Code of Discipline

The code of discipline aims to achieve three things:

1. The efficient operation of the school and the structuring of in-class discipline so that there exists an efficient and stimulating learning environment.
2. The maintenance of good order throughout the school and respect for the school environment.
3. The development of self-discipline in pupils based on consideration, respect and tolerance for others.

 Principles of Discipline Policy

If the school is to achieve a happy, secure environment in which children can develop to their full potential, it is necessary to provide a framework which promotes constructive behaviour and discourages unacceptable behaviour. The aim is to ensure that the individuality of each child is accommodated while acknowledging the right of each child to an education in a relatively disruption free environment. The school code places a greater emphasis on rewards than on sanctions, and the ideal is that pupils will acquire self-discipline. There are times however when it may be necessary to impose sanctions in order to maintain good order and to discourage offenders. We recognise the importance of a strong sense of community within the school and the existence of a high level of co-operation among teachers, ancillary staff, pupils, parents, the Board of Management and the Parents’ Association.

Respect and Courtesy

• All pupils are expected to treat staff and their fellow pupils with respect and courtesy at all times. The use of foul language and any form of bullying are unacceptable.
• Pupils must respect all school property and keep the school environment clean and litter free.
• Pupils must have all books and required materials.
• Pupils are expected to work to the best of their ability and to present written exercises neatly.
• Any form of behaviour that interferes with the rights of others to learn and to feel valued and safe is unacceptable.

Mobile Phone Policy

• Pupils from 3rd – 6th class only may bring mobile phones to school. Children in infants to second class should not bring phones to school.
• Mobile phones are brought to school entirely at pupils’ own risk.
• They must be switched off at all times on the school premises and handed to the class teacher in the morning. They will be stored in a secure location in the school and returned to the girls at home time. They should only be switched on once off the school premises.
• Making or receiving calls or text messages during school hours is not permitted. Any necessary calls to or from a child in school should be made through the landline – phone situated in the secretary’s office.
• The use of mobile phones by staff for essential calls should be kept to a minimum. They should be taken / made in an area where pupils are not present and outside class time.

School Uniform

The school uniform is worn on all school days other than on days of PE lessons.

The school uniform consists of the following:

• Red airtech top, tracksuit top and school kilt with navy socks/tights and black/dark shoes.
• For Physical Education, runners are compulsory and children must wear the red airtech top with school tracksuit.
• Pupils are not allowed to wear jewellery in school apart from one pair of earrings if ears are pierced.
• Extreme hairstyles or cuts are not permitted eg. bleached, tinted or shaven heads.
• Long hair must be tied back at all times and where possible hairbands worn in long and short hair to help prevent the spreading of hair lice a common problem in the school.

Absenteeism

• In the event of a pupil being absent through illness or for any other reason, the class teacher should be informed by note on the pupil’s return to school.
• If it is anticipated that the absence will be of a lengthy duration, the class teacher should be informed by note as soon as possible.
• This note can be delivered to the secretary who will ensure the teacher receives it.
• When it is necessary for a pupil to leave school early, a note must be sent to the class teacher in advance unless the child is being sent home due to illness.
• Parents/ guardians are asked to call personally to the classroom to collect the child and then go to the office to sign the child out for the day.
• Any person collecting a child on behalf of the parent/guardian should present written authorisation with a contact telephone number.
• If a child is being taken out of school for an appointment and then returned within the same day the child must be signed out and back into the school register in the office for insurance reasons.
• If a child is late for school they must be presented at the office and put their details in the sign in book before going to their classroom.

Lunch Box Policy

Surveys have shown that children’s lunches are often very unhealthy and not adequate nutritionally because they tend to be low in fibre and high in sugar. Please do not give your child sweets, chocolate, fizzy drinks or crisps or popcorn for lunch. Lunch should provide one third of your child’s food requirements for the day. The most effective way to plan a healthy lunch is to include one food from each of the food groups – one piece of fruit, milk/yoghurt, two slices of bread and meat / poultry /cheese.

Chewing gum is not allowed in the school.

EU Milk Scheme

The EU Milk Scheme is in operation in the school and is administered on an annual basis. Details of the scheme are issued at the start of each school year.

Health/Safety, accident procedures and personal insurance

Health and Safety

1. Children who are ill should not be sent to school.
2. Parents are asked that teachers be made aware of any physical disability or allergies which their child might have.
3. Please check your child’s hair regularly for outbreaks of Head Lice. If there is an outbreak of head lice in a class, all parents of pupils in that class are informed by note, and asked to take immediate action to treat infestation.
4. Requests to remain indoors at break times should only be made in exceptional circumstances (limbs in plaster, recovering from/awaiting surgery). These requests must be made in writing to the class teacher.
5. In the interests of safety, parents’ cars are not allowed into the school grounds.
6. At assembly and dismissal times, parents and other visitors to school are asked to avoid parking on or near the pedestrian crossing outside the school.

