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

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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!!!!!

9. 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
Facebook (PTA)
Out & about
Fundraising
Visitors

10. 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

11. 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

12. GET RID OF THE SCREEN
Talking to
Listening to

13. 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

14. 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!!

15. 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.

16. 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.

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

18. 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.

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

20. It comes quicker than you think……

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

22. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS