When choosing a school for your Junior Infant daughter or son parents will be reassured by the following information about Monastery NS;
Large modern spacious school building and campus - In 2007 our school underwent a 2 million euro refurbishment and extension. Our Board of Management prepared for Coeducation by building double cubicle toilets in each classroom. We have 10 large modern classrooms that are excellently ventilated by numerous windows and doors. We have a beautiful school field and the largest playing areas of any school in County Louth.
Small Junior Infant Classes - we will have two very small Junior Infant classes in September 2023. Each small class also has the support of a support teacher for literacy and we also have an SNA to support both classes.
Separate Infant Yard - we have a large modern child friendly and safe infant yard with playground equipment (€16,000), Go Karts, Wendy House, Goals, Basketball hoops etc. This yard is for infants only and is supervised by a teacher and SNA at each break.
Experienced Staff - we are fortunate to have a mixed staff of male and female teachers who have significant experience of teaching boys and girls in other schools.
Special Needs - we have an exceptional special needs department in our school that includes an SEN Coordinator (Mrs McGrory), 5 Support Teachers in total and 5 SNAs. Each class is supported by its own support teacher through in class team teaching and / or one to one / small group pupil support. We believe in partnership with our parents and early intervention to meet the additional needs of your son or daughter.
Home School Link Teacher - Siobhán Coleman is our Home School Link Teacher and provides and important link between parents and our school. She is always available to our parents and can visit you in your home.
Free Books Scheme - the Department of Education recently announced plans for a Free Book Scheme for Primary School pupils for the 2023/2024 school year. We are providing free school books, copies and much more to our pupils. This represents a fantastic saving for parents/guardians and will no doubt reduce the financial strain that many experience during the annual return to school period in late August.
Free Hot Lunches - our school provides free hot lunches for your child every day in school. Click here for more information.
State of the art technology and digital learning - in each class we have new computers, Interactive HD Panels (no blackboard!) and a class webcam for video conferencing. We also have high speed fibre broadband, infant iPads and senior laptops. For our parents we have a one stop for all school App called Eolas. With this Eolas App you can record your daughter’s / son’s absence, pay school bills and receive school communications.
Sport - Our school has a long tradition of sporting success and we offer Gaelic Football coaching and after school leagues, Soccer coaching and lunchtime leagues, Basketball and lunchtime leagues, Rugby coaching, a school badminton championship, athletics, swimming lessons, lunchtime walking club, active schools and our annual Sports Day.
Drama - every year we produce a wonderful Christmas Production that runs over two evenings and one daytime matinee. All three shows are always sold out!
Music - Our School Choir perform at key school events and at the Peace Proms each year. We also have Recorder tuition from Music Generation and a traditional tin whistle group.
Green Schools - we have a long record of participation in the Green Schools Programme and have been awarded 10 Green Flags, one of the highest levels of awards in the country. We are also a Louth County Council 5 Star GROW awards school. We have a polytunnel and each class grow their own vegetables.
Ardee School Completion Programmes - SCP provide unique small group and individual early intervention programmes in our school including Play Therapy, Leadership for Life, Pyramid of Success and MAP programme.
The Sixth Class Challenge - This is a unique programme to Monastery National School and is designed to engage and motivate pupils in their final year of school. It is of great benefit in developing independence, positive self esteem, team spirit and positive behaviour among the pupils. For 6th class it is an exciting highlight of their final year with us.
We hope that you will consider all of the above when making a decision where to enrol your son or daughter in Junior Infants in Monastery NS. Please feel free to contact us if you have any queries at any time.
