Want to stay warm while showing school spirit? The PSA has organized some cosy embroidered HCETSS logo hoodies for €27 each. 

 Hoodie colour options include dark green, navy blue, bright blue, and black. We also have inclusive sizing from XSmall to 3XL.

 To place an order please send an email to psa@hcetss.ie with the following information:

 Size and Colour hoodie you prefer

Student's Name and Base Classroom

Once your order is placed, the PSA will send you an email confirmation and you will be billed through the 'Shop' in the HCETSS app. All orders will be shipped to the school and delivered to your student in their base classroom.

Deadline for ordering is 6th September.

 A portion of every sale is donated to the school to purchase school equipment.

 The PSA thanks you for your continued support!

Dear Parent/Guardian,

We hope this email finds you all well and that you and your families have had a restful and relaxing summer break. We are really looking forward to welcoming your child back into school. Please see the following important updates relating to our school campus, routines and expectations.

School Updates

 Permanent Accommodation

We are delighted to inform you that work has continued at a solid pace over the summer months on our permanent accommodation. Demolition of the old grandstand is due to be completed by the end of September and once these materials are removed, construction of our new secondary school building will commence. We expect to move into Phase I in September 2026. Phase I will consist of the main block of classrooms, specialist rooms and our four autism classes. Phase II will be constructed from September 2026 – January 2026 and will involve decanting the existing prefabs off-site, construction of our 600 square metre sports hall, student gym and completion of our five basketball courts, student outdoor social spaces and school garden. Exciting times indeed!

 Access to the School

For the next two academic years, access to our school will be via our pedestrian gate off Grosvenor Lane located towards the rear of the school. We are asking for all parents to speak to your children about the need to be respectful of our neighbours on Grosvenor Lane as they travel to and from school. We also ask that students do not loiter on Grosvenor Lane at the end of each school day.

As per last year, we ask that any parents who wish to drop their child to school or collect from school adopt a park and stride approach and avoid driving down Grosvenor Lane. Additional school signage will be installed this week directing school visitors around to this gate.

We will monitor this access point very closely and school staff will be present at the gate every morning from 8.00am – 8.20am and every afternoon at the end of the school day. Our local Community Guard will also be present at the start of term to monitor road usage and to ensure that school access at the start of term runs smoothly.

The second pedestrian gate from our campus that opens into Harold’s Cross Educate Together National School (HXETNS) will remain for the use of HXETNS students, parents and staff only. This gate is not to be used by any members of our school community.

We will have two Bus Escort taxis which will use Grosvenor Lane each morning travelling in a one-way system from the direction of Grosvenor Square up and around to Leinster Road. Both drivers will be briefed before the return to school on these new protocols.

 Interim Accommodation

We have made significant improvements to our interim accommodation over the past three months. Feedback from our students last year highlighted the need for additional outdoor covered learning and social spaces. Students also emphasised how much they enjoyed Food Village meals at lunchtime.

Based on this feedback, we have installed a second canopy with astro turf and some purchased some additional picnic tables. We have also installed additional bike parking and additional outdoor student noticeboards. Please note that these improvements were funded solely by Parent Staff Association fundraising and parent/guardian annual contributions. We are hugely grateful to each one of you for your support in enabling us to provide the educational experience that your children need and deserve. See below images attached in the pdf version of this letter.

Catering             

We are also delighted to inform you that our food providers Food Village (www.foodvillage.ie) have agreed to now offer affordable snacks at break-time (10.28am – 10.43am) each day as well as lunchtime meals (12.39pm – 1.14pm). Their service will commence on 3rd September. We will update you next week with details how you can set up and add money to your child’s account and when they will be on-boarding new students to set up fobs etc. Please note that your child will not be permitted to use the app on their mobile phone to collect their food. They must use their assigned fob only.

CCTV

To improve our campus security, over the summer, we installed CCTV cameras at our main access point and main walkway. Please see attached CCTV policy ratified by our Board of Management.

