipped with the following:
12 interactive white boards and projectors
10 additional projectors
A laptop in every ‘home’ classroom
26 student computers in the ICT Lab
3 student computers in the Physics Lab
1 student computer in the Library
Wi-fi internet connection throughout
Teacher laptops

14. SCHOOL REFURBISHMENT - Summer 2013
Rendering of stone walls in the main court yard and replacement of weathered slabs
Plastering and painting of downstairs corridors and ceilings
Re-wiring and installation of energy saving lights and new speakers in the main court yard; removal of surplus wiring
Waterproofing membrane and plastering of the Senior Section facade
New apertures in the staff room and staff resource room
Projector in the Physics Lab

15. SENIOR SCHOOL Religion Maltese Language and Literature
English Language and Literature
Italian
French
Mathematics
General Science
Geography
History
Home Economics
Media Studies
Library
ICT PE
Drama
PSD
Dance
Subjects in green are examinable

16. We offer after-school sessions in: Athletics Tennis
SENIOR SCHOOL
We offer after-school sessions in:
Athletics
Tennis
Details will be ed to parents
Subjects in green are examinable

17. Secondary School Certificate and Profile
This is a national school leaver’s certificate that will be the same for all students in state, church and independent schools. It is issued by the Directorate for Quality and Standards in Education and is recognised by the Malta Qualifications Council.

18. Secondary School Certificate and Profile
The SSC&P will record student performance in:
All academic subjects
All non-formal activities organised by the school but which do not feature in the National Curriculum
Informal learning which takes place outside school hours
Personal qualities which the student acquires during her school days
Attendance during the school year

19. Secondary School Certificate and Profile
The data will be collected by the school every year in May and will cover all the years spent in senior school.
More detailed information, including all the necessary forms, will be ed to parents this term and posted on the school website.

20. Assessment for Learning
Formative Assessment
Assessment for Learning
November Assessments prior to Parents’ Day
Parents’ Day
Mid-Yearly Examinations & feedback
Annual Examinations & feedback
Conduct and Appraisal on the Klikks School Management System

21. November Assessments
Formative assessment in every subject spread throughout November
Samples of assessment tools may include class-work, home-work, tests, projects, course-work or practicals
Specific, individual, written and oral feedback given to each student in each subject
The assessment exercise and feedback for each subject is to be collected in a folder by each student
The November Assessment Folder is to be used on Parents’ Day
Each student is responsible for the safekeeping of the November Assessment Folder; parents are to ensure the folder is complete

22. Parents’ Day : Term 1
Parents’ Day for term one will take place on Thursday 28th November 2013
Parents and students are to come to school on one morning and are to bring the November Assessment Folder
Students will not be allowed to queue for parents
Parents and students can visit any teacher for feedback
Parents and students are to use the feedback in the folder to prioritise who they need to visit
Students must take responsibility for their progress

23. Parents’ Day : Term 2
Parents’ Day for term two will take place on two days – Thursday 3rd and Friday 4th April 2014
Parents and students are to bring their Mid-Yearly Exam Report to Parents’ Day
Students will not be allowed to queue for parents
Parents and students can visit any teacher for feedback on performance and progress

24. Mid-Yearly Exams
Mid-Yearly Exam papers will include a marks grid to give students an indication where marks were lost and gained
All students will be given the opportunity to see their corrected exam scripts in class, during lessons, and receive feedback on areas for improvement
All exam scripts remain the property of the school
Past Exam Papers on CD will be on sale from the school

25. Annual Exams
Annual Exam papers will include a marks grid to give students an indication where marks were lost and gained
All students will be given the opportunity to see their corrected exam scripts in class, during lessons, and receive feedback on areas for improvement between Monday 23rd and Friday 27th June 2014
All exam scripts remain the property of the school
Past Exam Papers on CD will be on sale from the school

26. School Outings
School outings are organised regularly to enhance the educational, spiritual and pastoral programme we offer our students.
All students are expected to participate actively in school outings.
Information forms with the details of the outing will be ed to parents; consent forms will not be sent home with students.
If parents object to their daughter attending a particular outing it is their responsibility to contact the Head or Assistant Head to let her know.

