Coleraine College Year 8 Welcome and Information Booklet

2020-21

MISSION STATEMENT

Through self improvement we will endeavour to meet the needs, whether educational,

social, emotional, physical or spiritual of all in our school community and enable them to

achieve their potential for now and in the future.

SCHOOL ADDRESS: COLERAINE COLLEGE CARTHALL ROAD COLERAINE BT51 3LR TELEPHONE: 028 7035 7000 E-MAIL: info@colerainecollege.coleraine.ni.sch.uk PRINCIPAL: Mr R Marsh VICE PRINCIPAL: Mme SJ Skobel SENIOR TEACHER (CURRICULUM): Mrs D Keys SENIOR TEACHER (PASTORAL): Mr D Markey HEAD OF YEAR 8: Mrs FM Black DESIGNATED CHILD PROTECTION OFFICER: Mme S-J Skobel DEPUTY DESIGNATED CHILD PROTECTION OFFICER: Mr D Markey

WELCOME TO COLERAINE COLLEGE We at Coleraine College are excited at the prospect of meeting our new Year 8 pupils. We know that some of you may be feeling sad as you have missed saying a proper goodbye at your Primary Schools, and that you may feel worried about all that lies ahead at your new school and returning to education after a long period of lockdown. This year, therefore, we are extending our initial induction period for Year 8s, giving them more time in school before other year groups return, to assist to get used to increased social interaction with others, to get back into a school routine, to enable them to develop new friendships and to help them feel comfortable in their new surroundings. On the first couple of days, mainstream pupils will sit an online Cognitive Ability Test to give us a baseline of their academic level and help us to place them in an appropriate learning group. Pupils should bring their own headphones with them on these days. We want to ensure you that you have no need to worry as we are a very caring school and we will make sure that every single person has a smooth transition into Coleraine College. The aim of this booklet is to help you to prepare for this transition and to settle quickly into your new school life. Some pupils will settle very quickly into their new school, for others this may take a little longer. If you are at all concerned, please contact us immediately as we are here to work in partnership with parents. If you have concerns your first point of contact is the Form Teacher. Pupils will be placed into form classes during the induction days and the name of the Form Teacher will be recorded in the pupil’s homework diary. At the beginning of the school year please spend time helping your child to get organised with their correct equipment and ensuring that they bring it to school on the right day. Take time to check and sign your child’s homework diary each week. Also help your child to get into good homework habits, completing homeworks on the day they are set. We look forward to the end of August and the exciting years and successes that lie ahead at Coleraine College for your child. Please note that a full bus service will not be running during August. Please check with Translink in advance. Bus passes do not come into force until 1st September, so pupils may be requested to pay during August.

YEAR 8 INDUCTION DAYS – YEAR 8 PUPILS ONLY

Thursday 27th August 2020: 0905 - 1230 Only pupils with surnames beginning A to J (inclusive) and all pupils in our LSC will be in school. Pupils should go straight to the School Assembly Hall and sit in appointed seats 9:05 Welcome to Coleraine College by Mr Marsh, Principal 9:15 Ice breaker activities 10:00 – 1230 LSC pupils with Mrs Wilmont and Mrs Dixon 10:00 – 1230 Other pupils to complete CAT tests on line 12:30 Parents to pick up pupils Friday 28th August: 0905-1230 Only pupils with surnames beginning K to Z (inclusive) as well as all LSC pupils will be in school today again. Pupils should go straight to the School Assembly Hall and sit in appointed seats 9:05 Welcome to Coleraine College by Mr Marsh, Principal 9:15 Ice breaker activities 10:00 – 1230 Pupils to complete CAT tests on line 12:30 Parents to pick up pupils Tuesday 1st September:0905-1230 All year 8 pupils in school. Please note that there will be a staggered start for Year 8s to help comply with social distancing principles. Pupils with surnames A to J (inclusive) and all pupils in our LSC arrive at 0905. Pupils with surnames K-Z should arrive at 0920 9:05 Pupils with surnames A to J (inclusive) and all LSC go to the Assembly

Hall to be divided into Form classes 9:20 Pupils with surnames K to Z (inclusive) go to the Gym to be divided

into Form classes 9:45 – 1100 Meeting Form Tutor and tour of school 1100 -1115 Break (pupils should bring this with them) 11:15 – 12:20 Continued induction with FT 1230 Pupils released by form class Wednesday 2nd September: 0905-1230 All of year 8 in for induction, arriving at staggered start times Thursday 3rd September: 0905-1230 All of Year 8 in school, arriving at staggered start times Friday 4th September: 0905-1230 All of Year 8 in school, arriving at staggered start times

Please note that these dates are subject to change given the current climate.

