Holy Family National School

Newsletter March 2005
   
   
  Enrolment Reminder 
  I wish to remind you that if you have a child starting school in September 2005 applications for enrolment for our school must be made before Thursday, March 31st. Application forms are available from the secretary's office. Under our enrolment policy brothers and sisters of children already attending our school have priority for places but an application form must be filled up before the above date. After that date places will be allocated in line with the school's enrolment policy. Notices to this effect have been read out at Masses in the churches on Sunday. If you know of a neighbour or friend who may not be aware of this rule you might bring it to their attention as places may have to be limited. If you are in any doubt about having applied for enrolment for your own child please contact the school secretary immediately. Phone 4580570. 
   
  School Closing Dates 
  March 16th - In-service Day
March 17th - St. Patrick's Day
March 18th - In-service Day.
We have arranged In-service days together in order to minimize disruption to the school as much as possible.  
   
  Voluntary Contribution 
  The Board of Management and Parents Association would like to thank most sincerely all those who have paid the Voluntary Contribution to the school. The response has been fantastic. If you have not already made your contribution we have changed the final date to Wed. 23rd March as the children will not be in school on Friday March 18th.  
   
  School Absences 
  I have made you aware in the past about the provisions and obligations under The Education Welfare Act 2000 in regard to school attendance. The National Education Welfare Board is now fully functioning and Education Welfare Officers have been appointed and are visiting schools and homes. I have to make returns regarding pupil absences to the NEWB on five set dates each year - the first was made for the period September to December. In that period alone two children had already accumulated absences of more than 20 days. As a parent you must let the school know if your child is absent and the reason why. It is school policy that the reason must be given in writing. Do not ring the school informing us about your child's absence. Do not write the note regarding the absence in the homework journal because all notes have to be kept and if it is in the homework journal it has to be photocopied thus making unnecessary extra work for everybody. Here is a sample of reasons why a child might be absent:
  • Illness - certified or uncertified
  • Urgent family business e.g. bereavement/separation
  • Suspension - pupil has been suspended
  • Other reasons e.g. holidays, religious observance, etc.
The school will notify the NEWB if a child is absent for 20 days or more or where the absence gives rise to concern.
If your child is sick or absent for other good reasons, no action will be taken by the NEWB. However if there is concern about your child's attendance at school or about the reasons given, you may be visited by an Educational Welfare Officer who will discuss your child's education with you. The officer will work with you and take full account of the circumstances of the child and the family before deciding what further action is necessary to ensure that the child receives his/her entitlement to education.  
   
  Homework 
  We have recently reviewed our policy on homework. This homework policy is available in full from the school or it can be viewed on our website.
The main points of the policy are:
Homework is given on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday but not on Friday unless it has been neglected during the week.
Homework will regularly contain reading, spellings, tables, written work, pieces to be "learned by heart", drawing/colouring etc.
The following are guidelines for time spent at homework. Differences in ability will be taken into account-different children will complete the same homework in different lengths of time. Children experiencing difficulties in English reading and spellings will not be given Irish spellings. It is important to remember that it is the quality and not the quantity of homework that matters. The following are general guidelines only:
Junior & Senior Infants ............. 10 minutes
Rang 1&2 ................................... 20 to 30 minutes
Rang 3 &4 .................................. c.45 minutes
Rang 5 & 6 ................................. c.1 hour
Parents should try to help their children with homework by:
  • Providing them with a suitable place and time to do their homework.
  • Preventing interruptions or distractions, like T.V. or other children.
  • Children should do written homework themselves and parents should only help when the child has difficulty.
  • If a child has difficulty with homework, the parents should help the child to overcome the difficulty with further explanation or examples, but not by actually doing the homework for the child.
  • Parents should adhere to the methods used in school. This is particularly so in Mathematics. If the child is using a method that is foreign to the parent it would be much better to leave the child alone rather than impose another method thus confusing the child.
  • Parents should check the child's homework every evening.
  • The homework journal should be signed if requested to do so by the teacher.
  • Only notes regarding homework between parents and teachers should be put in the homework journal. All other notes re absences/sicknesses etc. which may contain private information should be put in separate notes.
  • Other notes/newsletters to parents will be folded and placed in the current day of the homework journal. Please check your child's journal for such notes.
  • Teachers check homework on a daily basis.
  • Homework should be done before any television is watched, soon after school while your child is still fresh.
 
