School PoliciesSchool Policies
Contents: Admissions Policy Code of Discipline Home School Links School Uniform Evening Study
Girls of all faiths who have completed Primary School will be accepted and welcomed at Our Lady's Bower. Our School has an open admissions policy. The Principal accepts applications for enrolment on Open Day and later, on Enrolment Day.
Students requesting boarding school places must make application at least two years in advance.
Discipline is maintained at Our Lady's Bower through mutual trust and co-operation between staff and students. School rules exist so that every student can avail of the service the school has undertaken to provide. The rules ensure a safe and orderly learning environment. It is expected that each student should present herself for class, on time, in correct uniform and ready to behave, co-operate and learn.
Mutual Expectations.
Each Bower Student has a right to:
1. Be guided through various options in Curriculum. A three year Junior Cycle and two year Senior Cycle leading to Public Examinations.
2. Transition Year as optional year after third year.
3. Pastoral Care and Counselling.
4. Career Guidance and Counselling.
5. A caring and orderly School environment where she can reach her full potential.
6. Respect as a person in her own right and as a member of Our Lady's Bower School Community.
7. Appropriate discipline, uniformly applied and compliance with fair procedures.
Each Bower Student has a duty to:
1. Work to the best of her ability.
2. Be guided by the advice and help of the Staff and Management.
3. Wear the School uniform with pride and respect the good name of Our Lady's Bower.
4. Show courtesy and respect to others as persons in their own right, as members of Our Lady's Bower School Community. These courtesies are due also to all visitors to the School.
5. Show care and respect for her own property and that of others.
6. Respect the rights or others to participate in a caring and orderly School environment where they can reach their full potential.
7. Be guided by the Articles in this Code of Behaviour.
Code of Behaviour.
Introduction:
Our School's Code of Behaviour will operate successfully if it receives the active support and co-operation of Parents/Guardians and Students.
Each Student's progress at Our Lady's Bower depends on the quality of the ongoing partnership between Home and School.
In particular, the School requests that you co-operate fully in the following areas: Attendance, Punctuality, Uniform, Discipline, Homework, Health and Safety Regulations, Computer facilities.
Attendance.
Each Student is expected to be in consistent and punctual attendance if she is to avail of the educational opportunities provided at Our Lady's Bower.
The School Calendar is issued prior to the commencement of the academic year. Parents/Guardians and Students should co-operate with the School in ensuring the Calendar Year is adhered to.
The School reserves the right to alter the Calendar if circumstances demand.
Parents/Guardians are encouraged to be strict and to allow absence in exceptional circumstances only. Being absent from School to study for tests, to take up part time work, to participate in a family holiday, all of which necessitate absence from School, is not acceptable. Visits to Doctors and Dentists should be arranged outside School hours, if possible. It is difficult to retrieve the time taken off non School activities. An extra responsibility lies on senior Students and their Parents to comply with this requirement.
The School Authorities must be notified in advance if a Student is likely to be absent for a length of time.
If a Student has been absent a letter or explanation should be presented to the Deputy Principal/Year Head on her immediate return to School.
If it is necessary for the Student to leave the School for any reason during the course of the School day a prior letter of explanation must be given to the Principal/Deputy Principal before the Student will be allowed to leave the School.
Boarders are requested to inform the Principal/Deputy Principal of their intention to leave the Convent or School.
The School must be informed of any change of address or phone number.
Uniform
Full School uniform must be worn throughout out the School day. Parents/Guardians are requested to co-operate with the School in ensuring that only Class uniform and PE uniform are worn by Students.
The full class uniform consists of tartan skirt, two check shirts (blue), and navy jumper. Shoes must be low heeled (black or navy) in the interests of the health and the safety of the students. The School accepts no liability for accidents caused by inappropriate footwear.
The Physical Education uniform consists of navy tracksuit bottoms/skirt, pale blue tee shirt, runners. Regulations regarding jewellery must be adhered to during PE classes and competitive games.
Jewellery (earrings, chains, bracelets, rings) casual wear, scarves, make up, sports shoes/runners are not part of the School uniform.
Facial jewellery is not acceptable and will be confiscated.
A wristwatch, a finger ring and one pair of stud earrings may be worn.
Every Student must be in attendance at the designated start of the School Day for Morning Assembly and be ready to commence first class immediately afterwards.
Parents/Guardians are expected to co-operate with School in ensuring punctuality. Being late causes disruption and contributes to the loss of class time.
Students are expected to attend class punctually throughout the day and may not leave class except with permission of the incoming Teacher.
