School Arrangements
The School Day
The school day for pupils commences with assembly/morning registration at 8.30 a.m. Classes begin at 8.45 a.m. There are seven thirty-five minute periods and three thirty-minute periods in each school day.
Morning break: 9.55 a.m. – 10.05 a.m.
Lunch break: 11.50 a.m. – 12.25 p.m.
12.25 p.m. – 1.00 p.m.
The school day ends at 2.35 p.m.
Holiday Arrangements
The school will be closed for the months of July and August and for all Bank / Public holidays. Information about Christmas and Easter holidays and mid term breaks will be sent to parents early in the Autumn term. In the event of an emergency closure, every attempt will be made to give parents as much notice as possible.
School Uniform
The school uniform is both practical and smart, and is compulsory. Pupils are encouraged to wear it with pride – standards of appearance are very high. The full uniform, including P.E. kit will be on display at Open Night and in June, a detailed list of uniform requirements and the rules concerning it will be sent to the parents of all enrolling pupils.
Girls Uniform
Skirt Green plaid skirt
Blouse Yellow - Long Sleeved
School Tie Green with School Crest
Pullover Plain Green V neck with School Crest
Socks Green knee length (Green tights in winter)
Shoes Black - Low heels (no trainers)
Waterproof Coat Bottle Green with School Crest (Optional - Girls only)
Girls P.E. Uniform
Green short sleeve jersey with gold stripe and school crest.
Gold shorts with green stripe and school crest.
Green socks with white and gold trim.
Track shoes and football boots. Took out text
Training jacket with School Crest (optional).
Boys Uniform
Blazer Green with School Badge
Trousers Black
Shirt Grey – Long sleeved
School Tie Green with School Crest
Pullover Plain Green V neck with School Crest
Socks Grey / Black
Shoes Black (no training shoes)Move back
Boys P.E. Uniform
Yellow long sleeve jersey with green stripe and school crest.
Green shorts with yellow stripe and school crest.
Green socks with white and gold trim.
Tracks shoes and football boots.
Training jacket with School Crest (optional).
Year 8 Induction
Every possible care is taken to ensure that the transition of pupils from primary to secondary school is as smooth as possible.
All pupils attend an Open Day at the end of their P6 year where they will be given the opportunity to gain some insight into the subjects on offer. Then, a number of our teachers visit the primary schools to meet pupils who are interested in coming to St. Joseph’s.
The P7 pupils and their parents are invited to attend our Open Night in January in order to see around the school. An Induction Day is arranged for new pupils in June of each year and following this, parents of the new pupils transferring to St. Joseph’s will be invited to meet their child’s Form Teacher.
Induction continues in September with a seminar to help make the transition easier and make the ‘big school’ a positive experience for the Year 8 pupils. The seminar team up new students with 6th formers and prefects so that they have an older pupil to call on, and also offer pupils the chance to make new friends and meet other students who have experienced transition themselves.
At the end of September, Induction is officially completed when a special Mass is held for the new intake of students and their parents and the Year 8 DVD is shown.
Homework Is Important
Homework is an essential part of the school curriculum, and homework is set regularly.
Each student is given a Homework Diary in which he/she records all homework given in class. Parents are required to sign the diary weekly. This enables parents to monitor their child’s progress in each subject.
Reporting to Parents
The progress of pupils is monitored in a number of formal and informal ways. We have a Parent Teacher meeting for each Year Group when progress and application to work is discussed.
Formal reports are issued twice per year. The Form Teacher, Year Head and Subject Teacher review students’ work regularly. Parents are welcome to discuss their child’s progress with a Year Head, Senior Teacher or the Principal.