1. Welcome to you all www.pdlsbagenalstown.com

2. School is a life altering experience …. Young people have only one chance  When students see home and school at one they feel secure and are less likely to react negatively to school  Secondary school is a new beginning

3.  Parent support is one of the most powerful aids to student success and well-being in school 80% vs 10% So everyday home routines matter, everyday homegrown messages matter

4. And the most important message to watch out for…  I can’t do this...I’m no good at this …  I can’t do this now so how can I learn how to do it? What would it be like if I made more of an effort?  Creating a ‘can do’ attitude. Students must experience success and it must be recognised so first praise the effort then the achievement

5.  From most senior to most junior  Larger school  Many teachers – different styles  Many new subjects  More responsibility – “pull up your own socks”  Growing up – independence, new friendships  Progressing to stand still  First months critical

6.  Everyday Routines – classwork & home work /study general reading  Homework Journal - the more you make of it …  Schoolwise

7.  Punctuality  Uniform  Notes to excuse absences etc.  Books and copies  Homework / classwork  Good manners

8.  No excuse for Bullying – no excuse accepted by the school.  New Dept Procedures … all schools must!!!  Cyber Bullying !  I’m sure …

9.  670 students and will continue to rise  40 plus Teachers  Chaplain, Presentation Sisters  Secretaries & Caretaker  Special Needs Assistants  Easy access – building, corridors etc.

10.  Start at 8.55 am every morning – students should be in 5 mins before  Finish at 3.55, Monday to Thursday  Finish at 1.10 pm on Fridays  Morning break  Lunch – ALL students must stay in school

11. CORE SUBJECTS  Irish  English  Maths  History  Geography  Science  CSPE  RE  SPHE  PE  Computers OPTIONAL SUBJECTS  Business Studies  Art  Music  Materials Technology Woodwork  Technical Graphics  Home Economics  French  German

12.  www.ncca.ie www.ncca.ie  Junior Cert Fact Sheets Useful info re all subjects Our aim is provide a sampling of subjects for a period of time but will depend on Dept. teaching resources

13.  Trained Learning Support teachers  Language Support teachers  Psychological reports required to apply to DES for resource hours – let us know now  LS students may drop one or two subjects, usually Irish and/or foreign language  ASD Unit

14.  Equal mixed-ability classes  In 2 nd yr Irish, English and Maths are set at the same times to allow movement of students.

15.  Tests per year- Oct mid-term, Christmas, Feb mid-term, Easter and Summer  Homework and study skills training  VsWare – online reports

16.  All students involved in one or more activity  Non-sport  Quizzes  Choral Singing ******  Debating ******  Young Scientist  Green Schools  Student Council- elected by students  Prefects  Tours, trips  Musical  John Paul Awards

17.  Hurling  Football  Soccer  Basketball  Athletics  Rugby  Camogie  Badminton  Volleyball

18.  For P.E. classes students will need:-  Grey sweatshirt (plain with no logos)  White T-shirt with collar  Navy blue tracksuit bottoms (plain with no stripes or logos).  Runners (not school footwear)

19. Girls:  Grey skirt OR grey trousers  Grey shirt  Maroon jumper  Black / Brown shoes  Maroon tights or socks  School Jacket Boys:  Grey trousers  Grey shirt  Maroon jumper  Black / Brown shoes  School Jacket

20.  Breakfast Club opens at 8.05 am and closes at 8.50 am  Tea & Toast plus!  Lunch - Hot food, Rolls, Soup etc.

21.  Class Teacher  Class Tutor  Year head  Guidance Counsellor  Chaplain  Home-School Liaison  Care Team  Meitheal Team  Student Council & Prefects

22.  Homework Clubs  Evening Study 4.15 to 6pm Monday to Thursday  Mid term & Holiday Breaks Study

23.  €100 annual contribution  €10 personal insurance  Books & Book Rental vs Tablets ???  1 st yr Book Rental E80  Transition Year fees  Mocks and Exam fees to Department of Education, 3 rd Year and in 6 th year Payment on Line

24.  Lighter school bags  Opens up an additional level of interactivity  Students may find ebooks a help re study etc.  Recent trend … Why?

25.  Copies and pens will still be used.  Ebooks are not dependent on WiFi once they have been downloaded.  Content of Ebooks and printed books the same  Charging of the Tablet is the students responsibility

26.  Battery lasts up to 10 hours.  Publishers of ebooks only support their content running on certain devices.  iPad is the recommended device.  Has been tried and tested in a number of schools.  Very little technical difficulties.

27.  Price is calculated depending on Tablet & the number of books needed.  If the student already has a Tablet you will only have to pay for the ebook licences.  Teachers will still be using copies and workbooks.

28.  It will be the students responsibility to care for their Tablet.  Should technical difficulties arise ?  The Tablet should be at least 50% charged before coming to school.  It is recommended that there is a sturdy case on the Tablet at all times.

29.  At the moment the iPad is used solely as a book.  Students do not have access to the school WiFi for their iPad at any time.  Wriggle install their profile which prevents the downloading of unsuitable and age inappropriate material – even when the student is off school grounds.  While the school appreciates the value of cameras for recording certain information, students should be made aware of the legal implications of uploading images to the internet, including their own.

30.  Wriggle come to the school just before the start of term to assist the students in setting up their iPad for educational use.  It is important that your son/daughter be available to attend this session as they get useful information about using and caring for their iPad.  Parents iPad Information Meeting - April  A web based school shop will be made available to purchase iPads and ebooks in June

31.  New Classrooms etc.  Science Rooms  Woodwork Room  Home Economics Room  Technology Room  New Sports Hall

32.  Enrolment Forms Student PPS No. Address arrangements re reports Mob Number re Texts Particular Details BUS Transport www.buseireann.iewww.buseireann.ie

33.  August Registration – Last week in Aug – exact dates not known Ipads / Books, Lockers, Jackets, etc.  1 st & 2 nd day – finish at 12.30 - 1 st day Mon Aug 29 th  1st Year Liturgy - Early Sept  MID-TERM BREAK Mon Oct 31 st / Fri Nov 4 th  CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS Fri Dec 23 rd / Fri Jan 6 th  1st Yr Parent Teacher Meeting Jan 2016  MID-TERM BREAK Feb 2017 Mon Feb 20 h / Fri Feb 24 th  EASTER HOLIDAYS Mon Apr 10 th / Fri Apr 21 st  Summer Hols Last day Fri June 2 nd

34.  Schools Texting Service  VsWare  Web www.pdlsbagenalstown.comwww.pdlsbagenalstown.com  info@pdlsbagenalstown.com  059 9721860

35.  Voice for Parents  Policy Development  Support for school activities  New members please!!!