St. Mary's Academy ERS 
If you missed our OPEN NIGHT on 24th October 2007 you will find a copy of the handout that we provided for families below.
OPEN NIGHT
OCTOBER 24th 2007
Introduction
Welcome to our Open Night. We hope you enjoy your stroll around our school and your interaction with our students and teachers. We have tried to provide you with as much information as possible to help you with the very important choice of a second-level school for your son. Good luck with your decision-making.
Please feel free to ask us about any aspect of school during your tour around the building. Our staff will be very happy to help you with your queries.
We will enrol a maximum of 100 students in First Year. In the event of the number of applicants exceeding 100 students we will apply the terms of our Enrolment Policy, which is available on the web at www.cbscarlow.net/policies.
The School
The school has a current enrolment of 542 students and 39 teachers. It is under the trusteeship of the Christian Brothers. Over the coming year the Christian Brothers will hand their schools over to a new lay trust body called the Edmund Rice Schools Trust (ERST). The changeover process will hardly be noticed by the school community, apart from a ceremony that will be held in the school to mark this important milestone.
The school is run by a Board of Management consisting of two parent representatives, two teachers and four trustee nominations. The current members of the BOM of St. Mary’s Academy are:
Trustee nominations: Paddy Brennan (chair), Eoin Kehoe, Mark Mulhern, Brian Broderick.
Parent Reps: Eamonn Brophy, Mary Clare Byrne.
Teacher reps: Theresa O’Neill, Shaun Moloney
Secretary of the BOM: Leo Hogan, School Principal
The school also has a very active Parents’ Council whose executive members are elected annually by the parents. The council organises many activities in the school, including the annual Student Awards. They support various student services in the school and the main one proposed for this year is the development of the school Library and the redevelopment of the IT facilities.
The Teaching Staff (2007—2008)
1. Leo Hogan Principal
2. Dave Barron Deputy Principal
3. Paddy McGovern French, English
4. Shaun Moloney Geography, Maths, Business
5. Denis O’Grady Accounting, Economics, Business, LCVP
6. Pat Sheehan Construction, Drawing, Woodwork, CAD
7. Louise Williamson English, RE
8. Joan McKeon Career Guidance & Counselling, Maths, Business
9. Michele Clonan Biology, Science, Maths, Chemistry
10. Sean Óg O’ Sullivan Construction, Drawing, M. Tech. Wood
11. Teresa O’Neill Irish, History, Geography, CSPE
12. Pat Ahern RE, History, English
13. Orla Kennedy Learning Support, French, English, CSPE,
14. Joe Clowry Biology, Chemistry, Science, Maths, Development Education
15. Brighid Hennessy RE, English
16. Aideen Cleary Irish, RE, Music, CSPE, SPHE
17. Laura Walshe Irish, History, RE
18. Anne Ahern French, History, CSPE
19. Fiona Lennon Physics, Maths, Science
20. Liam O’Brien German, PE, CSPE, History
21. Maurice Browne PE, Business
22. Shane Storey English, History, IT
23. Patrick Coffey Irish and Maths
24. John Fanning Maths, Geography
25. Tara Fitzharris Geography, Maths, RE, CSPE
26. Margit Lonergan Business, German
27. Michael Kehoe PE , Science, Biology, English
28. Sean Kealy Geography, Maths, IT
29. Tony Cleere Bus., Acc, Maths, PE, LCVP
30. Aileen Tennant Chem., Bio., Phys., Maths, IT, Development Education
31. Patricia Moloney Irish, RE, RSE
32. Joseph Nolan Construction, Drawing, Woodwork, CAD, Maths
33. Lorna Canavan English, History, CSPE
34. Evelyn Allan French, German, Spanish
35. Conor Kinsella PE, Maths
36. Ken Ewing Business, Maths, Resource
37. Brighid O’Hara Art
38. Ml. Roberts Career Guidance
39. Pat Hennessy Irish, CSPE
School Chaplain: Fr. Sean Maher
Secretary: Ethna Ware
Caretaker: Martin Power, assisted by Pat Collins
Location of Subject Teachers
The Gym
PE activities take place on the ground floor of the gym while the Music Room is located on the balcony area of the gym.
The Prefabs
Many parents overlooked visiting the prefabs last year and, as a result, we will not use them this year.
