S M’ C
Junior School
125 years
125 years
Principal’s Welcome
We are a Catholic school with a Catholic ethos
in the Spiritan tradition, welcoming children of
all faiths and none. Our aim is to promote the
whole development of the child: intellectually,
physically, culturally, morally and spiritually.
We cater for boys from Junior Infants to 6th
class, ensuring community is an essential part
of the education we offer. Our parents are an
integral part of that community, working with and for the good of
the school, promoting a learning community of child, parent and
teacher.
Our Junior School motto is ‘We are all different but equal’,
respecting the right of every child to feel happy, included and safe
within the St. Mary’s family.
Our aim is that by 6th class each boy regardless of his ability is
proud of his achievements and ready for the transition to
secondary school.
Judith Keane
Principal
Primary School Curriculum
At St. Mary’s College Junior School, we follow the Irish Primary School
Curriculum. A highly qualified staff deliver the curriculum to the children in a
modern and dynamic way, using state of the art technology and resources.
An emphasis is placed on the acquisition of knowledge and the
development of concepts and skills.
The Irish Primary School Curriculum outlines the contents of children’s
learning —the what and how of children’s learning. The curriculum aims to:
■
develop each child’s potential to the full
■
encourage a love of learning
■
help children develop skills they will use all their lives.
The curriculum is presented in seven areas, some of which are further
subdivided into subjects. These are:
1.
Language: Gaeilge and English
2.
Mathematics
3.
Social, environmental and scientific education (SESE): history,
geography and science
4.
Arts education: visual arts, music and drama
5.
Physical Education (PE)
6.
Social, personal and health education (SPHE)
7.
Religious Education
8.
French – children from 3rd class to 6th class have weekly French
classes as part of the school day
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Information and Communication
Technology
iPads and other items of information and communication technology (ICT)
enrich the teaching of subjects considerably. We integrate the use of ICT
into all subject areas and we recognise that technological skills are
important for advancement in education, work and leisure.
All classrooms have interactive smartboards. Our iPad timetable and ICT
plan ensures that pupils have the opportunity to develop competency in
ICT during their time in the school. Developed ICT skills e.g. word-
processing, touch-typing (TTRS), data handling etc. are integrated into all
subjects as we believe that skills developed at a young age will benefit
pupils for the remainder of their education and beyond.
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Testing review & feedback (Assessments)
Assessment in primary school is about building a picture over time of a
child's learning progress across the curriculum. The class teachers use
different ways to gather evidence about how and what the child learns on
an ongoing basis. In addition, assessment is used to identify children with
specific learning difficulties so that the appropriate steps can be taken to
ensure progress is achieved, despite difficulties which exist. This
information is used to celebrate the child's current learning and to help
make decisions about next steps for future learning.
We use a range of classroom assessment methods which include self-
assessment, teacher observation, questioning, concept mapping, classwork
and homework, to more formal assessment in the form of teacher-
designed tasks and tests, diagnostic tests and standardised tests. Forms of
assessment include;
■
Weekly assessments
■
End of term assessments
■
Standardised tests in English, Spellings and Mathematics
■
Belfield Infant Assessment Profile (BIAP)
Feedback to parents include;
■
Christmas and Summer reports.
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Assessment midterm reports
■
Parent/Teacher Meetings are held each year in November.
■
Parents are always welcome to meet with their son’s class
teacher/learning support team to discuss their son’s progress.
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Learning Support
We are committed to providing students with learning difficulties the
support that they require. The learning support team work closely with the
class teachers and parents to fulfil the needs of students who have been
identified as having specific learning difficulties or who may simply need
short term additional help.
Learning support provision is organised on a one-to-one basis, in small
groups or through in-class support, depending on the specific needs of the
child/children.
The principal aim of Learning Support is:
■
To optimise the teaching and learning process so as to enable pupils
with learning difficulties to achieve adequate levels of proficiency in
literacy and numeracy before leaving primary school.
■
To ensure that no child falls through the net.
