GENERAL INFORMATION
Introduction
St. Patrick’s Junior School is a Catholic Co-Educational Primary School catering for the formal educational needs of children from Junior Infants to Second Class. There are four Junior Infant classes and three classes in each of the other year groups with 284 pupils approximately on roll.
We have a staff of 17 teachers, 11 SNAs, a secretary and a caretaker.
Board of Management
The Board of Management is responsible for the running of the school. The school is a Catholic school and is under the patronage of the Catholic Archbishop of Dublin.
A new Board of Management is elected every four years. The election generally takes place in late September and the Board takes up office in November. The Patron appoints the Chairperson and one other member to serve on the Board. Two parent nominees are elected from the general body of parents. One teacher nominee is elected from the teaching staff. The Principal of the school is automatically on the Board.
These six members meet and choose two people from the community to make up the entire Board. The Board is then responsible for the running of the school for the term of office following regulations laid down by the Department of Education & Skills.
The responsibilities of the Board include the appointment of staff, the upkeep and maintenance of the school, the implementation of school policies and the provision of adequate facilities for both pupils and staff.
The 2023-2027 Board comprises of:
Patron’s Nominee & Chairperson: Fr. Melvyn Mullins
Patron’s Nominee Ronnie Griffin
Parents’ Nominee Brian Corrigan
Parents’ Nominee Niamh Rouse
Community Nominee Orlagh Bowers
Community Nominee Olivia Ferguson
Teacher Nominee Deirdre O’Donovan
Principal Máire Ní Chróinín
School Curriculum
The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, or the NCCA, sets the Primary Curriculum which must be followed in all Irish Primary Schools. The last complete revision of all curriculum subjects was in 1999.
The NCCE is currently reviewing the Primary School Curriculum. To date it has revised the Primary Language Curriculum (Gaeilge & English) and the Primary Maths Curriculum. It has also published the Primary Curriculum Framework, detailing:
Principles of Learning, Teaching, and Assessment
Key Competencies
Curriculum Areas and Subjects
Learning, Teaching, and Assessment
Time Allocations
Transitions and Continuity in Children’s Learning
Inclusive Education and Diversity
The School Timetable
The hours are as follows:
As supervision is not provided, the Board of Management cannot accept any responsibility for children arriving before official opening time (8:50am) or remaining on the school grounds (unsupervised) after official closing time.
| School Opens | 8:50am |
| Structured Learning Activities | 8:50am |
| Formal Teaching Begins: | 9:10am |
| Lunch Time: | 12:00pm |
| Classes Resume: | 12:30pm |
| Junior and Senior Infants dismissed : | 1:30pm |
| 1st and 2nd Classes dismissed : | 2:30pm |
School Uniform
Uniform: Bottle green pinafore or grey trousers, cream or grey shirt, bottle green cardigan or jumper, striped green/cream tie. Flat shoes or boots.
P.E. Uniform: School tracksuit, runners. To be worn on PE days only or as otherwise directed by teachers.
Summer Uniform: Pinafore or school tracksuit shorts; white polo shirt. Flat sandals or shoes. To be worn in June (weather permitting).
Parent/Teacher Communication
The healthiest environment for a child is one of open and easy communication between parents and teachers. In accordance with our Parent Teacher Communication Policy, parents should make an appointment with the school secretary at a convenient time with the teacher, mentioning the nature of the discussion they wish to have. This allows your child’s teacher to have the relevant information to hand when meeting so as to better address your query/concern.
Parental Help
The children and school can benefit greatly from parental involvement. If you have any time and/or skills to contribute then please speak with the Parents’ Association, the school office or your child’s teacher. All offers of help are welcome and there are many areas you can assist us with in supporting the children’s learning.
School Calendar
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