Additional Information – Swords Educate Together National School

Our school is a very welcoming place to all who visit us. All visitors to the school should report to the Principal/Deputy Principal or Secretary, identify themselves and make known the purpose of their visit.
It is school policy that all staff be addressed by their first names.
The Golden Rules is posted in each classroom. Please allow your child to familiarize you with this short list of positively written behaviours.
Staff meetings are held on the last Thursday of each month. We would be grateful if you would mark this on your calendar.
Homework provides a very positive link between school and home. It consolidates work done in school and fosters good work habits. Children at Infant level are not given homework as such. They will from time to time take home a book to read for you. They may also take home little bags/boxes of words. We strongly recommend that you allow your child to demonstrate what they’re doing in school.The emphasis at Infant level is on oral language and the more you talk with your child about what s/he is doing in school the better his/her progress will be. In First and Second class, the homework given should not take more than thirty minutes. In Third and Fourth Class, homework should not take more than forty-five minutes. In Fifth and Sixth Class, homework should not take more than one hour. If your child regularly exceeds this limit and you are satisfied that it is not due to poor work habits or distractions, please come and talk to the teacher. When homework is not completed, a written note should be entered in the relevant space in the child’s homework journal for the teacher’s attention. Communication from your child’s teacher may also be written in this journal space. And don’t forget – PRAISE, PRAISE, PRAISE!!!! Please bring to the attention of your child’s teacher anything that might affect his/her happiness or performance in school – in particular sight and hearing difficulties.
In September, there will be an opportunity for all Parents/Guardians of Junior Infant children to meet with their child’s teacher. This will be an evening meeting to facilitate maximum attendance. The purpose of this meeting is to familiarize Parents with the curriculum and their child’s life in school. Parents have found these meetings to be particularly helpful and your attendance is highly recommended.
Good home-school communications is one of our top priorities. For general information, we issue notices and newsletters to parents through the children’s schoolbags and via email or text. This will help keep you up to date with day-to-day events.
Over and above general meetings for Parents/Guardians, one-to-one parent-teacher meetings are held once a year and it is important that you attend these meetings in order to keep in touch with your child’s progress. If your child is experiencing a particular problem it is essential that you communicate this to the teacher so that s/he can help your child to cope. Please don’t wait for the annual Parent-Teacher meeting to see your child’s teacher – act quickly!
Absences: When your child is absent from school it is necessary to write a note to your child’s teacher explaining the reason for his/her absence. All notes are kept on file. In September 2002 the Education Welfare Act was enacted. Under this Act, the school must inform the Education Welfare Board when a child accumulates 20 absences or when there is a concern about a child’s attendance. It is long established that there is a direct link between high pupil attendance and progress in school. Children should not be out of school without good reason and, as stated above, a written note, stating the reason, must be handed to the pupil’s teacher for each absence.
Parents/Guardians are informed that we actively discourage children being withdrawn from school during the school day. When this is necessary, a Request to Withdraw Child From School Before the End of the School Day must be completed in the office. Parents/Guardians are requested to always present to the office during the school day. To minimize disruption to classes, Catriona withdraws and returns children to classrooms.
Parents/Guardians are advised that the distribution of invitations to parties/cards is not permitted in the school. This is necessary in order to maintain our ethos and to ensure that no child feels like an outsider. Your co-operation with regard to this is greatly appreciated.
In the interest of good waste management and keeping school refuse charges at a minimum, the children take home their lunchbox waste daily. Your co-operation in this regard is greatly appreciated.
Images of pupils’ work, and other images relating to the life and activities of our school, that are published on this website are subject to copyright. The copying of such content is prohibited without express written permission. If permission for reproduction is requested, a standard permission letter will be provided. Permission for reproduction will only be granted when this letter is returned to the relevant class teacher with both the child’s and a guardian’s signature on it. This letter is available on request and can be found as an appendix in the school’s ICT/AUP Policy.
Important: The school does not disseminate out-of-school sourced promotional material but from time to time we may feel it’s appropriate to bring something to your attention. Please check the foyer notice board regularly.
Please read the school’s Traffic Management Policy. Only staff cars and authorized vehicles are allowed to access the car park, using the designated drop-off area only, when necessary. Maintaining a safe environment for children is everyone’s responsibility. Park sensibly.
Finally, we have our own School Reflection/School Anthem. The children say the reflection every morning after roll call and we sing it at weekly assembly. The Reflection was written by Alice Hamilton and the music was written by Bronagh Dillon, both teaching staff. A framed copy of our School Reflection/Anthem is exhibited in our foyer.