Dear Parent/Guardian

There has been a significant increase in viral infections and Group A Strep infections among children and young people this winter. There have also been recent concerns about a rare bacterial infection. This infection is iGAS (an invasive Group A Streptococcal infection). It is and also known as Group A Strep.

Please see attached an important letter from the HSE. 

The Parents' Association Raffle draw will take place this Thursday (8th December) in school. 

Please return your raffle cards. Please support this fundraiser for HFSS.

There are fantastic prizes and this year there are even more seller's prizes for students to win! 

Huge thanks to all who have supported this fundraiser so far.

Dear Parents/Guardians

 The timetables for 1st, 2nd, TY and 5th year Christmas Exams are attached below with the House Examinations Guidelines for students.

All timetables are also available to download from our website:
www.holyfamily.ie/downloads/

The next scheduled Parents' Association meeting will be held on Monday, 5th December at 7.30pm in the school.

A reminder to all in our school community to please support the Parents' Association Raffle.

Please return all raffle cards to school. 

Minister Foley announces publication of Cineáltas: Action Plan on Bullying

Minister for Education Norma Foley TD today launches Cineáltas: Action Plan on Bullying. This landmark new Action Plan is dedicated to the prevention and addressing of bullying, cyber bullying, racism, gender identity bullying or sexual harassment, among other areas, in schools.

This Action Plan has been developed by the Department of Education in collaboration with a diverse and dedicated Steering Committee led by Dr Noel Purdy of Stranmillis University College in Belfast. Cineáltas has been informed by the views of children and young people, parents, school staff, education partners and individual members of the public and succeeds in placing the students at the very heart of the plan.

Cineáltas builds on the achievements and ambition of the previous Action Plan on Bullying published in 2013, taking into account the work undertaken in recent years to ensure that our schools are safe and happy places for all our children and young people.

Some of the key actions form the plan include:

•                    Development of a national database to enable the publication of an annual national report on bullying in schools

•                    Ensuring that student teachers and all school staff have the knowledge and skills to effectively prevent and address bullying

•                    Development of a recognition process, such as a Cineáltas flag, for schools who engage in measures to prevent and address bullying

•                    Piloting a programme of counselling supports for primary schools

•                    Developing guidance for the establishment of a Student Support Team model in larger primary schools

•                    Establishing a dedicated unit in the Department of Education to promote the voice of children and young people and to ensure that they have meaningful input into the development of Department policy

•                    The progression of the Charter Bill and the development of Charter Guidelines that will strengthen the voice and participation of children and young people and their parents in the development and implementation of school policies

The implementation of the actions in this Action Plan will greatly enhance and compliment the work that schools already do to ensure that all the children and young people are kept safe from harm and that the wellbeing of children and young people is at the forefront of everything.

Minister Foley said: “Our schools are vibrant, innovative and most importantly inclusive places of learning, but for some children and young people bullying is an unacceptable reality.

“Cineáltas is practical, inclusive and contains a broad range of actions which help us all to work together towards a diverse, inclusive Irish society free from bullying in all its forms and where individual difference is valued and celebrated. Our vision is to provide schools with the tools necessary to target and tackle cyber bullying, racism, gender identity bullying or sexual harassment, among other areas.

“The implementation of the actions in this Action Plan will greatly enhance the work that we already do to ensure that all the children and young people who attend our schools are kept safe from harm and that the wellbeing of our children and young people is at the forefront of everything that we do.

“I want to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of all those who played a role in the consultation process and in particular those involved in the steering committee who have ensured that this plan incorporates each of the nine components of the UNESCO Whole Education Approach. I also want to thank the many, many children and young people who contributed so effectively to this consultation process, and whose voices have been heard in the development of this plan.”

Cineáltas: Action Plan on Bullying is rooted in the following four key principles:

Prevention: Through the generation of empathy and the provision of training which provides a foundation for knowledge, respect, equality and inclusion

Support: Tangible and targeted supports based on a continuum of needs which provide a framework for school communities to work together

Oversight: Visible leadership creates positive environments for children and young people and all members of our school community

Community: Building inclusive school communities that are connected to society, and that support and nurture positive relationships and partnerships

The development of Cineáltas: Action Plan on Bullying has been informed by an extensive consultation process. 

·                     Over 50 presentations were made to the steering committee

·                     Over 4,600 responses were received to the public consultation questionnaire

·                     78 submissions were received to the public request for submissions

·                     41 school staff and board of management members participated in school focus groups

·                     170 children and young people were consulted including children with special educational needs, Traveller and Roma children, children from Ukraine and refugees. 

A copy of the Action Plan is available here on gov.ie/actionplanonbullying

HFSS Covid 19 Impact Survey Results

In October we began the process of assessing the educational impact the Covid 19 pandemic has had on our students. We invited all parents, students, and teachers to share their experience and any key areas of concern they felt was having an impact on academic progress.

Across all our educational stakeholders, 819 people responded. We greatly appreciate all respondents taking the time to share their valuable insight and best equip us with meaningful data.

Summary of results

The survey divided responses into those of teachers, parents and students. There was a large consensus on the biggest issues faced by students in HFSS. Across all three groups, overwhelm/stress and lack of motivation to learn were cited in the top three areas of concern.

Ranked areas of concern

Teachers

1. Concentration -43%

2. Less motivation- 40%

3. Overwhelm/stress – 37%

Parents

1. Overwhelm/stress- 40%

2. Less motivation- 24%

3. School days missed- 22%

Students

1. Stress/Overwhelm – 31%

2. Less motivation- 30%

3. Concentration- 25%

Actions arising from the data

We are currently in the process of many initiatives which we hope will greatly aid students in their ability to excel as confident, motivated and happy learners. These are focused on making strides in the areas for development which the survey data has directed us towards. 

• HFSS is committed to increasing the number of wellbeing hours offered to our students. Wellbeing hours can include additional hours in P.E, SPHE, CSPE, tutor time and digital literacy classes. The senior and middle leadership teams are currently evaluating what would be the best allocation of these additional hours for our students. 
•  Our academic and curriculum review committee have made proposals to reduce the number of subjects studied by our junior cycle students in future exam cycles. Feedback on this is currently being collated. After extensive in school appraisals of these options has taken place by senior and middle leadership, we will invite parents and students to vote on the best option viable for HFSS students moving forward. 
•  Our School Self Evaluation (SSE) committee are piloting a goal setting exercise with their classes to evaluate its impact on student motivation. This is also being trialled in many 1st year maths classes. If this is deemed to be a helpful tool by students and teachers alike, it will be introduced at a whole school level to further aid our students.
• This year we have introduced additional extra-curricular clubs such as rugby, walking, games, drama, debating. We also open the gym at lunchtime for recreational sports. We continually strive to improve the extra-curricular options offered at HFSS to best meet the needs and interests of our students. We strongly urge students to engage with extra-curricular activities, a vital aspect of school life and holistic development.

A reminder that classes will finish at 3.30pm this Thursday 1st December to facilitate the 6th Year Parent Teacher meeting.

Best of luck to 2nd Years Ruby Maher and Olivia Hyland who will be taking part in The Late Late Toy Show tonight.

We wish them the best of luck and we can’t wait to see them perform.