Attendance/absences
Regular attendance is essential to maintain adequate progress at school. However, in cases of ill-health, children should be kept home to ensure a swift recovery and reduce chances of cross-infection.
When a child is absent from school, a reason for absence is a legal requirement and essential for official records. If your child is to be away for an extended period of time, let the classroom teacher know in writing, as soon as possible. There are several different ways of notifing the school of your childs absence, this can be done via text message, QParents, phone or email.
If children need to leave school early, or must leave the grounds during the lunch hour, a note must be provided for permission to leave.
Accident procedures
Non-serious accidents
Children should report, to the teacher on duty or their class teacher, any accident they suffer which causes distress. A qualified first aid officer at the school will administer treatment for non-serious accidents.
Serious accidents
Initial treatment for serious accidents will take place at school by a qualified first aid officer. Every attempt will be made to contact the parents to request further action. If parents cannot be contacted, medical attention will be sought for the pupil on the parents’ behalf. An ambulance will be called and the child sent to hospital if parents cannot be contacted. Any expense incurred will be the responsibility of the parents.
Emergency forms
Parents are asked to complete a Confidential Records Information form for each child. The information on this form is for administration/ teacher use only. A copy of this form will be sent home at the beginning of each semester so that information can be checked and updated if necessary.
In the present legal climate, it is essential that we be made aware of each child’s parents’ or guardians’ access rights.
Homework
Homework may be set by the teacher. It is the student’s responsibility to hand in their completed homework when due.
While every student should read every night, the teacher may set additional work. This may entail project work, work not completed in class or work (either individual or class), which the teacher deems necessary. Research shows dull or repetitive homework or homework for its own sake may do more harm than good. Some students are set to fail because of the simple fact homework has been set, because for various reasons it cannot or will not be done. The benefit of homework is that you spend time with your child.
The best 'homework' is to discuss the school day and find something to discuss which interests you both. It might be as simple as a word, definition or formula that you can explore. Beware- almost every child when asked, "What did you do at school today?" will reply, "Nothing" or focus on the misbehaviour of others.
Reading
All students should be encouraged to spend at least ten minutes on reading activities each night. Books from the teacher, the library or a personal collection should be used. Try the following at home to encourage your child to read:
- Listen to your child read the book sent home by the teacher.
- Read to your child and discuss the story.
Listen to your child read the library book, newspaper articles or magazines and discuss the stories. Look at difficult words and ask questions about the story, or look carefully at the pictures or illustrations and discuss them in relation to the story.