The new Junior Infants of September 2012 visited us on Monday last. They had time to play with games and toys while their parent/guardians had an introductory talk from Principal, Chairperson BoM and Chairperson PTA in the hall. 6^th class acted as ambassadors for the morning, welcoming families and ushering them to registration and to the Junior Infants classroom. They impressed our new parents/guardians very much with their courteous welcome, their personal memories of experiences at DSPNS and their friendly interactions as play buddies with the new Junior Infants. Thank you 6^thclass!

 Enrolment Policy Review

Further to the notification sent to all parents / guardians 3 weeks ago and the information evening held 2 weeks ago, the Board of Management are providing all parents / guardians with the opportunity to vote on two motions to amend the current Enrolment Policy. The times you can vote are:

• Tonight, Wednesday May 30th from 8pm-9pm (There will be no agenda / meeting at this time, it is purely an opportunity to cast your vote.)
• Thursday May 31st: 8:30-9:30am & 1-2:30pm

• Friday June 1st: 8:30-9:30am & 1-2:30pm

Student Council Fundraiser

The Student Council will hold a Cake Sale next Friday 8^th June in aid of their chosen charity, Make a Wish. Please support by making/providing cakes and giving a donation.

 Internet safety and Cyber bullying workshop:

 

Barnardos’ Childhood Poll 2007 showed that the top concern for both children and parents was bullying and highlighted the increased use of mobile phones and websites to make bullying less visible and further isolate victims of bullying. It is hugely important that children and young people are aware of all supports available if they are experiencing this insidious bullying, including talking to family and friends.

John Wills Educational Officer with Barnados will offer an information seminar for parents/guardians at DSPNS on the Wednesday 6^th June (7.30 pm).  A follow up session with the students will be organised for September.

Roman Catholic Committee

Our thoughts are with families who have lost loved ones in recent times. We know of four grandparents who have passed away since January. We are also mindful of families who have very ill family members currently. We hope our community is providing moments of kindness in these difficult times. During assembly 3^rd – 6^th class we regularly dedicate a moment of silence to families dealing with tough times. Let us know if we can support your family in any way.

 Important Dates

• TONIGHT Wednesday 30 May Enrolment Policy Vote 8 – 9pm in Halla
• Enrolment Policy Vote Thurs 31 May 8.30 – 9.30am; 1.00 – 2.30pm
• Enrolment Policy Vote Fri 1 June 8.30 – 9.30am; 1.00 – 2.30pm
• Cyber bullying talk for parent/guardians Wednesday 6 June
• Student Council cake sale fundraiser Friday 8 June
• Family Fun Day BBQ Saturday 16 June
• Sports Day Wednesday 20 June
• 6^th class graduation Wednesday 27 June 2012

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 We are delighted with the fine weather which has allowed us to go ahead with outdoor activities. Junior and Senior Infants have been busy with environmental studies in the garden, drama in the patio and yard, and computer studies in the classroom. 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th are busy practicing for plays, and also continuing with Literacy and Numeracy studies.

 Enrolment Policy EGM next Wed 30 May 2012

16 parents/guardians (and 5 Board of Management members) attended last week’s information meeting on Enrolment Review. It is a disappointing turn out for a very significant policy review. The motions being voted on are:

 1.     that the Enrolment policy is changed so that siblings of children who are currently pupils in the school will be given preference if placed on the pre-enrolment waiting list (PEL) within 6 months of their birth. Prioritisation of siblings will only apply to the JI list.

2.     that the Enrolment policy is changed  so that in the case of an adopted child or child in long term foster care, the PEL application date shall be backdated by adding to their birth date/placement date, the interval of time between placement with their existing family and the date their application for pre-enrolment is received by the school.

For example:  Child B is born/placed on 1 February 2009.  He/she is placed with a family for adoption/foster care on 1 August 2011.  An application to place him/her on the pre-enrolment is received in the school on 14 August 2011.  The date of receipt of application is calculated as 14 February 2009.

