Patrician High School

Changes From Primary School

New EnvironmentNew ClassmatesNew TeachersNew SubjectsNew Rules and Regulations

Changes From Primary School

New Environment• 24 Teaching Classrooms (Teachers Based in

rooms)• 9 Practical Rooms• Student Lockers • 4 Student Toilets• 2 Resource Rooms• 6 Administrative Offices• Gymnasium/ Astro Turf

Changes From Primary School

New Classmates• 116 New First Year Pupils• 5 Class Groups of 23/24 per class• All Class groups mixed ability • Class group remains for three Junior Certificate.• Some groups will change due to levels and subject choices in second year.• Classes reviewed throughout first term.

Changes From Primary School

New Teachers/Staff• 34 Teaching Staff • Principal• Deputy Principal• 3 Ancillary Staff• 3 Canteen workers • School Chaplain

Changes From Primary SchoolNew Subjects

Core Subjects

English Irish Maths Science GeographyHistoryCSPE (Civic, Social and Political Education).

Changes From Primary School

Optional Subjects

Technical GraphicsBusinessWood WorkArtFrench(3 from 5 subjects to be kept for second year)

Changes From Primary School

Non Examination Subjects

Religious EducationPhysical Education Computer Studies SPHE (Social,Personal and Health Education)

Changes From Primary SchoolNew Rules and Regulations

• Time Tables and Class Times• Moving to and from class rooms • Correct books for class• Mobile Phones• Be on Time for class• Remain on school ground at lunchtime for 1st and 2nd Years• Using your locker

CommunicationsTeachers

• Subject Teachers• Class Teacher• Career Guidance Teacher• Year Head• Deputy-Principal• Principal

Subject TeacherRole:

• Teach his/her subject

Communications:• School reports• Phone call• Parent-teacher meetings• Notes regarding homework etc

Class TeacherRole:

• A subject teacher• Overview (academic and pastoral)• Explaining school rules/procedures

Communication:• School report (overall progress)• Parent-teacher meeting• Letter or telephone

Year HeadRole:

• Pastoral and Disciplinary• Year Group meeting • Information regarding school rules

Mr Dunne

Communication:• Telephone or letter• Meets parents by appointment• Progress Report on request

Career Guidance Teacher

Role: • Career and educational counselling interventions• Learning and career options• Counselling support service across the student population

Ms Cumiskey

Communication:• Telephone or letter• Meets parents by appointment• Parent-teacher meeting

The Guidance Counsellor is someone you can go to with any problems or issues you might have, for example...

Guidance Counsello

rs deal with...

Career Choice

Depression, anxiety,

stress, self

harm...

Subject

Choice

Bereavement through

loss or separation

Self-imag

e

Behavioural

Support

Specific Learning Difficulti

es

Applications to Higher/Further Education and the World of

Work

Bullying

Issues with school,

home, family and work

Deputy-PrincipalRole:

• Serious pastoral problems • Formal disciplinary system• Subject choices/Time Table • Subject Levels• School Policy/Planning Mr Rafferty

• Curriculum Planning

Communication:• Letter or telephone• Meets parents by appointment

Principal

Role:• Overall pastoral care• Serious disciplinary problems• General school policy• Curriculum Provision• Staffing Mr

Duffy

Communication:• Letter or telephone• Meets parents by appointment

Further CommunicationsStudent Diary

Notes to and from Parents

School Web Site www.patricianhighschool.ie

Twitter

School NewsletterProduced by class groups/Transition year

Text Messages

Notification of Parent Teacher meetings

Unplanned School Closures

Student Diary

School Calendar Study Timetable/Weekly TimetableSchool Rules and Code of DisciplineNotes regarding Absences:

Permission to leave school early

Explanation of absencePlanned absence from school

Parent/Teacher NotesWeekly reports (Probation, Progress, Effort)

Student Diary

Parent/Guardian Notes:Explanation for

Absence and Notes to and from Parents.

