Relationships
and Sexuality Education Policy of St Colmcille’s BNS
Committee
members
SPHE Co-ordinator: Fiona McDermott
School Principal: James Bennett
Teachers’ Representative: Orla O’ Doherty
Parents’ Representative: Paula O’Brien, Joseph
Dromgoole
Board of Management Representative: Margaret
McKiernan
Context
During an audit of school policies, it was noted that
the RSE policy had not been reviewed since 1997. A committee was established in
October 2013 to review the policy and make amendments. The policy was reviewed
by a committee on 9th of October and 7th of November 2013.
The policy was presented to the staff on 24th of October 2013. The
policy was presented to the Board of Management on 11th of November
2013.
Our
School Philosophy and ethos in relation to SPHE
The school’s ethos is best expressed, helped to
develop and enriched as a result of the continuing interaction between a shared
dialogue on its core values (involving the Patron, Board of Management,
Principal, Staff, Parents and Pupils) and the daily practices which endeavour to
embody these values. Ethos is established and sustained by repeated practices
and traditions, by the beliefs and attitudes promoted and by the goals aspired
to by the school community. (Management Board Members’ Handbook, 2000,
p. 5).
St. Colmcille’s Boys’ National School, Swords aims to provide a
caring, learning environment which facilitates the nurturing of each pupil’s
potential.
As a Catholic school, the following characteristics will be sought within the
general ethos experienced and promoted by the school community:
- The
school aims at promoting the full and harmonious development of all aspects of
the person of the pupil
- Religious
education is provided for the pupils in accordance with the doctrine and
tradition of the Catholic Church
-
The
pupils are prepared for the reception of the sacraments of first confession,
first holy communion and confirmation
- The
liturgical seasons are part of the rhythm of the school year
- The
children are given opportunities to participate in liturgical celebrations
- The
school identifies itself with the parish of St Colmcille, Swords.
- The
school aims at fostering a sense of community between management, teachers,
ancillary staff, parents and pupils
- A
spirit of mutual respect is promoted within the school community
- The
school’s code of behaviour reflects the Christian values promoted within the
school, with an emphasis on reconciliation, new beginnings and hope.
- The
teachers aim at making the school a place where high professional standards are
maintained and where pupils can learn in a safe and happy environment
- The
school recognises the value and dignity of each person
Definition
of RSE
Relationships and Sexuality Education is a lifelong
process of acquiring knowledge and understanding, and of developing attitudes,
beliefs and values about sexual identity, relationships and intimacy. RSE aims
to help children learn, at home and in school, about their own development and
about their friendships and relationships with others. This work will be based
on developing a good self-image, promoting respect for themselves and others and
providing them with appropriate information.
The RSE programme aims
to provide opportunities for children and young people to learn about
relationships and sexuality in ways that help them think and acting in a moral,
caring and responsible way.
Relationship
of RSE to SPHE
RSE is an integral part of Social, Personal and
Health Education and must be taught in this context. RSE and SPHE will be taught
throughout the school from infants to sixth class in a spiral curriculum. RSE
will be taught formally and informally to children through a caring and
supportive school atmosphere.
(c.f., S.P.H.E. policy)
Current
provision for RSE
- RSE Programme
- The Stay
Safe Programme
- Walk Tall Programme
- RSE facilitator (ACCORD)
- North Western Health Board (Teacher Books and Workbooks)
- First
Steps (Junior and Senior Infants)
- Up
and Away (1st and 2nd Class)
- Out
and About (3rd and 4th Class)
- Look
After Yourself (5th and 6th Class)
-
Health – Prim. Ed. worksheets and information sheets (Lower, Middle and
Upper)
- Bullying
– Prim. Ed. Worksheets and information sheets (Lower, Middle and Upper)
- Bí
Folláin
- School
Code of Behaviour
The aims of our RSE Programme
- to
promote the personal development and well-being of the child
- to
foster in the child a sense of care and respect for himself/herself and
others and an appreciation of the dignity of every human being
- to
promote the health of the child and provide a foundation for healthy living
in all its aspects
- to
enable the child to make informed decisions and choices about the social,
personal and health dimensions of life both now and in the future
- to
develop in the child a sense of social responsibility, a commitment to
active and participative citizenship and an appreciation of the democratic
way of life
- to
enable the child to respect human and cultural diversity and to appreciate
and understand the interdependent nature of the world.
