Home - School Links

	General The following measures endeavour to develop and ensure dynamic and supportive links between school and home.
	Regular newsletters Homework notebook and notes to parents Parent - Teacher Meetings End of year reports Appointment procedure for meeting parents where necessary Phone calls where necessary Religious ceremonies Meetings involving parents School concerts, socials, prizegivings etc. Sports day Book Fair Parents' Association activities School Website
	Policy It is recognised that good home-school links contribute greatly to the quality of education received by children. To establish these links an open, cordial relationship exists between parents and teachers which recognises and values the respective roles of each.
	Aims
	To facilitate a communicative relationship between teachers and parents to the benefit of our pupils. To establish procedures for the sharing of information in relation to pupils' progress. To create a school environment where parents and guardians feel welcome and free to discuss their child's progress with the teachers. To encourage all parents to become involved with the Parents' Association.
	Communications Formal Parent/Teacher meetings will be held every year in November where each parent may have a private meeting with their child's teacher(s). In the case of parents that are separated a separate meeting can be organised for father and mother. The meetings will be held during the hours laid down by the DES. Where parents are unable to attend at this time, they are encouraged to make an alternative appointment with the teacher at a mutually suitable time. The school also encourages periodical informal meetings between teachers and parents which may be initiated by either party as they see fit. When a parent/guardian requests a meeting outside the annual Parent/Teacher meeting this must be organised through the Principal. Parents will be encouraged to be familiar with the work being done by their child in school and to be aware of what homework is being done. A formal school report will be issued at the end of each school year. Information on school activities will be communicated to parents through periodic letters and bulletins during the year. In accordance with the Educational Welfare Act (2000), explanatory notes on pupil absences must be sent to the class teacher after each absence. At the teacher's discretion, and subject to the Principal's approval, parents may be invited to use their expertise in a particular area to assist the teacher in some classroom-based or extra-curricular activities. Parents' Association The school recognises the benefits of an active Parents' Association. The association may communicate with the school through meetings between the Chairperson and the Principal, particularly after a Parents' Association general or committee meetings. The Principal is available to speak at any meeting of the Parents' Association-this is particularly important when a new committee meets for the first time. At each of the B.O.M. meetings during the year one item on the agenda will be the parents' representatives' report which allows for two-way communication between the Board and parent body. Parent Association support in the provision of resources, financial support and assistance in extra-curricular areas is welcome and appreciated. Roles and Responsibilities It is important that all partners in the school community be aware of the parameters of their own and others' respective roles and responsibilities. Nothing must be said or done to undermine the ethos of the school. The ethos is defined by the patron. The school is Christian, child-centred, non-discriminatory and democratic. Consequently, respect for the partners - children, parents, staff and management - must be shown at all times.
	Parent - Teacher Meetings
	Annual Parent-Teacher meetings are held each year towards the end of November in accordance with Circular 14/04. Parents / guardians are given a 10 minute appointment for each child a week in advance. A school family register which is updated each year allows for the efficient allocation of times to families with more than one child in the school. Two afternoons are allocated for the purposes of the meetings, which start at 2.50 pm and continue at 10 minute intervals. Parent - Teacher meeting report sheets are available to teachers who choose to use them as a method of conducting the meetings. Prior to the meetings, a handout is circulated to teachers outlining (a) the aims of the meetings (b) suggestions on how to conduct the meetings (c) suggestions with regard to preparing for the meetings. Where necessary, teachers are available to meet parents by appointment during the school year.