Ipads                         

In order to support our students to connect with each other at break and lunchtimes, engage with our lunchtime clubs, get some fresh air and exercise, this year, we are asking that students do not use their iPads at break or lunchtime. Students are permitted to use iPads before school if they need to complete any homework or assignments.

Staffing

We have a number of talented teachers joining our school this year. These teachers bring a wealth of experience with them teaching across all second level sectors in Ireland as well as experience from the private sector.

 Please see below details:

Megan Brodie                   P.E & Science

Áine Burns                         Spanish & German

Aodhan Clabby                Business, P.E & Learning Support

Brendan Daly                    Maths & Geography

Hannah Doyle                  Art

Alannah Dunne                Irish & Maths

Hazel Egan                         History & Classics

Brian Fitzgerald               Economics, Business, P.E & Learning Support

Lottie Hughes                  Science & TY Chemistry

Paul Kavanagh                Maths & Science

Lucia Kennedy                ASD Lead Teacher & CSPE

Caitríona Maher              Classics, Geography, Climate Action & SPHE

Caoimhe Naughton       History & English

Caoimhe Quigley           Home Economics

Subject/Area Coordinators

Our full list of subject coordinators can be found below:

Accounting                        Caoimhe McHugh

Active Leisure                  Claudia Murtagh

Art                                          Hannah Doyle

Artistic Performance    Leonna Condron

Biology                                Amy Kerins

Business                             Caoimhe McHugh

Career Guidance            Lorraine Galvin

Catering                              Amy Kerins

Classics                              Caitríona Maher

Coding                                 Niamh Hogan

Computer Science        Niamh Hogan

CSPE                                    Amie Hughes

Economics                        Brian Fitzgerald

English                                 Daniel Clark 

Ethical Education           Caoimhe Naughton

Geography                         Claudia Murtagh

German                              Áine Burns

Graphics                             Ger Vickery

History                                 Caoimhe Naughton

Home Economics          Caoimhe Quigley

Irish                                       Amie Hughes

Junk Kouture                     Hannah Doyle

Maths                                   Ger Vickery

Music                                   Leonna Condron

Outdoor Pursuits            Megan Brodie

PE                                          Niamh Small

Physics                                Lorraine Galvin

Politics & Society           Daniel Clark

Robotics                             Niamh Hogan

Science                               Lorraine Galvin

Student Enrichment Modules (SEM)     Daniel Clark

Spanish                               Laura Power

SPHE                                    Leonna Condron 

Sports Science                Niamh Small

Technology                        Niamh Hogan

The Arts                               Emily O' Dwyer

Year Groups

Please find below an overview of our year coordinators and tutors.

 1st Year Coordinator - Laura Power

Group   Tutors

1A          Jenny Tynan

1B          Niamh Hogan

1C          Megan Brodie

2nd Year Coordinator - Ciara Mealy

Group   Tutors

2A          Amy Kerins

2B          Caoimhe McHugh

2C          Brendan Daly

3rd  Year Coordinator- Ger Vickery

Group   Tutors

3A          Emily O’ Dwyer

3B          Aodhan Clabby

3C          Brian Fitzgerald

4th  Year Coordinator- Leonna Condron

Group   Tutors

4A          Amie Hughes

4B          Aideen Kinsella

4C          Caitríona Maher

5th  Year Coordinator- Daniel Clark

Group   Tutors

5A          Áine Burns

5B          Niamh Small

Your child’s subject teacher is the first point of contact for any subject based queries. Your child’s class tutor is the point of contact for any general queries relating to school life, academic progress, student wellbeing etc.