   
  Illness and Administering Medication 
  We recently reviewed our policy on illness and administering medication to children. The policy in full is available on request from the school or it can be viewed on our website.
The following are the main points of the policy:
Children who have short term illnesses, such as colds and flues, should not be in school. Children returning to school after such an illness are allowed to stay in the sick bay area during lunch breaks but only if parents/guardians request this course of action in writing.
We recognise that it is desirable for children with long term recurring health problems, such as asthma, epilepsy, diabetes and anaphylaxis to be accommodated within school in order that they may continue their education. If this is done, however, proper and clearly understood arrangements for administering of medicines must be made.
  • No teacher can be required to administer medicine or drugs to a pupil.
  • Any teacher who is willing to administer medicines should only do so under strictly controlled guidelines, fully confident that the administration will be safe.
  • In emergencies teachers will do no more than is obviously necessary and appropriate to relieve extreme distress or prevent further and otherwise irreparable harm. Qualified medical treatment will be secured at the earliest opportunity.
  • Parents must ensure that teachers are made aware in writing of any medical condition suffered by any pupil in their class. Children who are epileptics or diabetics or who are prone to anaphylactic shock syndrome may have an attack at any time and it is vital therefore to identify the symptoms in order that treatment can be given by an appropriate person if necessary.
  • Non- prescriptive medicines will neither be stored nor administered to pupils.
  • Prescribed medicines will be stored in the staffroom out of reach of other pupils. Certain medicines, such as inhalers used by asthmatic children, must be readily accessible at all times of the school day and will be kept in the classroom.
  • The medicine should be self-administered if possible.
  • A teacher will not administer medication without specific authorisation.
  • Where possible the family doctor should arrange for the administration of prescribed medicines outside of school hours.
  • Where children are suffering from life threatening conditions, parents should arrange to meet the class teacher and outline clearly what can and can't be done in a particular emergency situation, with particular reference to what may be a risk to the child. This should then be put in writing to make the whole staff aware.
  • Where possible, injection needles should not be used in the school and epipen type injections should be used instead.
  • Changes in prescribed medication (or dosage) must be notified immediately to the school with clear written instructions of the procedure to be followed in storing and administering the new medication.
When administration of medication is necessary for a child during the school day the following procedure will be used:
Parents/Guardians will make an appointment with the Principal to discuss the child's illness and arrangements for administering the medication. The request for administration of medication must then be put in writing.
This should contain the following:
  • Child's full name and address.
  • The name of the medication to be administered.
  • The exact dosage and time of administration.
  • When the parent is to be contacted and where s/he can be contacted.
  • Signature of parent/guardian.
 
   
  Code of Discipline : Bullying 
  An important section in our Code of Discipline deals with bullying. Thankfully we have very few reports of bullying but we must never be complacent. Usually we get reports of isolated incidents but as the definition of bullying below outlines they cannot be described as bullying.
Bullying is repeated aggression, verbal, psychological or physical conducted by an individual or group against others. Isolated incidents of aggressive behaviour, which should not be condoned, cannot be described as bullying. When the behaviour is systematic and ongoing it is bullying.

Types of Bullying
(a) Pupil Behaviour
Bullying can take many forms:
  • Physical aggression
  • Damage to property
  • Extortion
  • Intimidation
  • Abusive telephone calls
  • Isolation
  • Name calling
  • Slagging
  • Bullying of school personnel
(b) Teacher Behaviour
A teacher may, unwittingly or otherwise, engage in, instigate or reinforce bullying behaviour in a number of ways:
  • Using sarcasm or other insulting or demeaning language when addressing pupils; making negative comments about a pupil's appearance or background.
  • Humiliating, directly or indirectly, a pupil who is particularly academically weak or outstanding, or vulnerable in other ways.
  • Using any gesture or expression of a threatening or intimidatory nature, or any form of degrading physical contact or exercise.
Indications of Bullying Behaviour-Signs and Symptoms
The following signs/symptoms may suggest that a pupil is being bullied:
  • Anxiety about travelling to and from school.
  • Unwillingness to go to school; mitching.
  • Deterioration in educational performance.
  • Pattern of physical illnesses.
  • Unexplained changes in either mood or behaviour.
  • Visible signs of anxiety or distress-stammering, withdrawing, nightmares, crying, bedwetting, etc.
  • Spontaneous out-of-character comments about either pupils or teachers.
  • Possessions missing or damaged.
  • Increased requests for money or stealing.
  • Unexplained bruising or cuts or damaged clothing.
  • Refusal and/or reluctance to say what is troubling him/her.
These signs do not necessarily mean that a pupil is being bullied. If repeated or occurring in combination those signs do warrant investigation in order to establish what is affecting the pupil.

