Home-School Partnership

 

The staff of Scoil Íosagáin aim to work closely with parents in a way that will foster close co-operation, mutual support and regular communication. A Home/School Partnership was drawn up in consultation with staff and the Parents’ Association. The policy was ratified by the Board of Management.

Introductory statement

This Policy was developed by the staff of Scoil Íosagáin in consultation with the Board of Management and the Parents’ Association. Its purpose is to provide information and guidance to parents and staff on the invaluable Home/School Partnership Approach that benefits the education of all pupils in the school. In particular, it outlines procedures for effective Parent/Teacher Communication, including Parent/Teacher Meetings. School personnel and family members strive to be mutually supportive and respectful of each other and this approach is central to the realisation of Scoil Íosagáin’s aim that the school is a welcoming, nurturing and inclusive learning environment. The partnership is envisaged as a positive working relationship that is characterised by a shared sense of purpose, mutual respect and a willingness to listen and learn in the best interests of pupils’ development and progress.

The school avails of the Aladdin communication system to contact parents via text. Much of the formal communication from the School Principal is sent by Aladdin text with a link to letters, newsletters etc. More information about Aladdin

Strategies/Procedures to Support the Home/School Partnership Approach in Scoil Íosagáin

  • Annual General Information Evening for parents of ‘new’ Junior Infants in March/April

  • Annual Transition Programme for “new” Junior Infants late May/June

  • Annual Visit for Junior Infants to meet their class teacher

  • Annual Workshop for Junior Infant Parents October

  • Formal Parent/Teacher Meetings currently held in November

  • School Reports are posted to the parent(s)/guardian(s) of each pupil at the end of each school year.

  • Consultation forum to discuss policy development and changes in education.

  • Meetings with parents of pupils preparing for receiving the sacraments

  • As appropriate, additional meetings between Parent(s) and Teacher(s) concerning pupils who may have special educational needs and/or to discuss pupil progress, behaviour, etc and in the development/review of Individual Education Plans or Individual Behaviour Plans.

  • Ongoing communication throughout the school year by means of family notes, postings on School Facebook Page, website notifications, notes from class teachers/special education team teachers, TextaParent.ie, homework journals, individual pupils progress reports, newsletters and school magazine

  • Homework Journals (1st – 6th classes) are used to relay messages which are signed between parents and teachers. Parents are requested to sign diary each night to certify that homework has been completed.

  • Through the Parents’ Association and Board of Management, parents are invited to discuss and contribute to the drafting and review of all school policies.

  • Workshops and Information sessions are held for parents of pupils in Senior Infants before the commencement of Literacy Lift-Off

  • Workshops and Information sessions are held for the parents of pupils in Fifth Class before the commencement of the Friends for Life programme.

  • The school values and welcomes the participation of parents/guardians in school events e.g. school masses/concerts, sports days etc

  • Parental involvement and participation is particularly encouraged in certain areas of children’s education, such as sacramental preparations, social personal and health education programmes, health promotion activities, sports events and green school projects

  • A Panel of Parent Volunteers has been established to enable fully vetted parents support the school during in-school and extra-curricular activities.

  • Parents and staff collaborate in the organization of a range of fundraising events including the Run for Funds.

Parent/teacher meetings
The aims of Parent/Teacher Meetings are:

  • To facilitate an exchange of information among staff members and parents

  • To let parents know how their children are progressing in school

  • To let teachers know how children are getting along outside school

  • To establish an ongoing relationship and communication with parents

Informal parent/teacher communication:

·       Communication between parents and teachers is encouraged.

·       Parents are required to make an appointment (by phone call to Reception, by email, or by note in the Homework Journal) to meet with the child’s teacher if/when needed. Pre-arranged appointments facilitate better quality communication between the parent and teacher, rather than the more rushed and distracted type that takes place when the teacher has to supervise the pupils in the class from the classroom door while at the same time communicating with a parent. Pre-arranged meetings allow for more discreet communication and avoid potential embarrassment for a child when his/her parent is talking to the teacher at the classroom door. Staff members are instructed to advise parents that they would be happy to meet with them at another time that is suitable to both parties.

·       Particular care is taken to ensure that parent/teacher consultations do not take place within the hearing of other pupils and/or parents.

·       It is understood that from time-to-time certain ‘sensitive/urgent’ situations (eg serious illness of family member, family crisis, etc) will arise which will require a parent to arrive at the school without appointment and such situations will of course continue to be facilitated. Outside of such situations parents should not arrive at the classroom door unannounced/without appointment to seek a consultation with a staff member. If parents wish to drop in lunch boxes, sports gear etc, this can be done through Reception as it is important to keep class interruptions to a minimum.

