St Joseph's Boys' School : simplebooklet.com

Head Boy s Welcome As the proud Head Boy for St Joseph s I am pleased to invite you to have a look at our annual prospectus for the academic year 2018 19 This prospectus is only a brief overview of what our excellent school has to offer you We hope that this will give you an idea of how great our school is the teachers academic courses extra curricular activities and most importantly our pupils It has been a pleasure spending seven quick years here at St Joseph s From day one I feel that the school supported me and facilitated my ambitions For instance when I was in first year I was selected to play the main character in a cross community play called Divided City which was staged in the Millennium Forum As well as a wide range of subjects to study here at our school there are many extracurricular activities such as homework club football club and the music club to name but a few There is a large variety to keep the pupils busy from Monday to Friday Each activity is overseen by staff members who are passionate not only for the activity but more so for the development of each individual pupil Without St Joseph s I would not have had the drive to follow my ambitions Our school cares about each individual pupil and will help them find their own pathway in life I would strongly recommend that each of you seriously consider St Joseph s when making your final choices I am sure that your time here will be as fulfilling rewarding and enjoyable as my time was and I wish you every success C than Parkhill 2 St Joseph s Boys School Prospectus 2019 Achievement For All

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Principal s Address I am delighted as the new Principal of St Joseph s Boys School to give you a first welcome to our School through this school prospectus Choosing a post primary school can be a difficult decision for you and your son and it is important that you are well informed of what St Joseph s has to offer St Joseph s is a school that was rated very good by the Education and Training Inspectorate in 2011 2015 and most recently in May 2018 when the inspection team reported that the School had an outstanding approach to self evaluation and improvement We have also celebrated our highest results ever this year and we will continue to strive and work hard with all our pupils to attain the highest standards possible Our mission statement is Achievement for All and our teachers and support staff work hard to ensure all learners achieve high standards in a safe welcoming and inclusive environment Our pupils excel St Joseph s Boys School Prospectus 2019 Achievement For All in a wide range of curricular subjects and extra curricular activities as you will see and we are pleased to welcome pupils of all abilities and attributes to our school We are a faith based school and we encourage the development of Christian values in all our pupils Together with our parents the church and the local community we work to nurture these values and help our pupils grow to be positive contributors to their community As you read through this prospectus I hope you will see that this school is the right choice for you and I will be delighted to see you at our open night and any of our school led community events which are planned this year Yours sincerely Martina Mc Carron Principal 3

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The Year 8 View Ruairi White Tommie McLaughlin Primary school attended St John s Primary School Primary school attended St Anne s Primary School Why St Joseph s I chose St Joseph s as my brother has just finished seven wonderful years at the school and achieved high grades St Joseph s motto is Achievement for all and this appealed to me I felt that a grammar school wasn t for me as they are normally quite big schools and I felt I would achieve more at St Joseph s as they want pupils to do their best Why St Joseph s I picked St Joseph s for my secondary school as my dad and granddad went here and they enjoyed their time at school I also chose it as I knew we would have a good year 8 football team Favourite subject and why My favourite subject is Music I have enjoyed music since the age of six and I can play three musical instruments the fiddle tin whistle and the ukulele Also Mrs Ross is a great teacher and her lessons are fun and enjoyable Best thing about St Joseph s The best thing about St Joseph s is the after school lunch time clubs that the school offers My favourite lunch time club is the library club as I can enjoy a good book and catch up with my friends I also really enjoy the Minecraft club as I can work on projects with my friends Best thing about St Joseph s For me the best thing about our school is the chance to meet new friends and the help you get from your teachers when you are stuck Sean Harkin Primary school attended St Eithne s Primary School Why St Joseph s I chose St Joseph s because I thought the open night was the best out of all of the schools The teachers were friendly and the boys at the school talked really well about it Eoghan McLaughlin Primary school attended Holy Child Primary School Why St Joseph s I picked St Joseph s because my brothers came here and I enjoyed coming here when I was in primary school Favourite subject and why My favourite subject is IT because I get to go on computers and I knew Mr O Brien from the summer school Best thing about St Joseph s The best thing about St Joseph s is that there is a variety of classes And I really like getting to do subjects I didn t get to do in primary school for example T D 4 Favourite subject and why My favourite subject at St Joseph s is PE because I am good at sport I have done football basketball and cross country so far and I am looking forward to using the gym Favourite subject and why My favourite subject is Maths because I love to solve number problems We also use the Ipads a lot in Maths and I enjoy that as well Best thing about St Joseph s The best thing about St Joseph s is the size of the school because when I started I knew my way around in a few days I also liked the summer scheme because when I went to the school on the first day I had friends to talk to St Joseph s Boys School Prospectus 2019 Achievement For All

