We Need Your Help!

Our Parents Association (PA) currently has 3 Officer Roles. At our Annual General Meeting (AGM) each of these roles will be vacated and must be filled.

We have been discussing the overall organisation and structure of our current Parents Association. Outlined below is a diagram of how we might see it going forward. As the school has grown, so has the need for more members on the PA. The current officer roles still stand, but there are further roles suggested to ensure all the jobs and tasks are spread equally amongst members.

Being a member of the PA is an exciting part of your life as part of the St. Joseph’s Community. It is a great way to get to know other parents, and work closely with the school for lots of fun events. Some of the events we ran this year include: Christmas Fair & Raffle, Easter Egg Hunt, Pizza Day, Ice-Cream Van and our very popular Uniform Swaps. We cannot run these events without our dedicated PA members.

We hold a meeting once a month via Zoom, and everyone is expected to help out throughout the year at our different events (not all the events!). We are lucky enough to have a great support team of parent volunteers who are also to hand to help us if needs be.

New Officers and new committee members, means the PA is constantly evolving. We draw on the strengths and experience of all members in order to bring new and creative ideas and events to the pupils of St. Joseph’s. All fundraising goes towards enhancing our children’s time in the school. This year your money went towards the new All Weather Pitch.

If you feel you’d like to be part of the committee or to take on one of the above roles, please contact us via e-mail at stjosephspadunlaoghaire@gmail.com, or you can speak directly to any of the current PA members.

Caríosa Morrissey (Chairperson), Lisa Butler (Secretary), Julie Kuppens (Treasurer), Stijn Kuppens, Sarah Johnson, Ben Churchill, Elly Rochford, Ian Reilly, Maeve Corbett, Godelieve Elverding and Charlotte Cahill.

May 2023

Frequently Asked Questions

About the School in General

Can you share more information on the plans for the growth/expansion of the school?

The Board are in the process of applying for planning permission. Once this application has gone through, they will be happy to share the plans with the whole school community.

What are some of the ‘School Spirit’ building events and activities that happen during the year, and where can I find out more about them?

The following are some of the activities that are part of the children’s everyday lives in St. Joseph’s:

Green Schools
Amber Flag
Active Flag
Halloween Dress Up Day
Design, Decorating their own Christmas Cards
Meet n Greet with Santa & Reindeer
Learn & Perform Christmas Carols
Engage in different reading activities & experiences to celebrate World Book Day
Have the opportunity to join Student Council
Enjoy lots of spraoi agus craic (fun and games) celebrating Seachtain na Gaeilge (Irish Week)
Have the pleasure of listening to and meeting people from all over the world and learning about their traditions
School Tours
Sports Day
Easter Egg Hunt

The above are just some of the many moral building events that the children get to experience. They change from year to year. In order to keep up to date in what the children of St. Joseph’s have been up to, please follow the school on Twitter @StjosephsNS1

Is there a list of supplies my child needs for school?

Payment for Photocopying, Art & Craft materials, book rental, etc., may be made through the Aladdin Connect App.

There is a link to the Michael Doherty website, www.schoolbookshop.ie, on the home page of the school website. The book lists for each class may be viewed through the link. The books are also available from other schoolbook suppliers.

Parents must also provide the following for their child:

A pencil case with pencil, sharpener, eraser, pritt stick, colouring pencils, crayons or twistables

In the senior classes children also need 2 blue pens, a red pen and a 30cm ruler

A lunchbox and water bottle that your child can open and close

A school bag into which an A4 homework folder can fit

Velcro fasteners on shoes are advised (in Junior classes)

How do I join the Parents Association and when do you hold meetings?

In September each year, we send out communications via Aladdin and WhatsApp looking for parents to join the Parents Association. Those who put their name forward are elected at the AGM (which is held in September).

We hold our meetings on the first Monday of every month and are currently via Zoom.

We always welcome new members to our committee. However, in line with our Constitution we can have a maximum of 14 members.

Throughout the year we may look to parents to volunteer at different events too. You do not need to be a member of the committee to get involved.

Should you wish to find out more information about what being a member entails you can e-mail us at stjosephspadunlaoghaire@gmail.com

What do I do if I have any concerns about bullying at school?

Please contact your child’s teacher immediately with any concerns, and refer to the school’s Anti-Bullying Policy which can be found on the school website to inform you on the correct procedures to take for you and your child.

School & Home Connections

At what age will my child be allowed to walk home by him/herself?

St. Joseph’s recognises that every family and every child are individual. What works for one, may not work for another. In order to make this decision the family and child/children in question should figure out if it will work for them.

After-School/Extra-Curricular Activities

Is there any current facility in the school for aftercare from 1.30pm – 2.30pm?

We are very fortunate to have a good number of After School Care Providers that drop off and collect children from St. Joseph’s in the mornings and at 1.30 p.m. and 2.30 p.m. Parents who need to avail of this service should contact the After-School Care Provider. Parents should also advise their child’s class teacher of the name of the After-School Care Provider who will be collecting their child/children from St. Joseph’s (e-mail to office@dunlaoghairens.ie).

What extra-curricular activities are run by the school for my child?

The school are currently facilitating after-school clubs for 2^nd-6^th Class. The have decided to focus on GAA & Tag Rugby. All students from these class groups are welcome to join.

When will swimming be part of the after-school activities?

Swimming is practiced as part of the P.E. curriculum for senior classes during school hours. The school do not facilitate swimming as part of after-school activities. Please see below a list of swimming pools in the area that offer lessons.

Can we have a list of popular activities for children outside of school hours?

The following lists have been drawn up by the Parents Association with information received from those parents and through their knowledge of the local community.

GAA/Football/Rugby

Cuala GAA – Football and Hurling/Camogie
Granada FC – Soccer
St. Josephs FC – Soccer
Cabinteely FC – Soccer
Blackrock Rugby Club
Seapoint Rugby Club
Monkstown Rugby Club
Emerald Soccer – Newpark Sports Centre

Swimming lessons are offered at the following pools:

Monkstown Swimming Pool
Loughlinstown Swimming Pool
Newpark Sports Centre
Castlepark Swim Academy & Sports Centre
Fitzpatrick Castle Hotel – Swimming Pool
St. Augustine’s Pool
Westwood Leopardstown

Other sporting activities

Bounce Gymnastics
Trojan Academy Gymnastics
Park Tennis Club
Martial Arts Academy Monkstown
East Coast Jiu Jitsu Academy Monkstown

Art/Drama/Music

Bhave Dance Classes (Bollywood & Kathak Dance) – Run by one of the parents of St. Josephs
Mel Ryan Drama School
Goode School of Dance (Ballet)
Dawson McDonnell Academy of Irish Dance
Girls Brigade – Dún Laoghaire
Dún Laoghaire School of Music
Comhaltas (Monkstown) – Traditional Irish Music

Secondary Schools

There are many excellent secondary schools in the area. St. Joseph’s has been named as a “feeder school” for many of these schools. Many secondary schools do not operate a “feeder school” system.

When choosing a secondary school for their child, parents should gather as much information as possible about the school (visit school website and talk to other parents).

Before considering a secondary school, parents should read the Admission Policy of the particular school. All schools are obliged to publish their Admission Policy on their website.

A list of these schools cannot be published as some may be omitted by the PA and in doing so your child could miss out on a school that best suits them.

Parents’ Association