Guidelines
for the management and organisation of RSE in our school
-
RSE
is an integral part of the SPHE programme and will be taught in this context.
The
curriculum is spiral in nature and has been planned on a two year cycle. All
content and objectives, including RSE, will be covered over a two year period.
Teachers will be provided with an overview each year indicating strands and
strand units to be covered. Lesson plans and resources will also be made
available to teachers.
-
RSE will be taught throughout the school in formal lessons and discrete time and as
an integrated approach across relevant subject areas.
-
Since
the parents are the primary educators of their children, the school will provide
them with opportunities to contribute to the development and implementation of
RSE.
-
Among the opportunities
envisaged are:
-
Participating in school
review and planning of the programme
-
Supporting teachers in
implementing particular aspects of the programme
-
discussing the learning that
takes place in the school
-
reviewing resources for
specific aspects of the programme.
-
RSE
for 6th classes will be partially provided by ACCORD for one day a
year. Parents will be informed prior to this presentation by ACCORD. The
classroom teacher will be present in the classroom with any outside speaker.
Sensitive issues discussed during the day may be revisited by the class teacher
during the following weeks using Resource Materials for Relationships and
Sexuality Education (published by the Dept. Of Education and Skills) as a
guideline. In the event of issues arising that may not be discussed in the
classroom, a further letter will be sent to parents explaining that issues
arose, which may need to be discussed at home.
-
Multi-grade
classes will be not separated into their age groups for the teaching of RSE.
An exception will be made in a 5th/6th multi-grade
class on the day of the Accord speaker. Other
multi-grade classes will be taught as one class group.
-
Since
RSE is an integral part of the SPHE curriculum, parents will not be asked to
sign a permission slip to allow their child to attend lessons. Where
parents wish to take their child out of the lessons on the sensitive issues, a
school can ask them to put this in writing. Arrangements can then be made for
parents to withdraw children from the classroom for the duration of that lesson.
-
RSE
will be taught on Thursdays at 1.00pm.
Ongoing Support and
development
It isthe responsibility of the Board of Management to support and facilitate the
school approach to SPHE and RSE, and to approve this approach within the context
of the overall school plan.
We
recognise that our school has a supportive role to that of the home and we have
a commitment to ensuring that:
Review and Evaluation Procedures
The
implementations of this policy will be monitored by the Board of Management at
the appropriate time. It will also be referred by the principal for
consideration by the full staff at the same time.
This
policy will be reviewed regularly in the light of experience. It will be
reviewed by the full staff and the Board of Management every three years. Any
staff member, board member, parent, guardian or student who is unhappy with the
content or the implementation of any school policy may request a review at any
time and such a request will be dealt with as quickly as possible. The next
review of this policy will occur before or during the school year 2016.
Responsibility
for Review
Ratification
and Communication
This policy was ratified by the
Board of Management on 11 November 2013. It was uploaded to the website on 18
November 2013.
Appendix
Overview
of SPHE scheme
Themes to be covered during year one…
- Myself:
Self Identity [RSE, Walk Tall, NWHB, Bí Folláin]
- Myself:
Taking Care of My Body [RSE, Walk Tall, NWHB]
-
Health and well-being
-
Knowing about my body
- Myself:
Safety and Protection [Stay Safe]
- Myself
and Others: My Family [RSE, Walk Tall, NWHB]
- Myself
and the Wider World: Media Education [Walk Tall, Bí Folláin]
- Myself
and the Wider World: Developing Citizenship [Walk Tall, NWHB, Bí Folláin]
Themes to be covered during year two…
- Myself:
Growing and Changing [RSE, Walk Tall, Bí Folláin]
-
As I Grow I Change
-
New Life
-
Feelings and Emotions
- Myself
and Others: My Friends [RSE, Walk Tall, NWHB]
- Myself
and Others: Relating to Others [RSE, Walk Tall, NWHB]
- Myself
and the Wider World: Developing Citizenship [Walk Tall, Bí Folláin]
5. Myself: Safety and
Protection
- Safety Issues [Be Safe!, Walk Tall, RSE, NWHB, Bí Folláin]
- Personal Safety (Stay Safe Programme)
6. Myself: Taking Care of my Body [RSE, Walk Tall, Bí Folláin]
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