1. Information Evening 2017/2018
February 09th 2017

2. Schedule Overview of school to date: Sarah Buckley
Curriculum Information
Textbooks : Michaela Piare and Laura O’Connell
Information on iPads for students: CK
Students with additional needs
Update on School Building Process
Questions

3. School Overview The school will have 264 students. 96 in First Year.
96 in Second Year
72 in Third Year.
All students use iPads and eBooks instead of physical textbooks.
We use a VLE called Schoology to back up this style of teaching.
There is a strong sense of student responsibility and student ownership of their own learning.
We practice Instructional Leadership as a core teaching approach.
This school is fully ready for the new JCA.

4. Basic School Information
Start time is 8.50 for registration
Classes begin at 9.00
First break is from
Lunch is at 13.20
The school day finishes at (MON-THURS), FRIDAY
There is no canteen, so students should bring a healthy packed lunch.
Students may not leave the school at Lunch
Mobile phones can be brought to school, but they must be switched off and kept in lockers.

5. Basic School Information
Uniform is available from Whelan’s Menswear. Day and PE.
Stationary needs are outlined on your information sheet.
All reports will be available online. They will only be posted by arrangement.
We will communicate with you through the school text service, the website, by phone and and the school journal.

6. Curriculum Information
Junior Cycle Award: 9 exam subjects and 2 short courses
Core Exam subjects: Maths, English, Irish, Science, European Language (French/German/Spanish), History. (Six subjects)240/200 HRS
Option Subjects: students will do three optional subjects that best reflect their interests and abilities. 200 HRS
Short Courses: Philosophy and PE 100 HRS
Wellbeing 300 hours over the 3 years, rising to 400 hours from 2020 and beyond. SPHE, CSPE, PE and Tutorial
Non Exam Subjects: RE, Computers

7. Short Courses
PE: This will get 132 hours over the 3 years and will be part of the Wellbeing component. This course has been picked as it fits in with the school’s commitment to Healthy Living and Positive Mental Health.
Philosophy: New short course. We will be one of the first schools in the country to pursue this course of study. It is intended to “contribute to students understanding of the world and their place in it. In addition to develop thinking skills, the process of learning through dialogue helps students become more confident in expressing their opinion and respectful of different perspectives”

8. Subject Grid: One Hour Classes
MON-THURS
FRI
9:00-10:00
CLASS 1
10:00-11:00
CLASS 2
11:00-11:20
BREAK
11:20-12:20
CLASS 3
12:20-13:20
CLASS 4
13:20-14:00
LUNCH
14:00-15:00
CLASS 5
15:00-16:00
CLASS 6

9. Reasons for 1 Hour Classes
One hour classes allow for more active and effective methodologies. 40 min classes in practice are rarely 40 mins in duration. Teachers can go into more depth and detail.
There would be 33% less movement. Very important as the school grows in population and physical area.
Less organization for students. 6 classes instead of 9.
Our research has indicated that the vast majority of schools that have gone to 1 hour classes would not revert.
Homework quality is likely to improve.
Attendance improves.
Organised for the JCA

10. Unexpected Benefits School is noticeably cleaner.
School is noticeably calmer.
Conflict and Discipline referrals are reduced.
Students take greater ownership of classes.

11. Textbooks
We plan to move from Edco textbooks to Teacher generated content on Schoology instead in the following subjects:
English,
Science,
Home Economics,
Art,
Classical Studies,
History,
Geography,
Technical Graphics,
Spanish
German.

12. Textbooks There are four main reasons for this course of action:
We want teachers to teach to the curriculum rather than the textbook.
The textbooks are expensive and no better than the material that can be developed by teachers. Our model is cheaper and more effective
Textbooks are often slow to be updated.
Ownership model of eBooks is unsatisfactory.

13. Textbooks
Costs:
Maths, Business, Woodwork, Music, French and Irish will still require a textbook and the cost will be in the order of €30 per book.
All other subjects will each be subject to a €10 charge that will cover the expenses of that subject. That money will be ringfenced and used by that subject department.
For example Science is compulsory so €960 will be collected and then utilised by the Science department. Ms Piare will give details of how that would be spent.
This plan should result in significant financial savings to all families.