School Rules
School discipline at Our Lady's Bower is conducted and maintained through mutual trust, respect and co-operation between all. Our guiding precept has always been, the fewer rules the better but, notwithstanding, it has been necessary to state the following:
Students must obtain permission to leave the School premises during School hours. This includes lunchtime.
Students must be present and in time for Morning Assembly and to attend class punctually throught the day.
Students must not disrupt the teaching or learning process for herself or others or engage in any behaviour which constititutes a danger( physical or otherwise) to any person.
Students must present homework completed and on time
Correct uniform must be worn at all times in School.
Smoking, being in possession of cigarettes the drinking of alcohol and/or taking drugs (not medically prescribed) whether at School and/or taking drugs (not medically prescribed) whether at School or anywhere in uniform or anywhere representing the School, is forbidden. These will be regarded as serious offences and will attract severe sanctions; suspension, exclusion, expulsion.
All personal property, other Student's property and School property must be treated with care. Chewing gum, solvents etc, damage clothing, bags and furniture. When school or another student's property is damaged or stolen, the offending student must make good the loss by replacing the item or paying the cost of replacement.
Students must not be absent from class without the permission of the incoming teacher.
Students must read and obey the Health and Safety/Fire regulations posted throughout the school.
Students must never behave in a manner that might injure her own, another's or the School's reputation.
Student's responsibility for acceptable behaviour extends beyond School space and time, School Outings, Sports Events and Educational Tours Abroad.
School Management reserves the right to implement discipline strategies to show disapproval of unacceptable behaviour. These may range from:
a) Reasoning with Student.
b) Reprimand, including advice on how to improve.
c) Temporary separation from peers, friends, others.
d) Loss of privileges
e) Detention during Break or after School Hours.
f) Prescribing additional work
g) Referral to Principal
h) Communication with Parents
i) Suspension
j) Exclusion or Expulsion in the most extreme cases of indiscipline or in serious cases of misbehaviour.
The imposition, nature and duration of sanctions will be at the discretion of the Principal in line with procedures already established within the School.
Compliance with fair procedures envisages a Student's Right of Appeal against the imposition or quality of sanctions having first accepted the mutual disciplinary instruction.
The Right of Appeal. Procedural outline to follow.
A Student can expect appropriate discipline uniformly applied and compliance with fair procedures.
Procedure to deal with unacceptable and repeated unacceptable behaviour.
Graded procedure one to five.
1. Reasoning by Subject Teacher or Staff Member. Advice on how to improve.
2. Reprimand and Apology.
3. After two reprimands within a short time, then…Report the behaviour toYear Head who interviews Student and elicits an undertaking as to the future good behaviour.
Year Head documents this interview and informs Principal/Deputy Principal at Year Head meeting. This meeting is minuted
4. If behaviour persists, the Year Head/Principal/Deputy Principal to issue behaviour Report Card to the Subject Teachers which records Student's application, class work, homework, and general behaviour. Parents will have been notified by letter of the School's decision to place the Student on Report. Parents may wish to respond. The Report Card will be posted home after 5 School days. The original copy of Report Card will be retained on School files. Parents may then be requested to attend a formal meeting convened by Principal attended by Deputy Principal and/or Year Head. Parents to be asked/required to give undertakings as to future good behaviour. The meeting will be recorded. Minutes and Behaviour Report Card will be filed.
5. If behaviour persists then Principal having taken advice, initiates a Student Case Conference attended by Deputy Principal, Year Head, Staff Members. Case history from previous meetings will be read. Documented instances of unacceptable behaviour will be discussed.
The decision to suspend/exclude or impose a lesser sanction will be taken by the Principal after the Case Conference.
The decision to suspend etc will be recorded and then communicated to the Parents at a meeting convened by the Principal for this purpose.
The Student's Right of Appeal can then be activated. Parents/Guardians are referred to Sections 28 and 29, Education Act 1998 where the procedures are set out.
A suspended Student may be required to seek formal permission to resume class or be accepted back on terms set out at Year Head meeting by the Principal.
During the course of School life, some behaviour may require urgent attention,and may be referred directly to the Principal.
The behaviours listed below might fall into this category.
The list is not exhaustive.
1. Deliberate use of offensive language and/or behaviour to Staff member or another.
2. Drinking/Illegal substance abuse.
3. Mitching and repeated mitching.
4. Damage to or theft of, another's on School property.
5. A Student caught smoking or being caught in possession of cigarettes.
This unacceptable behaviour to be dealt with at procedure 5, when suspension or other appropriate sanction may be invoked.
 | Detention. |
| Community work within the School. |
| Temporary separation. |
| Behaviour Report Card. |
| Communication with Parents, requesting them to attend meeting under procedure 4 |
| Student may be required to sign a declaration stating she will be liable for suspension in the event of similar behaviour recurring. |
Homework Policy
1. Generally, homework is the carrying out of work assigned by the class teacher outside of School hours, at home privately or at supervised study after School. Homework includes ongoing and regular revision of course work.
