Welcome Booklet

Welcome to

Primary One

2015

St Comgall’s Primary School,

1 Ballymena Road, Antrim

BT 41 4JG

Telephone 028 9442 8837

Facsimile 028 9442 8853

info@stcomgallsps.antrim.ni.sch.uk

Welcome Booklet

Pupil’s Name:

………………………………………………………………...... Class:

.....................................................................................

Room number:

.....................................................................................

Teacher:

…………………………………….......................................

My child starts school on:

…………………………………………………………………...

St Comgall’s P.S

Welcome Booklet

We would like to take this opportunity to

welcome you and your child to

St. Comgall’s Primary School.

At present there are about 500 children attending the school.

The Principal, Mr. Matthews, is always happy

to meet parents who visit the school.

We would like your child’s years to be both happy and rewarding.

Welcome Booklet

FACES YOU WILL GET TO KNOW

Principal Mr Matthews is the Principal of the school.

Vice Principal

Mrs McIntyre is the Vice Principal of the

school.

She has responsibility for Special

Educational Needs and is the Designated

Teacher for Child Protection.

Senior Teacher

Mrs McCaughan is a Senior Teacher.

She is responsible for Foundation and Key

Stage One.

Welcome Booklet

School Chaplin Fr. Emerson is the School Chaplain.

Secretaries Mrs McCollum and Mrs Mallon are the school secretaries.

Building Supervisor Mr Lavery is the school Building Supervisior.

Welcome Booklet

PREPARATION FOR SCHOOL

Here are some ideas that might help to prepare your child for school

1. Read stories and nursery rhymes to your child, talk to him/her, listen to him/her and try

to answer your child’s questions truthfully.

2. Ensure that your child goes to bed early as the first year at school can be a tiring

experience.

3. Allow your child to sort and count objects, coloured buttons, lego blocks, tins, coins

etc…

4. Let your child help you at home, setting the table, packing away groceries and washing

dishes. Bring your child shopping with you and let him/her handle and count money.

5. Talk to your child about the basic colours and ensure they have the common colours to

colour with at home. Make sure they also have glue and scissors in order to complete

some homework activities.

Welcome Booklet

6. Encourage and help your child put away his/her toys when he/she is finished playing

with them. This practice is great training and is really helpful to a busy teacher.

7. Show your child the proper way to use the toilet and to wash hands afterwards. Our

school toilets are well equipped and are kept scrupulously clean.

8. Train your child how to dress and put on a coat. Incidentally make sure your child’s

coat and bag are clearly marked with his/her name before he/she comes to school.

9. Encourage your child to mix with others and to share with them.

Don’t worry if your child cannot complete all these tasks. Children learn very quickly.

Young children whose parents are actively involved in their early learning make

significantly more progress than those who don’t.

Peers Early Education Partnership

Welcome Booklet

Reading Skills

How can I help my child to read?

We suggest that you visit the local library with your child.

Find time to read aloud to your child at least once a day and

certainly at bed time. Take time to discuss the story together.

Have books in your house you can look at together.

Teach your child nursery rhymes and sing together.

Play word games together e.g I spy.

Just remember reading is for fun and not a chore.

Reading Together

It’s fun

It’s not homework

Give them confidence and encouragement.

Don’t spend too long at first.

Ten minutes at a time is plenty.

Talk about the illustrations.

Don’t ask your child to read during T.V time.

Do sit comfortably.

Choose short exciting stories.

Discuss the story.

One of the most significant periods of learning and

memory development occurs between

18 months and 6 years.

Ladybird: Learn to read

Welcome Booklet

Things we can do together at home.

Gardening Games

Cook

Dress Up Read and Talk

Go outside

Water Art and craft

Build

Music Help in house

Dough

Welcome Booklet

Starting school is a

experience for a young child

We will do our best to make sure your child is happy at school. You can help by encouraging

your child to look forward to school. Let us know if you or your child are worried about

anything at school and between us we can solve the problems.

It is vitally important that you inform school of any allergies, medical conditions or dietary

requirements. We must be keep up to date at all times.

When one realises that half a person’s ultimate intelligence is

developed by the age of four, then the adult’s responsibility

in helping to stimulate this development is apparent.

Betty Root

The school operates a texting service for unexpected issues. It is not possible to reply to a

school text. You are strongly recommended to inform us immediately of any change to your

mobile contacts.

Useful information can be found on our school website:

www.stcomgalls.co.uk

Welcome Booklet

St Comgall’s Primary School Vision and Mission

With faith, family and friends, anything is possible!

St Comgall’s is a Catholic School that promotes high achievement and lifelong learning by working with children to…..

Be happy, confident and spiritual

Develop a strong sense of self-esteem, respect for themselves and others

Achieve excellence in Literacy, Numeracy and I.C.T.

Become versatile individuals who are ready for the challenges and opportunities of their future lives.

We believe that each child will succeed through experiencing quality in …..

The promotion of the Catholic Ethos which celebrates inclusivity

Innovative teaching where we work together for the continuous professional development of all

A broad, enriching curriculum supported by up to date resources and a variety of extra-curricular activities

A supportive, motivating and safe environment with positive links to our families and community.