Accident Procedures

1. Accidents occur despite supervision. Minor accidents are treated at school. Slight cuts and grazes are normally treated by cleaning with cold water and applying a plaster to the wound. When a dressing has been put on a wound, parents are requested to inspect the wound when the child comes home from school.
2. In the event of an accident/child becoming ill, every possible effort will be made to contact the pupil’s parents or the persons delegated to take responsibility for the pupil.
3. Please complete the form giving details of home/work phone numbers. The school should be notified immediately of changes of address etc.
4. Non co-operation in this matter could result in a delay in having your child attended to medically, should the need arise.
5. Please ensure that alternative contact consent has been received and that they live locally.
6. The school will not accept responsibility for any medical expenses incurred.
7. There is a facility for parents to take out insurance to cover medical expenses incurred as a result of an accident at school. Details of this scheme are circulated to parents in September.

Personal Insurance

The school ensures it has the correct insurance in place at all times. However, we also offer the facility for parents to purchase accidental injury cover on their child each year. This policy cover your child not only when they are on school grounds or partaking in an after-school activity but 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. We would encourage all parents to purchase this cover as it offers great piece of mind and financial assistance should your child suffer an injury anytime during the year. Further information can be sought at the school office.

Complaints Procedure

It is in the interests of pupils, parents and teachers that good relations should exist between home and school. The teachers are willing to discuss any problems which may arise from time to time. With mutual respect and goodwill, most problems can be resolved readily.

Stage 1:

• A parent who wishes to make a complaint should meet with the class teacher with a view to resolving the complaint.
• If the matter is not resolved, the parent should meet with the principal.
• If the complaint is still not resolved, parent should meet with the Chairperson of the Board of Management.

Stage 2:

• If the complaint is still unresolved, it should be lodged in writing with the Chairperson of the BOM.
• The Chairperson should bring the precise nature of the written complaint to the notice of the teacher and seek to resolve the matter within 5 days of the receipt of the written complaint.

The Education Welfare Act 2000

The Act was passed and came into effect of 5th July 2002.  The Act provides for the establishment of the National Educational Welfare Board is the single national body with responsibility for encouraging and supporting regular school attendance.  The Board has responsibility for ensuring that each child aged six and upwards attends a recognised school or otherwise receives a certain minimum education.

What does the Act mean to us Parents ?

• By law, parents have a responsibility to ensure that their children attend a recognised school, every day on which the school is in operation unless there is a reasonable excuse for not attending.
• Parents must notify the school when a child is absent.
• If parents fail or neglect to cause a pupil to attend school, the Board shall serve a “School Attendance” notice on parents.
• The parents of a child who contravenes a School Attendance notice shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable to a fine and / or imprisonment.
• The Principal must keep a record of attendance or non-attendance of every registered student for each school day of each year.

Schools are obliged by Law to inform the Local Education Welfare Board where :

• A student is absent for more that 20 days in one school year.
• A student, in the Principal’s opinion, is not attending regularly.
• A student’s name is removed from the register
• A student is suspended for more than 6 days.

School Rules & Building Access

General School Rules

School rules are kept to a minimum and are devised with regard for the health, safety and welfare of all members of the school community. If a school is to function efficiently, it is necessary that rules and regulations are clearly stated and enforced consistently and wisely.

• Pupils leave and enter the school building in an orderly fashion.
• Pupils must not behave in any way which endangers themselves or others. Rough play comes into this category.
• Any form of threatening behaviour is unacceptable.
• Any instructions or directions given by the supervising teacher and/or by the classroom assistant are to be complied with.
• Pupils line up in an orderly manner at the end of breaks.
• Pupils are not allowed to run on corridors and in the playground.
• Pupils may not re-enter the school building during breaks without the express permission of a teacher.
• If, due to inclement weather, the pupils are allowed to remain indoors, they must remain seated unless given permission to do otherwise by the supervising teacher or classroom assistant.

School building access

• The bell rings at 8.40 a.m. It is important that the children develop the habit of being punctual for school. Children who are in the yard prior to official assembly time are not the responsibility of any member of staff. If children are in the yard prior to 8.40 a.m., they are expected to take their place in line. For safety reasons, pupils are expected to walk in the school yard.
• Children are not allowed to enter the school building prior to 8.40 a.m. except on wet days when they may go to allocated waiting areas inside.
• There is a short break at 10.30 a.m. Lunch break is from 12.30 p.m. to 1.00 p.m. No glass bottles or cans, please.
• Junior and Senior Infant Classes are dismissed at 1.20 p.m. Infants should always be collected from school. Whoever collects your child from school should try to be in the school-yard before dismissal time so as not to cause her unnecessary anxiety. The pupils in the other classes are dismissed at 2.20 p.m.
• Pupils who bring bicycles to school are asked not to cycle inside the school grounds and to alight at the gates of the school and walk their bikes to the locking area.
• The Board of Management does not accept responsibility for the children’s property.
• At 2.20 p.m., pupils are expected to leave the school grounds in an orderly fashion and report home promptly.
• Pupils should respect and follow the directions of the school traffic warden at all times.
• All access doors except the main entrance beside the office are locked within 30 minutes of the school opening and closing and operate using an emergency quick release exit system to leave the building only should an emergency arise.  These doors cannot be opened from the outside once they are closed.
• Parents/guardians entering the school at any other time than opening/closing must walk to the main door and press the buzzer to gain access.