Attendance

On the day of return from an absence, a student must present to the Form Teacher a note giving a reason for the absence. This note must be written, dated and signed by the parent or guardian. Doctor appointments, optical or dental appointments should be scheduled outside of school time.

Students are required to make arrangements to complete work missed due to their absence from class.

Family holidays should not be planned during school time. Ample time is provided in the school calendar for such planning. The school very strongly insists that parents follow this directive when organising family trips and outings. Each pupil’s attendance will be monitored regularly. If a student’s attendance drops below 95% over any term his/her parents shall be contacted. If attendance continues to be a cause for concern the pupil will be referred to the school’s Education Welfare Officer.

Students with an unsatisfactory attendance record will have their position in the school reviewed.

Students may only leave school during the day when they provide a written request from a parent. Before leaving they should:

• inform their Form Teacher and Year Teacher before morning registration;
• inform the subject teacher(s) whose classes they will miss;
• report to Reception to sign out (and on return to sign in).

Behaviour

Students are expected to treat each other and all property with respect and consideration. We should avoid doing or saying anything that causes hurt. Fighting with another student will result in suspension from school.

Buses

Students using any bus to or from school are expected to conduct themselves correctly and behave courteously. Loud or rough conduct is not tolerated. Bus prefects are appointed and their role is to ensure that the rules of good behaviour and conduct are observed. Students are expected to comply with the reasonable requests of the prefects. Misbehaviour of any kind is reported to the Vice Principals and will be met with strict disciplinary action. Translink may withdraw a bus pass in the event of bad behaviour; in this event the student is liable to pay fares.

If a student loses a bus pass and wishes to obtain a duplicate he/she should fill in a Translink Interim Educational Ticket slip (available at Reception). The slip is in three parts. The completion of the Blue part of this slip permits the student to travel for five weekdays. The White part of the slip should be completed by the student and sent to Translink headquarters so that a duplicate pass can be issued. A passport size photograph and a fee of £20 are required for a duplicate pass. A student who locates his/her original bus pass and returns it to Translink will receive a £15 refund. The Green part of the slip is left at the school Reception desk.

When using the school minibuses students are expected to follow the normal school rules of cleanliness and behaviour and the wearing of seat belts is compulsory. Any abuse of or damage to a bus will have to be made good or paid for by those causing the damage.

Cars - Students ’

Students driving cars to school must first obtain written permission from Mr McConville (Vice Principal) if they wish to park in the school grounds. Such students are reminded of the very serious responsibility of driving with extreme care (less than 10km/h) while entering or leaving school property. The least hint or report of recklessness on or off campus will result in losing the privilege of bringing their cars on to the school campus. Student cars are parked in the lower visitors’ car park and should not be used between 9.00am and 3.20pm .

Charity Collections

The two major charity appeals are the Advent and Lenten campaigns. Permission for any other fund raising must be obtained from the Vice Principal, Mr McConville.

Corridors

At all times students should help to promote a reasonable flow of traffic by moving quietly on the right hand side of corridors. In the interests of safety a one-way system operates on the 3A and 4A corridors. Directional signs and instructions should be followed at all times.

The carrying of large bags on shoulders can be dangerous to other students and is discouraged. Students use the Down and Lecale corridors when moving to and from the Arts and Science/Design blocks. The Reception corridor is an administration corridor and is used only when students need to go to Reception or to the Staff room.

Courtyard

This area is for quiet recreation. In the interests of safety, no ball games are played in the courtyard.

Detention

Detention is usually given for a pattern of misbehaviour or underachievement, but on occasions, it is used for more serious isolated incidents. A pattern of lateness to school or class, neglecting homework or coursework, breach of the dress code, truancy, missing classes are examples of reasons for being put on detention.

There are three levels of detention :

• Lunch-time detention
• Friday after-school detention [in Room 2S4]
• Exceptional closure day detention [in School Library]

A student being put on detention is given a Detention Note, which is taken home to be signed by a parent. The signed copy is brought back by the student to the detention supervisor in Room 2S4

Dress and Appearance

St Patrick's’ students represent their school and their families at all times. Proper attire and good grooming, as well as neatness and cleanliness, is expected of our students. Quiet good taste is the guiding principle in matters of dress and appearance and students are expected to be neat, tidy, well groomed and clean shaven.