27. Klikks School Management System
The Klikks SMS site will give parents and students access to:
Student time-table and school calendar
Attendance
Conduct Reports [i.e. behaviour in breach of school rules]
Appraisals [i.e. positive behaviour to be rewarded]
Mid-Yearly and Annual assessments and exam marks
Exam Reports will not be posted home

28. Klikks School Management System
To access the Klikks SMS site parents need a valid address and internet connection.
Parents will receive an with instructions on how to set up a user account that is password-protected.
Parents are strongly advised to use their own address to access the system.
Parents will only be able to view information related to their own daughter/s.

29. Klikks School Management System
This week parents will receive instructions by to activate their Klikks parent account.
Both parents will have a separate account provided the school has been given both addresses.
All Attendance, Conduct Reports and Appraisals will be posted on the Klikks system.
Parents are responsible to check the Klikks account regularly to know whether their daughter has been given a Conduct Report or Appraisal.

30. Conduct
All students will be made aware of what misbehaviour can result in a Conduct Report at the start of the school year.
The Student Code of Behaviour will be explained to Senior I students; parents and students will be asked to sign the ‘home’ section.
Parents will be able to check for any Conduct Reports at any time once their Klikks parent account is activated.
Parents will be alerted by to check the Klikks SMS site if their daughter has repeatedly received a Conduct report.
An accumulation of 10 points from Conduct Reports will result in a Detention after school from 1.30 to 2.30pm; parents will be informed.

31. Appraisals
Appraisals will be posted on the Klikks system to reward behaviour outlined in the ‘Positive Behaviour’ lists on class-room notice boards and in the Student Code of Behaviour.
Students will be rewarded with positive points for achievement, enthusiasm, improvement and commitment.
Positive points earned from Appraisals will not cancel out negative points earned from Conduct Reports.
Appraisal Assembly will be held monthly to recognise and celebrate positive behaviour in the school community.

32. Confidential Information on Klikks
Parents will only be able to see information related to their own daughter.
Teachers can only see the Conduct Reports and Appraisals that they have given to the students they teach – they cannot see any Conduct Reports or Appraisals given by other teachers.
The Head of School, the Assistant Head and the Mistress of Discipline only are able to see the Conduct Reports and Appraisals of all students.

33. Student Absence : less than 3 days
Student Attendance is taken by the Mistress of Discipline every morning during the first lesson.
Students who are absent will be marked ‘absent’ on the Klikks system.
When an absent student returns to school she will be given an ‘Absentee Form’ by her class teacher to be filled in by parents.
Once this form is returned, ‘absent’ will be changed to ‘certified’ or ‘medical’ on the Klikks system.
If the ‘Absentee Form’ is not returned to the class teacher, the student will remain listed as ‘absent’.

34. Student Absence : 3 days or more
Students who are absent from school for 3 or more days are required to present a doctor’s medical certificate together with the Absentee Form on their return to school.
When the medical certificate is returned to the Class Teacher, the ‘absent’ will be changed to ‘medical’ on the Klikks system.
Your timely co-operation is needed for us to record the proper data.

35. Student Absence: days excused
Parents are encouraged to fix any necessary medical appointments for their children outside school hours where possible.
Parents are discouraged from taking their children abroad during term time. On occasions when this cannot be avoided, the school must receive a signed written note in advance.
Only written notes will be accepted for your daughter to be excused from school [not an ]. This must be handed to the Head or Assistant Head, who will sign it and pass it on to the Class Teacher.
Students who need to leave school early must be signed out at Reception.

36. Student Absence: SSC&P
Student absences are recorded in the Secondary School Certificate and Profile for every single year in the secondary school.
Students who do not average 85% attendance will not be eligible for a Secondary School Certificate and Profile at level II.
Student absence from school is monitored monthly and reported to the Education Authorities.
On the school Exam Report sheets we will put down the total number of missed school days.

