Get Mental with Maths

At the school we are still busy promoting 'mental maths'.
What is Mental Maths? Well, we see it as a bit of maths we do each day that doesn't have to do with the regular maths lessons. It doesn't have to go into the copies. Its more to do with the everyday and getting children thinking and looking  with numbers and shapes. You can still write down the numbers or draw pictures to help yourself out.
Try it out at home.
The more fun the better.

Review of Writing at the end of Year Two

At the end of our second year of School Self Evaluation in Writing we carried out out an opinion survey of the teachers. Teachers felt that writing was improving. Children are looking at their own writing and deciding what is good about it and trying to do better.
Use of rhymes and stories work really well. Explaining writing in words helps us to do better writing. 

What do we need to keep concentrating on?

• Watch that children keep up good habits in writing.
• Talk about letter formations.
• Capital letters, full stops, question marks and exclamation marks!
• Display good writing. Give credit for good work. Expect good work.
• Use good writing in all work. (This is called transferring learning)
• Use the same writing approaches throughout the school.

Our acceptable Use Policy for Information Communication Technologies (ICTs)

Dear Parent,

Computers in our school are linked to the internet via Broadband allowing internet use in the classroom. A filtering system put in place on behalf of the Department of Education and Science blocks unacceptable sites.

Our school policy is that;

·        Computers and the internet are used only for educational purposes.

·        Pupils may only be allowed access to the internet under supervision by a staff member.

·        Personal information such phone numbers, addresses names will not be given out online.

·        Children will be encouraged to immediately tell a supervising adult if they see any material which has words or pictures that upset them.

The use of computer facilities including internet access is an essential part of learning as required by the National curriculum.

If you do not wish your child to avail of these facilities please inform the school in writing or by calling to the school secretary who will record your wishes. 

Child Protection

Synopsis of our Child Protection Policy.

Child protection and welfare is of utmost importance to everyone in Cnoc Mhuire JNS, and is our main consideration in organising our school policies, procedures, and activities. We have developed a child protection policy under the guidance of the Department of Education. We do our best to minimise harm to/accidents involving your child, we maintain an open-door policy to welcome parents, and we also try to involve parents as much as possible in school life.


The Designated Liaison Person for matters of child protection is Mr. Chris Meehan. The deputy Designated Liaison Person is Ms. Dearbhla Byrne. Any child protection matters which might arise in the school will be treated with confidentiality, and will be dealt with in co-operation with any statutory bodies which deal with child welfare.


We endeavour to support the full and harmonious development of your child as a social person, and to prepare him/her for further education and lifelong learning. Therefore we try our best to create a positive school atmosphere which is open, inclusive, respectful, fair, and tolerant. We do this by following our SPHE (Social, Personal and Health Education) plan, and all the children complete the Stay Safe programme as well (both of these are available from the office for you to read). The complete child protection policy is also available for you to read, from our office. Also, if you would like to read other policies which deal with your child’s welfare in school (such as Code of Behaviour, Anti-Bullying Policy, Attendance Policy, School Outings Policy), these will be available shortly on our school website.

Our decisions after evaluating writing in our school.

From September 2013 every class will have;

• A literacy Wall
• A writing Table
• Red and Blue lined Letter Formation Charts
• Jolly Phonics letter formation chart
• b d reminder chart
• Good Writers Chart
• Sent home a letter formation chart for parents
• A reminder for the correct formations
• A writing rubric for that class level

The rubrics will attach to class profiles.

Handwriting will not only be taught in through all daily writing activities.