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

E: mercy.rochfortbridge@gmail.com

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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