Rochfortbridge, Co. Westmeath · learners to achieve their full potential and contribute to...
Transcript of Rochfortbridge, Co. Westmeath · learners to achieve their full potential and contribute to...
St. Joseph's Secondary School
Rochfortbridge, Co. Westmeath
In St Joseph’s we will work in partnership with parents to provide your
son or daughter with the best educational experience available.”
OUR MISSION STATEMENT
St. Joseph’s Secondary School is committed to creating and developing conditions for learning in a caring and safe environment where everyone is respected, listened to and enabled to approach life with confidence.
Our school is a Voluntary Catholic Secondary School operating under the trusteeship of CEIST (Catholic Education an Irish Schools Trust) and continuing to support the Mercy philosophy of education which is based on justice, respect and equal esteem for all.
Welcome to St Joseph’s Secondary School, Rochfortbridge. I hope that this prospectus will answer some of the questions that you may have about our school and give you an insight into what we have to offer. I know choosing a secondary school for your child is an important decision. You want a balanced educational experience and I believe in St Joseph’s we provide the balance. We are a co-educational school, a fact which I feel gives each student a very realistic experience of life. Through a range of curricular and extracurricular activities, we promote the spiritual, moral, social and academic development of each student. Our aim is that our students will develop their various talents in a mutually respectful environment and grow into happy, confident and responsible adults.
Our students are encouraged by our excellent team of teachers to work hard and reach their potential. Each year our students obtain top points and top grades in both the Leaving and Junior Certificate examination and the vast majority of our student go on to third level. We believe that our students are equipped with life skills for the future and a pride in themselves.
A WORD FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Nothing remains static in St Joseph’s and while we are building on a strong foundation of success and achievement in the past we see ourselves as constantly evolving for a modern world. Our staff are constantly up skilling and are innovative and creative in their teaching methodologies and very much aware of the diverse needs of our students. Support is also provided to our students from our Learning support team, our Guidance team and our Pastoral care structure.
We do realise that the transition from Primary school to Secondary school is daunting and we pride ourselves on the support system we have in place for our first years and we endeavour to make the transition as easy as possible.
In choosing to send your son or daughter to St Joseph’s you are making the best decision regarding their post primary education. Should you require any further information please do not hesitate to contact me.
Eileen Alford
Tom Crehan
Deputy Principal
We are a
progressive
school with
a committed
and dedicated
staff.” Eileen Alford
PrincipalMargaret Cole
Deputy Principal
• A welcoming place for students and their parents.
• A committed, hard-working staff.
• Key strength of school is the range of programmes, curriculum subjects and extra-curricular activities it offers.
• One of the most striking features of the school’s leadership of students is the excellent programme that it operates to support first-year students in their transfer from primary to post-primary school.
FOCUS ON OUR SCHOOL
– DES INSPECTION REPORTS
Creating a caring community.”
• One of the strengths of the school, according to parents and students, is its pastoral ethos: students feel that they are cared for and that their individual needs are catered for.
• There is an excellent level of guidance support available to students at every level.
• Very good lessons were characterised by high expectations, clear learning outcomes, good pace and varied, imaginative teaching methods.
• A very good student-teacher rapport was evident.
CURRICULUM
At present St Joseph’s offers 4 programmes. Junior Cycle, Leaving Certificate, Leaving Cert Vocational Programme and Transition Year Programme.
NEW JUNIOR CYCLE
The Department of Education and Skills is introduced a New framework for Junior cycle on a phased basis from September 2014. The rational underpinning the new Junior Cert is to enable learners to achieve their full potential and contribute to Ireland’s economic, social and cultural development. As a progressive 21st century school here in St. Joseph’s we have updated our curriculum and developed the programme we offer at Junior Cycle.
All students take a module of Computer Studies in First year.
