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 breaks during the school day; a ten minute break and a 30 minute lunch.
A sample 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 will open to receive pupils at the hour of 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 and Skills (DES). There are eleven subjects in the Primary School Curriculum:
- English
- Gaeilge/Irish
- Maths
- History
- Geography
- Science
- Visual Arts
- Music
- Drama
- Aistear (activity and Play Based Learning)
- Physical Education
- Social Personal Health Education (SPHE)
In addition, Educate Together’s Learn Together Ethical Education Curriculum is taught alongside the Primary National Curriculum. Learn Together includes learning within the four strands: Moral and Spiritual; Equality and Justice; Belief Systems and an Ethics and the environment.
Copies of the Primary School Curriculum available at www.ncca.ie
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 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.
Absences
All absences must be explained to the class teacher/the school in writing, this may be done by a note in the child’s communication journal or directly 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 has a negative effect on the education and well-being of your child in school and is very disruptive of your child’s learning.
Communication
It is important for you as parents, for your child and for us in Killester Raheny Clontarf ETNS to have open, positive communication with each other. If you have any queries, problems or concerns regarding your child please contact your child’s teacher to make an appointment to meet with him/her. It is not always possible for the class teacher to meet ‘on the spot’ so in order for both teacher and parent to get the most of such a meeting please contact the school in advance to arrange a time to give you the attention and
privacy that you may need. When making an appointment, please indicate to the nature of your concern so that accurate preparation on the issue can be made.
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 the utmost sensitivity and confidentiality in the matter. Our school lays down the foundation for trustworthy relationships.
Please check your child’s school bag regularly as important information is sent home through the school bag. Urgent information is communicated to you through Aladdin and by email. Please let the school know if you change your phone number.
You can keep informed of all that is happening in school via our dedicated news page here.
Further Information:
KRCETNS 