P2 Information

Contact Number/Process
If you wish to contact your child's Teacher you should phone the School. Your message will be passed to the Teacher concerned who will in turn contact you.

Contact
St. Andrew's College
Booterstown Avenue
Blackrock
Co Dublin
Ireland

E-MAIL: lmchale@st-andrews.ie

Length of School Day
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday - 8.50am - 3.00pm
Wednesday - 8.50am - 1.00pm

Break Times
Monday - Friday - 11.15am - 11.35am and 1.15pm - 1.50pm

Lunches
A hot lunch is provided. Lunch tickets can be purchased in advance from Reception at 11.00 am on any day. If they wish, students may bring their own lunches and snacks. Milk is available during mid-morning break. Parents will be informed of the details at the start of the school year.

Subjects to be studied are as follows:

Core Curriculum

The core subjects in P2 are English, Maths and Irish. Each subject is divided up into different strand units, which are covered throughout the academic year. The Strands for each subject remain the same from K1 all the way through P2. They will get more complex as the child progesses ad the child builds on what he has learnt the previous year.

English
The English academic year consists of developing the following key strands using the common strand units of oral development, reading and writing:

Receptiveness to language e.g. being able to recognise and recite rhymes, learning to internalise reading, using context to understand reading
Competence and confidence in using language e.g. being able to talk about the past, present and future, reading for pleasure, creative writing
Developing cognitive ability through language e.g. developing interests and attitudes and the ability to think and question
Emotional and imaginative development through language e.g. exploration of wide variety of text and being able to maintain an interest
Some of the aims for English

·         To enhance listening ,speaking, reading and writing skills

·         To promote positive attitudes and develop an appreciation of the value of language spoken, read and written.

·         To create, foster and maintain the child’s interest in expression and communication.

·         To develop the child’s ability to engage appropriately in listener-speaker relationships.

·         To enable the child to read and write independently

·         To make predictions about stories before reading them and to answer question about the story during and after reading them.

·         To write simple book reports

·         To see their writing as valuable by sharing it with others and putting it on display in the classroom.

·         To connect word beginning with their rhyming parts ie onset and rime

Maths
The Mathematics curriculum consists of the following strands:

Number e.g. counting, comparing and ordering numbers up to 199. Using the calendar and addition and subtraction with regrouping.
Algebra e.g. extending and using patterns. Being able to count on a hundred square or a timeline.
Space and Shape e.g. being able to recognise, draw, sort and compare 2D and 3D shapes.
Measures e.g. Length, area, weight and capacity. Telling the time and using money.
Data e.g. Sort, classify and represent material on simple charts and tables.
Aims

·         To develop a positive problem attitude towards mathematics and an appreciation of both its practical and its aesthetic aspects

·         To enable the child to use mathematical language effectively and accurately

·         To enable the child to acquire an understanding of mathematical concepts and processes to his/her appropriate level of development and ability

·         To enable the child to acquire proficiency in fundamental mathematical skills and in recalling basic number facts.

Irish*
For the Non-Irish students there is a course of ESL or US Studies while Irish class is taking place

The Irish curriculum consists of the following strands:

Listening e.g. listening to a tape and carrying out tasks in their workbooks as instructed
Talking e.g. asking and answering questions through games and role play
Reading e.g. Reading Irish Noun Labels (an Clar ban) in their environment, reading what they have written
Writing e.g. filling in blanks, labeling pictures
For a detailed outline of the Irish Programme in St. Andrew's College, Preparatory Department, please see the Irish Curriculum heading on the general Prep School page

*Department of Education and Science regulations regarding exemption from the study of Irish

Exemption may be granted:

To students whose primary education up to the age of eleven was received in Northern Ireland or outside Ireland
To students who were previously enrolled as recognised students in a primary or second level school who are being re-enrolled after a period spent abroad, providing that at least three years have elapsed since the previous enrollment in the State and the student is at least 11 years of age on re-enrollment
To students who have a specific learning disability
To students from abroad who have no understanding of English
 

Homework
In P2 the children get homework four times a week. They are expected to spend 35-40 minutes completing this.