KEY SKILLS OF JUNIOR CYCLE
Working With Others
• Developing good relationships and dealing with conflict• Co-operating• Respecting difference• Contributing to making the world a better place• Learning with others• Working with others through digital technology
Managing Myself
• Knowing myself• Making considered decisions• Setting and achieving personal goals• Being able to reflect on my own learning• Using digital technology to manage myself and my learning
Managing Information & Thinking
• Being curious• Gathering, recording, organising and evaluating
information and data• Thinking creatively and critically• Reflecting on and evaluating my learning• Using digital technology to access, manage and share content
Communicating
• Listening and expressing myself using language• Using numbers and data• Performing and presenting• Discussing and debating• Using digital technology to communicate
Staying Well
• Being positive about learning • Being healthy, physical and active• Being social• Being safe• Being spiritual• Being confident• Being responsible, safe and ethical in using digital technology
Being Creative
• Imagining• Exploring options and alternatives• Implementing ideas and taking action• Learning creatively• Stimulating creativity using digital technology
Irish, English, French and German Geography Religious Education
Science History Physical Education
Mathematics Art Civics, Social and Political Education
Technical Graphics Music Social, Personal and Health Education
Materials Technology (wood) Home Economics Career Guidance
Materials Technology (metal) Business Studies Wellbeing
TRANSITION YEAR PROGRAMME
The Transition Year Programme is a unique one year programme that promotes the personal, social and educational development of students and prepares them for their role as autonomous, participative and responsible members of society. TY enables students to make the transition from the more dependent type of learning associated with Junior Cycle to the more independent learning environment associated with Senior Cycle and equips them with the skills necessary to achieve their full potential in the Leaving Certificate exam. It encourages the development of a wide range of transferable critical thinking and creative problem solving skills. In addition to traditional subjects Transition Year Students participate in a wide range of interesting modules such as:
ICT Mini company DCG
Film studies Enterprise education Drama
YSI Popular Culture Stage and set design
Chinese Art GAA Coaching Course
Spanish Home Economics Construction Studies
IT FACILITIES
We have recently updated our IT facilities and our Computer Room allow students to have access to a wide variety of learning tools. Each classroom has a data projector and internet access and staff are constantly up skilling in ways to enhance the teaching and learning experience through the use of ICT.
Respect for all is the principle that is at the
heart of our school”
Irish, English, French and German Business Religious Education
Mathematics History Physical Education
Chemistry Geography Career Guidance
Physics Agricultural Science Construction Studies
Biology Art Link Modules
Design and Communication Graphics Music Accounting
Engineering Home Economics Politics and Society
LEAVING CERTIFICATE
Career Guidance – Counselling Offices Music Room Home Economics Kitchen
Computer Room Gymnasium Needlework Room
3 Science Laboratories Canteen/Assembly Hall Basket Ball Courts
Demonstration Room Broadband access in each classroom Playing Pitches
Woodwork Room Art Room Specialist Rooms e.g .Geography Room
Metalwork Room Construction Room Technology Room
SCHOOL FACILITIES
Subjects For Leaving Certificate
LEAVING CERT VOCATIONAL PROGRAMME
This is a Leaving Cert Programme designed to give a strong vocational dimension to Leaving Cert. The programme combines the traditional Leaving Cert with a new and dynamic focus on self-directed learning, enterprise, work and community. A meeting for parents of Third Year Students is held to give information on all the options available after Junior Cycle.
A significant number of students obtain in excess of 500
points in the Leaving Certificate exam. Each year we have
many students who are awarded scholarships by various
universities both at home and abroad.”
STUDENT SUPPORT
LEARNING SUPPORT
& SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS
Students with specific learning difficulties are catered for through the provision of a Resource Teaching service in the school. Specialist help is available for students with general learning difficulties through the learning support team, working in co-operation with subject teachers. This support can be offered on an individual, small group, in- class or whole class basis. Special Needs Assistants offer other support to individual students and are an important part of the Learning Support team.
EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
Students are encouraged to participate in the many and varied range of extracurricular activities. and so develop skills and competencies in many areas.
Each First Year class is assigned a Class Teacher. The role of the Class Teacher is primarily a pastoral one. They keep in close contact with the class to ensure that the students are settling in satisfactorily and that the class works well together. Students/Parents should contact their Class Teacher if advice, guidance or help is needed on any matter that may be of concern to them.
There is also a Year Head and He/she meets First Year
students individually to get to know them. The Year Head works with the Class Teacher to try to make each student’s experience of life in St Joseph’s a productive and happy one. They also deal with matters of discipline.
In addition, each class is assigned two Leaving Certificate Prefects - a boy and a girl - who help the First and Second Year integrate into the life of the school.
SPORTING ACTIVITIES
St Joseph’s has a long and distinguished record in sport. We try to cater for the needs of all our students. Sports available in the school include:
Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Equestrian, Gaelic Football, Golf , Hurling, Soccer, Swimming and Camogie.
BOOK LOAN SCHEME
The school operates a Book Loan Scheme whereby textbooks may be loaned on a yearly basis for a rental fee. This scheme is available to all students. If parents have difficulties with finances in this area they can discuss this with the principal confidentially.
