THE ROLE OF THE PARENTS/CARERS  

Good communication and a positive, co-operative relationship between home and school provide your child with the best basic for success.  The school encourages the involvement of parents/carers and their participation in many areas:-

•  Parent/Carer Representatives on the Board of Governors
•  School visits and educational trips.
•  Fund-raising
•  Extra Curricular Activities
•  Paired Reading 
•  The school has a Parents'/Carer Notice board and a Parent/Carer Teachers & Friends Association.
•  Parent/Carer-Teacher Meetings
•  Parent/Carer Information Sessions in September
•  Quick response to Parent/Carer concerns

In  the Autumn Term parents are invited to meet the class teacher for a private and confidential discussion about their child's progress. The Autumn meeting reviews how their child has settled into a new class, identifies strengths and weaknesses and encourages the development of a working rapport between home and school. During the Summer term a written School Report is sent home. It is however, important for parents/carers to realise that the school is there to help and that teachers and the principal can be contacted at anytime to discuss queries or concerns.  Potential problems are best dealt with quickly and therefore parents/carers simply need to contact the School Secretary who will arrange a mutually convenient time for appointment within a few days.

THE MODEL PRIMARY & NURSERY SCHOOL IN THE COMMUNITY

The school building facilitates a number of community activities  .  .

The annual Carol Service is held in Christ Church, while First Communion and Confirmation take place in St Eugene's Cathedral. Because the school has a central location, it is able to avail of the wealth of resources on its doorstep - Central Library, the Nerve Centre, Foyle Arts Centre, the Verbal Arts Centre, the Fire Station and the Tower Museum to name a few.

As a school we support local initiatives such as:

            Foyle Foodbank

            Claudes Cafe Christmas Event

            Ryan McBride Foundation       

The School Day

The School follows a 5 day week from Monday to Friday. Times are as follows:

Nursery:      9.00 am - 1.30 pm

Primary:      P1 - P2  9:00 am - 2:15 pm

                   P3 - P7   9:00 am - 2:55 Monday to Friday          

Parents/Carers of Nursery pupils should accompany their children to their classroom each morning. 

School begins at 9:00 am. Pupils can be dropped off in the playground from 8:45 to 9:00am. Please ensure that your child arrives on time for school. Valuable interaction time with their peers and teachers at the start of the day can be missed as classes begin. Due to the success of pupils spending time outside in the mornings playing and interacting with their peers we are continuing with this. Staff will supervise this alongside Mrs. McCarter & Mr. Bradley.

In addition the school now offers the facility of a "Breakfast Club". Pupils can avail of a breakfast in the school from 8:00 until 8:45.  This is subsidised by the "Extended Schools Initiative" allowing pupils to have a breakfast before classes start.

In the interests of pupil safety, parents/carers are not permitted to drive or park within the school grounds.  Parents/Carers are asked to use the parking facility at Academy Road and use the side entrance of school.

Assemblies

Children attend regular assemblies throughout the week and they are an important element of the school's life.  Teachers and pupils frequently conduct assemblies which vary in nature and content, but continually emphasise the values of participation, sharing and enjoyment.

Parents/carers also have the right to withdraw their children from assembly. Again, parents/carers wanting to exercise this right should make their wishes known to the Principal, in writing.

ATTENDANCE AND REGISTRATION

All pupils should attend school for the 190 days which the law requires, unless they are ill.

A courtesy phone call to the secretary can be made if your child will not be at school that day. For school records, however, please send a note with your child explaining the absence when s/he returns to school.

School starts at 9.00 am with class registration.

Pupils who are late arriving after 9.00 am will be marked absent and the attendance register will then be adjusted accordingly.

NOTE:

Please ensure your child arrives in good time for school as formal teaching begins at 9.00 am.

A note explaining your child's absence from school should be presented to the class teacher on his/her return.

PUPILS LEAVING SCHOOL DURING THE DAY

In all cases where pupils have to leave school during school time, a simple request in writing must be presented to the class teacher.  This is retained by the teacher and is essential for accuracy of school records.

Parents/carers must on these occasions collect their children from the school office. We do not permit pupils to leave the premises unaccompanied. I know you will understand that these arrangements are necessary to ensure the safety of our pupils.

SCHOOL UNIFORM

The school uniform helps bond the pupils of all years and classes and emphasises the togetherness of the Model Primary & Nursery School.

Our school uniform is:

Grey Trousers/Skirt/Pinafore

White Shirt

Grey Jumper/Cardigan

Black & Gold Tie 

Black Shoes

Please support the school by ensuring your child is always in uniform.

No particular supplier is recommended and parents are advised to shop around various chain stores. Ties can be purchased from the office. In place of shirt, tie and jumper, Nursery pupils  wear our gold polo shirt and embroidered sweatshirt. The school actively promotes and encourages the wearing of school uniform. 

JEWELLERY

Pupils are discouraged from wearing jewellery to school. If pupils have their ears pierced, then they should wear studs which must be covered during P.E. lessons. If pupils do come to school with inappropriate jewellery, then their teacher will ask that they remove the items, or that they do not take part in activities where the teacher feels that the jewellery constitutes a safety hazard.

PE KIT

Pupils are expected to wear suitable clothing for PE and games. Plain grey tracksuit bottoms, zip up grey sweatshirt/jacket and white polo shirt (Please ensure names are on all garments). All pupils from P1 - P7 must wear trainers on PE days.

NAMES ON CLOTHING

Please ensure all clothing including coats are clearly and permanently named.

EQUIPMENT

P2 - P7 Pupils

We expect them to have many of their own items of equipment for use both at home and in school.

These should include;

           :  HB pencils,

           :  small set of coloured pencils, in preference to felt tips,

           :  an eraser,

           :  paper glue i.e. Pritt-stick.

Model Primary & Nursery School

Northland Road,

Londonderry.

BT48 7HJ

Tel No: 02871 262188

Principal: Mrs Julie McCarter