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Parental View Since my son was in Primary 3 he was adamant that he wasn t going to big school He struggled with anxiety but with the dedication nurturing and pastoral care he received from all his hard working teachers who have helped him through some difficult times he has settled in and has now increased in confidence We appreciate all of your hard work and positive input Paula Dillon Mum of Jamie Dillon Year 10 Choosing a school for our son was a stressful and worrying time After visiting all schools we decided that St Joseph s was the best choice We have never regretted our decision Since starting the school Gerard has thrived both academically and personally He is motivated to do his best due to the support and motivation of all staff He has found hidden talents and his confidence has grown As a parent and teacher I would recommend St Joseph s to parents and pupils Emma Meehan mum of Gerard year 9 Darwen s transition from primary to secondary school was seamless He found the teachers and pupils very easy to approach and talk to and as a student he has been offered extra curricular educational programmes clubs and excursions As a parent communication is excellent opportunities abundant discipline and respect firm and the needs of the boys addressed at every level My youngest son is looking forward to attending St Joseph s also Wendy Gibbons Mum of Darwen Year 9 Watching your child make the change to secondary school can be an anxious time for any parent Any worries I had soon disappeared as I very quickly found out just how professional and dedicated the staff are They go over and above what is expected of them They recognise and reward every achievement which also provides important feedback for parents I ve also noticed how hands on and pro active the staff are Once they see a need in a child be it academic or pastoral they make it their mission to fulfil this need The staff at every level are friendly approachable and committed to helping their pupils achieve their full potential Philip Kerr father of Adam Year 10 St Joseph s Boys School Prospectus 2019 Achievement For All 5

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Primary School Links St Joseph s prides itself on supporting the transition of primary school pupils to secondary school We know it can be a stressful time for an 11 year old child As a school community we have actively developed ways to make this transition easier for children and parents We have welcomed P5 P6 and P7 pupils from across the city to take part in fun interactive learning experiences This has allowed primary school pupils to gain a unique insight into life at secondary school and has helped put fears and anxieties at ease Learning experiences have included Minecraft workshops Art and T D projects CSI Investigations Language courses Cookery classes IZAC 9 workshops Faith Friends and Sports Taster sessions Our sixth form pupils also link with our local primary schools through paired reading programmes working with pupils at all age groups Last year alone we linked up with 23 primary schools 310 P5 pupils 250 P6 pupils and 500 P7 pupils were involved in activities at St Joseph s The transition programme from primary to secondary school developed by St Joseph s has been invaluable in terms of turning what can sometimes be a daunting experience into a seamless enjoyable and rewarding one Pupils now look forward to moving to their new school as many of their concerns are addressed and they become more aware of their surroundings expectations and their new school community Mr Paul Bradley Principal of Rosemount Primary School 6 St Joseph s Boys School Prospectus 2019 Achievement For All

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Year 8 Induction Every possible step is taken to ensure that the transition of our pupils from primary to secondary level education is as enjoyable and hassle free as possible Miss Aoibhin Shiels our PrimarySecondary Links Co ordinator has devised a carefully planned induction programme that ensures your son does just that The induction programme includes The Primary Secondary Links Co ordinator visiting the Primary schools of every Year 8 pupil in January and again in June Open Evening in January P7 taster day in June Summer school in July Induction Day in September Year 8 Mass Welcome evening for parents in September Sixth form prefects for each class to guide pupils as they settle Personalised timetable pack and map Every year we look forward to welcoming our new year 8 pupils We understand that the transition from primary school to secondary school can be a daunting experience and you might even be a little anxious You have nothing to worry about Here at St Joseph s every member of our school community will work hard to make sure every Year 8 pupil feels welcomed and at ease as soon as they join us Ms A Shiels St Joseph s Boys School Prospectus 2019 Achievement For All 7

