North Bay
educate together national school
WELCOME TO
NORTH BAY
We hope this information page will help you to become familiar with the school
and how it operates.
5.
HOMEWORK
9.
SCHOOL BOOKS
10.
THE CURRICULUM
11.
THE ETHICAL CORE CURRICULUM
12.
AIMS OF THE ETHICAL CORE CURRICULUM
13.
DENOMINATIONAL INSTRUCTION
14.
A BRIEF HISTORY
North Bay is
part of the Department of Education National school system and is run in
accordance with Department of Education regulations. It is one of 28 multi-
denominational schools currently in operation in Ireland.
All of these Schools, and others in the process of being established, are
Members of Educate Together (ET) which is a mutual support
and representative body for this sector.
ET. is the voice of Educate Together schools. It offers advice and support to
new schools and makes representations to the Department of Education. All
schools in the ET sector subscribe to the following principles.
All children have equal
rights of access to the school. Children from all social, ethnic and cultural
groups, and of all religions and non- religious backgrounds, are equally
respected.
The school
is committed to encouraging all children to fulfil their potential irrespective
of gender. Every effort is made to ensure equal opportunities for girls and
boys. Gender stereotyping is avoided.
The school offers a child-centred education in which the
teacher facilitates and guides the child's learning through both formal and
informal methods while encouraging the child to be an active participant in
his/her own learning. Each child is encouraged to learn at her/his pace and
individual learning needs are met in so far as class size allows. Interaction
between teacher, child and parent is actively encouraged.
The school is run by two committees: the Board of
Management and the Executive Committee (the patron
body). They are democratic in character. Parents play an active role on both
bodies.
Northbay also has a Parent Teacher Association which is growing increasingly
active within the school both as a supporter and initiator of school
activities.
Frequently
Asked Questions
Homework will be given to pupils from first to sixth class.
It will keep parents and guardians informed of what their child is doing in
school and let them know how she/he is coping with the tasks. It enables the
pupils to complete assignments, to do research and maximise the amount of oral
work in which a child engages.
In one-to one communication at home, talking , listening, reasoning and
questioning can be enriching for the child. homework time should be made as
enjoyable as possible for the child. If possible, time should be set aside for
it where there are no distractions.
Homework will be set Monday to Thursday. Parents are asked
to encourage each child to take responsibility for completing and handing in
homework to her/his teachers.
We would urge parents to communicate any difficulties
encountered with homework tasks-or special efforts made by your child-to
his/her teacher.
A group meeting of parents and class teachers is held early in the first
term to outline the plan for the year. A one-to-one meeting is held in the
second term to discuss individual children's progress. We welcome as much
informal contact as possible. If your child has any problems or worries, either
academic or social, please let his/her teacher know as soon as possible. If you
have any skill and time to spare, the children will benefit greatly from you
input during school hours or from extra activities. Please come and talk to us.
Discipline in the school is based on respect for oneself and for others.
A code of behaviour has been drawn up in consultation with parents and is
supplied to all at the beginning of the school year. It is intended that this
code will be revised or added to as the school circumstances change.
Notice of the school's holiday arrangements will be given as
early as possible each school year, usually in September.
Our Calendar page will also help you keep up to date with
what's happening.
The school operates a rental system for core books such as class
readers, environmental resources book, etc. However, each year every child will
be provided with a list of books to be purchased. In addition,
the school charges per child for photocopying, art and craft materials, etc.
Parents may be asked to purchase additional books during the year as children progress
at different rates.
There is a limited amount of money available each year from the Department of
Education to support parents who are experiencing financial difficulties.
Should you need support please talk in private to the principal.
The curriculum followed is that set out by the Department of
Education. It is broadly based, encompassing the core subjects of English,
Maths and Irish as well as Science, Social, Environmental and Scientific
Education, Social, Personal and Health Education, Music, Art, Drama and
Physical Education.
These are taught both as separate subjects and in an integrated way across the
whole curriculum. The Department of Education requires us to provice a
religious education programme in the school. We call this the Ethical Core
Curriculum.
The Ethical Core Curriculum supports and implements the guiding
principles of the school by covering a wide range of religious, moral, social
and ethical issues, with no specific emphasis on any one religion. It deals
with education for and about personal and social development; sex; and
relationships. These issues are dealt with in a sensitive manner appropriate to
children of all religions as well as those from a non-religious background. The
knowledge and attitudes which the children derive from either their own
religious or non-religious philosophies and beliefs are a significant recource
which may be drawn on during ethical core curriculum classes.
AIMS OF
THE ETHICAL CORE CURRICULUM
· To give children a basic sense of personal, social,
ethical and moral standards.
· To implement the multi-denominational principle of the school through a
critical appreciation of all cultures and religious beliefs, in a spirit of
enquiry and mutual respect.
· To promote equality amongst people regardless of gender, class, ethnicity, ability
or lifestyle.
· To encourage the development of the individual through the promotion of a
healthy sense of self and an ability to express emotions.
· To create an understanding of the human mind and body. This includes
appropriate sex education.
· To encourage initiative, independence, critical thinking and creativity.
· To help children face up to adversity in life.
· To provide the children with peaceful strategies for conflict resolution.
· To foster an awareness of each person's responsibilities, with due regard to
the rights and needs of others, within small groups, such as the family, the
school, the local community and also within the Irish, European and global
contexts.
· To provide a critical understanding of social and political structures and
group influences.
· To promote a critical awareness of the mass media through explorations of
images, bias and consumerism.
Particular attention should be focused on stereotypical images of gender, race
and class and images of the developing countries.
· To instill a sense of respect for, and appreciation of, the environment which
we all share and to take an active role in conservation.
The Core Curriculum is supported by a library of Educational
materials which have been purchased by the school. The materials have been
chosen to embody the aims of the Curriculum and to facilitate its
implementation. Anyone who is Interested can view them in the school.
The school offers its premises outside school hours for those parents
who wish their children to receive religious instructions in their own faith.
These classes are organised by parents.
North Bay Educate Together National School (NBETNS) opened in September
1990 with 26 pupils and a principal teacher. Since then the school has grown to
238 pupils, 14 teachers, classroom assistants and an administrative principal.
The project to create a new multi-denominational school was started by a group
of parents committed to the principles of Educate Together who found that
there were no places for their children at North Dublin's only other
multi-denominational school in Glasnevin. The greatest problem was to find a
suitable premises. The search took four years but thankfully it was worth the
wait and the present building was acquired. North Bay is one of the more
fortunate project schools to have a modern purpose-built school building.
You can find out
about other ET schools at Lucan
Educate Together School or North
Dublin Educate together national school
If you have any questions or would
like to contact us you can e-mail us at northbay@eircom.net