Useful Resources for Parents

Arrival:

The School opens to receive pupils at 8.50am each morning.  The Board of Management does not accept responsibility for pupils arriving before this time. Children are allowed into the school yard before this time because it is considered unwise to leave them outside in the church grounds; (cars enter and leave the grounds before and after mass). However the Board of Management does not take responsibility for supervision and the children are on the premises at their own risk. Parents are regularly notified about this arrangement and new parents are made aware of this arrangement. (See enclosed letter)

The school bell is rung at 8.50am and children line up with their class. They are then escorted into their classrooms by their teacher.

During inclement weather children are admitted onto the corridor on the ground floor before 8.50am but are not allowed into classrooms. Although parents are aware that the school is not responsible for the children until 8.50am the Principal or a teacher may monitor the corridor during this period.

In St. Christopher’s lessons start at 9.00am and so children who arrive in school after 9.00am must sign in; a record is kept in each class of such tardiness and parents’ attention is drawn to it if there is a persistent pattern.  We emphasise the importance of the time a child spends in school and punctuality is paramount.

Dismissal:

Children in Junior Infants and Senior Infants finish school at 1.30pm.  They are split into two groups, namely children going to an After School facility and those going home. The After School group exit via the back door. This is supervised by a teacher. Children in external After School Services must be signed out by the receiving adult.

Children in Junior and Senior Infants who are going home exit via the front door.  Junior Infants are let out first, starting ar 1.25pm. Senior Infants are let out at 1.30pm. The children line up in the hallway and are individually called by their teachers when their parents arrive.  Parents are required to submit a form naming the adults who are authorised to collect their children.  This form is retained by the class teachers and can be amended as necessary.

Children not collected by 1.40pm are supervised by the secretary, in the office downstairs.

Classes end each day at 2.30pm for 1st-6th classes. Each class teacher escorts her class to the door. Children descending the stairs are trained in walking safely on the stairs, and are required to hold the banister.  For safety reasons, 1st Class pupils are let out first, starting ar 2.25pm.

Children in 1st and 2nd classes are called individually when their parents arrive. Parents who wish to have their children escorted home meet the children in the playground; children in 3rd-6th classes may go out to the playground but are instructed to come back in immediately if their parents are not there. The door is closed by 2.40pm. The school is not responsible for children after this time. However, should a child be left in school after this time they go to the office and wait to be collected.

After School Activities

Children who remain in school for After School activities are supervised by the relevant teacher and are then escorted to the door at the end of the lesson. Children not collected at this point are brought to the office to be supervised if necessary. A phone call may be made to the parent to ascertain who is responsible for collection.

Occasionally children are required to come into school early (eg: for a choir practice).  The relevant teacher accepts responsibility for those children during the session and returns them to their class line-up at 8.50am.

Pupil Insurance: In September each year parents are given the opportunity to purchase additional Personal Pupil Insurance for their children. This is administered by the school and arranged through Allianz.