The first and most important educators of children are the parents, therefore the home background is particularly important in developing, in the children, favourable attitudes towards school.
Children will achieve more if parents and teachers work closely together towards commonly held goals. Within an active partnership everyone works together to ensure that the child’s potential is realised. In Saint Michael’s Primary school we endeavour to encourage this by operating an ‘open door’ policy that welcomes parents into the school at any time to discuss any issues relating to their child. We have a Home/School Agreement which was drawn up by the staff, the parents and the pupils. A copy is given to all new parents in the first term of their child attending St Michael’s Primary.
Meetings and workshops are held throughout the year to support parents in their work at home. Each year, to encourage early engagement with parents, the school invites our primary 1 parents to attend a workshop. During this workshop, our Primary 1 Class Teacher and Principal Teacher show parents the resources we use to teach the children how to read, write and count. Our homework strategy is also explained to ensure that our parents know how they can support their child at home. We also have an annual Parent information/meet the staff meeting where we outline the schools development priorities for the following year and give parents time to meet their child’s teacher and see the classroom their child works in every day.
Parents’ Information evenings on children’s progress are held in October and May/June and a written progress report is also issued.
Parents are kept up to date with school and community events by parent information meetings, monthly newsletters and flyers and through information in their child’s homework diary. We are currently developing our school website as another means of communicating with parents.
We also have an active Parent Council who represent the wider Parent Forum. The Parent Council meet monthly and are a huge support to the school. Within the council there is also a Parents’ Fundraising Group who work tirelessly to raise money that is spent on our children.
If you would be interested in joining either of these groups please contact the Chairperson or member of the Parent Council, or the Head Teacher.
Every month, one of our classes leads an assembly on a topic of their choosing and parents are invited to come in and see it. Parents are invited to various shows and celebrations throughout the year such as our Christmas Concert and Primary 7 Leavers Assembly. We also actively encourage the participation of parents on school trips, discos and Sports Days.
Our new P1 parents can access more information here
Look at our P1 Homeowrk Guide for Parents here
Our Primary 1 Parent Information Letter can be read here