Shared Expectations

As a school community, one of the factors which has led to our continued progress and success has been the shared expectations all members of our school community have for themselves and each other. With that in mind, please note that the following behaviours will lead to an immediate suspension from our school:

• Leaving the school campus without permission
• Possession or use of a vape on school grounds or in the immediate vicinity of the school
• Sharing a toilet cubicle with another student

 Attendance & Punctuality

Our school day commences at 8.20am each morning. Students can access the school campus from 8.00am am onwards. Please note that our pedestrian gate will be closed at 8.20am each morning. Any students who are late will need to use the intercom system located at this gate to ring through to the school office. They will then need to sign in at the office. Please encourage your child to get into good routines around punctuality from 29th August onwards. If your child is absent from school or has a medical/dental appointment etc., please contact Alex in the school office via our school app. Positive educational outcomes are directly correlated to attendance, punctuality and engagement in school.

 HX Park & Surrounds

We ask that all students are mindful of our local neighbours, particularly at the end of the school day as almost 370 students depart our campus. Our local park is beautifully maintained by Dublin City Council and is a fantastic asset to our local community. We ask that any students who wish to use the park after school do so in small groups and are respectful or other park users. Any students who wish to play football/hurling etc. after school must use an alternative park as ball sports are strictly prohibited in Harold’s Cross Park.

Similarly, we ask that any students who wish to use the Centra on Harold’s Cross Road do so in a respectful way and do not congregate in the shop, causing inconvenience to fellow shoppers. Students must pay in full for any food items they wish to purchase. We ask that students do not congregate behind Centra, in Leinster Park as this has previously impacted on our local residents’ ability to access their cars.

The Coughlan family who own our local Centra have been huge supporters of our school to date sponsoring a number of full sets of our GAA jerseys. It is important that our students are seen as positive ambassadors in our local area and that our school as a whole add value to Harold’s Cross Village and other local areas. We ask that you speak to your child about our school’s expectations of the above and also remind them that all relevant school policies such as our Code of Positive Behaviour, Anti-Bullying Policy and Suspension and Expulsion Policy etc. very much apply to behaviour in our local area as well as on school campus.

Lockers

This year, to improve the user experience, we have replaced our dial locks with combination locks that are fitted into each locker. This locking mechanism is much easier for students to use and will prevent locks going missing and students having to pay any additional charges. Your child’s tutor as part of your child’s induction will demonstrate to your child how to use their lock. All mobile phones must be switched off and locked in the locker before 8.20am each morning. All valuables, monies etc. should also be locked away. Headphones and earphones are not allowed during the school day. If your child wear headphones or earphones into school, please remind them that these items must be locked away before 8.20am.

 Students can access their lockers at four separate periods during the day.

• Before School - 8.05am – 8.15am to lock away valuable, and mobile phones and collect textbooks, copybooks, materials which they required for Period 1-4.
• Break-time – 10.28am – 10.43am
• Lunch-time – 12.39pm – 1.14pm to leave back materials and collect anything they need for periods 5- 6.
• After school 3.10pm (Friday at 12.35pm) to leave back materials, collect anything they need for homework and collect phone and any other valuables.

 E-Scooters

From Monday 20th May, e-scooters were made legal to use and operate on a public road under the Road Traffic and Roads Act 2023, however, students should note the following rules and restrictions for their age group. E-scooters can only be used by people over 16 years of age.

E-scooters are not permitted:

• to be used by people under 16.
• to carry goods or passengers.
• to be used on footpaths, pedestrianised areas or on motorways.
• To exceed a speed limit of 20 km/h.

 Admin Charge

For any parents who have still to pay our administration charge of €175, we ask that you pay this charge within the next five school days. Please note that this charge covers such items as 24 hour student insurance, lockers, taster subject materials, 0ffice 365 licences, Vs ware subscription, Schoolwise subscription, School App, web-text, telephone, photocopying and administration charges, many of which we have already paid for 2024-2025. Please speak to Alex in the school office, in confidence if you wish to set up a payment plan for this charge.

 Annual Contribution

In an ideal world, our schools would be funded at a level which would allow them to flourish and plan for the future, but unfortunately, the capitation grant that we receive from the state covers the bare minimum required for heating, lighting, security, cleaning, water & bin charges, broadband and communications, insurance, maintenance contracts and ICT.

It is your annual contribution which will enable us to purchase high quality equipment which we need to ensure that your child receives the best possible educational experience here in HCETSS.

Annual contributions go some way in enabling us to provide our students with the best educational tools. Our Board of Management suggest a contribution of €275 for your child. If you are in a position to pay more, we would really appreciate this to allow for parents who may not be in a position to contribute this amount.

Your contributions will greatly help contribute to our efforts to provide the best teaching and learning experiences possible for your child. Contributions are gratefully received via our school app.

By donating €275.00 we can claim €130.00 approx. tax back from Revenue, so your very generous donation of €275 is actually worth €385 approx. to our school. Please liaise in confidence with Alex our school administrator around what exactly works best for you.We fully appreciate that every family's personal circumstances are different, particularly during this time. Your support is really needed and hugely valued.

 Dress Code

Students in HCETSS do not wear a school uniform. We encourage diversity and self-expression. Our dress code enables self-expression in our students, while maintaining a sense of fairness, and fostering their understanding of work/professionally appropriate attire, and the need for those things.

In order to facilitate this learning, students and their parents/guardians are given guidelines known as the Dress Code to help them make the right choices in terms of their school clothes and to realise that some forms of clothing are not appropriate for school.

This code works in conjunction with our Code of Positive Behaviour, the Anti- Bullying Policy, SPHE and RSE policy. These Dress Code guidelines also apply while on school outings, sporting events and trips. A positive proactive approach will be taken towards discipline and every effort will be made to implement this code in a fair, reasonable and consistent manner.

Please note that it is not acceptable for any student to express judgement or criticism of what another student is wearing. This is a serious offence and such behaviour may involve implementation of Code of Positive Behaviour and our Anti-Bullying Policy.

 Guidelines

• Our expectations are that clothing will be clean and comfortable and allow freedom of movement for active learning.
• Please ensure that your child avoids the display of inappropriate slogans, graphics or offensive language on clothing and/or accessories.
• Hats, caps, hoods, other headgear (except for religious head coverings) and sunglasses must not be worn indoors.
• It is expected that all students will be identifiable and that any make-up or coverings such as hats, caps, hoods and sunglasses will not interfere with communication during teaching and learning activities.
• Jewellery should be appropriate to daily school life. Jewellery that is very long, loose or large is a health and safety issue in practical classes and on crowded corridors and should not be worn.
• Torn/ripped jeans may only be worn if the rips/tears are at the knee or below and do not pose a health and safety risk in the school environment.
• Flip flops are not permitted.
• Vest tops/sleeveless tops must not be worn.
• Tops that expose the midriff must not be worn.
• Clothing should cover underwear and should not be see-through.
• Shorts, skirts and dresses should be mid-thigh length
• Outdoor coats cannot be worn in class.

Hair Styles

• Hair should always be clean
• A student’s eyes should not be covered by a hairstyle.

 Make-Up                                                                                                                                                                                   

• Make-up is allowed in school it should be applied in moderation.
• False/acrylic nails that impede writing, typing or practical work must not be worn to school.

During PE and other sporting activities

• Please ensure that sportswear and trainers/runners are worn
• No jewellery other than a sport watch to be worn.
• Football shorts or similar shorts are permitted for sporting activities only.

 HCETSS understands that some students may need exemptions for sensory reasons. Permission for such exemptions should be sought from your child’s Year Coordinator.

 Mobile Phones

One of the key priorities for us this year is to continue building positive relationships in our school. Positive relationships are fundamental to the learning environment that we aspire to create. To achieve this, we need your continued support with our mobile phone policy.

We want to create an environment where students are focused on their learning, building social connections and are not distracted by mobile phones. We recommend that students do not bring mobile phones on to the school campus. To facilitate this, you can always pass a message to your child during the school day through the school office. Similarly, if your child wishes to contact you, they can use the school phone.

However, if your child wishes to bring a phone in to school, they must switch it off and lock it away in their locker before 8.20am each morning. Phones can only be accessed at the end of the school day after the last lesson. Please do not call your child during the school day on their mobile phone and strongly discourage your child from contacting you using their phone.