Where does Bullying Happen?
(a) Pupil Behaviour
Bullying in schools frequently takes place in the playground where hidden alcoves, the noise level and the type of games children play present possibilities for bullying. The playground provides an opportunity for older pupils to pick on younger pupils. It is also the ideal setting for the "bully gang". Continuing provocation may lead to a physical fight, and ironically in some cases the victim may appear to be the aggressor because he/she finally gives vent to his/her frustration.
Bullying may also occur in class sometimes in a very subtle manner through glances, looks and sniggers but it may also take the more overt form of physical intimidation. It may also be exacerbated if there is a classroom atmosphere where pupils are allowed to make derogatory comments about their classmates or other teachers.
Bullying may also take place on the journey to and from school, whether the individuals are walking, cycling or on school buses.
(b) Teacher Behaviour
Teacher behaviour of a bullying nature is most likely to take place in a classroom situation, but not exclusively so. It may take place in the playground, school gymnasium or on the sports field.

Procedures for Noting and Reporting an Incident of Bullying Behaviour
(a) All reports of bullying, no matter how trivial, will be noted, investigated and dealt with by teachers. In that way pupils will gain confidence in "telling".
(b) It will be made clear to all pupils that when they report incidents of bullying they are not telling tales but are behaving responsibly.
(c) Serious cases of bullying behaviour will be referred immediately to the Principal or Deputy Principal.
(d) In cases where it has been determined that bullying behaviour has occurred, parents/guardians of victims and bullies will be informed by the Principal or Deputy Principal as soon as possible so that they are given an opportunity of discussing the matter. They are then in a position to help and support their children before a crisis occurs.
(e) Parents/ guardians should note that the appropriate person to make enquiries regarding incidents of bullying behaviour is the Principal or, in his absence, the Deputy Principal.
(f) Individual teachers, in consultation with the Principal, will record and take appropriate measures regarding reports of bullying behaviour.
(g) Non-teaching staff such as secretary, caretaker, cleaners, Special Needs Assistants and Classroom Assistants will be encouraged to report any incident of bullying behaviour witnessed by them to the Principal.
(h) In the case of a complaint regarding a staff member this will normally be dealt with, in the first instance, by the Principal.
(i) In the case of a complaint regarding the Principal the matter will be dealt with, in the first instance, by the Chairperson of the Board of Management.
(j) Where cases, relating to either a pupil or a teacher remain unresolved at school level, the matter will be referred to The Board of Management.
(k) If it is not solved at Board level, it will then be referred to the local Inspectorate.

Procedures for investigating and dealing with bullying
(a) Teachers will take a calm, unemotional problem solving approach when dealing with incidents of bullying behaviour. Such incidents will normally be dealt with outside the classroom situation to avoid the public humiliation of the victim or the pupil engaged in bullying.
(b) The teacher will speak separately to the pupils involved, in an attempt to get both sides of the story. Interviews will be conducted with sensitivity and with due regard to the rights of all pupils involved. Pupils who are not directly involved may be interviewed because they may have useful information.
(c) The teacher will analyse the incident by seeking answers to questions of what, where, when, who and why. This should be done in a calm manner, thus setting an example in dealing effectively with a conflict in a non-aggressive manner.
(d) If a gang is involved, each member will be interviewed individually and then the gang will be met as a group where each member will be asked for his/her account of what happened to ensure that everyone is clear about what everyone else has said.
(e) If it is concluded that a pupil has been engaged in bullying behaviour, it will be made clear to him/her that he/she is in breach of the school's Code of Discipline and the matter will be referred to the Principal or Deputy Principal. The teacher will also try to get him/her to see it from the victim's point of view.
(f) Members of the gang will be helped to handle the possible pressures that often face them from other members after being interviewed by the teacher.
(g) Where a serious incident of bullying has been established the teacher will present the Principal or Deputy Principal with an oral account and written record of their discussions with those involved. It may also be appropriate to ask those involved to write down their account of the incident.
(h) In cases where it has been determined that bullying behaviour has occurred, the Principal and Deputy Principal, in as far as it is practicable will meet the parents/guardians of the two parties involved. Appropriate actions, in accordance with school policy, being taken by the school and the reasons for them will be explained to the parents/guardians. Ways in which they can reinforce or support the actions being taken by the school will be discussed.
(i) Follow-up meetings will be arranged separately with the two parties with a view to possibly bringing them together at a later date if the victim is ready and agreeable. This can have a therapeutic effect.
The policy in full is available on request from the school or it can be viewed on our website.  
   
   
     
  Other Newsletters:  April 1997
    October 1997
    March 1998
    April 1999 
    October 1999 
    November 1999 
    November 2000 
    October 2001 
    November 2002 
    October 2003 
    January 2004 
    September 2004 
       
  Photo index  Home  local history