Home School Liaison - Pobalscoil Iosolde

Ms Ann Marie O'Brien
Home School Coordinator

email:  amobrien@palmerstowncs.ie
mobile phone: 087 272752

As Home School Coordinator, my work involves promoting partnership between parents, teachers, students and the community. The purpose of this partnership is to enable young people to achieve and succeed in school. Throughout the school year I support parents in the education of their children, offering helpful advice, information on community services, opportunities to attend courses in the school and local community and, at times, to contribute to the educational experience of students in the classroom as reading tutors and visiting speakers.  Parents are invited to attend school meetings and to have their voices heard at the Parent Teacher Association and at Local Committee meetings.

As parents are the first teachers and have an important influence on their children's attitudes and behaviour, I encourage parents to stay involved and interested in their children's lives and learning. Building healthy home school relationships based on trust, open communication and a shared interest in the development and education of  young people offers real hope that our students will achieve and succeed in school.

Parents' Courses

Many parents attended the popular Computer course and new Arts and Crafts course in the third term. These courses have been enjoyable and a great way of meeting others while learning something new.

Contact me on 087 2727521 if you are available and interested in attending a course in the new school year. All parents are welcome and courses are free.

Paired Reading

Congratulations to the students in Class 2D who completed a 4 week Paired Reading programme in the second term with encouragement from their English teacher, Ms. O'Toole.

Paired Reading Certificates were presented to the students on Friday, 19th March, to congratulate them for participating in the programme and reading a variety of excellent books. Parent tutors, Joan Healy and Orla Creevey, attended the celebration, representing tutors Josephine Casserly and Paula Bayly, and were presented with Tutor Certificates in recognition of the important role they played in promoting reading for enjoyment in school and at home.

Thank you to all parents who attended the celebration and who continue to support reading in the home.

Communications Course

Congratulations to parents Orla Creevey and Josephine Casserly who will complete a 10 week Fetac Level 3 Communications course in St. Bernadette's N.S. on 24th May. The course will finish with a Graduation followed by a meal. A new course will start in the autumn. Contact me for further details

Parents of incoming First Years are encouraged to attend an information meeting on 17th May. The purpose of the meeting is to make parents aware of school practices and the roles of key members of staff. All parents will be given a school transfer pack by the Home School Coordinator containing information on the work of staff, First Year subjects and the role of the Home School Coordinator.

Local Committee

The aim of the school's Local Committee is to help in the education and development of our students. Thanks to parents' involvement much good work has been done in addressing the issue of substance use awareness.

The Local Committee links the home, school and community and makes a real difference to students' lives.

Actions Taken 2009-2010

Substance Use programme, Parents judged competition
6 week Drug Prevention Programme for parents
Peer Education programme for Transition Years
Members consulted about draft school substance use policy

Maths for Fun

Congratulations to the students in Class 1L who completed a 3 week Maths for Fun Programme after Easter with the help of their Maths teacher, Mr. O'Donnell.

Certificates of achievement were presented to the students on Friday 7th May to congratulate them for putting in time and effort during the Programme.

Thank you to all parents who actively supported the Programme by helping their children with the Maths activities in the home.

Intercultural Week

Parents Adebola Eniafe and Marian Balogun from Nigeria shared interesting facts about their culture when they visited first year classes during the second annual Intercultural Week in March. The involvement of parents added a very positive and valuable dimension to the week and promoted an appreciation among our students of the richness of other cultures and traditions.

The school is very grateful to the parents who generously volunteered their time to teach our students something new about other cultures. No doubt, this valuable contact will help to develop positive relations between people of different cultures in our school and community.