General Information
About Emo National School
Emo National School is a primary Catholic school situated 6 miles to the northeast of Portlaoise. Children between the ages of 4 and 12 years attend this school. Originally built in 1889, the children moved into their new school on the 15th June 2009.
Altogether, there is a staff of 16 teachers who are assigned to duties as follows:
- 1 Principal Teacher
- 1 Deputy Principal who is also a Support Teacher
- 8 Mainstream Class Teachers
- 4 Support Teachers
- 2 Special Class teachers
Board of Management of Emo National School
The Board of Management has legal responsibility for the overall running of the school. It serves a term of four years and a new Board was formed in November 2019. The members of the current board are:
- Patron’s Representatives – Very Rev. Fr. Thomas Dooley P.P. Portarlington and Emo and Mary Dunne (Chairperson),
- Principal and Teacher’s Representative- Noel Costelloe (Secretary) and (teacher rep)
- Parents’ Representatives – Ruth O’Connell and Pádraig Maree
- Community Representatives – Pauline Butler and Louise Crowley
1. Characteristic spirit and general objectives of the school
Emo NS is a Catholic co-educational primary school with a Catholic ethos. The Bishop of Kildare & Leighlin is the Patron of this school.
‘Catholic schools are communities which are open, welcoming and inclusive. Therefore, Catholic schools may include children who adhere to other religions or other stances for living. While mindful of their duty to educate in the distinctive beliefs, values, and practices of the Catholic community, teachers will bear witness to an attitude of respect for and appreciation of all’.
‘The Catholic Preschool & Primary Religious Education Curriculum p15’
Catholic Ethos’ in the context of a Catholic primary school means the ethos and characteristic spirit of the Roman Catholic Church, which aims at promoting:
- the full and harmonious development of all aspects of the person of the pupil, including the intellectual, physical, cultural, moral and spiritual aspects; and
- a living relationship with God and with other people; and
- a philosophy of life inspired by belief in God and in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus; and the formation of the pupils in the Catholic faith,
- and which school provides religious education for the pupils in accordance with the doctrines, practices and traditions of the Roman Catholic Church, and/or such ethos and/or characteristic spirit as may be determined or interpreted from time to time by the Irish Episcopal Conference.
In accordance with S.15 (2) (b) of the Education Act, 1998 the Board of Management of Emo National School shall uphold, and be accountable to the patron for so upholding, the characteristic spirit of the school as determined by the cultural, educational, moral, religious, social, linguistic and spiritual values and traditions which inform and are characteristic of the objectives and conduct of the school.
Emo National School is guided in all its work by the Catholic ethos. We share with our community the responsibility for providing a rich, welcoming, encouraging and secure learning environment for all the children in our care. Our core root beliefs and values provide us with a focus for our Catholic identity. Through reinforcement from teachers and other staff, core values and root beliefs are clearly, consistently, and effectively communicated to each child in our care. Our school’s core beliefs and values are:
- Working as a community strengthens learning. LEARN
- A safe and caring environment fosters kindness, love and respect. RESPECT
- Faith will guide us through life’s good times and challenges. BELIEVE
- Everyone’s gifts, talents and uniqueness should be celebrated and nurtured. NURTURE
- Sowing the seeds of happiness and friendship helps us to grow. CONNECT
Child Protection
Emo National School is a primary school providing primary education to pupils from Junior Infants to Sixth Class. In accordance with the requirements of the Children First Act 2015, Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children 2017, the Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post Primary Schools 2023 and Tusla Guidance on the preparation of Child Safeguarding Statements, the Board of Management of the school has agreed a Child Safeguarding Statement.
- The Board of Management has adopted and will implement fully and without modification the Department’s Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post Primary Schools 2017 as part of this overall Child Safeguarding Statement
- The Designated Liaison Person (DLP) is Noel Costelloe
- The Deputy Designated Liaison Person (Deputy DLP) is Angela Casey
- The Board of Management recognises that child protection and welfare considerations permeate all aspects of school life and must be reflected in all of the school’s policies, procedures, practices and activities. In its policies, procedures, practices and activities, the school will adhere to the following principles of best practice in child protection and welfare:
The school’s safeguarding statement and assessment of risk is available to view on our website at https://emons.ie/school-policies/child-protection-guidelines-and-procedures/
Communication and the School
The school secretary is Gráinne Clancy and she attends the school between 8.50 a.m. and 2.30p.m. . The school telephone number is 0578646868.
Aladdin
The school will communicate with parents through this app. Therefore, it is important that you can access this app and have notifications for the app switched on.
Notes to School
Notes to the school will also be via Aladdin.
You are welcome to e-mail me at any time. My e-mail address is emoprincipal@emons.ie
Parent-Teacher Communication
Formal Parent Teacher meetings are held in November. Parents are very welcome in our school and teachers will always make themselves available to meet you. However, we do ask you to make an appointment through Gráinne, our School Secretary, when you wish to see any member of staff. An appointment procedure ensures we will be able to give you our full attention.