THE SCHOOL YEAR 2020-21

Term 1

27th August Term for Year 8s begins

12th October Teacher Training

23rd October Year 8 Form Tutor meetings

26th -30th November Halloween Holidays

22nd December School closes for Christmas holidays at 1200

Term 2

5th January Term 2 begins

14th January Open Night

15th January Teacher Training

17th – 18th February Half term

17th March Teacher training

26th March School closes for Easter holidays at 1200

Term 3

12th April Term 3 begins

3rd May Bank Holiday

31st May Bank Holiday

1st June Teacher Training

30th June School closes for Summer holidays at 1200

THE SCHOOL DAY

Time Subject

09:05-09:15 Registration

9:15 – 10:05 Session 1

10:05 – 10:55 Session 2

10:55 -11:10 Break

11:10 – 12:00 Session 3

12:00 – 12:50 Session 4

12:50-13:20 Year 8 Lunch

13:20 -13:35 Afternoon Registration

13:35 -14:25 Session 5

14:25 -15:15 Session 6

SCHOOL UNIFORM

Our Uniform Policy, which can be found in full on our website, is based on the assumption that

school uniform

Promotes a sense of self pride and pride in the school

Establishes a sense of identity and community and belonging to the school

Promotes equality in terms of appearance

Is designed with health and safety in mind

Regulations

Blazer: As they are so expensive, good care should be taken of the blazer. Blazers should be worn

to and from school and during the school day.

Footwear: Shoes must plain black with no visible or coloured motifs.

Skirt: Worn to the knee.

Tie: Not less than 5 stripes in length, done up at the neck with a regular sized knot, not tucked in

and with no writing on it.

Shirt/Blouse: Tucked in, and all buttons and the collar must be done up.

School Pullover: V-necked. Non-school sweatshirts/hooded tops or zipped up tracksuit tops must

not be worn under or over the blazer at any time.

Jewellery: In school, students may wear small stud earrings. Hoops, spacers or other styles of

earrings may not be worn. The only facial piercing that is permitted is one small, discreet, nose

stud. Students wearing any other facial piercings will be required to remove them.

Make up: Pupils must wear makeup in a discreet fashion.

Hair Styles: Extreme hairstyles and colours are unacceptable. Pupils are expected to wear their hair in a neat and tidy style. Pupils with longer hairstyles will be required to tie them back in a pony-tail in practical subjects.

Current permitted items of School Uniform

School Uniform: Boys

Black blazer with red trim and school crest

White shirt

Red and black tie

Black V-necked pullover with red trim

Black school trousers

Plain black coat

Plain black shoes

Black /Grey socks

P.E. Kit : boys

Red and black hooded top with school crest

Red and black crested polo shirt

Black plain shorts

Red football socks

Plain black tracksuit bottoms

Trainers

Football boots

The role of Parents

Parents have a duty to send their children to school in the correct school uniform. Each child’s

uniform should be clean and kept in good repair. We would ask parents to adhere to the uniform

policy of the school and to encourage their children to take pride in the school.

School Uniform: Girls

Black blazer with red trim and

school crest

White shirt

Red and black tie

Black V-necked pullover with

red trim

Black ‘A’ line skirt

Plain black coat

Plain black shoes

White knee length socks or black tights

P.E. Kit: girls

Red and black hooded top with school crest

White crested polo shirt

Black skort or plain black leggings

Black shorts

White socks

Trainers

Black tracksuit bottoms

MOBILE PHONE & ELECTRONIC DEVICES During class time all phones and other devices must be switched off. Pupils are permitted to use these at break and lunch but NOT whilst changing classes. If you wish to contact your son or daughter, please telephone the school office. If pupils answer phones during class they will be removed and placed in the school safe for the remainder of the day. Phones can be picked up at 3:16 pm. Should there be an issue with misuse of mobile phones, pupils will be asked to leave them at home. For full details please refer to our mobile phone policy on our website. ATTENDANCE

Good school attendance has a positive effect on your child’s education and future. At Coleraine College, there is an Attendance Policy which works in partnership with parents and the Education Authority’s Education Welfare Service. We would ask you for your co-operation in the interest of your child’s welfare and encourage your child to attend school every day. Unnecessary absences should be avoided. We would advise that medical, dental and other appointments should as far as possible be arranged outside school hours. Parents are asked to make every effort not to arrange family holidays during term time. Parents are encouraged to regularly contact the school for an update of their child’s progress, behaviour and attendance. If a pupils’ attendance falls below 85% he/she will be referred to the EWO Services. The Education Welfare Officer for Coleraine is Mr Elvin Cochrane. It is important that all absences are explained in writing on your son’s / daughter’s return to school after being absent. If pupils need to leave during the school day a note should be brought to their Form Teacher. This will be signed and returned to the pupil to show their class teacher. The note should be handed into the office as they leave and pupils should sign out. We operate a text service called CALL PARENTS. We use this to alert you to lateness, truancy, attendance and other relevant issues. Please ensure that we are informed of any changes in mobile numbers immediately.