 Each parent/guardian has a vote. Each person must come and vote in person. Please use your vote on one of the following days:

• Wed 30 May in Halla 8pm – 9pm
• Thurs 31 May 8.30 – 9.30am; 1.00 – 2.20pm
• Fri 1 June 8.30 – 9.30am; 1.00 – 2.20pm

 Thanks to all who attended last week’s meeting. Please use your vote next week!

The RC committee would like to thank all the parents who helped out at the Holy Communion on Saturday the 19^th of May.  The homemade buns, sandwiches and help on the day ensured that the party in the school was a great success. Thank you also to all of second class who came along to celebrate the occasion.

Important Dates

• Monday 28 May @ 9.30am new Junior Infants children and parents visit class.

• Wednesday 30 May BOM EGM Enrolment Policy Vote 8 – 9pm in Halla

• Enrolment Policy Vote Thurs 31 May 8.30 – 9.30am; 1.00 – 2.30pm

• Enrolment Policy Vote Fri 1 June 8.30 – 9.30am; 1.00 – 2.30pm

• Sports Day Wednesday 20 June 2012

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There are all sorts of wonderful learning activities taking place in our school. It’s hard to find a free time in the Halla with drama practice, dance, art, piano concert, re-cycling, jewellery-making, script writing, construction to name but a few goings-on. Meanwhile class work continues to be important in enabling children to gain knowledge and skills in all aspects of the curriculum.

Parking

Thank you to 2^nd class for illustrating our traffic cones with reminders to park considerately. Our neighbours were most appreciative yesterday when the cones were put out. Fewer cars near the gates also help make this area safer for children who are walking or cycling. Parking at a distance from the school entrance is another way to encourage children to get exercise.  WOW – Walk or Cycle on Wednesday – helps build a habit to ensure at least one day a week, children get exercise on their way to/from school. It’s also a great opportunity to foster some independence skills

 Reminder!

Tonight Wednesday 16 May @ 8pm Enrolment Policy Information Meeting in Halla

Congratulations to 3^rd class who earned bonus playtime last week! The whole class was nominated by their teachers for being honest and telling the truth about how they are getting on. This honesty has helped teachers guide the children in building good relations with one another.

 PTA events

Important Dates

• Monday 21 May @ 7.30pm DSP AGM in Monkstown Educate Together

• Monday 28 May @ 9.30am new Junior Infants children and parents visit class.

• Wednesday 30 May BOM EGM Enrolment Policy Vote @8pm in Halla

• Sports Day Wednesday 20 June 2012

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May 9th 2012

Re: Enrolment Policy

Dear Parents / Guardians,

The Enrolment Policy is under review and the Board of Management has taken on board feedback, suggestions and requests from many parents and the DSP Executive, our patron body.  The BoM has proposed two motions for parents / guardians to vote on regarding changes to the current ‘first come, first served’ Enrolment Policy:

• to introduce a form of sibling preference
• to recognise the specific needs of adopted children and children in long term foster care

An information evening is being held on Wednesday 16^th May at 8pm in the school, where there will be an opportunity to discuss the proposed changes.  An Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) will take place on Wednesday 30^th May at 8pm in the school where voting will take place. We hope both the meetings will be well attended and that as many parents/guardians as possible will come and vote on the issues.

Any changes to be made to the policy must be first ratified the DSP Executive before the BoM can implement them. Any changes decided on will not come into effect for four years from the date of ratification as those who currently have a PEL number have a contract with the school under the Enrolment Policy at the time they applied.

The next review of enrolment policy will not take place before 2017/2018.

Voting procedures:

As change to this policy is fundamental to the ethos of the school, any change should only take place on the basis of a two-thirds majority of those voting. In view of the importance of the issue, strict voting procedures are being followed.

1. A register of voters will be established consisting of all parents/guardians of children in the school
2. Each parent/guardian will be entitled to vote
3. The ballot boxes will be open to cast your vote

a)    At the EGM on 30^th May at 8pm-9pm

b)    On 31^st May and 1^st June in the school from the hours of 8.30am-9.30am and 1.00pm-2.30pm

1. Each person must come and vote in person in the school
2. Results will be announced in June

A summary of the Enrolment Policy Review Process is attached as well as the formal announcement of the EGM.