Assessment
In P2 the children will have formal tests at Christmas and summer in English, Irish and Maths. These are used to determine how much the child has understood and retained over the term or academic year.

They are also given a spelling test every week of spellings that they have learnt over that week.

The children will also be given diagnostic assessments, such as the SWIST spelling test which determines a spelling age for each child. The Drumcondra Reading and Comprehension test and the SIGMAT Maths test. These tests are used to pinpoint any difficulties that a child may have so that he or she can receive help in that specific area of difficulty.

Additional Subjects covered in P2 are as follows:
Religious Education, S.E.S.E., S.P.H.E, Music, Drama, Games/PE, Arts and Crafts, Physical Education, Painting, Computer Project Work, European Languages: French, German, or Spanish.

Projects
We also do a number of projects over the school year, e.g. My family tradition, Flat Stanley and each child will research and complete their own personal project on, for example, An Ancient Civilization.

European Language Programme
Pupils may choose to study French or Spanish. Classes are taught by native speakers. In order to achieve continuity we recommend that a child remain with the language which he/she chooses initially to study.

EAL - English as Another Language
This facility is provided for the benefit of students whose first language is not English. Five classes per week are normally scheduled.

Introduction to Computers
One class per week concentrating on developing computer skills. The class takes place in one of the computer laboratories with a specialist primary school computer studies teacher.

Library
Each class has Library Class once a week. Books may be borrowed at this class and returned the following week.

A child by arrangement can use the library for research purposes.

Sports

Tennis
Tennis coaching is open to all children from P2 - P6. Competitions and leagues are organized throughout the year.

Swimming
The children are transported to Newpark Swimming Pool by coach. They must be collected directly from the pool, as there is no return coach to the School.

Extra-curricular Activities

Ballet
Classical Ballet classes take place on Wednesday afternoons in the Junior Hall where there are regulation ballet barres, wooden floor and piano. If they so wish, children are prepared for examinations of the Royal Academy of Dancing. They also take part in musicals and other shows. A facility known as 'ballet-sit' exists whereby a child staying on for this extra-curricular activity may avail of a supervised study period.

Irish Dancing
Irish Dancing classes take place one afternoon per week. If they so wish, the children are prepared for examinations and feiseanna. Enjoyment of Irish Dancing and music are the essential ingredients of this activity. Irish Dancing takes place in the Junior Hall.

Chess club
A very popular activity - open to all. Students are taught the basics of chess and are encouraged to take part in competitions.

Prep
For younger brothers and sisters of Secondary Department students we provide supervision between 3.00 and 3.50 pm so that they can go home together.

After School Club

An after school club runs for 21/2 hours every day. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 3.00pm to 5.30pm and Wednesday from 1.00pm to 3.00pm

 Supplies and Books Required
St Andrew's supplies copybooks. Pupils need to provide pens, pencils, erasers and a schoolbag for carrying school books. We would also recommend a separate bag for carrying Sports Gear.

School Uniform

Girls
School Blazer
Grey Skirt
White or grey blouse
Grey V neck pullover
School tie
Navy anorak or raincoat
Black leather shoes
Grey knee socks or tights

Boys
School Blazer
Mid-grey trousers
White or grey shirt
Grey V neck pullover
School tie
Navy anorak or raincoat
Black leather shoes
Grey socks

Sports Uniform
White Shorts
White T- shirt
Navy Tracksuit
Sport socks
Runners

OFFICIAL STOCKISTS - Uniformity Dun Laoghaire

A second-hand uniform sale is organised annually in June by the Parent Teacher Association (PTA). Uniformity visit the school annually in June for one day and set up shop in the school for that day

Monthly Bulletin
An information bulletin is sent to parents every month. It includes details of current events and activities in the Preparatory Department.

Reports
Computerised reports are issued at the end of each term.

Lost Property
To inquire about or retrieve items of lost property, pupils should refer to their class teacher or check at the Lost Property Office in the Dining Hall at the following times:

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday
8.15am - 8.30am
1.30pm - 1.45pm

Wednesday
8.15am - 8.30am
1.00pm - 1.15pm