Welcome to St. Joseph's P.S.

St. Joseph’s is a vibrant, state of the art, progressive primary school. We are situated approximately 14 miles from Belfast and serve the Parish of Glenavy and Killead.

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About our school

Our School

St. Joseph’s Primary School and Nursery Unit is situated in a recently built, state of the art school building. The building is not only beautifully designed with landscaped grounds but also incorporates some of the most modern, up to date facilities available in a school in Northern Ireland.

The accommodation comprises of twenty-one classrooms including six mobile classrooms, resource areas, two large halls, a dining hall, medical room, library and a computer suite. There is also an attractive welcoming reception area and offices. Each classroom has its own cloakroom and toilet area, with access to purpose built resource areas. There are two well-equipped outdoor play areas and a number of attractive courtyards.

Board of Governors Fr. C Feeney Chairperson V. Rev Fr L McWilliams Vice Chairperson Mrs S Kelly Trustee Mrs B Cassidy Trustee Mr A Grant NEELB Mr T Burns NEELB Mr J Brennan DENI Mr E Finn Parent Mrs D Downey Teacher Mrs C Wegwermer Principal and Secretary ↑ back to top Breakfast Club The cafeteria will be open for all children who wish to avail of the breakfast service, from 7.45am until 8.45am. ↑ back to top Lunchtime Arrangements Pupils normally remain in school during the lunch break and no pupil may leave the grounds at lunch-time without written permission. School meals are served in the dining hall (tickets £2.20) or a pupil may wish to bring a packed lunch to school. Year 4 - 7 pupils may avail of our cash cafeteria. Packed lunches are eaten in the classrooms and pupils are supervised by supervisory assistants. Lunch-time supervisory assistants also supervise the pupils in the dining hall and while they are at play.

Visiting arrangements for new pupils and their parents Prospective pupils and their parents are invited in May/June to visit the school and to meet the teacher and other staff. Parents receive a formal written invitation to this meeting. It is an excellent opportunity for all involved to meet and become acquainted. New pupils transferring to the school are seen by the Principal and the class teacher in advance of their enrolment in the school. ↑ back to top Our School Uniform Each child is expected to wear the school uniform, which consists of: GIRLS BOYS Navy Pinafore/skirt Navy trousers White shirt White shirt Navy knitted cardigan Navy knitted jumper Navy and green striped tie Navy and green striped tie Navy tights/Navy socks Navy socks Black shoes Black shoes Navy Raincoat (optional) SUMMER UNIFORM (may be ordered through the school) GIRLS BOYS Green checked summer dress worn with white socks Green polo shirt P.E. UNIFORM (for all pupils) T-shirt Socks Shorts Black plimsolls / trainers

Attendance

If your child is off ill, please send a note with your child when he / she returns to school as this is needed for our records. If your child is required to leave school early, please send a note informing the teacher.

School Hours

Start: 9.00 a.m. (pupils in from 8.45 a.m.) Lunch: 12.00 - 12.40 p.m. Year 1 – 3   12.30 - 1.10 pm Years 4-7 Home Time: 2.00 p.m. Year 1, Year 2, Year 3   3.00 p.m. Year 4, Year 5, Year 6, Year 7   2.00 pm. Years 1-7 on a Friday

Due to insurance, pupils cannot be allowed into the school before 8.45a.m., unless they wish to use the supervised breakfast facility in the Dining Hall from 7.45 a.m. onwards.

Proposed School Holidays for 2009 - 2010

Month	Proposed Holidays (inclusive dates)	Month	Proposed Holidays (inclusive dates)
August	1 - 31	February	15 - 19 (inc.)
September	-	March	17
October	5 - 6 (inc.) 29 - 30	April	2 - 9 (inc.)
November	2	May	3 - 4 (inc.) 31
December	7 - 8 (inc.) 24 – 31	June	-
January	1 – 6 (inc.)	July	1 - 31

New pupils to St. Joseph’s

We are delighted to meet prospective parents and pupils, make arrangements to show them around the school and provide information about life at St. Joseph’s. Our whole community contribute to welcoming and supporting new arrivals and their families, and the Co-ordinator of New Pupils and class teachers work closely with to identify needs of new pupils and track and monitor early progress.

As soon as the child enters our school we liaise closely with parents to form supportive links for the child and build firm foundations for their future learning. Parents will receive an information pack containing curriculum information, extra-curricular activities, extended school provisions, holiday timetable, school routines, house keeping etc. It will also contain permission slips and consent forms to be signed and returned to the school office.
Children will receive a child-friendly handbook created by Our Pupil Council, containing information about routines, staffing, learning areas, school events, extra-curricular activities, and pupil initiatives/ opportunities.
The co-ordinator will meet with new pupils at various times throughout their first year at St. Joseph’s to support the young person emotionally,  to observe social and academic progress and to track and monitor progress.
New pupils will also have support from their peers, as appointed buddies will show children around the school and welcome them to their new classmates and classroom environment.

When a child moves school, it is important that he/she settles as quickly as possible and is able to continue work at the most appropriate level. A child’s old school will transfer documents to the new school, but it is useful if these are supplemented. This can be done by providing us with the following information:

• The list of previous schools attended
• Examples of child’s work
• Information about what your child is good at or enjoys doing.
• Information about his/her interests.
• Evidence of his/her achievements.
• The last report given to parents.
• Details of any difficulties your child has had at school.
• Relevant information about the family-number of children in family, etc.
• Information about his/her dietary needs.
• Information about his/her medical conditions.
• Some indication of what new things you would like your child to take part in.

Contact Details

School Address: 15 Glenavy Road Crumlin Co. Antrim BT29 4LA

Telephone: 02894422345 Fax: 02894423419 Email: info@stjosephsps.crumlin.ni.sch.uk Website: www.stjosephscrumlin.co.uk