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New School Gym Our school gym has seen a total transformation in the past 12 months Under the leadership of HOD Mr Paul Gibbons the PE department has been fund raising and alongside support from the school the PTA and especially the past pupil s union we have modernised our facilities We are the first school in Northern Ireland to purchase the Jacob s Ladder The machine is a state of the art training machine that focuses on improving pupil fitness Our pupils are highly motivated to try out this piece of equipment and get on the leaderboard We have been delighted to welcome players from 8 Institute Derry City and League of Ireland player of the year Michael Duffy to come in and take the Jacob s Ladder challenge The department has also purchased a new arm bike spin bikes weights a stair master and continues to update machines that help to motivate inspire and improve pupils fitness We acknowledge the link between exercise and positive mental health and we encourage both staff and pupils to use the gym for their well being St Joseph s Boys School Prospectus 2019 Achievement For All

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Extended Schools At St Joseph s we have a very successful programme that works cohesively with our parents and pupils There are a wide array of activities on offer with something to interest everyone Extended schools co ordinator Mr Doherty commented The school day has changed it s been extended from 8am 5pm Pupils are encouraged to start the day with the breakfast club and finish with an after school club Activities are designed to support learning raise school standards and promote healthy lifestyles enabling our school to work closely with members of the wider community and connect local people with local services As part of our extended schools programme we have An established homework club A popular breakfast club A uniform shop A summer school Easter revision school A registered film club Health and mentoring scheme for year 8 students Senior pupils Cook it programme Millennium volunteer programme Fundamentals with Rosemount Resource Centre Sixth year peer mentors Lunch bunch club Cluster programmes Parental engagement sessions Parenting Ur Teens Programme Literacy and Numeracy Clubs Accelerated reading club Irish club St Joseph s Boys School Prospectus 2019 Achievement For All 9

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Derry Lads Magazine In March of 2018 the school secured funding from the Arts Council NI which allowed the school to engage in a creative project aimed at improving the educational experience of the pupils The English department felt the project could profitably be used to improve literacy With this in mind a class was selected to participate 8D In discussions with the class it was decided a frame for the project and a final product would be the creation of a magazine focussing on issues pertinent to the school and community The class chose the name Derry Lads in homage to the recent Derry based hit TV show Derry Girls The funding was used to secure the engagement of professional journalist Leona O Neill and photographer Jim Mc Cafferty The boys negotiated to choose relevant feature articles then shared the tasks of researching reporting writing editing photographing and designing their articles and finally the entire magazine and the photo gallery exhibition which would showcase their work The project was a huge success and allowed the boys to engage with the local community and develop new skills The magazine was formally launched by the Mayor of Derry and former St Joseph s pupil Mr John Boyle 10 St Joseph s Boys School Prospectus 2019 Achievement For All

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Extra curricular Activities At St Joseph s we offer a wide range of extra curricular activities and clubs that pupils can get involved in and everyone is encouraged to participate in at least one Just some of the activities on offer to students in junior school include Of course there are also numerous trips and outings on offer and over the past year these have included trips to watch both Manchester United and Celtic play in their home grounds and a fun packed visit to Alton Towers theme park Taking part in activities outside the classroom not only helps new year 8 pupils settle in much more quickly but contributes to their success in their studies too Make sure you get involved Film Club Geography Club Athletics Football Gaelic Basketball Music Club Maths Club Chemistry Club Minecraft Club Computer Programming Club Cookery Club The Creative Hub Involvement in these clubs and activities also helps pupils meet new friends and offers a well earned break A full list of the extra curricular activities offered at St Joseph s will be provided to pupils on their first few days at the school St Joseph s Boys School Prospectus 2019 Achievement For All 11

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The Pupil Journey In September of 2012 I moved from my primary school of Gaelscoil Eadain Mhoir and made the decision to further my education at St Joseph s Boys School This was one of the best decisions I ever made From the very beginning of my experience at St Joseph s I received support and encouragement and soon began to thrive in a welcoming atmosphere At this school I have achieved continued academic success and have participated in a wide variety of extra curricular projects The school s ethos very much rings true Achievement for All is the case for all pupils no matter their academic or practical ability At GCSE level I obtained 11 strong grades with the assistance and support of the staff and their ardent attitude to education and the teaching process Unmatched in their ability to ensure a pupil leaves the school ready for the life of work or further education the teachers of St Joseph s motivated me throughout my 7 years to ensure I got the best out of each subject I studied The opportunities I have been offered here at St Joseph s are immeasurable I ve taken part in many different cross community educational work placements that have expanded my horizons and allowed me to make connections that I never thought possible projects like Amazing the Space and the Nuffield Foundation were offered to me by the school s excellent careers teachers and have allowed me to refine my skillset beyond that of normal education helping me to stand out from others in the future My time here at St Joseph s has been one of enlightenment a mixture of great facilities a supportive environment and unmatched teaching staff has allowed me to excel in fields I hold passion for St Joseph s may offer Achievement for All but that s not where it ends They offer confidence choice independence possibility opportunity and above all else education Rossa Smallman 12 St Joseph s Boys School Prospectus 2019 Achievement For All