The Board of Management of Emo NS has adopted the INTO/CPSMA Complaints Procedure which provides a mechanism for dealing fairly with parental complaints against a teacher. Please see this policy on our website@ www.emons.ie
School Newsletter
A school newsletter is issued on a monthly basis and it will be sent via Aladdin Connect but it will also be published on our website. Please make sure that you get to see the newsletter as it contains important information on the school calendar and it details all activities taking place in the school.
School Web Site
The school web site www.emons.ie is another important source of information for parents. The web site also features the school calendar, the up to date school newsletter and other items of pertinent information. The website is updated on a regular basis and is a source of school news and information for parents and children alike.
The Return of Money
All payments to the school will be organised electronically through Aladdin.
Contact Numbers
Please notify Mrs. Clancy 05786 46868, our school secretary of any changes in contact numbers, addresses etc. so that our database can be kept up to date.
Invitations/Cards
It is school policy that invitations to birthday parties, Christmas cards etc are not distributed on the school premises out of consideration for non-receivers.
School Uniform
The school uniform is tracksuit only. Please see details below.
- Black or navy non-mark runners.
Clothing
- Half zip top with school crest
- Red polo shirt (uncrested)
- Bottoms with the school crest.
- Leisure shorts with the school crest (summer wear)
DS sports will supply the full clothing set above for €80. See the following link for ordering and further details.
The link for the online store is :
https://www.dssports.ie/collections/clubshop-education-emo-national-school
Alternatively, they can call to the shop located at R32Y757.
If anyone has any questions they can call or email the office. 0858715311 / info@dssports.ie
Health and Safety
Hygiene and Health
Children’s hair should be checked regularly for head-lice. Please notify your child’s teacher in the event of any health/hygiene issue arising.
Lunches
Pupils are encouraged to eat nutritious food and their lunches should be as healthy as possible. Please see our healthy eating policy on the website at www.emons.ie. Hot lunches will be in place in the school in May of this school year so it is envisaged that they will continue in September for all pupils.
Insurance
Allianz provide a 24 hour insurance cover that can be arranged through the school in September. We recommend that parents take out that cover. It’s €9 approx. An insurance application form will be given to each pupil in September and payment made through Aladdin.
Administration of Medicines to Pupils
Written applications must be made to the school where a parent is requesting medicine to be administered during the school day.
Safety
Pupils are requested to behave at all times in a manner that will ensure their own safety and the safety of other pupils.
Visitors to School
All persons visiting the school, collecting children etc., are asked to report on arrival to the School Secretary’s office. No person should approach any classroom without first reporting to the School Secretary. This policy is enforced in the interests of maintaining the safety of all our pupils.
Problems or Difficulties
All pupils and parents are reminded that if they encounter a difficulty or a problem they must report the matter to a teacher as soon as the difficulty arises.
The key words repeated in our school are respect and responsibility. Each pupil is expected to respect themselves, their fellow pupils, teachers, ancillary staff and all property and to behave in a responsible manner. In doing this we are confident that all pupils will enjoy their time in Emo National School and will fulfill their potential in a safe, secure and productive learning environment.
School Day
Official opening time is 8.50a.m. Classes finish at 1. 30p.m for infants and at 2.30pm for all other children. In the event of an absence or as a result of clinic/dental or other appointment please send a note only via Aladdin to class teacher explaining the reason for same.
The Board of Management wish to advise you that it is unsafe to have your child present on the school grounds for long spells before and after official opening time.
Junior infants will finish school at 12.noon each day of the first week back to school and or until such time as parents and teacher are happy that the child has adapted to their new surroundings. Thereafter they will finish school each day at 1.30p.m. First day of school will be Thursday 29th August 2024 .
School Breaks
Your child will have two breaks during the school day, a small break of 15 minutes and a big break of 25 minutes.
School Calendar
We will be returning to school on Thursday 29th August 2024 . The full school calendar is on our website. Please respect the integrity of the above calendar by not planning holidays when the school is open.
The Law and the School
Education Welfare Act (2000)
Under the terms of the Education Welfare Act (2000) pupils who are absent from school for a total of 20 or more days, for any reason, in a school year, must be reported to the Welfare Officer.
Traffic
Cars drop off children or park in the community Centre car park outside the school. Our BoM and Parents Association have devised a set of guidelines that parents are carers/childminders are requested to adhere to. Please see the following link.
www.emons.ie/school-policies/car-park-etiquette/
Parents Association
We have a very active Parents Association in the school that is always looking for new recruits. The Parents Association elects two parent representatives from each class for a working committee. When this has been done this committee meets regularly and organises various events during the year.
- Chairperson : Gemma Wheeler
- Secretary : Robert Gleeson
- Treasurer: Amie Colgan