An ethos which celebrates all members of the school community wherein everyone’s voice is heard

Welcome Booklet

PASTORAL CARE / CHILD PROTECTION

Mrs McIntyre is the teacher in charge of Pastoral Care and Child Protection. Should you have

any issues or queries please feel free to contact her.

THE CURRICULUM

We deliver the Northern Ireland Curriculum which ensures that children are taught at a pace which is

developmentally appropriate for them. There is a strong emphasis on play-based learning and personal,

social and emotional development. We aim to provide children with the skills and competencies they

will need to succeed in school and future life.

The Revised Curriculum includes the following areas of learning:

o Language and Literacy

o Mathematics and Numeracy

o The Arts

o Personal Development and Mutual

Understanding o Physical Development and Movement

(Foundation Stage)

o Physical Education (Key Stages 1 and 2)

o The World Around Us

o Religion

Welcome Booklet

THE SCHOOL DAY

Start -

Break -

Lunch –

Home -

9:00

10:30 – 10.45

12:10-12:50

1:45

Welcome Booklet

SCHOOL DINNERS

Dinner children eat in the canteen.

Lunch children eat in the classroom.

BREAKFAST CLUB Breakfast Club is in the main school hall.

From 8.10am – 8.45 am

Cost: £1.50 per day

LUNCH TIME

After lunch children go outside to play and are treated to a variety of playground

games and activities (weather permitting).

HEALTHY EATING

We operate a healthy eating policy. We encourage children to have fruit and/or

yogurt at break time and drink water throughout the day. We have water

fountains from which children can refill their bottles.

We send home the menu for the canteen a month in advance.

Currently, school dinners cost £2.35 each day. Alternatively,

children are welcome to bring in a packed lunch.

Welcome Booklet

TRANSPORT

Children can travel to and from school on the bus. Each journey costs 75p. If there is a seat

belt, it must be worn. Children should seat in the first available seat and fill up the bus from

the front.

WHAT YOU NEED FOR SCHOOL

School bag Coat

P.E. Plimsoles are needed for P.E. These are kept in school.

HOMEWORK IN THE FOUNDATION STAGE

Children should spend no more than 15 / 20 minutes on homework each evening.

Parents / carers should read with their child every evening

In Primary One, particularly, practical activities will be given each week.

MILK Milk is available at break time. The money is paid on a monthly basis. In the event of absences

we cannot provide a refund.

SNACKS For a small charge children can buy buttered toast from the canteen each day.

Toast 25p

Welcome Booklet

SCHOOL UNIFORM

School uniform is compulsory and must be labelled with name and class.

Select Kidz in Ballymena stocks the school uniform.

The school uniform must be

worn in schools, at concerts

and on school outings

unless otherwise stated

Boys

Jumper V-neck, mid-grey or crested sweatshirt

Shirt Light blue with school tie

Trousers Grey

Socks

Shoes

Grey/black

Black shoes only, trainers not permitted

Summer

(Optional)

Light blue crested polo shirt and/or short

trousers

Girls

Jumper/

Cardigan

V-neck, mid-grey or crested sweatshirt

Shirt Light blue with school tie

Skirt/Pinafore Mid-grey

Socks/Tights

Shoes

Grey

Black shoes only, trainers not permitted

Summer

(Optional)

Red check dress and school

cardigan/jumper and white socks.

Welcome Booklet

SCHOOL RULES

1. Children must be in school at 9.00 but no earlier than 8:45.

2. Children must go to school every day. Holidays are not allowed during term time.

3. If your child is not at school the reason must be provided to the teacher in the form of an

absence note (for our records).

4. If you want to take your child out of school for an urgent appointment you must telephone

or write to the school.

5. Put your child’s name on bags and clothes, especially coats!

6. Children must complete homework. All written homework activities must be signed by an

adult.

7. Boys may not wear ear jewellery and must not dye their hair or have shaven hair designs.

Girls may only wear stud earrings and no high heels are permitted. No other jewellery is

permitted.

8. Mobile phones are not to be brought to school.

NAME

Welcome Booklet

OUR SCHOOL PRAYER

This is our school

May all here live happily together

May our school be full of joy

May love dwell here amongst us everyday

Love of one another

Love of all people everywhere

Love of life itself

And love of God

Let us remember that as many hands build a house

So every child can make this school a lovely place

Amen

Welcome Booklet

H O L I D A Y S 2015-16

Start back on: Monday 31st August 2015

AUTUMN BREAK

Monday 28th

September (Staff Training Day) 1 day

HALLOWE’EN – MID TERM Monday 26

th October - Friday 30

th October 5 days

CHRISTMAS Tuesday 22

nd December – Tuesday 5

th January 11 days

SPRING MID TERM BREAK Monday 15

th – Wednesday 17

th February 3 days

STAFF TRAINING

Thursday 17th March 1 day

EASTER Friday 25

th March – Friday 1

st April 6 days

MAY DAY Monday 2

nd 1 day

SUMMER MID-TERM BREAK

Monday 16th

– Friday 20th

May 5 days

MAY BANK HOLIDAY

Monday 30th

1 day

Close on : Thursday 30th

June 2016

--- oOo ---

N.B. The above numbered days are school days off and the dates are inclusive. The

Department of Education has strict guidelines concerning parents removing children

from school during term time for holidays which should be taken during school

holidays.