The school reserves the right to set appropriate standards in dress, appearance and personal hygiene. These standards are intended to provide a useful symbol of modesty, self‑respect and social courtesy which should characterise any student attending the school.

Grooming: Students have the responsibility to see that their hair conforms to good grooming. For boys hair below the shirt collar or closely shaved (less than No. 2 cut) is not acceptable. Neatness, tidiness and convention are the guiding standards in deciding the acceptability of hairstyles. Inappropriate hairstyles are not permitted. Hair extensions and braids are not permitted.

Jewellery & Makeup: Only girls may wear earrings and are restricted to one stud or small sleeper. No more than one plain ring is acceptable.

See Uniform.

Entrances/Exits

Students should enter and leave the school in an orderly manner. Students do not use the front doors at Reception except when they are reporting there to leave for or returning after an appointment.

School bags should not obstruct any doorway, stairway or exit.

Food and Drink

After finishing their meals, students must leave their places at table clean, using the proper receptacles provided.

During lunch breaks food and drink are consumed in the Miguel Centre only - eating and drinking is prohibited in all other parts of the school building.

The possession or eating of chewing gum is totally banned from the entire school campus. This is in the interests of hygiene, good manners and respect for school property. An after-school detention will be issued to any student found chewing gum.

Pupils wishing to go home at lunchtime should obtain a Lunchtime Absence Card from Reception have it signed by a parent and carry it for inspection at all times.

Homework – see page 3

This is an important activity. All homeworks should be completed to a high standard. Homeworks missed will be recorded by the subject teacher. They must be then completed and submitted to the teacher by an agreed time. Failure to comply with this will result in parents being informed. If a homework card is issued by a teacher it should be signed by a parent/guardian and returned to the subject teacher on the next school day.

If a pupil accumulates a number of homework cards in any subject he/she may be detained to catch up on the work missed. If a problem with missed or incomplete homeworks persists then parents will be invited in to school to discuss the matter.

Information Technology

All pupils at St Patrick's are given a unique Username and Password. These should be kept secret. No pupil may use another pupil’s username or password. Pupils who forget their password should contact the ICT technician who will remedy the problem. Print credits may be purchased from the ICT technician. Before using stations all students and parents must sign the school’s ICT/Internet policy. The system provides filtered Internet access. Pupils have access to the school system in the library before school, from 8.30am and after school until 4.30 pm . The system may be used only for work related to what a student is studying or for research on career issues. It is the student’s responsibility to back up all work on to floppy disk. Any pupil who damages or attempts to damage school systems or uses them for accessing any unsuitable material is deemed to have broken school rules and may lead to having access denied and/or having one of the school’s discipline sanctions imposed.

Library

The Library is open each school day from 8.30 a.m. until 4.30 p.m. It is for quiet and silent study and research, and all are expected to respect the needs of others in this respect.

The directions and instructions issued by the Librarian - written or verbal - should be followed at all times. Students have access to the Library before, after school, and at break times. Homework must never be done before or during the school day in the library. Students may join the Homework Club in the Library between 3.20 and 4.30pm . each school day.

Most of the 12,000 plus books may be borrowed for two weeks. Videos are borrowed for one week. Reference books are issued on an overnight basis and must be returned before form class the following day.

After three reminders for overdue books letters are sent to a pupil’s parents. Lost books must be paid for in order that replacements may be purchased. Pupils who do not co-operate in returning books will forfeit access to the library and its facilities.

New students are issued with a library card which lasts them throughout their time in the school. Loss of this card must be reported to the Librarian immediately and a charge for replacement will be made. Students in Years 8-12 may borrow up to five items at a time, provided that no item already borrowed is overdue.

All of the stock purchased has been selected by the Librarian with the assistance of the teaching staff. Students should feel free to put forward their own suggestions for items they would like to see in the Library. The Library also provides extensive CD-ROM and Internet access. This should be used purely for school work and each session should be fully logged in the appropriate book at the Issue Desk. Year 14 students are expected to use the Library for non-classwork in preference to the Miguel

Centre. During such study periods students are expected to arrive promptly, sit one to a table and remain there until the end of the period. Students in Years 13-14 may borrow up to ten items at a time provided that no item already borrowed is overdue.