Main School Building
Classrooms are located on the ground floor ( G1 to G9) and on the first floor (F1 to F10). The following rooms will be open:
F1 Gaeilge
F2 History
F3 Geography
F4 Science
F5 Computers / Information Technology
F6 German / French
F7 CSPE, Green Schools
F8 Extra- curricular activities
F9 English
F10 Career Guidance & Counselling
G1 RE and Library
G2 Computer Design Graphics / Technical Drawing
G5 Learning Support
G6 Maths
G7 Art
G8 Construction Studies, Materials Technology Woodwork
G9 Business, Accounting, Economics, LCVP
Facilities
The school has developed a classroom specifically for a new subject, Computer Design Graphics, that has been introduced for Senior Cycle students. This subject replaces Technical Drawing. The room has 24 new computers, printers and plotters, as well as the software required to offer the subject.
The Information Technology Room has been completely updated. Twenty five new computers and three new servers have been installed. An Internet-connected computer has been installed in every classroom. An administration software package called eportal will be installed in the coming weeks and this will make it easier for the school community to access relevant information. The IT room will open to students from 1.30pm to 1.55pm , Monday to Thursday.
The school Library has been developed over the past three years, thanks mainly to the generosity of parents and the great work of our Parent Council. It opens from 1.30pm to 1.55pm , Monday to Thursday.
The school gym has undergone major redevelopment over the summer, with the installation of new showers, shower room and changing rooms. New toilets have also been installed and the corridors have been tiled. The next job will be the replacement of the main floor. Students can now enjoy Squash, Handball, Basketball, indoor Hurling and Soccer in the new facilities.
The school has two Science laboratories, with permission from the Department of Education & Science for additional facilities. Similarly, we have also been granted additional facilities for Construction, Music and Art due to our increased enrolment over the past six years.
The school has two playing pitches at Oak Park .
Evening Study takes place after school and is supervised.
Curriculum
At Junior Cycle every student studies 17 subjects (15 exam subjects) at the beginning but by October mid-term a choice is made between French or German and one only of the subject from MTW/Technical Graphics/Music/Art is selected. The option French/German creates no problem but the MTW/TG/Music/Art option has become increasingly difficult to operate. This is because MTW and Technical Graphics are attracting increased numbers but each class can cater for 24 students only. It may be necessary to establish the level of interest of students in these subjects before September so that the timetable being offered reflects the needs of our students.
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Irish, English & Maths
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Science
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Business Studies
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History
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Geography
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RE (Exam Subject)
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French or German
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Materials Technology Woodwork ( MTW ) or Technical Graphics or Art or Music
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CSPE
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SPHE
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PE
Standard tests are given 5 times per year – October mid-term, Christmas, February mid-term, Easter and Summer. At senior cycle the results of these tests are converted into points ( CAO ) so that students are making sensible and realistic course choices for Third Level education.
Students are encouraged to undertake a serious study programme from First Year to establish good habits and a solid foundation for the challenges ahead.
Extra-Curricular Activities
We are extremely grateful to our staff who give so generously of their time outside the classroom to provide a wide range of extra-curricular activities. Various studies have shown that the involvement of students in these activities is hugely important in developing a sense of belonging to the school and, therefore, enhances the students’ chances of succeeding in school.
The activities on offer may vary from year to year, depending on teacher availability and student needs. We encourage your son to get involved in some event. The activities currently on offer, and the teachers who promote these activities include:
- Gaelic Football – Pat Ahern, Maurice Browne, Pat Coffey, Liam O’Brien, Michael Kehoe, Conor Kinsella
- Hurling – Sean Kealy, Joe Nolan, Conor Kinsella
- Soccer – Sean Óg O’Sullivan, John Fanning, Tony Cleere
- Basketball – Shane Storey, Aileen Tennant, Michael Kehoe, Joe Nolan, Tony Cleere, Ken Ewing
- Golf – Michael Roberts
- Athletics – Fiona Lennon, Michael Kehoe
- Handball – Pat Ahern
- Rugby – Joe Clowry
- Quizzes – Joe Nolan, Denis O’Grady
- Debating (English) – Joe Clowry, Lorna Canavan
- Debating (Gaeilge) – Pat Coffey, Pat Hennessy
- Debating (German) – Evelyn Allan
- Music Club – Aileen Tennant
- Computers – Shane Storey
- Library – Louise Williamson
- Green Schools / Conservation – Anne Ahern
- Young Scientist Competition – Joe Clowry, Aileen Tennant
- Edmund Rice Awards – Brighid Hennessy
- Peace & Justice – Louise Williamson
- Horizon – Joe Clowry
- Young Social Innovators – Brighid Hennessy
- Meitheal/ Student Council – Michele Clonan