Kildare Town CS 2022/23 - Prospectus

KTCS Meitheal Programme

Our Meitheal students have received training to equip them with the skills to become mentors for our incoming First Year students. Meitheal is a programme based on pro-respect within the school community, and one that enables students to take responsibility for the happiness of others and for the safety and well-being of all who share our school environment.

Welcome to Kildare Town Community School

Thank you for your interest in our school. It is my privilege to be the Principal and I take tremendous pride in being part of this lively and vibrant learning community.

In September 2011, Kildare Town Community School opened its doors in a state of the art facility on Dunmurry Road, Kildare Town.

Our students make excellent progress in an environment of outstanding teaching and individual support. Our ethos is one of hard work and mutual respect. It evolves from the principle that students who are illuminated, loved and served both educationally and personally, in a community where they feel happy and safe, will achieve their true potential.

Through the pages of this prospectus we hope to give you a sense of the positive atmosphere at KTCS, but nothing compares to experiencing it for yourself. Our Open Evening takes place in October, but we also welcome visits at any time – just contact reception and we will happily arrange a tour. I look forward to meeting you.

John Hayes Principal

Career Guidance

The Guidance programme within the school is designed to help the students to:

• develop self-awareness and an appreciation of their many abilities and talents.

• make educational and occupational choices that match their interests and aptitudes.

• make informed decisions and choices about the direction they want to take in life.

Areas covered by the Guidance Counsellor include: subject choice; study skills; exam targets; individual and group guidance; career investigation; CAO/ UCAS/PLC application; college open days; job applications; interview preparation and when required personal counselling.

Year Head System

Pastoral Care

Our pastoral care system supports each student. We take a personal interest in each student’s welfare. Communication between school and home is very important. Class teachers, Year Heads, Learning Support teacher, Guidance Counsellor, Principal or Deputy Principals are available to students and parents to assist in any possible way. First year students are helped to settle into the school by their Meitheal leaders. These are trained Leaving Certificate students who choose to take a pastoral interest in first years and work under the guidance of designated staff. The pastoral care team meets weekly to ensure adequate assistance is given to students and to address matters of concern. The Chaplain works with staff, families and students. She is always willing to meet with students, to listen and counsel on a range of personal, spiritual and family matters.

Each year group is assigned a Year Head. This teacher is responsible for liaising with subject teachers and monitoring overall student academic progress as well as disciplinary issues. The Year Head also liaises with home and has a pastoral role in the school, offering any appropriate support a student may need.

Management Team

Head Girl

Head Boy

KTCS Head Boy & Head Girl welcome Simon Harris to our school.

Student Leadership

Home-School Contact

Home and school are the primary and secondary educators of students. As such, it is vital that communication between home and school is of a high standard. To ensure this the following structures are in place:

• Class teachers are assigned at Junior Cycle. The class teacher has a pastoral interest in each child’s welfare.

• Year Heads monitor student academic progress, attendance and behaviour. It is vital that parents/ guardians convey any relevant information that may impact on their child’s progress to the Year Head.

• Formal meetings between parents/guardians and teachers take place on an annual basis. Notice of such meetings is given at the start of the year. Subject teachers will also be only too pleased to meet parents/ guardians on an appointment basis throughout the year should the need arise.

• The Principal and Deputy are available to meet parents/ guardians on an appointment basis throughout the year.

• The school organises a number of information talks each year in relation to the following matters: - Study Skills - LCA1 subject/option choices - Transition Year / Leaving Certificate Applied - Open Night for incoming First Year students - Careers/3rd level college information - Specific pastoral talks for parents and teenagers on various topics.

• The Guidance Counsellor, Chaplain and Learning Support teachers are contactable by phone or available to meet by appointment.

Curriculum

Starting out

The transition to secondary school is a huge leap and we make every effort to ensure it is as smooth and anxiety-free as possible. With support from the whole school, new 1st year students settle quickly and happily, well prepared and eager to face new challenges.