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Pastoral Care Pastoral Care at St Joseph s Boy s is fully integrated through teaching and learning and is evident in the school s policies and procedures The school s ethos and value system meets the personal social and academic needs of students and staff Our safe guarding routines and pastoral care procedures are underpinned by our three school rules encouraging our pupils to be ready to learn show respect to themselves peers and staff and to conduct themselves in a manner that is safe and mindful of all others The pastoral routines are led by the school s rich Catholic ethos and our pupils are interested in building relationships with each other and their teacher We believe that pastoral care is effective when there is sound teaching active learning and good order in class and around the school We try to achieve this by encouraging understanding respect and openness between staff and pupils We believe it is very important to work with families and see our partnership with parents as being crucial for the successful implementation of our Pastoral Care policy and procedures St Joseph s has a strong year head team and a very effective form teacher system which operates with support of the Heads of Junior and Senior school and two Vice Principals The roles and responsibilities of all are clearly defined and understood by pupils staff and parents At St Joseph s we encourage our pupils to build relationships with each other and with staff My expectations for all our pupils are rooted in the belief that the future of our community is in our classrooms As pastoral V P I am devoted to finding each pupil s strengths and build upon their capacity to learn together and from each other Ciara Deane Achievements and successes are celebrated throughout our school year with Prize giving ceremony Incentive trips Class rewards Active use of daybook Assemblies Departmental post cards Pupil of the month award Display work St Joseph s Boys School Prospectus 2019 Achievement For All School representation at relevant events Pastoral peer roles and responsibilities such as Head Boy Prefects Class Captains and vice captains 13

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Special Educational Needs Provision The robust approach to special educational needs at St Joseph s Boys School is evident in the high outcome for our pupils The learning support team work tirelessly to support our pupils in a variety of settings The SEN provision permeates all classrooms adopting a personalised approach to learning for all The learning experience of all SEN pupils is enhanced with digital literacy and numeracy programmes that are modified to meet all our pupils needs We foster an inclusive ethos that underpins the school values of Achievement for all Our pupils access learning across the curriculum in an inclusive environment Programmes of study are linked with learning and teaching in each classroom and pupils are encouraged to enhance learning through homework club film club reading rooms and varied literacy numeracy projects 14 Pupils are also encouraged to engage in the additional support provided by a range of outside agencies We are a school working with and within the growing needs of our community We will work tirelessly to support parents to meet the changing needs of their child throughout key stages in the school We are proud of the relationships developed with all organisations working with individual pupils Strategic links are sustained with ASD Services Speech and Language Service and the Cedar Foundation working with students with disabilities The learning experiences for all pupils are rooted in the relationships they have with each other and school staff The SEN department is integral to all other departments and is motivated by an ethos of respect and high expectations for all our pupils SENCO St Joseph s Boys School Prospectus 2019 Achievement For All

