P6 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 - information@st-andrews.ie

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

Break Times
Monday - Friday - 10.55am - 11.15am and 12.30pm - 1.10pm

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

English
Teaches the skills and attitudes associated with the strands through the three elements of English - Oral, Reading and Writing.

• Reading - Goal>>>children become self-reliant, confident and independent readers. Students are exposed to a variety of texts and are encouraged to form their own personal experiences to what they have read.
  
• Oral Language - Emphasis is placed on the development of summarizing skills, discussion and debating skills. Children are given the opportunity to argue their point of view while respecting the opinions of others.
  
• Writing - Students experience many types of writing - narrative, poems, letters, etc. Emphasis is placed on the writing process of drafting, editing and redrafting.
  

Maths
Emphasis is placed on practical activities and real life applications. In P6 Maths we concentrate a lot of effort on estimation. The use of calculators is permitted to check answers. The five strands are Number, Algebra, Shape & Space, Measures and Data.

S.E.S.E
Social Environmental and Scientific Education covers the three distinctive but closely related subjects of History, Geography and Science. The curriculum enables the pupil to understand

• The physical world in which they live
• The relationship of humans with their environment
• The historical process through which that relationship developed

Science
In P6 pupils study a science programme that encourages them to enjoy science through hands-on activities. Pupils develop knowledge of basic scientific concepts through practical investigation. The strands are:

• Living things
• Energy and forces
• Materials
• Environmental awareness and care

Scientific skills acquired are:

• Observation
• Prediction
• Planning
• Investigation
• Testing
• Classifying
• Recording

Geography
The Geography curriculum is broad based and varied. Pupils study the earth in physical, social and environmental terms. This helps them develop an understanding of National, European and Global issues. Pupils also develop a sense of place and space using maps, globes and graphical skills. Strands covered are:

• Human Environments
• Natural Environments
• Environmental awareness and care

History
In P6 pupils begin to study a widening range of peoples, events and periods. They begin to understand how the past has helped shape their present world through cause and effect, change and continuity, time and chronology. Pupils learn to work as a historian and develop analytical skills through investigation and evidence. The strands covered are:

• Local studies
• Story
• Early people and ancient societies
• Life, Society, Work, Culture in the past
• Eras of change and conflict
• Politics, conflicts and society
• Continuity and change over time

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

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

Assessment of Irish in P6
Homework, Fortnightly Tests and End-of-Term Tests:

• Continuous Assessment/Examination: Homework, Fortnightly Tests and End-of-Term Tests are combined at Christmas and Easter, giving a third of the marks equally to each area. (The Christmas and Easter Examinations include testing of Oral, Aural, Comprehension, Reading aloud(phonetics), the areas which have been covered to date in the Uimhreacha workbook and general grammar from the Inis Dom 6 textbook.
  
  
• The assessment of the P6 children towards the end of the Summer Term is based on an examination only (albeit broken up into the areas mentioned above).

*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 enrolment in the State and the student is at least 11 years of age on re-enrolment
  
  
• To students who have a specific learning disability
  
  
• To students from abroad who have no understanding of English

 

Assessment

• There is a standardised assessment for P6 in September (Drumcondra Tests in Spelling, Reading, Comprehension and Maths).
  
• Tests at Christmas and summer in English, Maths, Irish and S.E.S.E.
  
• In May, P6 sit an assessment for Senior School. One element of the procedure is a computerised self administered assessment in the form of challenging and entertaining games. This assesses both cognitive skills and attainment in literacy. The rest of the programme consists of simple tests in English, Irish or a second language.
  
• In class there is a weekly Spelling test.

Additional Subjects
Bible Story, Music, Drama, Games/PE, Art, Computer, European Language: French, German or Spanish and S.P.H.E.

European Language Programme
Pupils may choose to study French or Spanish. 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. P6 uses the Senior School library on alternate weeks.

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

Sports

Rugby
This sport is open to all boys from P4 - P6. There are three teams in the Junior School - Under 10, Under 11 and Under 12. Matches are organized regularly for all teams during the school year.

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 parents. They must be collected directly from the pool, as there is no return coach to the School.

Hockey
Available to both boys and girls in P4. Details of times are announced at the beginning of the school year.

Extra-curricular Activities

Choir
There is a Preparatory Department Choir open to all boys and girls from P3 - P6. We encourage each child to enjoy music and learn the discipline of choral singing to a high standard.

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 Care 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

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

Girls
White Shorts
White T- shirt
Navy Tracksuit
Sport socks
Runners
Blue Hockey skirt
Hockey stick
White crested sweatshirt

Boys
White Shorts
White T- shirt
Navy Tracksuit
Sport socks
Runners
Blue/white quartered sweatshirt
White rugby/soccer shorts
White/blue rugby/soccer shirt

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 enquire 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
1.00pm - 1.15pm