The HSCL stands for Home School Community Liaison.   Your Home School Community Liaison Co-ordinator is Ms Carmel Maguire, 087-9238092 – please save this number in your phone for your convenience.

What does it mean and what and what is it about?

The HSCL initiative was started in 1990 by Department of Education and Science.  It is a major mainstream initiative to target pupils at risk of not reaching their potential in the educational system.   It is a preventative strategy  which focuses directly on the relevant adults in the children’s education.  This is to enable them to support the children’s attendance participation and retention in the education system.

How does it do this?

1. supports parents/guardians in the education of their children
2. has a commitment to children reaching their potential

• seeks to establish a rapport with the parents/guardians and encourage parents/guardians to see their potential as the primary educators

1. offers information about services available in their community.
2. encourages parents/guardians to be involved and work with the community to harness energy to solve its own problems.
3. endeavours to show the welcoming human face of the school in the contest and circumstance of daily life.

• seek out potential leaders who are willing to participate in the HSCL schemes activities and share their talents
• directs parents/guardians towards relevant training

1. aims to break down negative attitudes towards school and schooling
2. aims to monitor the impact of the interventions put in place to support parents/guardians and children.

Anything else?      The HSCL is also responsible for

• addressing concerns parents/guardians might have about their child in school and to help 1^st year students  settle in to their new school
• organises programmes and courses for parents/guardians throughout the year on a range of topics. Parents/guardians are encouraged to participate in these programmes.

In order to do this the coordinator will sometimes visit parents/guardians  in their own home.  Visits to homes of first year’s students are scheduled by the coordinator.  Alternatively if you wish to meet the coordinator at school this can be accommodated to suit you. In fact parents/guardians  of other year groups are invited to make arrangements to meet with the HSCL teacher at time of their choice.

This can be arranged by calling Carmel Maguire at 086-9238092.  I look forward to getting to know you and working with you in the coming years.

How you can help your child in school??????

These are just some suggestions and tips – we know that you are doing a fantastic job already!

How can you help your child in school?

• Listen to your child – ask them positive questions about their school day!
• Be patient about settling in time, they have a lot to learn!
• A gentle reminder – school starts at 9 a.m. on Monday – your child should be here by 8.45 a.m. to get their books sorted for class. a.m. for the rest of the week is fine!
• Ensure that school rules are respected in relation to time keeping, uniform, books, equipment and behaviour – this is really appreciated by teachers!
• Check and sign your child’s school diary every night – if you have time, thoroughly check that they have completed the homework and write a note to the relevant teacher if your child has had difficulty with the homework assigned!
• Please always write a note in your child’s diary if they have been absent from school – this note should go in the back of the journal, your child will show you where!
• If you need to sign your child out during the school day – please write a note in your child’s journal explaining why this is so. You need to note the time you will sign your child out on the note. We really appreciate if you can sign your child out at the break of a class as this minimises disruption of classes! Also if you can make appointments first thing in the morning or last thing in the evening this minimises the amount of classes your child misses!
• If your child is sick your child must inform the school in the first instance – we will then ring you! We ask that should your child contact you first that you tell them to come to the office and inform the Deputy Principal or Principal.
• A free breakfast of cereal, toast, etc. is available for every child each morning if required, so no child needs to go to class hungry!
• We also have a number of lunches available if a family is in financial hardship – please contact Carmel Maguire if you need that support and it will be organised discreetly for your child.
• Attend Parent / Teacher meetings – they are a great opportunity to meet your child’s teachers and to hear how your child is progressing – these meetings are held in the Gym!
• Contact the school – Class Tutor, Year Head, HSCL Co-ordinator – if you have a concern about your child – we can only help when we are told that there is a concern!

Try and get involved in the Parent’s Association – it is a great way to meet new people, the parents of your child’s friends, know what’s happening in the school, have a say in what is happening in the school and to help out at Open Nights, Enrolment Nights and with fundraising