Annual report

The end of the school year brought changes with the retirement of Mrs Kathleen Cousins as Principal along with Mrs Marion Murphy and Mrs Ann Mc Conville as class teachers. Miss Una Lawless was appointed as Principal and Mrs Orla Reavey was appointed as Vice-Principal with effect from 1^st September 2015.

Eugene Byrne

Chairman of the Board of Governors


BOARD OF GOVERNORS 2014 - 2015

Chairman Mr Eugene Byrne
Secretary Mrs Kathleen Cousins
Transferor (Trustee) Representatives
Fr Jarlath Cushenan

Mrs Anne Marie O’Hagan

Mr John O’Hagan

Mr Jayme Farrell

Mrs Grainne Killen

2012-13 45

2013-14 55

2014-15 51

The close links with the GAA continued in the year 2014-2015. We used the GAA grounds and clubrooms for training, playing matches, the Connor McConville tournament and Sports Day. Our football team had a very successful year, being runners-up in the Canon Esler Shield and the Cumann na mBunscoil league.

Teachers and pupils worked closely with the teachers and pupils from St Paul’s Cabra to prepare for the sacrament of Confirmation.

Senior Leadership Team Meeting, WAU Meeting, Medical Training

ACE Team deliver training in ‘Building Blocks of Childhood Development’

Pastoral Care/Arts Team Meetings
Thursday 28^th August 2014

Whole staff meeting – Curriculum Planning

Class Preparation/Literacy and Numeracy Team Meetings

Analysis of PIE/PIM results

Post-Transformation training ICT

Introduction to Understanding Difficulties in Literacy Development
Monday 5^th January 2015

Continuation of training in Understanding Difficulties in Literacy Development

Planning for Progression in Use of Spelling Strategies throughout school

Continuation of training in Understanding Difficulties in Literacy Development

Report Writing/Marking of PIE and PIM tests

Primary 6 Rianna Grant, Eoin Devlin

Primary 5 Niamh Mc Sherry, Grace Clancy

Primary 4 Keely Farrell, Dara Fitzpatrick

They also helped by taking the lead in our Christmas Concerts and St Patrick’s Day celebrations and by organising fundraising activities to help raise money for Trócaire.

Our school participates in the school league and the Canon Esler Competition. The Canon Esler competition is played in the first term and our team reached the semi-final stage. The school team also reached the final of the football league, being narrowly beaten by Burren. The Connor McConville Tournament was another successful event with eighteen teams competing. Three teams from our school took part. The A team reached the semi-finals but were beaten by Burren

Our school Hurling and Camogie teams participated in the Indoor competitions and in the outdoor Qualifiers rounds.

Mark Doran (MD Coaching) coached a variety of sports as part of our Extended Schools Programme. This was a very popular programme with the children. Mark took Tag Rugby as part of our fun skills Sports Day.

Ambrose Rogers came to the school to develop Gaelic football skills from September to February. The boys and girls in Primary 6 and 7 received this fantastic opportunity to be coached by Ambrose.

Ciaran Murtagh, Ulster Coach, came every Wednesday morning and coached Fundamental skills to the two Primary 1 classes and the Primary 2 classes.

Last year the girls team entered in the girls football competition. They won their section and unfortunately got beaten after extra time in the semi-finals.

Stephanie was available throughout the year and all classes got the opportunity to participate in a 6 week blocks of Gymnastics.

This was organised as partly Fun Games and partly competitive so that all pupils could participate fully.

1^st place and Fr Tom McConville Cup

Louise Reavey, Caoimhe McConville, Jack McGreevy, Niamh McSherry, Ava Don, Minny Don, Cian Wilson, Darragh Magee, Cara McCormick, Niamh Mc Conville, Grace Clancy, Faye Magee, Ailill Morris, Brianna McClean, Keely Farrell, Kennedy Dinsmore, Emma Mc Cormick, Erynne Devlin, Caitlin Fitzpatrick, Eddie Clancy, Anna Crosbie, Clara Grant, Ellen Mc Kay, Codie Morgan, Katie Mc Givern, Aoife Trainor