14. Teachers Demonstration
Ms Piare : Science
Ms O’Connell : Geography

15. IPAD Costs Hardware costs iPad Air 2 32Gb = €429 or 128Gb €529
Heavy duty Case = €45
Wriggle service = €99
Total Hardware cost = €573 or €673

16. Cost of Books CORE € LANGUAGE OPTIONS MATHS 30 SPANISH 10 MTW ENGLISH
GERMAN
BUSINESS
IRISH
FRENCH
MUSIC
SCIENCE
HOME EC
HISTORY
GEOG
ART TG
CLASSICAL
TOTAL 70 ?

17. Overall Costs Cheapest hardware = €573 Cheapest books = €110
Cheapest total = €683
Most expensive hardware = €673
Most expensive books = €190
Most expensive total = €863
( previous cost of books was €270)

18. Optional Subjects
These class lists will be issued at the end of this meeting.
The subject options lines were constructed based on the option forms sent in by you. We have tried to satisfy as many families as possible.

19. Students with Education Support Needs
Reports
Language exemption
Reduced curriculum
IEPs and meetings
Support

20. Building Update
We expect to get Planning Permission by 28th March 2017
That could take until May 2017 to have the formal Declaration. I will meet with the County Manager to seek to expedite that (Possible 1 month saving)
Latest time for Department sanction to move to Stage 3 (Tender) July 2017, we hope to move that to June 2017 (Possible 1 month saving)
The project managers are suggesting that we should allow for 11 months for the tender process. Which would indicate Construction would not start until May 2018.
This means completion of November –December 2018.
These are the worse case scenario milestones. I hope to regain 2 months through pressure and negotiation over the next few weeks.

21. Parents
Association
Our Purpose: be a VOICE for the parents & to support our children and dedicated staff through the Association’s Programme of Activities.
Internet Safety Talk, Anti Bullying Workshop, School Defibillator (€1,200)
My name is Ciara Kelly and I’m Vice Secretary of the Naas Community College Parents Association. I have a daughter, Laura in 1st Year and Emma will be starting this September 2107.
So why do we have a Parents Association?
Our Purpose: is to be a VOICE for the Parents of the students who attend this school and to offer as much support as possible to our children and the dedicated staff through the Association’s programme of activities (both fundraising & social events).
Over the past academic year (since September) we have held a number of fundraising events that resulted in the raising of in excess of 1700 euro??. All our fundraising events are specifically targeted to provide specific financial support to events for the school. For eg Tesco Community Fund & the Trolley Dash in Rushes Supervalu & our Bake Sale in Dec funded a number of key initiatives like :
The Internet Safety Talk for both students and parents last week as well as contributing towards an an Anti Bullying campaign run in the school in the form of a play and a presentation tri Gaeilge by John Spillane .
We also have raised 1,200 for a defibillator for our school.
This is the type of activity we believe will be the focus of our Association, education and information not always included in the state curriculum & funding programme.
In order to continue supporting our growing school – We need YOU!
We will be expanding our family base from 169 (73 in 2nd Year & 96 in 1st Year) to over 265 and it would be great to get a Parent
from every class involved with the committee. However, we do appreciate everyone is busy – so there will be an opportunity to
donate a skill or an hour or two over the year – so everyone feels part of the programme of activities!
We as parents are in a unique, privileged position to support our children & NCC staff on this exciting new journey & to nurture its
fantastic inclusive, welcoming spirit.
So as a first step we would love to invite you to support our next event: our annual NCC Table Quiz on 7th April in the Townhouse Hotel. Its a fantastic way to get to meet other parents as well as support the school fundraising calendar. Tickets cost €10 per person, €40 per table, and are available to buy in the school. Your support would be very much appreciated.
To keep you informed, we have a NCC FB page which is updated regularly on any upcoming events. Our address is And our NCC parents association mobile is xxxx
We really look forward to you coming on board in August 2017! So if you’d like to sign up or if you have any further questions, just come over to us after the talk.....
Join NCCPA!
Donate a skill /hour!
Next event: NCC Table Quiz on Thurs 6th April 2017
Naas Community College
Parents Association