Category : Post Primary
Congratulations to the Green School committee and teachers on achieving the GREEN SCHOOL FLAG for our school! This is evidence of all the hard work in making us a more sustainable school. Special thanks to Lions Club Ireland for purchasing our flagpole to display our new flag!
Category : All , Boarding , Early Intervention , Further Education , Post Primary , Primary , Principal's News , School Events
Dear Parents/guardians
We would like to update you on our digital progress under the Grant Scheme for EU NRRP funding to Schools at Risk of Educational disadvantage. Circular letter 0060/2021
In 2021 our school received €8000 as part of this scheme. This funding was used to support Holy Family’s core project, within our overarching digital strategy. As you are aware we began this project in 2020 with the assistance of funding from the Dublin Lions so we could support our pupils through the covid pandemic.
The goal of the project was to ensure that every pupil in the second level section of the school and senior pupils (5th/6th class) in the primary section had access to a personal digital device i.e. a Google Chromebook. This would ensure full participation in Google Classroom for all, both in school and outside school for homework tasks or for access to teaching and learning should the school be forced to close. The wellbeing of our Deaf students is at the heart of this project. We know that they are at risk of disengagement from learning and social isolation when at home for long periods.
In addition, all pupils would have shared access to digital learning devices such as iPads and digital cameras. Deaf students are visual learners, so each class teacher was to be provided with a visualizer. Visualizers provide Deaf students with equal access to text-based learning. EU funding was also used to purchase one additional interactive presentation device- a Clever Touch Screen. Combing these technologies allows our Deaf students to engage in whole school activities such as Kahoot quizzes, digital storytelling, and other activities.
The project was led by our in-school digital team. The Chromebooks were made available to parent/guardians for purchase or rental. Families who could not afford the rental were fully supported under the EU NRRP grant. Access to other digital technologies were made available to all class teachers through a booking scheme. Teacher training was initially provided for free by the companies who provided the technology. Additional training was provided by the in school digital team and peer learning over the course of one full school year after school hours.
We are proud to report that EVERY pupil from the youngest in early intervention to the oldest in the post primary section benefited from the project. The project has been enormously successfully. We now consider our school to well on our journey to digital excellence!
Category : Post Primary
Category : Post Primary
Part of the Leaving Cert and Leaving Cert Applied Art History, the students had an opportunity to have an ISL tour by tour guide Susan Whelan at the National Gallery of Ireland. It was fantastic to have a tour guide who is deaf and presented the tour in ISL. Later we went to the Huge Lanes Art Gallery where they learnt about Francis Bacon and his studio. A great day was had by all.
Category : Post Primary
Students wearing blue for ISL Awareness day in Holy Family School for the Deaf. We had great fun posing for an aerial photo of all the students standing making the shape of the letters in ISL. Thank you to Sean Power for taking this aerial photo.
Category : Early Intervention , Post Primary , Primary , Principal's News
Dear Parent or Guardian,
I hope you and your family are safe and well and enjoyed a lovely summer break. We look forward to welcoming your son or daughter back to school next week.
Please note the return to school dates:
Tuesday 30th August 1st Year and 6th Year post-primary pupils only
Wednesday 31st August All other pupils primary and post-primary pupils
Early Intervention: Wednesday 31st August unless a different date has been agreed with Co-ordinator Ger Lewis.
As you may have heard on the media, recruiting teachers is very challenging this school year. Holy Family shares this experience and due to retirements and teachers on leave of absence we will be starting the school year without teachers appointed especially in the post primary. Many of our substitute teachers are also not available to us. We will continue to work hard to source suitable teachers and, in the interim, put in-school measures in place for our pupils.
School Calendar 2022/23
A copy of the school calendar 2022/23 is attached.
School Resource Payments
As we must increase the cost of administration and practical subject expenses, we are not asking for Voluntary Contributions for this school year. A list of the expenses is attached.
We would appreciate full payment by the end of October 2022.
Parents and guardians have the option of spreading costs by monthly standing order over the course of the year, to cover all subjects and school activities. For parents and guardians who avail of this option, and we confirm we will not look for any additional payments this includes swimming fees for primary pupils.
School Transport
You will be contacted in late August (usually the week before the new term starts) by your child’s bus/taxi driver with details. Students who are travelling to school via public transport i.e. train or Bus Eireann intercity services will be issued with either a bus or train pass.
Please email Aideen Lynch a.lynch@holyfamilydeafschool.ie or info@holyfamilydeafschool.ie if the driver has not contacted you or you have concerns.
Please note it is parent’s responsibility to inform bus/taxi drivers of their son or daughter’s return to school date and if they are not availing of the service on any particular day due to illness, appointments etc.
A Safe Return
Arrival to School
Pupils travelling on school transport should remain in the car/bus until the school doors are open at 8.50 am (post Primary) and 9.00am (Primary and Early Intervention)
School Uniform
Students should attend in the required school uniform every day unless otherwise directed.
