Communication and Home-School Links

The child's education and welfare are best served where there is regular contact between parent and teacher on matters relating to the child's progress and well being. Parents may meet with the teacher on a one to one basis, by appointment, to discuss the child's progress or other matters of concern to parent or teacher. Such meetings may be initiated by either the parents or the class teacher. If a problem needs further attention, an appointment can be made for a meeting to take place with the parent, class teacher and principal

Telephoning and/or visiting the class teacher during class times is discouraged so as to avoid unnecessary disruption to your child's education.

Quick and urgent messages are delivered to parents by means of text under our Text-a-parent scheme. The school's secretarial services are limited to part-time hour and as a result, the school telephone is not always manned. An answering service is provided and recorded messages will be heard as soon as possible.

The principal will meet with any parent by appointment.

First Holy Communion/Confirmation meetings take place in the school prior to these Sacraments taking place and all other sacramental related information is issued both at the beginning of the year and on a needs basis, as far as possible, to those concerned.

Class teachers communicate with parents by phone or homework notebook when necessary, informing them of relevant matters. Please do not contact teachers outside school hours about your child's progress or school matters.

A newsletter is issued approximately once a month during the school year. This helps to remind parents of upcoming important dates, notes any achievements in the school, provides the Parents Association and Board of Management news etc. It is an important vehicle of communication and is communicated to the general body of parents.

Occasionally the school will use the parish newsletter or 'Bunclody' notes in the local newspapers for communication and public relations. The co-operation of the wider community is gratefully received and a good relationship exists between the school and the Parish Council, Hall Committee, I.C.A., Pioneer Total Abstinence Association, to name but some of the community links with the school.

SCHOOL POLICIES

In the pursuit of excellence Kilmyshall N.S. is actively engaged in policy formation. All policies are ratified by the Board of Management. Curricular policies are devised by the staff in line with Department of Education and Skills guidelines while organisational policies are developed to safeguard the needs and safety of the children. Parents, through the Board of Management nominees and the Parents Association, have been involved in the development of the majority of these policies.

WHOLE SCHOOL EVALUATION

In the Autumn of 2009, a Whole School Evaluation (WSE) was carried out in Kilmyshall N.S. by the Inspectorate of the Dept. of Education and Skills. The ensuing report acknowledged the good standards and exemplary behaviour of our pupils, the high quality of the teaching and the professionalism of the staff and the positive and productive working relationship the school has with the parents, the Board of Management and the local community. The full report is available on the Department's website here.