We ask that you consider the following before allowing your child to bring their mobile phone to school. 

• Mobile phones are valuable items which may lead to theft. The school is not responsible for replacing a lost, stolen or damaged phone.
• Use of camera phones can lead to child protection and data protection issues.

If a mobile phone is used without permission, it will be confiscated, placed in a zip lock bag and locked away in the school office for collection by your child at the end of the school day. In the event of a repeat, phone will be confiscated and only returned to a parent/guardian who will need to make an appointment prior to collection.

 We wish to ensure that the start of term goes well for your child and that we develop positive routines around high-quality learning and teaching. With this in mind, we would appreciate if over the next few days, you could discuss this matter with your child and remind them of our policy.

 Office Hours

This year, we have extended our office opening hours to 8.20am – 4.00pm (Monday to Thursday) and 8.20am – 12.40pm (Friday)

 Finally, one of the best ways as a parent to support your child in the next few days and weeks is to help them to develop a good routine around switching off screens, phones charging downstairs, getting to bed earlier, healthy diet etc. These are simple key messages which we will also emphasise here in school.

 We are really looking forward to meeting with your child and supporting them to making a great start for 2024-2025. Please do not hesitate to contact Alex at office@hcetss.ie if you have any queries relating to any area of our school.

 Kind regards,

 Pádraig Conaty , Principal

Mick Heffernan, Deputy Principal

Basketball match tomorrow in Oblate Hall for u16/19. Leaving school at 10.20am on the bus. Students will be permitted to leave directly from the venue at 1pm. Please contact the office if any questions. 

Niamh Small-PE Coordinator 

Dear parents, guardians,

We wish to say a huge thanks to each of you for helping to ensure our return to school and use of Grosvenor Lane has run seamlessly.

Please remind your child that our gate closes each morning at 8.20am and that they need to be in school at 8.15am at the latest in order to access their locker and get organised for their first two lessons.

Finally, for health and safety reasons, no students are permitted to use the Harold’s Cross Educate Together National School gate to either enter or exit our campus.

Thank for your continued support.

Kind regards,

Pádraig Conaty

Dear parents/guardians, 

The office will be closed from 1pm today. If your child needs to leave early today, please submit permission to leave by 12.30 via the app.

 Kind regards, School Office

Dear parents/guardians, 

Please note slight change to induction sessions tomorrow, Friday 30th August. Induction for all classes will start at 11.30am, not 11.00am as advised in the return to school plan.

Apologies for any inconvenience.

Kind regards, School Office

Dear parents/guardians,

Summer Assessments report for your child is now available on VSware.

Kind regards, School Office

Dear Parent, Guardian,

We hope that this letter finds you all well. We are writing to update you on our permanent accommodation.

As you will be aware, the Letters of Intent (LOI) issued on 17th April 2024 to the preferred tenderers for projects in Lot 6 of the Department’s Design & Build Programme, including the project for our school. This allowed the appropriate due diligence including post-tender clarifications to be done.  

We have just been informed by the Department of Education that a Letter of Acceptance (LOA) in respect of the project has issued. The contractor appointed is Rhatigan ABM Limited.

This is another huge milestone for our school and we are very appreciative of the immense support, advocacy and many representations made by you, our parents and guardians, to help get this project to this point. This is true parent voice in action.

The contractor has immediately mobilised on site and demolition of the stadium grandstand has commenced. We will update you further in September.

Thank you again for your continued support.

Kind regards,

Padraig Conaty

Principal/Secretary to Board of Management

Dear parents/guardians,

please see attached information on Post-Primary School Scheme.

It is meant for pupils enrolled in special classes, as well as pupils in mainstream classes who have complex special educational needs and those who are at risk of educational disadvantage

Special class pupils will be supported with the same staffing resource allocation which existed during the normal current school year.

Scheme should run for 2 weeks

Mainstream groups of up to 12 pupils supported by 1 teacher

Please complete application and return to nicolamccann@hcetss.ie if you are interested in the scheme.

