Our School

Notice Board

School Holidays

School Events

Staff
Foireann Na Scoilfs

Cairde Ghaelscoil an
Longfoirt

Newsletters

CÓD SMACHTA

The Cód Smachta is designed so that all pupils will have care, concern and respect for the safety and well being of all persons attending and working in the school.

We expect honesty, courtesy, consideration for others at all times, and a high standard of manners and hygiene is also expected.

All rules follow the above basic principles, which are intended to create and maintain a happy and stable community where everybody can contribute positively to a good learning environment.

School Hours

• The official school opening time is 9.00 a.m.
• Classes for Junior and Senior Infants end at 1.40 p.m. § Classes for other pupils end at 2.40 p.m.
• The school does not accept responsibility for children outside school hours, i.e. before 9.00 a.m. and after 1.40 p.m. (infants) or 2.40 p.m. (all other classes)

School Uniform

• Children must wear full school uniform at all times except on P.E./Swimming days when they may wear a tracksuit.
• The full school uniform is as follow: Cailiní: red jumper, white blouse or shirt, chequered skirt Buachaillí: red jumper, white blouse or shirt, navy trousers
• All items of clothing must be clearly marked with the child's name
• If a child is not going swimming or participating in PE then he/she should come to school in the school uniform. They must also bring a note from their parents/guardians explaining the reason for not participating in the named activity
• Children who come to school without a uniform should have a not to explain this
• Children must not wear outdoor clothes, scarf's etc in the classroom
• In the interest of safety as little jewellery as possible should be worn. If earrings are worn, they must be studs, no hanging earrings allowed. Rings have been known to cause accidents.

Punctuality

• § Each child must be bought to the school door every morning and collected at the school door every afternoon
• If a pupil arrives at school after 9.20 a.m. he/she should have a note explaining why he/she is late
• Children must be collected promptly at the correct time unless other arrangements have been made with the school Principal

Absences and Illness

• § Every absence of a child from school must be accounted for by giving the child a note to explain his/her absence on his/her return to school.
• If a child wishes to leave school during the school day he/she must be collected at the classroom door by his/her parent/guardian. Should the parents wish another person to collect the child, they must send a written note to this effect to the child's teacher
• Any infectious illness should be notified to the school immediately

Safety and Order Indoors

• When indoors, children must walk and not run
• They must walk quietly when classes are in progress
• They should always stand back to allow adults and very young children pass § They must be careful not to push or shove others
• They must not bounce balls in the building
• Climbing is forbidden
• Children must not throw any object within the school building
• They must never open windows or main doors
• They must not delay in the bathroom area but return to class immediately

It is in the interest of safety that children comply with the above rules

Class Rules

• Pupils should come to school well equipped with all items mentioned on their book list, specifically pens, pencils, rulers and erasers, thus eliminating the need to borrow, which can cause disruption
• Pupils must have all books, workbooks and any other required materials (e.g. musical instruments) with them
• If a pupil comes without books for more than 3 days a note will be sent to his/her parents/guardians
• If the problem continues to occur, the Principal will contact the parents to arrange an appointment
• Tippex is not allowed and should a child take it to school it will be confiscated by the teacher and returned to the parent at 2.40 p.m.
• Pupils are expected to work to the best of their ability and to present written exercises neatly
• Pupils must do all homework prescribed by the teacher. Failure to do so requires a written explanation from parents or guardian
• We would appreciate your co-operation in maintaining classroom discipline by leaving your child at the classroom door and not accompanying him/her into the classroom after the first month. This helps to make your child more independent. This applies in particular to parents of Junior and Senior Infants.
• Parents/guardians who wish to consult teachers outside the official Parent/Teacher meeting must make an appointment through the Principal
• Courtesy and good manners are expected from children at all times and respect for their teachers, visitors and each other are essential. Any behaviour that interferes with the rights of others to education free of disruption is unacceptable
• The following are deemed to be examples of unruly behaviour
  • Continuous disruptive behaviour by pupil in class i.e. back answering, chatting, passing notes, whispering, walking around, speaking when the teacher is teaching or when someone else is answering, etc
  • Running or jumping in corridor
  • Not remaining in their places when indoors on a wet day
  • Damaging school property, writing on tables, walls, etc
  • Using loud language, name calling, spitting, high kicking, pulling and dragging in an aggressive manner
  • Entering prohibited areas in or around the school
  • Re-entering the classroom during break time without the permission of the teacher on yard duty
  • Damage to or interference with other children's property