School Lunches
Students should bring a healthy lunch to school. Parents and Guardians of Boarding pupils should ensure they bring a lunch to school every Monday.
School Attendance
As a parent, you must let the school know if your child is absent and the reason why. It is school policy that reasons must be given in writing. Parents/Guardians can use the school diary which has dedicated pages for your notes. The school will notify the National Educational Welfare Board if a child is absent without reason for 20 days or more or where the absence gives rise to concern.
If your child is sick or is absent for other good reasons, no action will be taken by the NEWB. However, if there is concern about your child’s attendance at school or about the reasons given, you may be visited by an Educational Welfare Officer who will discuss your child’s education with you. The Officer will work with you and take full account of the circumstances of the child and the family before deciding what further action is necessary to ensure that the child receives his/her entitlement to an education.
Further information concerning the new service and about school attendance matters generally can be obtained from the national Lo-Call Education Helpline (Telephone 1890 36 36 66) which is staffed by an Educational Welfare Officer.
Audiology
Audiology support will continue to be provided to all students following all necessary safety measures. Please ensure that your son/daughter arrives at school with working hearing aid/cochlear implant and other assistive technology (FM system) if applicable. Students should have spare hearing aid/cochlear implant batteries and be encouraged to change these themselves where possible. As always assistance will be provided to students when required. Spare batteries are available in school as usual at a cost of 50 cent per battery.
Mobile Phones:
The use of mobile phones is not permitted during the school day. For security, phones should be switched off and stored in the students’ locker or the school office before 9am. If pupils need to make a call during the school day, they can do so from the school office.
Well-being & Counselling
The wellbeing of all our pupils is central to our mission. If you have any concerns or need additional support, please contact Ms O’Rourke, principal or Eugene Doyle Deputy Principal.
Class teachers and SNAs
I would like to thank teachers Ms Katrina Connolly, Mrs Mary Ohle and SNA Kathleen McDonagh for their many years of dedicated service and wish them every happiness in their retirement. Four new teacher appointments for Primary and one for Post Primary are currently pending.
I wish to thank you for entrusting Holy Family with the education of your son/daughter, as we continuing to work with you throughout their time with us in Holy Family.
An ISL translation of this letter will be available on our website shortly.
Enjoy the last few days of the school holidays.
Regards,
Eimear
Category : Post Primary
On the 22nd of April experienced and amateurs golfers played at the awesome 18-hole championship golf course in St Margaret’s Golf & Country Club at the Holy Family School for the Deaf Golf Classic. We were delighted to see great support from both the deaf and hearing community. We are also delighted to say that we have raised a substantial total of €15,056!
This money will go towards a new 18 seater bus for Holy Family School for the Deaf. We would like to say a special thanks to Geoffrey McCormack for leading this fundraiser and to the team Maggie Owens, Lorraine Creed, Linda Rankin, Jason Maguire, Aileen McCabe and Siobhan Corcoran for their hard work in organising this event.
It was a chilly and windy day but the sun was shining. Thank you so much to all our golfers and supporters for coming to support our Golf Classic. To all our sponsors for sponsoring our Tee Boxes, Golf prizes, and hampers and especially thanks to Mary McCormack for generous donation of €10,000.
It is very much appreciated. Principal Eimear O Rourke congratulated all the player and winners and commented how great it was to see so many past pupils of HFSD in the room.
Congratulations to all our winners;
Near the pin 5th hole winner Conor Keane.
Near the pin 15th hole Seán Gilmore
Longest drive 17th Johnny Browne
Team winner Kilcock golf society 94 points
2nd place GDG properties investment Ltd 91 points
3rd place Fingal House Care Centre Ltd 88 points.
Special thanks to all of St Margaret’s Golf Club and Country Staff for making today a special event for all to enjoy.
Category : Post Primary
On Monday, students took part in a Calligram competition. This cross-curricular activity combined their artistic skills with their vocabulary.
On Tuesday, students took part in a school count down the competition. In groups, they had to record the vowels and consonants and make the best words they could think of collectively.
On Wednesday, students played a game of Kahoot. All years groups took part. A student in third year won the competition.
On Thursday, it was World Book Day. Lots of students and teachers dressed up as their favourite characters from their chosen books. Students took part in a poetry hunt around the school. Students organised themselves into groups and then read the poem “Stopping by the woods on a snowy evening” by Robert Frost.
Students then were given clues in order to go to certain classrooms to get pieces of the poem. Students had to work out what room they needed to go to, go to the room, and then answer the question asked by the teacher in order to secure the poetry piece. After students gathered all 7 clues, they came back to the hall to try and assemble the poem correctly.
On Friday, students found out the results from the activities during the week.
Category : Early Intervention , Post Primary , Primary , Principal's News , School Events
Please click on this link to read more about Active School Flag = https://holyfamilydeafschool.ie/active-school-flag/
Below are photos of active activities in Holy Family Primary School.
