School Structures

Bord of Management

College Staff

Teachers with Special Duties

Insurance

School Text-Books

School Uniform

Discipline

Bord of Management

A Board of Management has been appointed to the school to ensure, through the Principal and the teaching staff, that:

· The needs of students, individually and collectively are identified and responded to by the school.

· School plans, agreed by the staff and owners are developed, implemented and regularly evaluated.

· The curriculum, assessment and general education provisions within the schools are of a high quality and meet the requirements prescribed by the Department of Education.

· Management and staff development needs are identified and provided, within available resources.

· Procedures are in place through which parents can receive full information on all aspects of their children's educational progress including access to their children's records.

· The school complies with all the rules and regulations prescribed by the Department of Education.

Members of the Board of Management

College Staff 2002/2003

Staff Members with special areas of responsibility relevant to Parents and Students

Year Heads:

It is important that each student has a teacher available to him/her to advise, counsel, or give support where needed. The Year Head will be available to the student to fulfil this role. The Year Head will also monitor the behaviour, attendance, and punctuality of the students in his/her care. Parents are encouraged to contact the appropriate Year Head to discuss any problems they may have concerning their daughter/son.

Student Liaison Officer - Mrs Georgina Whyte:

We believe that the Student Body should be given the opportunity of playing a greater role in the activities of the school. With the help, guidance and direction of the Student Liaison Officer they will be able to identify areas of responsibility for themselves and implement their ideas where possible.

Guidance/Counsellor - Mrs Margaret Kennedy:

Briefly, the role of the Guidance/Counsellor is two fold:
(a) Helping students in deciding on a choice of career;
(b) To enable students to develop life-skills and coping strategies to enable them to deal with the problems which might arise from time to time.
Mrs. Kennedy also coordinate Work Experience for students

Public Examinations Secretary - Mr. Patrick Maher:

The responsibility for administering the Public Examinations in the School rests with Mr. Maher. He coordinates the necessary paperwork, including submission of students' details and exam subject information.

Book Leasing Scheme for Senior Students - Mrs Una McDonald:

The school operates a Leasing Scheme for Senior Cycle Students. The success of the Scheme depends on the students keeping the books in good condition and returning them as soon as they have left school. Parents can help greatly by ensuring the books are covered at all times.

Adult Education - Mr Jack Buckley + Mrs Patricia Lawlor:

Adult/Community Education is an important aspect of the College.
Abbey Community College is always anxious to receive suggestions for Courses from Parents and Students.

Special Educational Needs - Ms Marie Fidgeon:

The important role of the Special Educational Needs Teacher is to give extra support and help to students who are experiencing learning difficulties. This can be done either in a class group context or where students may be taken on an individual or very small group basis. If you feel your child has difficulty coping and is not being given extra remedial help please contact Ms Fidgeon to discuss the situation.

Information Technology - Mr Jim Murphy

The College is very aware of the importance of computers in this age of technology development. The Department of Education and Science is promoting the increasing role of computers in schools through various initiatives. Mr Murphy has special responsibility in the College for the development of Information Technology.

Home School Community Liaison Coordinator + P.R.O. - Ms. Caitrina Smith

The Home School Community Liaison Co-ordinator's role is to support parents, teachers, students and the community agencies in assisting students with their school work.

Student Support Officer - Mr. Stan J. O'Reilly

The Support Officer is available to the students to enable them to cope with school life and home life and thus ensure their sense of being in the home, the school and the community.

