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On the first day of school - Thursday, 27th August, we encourage Junior Infants to attend from 9.10 – 11.45 (our normal hours for infants are 8.50am to 1.30pm).  There is usually a large crowd of children and parents on the first day back which can be quite intimidating for young children. The later start for new Junior Infants on the first day aims to avoid this.

When you come into the classroom, you will find your son/daughters name already on a table.  Encourage your child to sit down and begin the colouring page (also on the table).  It is important that you leave as soon as possible after this.

From Friday, 28th August, parents can bring their child to the front door from 8.50am. This is our designated ‘drop off’ point for Infant classes.  Members of our school staff will bring your child to their classroom where their class teacher will be waiting.  As your child settles in to school routines during the first term, you can begin to ‘Stop, Drop and Go’ at the gates.  Again – members of the school staff and some of our Sixth Class pupils will be there to assist your son / daughter find his / her way to the classroom

Supervision of pupils begins when gates open at 8.40am each school morning. Children should not come onto school property before this time.  Pupils who arrive early should wait in the car until gates open.

Important Note: For the first two weeks of school (Thursday, 27th August to Friday 11th September inclusive) Junior Infants go home at 11.45 noon.

From Monday, 14th September, Junior Infants will go home at 1.30pm.

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There is another padlet for you to explore with lots of general information about school life here in Rathpeacon.

You might also like to visit our school website or follow us on instagram.

Website:  www.rathpeaconns.com
Instagram: @rathpeaconns

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

E-mail: office.rathpeaconns@gmail.com

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English

We follow the PLC (Primary Language Curriculum).  In Junior Infants the children follow the Heggerty and UFLI programmes to teach phonemic awareness and phonics. These programmes help to develop children's awareness of sounds leading to phonemic proficiency. Daily lessons include word games, rhymes, songs and other activities. There are also Home Practice sheets to help families support their son / daughter's learning at home.

We hope to have a more detailed Phonics Information Meeting for Junior Infant parents during Term 1.

We also spend time learning Nursery Rhymes, poems, word families, playing oral language games and sharing stories at storytime each day.

Irish

Children are taught Irish orally / aurally in Infants.  We do not read or write in Irish.  We learn common phrases, rhymes and some vocabulary.  We listen to stories and sing songs in Irish.  It would be a huge help to your child if you could use some words / phrases ‘as Gaeilge’ at home also.  You will receive a list of our Irish phrases and words each month.

Maths

A new Primary Maths Curriculum was introduced in September 2024. Children learn mathematical concepts such as sorting, matching, comparing and ordering different objects.  We also learn to read and write numbers.  We practise rote counting and play mathematical games.

SESE

SESE – Social, Environmental and Scientific Education – covers History, Geography and Science.  We teach this in a two year cycle. Junior and Senior Infants cover the same themes.  Themes covered include, for example – Autumn, People at Work, Outer Space.

Arts

The three Arts subjects – Visual Art, Music and Drama are covered from Junior Infants.  In Visual Art, the focus is not so much on the work your child produces but on what your child learns by engaging in the creative activity.

In Music, your child will learn songs, simple rhythms and they will develop an appreciation of Music.

Children in our school enjoy Speech and Drama with a visiting specialist teacher.

PE

Children love all kinds of physical activity.  PE lessons take place with the class teacher once a week.  Children can develop skills such as running, jumping, throwing and catching.  In Junior Infants, we also enjoy visits our Gymnastics coach.

SPHE

SPHE – Social, Personal and Health Education – deals with your child’s personal development, health and well being.  It helps children to learn how to care for themselves and others.

Religion

Rathpeacon N.S. is a Catholic primary school and as such, Religion is taught in every class.  Religion lessons take place and follow the ‘Grow in Love’ programme.

For any further questions regarding the Junior Infant Curriculum you may have please contact the class teacher or go online to www.ncca.ie

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You can help your son/daughter prepare for school by singing/saying nursery rhymes, by singing songs, by reading to them regularly, by encouraging them to draw or colour in pictures and also by playing with your child – talking about what you are doing, taking turns, sharing and working as a team or partnership.

We would strongly encourage limiting the time your son/daughter spends on screens -  mobile phones, tablets, Playstations etc.

It is also a great help to the class teacher if children can write their own names in lower case letters – not capitals.

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Children in Junior Infants will receive homework from the middle of September.  Homework will be given every night except for Friday. A 'Homework Folder' will go home every Monday and should be returned every Friday morning.

WHY do children get homework?  Continuing school work at home is important for a number of reasons:

·         Homework helps your child learn to work by himself / herself.

·         Homework helps your child to reinforce knowledge and skills learned at school.  Opportunities for learning at home help children to connect what they have learned in school to real-life situations, for example, using the skills they learned in Maths to sort toys or pair socks etc.

·         Homework helps you to keep in touch with your child’s learning in school and to monitor their progress.

·         Homework helps you to notice any problems your child may be having.

·         Research studies in Ireland and abroad show that when parents read to and with their children at home, children make better progress in reading.

WHAT homework will my child be getting?  The homework in Junior Infants will involve both written and oral work.  It should take no more than 20 minutes to complete.  Please initial or sign your son/daughters homework every night but do not do it for them.

HOW can I support my child with homework?  The most important thing you can do to support your child’s learning is to show an interest in what they are doing.  Ask questions and praise your child’s efforts.  Help your child plan their homework by choosing an appropriate space and time for homework.  If your child needs help with homework, support him/her to find ways to solve the problem rather than doing the work for your child.

The class teachers will be able to answer any questions you may have about helping your child with homework.

(Information taken from ‘The What, Why and How of Your Child’s Learning – full document available online at www.ncca.ie)

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Our Junior and Senior Infant day begins at 8.50am and ends at 1.30pm.

From Junior Infants, children cover all of the subjects in the curriculum.  These are: Irish, English, Maths, History, Geography, Science, Music, Art, Drama, Physical Education, Wellbeing and SPHE.  Children will also learn begin to develop digital literacy skills through the use of interactive smartboards and iPads.  All of these subjects and skills are taught by the class teacher.

Every child will benefit from a number of in-class interventions during their time in Rathpeacon.  The SEN (Special Educational Needs) Teachers support the classroom teacher with ‘Literacy Lift Off’ in Junior and Senior Infants and ‘Mata sa Rang’ in Senior Infants.

In Junior Infants, children will also benefit from specialist teachers who visit the school for Speech and Drama and Gymnastics.  Children will also enjoy visits from a variety of guests and groups.  You will hear more about these as they occur.

More information on all areas of the curriculum can be found online at www.ncca.ie

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A hot lunch is now provided to all pupils in our school. Our provider is 'The Lunch Bag.' You will receive more information about ordering your child's hot lunch in September.

Children should still bring a 'small lunch' to school i.e. a piece of fruit / chopped up veg / small yoghurt etc. They eat this snack during their morning break.

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In Rathpeacon NS, we aim to support parents in allowing their children to have a Smartphone Free Childhood.

Unfortunately, smartphone-related issues are becoming more and more common among young children. Online bullying, screen addiction and access to inappropriate content are some of the major negative impacts of smartphone use.

We are encouraging parents to get on board and not allow their child own or use a smartphone until after Confirmation at least

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A before and after school childcare service is provided on the school premisis by Sherpa Kids.

For further details please visit their website below:

https://www.sherpakids.ie/find-us/sherpa-kids-rathpeacon-national-school/

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It is with great pleasure that I welcome you and your child to the community of Scoil Náisiúnta Mhuire, Rathpeacon.  I want to assure you that your son/daughter will be well cared for in this inclusive, child centred environment.  He or she will thrive in a learning atmosphere that will lay the foundation for his/her life – educationally, socially, spiritually and morally.  Our school motto is ‘Spreag an Óige’ or ‘Inspire the Young’ and this is something that, with your support, we certainly aim to do!

In our school, we continually place a huge emphasis on the importance of parental involvement.  We recognise that as parents, you are the main educators of your child. We see the schools relationship with you as one of partnership and mutual support.   This partnership can be nurtured by you in the following ways:

·         By becoming involved in our school community – helping out and taking part in school events

·         By joining the Parents’ Association

·         By encouraging your child with his / her homework and general attitude towards school.

·         By complying with school policies.

·         By attending informal meetings with teachers within the school.

·         Through participation in formal Parent-Teacher Meetings

·         By co-operation with the Board of Management and Parents’ Association.

This information has been designed specifically for you, as parents of new Junior Infants, to outline ways you can become involved and help your child as he/she embarks on school life.  We outline ways you can help prepare during the summer and how you can help with school work and homework in the years ahead.

I hope you will spend some time reading this padlet and I look forward to your support in the coming years.

Le gach deá guí,

Susanna O’Neill

Príomhoide.

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Playful learning is very much encouraged throughout our school and particularly in our Infant classrooms. Teachers in Infants will deliver the curriculum in a thematic way and often prioritise play in the classroom and school environment.

WHY play?  Play is often described as children’s ‘work’.  Playing helps your child to

·         Build relationships – by playing with others, sharing and taking turns; solving problems and negotiating etc.

·         Be creative – when he/she has to create an outfit from old clothes, build a house out of junk material etc.

·         Read and write – when he/she reads or retells a story

·         Learn about numbers – when he/she pays for things in a pretend shop etc

·         Think – when a plan has to be made, for example – deciding what materials to use to build a den.

·         Use language – to explain the rules of the game, playing a role in pretend play etc.

·         Use small and large muscles – when he/she builds with Lego, cuts with scissors, draws or writes etc.

HOW can you help?  You can help your child in a number of ways

·         Give your child time to play every day.  Join in with them as they play.

·         Provide things for your child to play with – old boxes, clothes and household items are often more fun than bought toys and equipment.

·         When chatting, ask what your child was playing with that day.  Show that you value play – whether it’s at home or in school.

We strongly urge you to limit screen time and online play as much as possible.

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The following guidelines are taken from the I.N.T.O. publication – “Your Child in the Primary School.”

Children starting Junior Infants should be able to:

·         Put on and take off their coats and hang them up.

·         Use the toilet properly and wash their hands.

·         Tidy up after their activities carefully and neatly.

·         Share toys and activities.

·         Use a tissue.

·         Put belongings in to and out of their school bag / lunch box independently.

Allow your child/children to do things independently.

·         Encourage confidence by having children dress themselves. Please allow extra time for this in the morning.

·         Don’t criticise if things are not exactly to your liking.  Praise their efforts at every opportunity.

·         Please give some thought to the items your child needs to get through the school day.

·         Please get shoes with Velcro fasteners as this will enable your son/daughter to put on/take off and ‘tie’ his/her own shoes.

·         Choose a lunch box and drink that your child can open easily themselves.

·         Choose lunches that will ensure (s)he is independent of the teacher.  For example peel his/her orange OR chop up his/her apple before school and open any packed food if your son/daughter cannot manage it him/herself.

Label all of your children’s clothes (including jackets) and belongings clearly.

·         Check all labels regularly to ensure that they are still legible.

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After the first few weeks in school, we encourage you to help your child to become as independent as possible.  In the mornings, we operate a “Stop, Drop and Go” system, whereby you drop your child off at or near the school gate and allow them to walk to their classroom independently. Children will be supervised by school staff all the way to their classroom. Supervision begins at 8.40am.

Sixth Class pupils will accompany children in junior classes from the school gates to their classroom. We will introduce this hugely successful buddy system again during the month of September.

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A lot of adults work together in our school. Teachers, SNAs, our secretary, caretaker and lollipop lady work to make our school the wonderful place it is

We are all looking forward to meeting your child and to working with you!