Playground Rules

• Children should not be in the schoolyard before 9.00 a.m.
• Children on the premises before official opening time are not covered by insurance. Playing in the school yard after school hours is forbidden
• Once in the playground children must never leave it without first asking the múinteoir or playground supervisor in charge
• They must obey the múinteoir on yard duty at all times. Should they need to use the toilet they must first ask permission, then use the toilets inside the school building and return to the playground immediately
• Children must not open or close the playground gate
• No eating or drinking is allowed in the playground
• Pupils must never
  • Enter the playground without the múinteoir in charge/playground supervisor
  • Climb
  • Throw stones
  • Push, shove or hit others
  • Spit
  • Play roughly
  • Use bad language or be bad mannered with teachers, visitors or other children
  • Annoy another child. If another child annoys you, tell him/her to stop. If he/she does not stop, tell the múinteoir/supervisor who is on duty
• Any serious incident which occurs in the school yard will be reported to the Principal by the múinteoir on duty
• Any pupil who fights will be asked to sit by the door until break is over. Their múinteoir will then investigate the incident and determine appropriate action
• In the yard, children should respond to the bell in the following manner
  • When the first bell rings after break, children stop playing and replace footballs, basketballs etc
  • When the second bell rings, children walk quietly into line and wait for their teacher to collect them
  • On wet days, children will remain seated during break time and only leave their places with permission from the muinteoir on duty

• Lunch is to be eaten in the classroom only. No eating in the schoolyard. Children are forbidden to eat crisps, bars, fizzy drinks, chocolate or any type of chewing gum in the school. Cans and bottles are also forbidden.
• If children continue to take these having been reminded, the teacher will confiscate them and they will be returned at 1.40 p.m. or 2.40 p.m.
• Each child should have at least one sandwich or piece of fruit each day
• Children are asked not to share lunches or to take a lunch from any other pupil

Care of School Building and Grounds

• As this is a Gaelscoil, it is the wish of all parents that their children become fluent in spoken Irish from an early age. Such fluency is also essential if the education of children through Irish is to be successful
• To this end, teachers are committed both to furthering the all Irish ethos of the school and to supporting the realisation of the parental wish regarding fluency in Irish. The teaching staff achieve this both by instructing through the medium of Irish within the classroom, by devising and instructing specific lessons in 'cruinneas na Gaeilge' and by enforcing certain rules regarding the speaking of Irish within the school environment, and on all school based activities These rules may be summarised as follows
  • Children are expected to speak 'as Gaeilge' to the best of their ability at all times except during English lessons
  • Children will also be praised and encouraged when they speak 'as Gaeilge' around the school
  • The staff would also expect, and hope, that children attending the school would speak to them 'as Gaeilge' when they meet outside of the immediate school environment

• Homework is an extension of the school days work and should be well within the child's capabilities. It should be done carefully and without too much help at home
• It is the policy of the school to assign homework every day except Friday. From time to time however some classes or pupils may be given a night free from homework
• Teachers will make every effort to match the curriculum to the aptitude of the pupils
• Parents are strongly encouraged to take an active interest in their child's homework, and to ensure that oral work (spellings, poetry etc) is treated with the same importance as written work
• Parents should look at their child's homework and sign the actual homework in the child's copy every night to show that
  • All the work has been done
  • They are happy with the quality of the work
• The following is a rough estimate of the recommended time which your child should spend on his/her homework:
  1. 1. Junior Infants : 10 minutes
  2. Senior Infants : 20 minutes
  3. 1st Class : 30 minutes
  4. 2nd Class : 30-60 minutes
  5. 3rd/4th Class : 60-75 minutes
  6. 5th/6th Class : 60-80 minutes

   

  Cleanliness

• Children will be encouraged to maintain the highest standard of cleanliness
• They are expected to keep all their copies and books clean and presentable. They will be asked to replace any copy or book that they have defaced
• They must wear slippers inside
• The school environment should be kept clean and litter free
• Care must be taken with personal hygiene. Children will be asked to wash dirty hands when appropriate

  Behaviour during out of school based activities

• From time to time children will leave the school for school based activities e.g. tours, football matches, swimming, concerts etc. prior to these activities parents are asked to remind their children of the personal safety codes regarding speaking to strangers etc
• On these occasions pupils are expected to exhibit the highest possible standard of behaviour. They must:
  • Obey any instructions or directions given by the supervising teacher or other adults in charge of the group
  • Walk in pairs, standing back to let others pass when appropriate
  • Dress in the type of clothes they have asked to e.g. full school uniform, tracksuit etc
  • Speak to each other and to teachers in Irish
  • Behave in a way which does not endanger themselves or others
  • Show respect to and consideration for those they encounter e.g. bus drivers, restaurant staff
  • Never use bad language or be bad mannered
  • Show respect for the property of others
  • Leave the places they have been in clean and as they found them
  • Remain with their group at all times
• When participating in or attending various events, (sports fixtures, musical competitions etc), children are expected to behave in a sportsman like manner at all times. No disrespect towards opposing teams or players will be accepted
• For minor serious misbehaviour children will not be allowed to travel on future occasions
• The following specific rules apply to the weekly swimming lessons
  • Children must adhere to the rules of the swimming pool. If they breach them they will not be allowed to swim the following week
  • Children are not allowed to buy sweets or drinks at the swimming pool. If they do these items will be confiscated

