We hope you are all safe and well. We look forward to welcoming all of our students back to school. As we begin a new academic year, we encourage all students to engage fully and positively with school life, building positive relationships, developing new skills, seizing the opportunities that come their way.
Please note the following important information ahead of the resumption of school next week:
The School Day
The school day starts 08.40 and finishes at 15.30 (13.15 on Friday).
Please note the following reminders:
- The school building will open from 08.20 each morning. Students will not have access to the school building before this time.
- All students are expected to be in their seat in their Caomhnóir room by 08.35 for morning assembly.
- We strongly encourage students to walk or cycle to and from school where possible and students are reminded to ensure they have a suitable lock for their bikes.
Code of Behaviour
Positivity is at the core of what we believe and our Code of Behaviour is a positive one.
The watchwords we live by are Mol an Óige agus Tiocfaidh sí, and the task of ensuring our school motto is reflected in school life falls to all members of the school community. In this light, we encourage all students to treat those around them as they would wish to be treated; with kindness, care and empathy, to take responsibility for helping to shape a positive experience for all in the school year ahead.
Uniform
Our school uniform is a core element of our culture and identity and. Students are required to be in full school uniform, including only the permitted school jacket and shoes.
A reminder that the school uniform policy is available here.
Mobile Phones
A reminder that, where students choose to bring a mobile phone with them to school, it must remain switched off and out of sight at all times while on the school site.
A reminder that the Mobile Phone & Device Policy is available here.
Accessing the school - New Entrance & Car Park
Finishing touches are being put on the new entrance to the school and it is our understanding that the new entrance and the new Ratoath Outer Relief Road used to access it, will be open from next Thursday, 22nd August. We will be in contact with you again next week with more information about the changes the new road and new entrance will mean for how students, staff and parents access the school site.
Please note that, other than for pick-up and drop off, parking on the school site is restricted to staff only. Students who drive to school are not permitted to park on site.
Student Direct Contributions
If you have yet to pay the final installment of your student direct contribution for the coming year, we would ask that you do so as a matter of urgency using Way2Pay.
If you are experiencing financial challenges and unable to pay the fee, please contact the school in confidence to let us know urgently.
Books & Equipment
Junior Students will be issued with their books and equipment under the new scheme on their return to school next week. A huge thank you to all the staff who have put in trojan work over the summer in ensuring that the enormous task of getting all this ready is done on time.
Green Schools & Sustainability
Ratoath College is committed to ensuring the school environment is a sustainable place and as a community, we have made enormous strides to this effect in recent years, efforts we know will be continued moving into the new year.
Please note some of the following important reminders about sustainability in school:
- All single use plastics are prohibited in school. This includes such items as food containers, packets, wrappers, beverage containers, cups and bottles and light weight carrier bags.
- In line with practice in our sister schools Ratoath National School and St Paul’s National School, all students are required to bring a REUSABLE LUNCHBOX and REUSABLE WATER BOTTLE with them to school and students will be required to take home with them all non-recyclable waste they bring into school.
- General waste bins have been removed from all classrooms.
The initiative for these improvements in sustainability and the leadership of their rollout has come from our students themselves. It is to their credit that they are joining the growing international movement of young people standing up to protect and preserve the environment for the sake of future generations.
As a school community of students, parents and staff we have a collective responsibility to do all we can to ensure that the effects of climate change are minimised and we look forward to beginning to do more to achieve this objective from next September. We offer our sincere thanks for your understanding and cooperation with the measures outlined above.
Parent Teacher Student Meetings 2024-2025
Please note the following dates of PTS Meetings this year. More information about PTS Meetings will be communicated prior to the meeting. All PTS Meetings run from 16.15 – 18.45.
A reminder that, should you wish to speak with any of your child’s teachers at any time, please let them know using your child’s Dialann.
- 1st Year – Thursday 5th December 2024
- 2nd Year – Thursday 7th November 2024
- 3rd Year – Thursday 17th October 2024
- 5th Year – Thursday 6th March 2025
- 6th Year – Thursday 21st November 2024
Return to School Dates & Times
A reminder of the dates and times for the return to school for all year groups is below.
We are especially looking forward in particular to welcoming our new First Year students and their parent(s)/guardian(s) on Thursday afternoon. As is customary, we will welcome our new First Year students on the steps outside the school (weather permitting). For those who haven’t experienced this before, please note the following:
- We anticipate that First Year students and their parent(s)/guardian(s) will arrive from approximately 13.30.
- Please note, parking is extremely limited in the school, so we ask that parent(s)/ guardian(s) of new First Year students walk/cycle to the school where possible and utilise the Car Park on the Avenue if necessary.
- If the weather is nice, we will be able to spend some time outside taking photographs, including the traditional photo of all new students on the steps of the school.
- After this, our new First Year students and their parent(s)/guardian(s) will move to the Sports Hall where the students will be introduced to their new teachers and SNAs, their new Moltóir, Mr Mooney, and the school Management. Students will then be assigned to their new Caomhnóir group.
- We expect that students will finish for the day on Thursday at approximately 15.30.
Calendar
The school calendar has been updated for the 2024-2025 academic year and is available here. The calendar is also shown near the bottom of the website home page. Note that dates and times of calendar events are subject to change.
Please note the following dates of school holidays and closures throughout the year:
- Thursday 26th & Friday 27th September 2024 – School Closed
- Monday 28th October – Friday 1st November 2024 – Mid-Term Break
- Monday 2nd & Tuesday 3rd December 2024 – School Closed, Staff Training
- Monday 23rd December 2024 – Friday 3rd January 2025 – Christmas Holidays
- Monday 6th January 2025 – Return to School
- Tuesday 21st January 2025 – School Closed, Staff Training
- Monday 3rd February 2025 – School Closed
- Monday 17th – Friday 21st February 2025 – Mid-Term Break
- Monday 17th & Tuesday 18th March 2025- School Closed
- Monday 14th – Friday 25th April 2025 – Easter Holidays
- Monday 28th April 2025 – Return to School
- Monday 5th May 2025 – School Closed
- Friday 30th May 2025 – School year finishes
Compass
As previously advised, we have begun the transition to our new school management computer system, Compass. This replaces the previous system, ePortal. This system is used to manage the day to day operations of the school, including the school timetable and school reports.
As we roll out the new system, we anticipate there will be some teething problems and challenges and we offer our thanks in advance for your patience and understanding.
We look forward to welcoming you all to school over the next few days and to a successful and positive school year ahead.
Yours faithfully,