Coordinator of School Tours - Ms. Elaine Crossan

Coordinator of Transition Year - Ms. Rita Vidal

I.T. Education Officer, ECDL & Website- Mr. Cornelius Young

Coordinator of House Exams, School Stocktaker, Coordinator of School Plan - Mr. Patrick Riordan

LCVP Coordinator - Mr. Brendan Cassidy

L.C. Applied Coordinator - Ms. Fiona Lambert

Health & Safety Officer - Mr. Hugh McDaid

Coordinator J.C.S.P. - Mrs. Marie Fidgeon

Student Social, Cultural, Environmental Activities and School Shop - Ms. Fiona Kilcummins

Insurance

While all Schools are insured to cover their legal liability for accidental injury to pupils, claims by parents can only be met if they can prove negligence on the part of the School. For example, injuries can be incurred in Football or Camogie games through one's own fault. In order to cover themselves against expenses caused by such accidents Parents can take out Personal Accident Insurance on their children. The cost per pupil at the time of going to press is in the region of €3.50 or €7 per annum depending on the level of cover being taken out. Each student will be given a Circular to bring home very early September giving further details. Cover starts on 1st October to the following 30th September. We strongly recommend that this Accident Insurance be taken out.

School Textbooks

The start of a School Year is usually marked by a public outcry about the cost of books. Undoubtedly books are very expensive. However, having paid out money for books, we suggest that parents should make an occasional inspection to ensure the books are kept in good condition and are well covered.

There are two ways in which the College can help reduce the burden on parents:

1. School Book Scheme:

Each year the College receives a Financial Allocation from Co. Wicklow V.E.C. In early September every family will receive an Application Form for a grant towards the cost of the books. An allocation is then given based on the details on the completed forms. This allocation is then credited towards the cost of the books.

2. Book Leasing Scheme:

This scheme applies to Senior Cycle Students only. Many textbooks are leased to the students for a rental fee. The rental fees are used to buy new text books and replace old ones.

3. Book Rental Scheme:

This scheme applies to Junior Cycle Students only. Under this scheme, the more
expensive books required at Junior Cycle level can be rented from the school.
The rental fees are then used to buy new text books and replace old ones. At this stage of the scheme most of the books required can be rented.

Materials Charge

In order to raise funds to provide improved facilities for students Materials Charge of €15 per student (€20) per family is requested. This amount includes the cost of the school journal. The journal for Transition Year is included in the €100.

School Uniform

The full College uniform must be worn at all times by every student. Parents must ensure that students are dressed properly for class. This may mean them having a second kilt, trousers and jumper. Students should present themselves for class with a clean and neat appearance.

The Junior Uniform is as follows:

Girls: Wine Round Neck Jumper complete with School Crest
White Aertex Shirt
Lindsey Tartan Kilt/ and/or black trousers (must be ordered from Mrs. McDonald)
Black Leather Shoes

Boys: Wine Round Neck Jumper complete with School Crest
White Aertex Shirt
Black Trousers - Virginian style
Black Leather Shoes

The Senior Uniform is as follows:

Girls: Dark Green round neck Jumper complete with School Crest
White Aertex shirt
Lindsey Tartan Kilt/ and/or black trousers (must be ordered from Mrs. McDonald)
Black Shoes - not runners

Boys: Dark Green round neck Jumper complete with School Crest
White Aertex shirt
Black Trousers - Virginian style
Black Shoes - not runners

P.E. Uniform: Boys & Girls:
Black Shorts or track suit bottoms, white top, runners

N.B. All clothing should be marked with student's name

Discipline

This is an area which attracted much public attention in Ireland in recent years. Our policy is to endeavour to create a friendly and informal environment in which Teachers and Students can work together. The responsibility for learning or behaving must rest with the student in the first instance. It is not the job of the Teacher to "teach" good behaviour. This must come from the home. Many young people do not like to be given a list of "Do's" and "Don'ts". We try to approach the question of Discipline from a positive view. On the following page is an example of that approach. A copy of this page is shown on the back of each classroom door. Also, every parent recieves a Handbook, in which one will find a detailed copy of our School Rules. It would be helpful if you discussed these Rules of Behaviour with your son or daughter.

Where the policy of support, encouragement and advice to the students proves ineffective, the Discipline Structure of the School will come into force. You will find in the Diagram below the stages in this Discipline Structure.

Teacher/Classroom
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Behaviour Reports from Teachers
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Year Head
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Student
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Student Advisors --------------------Guidance Counsellor
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Parents
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Discipline Board
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Daily Report/Parents
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Sanctions