Erin Morgan, Grace Clancy, Rianna Grant, Eveagh Kelly, Katie Mc Coy, Eoin Devlin

10^th September P4 Information Evening

11^th September P7 Information Evening

12^th September Mass for beginning of school year

16^th September P5 Information Evening

17^th September Irish begins for P2, P3, P4

17^th September P2 Information Evening

18^th September P6 Information Evening

19^th September Non-Uniform Day

25^th September Renewable Energy lessons by Paula Davison

26^th September Modern Languages Day – Assembly by P.6

29^th September P7 Parent/Teacher Meetings

13^th October All pupils receive ’flu vaccine

15^th October Cancer Focus for P1 and P2 pupils

15^th October Fire Safety for P5 and P3 pupils

20^th October ‘Stranger Danger’ for P1 and P2

8^th November OSM Recycling

9^th November Scor Competition in Assembly Hall

13^th November Science lessons P6 Mr Mc Greevy St Colmans

14^th November Science lessons P6 Mr Mc Greevy St Colmans

14^th November Choir sing on BBC TV programme ‘Children in Need’

17^th – 23rd Nov Antibullying Week

19^th November 1st year BEd student on observation in P3 class

20th November Science lessons P6 Mr Mc Greevy St Colmans

20th November Parent Teacher meetings

28^th November Cultural Diversity talk to parents of P1 and P2 children

2^nd December Mr Kevin Martin St Louis’ G.S. visit P7

5^th December P7’s visit St Mark’s H.S.

9^th December P1 and P2 trip to Armagh: ‘Christmas through the Ages’

9^th December P3 trip to Newry Museum: ‘A Victorian Christmas’

11^th December Christmas Dinner

15^th December Playgroup watch Nativity Play

16^th /17^th December Christmas Concert

18^th December Carol Service in St John’s Ballymaghery

12^th January Mr Ronan Ruddy Abbey Grammar School visits P7

15^th January Fire Safety talk for P5

19^th January Shape and Space Week

20^th January P7 Safety Issues with PSNI

21^st January Mr McKinny St Colman’s visit P6/7

23^rd January Catherine McKeever St Malachy’s Castlewellan visit P6/7

27^th January First Penance

3^rd February Stan Lutton talks to P7 on smoking and alcohol

4^th February Photographer in School

5^th February Childline workshops for P6 and P7 pupils

12^th February P6/7 Science lesson Mr Mc Greevy St Colman’s

13^th February Back-to-front Uniform day

19^th -27^th February Book Fair

20^th February Stan Lutton P7 on Young People and the Law

25^th February P5/P6 String Group placed 2^nd at Newry Feis

25^th February Nicola Pearce, author, talks to P6 pupils

25^th February P7 Retreat

6^th March Science lessons P7

10^th March School Choir at Warrenpoint Feis – 1^st place in both classes

11^th March Folk Music workshop for all Pupils

11^th March Service of Light

13^th March P2 children and teachers from St Patrick’s, Mayobridge, visit

Rural Respecting Differences Programme

20^th March Dairy Council: Food and Fitness Programme for P5 and P6

27^th March OSM Recycling

11^th April Spelling Bee Competition

14^th April Cancer Focus for P6 and P7

17^th April Confirmation at 6pm in St John’s Church, Ballymaghery

20^th April Handling Data Week

21^st/22^nd April Sr Mercedes (EI) visits school

7^th May Election – school used as Polling Station

9^th May Holy Communion at 11am

11^th – 14^th May Nurse assesses P1 pupils

20^th /29^th May P2 children and teachers visit St Patrick’s Mayobridge as part

of Rural respecting Difference Programme

3^rd June Connor McConville Tournament

4^th June P3 Trip to Tannaghmore Gardens, Craigavon

6^th June St Mark’s Induction Day

7^th June Special Children’s Mass

8^th June Sports Day

10^th June P2 Trip to Belfast Museum

11^th June P1 Intake Day

11^th June P4 Trip to Loughbrickland and Tayto Park

12^th June Cycling Proficiency Test

15^th June P6 Trip to Titanic Centre, Belfast

16^th June P7 End of Year Mass

16^th June P5 Trip to Castlewellan Forest Park

17^th June P1 trip to Fort Evergreen, Warrenpoint

17^th June P7 trip

19^th June Concert for three retiring teachers

23rd June Retirement Mass and supper in school for whole community


PRIMARY 7 END OF YEAR AWARDS
The categories were:
Music Katie Mc Givern, Aoife Trainor