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SUMMER SCHOOL Every journey begins with a first step As part of our primary secondary links the Summer Scheme allows transition students the opportunity to attend a summer programme in early July An important feature in promoting the scheme and in organising and delivering it is that it should be seen as different from school not least because attendance is voluntary The programme aims to capture and hold the pupil s attention and enthusiasm by creating an environment which is relaxed informal and fun The programme focuses on active learning and the use of recreational activities to advance the key skills of numeracy literacy and ICT as well as promoting social skills The murder mystery day and launching rockets were particularly well received by the pupils This year we built a model of the Peace Bridge launched rockets in the yard built Norman Castles on the beach at Culdaff painted a selfportrait and of course we had plenty of football and Minecraft High attendance rates are dependent on good quality programmes which are attractive to pupils stimulate their interest and provide a sense of success and achievement Pupils were afforded a very positive introduction to their new school The scheme created a climate in which learning was relaxed informal and fun Feedback from parents has evaluated this support as one of the best ways to assist families during this difficult transition time There is no doubt that attendance on the programme raises self esteem and self confidence It is a fantastic opportunity to meet new friends and it also leads to more positive attitudes about school It certainly engaged parents as this mum of a year 8 Shea put it Shea had a great time he met plenty of new friends And he couldn t wait to start St Joseph s He came home each day buzzing and couldn t wait to see what fun activity he would be doing next The programme was so well run by the staff and I feel it really helped my son settle in at this great school Coordinators Mr P Smith and Mr T O Brien St Joseph s Boys School Prospectus 2019 Achievement For All 15

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Our Faith Religious Education is at the heart of the curriculum and central to the school community An important aim of the school is to bring students to an awareness of God s love care and compassion so that they will find meaning in their lives hope for the future and give service to others As a Catholic school the role of liturgy and spiritual development is given prominence in the day to day running of St Joseph s Staff and pupils are involved in regular events which include weekly lunch time assemblies for junior and senior school masses Advent and Lenten reconciliation services and retreats We fully recognise the importance of promoting our faith and fostering the ideals that your child received in both his home and primary school Each year a number of our senior pupils become involved in the Pope John Paul II Award This award gives students an opportunity to enrich their faith and social awareness by volunteering to work and serve in their parishes and local communities Charity work is a very important element of life in St Joseph s and it is at the very centre of the Catholic Ethos of the school Helping those in need is a Christian duty which should never be overlooked and in all the charity work they engage in the boys live out the command of St Joseph s Boys School Prospectus 2019 Achievement For All Christ Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine you did for me During the past year both pupils and staff engaged in a wide variety of fund raising activities and as always the generosity of pupils and parents has been phenomenal Although the history tradition and ethos of the school is Catholic St Joseph s Boys School welcomes students of all traditions who are willing to support and contribute to this tradition In this diversity there is richness and sharing that is mutually beneficial Catherine Lagan Head of RE 19

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Curriculum At Each Key Stage We offer a rich and varied curriculum from Key Stage 3 Key Stage 5 We aim to ensure that all our students have access to a wide variety of subjects and areas that will enable them to acquire the skills necessary for life long learning and the qualities to become a responsible citizen in the 21st century The range and flexibility of the curriculum affords students the opportunity to choose courses that best suit their individual needs and interests and which will in time lead to their successful progression to either further education or employment CURRICULUM RE ENGLISH FRENCH SPANISH IRISH MATHEMATICS The following subjects in years 11 12 are core subjects CURRICULUM CURRICULUM 20 20 5 RELIGIOUS EDUCATION MATHEMATICS ENGLISH CAREERS EDUCATION The following subjects are available for study at AS A Level ART AND DESIGN ENGLISH LITERATURE GEOGRAPHY GOVERNMENT AND SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY DESIGN HISTORY GEOGRAPHY ART DESIGN DRAMA Optional subjects ENGLISH LITERATURE ART DESIGN BUSINESS STUDIES ICT DRAMA FRENCH SPANISH POLITICS HISTORY MATHEMATICS MUSIC RELIGIOUS STUDIES BUSINESS STUDIES St Joseph s Boys School Prospectus 2019 Achievement For All MUSIC ICT PE LEARNING FOR LIFE WORK INCLUDING HOME ECONOMICS MUSIC MOTOR VEHICLE AND ROAD SAFETY STUDIES PE TECHNOLOGY DESIGN APPLIED BUSINESS STUDIES SINGLE AWARD ICT DESIGN TECHNOLOGY ICT MOVING IMAGE ARTS APPLIED LIFE AND HEALTH SCIENCE

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School Council In St Joseph s we have a thriving school council that represents the voice of the pupils The Council is made up of elected representatives from each year group there are 12 students involved as active members from year 8 to year 14 The group meets fortnightly to discuss issues that matter to them and can ultimately improve the school experiences of all our students Pupils are given the opportunity to bring issues to the council through the use of the talk back box located in the front foyer 22 Some of the issues for discussion on the agendas of this year s meetings have included school policies anti bullying strategies litter being happy in school healthy eating lunchtime issues and the school uniform Over the past year the school council have brought a number of proposals to the school s senior management and have led events on issues that matter to young people for example a Youth Space in Derry The council has been very well supported by past pupil our Mayor John Boyle St Joseph s Boys School Prospectus 2019 Achievement For All