Comment Forms: Comment forms can be requested by year

heads or deputy Principal to monitor student progress over a

number of weeks.

www.patricianhighschool.ie

School Courses/SubjectsExtra-curricular activitiesLive Twitter Feed School PoliciesNews UpdatesEasy PayGuidance and Counselling Parent Association/Board Of Management

Easy Pay • Online School Payments.

• Can be accessed online through the school website or with your mobile phone.

• Visa, Visa debit, master card can be used.

• Can be used to pay School tour, Mock Exam fees, TYP fees, After school study, etc.

First Year Costs Locker €10 Diary €10 PE Kit €35 Art Kit €15 Tech Graphics Kit €25 Calculator €10 SPHE Workbook €5 Total cost €110

• This can be paid in instalments throughout the summer and must be paid in full by end of September 2015.

Special Education Needs (SEN)

• SEN covers both learning support and resource teaching.

• Educational Psychological reports must be made available to school as soon as possible.

• To allow appropriate support and actions to be in place as quick as possible.

• School testing to take place in first two weeks of first term.

Lunch Time ActivitiesSoccer HandballTable TennisComputer Club (Mind Craft)Chess ClubFrench Club/History ClubStudy/Homework RoomTYP Mini Company projects

Big Brother/little brother• New Program for incoming first years• Monaghan Youth federation to train 5th years to act as Peer Ministers.• Two teachers trained to act as advisers to the 5th year pupils.• Groups to meet once a week to discuss any issues with first year pupils.• Activities include Cinema afternoon, Quiz, Hunt and end of year trip.

Big Brother/little brother

Table Quiz Scavenger Hunt

Concert

After School Study• After School study group is available to all students• Supervised study group takes place each evening from 3:45-5:45• Fees for supervised study are €250 for a full year. (5 days per week)• Students can commit to as many days as they wish and fee will be adjust. (4 days per week €200, 3 days €150, 2 days €100, 1 day €50)

Junior Certificate Reform• Recognising a wide range of learning.• Reducing the focus on one terminal examination.• Giving prominence and importance to classroom based assessment.• Greater professional collaboration between teachers.• Parents/guardians and students to get a broader picture of learning.

Revised Junior Cycle Framework to be published end of June 2015

Code of Discipline

Purpose of Disciplinary Procedures

• Ensure optimum learning conditions.

• Provide safe, secure environment for students.

• Develop self-discipline by encouraging students to take responsibility for their own behaviour.

Methods

• Setting clear boundaries• Having predictable consequences• Emphasizing behaviour, not personality• Encouraging self-evaluation (planning)• Encouraging goal-setting (planning)• Providing adult support (advocates)

Basic School Rules

• Be On Time.

• Be Prepared.

• Follow Instruction.

• Participate Fully.

School Rules 2015/2016GENERAL3. Bullying, intimidation or any form of harassment

(physical or verbal) will not be tolerated. (See Anti-Bullying Policy on web-site)

4. Parents/guardians of a student who threatens, bullies or abuses teachers or supervisors (whether physically or verbally) will be asked to remove him immediately.

8. Students who attend or participate in any way in organised fights will be liable to suspension.

School Uniform11. The school uniform is:

A plain grey v-neck jumper with crestPlain grey trousersBlack shoes (with no markings)Pale blue shirt (not denim)Dark blue tie (junior)

School Uniform12. If you are not wearing your full uniform you

must have a written explanation from a parent/guardian. Students who come to school with incorrect uniforms must report to the teacher in charge and hire missing items. (Trousers cost €5 per day. All other items cost €2 per day.) A student with a valid excuse, supported by a written note from a parent/guardian, may be excused from the cost of hiring the necessary items.

School Uniform

13. For sports classes the school PE uniform must be worn. The PE uniform is available to purchase from the school. It consists of Shorts, T-Shirt, Socks and Carry Bag.

General Appearance

14. Hair and fingernails must be kept clean and neat. Jewellery (including rings, necklaces, bracelets and jewellery requiring body piercing) may not be worn during the school day.