Sports Boy Patrick Cowan

Sports Girl Caoimhe Mc Keown

School Spirit Boy Thomas Magee, Luke Fitzpatrick

School Spirit Girl Sophie Hannaway, Rosie Mc Cann

TRANSFER OF PUPILS TO SECONDARY SCHOOL
31 pupils transferred from St Patrick’s to the following schools:

St Mark’s High School

St Colman’s College

Our Lady’s Grammar School

Sacred Heart Grammar School

St Malachy’s High School

Abbey Grammar School

St Mary’s High School

Rowan Burns, Claire Green, Leah Dougherty, Amy Mc Evoy, Eoin Crosbie, Caoimhe Mc Conville, Ellen Morgan, Maia Harkell, Ciara Mc Polin

Cian Mc Conville, Ruby O’Gorman, Ailill Morris, Cass Warke

Charlie Morgan, Keely Farrell, Rory Fearon, Niamh Mc Conville, Cian Wilson, Emily Bingham

Katie Mc Polin, Niamh Mc Sherry, Meabh Mc Polin, Corynne Branagan, Amy Morgan

Rianna Grant, Brian Rice, Eoin Rice, Eoin Devlin, Patrick Green

The Parents Association has been in operation for a number of years and provide support to the school in the following ways: Fund Raising; Helping out with organized annual events; Liaising between parents and school management.

Our Parent Representative on the Board of Governors is Mrs Agnes Morris. Marie attends meetings and then represents the Parent Association at the Board of Governors meetings by putting forward views and ideas and helping to resolve any areas of concern.

From September 2014 to June 2015 the Parent Association raised funds and organised the following:

Christmas Raffle, Christmas Disco, Easter Raffle, End of Term Disco

Members of the Parents Association helped with the Nativity Play and the P7 Musical.

All parents are welcome to join.
Our Thanks to the Parent Association

The staff and pupils of St Patrick’s wish to acknowledge all the work done by the members of our Parent Association this year. We extend our very grateful thanks to them all.

Miss Una Lawless Vice-Principal/SENCo/P3

Mrs Marion Murphy P1

Ms Maeve McNeill P1

Mrs Orla Reavey P2

Mrs Sinead O’Hare P2

Miss Lisa Mc Anulty P3

Miss Kitty Fegan P4

Mr Nigel Trainor P5

Miss Catherine Murphy P6

Mr Shay Flanagan P6

Mr Plunkett McConville P7

Mrs Kate Austin Learning Support Teacher

Mrs Roisin Mc Givern Learning Support Teacher

Mrs Meg Magee Peripatetic Dyslexia Support Teacher

Mr Conor McNeice Irish Tutor
ANCILLARY STAFF

Mrs Debbie Brown Senior Clerical Officer

Mr Liam Downey Building Supervisor

Mrs Breege McGaw Part-time Cleaner

Mrs Helena Grant Part-time Cleaner

Mrs Aileen Gribben Supervisory Assistant

Mrs Kathleen Smyth Supervisory Assistant

Mrs Caroline McCarthy Supervisory Assistant

Mrs Roisin McAlinden Supervisory Assistant

Mrs Deirdre McGreevy Primary 1 Classroom Assistant

Miss Leona Mc Garry Primary 2 Classroom Assistant

Mrs Bridie Branagan Classroom Assistant

Mrs Aileen Gribben Classroom Assistant

Mrs Susie Hynes Classroom Assistant

Mrs Karen McAleenan Classroom Assistant

Miss Bernice McCartan Classroom Assistant

Ms Rosie Murray Classroom Assistant

Miss Aislinn Keenan Classroom Assistant

Mrs Sally Malone

Mrs Barbara Killen

Mrs Yvonne Burden

Mrs Michelle Dougherty
MUSIC TEACHERS FROM SELB

Mrs Teresa McArdle

Mrs Martina Masterson

Mrs Lorraine Logan

Individual teachers are responsible for the co-ordination of particular subject areas:

Mrs Murphy ICT

Miss Lawless Music/Special Needs

Mrs Reavey Literacy/ Assessment

Ms McNeill Extended Schools/Pastoral Care

Mrs Austin The World Around Us

Football, Camogie, Tennis, Music, Irish, Gymnastics, Maths Roadshow, Lexia, ICT Club.

