Parent's Zone
School meals Scheme
In our school we are privileged to have a free school meals scheme. Carambola provides healthy, fresh meals to our school each morning. These meals are cooked during the day for our pupils to enjoy at lunchtime. At the beginning of the year, each child completes an order form for each day of the week, this can be adjusted at any time throughout the year both in school or at home through their own personal log in on Carambola’s website. Hot lunch options include, Chicken Curry, Pasta Carbonara, Lasagne, Cottage pie, Roast Chicken, Plain Pasta to name but a few. Children also receive a healthy snack for their 11am break. Options for this snack include: rice cakes, yoghurt, breadsticks, pancake, breakfast muffin, various fruits.
Each classroom is fitted with a watercooler for children’s use.
Breakfast Club
Breakfast Club is available to all our children from 9:15 – 9:30 each morning. Children have the option of having toast or cereal. Breakfast is free of charge to all pupils.
Staff Meetings
Staff meetings will take place during the year. School closes at 12.00 p.m. on these days.
School Opening and closing
All children
Doors Open for breakfast club - 9:15
Classes start - 9:30
First Break - 11:00 – 11:10
Lunch Break - 12:30 – 1:00
Going Home - 2:10 - JI & SI
Going Home - 3:10 - 1st – 6th
Parents are notified in advance of all school holidays, and days off.
The school adheres to the Department of Education standardised year.
If you cannot collect your child from school, you must inform the school beforehand and indicate who is authorised to collect your child on your behalf.
Characteristic Spirit
Glengoole N.S. is a Catholic primary school which strives to provide a structured, caring, happy and secure environment where the intellectual, spiritual, physical, moral and cultural needs of the pupils are identified and addressed
While Glengoole N.S. is a school with a Catholic ethos, it also has due recognition for all other religions.
The School will strive to promote, both individually and collectively, the professional and personal development of teachers through staff development programmes.
The School will endeavour to enhance the self-esteem of everyone in the school community, to inspire our pupils to respect both people and property and to encourage in them the idea of being responsible.
We will promote gender equity amongst the teachers and pupils.
Déanfaimid iarracht Gaeilge a labhairt.
Our school motto is: Mol an óige agus tiocfaidh sí (praise the youth and they will flourish)
Junior infant specific programmes
- Smart moves motor skills development programme: Smart Moves is a suite of evidence-based short sessions, led by teachers to give young children the opportunity to further develop their coordination, motor skills . The programme is full of fun activities and games to encourage children’s motor coordination to improve. This programme is tailored to each individual child and allows their skills to develop and progress at their own pace
- Talk Boost programme: Talk Boost is a targeted intervention for 4-7-year-old children that need help with talking and understanding words, including children in infant classes. The programme is delivered by our SET teachers. It provides a structured programme that boosts children’s progress in language and communication by an average of 9 - 18 months after a ten week intervention. Children who are selected to take part in the intervention will attend three sessions per week in small groups, each lasting 30-40 minutes delivered by our SET teachers. The sessions include activities that cover the key elements of language: Attention and Listening, Vocabulary, Building Sentences, Telling Stories and Conversations. In addition, the teacher will run a weekly whole-class activity and there are activities that can be practiced at home.
Absences
Under the Education Welfare Act 2002 all schools are obliged to inform the Education Welfare Officer of all absences exceeding 20 days during the academic year. Parents must inform the school in writing the reason for their child’s absence from school.
Pupils Leaving During School Time
Parents/ guardians must notify the school in advance and in writing if their child must leave the school during school time and indicate who will be collecting them.
Mobile Phones
Pupils should not have mobile phones in school unless specifically requested by parent/guardian. If a child has a mobile phone that must be switched on for emergency reasons, a letter to the principal is required.
Lost property
Please ensure your child’s name is on all clothing, lunch boxes and books. Lost property will be displayed once a term. If not claimed it will be sent to a charity.
The Curriculum
The primary school curriculum is presented in seven primary areas, some of which are further subdivided into subjects.
These are
- Religious Education
- Language (Gaeilge and English),
- Mathematics,
- Social, Environmental and Scientific Education (History, Geography and Science),
- Arts Education (Visual Arts, Music and Drama)
- Physical Education and
- Social, Personal and Health Education
Educational trips
During the school year, appropriate educational outings will be available to all children. Many of these trips are fully/partially subsidised by the school.
The school requests written permission from parents/guardians for all educational tours.
Homework
- Homework is assigned Monday to Thursday with the children being excused homework on weekends. Homework is never given on unfamiliar subjects.
- Suggested timeframe for homework:
a) Infants: 10 – 15 mins.
b) 1st/ 2nd: 20 – 30 mins
c) 3rd/4th: 30 – 45 mins
d) 5th/6th: 1 hour. - If homework is not done a note to the teacher should be written
Homes are busy places but do try to ensure your child has somewhere quiet to do their homework.
Emergency closures
Every effort will be made to contact parents/guardians by telephone in case of emergency closing. Please ensure all telephone numbers and email addresses are updated regularly with the school.
School Insurance
We encourage parents to take out individual insurance at a cost of €9. Forms will be available in September.
Active school’s Flag
Active School Flag is a department of Education initiative supported by Healthy Ireland and part of the National Physical Activity Plan. Glengoole National School received their Active flag in 2020. We will renew this flag in 2024
As part of this initiative our school takes part in “Active Schools Week” every May.
School Uniform
The school uniform consists of the following:
- Wine Jumper with the School Crest
- School Tie
- Cream Shirt
- Grey Trousers/ Skirt/ Pinafore
- Black Shoes
The school uniform can be purchased from Bernadette Kavanagh Troy in Urlingford (school jumper, tie, tracksuit). Non-crest parts of the uniform (shirt, trousers, blouses) can be purchased in department stores (Dunnes, Tesco, M&S).
School Tracksuit
- Wine top and bottom with the school crest
- Plain White polo T-shirt
School tracksuit and jacket can be ordered from Bernadette Kavanagh Troyx in Urlingford. Please ensure your child’s uniform, tracksuit and jacket are clearly labelled with their name.
School tracksuit can be worn on sports days. Parents will be told in September which days of the week this will be.
Green Schools initiative
We are proud to say that we have been awarded four green flags over the last number of years under the following themes:
- Litter & Waste is the first theme. It focuses on litter and waste issues, encouraging a sense of responsibility
- Energy looks at the steps which can be taken at school to reduce energy consumption and raise awareness of climate change
- This theme develops awareness around water conservation and how to effectively manage this important resource in schools
- This theme aims to increase the number of students walking, cycling, scooting, using public transport or carpooling to school
We are currently working on the 5th theme which focuses on biodiversity and looks at increasing awareness in schools of the importance of native plants, animals and habitats.
Sensory Room
We are so fortunate in our school to have a sensory room. This room was designed and funded in 2020 and children have access to it both individually and in small groups throughout the day. This room is affectionately called “The Rainbow Room”
ICT
Our school has an interactive whiteboard and laptop in every classroom and Special Education room. We’re also very fortunate to have ten iPads for children’s use.
Communication
We welcome ongoing communication with parents. Our school uses Aladdin Connect as its main communication platform with parents. An annual Parent/Teacher meeting takes place each year. Parents can request a meeting with a teacher at any time either by making an appointment directly with the teacher directly or by contacting the school office either by phone or email to make a mutually convenient appointment
Summer reports for each child are sent home in June. Newsletters/ circulars are distributed regularly to the pupils both via email and paper copies.