We place great emphasis on the individual, identifying strengths and anticipating problems at an early stage, so that each one is given the opportunity to fulfil their true potential. Every student at KTCS is encouraged to develop qualities that will have a positive effect on society. During these first three years all students follow this curriculum, which includes: English, Irish, Maths, Science, Geography, History, Religious Studies, Modern Languages, Music, Business Studies, Home Economics, Art, PE/SPHE/CSPE under the umbrella of Wellbeing, Technology and Computing.

Students are taught in mixed-ability groups from the start of 1st year, with setting introduced in English and Maths early in the Autumn Term. In 2nd and 3rd year students are set in most subjects, and all students study one foreign language taken from French or Spanish. Each student’s progress is closely monitored with individual on-going assessment and during the Spring Term students and parents are consulted regarding their options and subject choices for Senior Cycle. With this close level of support and guidance, our young people emerge at the end of the Junior Cycle fully prepared for the next stage and eager for new challenges.

Senior Cycle programmes offer: Transition Year, Leaving Certifcate Applied, LCVP and Leaving Certificate.

Transition Year – 1 Year

Transition Year is an optional programme for students entering Senior Cycle. It is a good opportunity for students to take time before moving in to fifth year to build personal confidence, to gain competence in core academic subjects and to develop skills and initiatives in a way that may not be possible in more exam orientated classes.

Applicants for the course are selected on the basis of age, maturity, motivation, application and attendance. Applicants may also face an interview process. In addition to traditional subjects, Transition Year students participate in a wide range of interesting modules such as:

Driver’s Education

Horticulture

ECDL Work Experiwence

Mini Company

Social Outreach

Debating Management Young Social Innovators (YSI) Outdoor Pursuits

There is limited availability on this course and not all applicants are guaranteed a place.

Leaving Certificate and LCA Cycle – 2 Years

Irish Physical Education Business

Maths Computers Religious Education

French History Politics & Society

Spanish Geography Computer Science

Design & Communications Graphics Science

Materials Technology (Wood) Art Chemistry Construction Studies LCVP* Physics Music Physical Education (LCPE)

Geography

Accounting

Home Economics (Social & Scientific)

*LCVP is an added opportunity at Leaving Certificate level to enhance students’ business skills by taking a course in Enterprise Education, Preparation for Work and Information Technology. Students wishing to take the LCVP must include specific subject combinations in their choice of subjects for the Leaving Certificate.

Senior Cycle

Moving forward

By the time they move into Senior Cycle KTCS students are confident in their abilities and well prepared for the next stage. The ethos of the school is to inspire students to achieve high quality examination performance and we place a strong emphasis on this academic success to give the very best start to their further education or working life. The Senior Cycle curriculum offers a wide range of courses, both traditionally academic and vocational, details of which can be found on the Curriculum Information Sheet at the back of this prospectus. Our flexible options allow increased personalisation of study for a significant number of students. A strong element of the Senior Cycle is our work experience scheme which provides a vital contribution to each student’s personal, social and academic development.

Assessment

Continuous assessment backed by close individual support are crucial to academic success.

Each student’s progress is tracked so that we can identify strengths and weaknesses and there is a designated Resource Team, who are on hand to assist students on an individual basis or in small groups.

Study skills are taught throughout the year to all year groups. Homework support is available to students before and after school in our Homework Club run by the School Completion Programme.

Support

We are a fully inclusive school and our Learning Support /SEN Department is central to this ethos, offering specialised help and a range of interventions designed to overcome difficulties and to help all our students meet their full potential. We have a dedicated care team to support any additional needs faced by students and families. We are able to access or offer appropriate support as required.

The Acorn Centre

The Acorn Centre is a two classroom ASD Unit. It officially opened its doors in 2012, with three enrolled students and has grown from strength to strength.

The Acorn Centre is a vibrant hub of excellence that promotes inclusive practices for students on the Autism Spectrum and with additional needs. We are holistic in our approach to education. We afford students the opportunity for physical, mental, emotional and academic development through Social Skills, Daily Living Skills and academic classes.

