ST. ALOYSIUS INDUCTION FOR PARENTS OF 1ST YEAR STUDENTS PRINCIPAL: RICHEL LONG DEPUTY PRINCIPAL: EILEEN KELLEHER YEAR HEAD: MS SHINKWIN CLASS TEACHERS AINGEAL: MS SHINKWIN COLM: MS COEN

Aims of Secondary Education  A stimulating and enjoyable experience  Academic progress  Personal & Social development  Spiritual & moral growth  Aesthetic & cultural development  Physical & athletic development

Possible Initial Changes  Larger school & longer day  Many teachers vs only one teacher  Wider range of subjects  Greater workload  May not know many pupils at first  Lunch in the canteen  Supervised Study

School Expectations  Punctuality  Commitment to work and study  Books, journal, lunchtime pass  Uniform, makeup, jewellery, mobile phones  Acceptance of school code of conduct  Participation in extra curricular activities  School spirit and sense of identity

Student Supports  Pastoral Care Structure: Year Head and Class Teacher  Subject teachers  Learning Support  English as an Additional Language (EAL)  Guidance & Counselling (Ms. Whalley & Sr Eileen)  Administration Staff  School Management

Home School Contact  Contact numbers in student’s journals  Journal notes  Absences – ring the school on the morning of absence  Slips....exit, late, uniform  Newsletters, memos, letters, texts  Website – 1 st year photographs

Parents Always Welcome  Phone  Appointment  Parent/Teacher meetings  Parent’s Association  Board of Management

Practical  Medical Condition  Breakfast  Name on everything  Timetable.... Check for next day  Mobile phone  Holidays.... School time precious

School facilities  Science labarotories  Home Economics kitchens & rooms  Computer room  Art rooms  WiFi in each classroom  Data Projectors

School Facilites (contd)  Prayer room and Religion room Shalom  Library  Gym, outdoor courts, pitch  Canteen

Extra Curricular  Variety Show – November 2014  Basketball  Camogie  Table tennis  Debating  Amnesty  Lunchtime Club

Recipe for Success  Punctuality  Preparation  Positive Attitude  Personal Care i.e. Early to bed and good diet

Literacy Initiative  National Literacy Initiative – Roll out September 2013  Key findings in Pisa report: Declining standards in literacy and numeracy since 2000  15 year olds read significantly less as a leisure time activity  Gender gap in literacy widening  Good news: Students attending all girls secondary schools achieved higher reading scores than students in all other types of schools

National Plan for Literacy & Numeracy  All students will now be tested at end of 2 nd class, 4 th class and end of 2 nd year in school  Report student’s progress to parents and aggregated data to Board of Management  Data analysed as part of School Self evaluation  Parents: Huge influence on literacy levels  Books in the home  No TV in child’s bedroom  Reading time in the home  Reading for pleasure!!

Literacy in St Aloysius  Literacy team formed  Library initiative:  Library books updated with support of the PPU  Library cards issued to all 1 st years  Lunchtime opening (1 day)  ‘Drop & read’ as part of English curriculum  Introductory stage – more to follow