Lockers

Students will be issued with a personal locker at the beginning of the school year. A small fee shall be charged for a locker. Lockers will function properly with intelligent handling. The doors should not be forced open or shut. Any breakage or difficulties should be reported immediately to Reception or Year Teacher. Students are expected to keep their lockers in good order, and not allow refuse to accumulate. Lockers and locker areas must be kept neat and tidy: these are subject to inspection at any time by members of the teaching or caretaking staff.

Students are strictly cautioned to make sure that their lockers are properly secured. They should not share their lockers. Lockers should be emptied at the end of each term and the key returned at the end of the year.

Lost & Found

Small items are normally left at Reception. Lost items should be reported to Reception immediately. Items not claimed within two weeks will be disposed of. Mrs L Turley keeps lost items of clothing in a store on the bandstand and should be contacted during the lunch period.

Oratory

The Oratory has been provided as a place for prayer and quiet reflection, and only those interested in such are to frequent it. Devout respect is shown to the Blessed Sacrament which is reserved there on occasion.

Personal Belongings

Radios, personal stereos, mini-discs, MP3 players, camera, WAP and ‘bluetooth’ phones, CD players, computer games etc., are not permitted in and must not be brought to school. Mobile phones must be switched off during all classes. Failure to comply with this rule will result in the item being confiscated and collected from the teacher at the end of the day. Parents must collect confiscated camera/internet phones from the Principal, Vice Principals or Heads of School.

Prefects

Prefects are appointed to a number of responsibilities. They are expected to be obeyed and respected when acting in the role assigned to them by the school. The position of prefect is one of responsibility and service, and not of privilege or position. Prefects are expected to be exemplars of the values and practices espoused by the school.

At the end of Year 13 students are invited to make application for the position of Head Boy, Deputy Head Boy and Deputy Head Girl. A short list of applicants is drawn up by the Year 13 Year Head, Head of Upper School and members of Senior Management. Applicants who are shortlisted are interviewed by members of the Year 13 Year team and Senior teachers.

Property ‑ School

Students show their respect for property by the care they take of what belongs to them and to others. This also implies being careful of school property. Students are expected to keep papers and litter off floors and corridors, and to put litter into the containers or bins which are provided.

Writing graffiti on (or any other defacement of) walls, desks, toilets, etc. is considered a serious offence. The use of Tippex and similar substances is not permitted in school since it is open to abuse and can be damaging to property. Any breakages or other damage will be billed to the person(s) responsible.

Property ‑ Students'

The school assumes no responsibility for personal belongings. Students should see that proper identification is placed on all personal belongings. They should not bring any item of value to the school. The school's insurance policy does not cover any loss of property by the students.

Punctuality

Registration and Form class begin at 9.05 a.m. sharp. To help ensure that students arrive in class on time there are distinctive warning bells which ring 5 minutes before school in the morning, before the end of mid-morning break and before the end of each lunch break. They are the signals for students to begin to make their way to class.

All pupils who are late for Registration at 9.05 a.m. must go directly to Reception and collect a Late Card before going to Form class. The card must be signed by the Parent or Guardian and returned to Reception before school the next day. Disciplinary action will be taken for persistent unpunctuality to school and classes.

Representing the School

Students who represent the school in sporting or other activities are held in high esteem by the school community and carry the responsibility of acting as ambassadors for St Patrick's. To be chosen for the honour of representing the school, students must have a satisfactory discipline record. Any student suspended during the year forfeits the right to represent the school. The final decision as to whether or not a student represents the school lies with the Principal and Vice Principals.

Safety

There are over 800 students and staff moving in the school at the beginning and end of each class. In the interests of safety, good order and efficiency, students should:

move around the school quietly without rushing;
line up in single file outside each classroom, laboratory or gym until the teacher arrives;
open or close windows only with the permission of the teacher;
be in class or study centres outside of break times
visit toilets or lockers only at break times;
vacate the school during mid-morning and lunch breaks in fine weather;
use footpaths and pedestrian crossings on the way to and from school.
No item (e.g. knives, laser pens, etc.) which are considered potentially harmful to another may be brought to school. Such items will be confiscated and not returned to the student.