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School Uniform We take pride in every aspect of our school and the school uniform plays a very important role in this Every pupil is expected to wear full school uniform at all times and to wear it correctly neatly and with pride This also includes P E uniform when appropriate the correct equipment for class and being prepared for the day ahead Each morning form teachers will check that pupils are fully prepared for the day of learning and activity ahead We have our own uniform shop based in the school so that any pupil without an item of uniform can be sent there to borrow it for that day Compulsory Green jumper with school crest White shirt School tie Junior Senior 6th form Black trousers Black blazer with school crest Black shoes White polo shirt with crest during the summer months PE Uniform As introduced in September 2017 Year 8 pupils must now wear our recently revamped PE uniform and will be expected to maintain this uniform as they move through key stage 3 This P E uniform is available to order from the School or on line and it consists of the following items Black shorts Green top short or long sleeve School Day 8 45 8 55am 8 55 9 35am 9 35 10 10am 10 10 10 20am 10 20 11 00am 11 00 11 40am 11 40 12 15pm Registration Lesson 1 Lesson 2 Break Lesson 3 Lesson 4 Lesson 5 St Joseph s Boys School Prospectus 2019 Achievement For All 12 15 1 00pm Senior Lunch 1 00 1 15pm Senior Reg 12 15 12 30pm Junior Reg 12 30 1 15pm Junior Lunch 1 15 1 55pm Lesson 6 1 55 2 35pm 2 35 3 10pm Lesson 7 Lesson 8 23

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Life Beyond St Joseph s Some of our Student Destinations 2018 Jake Allan BA Hons Teaching and Learning University of Cumbria Oisin Burke Foundation Degree Sport NWRC Thorin Coffey BA Hons Musical Theatre Trinity Laban Conservatoire Jack Collins Foundation Degree Art Design Manchester Metropolitan University Paul Cooley Level 3 Apprenticeship Electrical Installation NWRC Eamon Doherty BA Hons Drama Ulster University Magee John Doherty BSc Hons Accountancy Finance Southampton Solent University Rachel Gallagher BEng Hons Electrical Electronic Engineering Liverpool John Moores University Patrick Hamill BSc Hons Computer Science with Professional Experience Queen s University Chad Higgins BSc Hons Computer Games Development with Foundation Year Liverpool John Moores University Orlagh McCloskey Level 8 BSc Science Sport Physical Education LYIT Jordan McCusker Full time employment McDonald s Conor McDermott Foundation Degree Health Social Care NWRC Rhys McGahey BSc Hons Sport Physical Activity Health Ulster University Magee Glenn McGowan HND Creative Media Production Film Television NWRC Darren O Hagan BA Hons Finance Investment Management Northumbria University Ronan Page BSc Hons Nursing Practice Mental Health Staffordshire University St Joseph s Boys School Prospectus 2019 Achievement For All 25