EVENING STUDY
Evening study is open to all students though priority is given to 3rd and 6th year pupils.
PARENT SCHOOL LINKS
The support of parents is essential for achieving our aims in St Joseph’s. St Joseph’s facilitates and welcomes the participation of parents in the following ways:
• Parent Council
• 1st Year information night
• Subject and programme choice meetings
• Parent Nominees on the Board of Management
• Parent teacher Meetings
• Parent Information Evenings for eg. CAO information
• Parental Attendance at Special School Events and School Reports
• Graduation and Awards Night
• Personal appointments.
We offer a progressive academic curriculum complimented
by an extensive range of extra-curricular activities.”
COMMENTS FROM
1ST
YEAR’S
I am really happy
in this school, the
teachers are very
nice and the prefects
are good fun and
very kind to us.
I really enjoyed my first
term, it was very fun, I w
as
never bored. There were
loads of activitie
s and events
to fill my needs, th
e teachers
are nice and do all they can!
I like the school. It has a lot of
facilities that our primary school
hadn’t. I like the way w
e can pick
some of the subjects w
e do. All the
teachers & school staff are really nice.
In my opinion I think St Joseph’s
Rochfortbridge is a lovely school.
I have made loads of new
friends
and I fit in just fine. Definitely
recomm
end all sixth class.
All of t
he teachers are so
frie
ndly. I
was p
art of t
he
music
al and it
was great f
un. I
can’t wait
to com
e back afte
r
Christmas! E
mm
a
I got on well in my first term. I settled in straight away, even
though I didn’t know anybody in my class. Everyone was very
friendly.
I was scared at fi
rst if I’d
miss
class or get lost o
r walk into a
different classroom but in
stead
I had a great ti
me I made a
lot of n
ew friends and it was
great. I’m really
glad to be a
St Joseph’s Secondary School
Student! Aoife
On our first t
erm it
was great,
everyone here w
as nice. T
his is a
fanta
stic school. A
nd I myself
is
getting alo
ng great here and I t
hink
I fit i
n here perfe
ct. Also it
s big, cozy,
nice and a wonderfu
l school.
I loved my first term in school!
Our prefects were really helpful
in helping us find our classrooms!
The teachers are all really nice to
us and help us understand our
work. There are so many extra-
curricular and discos!!
I got o
n really
goo
d th
is term.
I mad
e lots o
f new
friend
s.
Th
e scho
ol is a v
ery frien
dly
env
iron
men
t. I lov
e mo
st
sub
jects. Th
e teachers are v
ery
nice an
d frien
dly
.
For the first fe
w days it
feels really big and scary,
but afte
r that, y
ou felt
like you have been th
ere
your whole lif
e! Aislin
g
The people
in th
e school are
very frie
ndly.
I was scared
comin
g into
the school b
ut
the p
upils a
nd teachers
made m
e feel w
elcom
e.
PARENTS’ COUNCIL
The St Joseph’s Parents council is an active and valued part of our school community. A committee is elected each year to represent the general body of parents and membership of the council is open to the parents/guardians of all students attending the school. The parent’s council meets once a month, it is an opportunity for:
• Representing the views of parents
• Fostering and maintaining a spirit of co-operation between parents, teaching staff and school management
• Providing a relaxed forum to discuss parents view and exchange ideas and concerns with school management
• Improving and developing facilities in the school through fundraising endeavours.
• Organising and supporting various events for students such as Career information Evenings and Cyber bullying seminars.
STUDENT COUNCIL
The students Council is a representative body of students elected by all students. The council work closely with a member of staff in giving students an active voice and an avenue in which they can become involved in school life. The student council meets on a monthly basis and are involved in the following activities:
• Representing the views of the student body
• Engaging with school management to keep them informed of the student viewpoint and to raise issues that student’s feel are important.
• Organising various charitable fundraising activities such as “Jersey Day” or Christmas Hamper appeals.
• Making a positive contribution to school life
• Showing good example of positive leadership and to encourage involvement in school activities.
• Senior members are involved in organising the School Debs.
Modern progressive and very successful school.”
St. Joseph's Secondary School
Rochfortbridge, Co. Westmeath
T: 04492 22176 or 04492 22727
App: St. Joseph's Secondary School App
www.mercyrochfortbridge.ie
One of the most striking features of the
school’s leadership of students is the excellent
programme that it operates to support first-
year students in their transfer from primary to
post-primary school.”
DES Inspection Report- WSE MLL
Thinking aheadSchools.ie
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