When does school start and finish?
Junior & Senior Infants: 8:20 – 13:00
1st – 6th Class: 8:20 – 14:00
What is the typical school day?
8:20 School Opens
8:20 – 8:30 Circle Work & Roll call
8:30 – 10.00 Teaching & Learning
10.00 – 10:10 Morning lunch break & free play/yard
10:10 – 11:45 Teaching & Learning
11:45 – 12:15 Lunch break & free play
12:15 – 13:00 Teaching & Learning
13:00 Infant Classes go home
14:00 Older Classes go home
Where are the drop-off and collection points for my child? Can my child walk to/from school on their own?
There are designated doors for drop-off/collections, which are communicated to parents before the start of the school year. All children in Second Class and younger must be dropped off/collected from school each day by a parent/guardian/authorised adult. Any parent/guardian of a child who is in Third Class or higher who wishes their child to walk to/from school unattended must notify the class teacher via email in advance.
What do I do if my child needs to leave school early?
If you have to collect your child early from school for any reason, please give the class teacher advance notice via email or the Aladdin app. You will also be required to sign your child out of school with the school office, noting the reason for the early collection. In the event of an unforeseen early collection, the child must be signed out by a parent/guardian. If a parent/guardian is not present, a phone call will be made to ensure consent.
How do I notify the school if my child is sick, or will be absent for any reason?
Absences should be recorded by parents via the Aladdin Connect App. Alternatively, you can email your child’s class teacher. Please do not phone the school office. We ask that parents let the school know the reasons for all absences from school. Where absences are unexplained, this is noted on school attendance records.
In order to comply with our obligations under the Education Welfare Act 2000, Stapolin ETNS must send a report on pupils’ attendance to the National Education Welfare Board (Túsla). We are obliged to report pupils who are absent for 20+ days to Túsla at the end of each reporting period. We are also required to indicate patterns of absences e.g. Mondays and/or Fridays etc.
How does the school handle health-related matters?
In Ireland, the Health Service Executive (HSE) administers a range of childhood vaccinations and screening tests for sight and hearing through the schools. Parents will be required to sign a consent form before any vaccination or screening.
If your child has a particular health need such as an allergy, asthma, diabetes etc, it is imperative that you advise the school. The school should be made aware of the name and address of your family doctor.
Medicines are not administered by the class teacher except in chronic circumstances. In these circumstances, prior approval must be sought from the Board of Management and a Medical Information Form must be completed and signed by the parent/guardian. Please do not put medicines in your child’s schoolbag as this poses a health and safety risk to all pupils.
Please ensure that your child gets adequate sleep each night. Insufficient sleep causes poor concentration and also contributes to inability to cope with ordinary everyday tasks.
If I am running late to collect my child what should I do?
Please phone the school office.
Does my child need to wear a uniform?
We have no school uniform in Stapolin ETNS but would recommend that your child wears comfortable clothing. The infant classes have a very active day so they should wear clothes that enable them to move freely. We also ask that you teach your child to take off or put on their coat, and how to open and close zips, buttons, buckles and laces. Zips are preferable to buttons, elasticised clothing is ideal, and Velcro shoes are preferable to laces. Please remember to label all jackets/coats/jumpers.
Is lunch provided? What about snacks, drinks, etc?
All children are entitled to a free hot lunch at school every day. This will be ordered by parents/guardians using the Food Portal app. Cards to sign up for the app will be given to children on their first day at school. Children can also bring in packed lunches if they don’t wish to avail of the hot lunch programme. It is a good idea to send a small, healthy snack for the morning break. The children should have a drink, preferably water, in school with them every day. Stapolin ETNS has a no nuts policy: please do not send in any foods containing nuts. Please ensure that you read all labels carefully before sending food into the school. We appreciate your cooperation with this.
What do I do if I have a problem ordering my child’s hot lunch?
See our page on Hot Lunches, and if you still have a query you can contact: cashless@schoolfoodcompany.ie
How do I contact / sign up for after school clubs and activities?
The contact details for each provider of after school clubs/activities will be shared with parents at the start of each new term, and bookings should be made directly with the provider. Please do not contact the school office to make enquiries or bookings. See our page on After School Activities for the weekly timetable as well as additional contact details.
Where is Lost Property?
All belongings should have the child’s name clearly marked on them. Please label school bags, coats, jumpers, books etc. We have a lost property area at the back door entrance to the school. Parents/guardians are welcome to check this at drop off/pick up times.