Welcome to St Joseph’s Primary School Open Night Tuesday 5 December 2017

‘Being the best that we can be’ St. Joseph’s Primary School Founded by the Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Mary Enrolment = 395 Admissions number = 56 14 classes 2 Learning Support Teachers Literacy Numeracy Creative Voices Happy learning environment A school at the heart of its local community ‘Being the best that we can be’

Surround ourselves with a happy, secure learning environment for all. Mission statement Surround ourselves with a happy, secure learning environment for all. Join together the home, the school and the wider community. Promote academic and cultural excellence. Support and provide for everyone’s individuality.

What makes St. Joseph’s different? A school in the heart of the community… Linen Centre Island Arts Centre The River Lagan Wallace Park Wallace Park Tennis Dome Castle Gardens Lisburn Racquets’ Club Salto Amazing variety of extra curricular activities… Miniversity, Monkeynastix, Spanish, Go Media, Dance, Speech and Drama, Children’s Music Academy, Coding, Netball, Football, Gaelic, Hurling, Choir, Folk Group, Cookery, Art Club Cool Kids: Wraparound Care…. 8am – 9am 2pm – 5.30pm July & August

The little extras……. Buddies Eco Council Pupil Council Digital Leaders Learning Leaders Creative Voices Sustrans Digital investment: IWB in every classroom, 6 iPads per class Educational Visits Links with local post-primary schools Primary 7 Residential trips Shared Education Project with Harmony Hill Parent Workshops

Pupil Voice Pupil Council Eco-Council Learning Leaders Digital leaders

Awards and Accreditations

Our Academic Record Very high standards of academic achievement GL Assessment Grade A …an average of 50% of our pupils achieve Grade A in GL Assessment AQE: An average of 50% of our pupils achieve Band 1 in AQE Assessment Key Stage Two Outcomes at June 2017 Maths 98% Level 4+ English 96% Level 4+ On average over 70% Primary 7 pupils transfer to grammar schools: Rathmore, Friends, Wallace, Hunterhouse, Victoria, Methody, Inst, Assumption, St. Mary’s Aquinas

ETI Report December 2016 Extremely positive follow up inspection Leadership team and coordinators delivering high quality leadership Positive ethos within the school Inspectors saw 7 lessons and all 7 lessons were good , very good and outstanding Children all very engaged in lessons…developing a wide range of thinking skills and personal capabilities Differentiation…in the planning and in the delivery…children’s learning adapted to meet their needs Innovative ways of working with classroom assistants Positive culture throughout the school …open to change Wide range of CPD available to staff

What’s in your pack? Prospectus Primary 1 Newsletters December Newssheet Cool Kids Information Admissions Criteria Application Form

Criteria for selection Children of compulsory school age who:- Have or have had a brother or sister, half brother/half sister, step brother/step sister, enrolled in St Joseph’s P.S and indicate this on the application form.   Are children of the current (2017/18) permanent employees (teaching, ancillary, auxiliary staff) of the school and indicate this on the application form. Who are the eldest or only child in the family and reside in the Parish of Blaris Reside in the Parish of Blaris Reside outside the Parish of Blaris.

Sub-Criteria for over subscription In the event of being over-subscribed in any of the above categories, the following sub- criteria will be applied: Children will be admitted on the basis of the initial letter of their surname as written on their birth certificate in the order set out below: Mac R S G Mc H Y O P M U W T A C D B X Z V N E K J L Q I F In the event of surnames beginning with the same initial letter, as outlined above, the subsequent letters of the surname will be used in strict alphabetical order. In the event of two identical surnames, the alphabetical order of the initials of the forenames will be used.

Parents….. It is your responsibility to provide all relevant information on the application form and attach your child’s birth certificate. Proof of name and date of birth (birth certificate) of your child along with proof of address of the parent or legal guardian of the child (utility bill/bank statement) must be attached to the application form.

Application Forms Select choice of schools Hand form in to 1st choice school Wednesday 10 January 2018 @12noon : closing date for applications Thursday 26 April 2018: Letters issued by the school for which your child is accepted June 2018: Open Afternoon and Induction Evening for you and your child

A day in the life of Primary 1……