CODE OF CONDUCT Our school mission statement at the start of this booklet says “Through self improvement we will endeavour to meet the needs of all in our school community whether educational, social, emotional, physical or spiritual and enable them to achieve their potential for now and in the future”. In order for this to take place pupils and staff should at all times aim to follow our code of conduct R E S P E C T. R . . . We are responsible E . . . We are equipped for success S . . . We stay safe P . . . We take pride in ourselves and our school E . . . We treat everyone as equal C . . . We communicate politely T . . . We try our best The school makes every effort to encourage pupils to take responsibility for their actions and behaviour. In promoting positive behaviour, both in the classroom and throughout the school we aim to create a calm working environment where all pupils feel valued and secure. We have high expectations when it comes to pupil behaviour and all pupils should adhere to our Code of Conduct. Inappropriate behaviour will be sanctioned in accordance with our school’s Positive Behaviour Policy. To recognise good work, behaviour and citizenship, we operate a reward system where pupils can receive a range of prizes throughout the year. EQUIPMENT LIST

School bag – needs to be big enough to hold an A4 file

Pencil case with pens, pencils, rubber, sharpener, ruler and a selection of coloured pencils or felt tips

Memory Pen

PASTORAL CARE If any pupil needs extra support for whatever reason this will happen through our Pastoral Care support system. Subject teacher Form Teacher (First point of contact) Curriculum Leader Year Head Pastoral Head Vice Principal Principal When pupils enter the school in Year 8, they will be allocated to a class group. The class will have a Form Teacher and Year Head who will be responsible for looking after the pupils in their care.

There will be a responsibility to monitor attendance, behaviour and progress. However, the role of the Form Teacher and Year Head will go beyond this to include a pastoral concern and a care for all individual pupils. The boys and girls should feel free to approach the staff for a chat if they are concerned about any issues. Pupils will have time with their Form Teachers during morning registration. Year Head will also be available at this time.

CHILD PROTECTION We in Coleraine College have a primary responsibility for the care, welfare and safety of the children in our charge, and we will carry out this duty through our pastoral care policy, which aims to provide a caring supportive and safe environment, valuing individuals for their unique talents and abilities, in which all our pupils can learn and develop to their full potential. Our Designated Teacher for Child Protection is Mme Skobel. Our Deputy Designated Teacher for Child Protection is Mr Markey. We are committed to adopting planned procedures, with involvement of outside agencies as necessary, so their appropriate intervention and support may be offered to children and their families in the event of suspected or alleged abuse. All employees and volunteers who work with the pupils in Coleraine College have undergone a criminal record check. All those who are engaged in any activity which involves direct interaction with pupils will be briefed on our Child Protection procedures. A copy of our Child Protection policy is available on request or can be viewed online on our website. Parents who have any concerns about the safety of their own child or another child can, in the first instance contact the child’s form teacher who will alert our Child Protection Officer, Mme Skobel.

Safeguarding Information for

Pupils and Parents

HEALTHY EATING We all want to do the best for our children and eating a healthy diet is one of the ways to do this. What children eat affects their behaviour, concentration levels and their learning. Fizzy drinks or energy drinks are not permitted in school. At Coleraine College we aim to do this in conjunction with the school meals service. DRINKS & SNACKS

Please ensure that your child has water in their school bag each day. Please encourage them to bring healthy snacks, not snacks high in sugar to school for break time. The school canteen provides scones, pancakes, toast, etc., at break time. PACKED LUNCHES If your child wishes to bring a packed lunch they can eat this in the canteen with all the other pupils. Quieter and more vulnerable pupils may be provided with another area in which to eat their packed lunch.

SCHOOL DINNERS We offer a canteen service in which pupils can chose from a range of foods on offer. Menus with prices will be issued at the start of the new term. If your child receives a free dinner ticket this will be issued in the canteen before pupils’ queue to receive their food. Please make sure that pupils have the correct money each day.