• Children are expected to show respect for their own, the property of other children and that of the school
• Should any children intentionally damage the property of others or of the school their parents will be expected to replace the item within a period of one week
• Should a child steal property, a meeting between the class teacher, Principal and the child's parents will ensue. Appropriate action will be agreed at this meeting
• Children should not take toys or any personal property not required in school to school. If they do the school cannot be responsible for its safe return
• Parents are asked to clearly label all the children's personal property, e.g. jumper, tracksuit, slippers, schoolbag, lunch box and all other personal belongings

Bullying

• Bullying can be defined as repeated aggression; verbal psychological or physical conducted by an individual or group against others. It can take many forms
  • Physical aggression
  • Damage to property
  • Isolation
  • . Name calling
  • Intimidation
  • Abusive language towards School Personnel
• When a pupil reports an incident of bullying, he/she will be spoken to by the class teacher. The alleged bully will be contacted at the earliest opportunity and invited to meet the Principal to discuss the incident. Parents will be notified if it is deemed necessary
• If matters do not improve, the child's parents will be asked to meet the Board of Management to discuss the matter
• It is important for parents to report any sign of school related stress to the child's teacher

Rewards and Sanctions

• The school wishes to encourage the full development of the child in a pleasant, all Irish environment. The aim is to ensure that the individuality of each child is accommodated and at the same time to acknowledge the right of the child to education in an environment which is as disruption free as possible. It is intended to foster the self-respect of the child at all times
• All members of staff will make every effort to adopt a positive approach to the question of behaviour in the school
• The school places greater emphasis on rewards than on sanctions in the belief that this will in the long run give the best results
• The school recognises the variety of differences that exist between children and the need to accommodate these differences
• The overall responsibility for discipline within the school rests with the Principal. Each teacher has responsibility for the maintenance of discipline within his/her classroom
• A pupil will be referred to the Principal for serious breaches of discipline and for repeated incidents of minor misbehaviour
• The following strategies may be used, according to the teachers judgement, to show disapproval of misbehaviour and to encourage good behaviour
  • Reasoning with the child
  • Reprimanding (Giving advice on how to improve at the same time)
  • Separating a child temporarily from peers, friends or others
  • Giving extra work to the child, to be acknowledged by a parent
  • Losing privileges
  • Detaining a child during break time
  • Referring a child to the Principal
  • Communicating with Parents
  • Sending the child to another classroom
  • Suspending the child (Temporarily)

• In the case of a pupil repeatedly breaking a rule, detention will be considered
• Prior to the implementation of detention, parents/guardians will meet with the Principal or class teacher to discuss avenues of co-operation
• If after this meeting the pupil's behaviour does not improve, then detention will be imposed
• The pupil will be asked to remain after school under supervision to complete specified work
• Adequate notice will be given to parents/guardians to allow them to arrange for collection etc

Suspension

• The Board of Management will consider suspension for gross misbehaviour or for instances of aggressive, threatening behaviour against a teacher or other child, depending on circumstances
• This step will not be taken lightly and the totality of the situation will be considered
• In these cases teachers will keep a written record of all instances of serious misbehaviour as well as a record of improvements in the behaviour of a disruptive pupil
• Parents/guardians will be involved in this process from the beginning and will at some stage be requested to meet with the Board of Management to discuss the matter
• It is hoped that in the case of misbehaviour, parents/guardians will be co-operative and give every support to the Principal/class teacher to ensure that the situation does not become difficult or serious. It should then not be necessary to resort to severe sanctions such as detention, suspension or as it would in an extreme case, expulsion.

Parental Role

• The support and co-operation of parents/guardians are essential to the effective operation of the code of discipline. If teachers and parents are not working in harmony, inevitably the pupil will suffer
• Parents/guardians can co-operate by:
  • Encouraging their children to abide by the school rules
  • By visiting the school when requested to by the Principal, teacher or other member of staff
  • By contacting the school should they be concerned about a school related matter
  • By ensuring that homework is allocated due time and effort
• Parents/guardians are invited to keep in close contact with the school with regard to all aspects of the child's progress
• Parents/guardians will be informed at an early stage of incidents of serious misbehaviour on the part of their children
• When detention or suspension is contemplated parents/guardians are encouraged to come to the school to discuss this with the Principal which is their right
• Every effort will be make by the Principal and staff to ensure that parents/guardians are kept well informed
  • That the school provides a welcoming atmosphere towards them
  • That they are not only told when their children are in trouble but when they have behaved well
• A child will be more alert and responsive if he/she has
  • A proper nights sleep
  • A balanced and regular diet
  • Not been over exposed to T.V. viewing or late night reading
• In the interest of safety parents/guardians are requested to keep the entrance to the school clear at all times and not park on the bend on either side of the road

Review of Code

This code has been drawn up by the Board of Management in consultation with all teachers in the school and the Parents Association Cairde no Scoile

It will be reviewed at regular intervals

A copy of this code has been made available to parents/guardians

Parents/guardians have studied the code, signed and returned the form attached to the code indicating their agreement with its terms

It is a condition of attendance at this school that pupils abide by the Rules and Regulations in this Code of Discipline

Go raibh maith agat