Temple Carrig School General Guidelines for 1 st Year Parents Wednesday 9 th September 2015.

Temple Carrig School

General Guidelines for 1st Year Parents

Wednesday 9th September 2015

1st Year Information Evening

1. First Year is crucial!2. Raising your child’s chances of success3. Homework & Study4. Support Structure5. The school year – term by term6. Discipline Matters7. Perennial Issues and 2015 Issues8. Other Information and Reminders

First Year IS crucial!

Raising the chances of success

1. BE AMBITIOUS!

2. Make a commitment to their education

3. Maximum Attendance in School

4. Homework & Study

5. Fill in the gaps where performance is weak

6. Work in partnership with teachers

Homework & Study

Homework

At Temple Carrig it is expected that all students complete academic work at home on a regular basis.

We do need parental support with this.

The Study Environment…

Does your son/daughter have the best possible conditions in which to study?

Regular Time Regular Place Regular Sleep TV

Disturbances, Work outside the home

Homework

Work at home will comprise:

• Homework (set by teachers)

&

• Study (additional research and revision)

Homework Organisation

• Assignments posted on Schoology

• If a homework isn’t due for a few days, set a reminder in a calendar/homework app.

Every evening.

“Don’t keep putting off homework”

HomeworkHomework could be:

* written * memorising

* reading * revising

* online exercise * project work

* editing a movie * audio recording

All work is equally important! Reading is just as important as written work.

Homework Help

• Schoology messaging– Teacher help

– Peer tutoring, student collaboration

• iPad–Screencast tutorials–Websites e.g.

madamecarson.weebly.com

Homework Help

Parents can help a lot by making sure that all work set is completed, at home, and in the best possible conditions.

A homework timetable for each House is being compiled to ensure that students aren’t overwhelmed with work on any one day.

Homework Strategies

• Favourite subject first, then your least favourite.

• Leave the phone in another room.

• Peace and quiet – no TV, no music.

• Have a 5 minute break at half-time, but only 5 minutes!

• Avoid working on an empty stomach, or a full one.

• Tick off your homework list as you go.

• If you postpone something, set a reminder.

Time

How much time should be spent on Homework and Study?

An average of one and a half hoursSome days it may take longer

Time

If homework is completed sooner than this?

Some time should be spent on study

What is Study?

1. Organising and keeping up-to-date– Writing up notes in a particular subject

– Re-writing notes which are untidy or incomplete

– Writing up work missed though absence due to:

• Illness

• Dentist

• Sports team outing

What is Study?

2. Reviewing

– Reading and revising sections of work

– Self-testing – seeing how much of the material covered can be recalled

What is Study?

3. Research and Interactive learning • Educational Websites

• Apps

• Interactive exercises and animations

• Webcasts, blogs, podcasts, Youtube.

• Books

Study is…

• Organising and keeping up-to-date

• Reviewing and revising

• Researching

The Key to Success

Notekeeping

In Temple Carrig we expect all students to learn how to make good notes and keep them in an organised fashion.

This will make revision easier

Notekeeping and Organisation• Students will use a combination of copies,

notebooks, refill pads and ring-binders.

• For subjects that use refill pads– only one A4 pad needs to be carried around.– notes can then be filed at home in hard ring binders

• Storage of digital resources– Schoology– Microsoft 365– “Digital portfolio”

Challenges

• Big difference between Junior and Leaving Cert regarding what is expected of students

• Students can quickly learn to “coast” • Students need to learn to be more independent• Establishing a good work ethic and regular

study habits in 1st Year – this is crucial• Challenging more able students to go further• Supporting students with learning difficulties

Support Structures

Support Structures

• Form Teachers Altidore Mr Wallace

Avondale Ms Andrews

Bellevue Mr Sheridan

Killruddery Mr. Harris

Powerscourt Mr Kinsella

Tinakilly Ms. Douglas

• Head of First Year: Mr Crean

Support Structures

• Chaplain– Rev.Breen

• Learning Support Team– Ms. Hudson– Ms. McCarthy– Mr. Hurley– Ms Dorcey

• A student can come and talk to any teacher

Discipline

Common 1st Year Discipline Issues

1. (Uniform)

2. (Smoking)

3. Unkindness to others

4. Misuse of personal devices

5. Standards of Homework

6. Distracting others in class

Term by Term

1st Year …term by term

Term One:

• September: Tiredness will impact

• Tomorrow: Sausage Walk

• October 1st: Schoology Workshop

• October 12th-16th: “Maths Week”

• November: Annual General Meeting of Parents

1st Year …term by term

1st Year …term by term

Term Two:

• January: Snow!

• 12th January: Parent-Teacher Meeting

1st Year …term by term

Term Three:

• 26th April: School Photographs

• 11th May: First Year Parents Advice Night

• 13th May: Sports Day

• 25th May: End of Year Service

• 30th May - 2nd June: Summer Exams

• 2nd June: School Closes

Issues

Perennial Issues

1. Tiredness

2. Weight of schoolbags

3. Property

2015 Issues

1. Thank you for your patience

2. Lockers

3. School Bus Transport

4. Extra-Curricular Activities

Student Property

1. Students should avoid bringing valuables to school

2. Misuse of devices will led to their confiscation

3. Please put names on all property

4. Please don’t leave property around the school

5. Lost property can be collected from the Office. Most “stolen” property is actually just lost!

Information/Reminders

1. Sickness, Lateness, Absence, Leaving Early

2. Parents Parking

3. Litter – please bring it home!

Financial Matters

1. Administration Fee

Note: This includes 24-hour personal insurance cover

Financial Matters

1. Administration Fee

2. Voluntary Contribution

3. Tax Rebate

4. Extra-Curricular Activities Fee

5. Bursary Fund