37. School Communication The school website can be accessed at:
The school general telephone number is
In emergencies the school mobile number may be used –
School communications will be passed on to parents by ; kindly check your regularly.

38. School Communication
General communication by should be addressed to the school secretaries at:
Confidential communication by can be addressed to the Assistant Head, Ms Bonett, at:
Or the Head, Ms Fleri Soler at:
Every effort will be made to answer your s as soon as possible

39. ECDL
ECDL is taught during ICT lessons from Senior I to Senior V; ICT lessons are compulsory
ECDL modules are offered in collaboration with ‘Holistic Courses’, Fgura
ECDL exams will all be held in the school ICT Lab after school hours; parents will be notified in advance
Each student will be given a username and password and will be able to take online diagnostic tests (practice tests) and receive feedback

40. ECDL Parents can follow their daughter’s progress online.
ECDL information and forms have already been sent home and are also available on the website.
All payments will be made through the school; receipts are to be kept as proof of purchase.
Any queries can be addressed by to Ms Charlene Attard on

41. INTERNET PROTECTION Data Protection Policy re Internet Use
No image or reference to staff, students, school building, school uniform or regalia that pertains to St Joseph School Sliema may be reproduced on the internet without the written consent of the Head of School.

42. INTERNET PROTECTION
To this end it is unlawful for any of our students to post photos or details on the internet that can in any way identify them as students at our school. We are asking for your co-operation to ensure that if any such images or references are available, they are removed at once. Serious disciplinary measures will be taken against students caught abusing this policy.

43. Code of Behaviour Punctuality: Assembly starts at 8.00 am Belongings:
All uniform and other personal items should be clearly marked. Any unmarked items that are found and remained unclaimed will be disposed of at the end of the school year.

44. Code of Behaviour
Students should not be encouraged to bring mobile phones, cameras or music players to school. If, for a valid reason, mobile phones, cameras or music players are brought to school, they must be put inside an envelope marked with the student’s name and class and handed in at reception on entering the school. They will be returned at 1.30pm.
Mobile phones, cameras or music players that are taken to class without permission will be confiscated.
A card phone is available at reception for student use.

45. Code of Behaviour
AT NO TIME CAN THE SCHOOL BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR LOST OR STOLEN PROPERTY

46. Code of Behaviour School Uniform
Complete school uniform is to be worn at all times. The school case with school logo, and the school outing bag, are compulsory.
Students are to come to school wearing their school tracksuit on days when they have PE, Drama or Dance lessons.
Blazers must be worn on entering and leaving school when the winter uniform is worn.
Skirt lengths are to be decent and faded or torn uniforms are to be replaced. Parents are to ensure that uniforms are smart, in good condition and fit well.

47. Code of Behaviour
Hair is to be tidy and tied back if it is long. Hairstyles unbecoming the school uniform, hair gel and extravagant hair dye is strictly forbidden. No make up or nail varnish is allowed
Girls are allowed to wear a matching pair of stud earrings on their ear lobe; any other piercings are strictly forbidden and will be confiscated.
Girls who enter the school premises and who, for any reason, are not wearing their uniform, should be dressed in a way that is suited to a church school environment.

48. A signed written note (not an email) is required:
For permission to leave the school grounds during school hours; students must be signed out at reception when they leave school during school hours
For not wearing the full school uniform
For permission to be exempted from PE lessons
To explain why homework has not been done
For permission to be away from school. All absences must be fully explained.
To explain any medicine which the pupil needs to take on the school premises

49. Parental Co-operation
In the best interest of their daughter, parents are asked to communicate and co-operate with School Management at all times.
Parents must not approach teachers without prior permission from School Management.
Parents should not phone teachers at home.
Parents are kindly reminded that they should be dressed in a way that is suited to a church school environment on their visits to the school.

50. PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Ensure regular attendance and punctuality.
Inform the school promptly of any absences.
Ensure that the correct school uniform is worn at school and in journeying to and from school.
Support high standards of work and behaviour.
Support the Code of Behaviour and Discipline Policy.
Check their s and Klikks account regularly.
Ensure that the school is made aware of any problems which might affect the child’s work or behaviour.

51. PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Ensure that the school is kept aware of current emergency contact numbers and address/es.
Give support and encouragement for home-learning.
Attend Parent-Teacher Consultations.
Encourage their child to get involved in all aspects of school life.
Get to know about their child’s life at school.

52. Parent Volunteers
We would be very grateful if any parents can offer their skills or services to help out in school with any of the following:
Fundraising initiatives
Sewing of costumes
Supervision during extended breaks when short staff meetings need to be organised

53. Welcome BBQ
A ‘Welcome BBQ’ for Senior I students and their families will be held in school on Friday 11th October at 7.00pm This is a fund-raising event as well as an opportunity for us to meet in a relaxed setting Details regarding booking and sale of tickets will be ed to parents

54. Pastoral Care
Pastoral care is an integral element of the holistic education provided in the school. It is concerned with the overall well being of all students, helping to ensure that they feel safe, secure and valued. 

55. Pastoral Care
Pastoral care is the responsibility of the whole school, and all the members of Staff do their part to create an environment where the students can feel safe and find help in solving any problems, be they academic or personal.

56. Spiritual Welfare
The School Chaplain is Fr Mario Mule Stagno. Mass and the Sacrament of Reconciliation take place on a regular basis. The Marian Pilgrimage, Lenten Preparation Mornings, School-Leaving Masses, the Crowning of Our Lady, Live-Ins and Adorations are all important parts of our student spiritual programme. We offer a varied spiritual programme and we expect all our students to participate actively. Staff members voluntarily dedicate time and energy towards these activities, many times after school hours. Parent attendance at these spiritual activities is also greatly appreciated.

57. Guidance Department
Personal and vocational guidance is designed to enrich the girls’ personal and school life, while preparing them for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of life after school.

58. Some of the activities held by the Guidance Department are:
Junior VI Induction Meeting
 Senior I Induction Morning - Wednesday 25th September at St Joseph Retreat House in Rabat
Study Skills Seminar – Friday 18th October

59. Senior II Guidance re Subject Options
Options Meeting for parents
Options seminar for the students
Options Booklet
One-to-one session if required

60. Senior IV and V Guidance re choice of post secondary education
MATSEC Talk for Senior V students and their parents
Talks from representatives of various post secondary institutions
Visits to post secondary institutions, example ITS and MCAST
Career Seminar

61. Senior I to Senior V
various talks/seminars to tackle important issues such as smoking, bullying, sexuality
one-to-one /group appointments;
We try our best to educate the students to confide in appropriate people, at appropriate moments.

62. School Counsellor: Ms Patricia Stilon
The School Counsellor is available in school on two mornings.
Parental consent is required for the student to be able to visit the School Counsellor.
Parents can also avail themselves of the services of the Counsellor to discuss issues related to their daughters’ well-being.
The Counsellor liaises with parents and agencies concerned with the welfare of the student

63. Guidance Teacher - Ms Nathalie Camilleri
The students can ask the Guidance Teacher for an appointment.
The Guidance Teacher will give the student a note with which the student will ask the teacher on duty for permission to leave the classroom.
The teacher on duty may refuse to grant the student permission to leave the classroom (important lesson or test)

64. Mistress of Discipline: Ms Linda Refalo
All staff is responsible for general order and discipline in school
The Mistress of Discipline sees to general disciplinary matters/Code of Behaviour . She also liaises with the pastoral team to address any particular difficulties students may have.

65. Class Teacher/Deputy
The Class Teacher and the Deputy Class Teacher are responsible for monitoring the personal and academic progress of each girl in their class. They tackle issues that arise in the class as well as assign places and see to general order and cleanliness. Class Teacher Time is held as the need arises.

66. Donation
We are grateful for your support, which helps us to work hard to offer the best education possible to our students, in a school environment they deserve.
Talk about payments spread over 3 terms if needed, as well as first reminder, second reminder etc.

67. Kindly do not hesitate
to inform the school
of any situation
that is hindering
your daughter’s progress,
or affecting her behaviour.

68. Thank-you for your attention