2: The purpose of homework is to enable the Student to develop the necessary and important skills required for written examinations and to be thoroughly familiar with the course content of various subjects. Revision done on a continuous basis reduces exam stress and keeps the Student up to date with her work.
3. Home work amplifies and reinforces the work covered by the Teacher in class and confirms the Student's ease of difficulty with a particular aspect of the course. It also provides an indication as to whether or not the Student has been attentive in class.
4. Parents have an important supervisory role in ensuring that Homework is carried out regularly, carefully and without distraction. Parents are asked to provide a quiet setting for Students to complete homework assignments and revision work.
5. Homework helps Students develop study skills and self-discipline.
6: It is recommended that each Student have her homework diary in class at all times. All homework assignments should be recorded at the end of each class and entered into the diary.
7. Homework is assigned at the Teacher's discretion.
8: A homework diary is not a personal diary.
9: It is recommended that Junior School Students should devote at least two hours each evening to homework assignments and revision.
10. Senior Students should devote three to four hours daily to homework assignments and revision.
11. Students following the Transition Year Option are expected to adhere to deadlines set for the completion of projects; module tasks; and work assigned by teachers.
12. The School Diary is a required textbook.
Anti Bullying Statement
Definition: Bullying is repeated aggression; verbal, psychological or physical, conducted by an individual or group against others. ( Dept. of Ed. 1993)
Aim: Every Student in Our Lady's Bower has the right to enjoy her learning and leisure, free from intimidation. Our School will not tolerate any verbal or physical bullying.
Students will be made aware of bullying by:
| Making Students aware of what bullying involves. |
| Reminding Students of their rights and responsibilities. |
| Encouraging Students to tell someone- Parent, Friend, Teacher, Chaplain. |
| Asking Parents to discuss any problems they know or suspect their daughter is having and to contact the School. Parents can be assured that all matters will be treated with sensitivity. |
Action: Students will be asked to sign a Student contract, which will ensure our School is a place where all can feel secure.
Incidents where bullying is evident will be dealt with in a confidential manner by the Principal and the Pastoral Care Team. Our response to persistent bullying is clear. The School treats bullying as a breach of School discipline and appropriate discipline sanctions will be applied.
A process of discussion, counselling and mediation will be initiated to help both victim and offender. The involvement of Parents/Guardians concerned is important in this process which is aimed at reconciliation and the prevention of a recurrence of the problem.
The Schools policy regarding the possession of the misuse of alcohol and illegal substances is in keeping with the law of the land.
Our Lady's Bower has a zero tolerance policy regarding the misuse of alcohol and use of illegal substances.
Alcohol and illegal substances are strictly banned by the School Authorities.
No Student shall ever bring alcohol or illegal substances to School for personal use or for sale or distribution. This restriction applies everywhere the Student is representing the School.
A Student must never attend School under the influence of alcohol or an illegal substance, any Student who does so will be immediately removed from class by the Principal or Deputy Principal, their Parents contacted, sent home from School and denied permission to return to School pending an inquiry.
The School Authorities may advise and encourage counselling for any Student found in violation of this rule before being permitted to return to School.
Expulsion for the supply of illegal substances - alcohol and drugs - is immediate. For consumption of, or being under the influence of alcohol, illegal substances, suspension will be activated, in the first instance. If repeated, expulsion procedures may be open to the School authorities
Health And Safety:
1: Students must never interfere with or damage fire equipment, safety equipment or safety signs.
2: Students must always move in an orderly fashion.
3: Smoking and/or the use of lighters or matches are strictly prohibited.
4: School bags must always be stowed in safe and proper fashion to allow for free movement and not obstruct passageways or exits.
5: Littering of classrooms and assembly area is strictly prohibited.
6:
In the interest of safety for all, Students have a duty to report broken
desks, windows to the Health and Safety Officer and have a duty to report any
concerns regarding Health and Safety to the Health and Safety Officer.
Fire: Health And Safety Statement
Staff And Students Must:
7: Know the sound of the Emergency and Fire Alarms.
8: Know the nearest exit point
9: Know the nearest fire point.
10: Know their assembly point
11: Ensure all fire exits are kept clear.
12: Know the uses for different extinguishers.
13: Be familiar with evacuation procedures.