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Admissions Criteria 2019 The following criteria agreed by the Board of Governors will be applied in the order set down below when selecting pupils for Year 8 entry to St Joseph s in September 2019 When considering which children should be selected for admission the Board of Governors will only take into account information which is detailed on or attached to the Transfer Form Parents Guardians should therefore ensure that all information pertaining to their child and relevant to the school s admissions criteria is stated on the Transfer Form or attached to it Examples of such information include whether the child has a sibling presently enrolled has special circumstances is the eldest child In the event of oversubscription on any one of the criteria listed in order priority will be given on the basis of application of random selection With due regard to the above the following criteria will be applied in the numbered ranking order specified to select pupils for Year 8 entry in September 2019 1 Pupils who have a sibling presently enrolled in the school 2 NOTE a child of the family at the date of application will be deemed as a sibling 3 Pupils who reside in the parishes of Templemore formerly St Eugene s and Longtower and St Mary s 4 Pupils for whom St Joseph s is the nearest suitable school as the crow flies i e nearest to the child s normal place of residence 5 Pupils who have special circumstances The claim to these must be supported by documented evidence 26 which show that those circumstances would best be alleviated only through attendance at St Joseph s rather than any other school 6 Pupils whose parent s guardian s is a permanent member of the school staff or a member of the Board of Governors 7 Pupils who are the eldest boy in the family 8 Other pupils In the event of over subscription on any one of the criteria listed in order priority will be given on the basis of application of initial letter of the surname in the order set out below K U C J R M T O Y P X A E F D S MAC W N H MC Q G L I V Z B The order was determined by a random selection of letters of the alphabet In the event of surnames beginning with the same initial letter the subsequent letters of the surnames will be used in alphabetical order In the event of 2 identical surnames the alphabetical order of the initials of the forenames will be used Applicants should note that where an address and or child age information contained within an application qualifies it for admission then that information will be verified The verification process will take place after an offer of a place has been received and St Joseph s will notify parents how this will take place The Board of Governors reserves the right to require such supplementary evidence as it may determine to support or verify information on any application form Transfer Form St Joseph s Boys School Prospectus 2019 Achievement For All The provision of false or incorrect information or the failure to provide information within the deadlines set by post primary schools can result in the withdrawal of a place and the inability to offer a place on the part of any school nominated on the applicant s Transfer Form All applicants who are ordinarily resident in Northern Ireland or who will be so resident by the start of the 2019 2020 academic year will be considered for admission before any applicants who are not so resident or who will not be so resident by the start of the 2019 2020 academic year During Year 8 the above admissions criteria will apply but the admission of any pupils must not bring the total enrolment number over that permitted by the Department of Education PARENTS GUARDIANS SHOULD NOTE THAT INCORRECT INFORMATION PARTICULARLY CONCERNING THE ADDRESS GIVEN AS THE NORMAL PLACE OF RESIDENCE OR THE PRESENCE OF SIBLINGS AT THE SCHOOL MAY RESULT IN EITHER THE WITHDRAWAL OF A PLACE OR THE INABILITY OF THE SCHOOL TO OFFER A PLACE DUTY TO VERIFY Applicants should note that where an address and or child age information contained within an application qualifies it for admission then that information will be verified

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To enable the Board of Governors to verify child age and or address all applicants should provide any one of the following 3 documents the child s Birth Certificate a letter awarding Child Benefit to the child or another letter relating to this Benefit the child s Medical Card and any 2 of the following 4 documents a bank building society or post office statement which shows the address at which the child is resident a utility bill for instance electricity gas Housing Executive television licence telephone which shows the address at which the child is resident a letter awarding Child Benefit to the child or another letter relating to this benefit which shows the address at which the child is resident the child s Medical Card showing the address at which the child is resident Original documents are required and not facsimiles or photocopies The original documents will be copied on the date of verifying and these copies kept by the school The provision of false or incorrect information or the failure to promptly provide verifying documents according to the required deadline may result in either the withdrawal of a place or the inability of a school to offer a place Applicants are not required to put verifying documents in the post ADMISSIONS WAITING LIST POLICY Admissions to Year 8 after the beginning of the school year Should a vacancy arise after 18 May all applications for admission to Year 8 that were initially refused new applications late applications and applications where new information has been provided will be treated equally and the published criteria applied This waiting list will be in place until the end of the academic year to which those applications seek admission Your child s name will be automatically added to the waiting list Please contact the school if you wish for your child s name to be removed St Joseph s Boys School and or the Education Authority Western Region will contact you in writing if your child gains a place in the school by this method ADMISSION CRITERIA FOR ENTRY TO YEARS 9 12 Admissions to Years 9 12 Should a vacancy arise outside the normal processes all applications will be based on dated order by which AP1 Forms are received St Joseph s Boys School will inform parents guardians by letter if a place is available or becomes available after receipt of form If a request for a place is made by telephone then parents guardians will be advised to complete and send an AP1 Form to St Joseph s Boys School This AP1 Form will be dated and the receipt of time recorded and this applicant s information will be placed on our waiting list for those year groups Waiting lists for years 9 12 are updated as new applications are received places offered or declined as and when they become available NUMBERS OF APPLICATIONS AND ADMISSIONS These waiting lists will terminate at the end of each September Year Admissions No Total Applications All Preferences Total Admissions Parents who wish to remain on waiting list should inform the school at the beginning of each academic year 2016 2017 140 86 86 2017 2018 140 86 86 2018 2019 140 105 105 This figure includes pupils with a Statement of Special Educational Needs St Joseph s Boys School Prospectus 2019 Achievement For All 27