 Transport

School transport services may be available to pupils/students who are already availing of services under the SEN Transport Scheme.

Home-Based Summer Programme for Children with Complex Special Educational Needs

Information about the Home-Based Summer Programme will be available on gov.ie/summerprogramme as soon as the details of the 2024 scheme are published.

Kind regards, 

School Office

Dear Parent, Guardian,

We hope that this letter finds you all well. We are writing to you to update on various elements of school life.

Accommodation Update & Parking

As you know, five weeks ago, a Letter of Intent (LOI) has issued by the Department to the preferred contractor for our permanent building. Our understanding is that things are moving along with the Letter of Acceptance (LOA) which will allow the contractor to mobilise on site, expected mid-summer and construction to commence shortly thereafter. Once construction commences we will lose access at the start of 2024-2025 academic year to a large number of the parking spots currently available for staff.

Much of the success to date of our school has been down to our ability to recruit talented teachers committed to our school vision and motivated to ensure that your children receive the best educational experience possible. Our classroom learning environment and extra and co-curricular programme is testament to this.

We are reaching out to seek your help with this matter. We urgently need parking spaces within walking distance from school for staff to whom public transport is not a viable option. If any of you have or know of someone who may have a parking spot available during school hours which could be made available to a teacher/SNA, we would be hugely grateful. For our staff who travel long distances daily to get to HCETSS, this could be the difference between staying in our school or accepting another position closer to home. Please contact the school office in confidence if you think you can help.

 Attendance & Punctuality

We would like to say another huge thank you for your support with our attendance and punctuality drive for Term 3. We saw a continued decrease in the number of students arriving to school between one to ten minutes late. Your support has meant that our students are getting the most from their time in school and are setting a good pattern for school and life going forward.

 Junior Cycle Schoolbooks Scheme

Over the past five weeks, we have engaged with numerous school book companies and stationery providers. Following this extensive tendering process, we are delighted to inform you that the Junior Cycle School Books Scheme will cover all of your child’s textbook costs as well as all of their stationery costs. Orders have been placed and we expect delivery mid-summer. All of these books and stationery packs will then be sorted into student bundles and given to your child at the start of 2024-2025 academic year. In June, our Board of Management will ratify our Junior Cycle Schoolbooks Policy which will then be shared with you all in August. Please note that all of these books, school journal and materials belong to the school and that any textbooks which are damaged will need to be replaced, with the cost borne by the parent. It is expected that at least one if not two subsequent students will be using the same set of textbooks for their Junior Cycle education once your child completes their Junior Cycle.

2024-2025 Administration Charge

Our Board of Management have decided to increase our school administration charge to €175. This is the first increase in four years and reflects the substantial increase in costs of running our school during this time.

 The 2024-2025 charge covers essential items for your child such as their:

• 24 hour student insurance
• Locker & dial lock
• Office 365 licence
• VS ware subscription
• Schoolwise subscription
• Language Perfect subscription
• School App subscription
• Careers Portal licence

 Your child’s insurance covers them for all on-site and off-site school organised activities. It also covers them in the event of an accident at home during the week, weekends and during school holidays.

You can pay this charge via our school app and if you wish to pay this charge in instalments, please contact Alex in confidence in the school office. We would greatly appreciate if you could process this payment by Monday 17th June.

 Dress Code Expectations

Please note that for our whole school trip on Wednesday, all school policies including our Dress Code applies. We have clarified our expectations to all students. Any students on Wednesday who are not meeting expectations regarding dress code will not be permitted to travel on this trip and will instead be provided with school work to complete in school under the direction of the Deputy Principal. Please note no refund will be provided in this case. We attach a copy of the Dress Code to ensure that we are all on the same page. Thank you for your support with this matter.

 Finally, we would like to take this opportunity to thank you again for all that you do to help our school community thrive and flourish.

 Kind regards,

Pádraig Conaty, Principal                                                                                                                         

Mick Heffernan, Deputy Principal