14: Raise the alarm throughout the building
15: Call the fire brigade
16: Evacuate premises
17: Close doors and windows
18: Remove (Potential) fuels by Supervising Adult, Staff Member; a person trained in Health and Safety Procedures.
19: Only those trained should fight the fire and should be only from Senior Staff/Personnel.
20. Staff and Students are all required to participate in fire drills and mock evacuations, without exception.
Information Technology Department
The general principle is that the use of School Computers is for School work only. The right to use IT equipment is conditional on proper use and good behaviour and may be withdrawn for a specified period or permanently, for stated misbehaviour. This decision may be appealed.
The Main Computer Room is kept locked at all times. Students are not allowed in unsupervised.
The Senior Computer is available unsupervised only to Transition Year and LCVP Students. The behaviour expected is on a separate document and has been outlined to all Students.
Other Students using this room must be supervised.
The Internet, while available in the Senior Computer Room is protected by Childlock software. Internet and e-mail facilities can only be accessed by a password.
Transition Year Computer Room
Please note the following:-
1: Students must have permission to enter.
2: Students must sign in and out.
3: Work must be carried out in silence (There are classes in progress on both sides.)
4: Any Students using a computer for other than serious work will be suspended from future use.
5: Never switch off computers without shutting down correctly. If you encounter a problem, put an 'out of order' sign on the computer and inform a computer teacher.
Schools On-Line Policy
Students should be informed that their on-line activities will be monitored and that they are accountable for their behaviour.
Breaches of these regulations will lead to the Student being prohibited from using the Computer Room facilities.
Internet sessions are allowed only if monitored by Computer Room Staff.
Unmonitored chat room sessions are forbidden.
The Computer Room should be locked when not in use.
The Student should be made aware of the following guidelines for participation in Internet Sessions or E-mail correspondence.
| No Student should open e-mail attachments from unsolicited or unknown sources. |
| The registration at Web sites or the signing of visitors' books without permission is prohibited. |
| No personal information about the Student, the Student's family, the teachers or the School should be disclosed without permission. |
| Any encounter with information or a message that demeans, threatens or otherwise makes the Student feel uncomfortable should be reported to the teacher |
| On no account should a Student make arrangements for meeting with any other on-line correspondent without permission. |
| Pictures or images, which might assist in identifying an individual, should not be transmitted without permission. |
| Use of full or last name in on-line correspondence should not occur without permission. |
The Code of behaviour is under constant review and the School Authorities reserve the right to modify any material contained in the Code.
The words and expressions used in the Code will be ascribed their plain English meaning.
We at Our Lady's bower believe that parents and teachers are partners in education. Consequently the staff of Our Lady's bower place great emphasis on consultation and on maintaining regular contact with parents.
This is achieved in a variety of ways.
| Reports are issued at Christmas and in Summer , and also after the Pre-Junior and Pre-Leaving certificate examinations. |
| Individual progress reports are issued when the need arises. |
| Each year group has an annual Parent/Teacher meeting. |
| Year heads monitor the academic progress of girls in their year group. |
| Parents may be contacted by telephone art letter if there is concern about work or behaviour |
| Parents may visit the school and speak to teachers by appointment. |
| Open day allows parents and prospective pupils to visit the school, acquire information and meet the staff. |
| An information evening is held each year for prospective Transition Year girls and their parents. |
| There is an Information evening for those progressing to Fifth Year to discuss subject options. |
| Our Lady's Bower has a parents Association for parents who wish to contribute actively to the life of the school. |
| Parents are welcome to attend events which take place during the school year such as the musical, sports day, |
| school matches, public speaking finals, school walk etc. |
| Transition Year students and their parents attend the transition year evening in May. |
| The highlight of the school year for sixth years is the graduation Mass. |
Our girls must attend class in full school uniform.
| Full Class Uniform Tartan Skirt, Blue Check Shirt, Navy Jumper, |
Black or Navy Low Heeled Shoes.
| PE Uniform Dark Blue PE Skirt, Light Blue PE Shirt |
Our main school uniform stockist is Thos. Burgess and Sons Ltd., Church St. Athlone.
PE gear can be purchased at Keenans Sport and Leisure, Shopping Centre, Athlone
The provision of evening study facilities enables a student to complete a successful working day at Our Lady's Bower.
The aim of afternoon study is to provide a quiet setting for the completion of homework assignments, essays and project work with the minimum of noise and disturbance. Students are expected to attend punctually, sit quietly and study privately in a 2 hour session for 5 evenings each week. Students preparing for Public examinations are expected to supplement supervised study by spending extra time revising work already done.
There is a successful uptake each year and the service is open to all students.