We differentiate the curriculum to support each individual student’s needs. Each student has their own Personal

Pupil Profile which is an individualised plan for their educational career. Our dynamic team of teachers and SNA’s collaboratively endeavour to provide the best education and support system for all students.

We facilitate an inclusive education for all Acorn students, providing the opportunity to engage in all walks of school life. A number of students have graduated and carried on to third level education pursuing their ambitions. We are so proud to have such an incredible resource within our school community.

We look forward to welcoming more students into the Acorn Centre in the years to come.

Teaching & Learning

At KTCS we are dedicated to ensuring that our students have the opportunity to fulfil their potential through the highest quality learning experience. We have high expectations at every level of ability but recognise that each student is different. Our committed staff know each child well and use a variety of approaches during lessons to encourage maximum interactive participation, a spirit of enquiry and full engagement with the learning process. Our teaching staff provide an excellent balance of youth and experience with teachers from a wide range of academic and professional backgrounds. We are always striving to improve our teaching methods and constantly work hard to develop the quality of teaching and learning through our comprehensive review using the Looking at our Schools document 2016 and our School Self Evaluation processes.

To support teaching and learning within the school, we have engaged in a number of initiatives:

TL21

The TL 21 Programme is a workshop-based Professional Development programme for teachers and school leaders that promotes innovative practice and professional learning communities in post primary schools. The programme’s aims are:

• to strengthen teachers’ capacities as co-operative and self-critical authors of their own work;

• to enable students to take an active and responsible part in their own learning. Participants in the programme attend a series of continuous professional development workshops in Kildare Education Centre over a two year period (5 workshops each year).

Accreditation for participants is available in two forms:

• an M.Ed in Innovative Learning, based on action research carried out in the participants’ schools;

• Accreditation provided by the Education Centres.

In 2016/17 and 2018/19 six teachers worked with Maynooth University and Kildare Educational Centre on an action project that worked with our students to help them become more engaged in learning and that would assist them in becoming independent, confident learners. The focus for the last two year has been on developing and sharing learning intentions with students. These are statements the make it very clear to students what they will learn in class and how they can achieve success.

Magenta Principles

The Magenta Principles is an approach to teaching based on the premise that learning should be exciting and engaging. The aim is to get students to think, talk, and do. Supported by NAPD this is an initiative to explore practical strategies for teachers to improve teaching and learning in the classroom.

Central to the approach is the question – What are students required to do with the information they learn in the classroom? Retaining and regurgitating the information is not enough; students need to show understanding of it by actively changing, reducing, classifying, applying, arranging, prioritising, assembling and deconstructing it.

Participants in this programme attend 3 continuous professional development workshops in Kilkenny over the course of a year.

Beyond the Classroom

Classroom lessons at KTCS are enhanced by a wide range of offsite activities, as diverse as Science and Geography fieldwork, trips to museums, theatres and art galleries. Learning does not finish at the end of lessons – students can take advantage of a range of extra-curricular clubs and activities to extend and enhance their talents and skills. Students in all year groups are welcomed to participate in our annual musical production, and they can also take part in our talent shows, concerts and school events. We have a range of musical clubs including a school choir and even KTCS own Rock Band! Our students have the opportunity to join extracurricular clubs with a focus on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths), making use of our state of the art Technology and ICT facilities.

Broadening Horizons

With learning not confined to the school premises, Kildare Town Community School students can enjoy a wealth of opportunities designed to broaden their experiences, enhance their learning and stretch their ambitions.

In Kildare Town Community School students have the opportunity to go on tours and exchanges to a variety of countries including Span, France and as far away as China with UCD and the Confucius Institute.

1st & 2nd Year Camogie 1st & 2nd Year Hurling Badminton

Boys Basketball Girls Basketball Boys GAA Rugby Soccer Athletics Girls Gaelic Football Lyric Writing Workshops Board Games Club Chess Club Debate Club Media Club School Band Sound Engineering Tennis Volleyball Choir Table Tennis

Kildare Town CommuniT y SChool