Many thanks to the staff and the outside helpers (especially the GAA) who gave of their time and skills towards these activities.


PASTORAL CARE
In St Patrick’s School we aim to provide a well ordered and caring community in which the children can work and play. Pastoral Care deals with the overall development of the pupil, - physically, academically, socially, morally and spiritually. It requires a caring commitment by all staff to guide and advise pupils, permeates all aspects of school life and contributes to the creation of a supportive atmosphere in the school for both staff and pupils. In the school we apply a system of rewards which are intended to be fair and effective for all pupils. They are aimed at promoting good behaviour and promoting self esteem. They encourage each pupil to take responsibility for his/her actions and to have their efforts recognised and rewarded.
The designated teachers for child protection are:-

Miss Una Lawless

Mrs Marion Murphy

Pupil Results

Due to being on Industrial Action Short of Strike no results were submitted to CCEA in June 2015.

• Pastoral Care

• PIE and PIM targets

• Assessment data

• Mathematics and Numeracy

• English and Literacy

• Self-evaluation/Leadership

• Information and Communication Technology

June 2015 English Test Results (PIE) National Mean SS = 100

June 2015 Maths Test Results (PIM) National Mean SS = 100

• No external moderations took place.

• All teachers used a variety of the new A.T’s and levelled work related to their own class

• Topic areas covered were Space and Shape, Measure and Handling Data

• Levels were agreed on pieces of work – teachers shared skills (keystages and whole-school)

• P.4 and P.7 teachers designed their own A.T.’s and trialled same

• Staff proficiency greatly improved
Future Action:

• The process will be continued in 2015 – 2016 for consolidation of teacher skill in moderation

• A.T.’s should now be incorporated into planning and used alongside NHM resources
Target 2: Improve pupil skill in problem solving and investigations

Extent to which the target was met:

• Teachers emphasised the real life nature of the problems given

• Pupils tackled the given problems at a variety of levels

• Many teachers chose their own topics and designed their own tasks

• Classes from P.5 – P.7 did work on the 24 Game

• There have been improvements in mean standardised scores in all year groups

• There has been a marked improvement in ‘Using Concepts and Solving Routine Problems’ across P.3 – P.7
Future Action:

• Attention needs to focus on planning in 2015 – 2016 with a revision of short-term planning

• Algebra needs to be a focus for P.6 and P.7 teachers
English/Literacy 2014 – 2015

Target 1: Develop pupil understanding of fiction and non-fiction text
Extent to which the target was met:

• Pupils now talk confidently about differences between fiction and non-fiction books

• Report Writing about fiction and non-fiction books shows clear understanding of the features of both types of books
Future Action:

• Ensure that there is clear evidence of the teaching of non-fiction in teacher planners

• Teachers now use an Independent Writing Book to encourage good presentation and standards have risen

• Pupils have a check-list to judge their own work and make improvements

• Most pupils take pride in their written work

• Collins joined hand-writing script is used consistently in all classes from P.3 to P.7 and many pupils have developed a beautiful style of their own
Future Action:

• Continue to have a ‘Hand-writing’ competition each year as this encourages pupils to practice their writing and improve their presentation

• Remind teachers to continue teaching the joined writing style consistently in each year group
Special Educational Needs:

Target 1: Improve teacher confidence, competence and knowledge in identifying Specific Literacy Difficulties (Spld) resulting in more effective interventions for pupils with SEN
Extent to which the target has been met:

• Two teachers attended CPD training in Stranmillis and disseminated the knowledge and skills to all other teachers in twilight meetings and Staff Development Days

• Teachers implemented many of the strategies in their classrooms

• Teachers shared resources and disseminated good practice

• Identified pupils with Spld were encouraged and supported throughout the school

Future Action:

• Teachers will continue to provide for pupils with Spld so as to support their progress and enable improved results

• Using Extended Schools money two ipads were purchased for each class

• Teachers became familiar with basic uses of ipads in the classroom

• A variety of apps were sourced to enhance learning

• Basic training was delivered and skills are developing

Future Action:

• New ICT co-ordinator will provide further training in use of iPads

• New apps will be trialled and knowledge and skills disseminated among staff

• More iPads will be bought so that small groups can use them in the classrooms