SCHOOL POLICY

1

• 9. No responsibility will be taken for money or
  personal items brought to school for purposes
  other than those directly related to school
  matters. Please mark clearly your childs
  books, lunch box, coat, cardigan or any other
  which could get lost or mislaid.
• 10. The childs homework is to be checked and
  signed by a parent/guardian.
• A note from parent/guardian is required in the
  event of a
• childs homework not being done.
• 11 To avoid disruption of classes,
  parents/guardians are
• requested to leave all packages in the
  Secretarys office.
• 12. Parents/guardians must make an appointment
  with the
• Secretary if they wish to discuss an issue with
  a teacher.
• 13. In Junior Infants parents are welcome in the
  classroom before nine o clock. In all other
  classes parents only enter the classroom at the
  invitation of the teacher.
• 14. Parents who wish to take photographs must
  have the permission of the Principal and the
  class teacher.
• 15. Invitations Children may not distribute
  birthday invitations within the school grounds.
  We earnestly ask all parents to co-operate with
  this decision.
• 16. Children must be courteous and respectful at
  all times
• towards Staff and each other.
• We wish to bring to the notice of
  parents/guardians that
• attendance is carefully monitored. Full
  attendance certs
• are rewarded at the end of each term.
• When a pupil has been absent from school for a
  total of 20
• days the Educational Welfare Officer will be
  informed as
• per the Welfare Act of July 2002.

• SCHOOL POLICY
• Scoil Eoin N.S., Balloonagh, aims to provide a
  happy, secure environment conducive to good
  behaviour in which children can develop
  emotionally, spiritually and academically, taking
  the child's background, circumstances and ability
  into consideration and in due process providing
  them with a well balanced education in a catholic
  environment.
• The school lays foundations for further
  development by giving the children a degree of
  self-confidence in addition to a good self-image
  plus a high level of academic competence.
• The Christian ethos of the school ensures that
  the spiritual and moral welfare of the pupils is
  adequately catered for during the formative
  years. The school helps them to appreciate their
  unique worth and dignity, fostering in them
  respect for themselves, for others and for their
  environment.

2

• SCHOOL RULES
• School Rules
• 1. No child stays in the classroom or is allowed
  to remain in the school premises during recess
  except when under supervision.
• 2. When the bell is rung at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. for
  the commencement of school business the pupils
  shall line up in an orderly fashion and their
  teachers will accompany them into the classroom.
• 3. When a child is absent it is expected that a
  note of explanation be provided. A note from
  parent/guardian is also expected if a child needs
  to leave during school hours or needs to change
  travel arrangements.
• 4. Children will only be permitted to leave the
  school between 09.00 and 14.40 if accompanied by
  an authorised adult.
• 5. Cycling in the school grounds is strictly
  forbidden. Children who come to school through
  Connolly Park Path may not use bicycles.
• The same applies to adults. Children who cycle
  to school are strongly advised to wear a helmet.
  Make sure that
• bicycles are locked on the school grounds.
• 6. Children are expected to wear their full
  school uniform every
• day. If something prevents them from doing so
  a note of
• explanation is expected. The school track suit
  and runners
• are to be worn on P.E. day.
• 7. Students May not bring mobile phones to
  school.
• 8. SENSIBLE FOOD CAMPAIGN No sweets, biscuits,
  minerals,
• crisps or popcorn are allowed.
• Chewing gum is strictly forbidden.

• CODE OF DISCIPLINE
• PRINCIPLES OF OUR CODE OF DISCIPLINE
• 1. DISCIPLINE is based on respect - respect of
  the pupils for
• themselves and for others.
• In our code the individuality of each child will
  be taken into consideration while acknowledging
  the right of each child to education in an
  environment free from negative disruption.
• 2. The school recognises the variety of
  differences that exist
• between children and the need to accommodate
  these differences.
• 3. Every effort will be made by all members of
  the staff to adopt a positive approach to
  behaviour in the school.
• 4. The rules are kept to a minimum and are
  positively stated. However, there is a strong
  emphasis on courtesy, politeness and good manners
  within our school, which we know you as a
  parent/guardian will support and uphold.
• 5. The overall responsibility for discipline
  within the school rests with the principal. Each
  teacher is responsible for the maintenance of
  discipline within her/his classroom while sharing
  a common responsibility for good order within the
  school premises.

3

• PROCEDURES OF IMPLEMENTATION
• 1. A pupil is praised and encouraged for good
  behaviour and for any effort made that shows a
  significant improvement in behaviour. This can
  be acknowledged and rewarded in various ways by
  teacher/principal/ parent/guardian.
• 2. A pupil will be referred to the Principal for
  serious breaches of discipline and for repeated
  incidents of minor misbehaviour.
• 3. Unacceptable behaviour may be dealt with as
  follows to show disapproval
• a) reasoning with pupil
• b) reprimand - including advice on how to
• improve.
• c) temporary separation from peers,
  friends
• and others.
• d) detention during break
• e) additional homework
• f) loss of privileges
• g) communication with parents/guardians
• If a child's behaviour is giving cause for
  concern a teacher or the principal may contact
  parents/guardians. Communication will be
  verbal or by letter. The parents/guardians
  concerned will be invited to come to
• the school to discuss the matter.
• Aggressive, threatening or violent behaviour
  toward a teacher will be regarded as serious or
  gross behaviour, depending on circumstances.
• Bullying
• Definition Bullying is repeated aggression,
  verbal, psychological or physical conducted by an
  individual or group against others. Isolated
  incidents of aggressive behaviour while they
  should not be condoned, can scarcely be called
  bullying. However when the behaviour is
  systematic and ongoing it is bullying.

• 4. Serious instances of misbehaviour will be
  reported to the principal. The teacher/principal
  will keep a written record of all such instances.
  Pupils will be informed of such a record.
• Parents/guardians will be contacted and kept
  fully informed from the outset of serious
  instances of misbehaviour and this may result in
  transfer from class group at any time.
• 5. (i) In the event of violent or threatening
  misbehaviour i.e. if
• a) the students presence poses an
  immediate threat to the safety of others or a
  substantial likelihood of injury to a student or
  to others and
• b) instances of dangerously
  assaultive or self-abusive behaviour
• Temporary exclusion from the school will ensue.
• (ii) In the case of repeated aggressive or
  violent misbehaviour the following will apply
• a) Parents, Staff, Psychologist, SENO and other
  relevant professionals will work as a team to
  identify strategies for dealing with this
  behaviour.
• b) Alternative and more suitable placement for
  the childs needs will be explored.
• (iii) In the event of failure to resolve such
  issues the school reserves the right to request
  the D.E. S. and other agencies to provide
  alternative educational provision.
• 6. The Board of Management will be informed of
  very serious instances of misbehaviour.
• Parents/guardians will be requested to meet the
  Chairperson and the Principal.
• Suspension may ensue if an undertaking that the
  pupil will behave in acceptable manner is not
  given by the parent/s/guardian/s.
• This will be in accordance with the terms of
  rule 130.5 of the Rules for National Schools.
• 7. Expulsion may be considered in extreme cases
  in accordance with Rule 130.6.

4
Scoil Eoin Baiste Balluamhnach Trá
Lí School Policy Code of Discipline Tel
066 7121375