Attendance15. You should have a parent/guardian complete an entry in your Year Planner and Diary if:

• You have been absent from school

• You want to leave school during the day e.g. to visit a dentist

• You are late for school and have a valid reason

Truancy16.Leaving the school grounds or being absent from classes without permission from school authorities is a serious offence and pupils who break this rule may be subject to suspension.

17. You may not leave the school during class times without first reporting to the Secretary's/Deputy Principal’s office.

Punctuality18. Classes start at 9.00 in the morning and at 1.45 in the afternoon.You must be in school at 8.55 in the morning and 1.40 in the afternoon.

Students who persistently break this rule may be returned to the care of their parents/guardians.

Class TimesMorning Classes: 9:00 until 11:00 Break (Three 40 minute classes)Morning Break: 11:00-11:151st Year Pupils Morning Break 10:55 until 11:15Mid morning Classes: 11:15 until 1:05(One 40 minute class, Two 35 minute classes)Lunch: 1:05 until 1:45Afternoon Classes: 1:45 until 3:30 (Three 35 minute classes)

Mobile PhonesStudents must switch off and put away mobile phones on entering the school building.

Failure to do so will lead to phones being confiscated. Parents/guardians may arrange to collect them.

Students are advised that any misuse of their mobile phone may result in a suspension.

Parents are asked to support the schools efforts to protect all our pupils.

Lockers

54. Interfering with lockers is a serious offence. Students who do so will be barred from the lockers for the rest of their time in school.

LockersFirst year students find it extremely difficult to organise their lockers because of this they tend to keep all of their books in their bags.

The not so good

The Good

HomeworkHomework is an essential aspect of school life. (See “Homework policy” on school website)

Designated homework must always be attempted. This may include revision, learning and written work.

Where homework has not been attempted due to a legitimate reason parents are asked to provide a note of explanation.

Homework should take 30-40 minutes per night before Christmas increasing to 60-90 minutes after Christmas.

Informal ProceduresMinor breaches:

Class teacherRecorded in journalLunch Time Detention

Repeated breaches:Informal (white) planEvening Detention Year head

Persistent breaches: Year headContact parents

Formal Procedures Stages

1. Subject Progress Report2. Booking Note3. Conduct Note4. Discipline Committee5. Suspension6. Expulsion

Subject Progress Report

• Given by teachers to commend good work.• Given to commend positive actions in school.• Used to identify areas of concern for teachers.• Used to notify parents if effort in a subject area

has dropped.

Booking Note• Final warning from teacher.• Formal written report to Deputy Principal• Copy sent to parents/Year Head• Deputy Principal discusses problem with student and teacher• Parent /Guardian may contact Deputy Principal to discuss.

Conduct Note• Formal written report to Deputy Principal.• Copy sent to parents/guardian and Year Head.• Pupil removed from class/classes involved.• Supervised by other teachers while works on formal (Green) “Plan for Success”.• Assisted by “Advocate”(When required)• Returned to class when plan agreed, signed by student and witnessed by parent/guardian.• Parent /Guardian may contact Deputy Principal to discuss.

Suspension

• Removed from all classes• Returned to care of parent• Draws up formal plan witnessed by parent• Re-admitted to class on 12 week probation• “Probation Period” monitored by Year Head/Deputy Principal and Parent/Guardian

Purpose of Disciplinary Procedures

• Ensure optimum learning conditions.

• Provide safe, secure environment for students.

• Develop self-discipline by encouraging students to take responsibility for their own behaviour.

First Year Survey (Difficulties)

• Finding Rooms• Remembering Books and Homework• Making new friends• Using Locker• Tests/Exams• Heavy school bag• Bigger boys• Getting up in the morning

First Year Survey (Enjoyed most)

• New Subjects• New Friends• The Craic• Sports (PE and school teams)• Good Teachers• Lunch Time / The Canteen• Moving around to different rooms• School Tour