Parents are encouraged to
1. Develop close links with the school and collaborate with the school in developing the full potential of their children.
2. Share the responsibility of keeping in touch & using the communication tools available.
3. Become actively involved in the Parents Association, BOM, etc
4. Participate in policy and decision-making processes
5. Take part in ‘Your Child, Your School, Your Time’ initiative
School Communication with parents
1.Curriculum meetings are held at the beginning of the school year so that parents can be informed of the requirements of the new class and to outline the programme of work and expectations for the year
2.A standardised written report on each pupil is provided at the end of each school year.
3.Individual parent/teacher (Progress) meetings take place in February for all classes.
4.Teachers may consult with parents regularly or request to meet parents/guardians. Teachers may meet with parents/guardians of children with special needs more regularly.
5.The homework diary is used with 1st – 6th class to relay messages. Parents are asked to sign their child’s homework diary each night.
6.A weekly communication is issued by email to all families and staff. This gives updates on events happening in the school and notice of upcoming events. Newsletters are issued termly. They include updates on school, B.O.M. and PA news.
7.Appointments with the Principal can be made through the office.
8. In addition to weekly correspondence (generally sent home via email on Thursdays) there are various other froms of home-school communication.
• A Notice board for parents’ information is located at the School Gate.
• The school uses text-a-parent in emergencies
• Parents are invited to school concerts and to children’s choir events etc.
• There is an Open Day for parents of new Junior Infants. Parents and pupils are invited to the school and are welcomed to the school by the Principal, PA and BOM Chairperson.
Important individual information
The school keeps a record of information that is essential in the case of an emergency relating to your child (contact names/numbers, important medical information, family doctor etc.) as well as addressing any special health issues that may be relevant. It is obviously essential that this information is accurate, so please ensure that the school is kept up-to-date by checking regularly with our school secretary.
Progress Meetings
Formal timetabled Parent/Teacher meetings take place in November for Junior Infants – Sixth Class; however, if a parent wishes to arrange a meeting at any stage during the year in relation to a significant concern, they may do so by prior appointment. Parent/Teacher meetings aim to:
• Let parents know how their children are doing in school
• Inform teachers on how children are coping outside school
• Establish an ongoing relationship and communication with parents
• Allow teachers/parents get to know the children better as individuals
• Help children realise that home and school are working together
Informal Parent Teacher Meetings
To arrange a meeting to discuss a significant concern, a parent should give the teacher a note or ring the school secretary to make an appointment. In each case, the parent should give a reason for the meeting. The teacher will then give the parent a time at which they will be available to meet the parent. If parents wish to drop in lunch boxes, sports gear etc. this can be done through the secretary’s office as it is important to keep class interruptions down to a minimum. Informal communication takes place early morning between teachers and parents while children are settling into their classroom.
Classroom Charters (These are on display in all classrooms)
Welcome to our classroom!
RETNS welcomes the involvement of parents/guardians in the education of their children because this is beneficial to the educational, emotional and social development of students. It also fosters the school’s community spirit. This depends on everybody’s goodwill and the following points are intended to ensure the children, their parents and the staff benefit to the maximum extent in a co-operative but structured environment.
Junior/Senior Infants Communication
Verbal communication:
Parents/teachers are welcome to pass on necessary information regarding individual children on that day at 8.50 a.m.
Written communication:
Parents and teachers can exchange information through notes/letters in the children’s work folders.
For more detailed discussions, parents are welcome to make an appointment either directly with the teacher or through the office – 4938677.
1st-6th Class Communication
Verbal communication:
• Parents/guardians/teachers are welcome to pass on necessary information regarding individual children on that day at 8.50 a.m.
Written communication:
• Parents/guardians and teachers can exchange information through the homework diary or by letter.
• For more detailed discussions, parents/guardians are welcome to make an appointment either directly with the teacher or through the office – 4938677.
Access
JI/SI – Parents are welcome in their children’s classrooms between 8.50 a.m. and 9.10 a.m. daily. A bell at 9.10 a.m. each day indicates the start of lessons and that it is time for parents/guardians to leave the classroom.
1st – 6th class – Parents/guardians are welcome to visit their children’s classrooms between 8.50 a.m. and 9.10 a.m. each Friday to familiarise themselves with their child’s working space and look at children’s work.
Conduct
Please remember the classroom is the children’s and the teacher’s workspace and should be respected as such.
Parents are encouraged to enjoy their own child’s work. Allow your child to share with you what they wish to show you – but please be mindful of the privacy of the other children and the teacher. During the school day, the welfare of each child is the responsibility of the teacher – incidents of concern should be referred to him/her.
Younger siblings are welcome in the junior classrooms but should be supervised by their parents at all times and prevented from interfering with the structured play and learning of the class.
Guidelines regarding the role and responsibilities of parents during school trips and classroom participation are available.
Website
As part of the Department of Education and Skills strategy to improve children’s literacy and numeracy skills, the National Adult Literacy Agengy has developed the website www.helpmykidlearn.ie. This website provides some suggestions for enjoyable activities in which parents and children can engage.