Yours sincerely,

 

 

_____________________                                                      _______________________

Miriam Hurley, Principal                                                          Liz McGovern, BoM Chairperson

 Notification of an Extraordinary General Meeting

of the Board of Management
of Dalkey School Project National School

Wednesday, May 30th at 8pm

Dalkey School Project N.S.

Purpose:             To conduct a vote on proposed amendments to the Enrolment Policy
(this vote follows an information evening on Wednesday May 16th at 8pm)

 

The motions being voted on are as follows:

1.     that the Enrolment policy is changed so that siblings of children who are currently pupils in the school will be given preference if placed on the pre-enrolment waiting list (PEL) within 6 months of their birth. Prioritisation of siblings will only apply to the JI list.

 2.     that the Enrolment policy is changed  so that in the case of an adopted child or child in long term foster care, the PEL application date shall be backdated by adding to their birth date/placement date, the interval of time between placement with their existing family and the date their application for pre-enrolment is received by the school.

For example:  Child B is born/placed on 1 February 2009.  He/she is placed with a family for adoption/foster care on 1 August 2011.  An application to place him/her on the pre-enrolment is received in the school on 14 August 2011.  The date of receipt of application is calculated as 14 February 2009.

 ENROLMENT REVIEW 2011/2012

This school year, the Board of Management undertook a review of the Dalkey School Project National School Enrolment Policy.  A sub-committee of the Board was established and a questionnaire was devised and circulated to all parents / guardians on 1^st February 2012.   Based on responses to the questionnaire and direction from our Patron (the DSP Executive) the Board considered changes to the policy in three areas:

• Siblings
• Deferral / Postponement of place on the Pre-Enrolment List (PEL)
• Adopted/Fostered children

The Board decided that as this policy is fundamental to the ethos of the school, any changes to it should only take place on the basis of a two thirds majority of those voting and that voting should take place over a period of time to offer the greatest possible opportunity for all parents/guardians to participate.

Siblings

The Board determined that a sibling policy should be proposed, as a majority of 85% of questionnaire respondents were in favour of a sibling policy.   Amongst other considerations, the Board looked at breakdown of the Junior Infant intake over the past three years:

September 2009:   Intake 29 of which
Sibling                         15
Deferred                      14
Deferred + Sibling         6

September 2010:            Intake            27 of which
Sibling                                      9
Deferred                          9
Deferred + Sibling              4

September 2011:            Intake 29 of which
Sibling                                    13
Deferred                          9
Deferred + Sibling              5

Having considered a number of possible implementations, the Board determined that there were two options:

No sibling policy
Enrolment application for sibling of child currently enrolled in the school receives no preferential treatment over other applications.  This is the current “first come, first served” policy.

Sibling policy
Enrolment application for a sibling of a child currently enrolled in the school will position applicant ahead of non-sibling applicants on PEL, if applicant is pre-enrolled within 6 months of birth.

 Deferral

51% of the respondents to the questionnaire were in favour of reviewing the deferral policy. There is a perception evident in some of the returned questionnaires that the current policy of providing an option for to defer the offer of a place in the school leads to the blocking of places in Junior Infants.

Some of suggested changes from the questionnaires to the policy were:

1. If postponing a place, it should only be allowed in exceptional circumstances.
2. If deferring a place, the school should only allow it if the child is then put on the Senior Infants waiting list.
3. When applying for a place you should only be allowed to register a child for the year that you want them to start school.

In response to the above suggestions the Board found that:

1. You cannot define ‘exceptional circumstances’ as there are too many possibilities.
2. We cannot guarantee that a place be available to a deferred pupil in Senior Infants.  Also, a child cannot start school in Senior Infants without first attending Junior Infants.
3. It is very difficult for parents to know when they register an infant, when that child will be ready for school.

Having considered all of the responses to the questionnaires it was decided that none of the proposed changes were manageable from an enrolment/policy point and that the current deferral/postponement policy will remain in place:

Postponement is granted automatically where the child will not have reached the age of six before the following September.  In the case of older children, each case will be considered by the Board and parents will be informed of the decision. Postponement does not confer a right to a place in a future year, only a right to apply for a place. A child, whose application for a place is postponed, retains his/her registered date of pre-enrolment.

