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SCHOOL PROFILE
St. Peter’s National School is a mixed, Catholic, primary school under the patronage of
the Archdiocese of Armagh. It has a Board of Management (Chairperson Fr. Pat Mc Enroe
PP) and a Parents’ Committee affiliated to the National Parents’ Council. Its structure is
vertical with classes from Junior Infants to Sixth. It supports the primary school curriculum
as outlined by the Department of Education and Science (1999). It has 216 pupils on roll
at present (September 2011). St. Peter’s is an 11 teacher school with 8 classroom teachers,
two Special Education Teachers and an administrative principal. The school has a deputy
principal and three Special Duties Teachers. Ancillary staff includes Special Needs’
Assistants (2), secretary, cleaners and part time caretaker.
The present school was opened in 1976, though also on site is the old school (opened 1926,
now home to a successful play school) and the old, old school which was built circa 1830.
Accordingly, there is a great sense of history and of past generations permeating the present
school environment. The Old School is, at present, providing a temporary classroom being
used by 3rd class.
The school campus is beautifully appointed with ample green playing area, a basketball
court and colourful shrubbery and trees. An additional feature is the Biblical Garden
created adjacent to the ruins of the old Roman Catholic chapel. St. Peter’s commitment to
all matters green was the driving force behind the huge amount of work that has gone into
the development of the school grounds. This endeavour has been rewarded with countless
environmental awards both locally and nationally. St. Peter’s has just been granted its fifth
Green Flag, one of the select schools in the country to have achieved this feat. The school
also holds a Platinum Award from Louth County Council, in recognition of its commitment
to the maintenance of the highest environmental standards.
The following subjects are taught in St. Peter’s N.S.: English, Irish, Maths, History,
Geography, Science (SESE), Physical Education, Music, Speech and Drama, Art, Religion
and Social Personal and Health Education. The school is also a member of the MLPSI
(Modern Language in Primary Schools Initiative) and French is taught to 5th and 6th classes.
Children are encouraged in all curricular areas and the school is also an enthusiastic
participant in many extra-curricular activities - gaelic, soccer, rugby, basketball, quizzes,
feiseanna, poetry and essay writing and various art competitions. St. Peter’s is also committed
to e-learning and endeavours to adapt to an ever evolving and developing technological age.
We have interactive whiteboards in all classrooms, desktop computers and 32 laptops which
are stored in 2 mobile laptop trolleys. Children are timetabled to work on computers each
week and we have broadband access throughout the school. The children also have access to
digital cameras, video recorder and visualisers.
The whole school community is dedicated to bringing out the best in our children. The staff,
ancillary staff, Board of Management and Parents’ Committee work together to create an
environment, underpinned by friendship and collegiality, wherein our young students will
flourish as happy, young individuals ready to embrace an exciting future.
MISSION STATEMENT
As a school team, we celebrate the uniqueness of each child in our care. While St. Peter’s
N.S. is a school with a Catholic ethos, it also has due recognition for all other religions.
Our aims as educators are:
o To enable each child to live a full life as a child and to reach his/her full potential
o To enable each child to develop socially through living, co-operating and working
with others and so to enrich our community and society in general.
o To prepare each child for further education and lifelong learning
Furthermore we:
o Promote Inclusivity and Equality. St. Peter’s is an inclusive school that meets the 9
grounds as listed in the Equal Status Act 2000. Discrimination, as stated in the Act,
is prohibited on the following grounds: Gender, Marital status, Family status, Sexual
orientation, Religion, Age, Disability, Race, Traveller community .
o will strive to promote, both individually and collectively, the professional and
personal development of teachers through staff development programmes.
o will encourage the involvement of parents through home/school contacts.
o will promote gender equity amongst the teachers and pupils.
o Déanfaimid iarracht Gaeilge a labhairt.
o endorse the vision, aims and principles outlined in the document “ Primary School
Curriculum – Introduction” (1999 – ps.14-19) |