Formal parent/teacher communication

Formal timetabled Parent/Teacher Meetings take place each year. These meetings are an important opportunity for parents and teachers to exchange information regarding the child’s progress and every effort should be made by parents to attend the meeting.

  • Letters are issued to parents during the week prior to the meeting. If unable to attend, parents should notify teacher(s) accordingly so that an alternative appointment may be made.

  • In the case of married but separated/divorced parents, requests may be made by both parents to meet their child’s teacher(s) individually for parent/teacher meetings

  • In the case of unmarried separated parents, requests may be made by both parents to meet their child’s teacher(s) individually for parent/teacher meetings, subject to the natural father having established his ‘guardianship, custody and access rights’ through the court and/or by means of statutory declaration made by the natural mother.

End-of-year school reports

  • An end-of-year school report is issued by post to parents at the end of June.

  • As and from July 2022 all reports will be sent via the Aladdin App.

  • In the case of married but separated/divorced parents, it is recommended that both parents/guardians download the app to ensure access to the reports.

  • In the case of unmarried separated parents, requests may be made by both parents to have a copy of the end-of-year report posted to their address subject to the natural father having established his ‘guardianship, custody and access rights’ through the court and/or by means of statutory declaration made by the natural mother.

Other parent/teacher communications

  • Texts via the Aladdin App are also sent to notify/update parents of significant/unexpected events during the school year

  • Parents are expected to check Homework Journals on a nightly basis (Monday to Friday) as notes/comments may be included by the child’s teacher. Similarly, parents may use the homework journal to communicate with teacher(s).

  • Parents are expected to sign the weekly ratings for pupils in 5th and 6th classes

  • Parents are expected to sign test results on a weekly/monthly basis

  • Parents are required to notify the class teacher of their child’s absence, including date(s) and reason for absence(s).

  • Scoil Íosagáin Facebook Page and school website keeps parents informed of school activities, celebrations, and in general what’s happening in school.

Where either/both parents is/are involved in new relationships, it should be noted that communications from the school to new partners will be limited to that which is expressly agreed between the parents and notified to the school or that which has been provided for by a court order.

Parents are encouraged to:

  • Develop and maintain close links with the school

  • Collaborate with the school in developing the full potential of their child(ren)

  • Emphasise the benefits and importance of learning to their child(ren)

  • Equip pupils with all the appropriate school materials (books, copies, writing materials, etc) required during the school day, including a healthy, nutritious lunch and full uniform/tracksuit

  • Become actively involved in the Parents’ Association and/or Consultation Group

  • Participate in policy and decision-making processes when the opportunity arises

  • Notify the school at the earliest opportunity if family events/situations occur that cause anxiety to your child and therefore may adversely affect his/her education

  • Provide a note of explanation when a pupil is late arriving to school, absent from school or not in correct/full uniform/tracksuit

  • Speak positively about the school and its staff members: if there is a concern, please address it directly with a staff member

  • Show care and respect for school property and encourage child(ren) to do likewise

  • Refrain from bringing family pets on to the school premises (even if on a lead)

  • Refrain from smoking anywhere within the school environs

  • Refrain from using inappropriate language anywhere within the school environs

  • Facilitate the child(ren) reaching their full potential and gaining maximum benefit from their time in school by ensuring that pupils attend regularly and punctually throughout the school year. Whenever possible, parents should request from other professionals that appointments be arranged for after-school times.

  • Leave the school building/grounds promptly when ‘dropping-off’ pupils especially those young pupils who may experience some ‘separation anxiety’ in the earlier part of the school year. Further contact will be made with parents if the need arises.

  • Exercise the utmost care when driving in the vicinity of the school including dropping off/picking up pupils. Parents should not stop/park vehicles in such a way that will cause a risk to their children alighting from the vehicle or that will cause a risk to other children or adults. Parents should adhere strictly to the entry/exit of the church car park and observe the parking restrictions along St. Patrick’s Road. Parents are not permitted to drive from the church car park into the area of the Grotto.

  • Be sensitive to the feelings of other children on the occasion of your child’s birthday. Birthday party invitations should not be distributed in school as they can lead to children feeling excluded who do not receive an invitation. It is more appropriate to issue invitations by contacting the children’s parents.

Staff members seek to:

  • Promote partnership and collaboration with parents in the interests of the child(ren)’s learning and holistic development on a ‘whole school’ basis

  • Maximise the active participation of parents in their child(ren)’s education

  • Raise awareness in parents of their own capacities to enhance their child(ren)’s educational progress

  • Promote active co-operation between home, school and relevant community and statutory agencies in promoting the educational interests of pupils.