St Paul’s Secondary School First Year Parents Information Evening Tuesday 25th September 2018

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

Transition from Primary - Secondary Larger school and Layout From being the biggest students to the smallest Students move – most teachers stay put Timetables – transfer to journal Managing Lockers – getting to/from and times Managing the school bag, PE gear, lost belongings Homework –different amounts depending on the subject or the night/weekend Form Teacher, Year Head, Guidance Counsellor

Transition from Primary - Secondary Getting to know teachers – from one to possibly ten or more 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 Leaving school at lunch

What can parents/guardians do? Spend time chatting about their day. Check Homework and 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

What can parents/guardians do? Communicate through the student journal Relevant information should be passed on – Family Issues, Health Concerns, Learning Needs, Physical – through the Year Head Mr Keenan – 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 an 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.

S So now that your child has LANDED here So now that your child has landed at St. Pauls Lets see how we can help you as your child makes the transition from primary to secondary. Also, what supports can help with this transition.

What supports do we provide?

Support Structures Form Teacher Year Head Meitheal Guidance Counsellor SEN- Special Educational Needs Teacher

X-BOX FACEBOOK RELATIONSHIPS SCHOOL BAG PHONE TEXT MESSAGES HISTORY SCIENCE FRENCH................ WHY? WHY ? NO-ONE UNDERSTANDS ME MY BODY IS CHANGING FAMILY 14

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 sexulaity.

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.

Guidance & Counselling Meet all first years in SPHE classes. Referrals and one to one - assess concerns and needs. Confidentiality and trust. Common issues Finding their classrooms. Lockers and getting to class on time. Making friends and mixing in a co-ed setting. Bullying – past or new experience. Building Self Esteem. Will meet students regularly – as needed.

Something to think about. THIS IS NEW TO THEM

THE DO’S & DON’TS DO TREAT YOUR CHILD AS AN INDIVIDUAL. DON’T COMPARE THEM TO OTHER CHILDREN. ADOLESCENT SELF ESTEEM IS SENSITIVE. THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH THEIR PARENTS/GUARDIANS IS VERY IMPORTANT AND CAN AFFECT THEIR SELF -ESTEEM

DO PUT BOUNDARIES IN PLACE FOR YOUR CHILD. IT IS OK TO SAY “NO”. DO ENCOURAGE YOUR CHILD TO GET INVOLVED IN SCHOOL LIFE. MAKE SURE YOUR CHILD GETS A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP. SLEEP AND REST ARE IMPORTANT.

How To Support Encourage them to sort difficulties out themselves if they can. This is good for self esteem and development of independence. Resist the urge to jump in… Sort out minor even major squabbles themselves. Encourage wider friendships (remember junior infants) Invite friends over. Get to know the friends. Get them involved in extracurricular.

Talk to them about your own expectations and standards of behaviour Talk to them about your own expectations and standards of behaviour. Be aware of where they are and who they are. Use the teachers and the school as support if you need to.

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT! “What I need most is to feel loved and valued, no matter how foolish I may seem. I need someone who believes in me because I do not always believe in myself…….” By Virginia Satir

Christian Ethos Catholic Secondary School for all faiths and none. Religion 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

Subjects & Subject Choice Mixed Ability classes (Streamed in Maths) Higher and Ordinary French, Spanish and Language Exemptions Optional Subjects Visual Art Home Economics Materials Technology Wood Technical Graphics Music Science

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. Bullying Policy on school website Contact Teacher: Ms Behan

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

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

The Student Journal Page 1 Names of teachers (P/T meetings) Page 15 Charter (sign) Page 22 Attendance (link to pg 2) Pages 17-21 Reviews (effort and target setting) Page 23-25 Academic Mentoring Homework Recording Section Teacher Comments Absence Notes

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

New Junior Cycle Marking

Classroom-Based Assessments 01/12/2017 State Examinations Distinction Higher Merit Merit Achieved Partially Achieved Not Graded Classroom-Based Assessments Exceptional Above expectations In line with expectations Yet to meet expectations Not reported

Junior Cycle Information Evening Monday 19th November

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) 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 on Journal Page 20 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.

eportal http://stpaulsmonasterevin.ie/

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

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: Take part in initiatives in the school Policy review 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.

RESPECT 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.

Sanctions Verbal and written warnings. 3 Steps Penalty exercises or “Community Service” Detention within school hours and Lunchtime. After school detention. Pink Offence Forms Diary Signing Yellow Report Card Red (Probationary) Report Cards Suspension -repeated misconduct after above sanctions have been applied -serious intimidation, fighting Exclusion.

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

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 (See Handout) All students do Physical Education Training/Matches after/before and during school……€2 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-Thursday Rm 19 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 pastoral care 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 School is about relationships. It’s a three way experience. The greatest possibility of your child achieving 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