School Day
Our school day begins at 8.30 am and ends at 1.10 pm for Junior and Senior Infants. All other classes finish at 2.10 pm. The children have two 20-minute breaks during the school day.
A sample junior school day
- 8:30: School Opens
- 8:30 - 8:40: Circle Work & Roll call
- 8:40 – 10.10: Teaching & Learning
- 10.10 – 10:30: Morning lunch break/Story-time & free play/yard
- 10:30 – 11:55: Teaching & Learning
- 11:55 – 12:25: Lunch break & free play
- 12:25 – 13:10: Teaching & Learning
- 13:10 – Junior and Senior Infant pupils go home
- 13:10 – 14:10 1st Class and above Teaching and learning activity
- 14:10 Senior Class pupils go home
A sample senior school day
- 8:30: School Opens
- 8:30 - 8:40: Circle Work & Roll call
- 8:40 – 10.10: Teaching & Learning
- 10.10 – 10:30: Morning lunch break/Story-time & free play/yard
- 10:30 – 11:55: Teaching & Learning
- 11:55 – 12:25: Lunch break & free play
- 12:25 – 13:10: Teaching & Learning
- 13:10 – Junior and Senior Infant pupils go home
- 13:10 – 14:10 1st Class and above Teaching and learning activity
- 14:10 Senior Class pupils go home
The school receives pupils at 8:30 am. No responsibility is accepted for pupils arriving before that time. Classes will end each day at 1:10 pm for Junior and Senior Infants and 2:10 pm for all other class levels. The school cannot accept responsibility for looking after the pupils after that time.
School Uniform
We do not have a uniform in Killester Raheny Clontarf ETNS. We do, however, recommend that children wear comfortable clothing. Junior and Senior Infants have a very active day so therefore they should wear clothes that enable them to move freely. Children should be encouraged to learn to take off or put on their coat and to open and close zips, buttons, buckles and laces. Zips are preferable to buttons, elasticised clothing is ideal and Velcro shoes are preferable to laces.
Subjects Taught
Killester Raheny Clontarf ETNS teaches the Primary School Curriculum as required by the Department of Education. There are eleven subjects in the Primary School Curriculum:
- English
- Gaeilge/Irish
- Maths
- History
- Geography
- Science
- Visual Arts
- Music
- Drama
- Physical Education
- Aistear (Activity and Play Based Learning)
- Social Personal Health Education (SPHE)
Copies of the Primary School Curriculum available at www.ncca.ie from the end of this section to just below the list of subjects.
In addition, Educate Together’s Learn Together Ethical Education Curriculum is taught alongside the Primary National Curriculum.
Learn Together includes learning within the following four strands: An Ethical Approach to the Environment; Equality and Justice; Values and Ethical Perspectives; and Belief Systems.
Additional Educational Needs
We welcome all children into our school. In relation to applications for the enrolment of children with additional educational needs, we do request a copy of the child’s medical and/or psychological report.
Where such a report is not available, we request that the child be assessed immediately. The purpose of the assessment report is to assist the school in establishing the educational needs of the child and to access the support services required. Following the report, the Board of Management assesses how the school could best meet the needs specified in the report.
If you notice that your child is struggling with any aspect of schooling, let us know. Likewise, we will inform you if we have any concerns regarding your child’s educational, physical or emotional development. If this occurs, please do not panic. It’s better to find out concerns at an early stage to provide support.
In February 2023, we were delighted to open a reduced autism class for three of our pupils. Since September 2023, we have two full autism classes.
Absences
All absences must be explained to the class teacher/the school in writing. This should be done through the “Aladdin Connect” App, outlining the reason for the absence (this information is required for absence reports to the Education Welfare Services TUSLA). It is not necessary to phone the school.
Under the Education and Welfare Act 2000, if a child is absent for more than 20 days, a report must be sent by the school to TUSLA, the child and family agency.
We urge parents NOT to book holidays or trips abroad during term time. This practice can have a negative effect on the education and wellbeing of your child in school and is very disruptive to your child’s learning.
Communication
In pursuit of laying down the foundation for trustworthy relationships, it is important for all members of the school community to have open, positive and respectful communication with each other.
Urgent information will be communicated to you through Aladdin and on Class Dojo.
If you have any queries, problems or concerns regarding your child please contact your child’s teacher to make an appointment to meet with them. To get the most out of these meetings, please contact the school in advance to arrange a time, as it is not always possible for the class teacher to meet with parents and guardians on the spot. This will allow the teacher to give you the attention and privacy that you may need. When making an appointment, please indicate the nature of your concern so that the teacher can gather any relevant information and be best prepared.
In addition, if there is a change in home circumstances (illness, separation, or anything that you may feel may affect your child), please let us know. I assure you that any information shared with the Principal and/or teacher will be treated with the utmost sensitivity and confidentiality. Please let the school know if you change your phone number.
You can access our newsletter here.
Our Communication Policy outlines this in more detail and can be accessed here.