Board of Management of Gorey Educate Together NS, 19th November
2013: report to families & staff
Attendees: Karen Loughran (Chairperson,) Raymond Swan (Secretary,) Colin Webb (Treasurer,)
Angie Dooley, Allen Holman, Sarah Anderson, Tracy Smith
Apologies: Aideen O’Donnell
1. Minutes from previous meeting adopted, (Colin Webb, Allen Holman)
Matters arising:
Copy of school accounts 2011-2012 to be displayed on parent and staff noticeboards.
Health & Safety: seminar for principals 29th November, to be attended by Raymond Swan or Imelda Wright
Schools Admissions: draft Admissions to Schools Bill published September 2013
Under the proposals:
Schools would not be allowed to accept applications for admission before October 1st of the year preceding the year
of enrolment with a longer period allowed for boarding schools.
The Minister may regulate that no admission fees may be sought or charged as a condition of application for
admission to a school.
Schools would not be able to conduct interviews with parents and children ahead of enrolment
Schools that can establish that they have waiting lists in place may, under a derogation, be allowed to clear those
lists over a period of a few years
Schools will be allowed to prioritise places for an applicant who is a sibling of an existing or former student
Appeals to be dealt with at school level under simplified arrangements.
Registration for vat/relevant contracts tax underway, (school made contact with Revenue 19th November 2013)
Report to families and staff was agreed. Secretary to post on school website and Board mailbox.
2. Treasurer’s Report
Current account reconciled 8th November 2013: €
Deposit account 8th November 2013: €
Book Savings a/c: €
3. Principal’s Report
Implementation of the Aistear Early Childhood Curriculum Framework in the school’s infant
classrooms was outlined.
School Improvement plan was outlined: literacy initiatives being implemented at present;
numeracy focus from January 2014.
The principal reported Aggregated Assessment Data (2012-2013) to the Board, in keeping with
Circulars 56/2011 (National Literacy and Numeracy Strategy) and 18/2012 (Standardised
Testing.) Micra-T (Reading Attainment) and Sigma-T (Maths Attainment) scores were
discussed.
Arrangements for Learning Support & Resource Teaching were outlined to the Board.
Arrangements for Parent-Teacher Meetings were mentioned.
Recent whole-school anti-bullying assembly was mentioned. School to work towards
implementation of new DES anti-bullying procedures during the 2013-2014 school year.
4. Child Protection
The Principal reported to the Board in accordance with Department of Education and
Skills Child Protection Circular 0065/2011.
5. PTA link
Tracy Smith provided an account of the main activities of the PTA committee, including: recent
AGM and election of officers, & possible changes re: supervision of school discos.
6. AOB
‘Open Day’ for families of children pre-enrolled for 2014 and 2015 to run alongside Winter Fair.
Date of next meeting: Wednesday 15th January 2014, 8pm at the school