Heywood Community School Heywood Community School

Welcome Letter 2017

Dear Parent(s),

We take this opportunity to welcome your children back to school in the last week of August 2017 to prepare for the smooth opening of the school we wish to bring the following points to your attention:

  1. Opening Dates

Thursday 24th August                  Return of Staff.

Friday 25th August                        First Year induction/ welcoming prayer service for students and parents / guardians.

Monday 28th August                    Staff Day (No School).

Thursday 29th August                 1st and 5th Year Classes begin.

Wednesday 30th August             Full school timetable except for transition year.

Thursday 31st August                   Transition Year begins.

 

  1. Options

First and Fifth Year Students have made their subject choices before the summer holidays. Every effort has been made to grant these choices within the constraints of the timetable. We hope that all students will be happy with their allocation, but if you have any query on this matter, please contact Ms. Geraldine Ryan (Deputy Principal) who will do all within her power to satisfy the curricular needs of each student.

It is important that all 1st Year attend school on Friday 25th August (Induction Day) and that all 1st  and 5th year students attend school on Tuesday 29th August in order to be included in the allocation of subject options.

  1. Books

Books for compulsory subjects should be purchased before Friday 25th August 2017 for 1st Years and before Tuesday 29th August for 5th Years. In the case of optional subjects (1st and 5th Year students only) students are required to have appropriate books by Wednesday 30th August when optional subjects have been finalised. All books are to be covered and identifiable with owner’s name and class group.

  1. Homework Journal

A special Heywood Community School Homework Journal will be distributed on the first day back.  The cost of this book has been incorporated into the administration fee. All students must have a copy of this Journal. Please note that slips for absences have been included in the back pages of this book.  Homework Journals which are defaced will have to be replaced.

  1. Lockers

All students will have the use of a locker for the year. Lockers cannot be shared. Students must provide their own padlock (medium size) for their locker.  Any damage to lockers will have to be made good by the person using the locker.

  1. Calendar

School Calendar for 2017-2018 school year is enclosed for your information. Parents are asked to note opening and closing dates and to follow the calendar closely during the year. Parents will be notified of any amended dates.

  1. House Exams

Students must be present for all house exams as a prerequisite for advancing to the next year’s course.

  1. Shape of the Day

Assembly each morning 8.50 a.m.

Classes

Monday                 9.00 a.m. to 3.45 p.m.

Tuesday                 9.00 a.m. to 3.45p.m.

Wednesday           9.00 a.m. to 3.45 p.m.

Thursday                9.00 a.m. to 3.45 p.m.

Friday                     9.00 a.m. to 1.15 p.m.

  1. Healthy Options

In an effort to support the promotion of healthy food options the Canteen will sell tea, soup, fruit juices, mineral water, fruit and lunches (savoury rolls, baked potatoes, chips, curry, pasta, salads etc.).  The Shop will sell fruit juices, mineral water, fruit and biscuit bars. Please note the school also provides drinking water fonts for all students. The co-operation and support of parents in ensuring that their child does not bring sweets, minerals and any foodstuffs already withdrawn in the school for health reasons is essential for the success of this policy.

  1. Secretary’s Office

As you can appreciate in a school of over 690 students and the moratorium on recruitment, the pressure on the office staff is immense.  To alleviate the workload on the office, parents are reminded that the office cannot take responsibility for: Ringing home re: lunches, gear bags, keys, school materials etc. Taking messages re: buses or alternative arrangements relating to students travelling home etc. Therefore parents are asked to ensure that their son/daughter has all the requirements for class each day and that domestic arrangements are made before leaving for school. Thanking you for your co-operation in this matter.

  1. School Traffic & Safety

As you are aware, the large volume of traffic to and from the school each morning and evening in particular has raised a major safety issue for the school in terms of its care for the student body. In an effort to redress this issue, the following procedures have been put in place.

  1. Buses will park in rotation in single file along the roundabout.
  2. No vehicles should double park on the roundabout.
  3. No cars should park along the roundabout. Parents collecting students from school are asked to park in the large tarmac (quad) area. No parking is allowed along the link road (between the quad and roundabout).

The co-operation of car and bus drivers is appreciated in ensuring the safety of students on the school grounds.

Thanking you for your understanding on this issue.

  1. Smoking

See section on Smoking under Code of Behaviour.

  1. Mobile Phones/Multi-Media Devices

See section on Mobile Phones/Multi-Media Devices under Code of Behaviour.

  1. Talks/Study Skills Seminars

A series of talks for students will be organised in the course of the year. Parents are asked to co-operate with the school to make these events a success and worthwhile for all students.

  1. Transport

Parents are advised that times and routes are expected be as in previous years.  Families who have not received their bus ticket by 15th August should contact the school at 057 8733333.

  1. Parents A.G.M.

A reminder that the A.G.M. of the Parents’ Association will be held on Tuesday 5th October 2017 at 8.00 p.m.

  1. Litter

See section on Litter/Environment under Code of Behaviour.

  1. Code of Behaviour

Please ensure that you and your children are familiar with the code of Behaviour which can be found in the Parent Student Handbook which was posted onto you in August.

Mr. P Bowe Principal
Mr. Peter Malone Deputy Principal

© 2017 Heywood Community School