St Mary’s Junior School Induction Meeting for Parents of Incoming Infants Fáilte romhaibh!

A short history lesson… St Mary’s has been serving the educational needs of our parish for 135 years. 1882 -Original school constructed. 1939 – S.N. Mhuire was built with four classrooms. 1982- New school extension of 10 mainstream classes and General Purpose room. 2007 – S.N. Mhuire split into St. Mary’s Junior and Senior Schools.

St. Mary’s today…. Junior School – Junior Infants to Second Class. Co Educational National School with a Catholic Patronage. Implement the National Curriculum. D.oE.S. allocation for 2018 is: 13 Mainstream classes 5 Special Educational Needs posts Projected enrolment Projected building works.

Who’s who? Board of Management (BOM) Principal & 7 Volunteers - Chairperson: Siobhán Cullen Parents Association (PA) – All volunteers – Chairperson: Eamonn Elliott Class Teachers Special Education Needs Teachers Special Needs Assistants (S.N.A.) Secretary – Bernadette Rooney Caretaker – Michael Keogh Cleaners – Mary Balfe & Mary McHugh Volunteers

Day to day routines… Coming and Going… In the yard & being on time. Come in through the yard doors! The bell goes….you don’t always have to be first! Punctuality -Arriving late / collecting early / different person Home time – Uniform… The basics.. Elasticated waists & Velcro shoes. No laces please!!!! Tracksuit & runners A warm coat Labels, labels, labels!!!!!! Break times On the small yard On the big yard Game Zone, Skipping Zone & Grass In class

Day to day routines… Illness Keep at home or send in? Sick in school Infectious diseases Head lice Schoolwork Junior Infant workbooks Pencils, copies, etc… Aistear – Roll Play, Construction, Creative, Sand & Water & Small World. Jolly Phonics – sounds – blends – words – tricky words – reading! Learning Environment Homework The basics.. Special projects Homework Sheet … not just homework its also a home school link! Routine- establishing a pattern for the years to come! Absenteeism Notes Holidays TUSLA

Small Lunch & Big Lunch Healthy snacks Sandwiches cut to size Fruit cut up or easy peel Rice cakes Crackers Cheese SMALL yogurt & spoon Water Carrot sticks /raw veg Raisins Friday-SMALL treat

Small Lunch & Big Lunch Fizzy drinks Sugary or coloured juices Crisps Pop corn LARGE yogurts/Sweet yogurts Foods high in sugar or food colourings Cereal bars eg.Coco Pop Bars Chocolate including spread/croissants/brioche Milk ANY NUT PRODUCT!!!!!

Things to note… School Ethos and Religious Education Code of Behaviour Anti Bullying Child Protection Health and Safety Critical Incidents Data Protection Birthday Invitations Greeting Cards Friendships Relationships with Teachers Website www.stmarysjns.weebly.com Facebook (PTA) Out & about Fundraising Visitors

The extras… Other learning experiences Curricular Green School Station Teaching Group Reading Gaeilge- Bua na Cainte Ready Set Go Maths S.P.H.E. (Stay Safe) P.E. -Gymnastics Swimming Gaelic Games Yoga Irish Dancing Art S.E.S.E. Green School Tidy Towns Community Involvement Library IT Yoga Drama Excursions Expertise

Readiness… Reading Readiness Dressing Maths Readiness Toileting Colours Nursery Rhymes Expressing Feelings & Ideas -Vocabulary Listening & Responding Recognising place names Colouring Cutting Pencil grip – finger strength & dexterity. Memorising Dressing Toileting Eating Use tissues Sharing Tidying Communicate Simple commands Dealing with peers Meeting adults Self-control Being away from you

GET RID OF THE SCREEN Talking to Listening to

Coming to visit… Tuesday 19th & Thursday 21st June Gather in GP room about 1:50pm Class allocations Children will be called out in class groups Their teacher & their classmates in their classroom PLEASE don’t disappear! Children returned at 2:30pm Kaideen Knitwear for Junior Infants Special needs Appointment to meet me

The Big Day Preparing for the first day… Talk & Listen. Explain and be positive. Visit. Try on the uniform and wash in familiar smells, wear shoes. Involve in getting ready. BIG BAG and BIG PENCIL CASE. Explore the pack & look at the books but don’t teach. Label everything! Books on the outside please. Arrange minder for the baby if possible. Have the camera ready, the bag packed and the alarm set! Early to bed!!

The Big Day… That morning… Have a good breakfast. Take photos at home before you leave. Be on time. Line up in the yard. Wait for other classes. Enter through main doors. Be patient – they’ll all get in. Stay for a few minutes Reassure. Don’t let them see you crying! Leave the class! Don’t look in the windows! Collect on time.

When the dust has settled… In the first month… From then on… Cut the cord! 12:00 Noon finish for the first 3 weeks. One break – one snack. Workbooks collected. Small yard. Big yard. Homework. Meeting for Parents – 24th September. 1:40 Finish from 24th Sept. Two breaks – two lunches. Timetable for PE. Establishing pattern for life. Homework. Parental Partnership. Emerging difficulties. Intervention.

Housekeeping Contact details EMAIL Address Emergency Contact Payments Permission Slips Wet mornings Labelling Homework Sheet Housekeeping

Some words of wisdom…… Reading. Talking & listening. Eating together at the table. Limit time spent in front of a screen….Bake, paint, play cards and do jigsaws. Let them make a mess but get them to help clean up after wards. Keep the rules clear and simple and explain why. Catch them being good! Follow through on rewards and sanctions Its ok to blow a fuse! It’s ok for them to argue! There are two sides to every story. Encourage lots of friends. Have some play dates. Don’t get involved in their rows. Maintain a positive attitude about school and teachers at home.

We are at the start of the journey…. You cannot protect them from the world but you can prepare them for it.

It comes quicker than you think……

You cannot protect them from the world but you can prepare them for it.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS