School Year

Transcription

1 School Year Principal: Mr. Daniel Whelan Deputy Principal: Mr. Fintan Coughlan Phone: (091) Website:

2 Dear Parents/Guardians, Welcome to St. Pat s. You have made an excellent choice for your son. St. Pat s Provides a warm, nurturing environment for all children. Is a safe and happy school. Is welcoming to parents. Places a strong focus on literacy and numeracy. Offers a broad curriculum including a wide range of extra-curricular activities. Encourages a culture of academic excellence and high achievement. We are proud of our ongoing association with GTY (Galway for Talented Youth) at N.U.I.G. Has an excellent teaching staff. Cares for children with special needs. Offers a wide range of sporting and cultural activities. Has a newly re-furbished art/science room and a dedicated multi-purpose Activity Room. Has Green Flag status. Our Annual School Publication Pat s Chat offers children the opportunity to experience at first hand every stage of the publishing process. Has priority enrolment to our Senior School (The Bish) Yours sincerely, D. Whelan (Principal)

3 A BRIEF HISTORY St. Pat s was officially opened and blessed on the 1st February, Two months after that date, on 1st April, 1954, 938 boys entered its doors from the two former Patrician Brothers Schools, The Old Mon (founded in 1827) and the Nuns Island School (founded in 1863). Today St. Pat s is a large City Centre Boys Primary School catering for boys from 2nd to 6th classes. The catchment of the school covers the whole of Galway City and neighbouring townlands and villages. While it has a lay principal since 1998, the school ethos remains Catholic and it continues to promote the ideals, aspiration and goals of the Patrician Brothers. St. Pat s second level school is St. Joseph s College ( The Bish ) in Nuns Island. The majority of Pat s boys transfer there when they have completed their primary schooling. ETHOS AND EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY St. Pat s is a Catholic School which aims at promoting the full and harmonious development of all aspects of the pupil. St. Pat s is open and inclusive and welcomes children from every culture, creed and background. Multicultural Day in St. Pat s School

4 ST. PAT S IS A SCHOOL OF EXCELLENCE: SPORT a wide range of sports are played in our school. Gaelic Football, Hurling, Tag Rugby, Soccer, Swimming, Table Tennis, Handball, Basketball, Athletics and Olympic Handball. The u.11 Olympic Handball team are All Ireland winners 2012/2013 and our Soccer Team won an All- Ireland in May 2014 DEBATING Our sixth class debating team won the Connacht final and reached the regional finals in the All Ireland Debating Competition 2012/2013. MUSIC Our school has a fantastic choir which performs at different events throughout the school year. We have a music teacher who teaches violin and tin whistle to different classes. Guitar lessons are also available after school hours. Brass band practice takes place during lunch break and after school hours. FUNDRAISING We believe in helping others and have various fundraising events at Halloween and throughout the year. Last year, St. Pat s raised over 8,000 euro for local and national charities. DRAMA Every year the second classes perform The Nativity in the school hall. Last year we had a real donkey as the star guest! We also have various concerts and musical performances during the school year AFTER SCHOOL HOMEWORK AND ACTIVITIES CLUB is available Monday to Thursday from 2.45pm to 4.45pm. Pat s Chat our School Magazine/Year Book

5 CULTURAL, SOCIAL AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES Our Patrician Brass Band was founded in the late 1960 s and has won many awards at local, national and international level. At this stage our band is part of the heritage of Galway. PATRICIAN BRASS BAND Other cultural and social activities open to pupils include - attendance at Book Readings and Exhibitions in Galway City Library; Debating competitions; visits to local theatres); Competing in Quiz Competitions such as the Credit Union and National Parents Council Quiz; participating in local and national Art and Writing Competitions; Historical Tours of Old Galway; Galway Science and Technology Festival; Walks to the Seashore and along the Canal Banks; taking part in our Annual School Concert; and Carol Singing in Shop Street at Christmas to raise money for charity. Pat s Chat, our School Magazine/Year Book is published in June at the end of each school year. It provides a platform for the creative expression of the children in the school and also documents life in St. Pat s. The entire production is done by Fifth and Sixth Class pupils on their classroom computers using desktop publishing skills, under the guidance of their class teachers.

6 INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY Pupils busy at work under the watchful eye of our staff colleague Senator Hildegarde Naughton who opened our state of the art computer room during her term as Mayor of Galway City 2011/2012. Macánta the donkey makes a guest appearance at our annual Nativity Play

7 ST PAT S SCHOOL CHOIR Carols for Charity: St. Pat s Boys sang their hearts out at Christmas and raised 4,000 for Galway Hospice. The 5 th Classes and their teachers making the presentation to Galway Hospice.

8 ST. PAT S U.11 OLYMPIC HANDBALL TEAM 2014 SPORT FOR ALL IN ST. PAT S Sport is given a high priority in St. Pat s and the school is very proud of its outstanding success in many areas of sport stretching back to In 2012 the school won the County Football A Final and also the City League Hurling Final. In May 2013 our Junior team won gold medals in the All Ireland Olympic Handball finals and our Senior team won silver medals Last May our school won the All-Ireland Five-A-Side Primary Schools FAI Soccer Competition. (See photo on back cover). The school is also very proud of the many past pupils who have excelled in sport. David Forde, the Irish soccer goalie, is a past pupil of St. Pat s! The school offers all children an opportunity to participate in the following sports (at class, inter-class and inter school level): Gaelic Football, Hurling, Tag Rugby, Soccer, Swimming, Table Tennis, Handball, Basketball, Athletics and Olympic Handball.

9 CODE OF BEHAVIOUR AND DISCIPLINE The purpose of our School s code of behaviour and discipline is to ensure that the school is a well ordered place where the right of each child to the best possible education can take place in a safe and secure environment. We strive to create a school ethos where good relations between pupils, staff and parents are fostered and where such relations are based on mutual respect and mutual responsibility. ANTI-BULLYING POLICY Bullying in any form by any members of the School s community is totally unacceptable in St. Pat s. Children are taught the Stay Safe Code to reveal if they are being bullied in any way. Our Child Protection Policy is implemented fully and staff are aware of the procedures in place. All staff members are constantly vigilant to detect any incidents of bullying which are dealt with promptly and effectively. ST. PAT S HURLING PANEL

10 THE ROLE OF PARENTS AND OUR PARENTS ASSOCIATION Parents are the child s primary educators and the life of the home is the most important factor in his/her development during the primary years. Close co-operation between the home and the school is essential therefore if children are to achieve success at school. In St. Pat s we promote and encourage this active co-operation between parents and staff. Parents are welcome to meet with their son s teacher to discuss progress and resolve difficulties if any arise. (Please make an appointment beforehand.) Since 1999 our school has a very active and supportive Parents Association which works in partnership with the Board of Management and Staff of the school. Their dedication, commitment and hard work has contributed greatly to the success and excellence of St. Pat s. Some of the activities undertaken each year include: the Open Evening for new enrolments; the Christmas Concert; the Graduation Evening for the Sixth Classes and their involvement with our School Library which has over 6,000 books! ST. PAT S DEBATING TEAM CONNACHT CHAMPIONS AND ALL-IRELAND REGIONAL FINALISTS

11 SCHOOL ORGANISATION The School Day: School Uniform: The school day is from 9.00a.m p.m. Small break is at 10.45a.m. and lunch break at 12.30p.m p.m. All children remain on the school premises during the school day and may not leave unless collected by a parent or person nominated by a parent. The school uniform consists of a navy jumper, grey pants, blue shirt and navy tie. All children are expected to wear the uniform each day (except P.E. days). School Tracksuit: This is an essential part of the uniform and must be worn on days assigned for P.E. classes, swimming and sport. Uniform and tracksuit are available at Anthony Ryan s, Shop Street and at other outlets. School Lunches: The school promotes healthy eating. Fizzy drinks, chocolates, crisps, sweets and biscuits are discouraged. Classes for 2014/2015: Classes change on the first day the school reopens in September. School Books: Homework Club: A book rental scheme operates in the school. Available every evening from 2.45pm to 4.45pm

12 ST. PAT S ALL- IRELAND FIVE-A-SIDE PRIMARY SCHOOLS FAI SOCCER CHAMPIONS 2014 ST.PAT S CO. GALWAY GAELIC FOOTBALL CHAMPIONS 2014