Fire Drills are held regularly and all students and staff must take part in these very important exercises. [See Fire and Emergency Procedures]

St Miguel Centre

Special attention is paid to the basic rules of tidiness, hygiene and good order. The Centre is generously equipped with litter bins, and students are requested to use these appropriately. The Centre is vacated and left tidy (tables clean and cleared, chairs in place) after lunch.

The Centre serves as a supervised Sixth Form study centre from 9.15am to 12.05pm each day. Students should not arrive late or leave unnecessarily early. There should be no change in the level of silence or intensity of work in the Centre at the end of each period.

It is sometimes necessary to withdraw the privilege of using the Centre from disruptive students.

Sickness /Injury

Students who become ill or are injured during the day should report (or be reported) to Reception immediately. In the case of an injury a special Accident Form is completed and filed at Reception. Reasonable efforts are made to notify parents.

The giving of medicines to students during school hours is not allowed by the medical profession as a complaint may hide a serious illness. If medicines need to be taken and administered by pupils within the school, precise written instructions from parents as to the frequency, conditions, etc. are required.

Under exceptional circumstances and at the written request of parents/guardians, the school will arrange for medicines to be placed at Reception at the start of the day. Parents/guardians should ensure that medicines are stored in suitable containers and are clearly labelled, stating the medicine and the student’s name. It is the student’s responsibility to report to Reception at the appropriate time. When a student carries medicines at all times e.g. diabetes, asthma, epi-pens then confirmation of this should be supplied by the student’s doctor.

Smoking /Alcohol/Drugs

Smoking, alcohol and/or the possession or use of drugs of any kind, whether in school, at school-related functions or in school uniform are not permitted. Any infringements are regarded as serious and will result in strict disciplinary action, and possibly expulsion. Note that the law prohibits the consumption of alcohol in public by persons under 18, and the sale of cigarettes to persons under 16.

Student Planner

Each student must always possess a copy of the student planer and record all homework tasks. In the event of the provided Student Planner being lost a new copy can be purchased from Reception for £2.50.

Textbooks and Stationery

Textbooks are supplied on loan to students. Since all textbooks are the property of the school, it is the responsibility of students to keep them in good condition and return them to the class teacher at the end of the course. Failure to do so will result in pupils having to pay for replacement texts. Students should write their name on the inside stamped page.

A Student Planner and exercise books are supplied free of charge.

All textbooks and exercise books should be backed and labelled with the student’s name, teacher’s name and Form Class. Some subjects use file-paper instead of exercise books and, where appropriate, this is also made available to students.

Toilets

In the interests of health, safety, discipline and hygiene, students have been allocated the following toilets:

• Years 8 and 9 Boys: - Technology block
• Years 10, 11, 12 Boys: - 2A corridor beside Junior Tuck shop
• Years 13, 14 Boys: - Bandstand toilets
• Years 13, 14 Girls: - Art block and 3A corridor

Students must only use those toilets allocated to their Year groups.

School Uniform [See also Dress and Appearance]

Uniform is worn in school, going to and from school and on all school related occasions unless the Vice Principals permit otherwise. The full school uniform is checked by the Form Teacher each morning.

Suppliers of the school uniform are:

PE and Sports Clothing: Indoor shoes, football boots, football jerseys (in house colours), white shorts, school socks (maroon and gold) and swimming shorts. A track suit, while not compulsory, is recommended in colder weather. Football jerseys in house colours, and school football socks can be purchased in the school in September.

Students may wear a plain black hat and plain black gloves when travelling to and from school. All students must wear a blazer coming to and going from school. Fleeces may not be worn in class. Only school fleeces may be worn over blazers.
 
Inappropriate hairstyles, including braids, are not permitted. Boys’ hair must be not longer than collar length nor shorter than a No 2 cut all over. Boys must be clean shaven.
 
Boys and girls may wear one plain finger ring. Girls may wear a plain stud in each ear.
 
Any item of clothing or jewellery worn in contravention of school uniform regulations is liable to confiscation.
 
All Y13 and Y14 students must wear the Senior School tie.
 
The school authorities reserve the right to determine the acceptable standards of uniform, dress and appearance of students attending St Patrick's Grammar School. 