For Example:

Child A (aged 4) defers his/her place on the PEL for Junior Infants. The following year he/she may not defer and his/her name will be placed on the waiting list for Junior Infants.  If offered a place, and he/ she refuses it he/she will have to reapply and receive a new date of application.

 Adopted / Long term fostered children

The majority of respondents who wanted a modification to be more inclusive, suggested adopted/long term foster care as an area for consideration, the Patron was also in favour of this consideration.  The Board has decided to propose the following change to the enrolment policy:

In the case of an adopted child, or a child in long-term foster care their place on the enrolment list will be calculated by adding to their birth date/placement date, the interval of time between placement with their existing family and the date their application for pre-enrolment is received by the school.  Documentation to support the placement must be provided.

For example:

Child B is born/placed on 1 February 2009.  He/she is placed with a family for adoption/foster care on 1 August 2011.  An application to place him/her on the pre-enrolment is received in the school on 14 August 2011.  The date of receipt of application is calculated as 14 February 2009.

Junior Infant Age Preference

Following consultation with staff, it has been decided by the Board of Management that an age preference will be included in this review of our Enrolment Policy for children starting in Junior Infants. This is the current practice of many primary schools (including our sister school under our Patronage, Monkstown Educate Together N.S.) due to a general acceptance that children tend to make better overall progress when they start school at an older age.

The current policy on the age of a JI child is that they must be at least 4 years of age before the 1st September in the year in which they propose to start school. An age preference will be included in the Enrolment Policy where preference will be given to applicants who are 4 years of age on or before 30th June in their year of admission.

 Conclusion

Following a review of the current Enrolment Policy and the feedback, suggestions and requests from parents and our patron body, the Board of Management have concluded that:

• The current Deferral / Postponement policy will remain in place
• There will be an age preference included in the Enrolment Policy
• Two motions will be put to the school community (Parents / Guardians) to vote on at an Extraordinary General Meeting to be held on Wednesday, May 30th (following an information meeting on Wednesday, May 16th)
  
  – to introduce a form of sibling preference
  – to recognise the specific needs of adopted children and children in long term foster care

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Board of Management Summary Report

A meeting of DSPNS Board of Management (BOM) was held on Wednesday 25^th April 2012. Items on the agenda included the Treasurer’s Report & School Accounts, the Principal’s Report, the Maintenance report, the Voluntary Contributions report, and the Buildings report.  Specific items included:

1. Board has approved job share arrangements for Mr P Finucane/
   Ms F O’Donoghue and Ms J Dungan/ Ms K Gobl for 2012/2013 school year.
2. Voluntary Contributions are under budget to date.
3. Information Evening on Enrolment Review will be held Wednesday 16 May 2012; Extraordinary General Meeting will be held on Wednesday 30 May 2012 to vote on motions.
4. The Board appreciates time and contributions of all who completed Ethos Survey.

Next meeting: Wed 6^th or 13^th June 2012

PTA

The PTA would like to say a big thank you to Conor Sullivan, Adam Sullivan (Dad and brother of Bianca 6th Class) and Niall Shortall (Dad of Sam 5th Class) for giving up their Bank Holiday Sunday to assemble the new tables the PTA purchased for the Junior and Senior Infants Yards.

Thanks!

Important Dates

• Wednesday 16 May @ 8pm Enrolment Review Information Meeting in Halla

• Monday 21 May @ 7.30pm DSP AGM in Monkstown Educate Together

• Monday 28 May @ 9.30am new Junior Infants children and parents visit class. (NB date on last week’s calendar incorrect)

• Wednesday 30 May BOM EGM Enrolment Review Vote @8pm in Halla

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Enrolment Review

As you are aware the enrolment policy is being reviewed. A sub-committee was established and a questionnaire was sent out to parents / guardians on 1^st February 2012. The Board of Management has analysed results and is preparing a discussion document to present at an Information Meeting to be held on Wednesday 16^th May at 7.30pm in the school. An Extraordinary General Meeting will follow on Wednesday, 30th May to vote on the motions to amend the Enrolment Policy. Ballot papers will be available on the night and for the following 2 days in school. Ballots will be counted at the end of this period.

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