Our School

We are currently building our seventh classroom and the construction of this classroom is progressing. We are looking forward to this new addition.

Our principal Ms. Kiely was appointed in 2003 to join the teaching staff that included Mrs. Kennedy and Mr. O'Shea. We are now a staff of nine teachers teacher, two learning support and resource teachers and one part time teacher with an administrative principal.

As a Catholic school we are part of the Diocese of Killaloe and the Catholic Schedule is on display on our notice board. The principal, Liz Kiely, is the designated liaison person for Child Protection. The deputy principal, Siobhan Kennedy is the deputy designated liaison person for Child Protection.

As a national school we are funded through the Department of Education and Skills (D.E.S.) and their departments such as the National Council for Special Education (N.C.S.E.). Guidelines and circulars governing national schools are issued from the D.E.S.We are implementing the School Self Evaluation programme, officially launched by the D.E.S. on November 19th 2012. In 2014 we had our Whole School Evaluation on Management Leadership and Learning and this Department of Education and Skills Report is available on their website www.education.ie

We are managed by the Ahane N.S. Board of Management. Our patron is Bishop of Killaloe.There are many policies in place guiding school life e.g. CPSMA and many plans in place guiding teaching, learning and assessment. The Board has a three year plan in place for the school.

We follow the curriculum from the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (N.C.C.A.) From time to time the Department recommends changes to schools e.g. the Literacy and Numeracy Strategy ( November 2011) and our school is taking on board these recommendations.

Our newly established Parent Association (2015) is affiliated to the National Parent Council. In their short history they have engaged in school life by meeting with the staff and Board of Management to offer their support. .

We are a mixed school. We have single and multigrade classes. When you enrol in ou school you receive a copy of our School Information Book.

The National Curriculum

The National Curriculum Link

This is the official website for the primary school curriculum brought to you by the National Council for Currciulum and Assessment (N.C.C.A.).

We have taken the curriculum areas and used them in our school planning.
The plans are adapted to meet the needs of the children.

The following section is from the N.C.C.A. website:

Curriculum Overview

The aims of the curriculum are

• to enable the child to live a full life as a child and to realise his or her potential as a unique individual
• to enable the child to develop as a social being through living and co-operating with others and so contribute to the good of society
• to prepare the child for further education and lifelong learning.
The curriculum is learner-centred. It emphasises the importance of literacy, numeracy, and language, while at the same time responding to changing needs in science and technology, social personal and health education, and citizenship.

The curriculum is presented in six subject areas comprising 11 subjects:

Subjects

Language
English, Gaeilge

Mathematics

Social Environmental and Scientific Education (SESE)
History, Geography, Science

Arts Education
Visual Arts, Drama, Music

Physical Education

Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE)

Key aims, principles and features of the curriculum are explained in the Introduction and they underpin teaching and learning in all curriculum subjects. Curriculum documents (which contain content objectives and strands/strand units) and teacher guidelines are provided for each curriculum subject. In its totality, the Primary School Curriculum aims to enable children to meet, with self-confidence and assurance, the demands of life, both now and in the future (Introduction, p.6).

Special Education Needs

As parents you may look for additional information and support for your child. The National Council for Special Education (N.C.S.E.) has published a document that may be of interest.

The N.C.S.E. is the organisation that allocates extra support resources such as resource time with a teacher and support from a special needs assistant. The significant change in 2011-2012 is as follows: previously a child was allocated time for themselves and now the child has shared access to this time.

http://www.ncse.ie/publications/Parental_Booklet.asp

Aistear

This is a new programme that we will be getting involved with in the junior and senior infant children. It is a framework for early childhood education based on play.

For more details see

Aistear Curriculum Online