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Careers Provision Careers Education information advice and guidance are central to the curriculum for pupils in years 10 to 14 The Careers team work hard to ensure that pupils have access to important information that will enable them to make informed decisions about their future The programme provides a variety of experiences which will assist pupils in their decision making and further enhance their career opportunities This programme raises awareness and educates our students through attendance at Careers Fairs STEAM Week activities Careers days Guest speakers Industrial visits Pupil conferences Interview skills sessions and attendance at and hosting of University information events School Employer Connections and Business in the community assist with our work experience placements for Year 13 and some of our Year 12 pupils this provides our students with first hand experience of the world of work with over 70 local employers an experience that our students thoroughly enjoy All our sixth form pupils gained successful progression to University Further Education or Apprenticeships The continuous delivery of Careers education throughout their school experience ensures our pupils match their abilities and preferences to the right choice of career We aim to nurture pupil self esteem and confidence and ultimately prepare our pupils for their lives as adults at home work and as responsible members of society 28 St Joseph s Boys School Prospectus 2019 Achievement For All

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Shared Education St Joseph s Boys School is involved in an exciting programme The Value of Me This is a shared education project involving three other post primary schools Oakgrove Integrated College Foyle College and St Patrick s and St Brigid s College Claudy The programme is funded by the European Union s PEACE IV Programme which looks at building resilience achievement self esteem and supporting mental health It involves 100 Year 9 pupils 25 from each participating school Planned collaborative activities include visiting speakers workshops day trips and a presentation celebration day The programme is closely linked with the curriculum of Learning for Life and Work LLW and there is a clear focus on Personal Development and Mutual Understanding PDMU The first initial ice breaker day at Carrowmena Activity Centre Limavady is a great opportunity for pupils to get to know each other During other workshops pupils were spilt into smaller groups settings where they found they could express their own opinions and ideas The Human Library which was run by the Holywell Trust was excellent Pupil comments were very positive and they were able to relate to the stories being told and use language such as perseverance resilience and strength of character when discussing the issues that were being addressed that day Pupils selected to take part from our current Yr 9 cohort are excited and very optimistic about the programme They are looking forward to meeting new young people and we hope that new but lasting friendships will form St Joseph s Boys School Prospectus 2019 Achievement For All 29

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Prefect Team Our sixth form prefects are a valuable help for incoming year 8 pupils to make that transition from primary to secondary school as easy and smooth as possible They assist with induction days in June and so our new year 8 boys will already recognise a familiar friendly face when they come through the doors in September Some of the ways that the mentors help year 8 pupils Take pupils to each class and collect them at the end Meet with them at break and lunch times Assist them in general movement around the school Help them get organised for lessons Give them the confidence to settle quickly into new routines 30 Sixth year prefects certainly play a very active role in creating and ensuring a safe and secure environment for our new students The mentoring programmes have proven to be a huge success and have been instrumental in the building of positive relationships between the pupils in St Joseph s Boys School St Joseph s Boys School Prospectus 2019 Achievement For All

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Father Patrick Lagan School Chaplain May God who has begun the good work in you bring it to fulfilment These words from St Paul s letter to the Philippians capture the mission and vocation to which every member of staff and pupil of St Joseph s Boys School is called to and inspired by A truly Catholic School is not only a place where our young people grow and excel in their studies but a place where they are loved cherished respected and encouraged to become the very best that God their loving Father has called them to be Through the communion of relationships friendships and support the school environment becomes the classroom where they discover how best to respond to the great work that has begun in them A Special Prayer to St Joseph Oh St Joseph whose protection is so great so strong so prompt before the throne of God I place in you all my interest and desires Oh St Joseph do assist me by your powerful intercession and obtain for me from your divine Son all spiritual blessings through Jesus Christ our Lord So that having engaged here below your heavenly power I may offer my thanksgiving and homage to the most loving of Fathers Oh St Joseph I am never weary contemplating you and Jesus asleep in your arms I dare not approach while He reposes near your heart Press Him close in my name and kiss His fine head for me and ask Him to return the Kiss when I draw my dying breath St Joseph Patron of departing souls Pray for me St Joseph s Boys School Prospectus 2019 Achievement For All 31

St Joseph's Boys' School

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