Only solid white vests are worn underneath the shirt.

The Pioneer pin, the Life symbol, Prefect badge and the Fáinne are the only emblems or badges permissible on the uniform. Black shoes must be worn going to and from school.

Breaches of the dress code will result in disciplinary action.

FIRE AND EMERGENCY PROCEDURES 

Notices showing the Fire and Emergency procedures and the locations of Emergency Exits are displayed throughout the school. Please make yourself familiar with the locations of the emergency doors and the designated assembly point. Depending on where you are in the school the signal for the evacuation of the building is an INTERMITTENT/CONTINUOUS RING.

• When the alarm is heard, you must immediately follow the evacuation procedure 
• Leave the building at a walking pace by the nearest available exit. (You may push open the normally closed emergency doors).
• Do not stop to collect personal belongings.
• Do not use lifts.
• Proceed to designated Assembly point - Upper Yard.
• Line up with your class opposite relevant year marker.
• Form Teachers will take Register and note any student missing.
• Each Year Head will collect the names of missing students.
• Do Not re-enter the building until you are told to do so.

WHEN THE ALARM IS HEARD, YOU MUST IMMEDIATELY FOLLOW THE EVACUATION PROCEDURE

LUNCHTIME SUPERVISION 

The main job of the supervisor are to help make the whole school a safer and more pleasant environment for students on lunch break and to minimise the noise annoyance to classes in the rest of the school.

Supervisors are entitled to the cooperation and respect of students.

Required behaviour from students

• Lunches to be eaten only in the Miguel Centre
• Litter/wrappers to be placed in bins provided
• Supervisors to be treated with the same courtesy and respect shown to any other member of staff
• Reasonable requests of supervisors to be obeyed without comment
• Backchat or cheek will not be tolerated
• Complaints against or disagreements with supervisors to be processed like complaints against any member of staff i.e. by consulting Form Teacher and Year Head.

Vacating premises during lunch breaks

On dry days students, having eaten their lunches in the Miguel Centre, are encouraged to move outside until the warning bell rings - about 5 minutes before the end of the lunch break. Exceptions are those wishing to use the Library
 
On wet days students can circulate only in:

• Miguel Centre
• Bandstand Area
• Creagh Concourse

Students should not cause interruption or distraction to classes going on during lunchtime. In the interests of Health & Safety students are requested to store their bags against the walls during break and lunchtime. Doorways and stairs must be kept clear.

CORRIDORS LEADING TO CLASSROOMS AND LABORATORIES ARE OUT OF BOUNDS

USE OF THE SCHOOL’S COMPUTER NETWORKS

Pupils are responsible for their good behaviour on all school networks. All pupils will be given a unique username and a Password, which should be changed regularly and kept secret. Each pupil is responsible for all files stored in their ‘My Work’ area. No pupil may add any software to the system. Access to the Internet is a privilege and NOT a right. It is given to pupils who act in a considerate and responsible manner, and will be withdrawn if they fail to maintain acceptable standards of use.

Pupils are expected to know and understand that no Internet user is permitted to:

• Retrieve, send, copy or display offensive messages or pictures;
• Use obscene or racist language;
• Harass, insult or attack others;
• Damage computers, computer systems or computer networks;
• Violate copyright laws;
• Use another user's password;
• Trespass in another user's folders, work or files;
• Intentionally waste resources (such as on-line time and consumables);
• Use the network for unapproved commercial purposes.

The School Network administrator may review files and communications to maintain system integrity and ensure users are using the system responsibly. While normal privacy is respected by password controls, as with the Internet itself, users must not expect files to be absolutely private.

Saving Your Work

All pupils are responsible for saving their own work.

• Make sure work is saved into your own ‘My Work’ Folder and that you make copies onto floppy disc.
• Particular care should be taken to ensure all coursework is saved on a number of discs.
• Do not save coursework from a number of subjects on the same disc.
• Any work lost is the responsibility of the student.
• Students may not use any one else’s username or password.
• Use only good quality discs or CDs. 

ALL PUPILS AND PARENTS MUST SIGN THE SCHOOL’S INTERNET PERMISSION FORM BEFORE ACCESS WILL BE GRANTED.