■
To provide intervention as early as possible.
■
To direct the resources of the school towards those most in need.
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Activities
Rugby
Rugby is an important part of the life and ethos of St. Mary’s. The game’s
core values of respect, discipline, enjoyment and teamwork are at the heart
of our junior school. Rugby is the main sport played during the autumn and
winter seasons. Rugby teaches teamwork, fosters respect for oneself and
one’s opponent and for having great fun with your classmates and friends.
Starting in 2nd class, each class has rugby training after school on one or
two days a week depending on their age group. On Wednesday
afternoons, all boys from 2nd class to 6th class play in a class league where
teams play games in a league format with the winners being decided with
semi-finals and finals in March. On Saturday mornings, boys have either
training for an hour or a match/blitz against another school(s).
Cricket
Cricket has been played on the front pitch of St. Mary’s College for over 80
years. We have a great tradition of playing cricket and it is played in the
summer term, when the rugby season finishes.
Starting in 2nd class, each class has cricket training after school one day a
week. On Wednesdays, the boys from 2nd class to 6th class play in a class
league.
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Athletics
Athletics is taught as part of the physical education
(PE) curriculum. The strand units of the athletics
programme include:
■
Running
■
Jumping
■
Throwing
■
Understanding and appreciation of athletics
Emphasis in the athletics programme is placed on providing opportunities
for the child to challenge himself to run faster or for a longer period, to
throw an implement further and to jump further or higher.
Tennis
The tennis programme follows the guidelines of the primary school PE
curriculum. In the athletics strand it incorporates a range of activities
including running, jumping and throwing. In the gymnastics strand it
focuses on body actions such as jumping, turning and balancing. In the
games strand it combines the previous two by involving children in tennis
which enables them to appreciate and enjoy games.
■
Our tennis programme is a fun-based, child-centred, games-based
programme where each child experiences success at his own level.
■
We focus on coaching children in small groups where each child
receives individual attention.
■
The emphasis is on fun!
■
Each class focusses on the importance of developing hand-eye
coordination, balance and movement, along with teaching the different
shots in tennis.
■
We do this through a series of games and drills which are fun for
children.
■
Once children learn the fundamentals of sport at a young age, they
have them for the rest of their lives. These skills are transferable to any
sport!
Boys participate in many school tennis tournaments during the summer
term included the AIJS Tennis Competition and the Primary Schools League.
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Class Swimming Lessons
As part of the PE curriculum in St. Mary’s, all classes from Junior Infants to
6th class attend swimming lessons in Swan Leisure Centre annually. The
boys are taught by qualified swim coaches.
St. Mary’s Swim Team
The St. Mary’s Swim Team was introduced to provide a facility for pupils
who are competent swimmers and who want to improve their fitness and
skills. Sessions focus on stroke technique, improving stamina and
cardiovascular fitness. The St. Mary’s Swim Team is open to swimmers from
2nd class to 6th class who are comfortable in the water and can swim all
four strokes competently. The boys enter many swimming galas around
Dublin and Leinster throughout the year.
Golf
Boys have an opportunity to participate in golf outings during the school
year. Boys play in 9-hole competitions on Fridays after school in the
Stepaside Golf Centre & Driving Range and Jamestown Pitch and Putt.
Boys have the opportunity to take part in various golf tournaments
throughout the year.
Chess
Chess is one of the most popular after-school activities. During chess class,
the boys become familiar with the rules of the game and are encouraged to
use their imagination. Creativity, logical thinking and strategic planning
skills really start to develop. Chess, like other sports, teaches us about life
too: how to get up after hardships, how to win and lose, how to be a fair
sportsman who is respected by their opponents, how to follow through
with an idea and make it into a plan!
Choir
Boys from 2nd class to 6th class make up our Junior School Choir. Our
school choir engages in public performances such as the Wesley College
Dublin-Interschools Musical Festival and the Dublin Feis Ceoil and numerous
celebrations including Confirmation and Communion.
125 years