All requests are considered with regard to class allocations and we will do our best to make sure that all students are happy and comfortable in their class group.
Our classes are mixed ability in First Year.
We offer a Taster programme to all first years. This allows every student try out the variety of subjects on offer. Once the students have sampled all the options available, they generally have a good idea which ones they prefer. The teachers of the various subjects and the school’s Guidance Counsellor will help with the decision. Students are generally asked to make this decision in December of First Year.
All students remain on site and are supervised at breaktimes. This allows them time to engage in a wide range of extra-curricular activities which helps build friendships and develop student skills and abilities in areas of interest for themselves.
All student text books for First Year are ordered by the school and are available for students on entry. A contribution of just €60 is requested.
Yes, the school canteen serves a wide variety of healthy food, with both hot and cold options available. These vary daily and are very competitively priced.
The school provides a wide variety of extracurricular activities. These activities take place at lunchtimes and after school. There is something to suit everyone from debating to chess, from choir to enterprise. The extracurricular activities vary from year to year depending on the demand and the interests of the students.
While your daughter is still in 6th Class, Ms Ross Dowd, Special Educational Needs coordinator will be in contact to ensure all educational needs are addressed and supported. A suite of supports will be provided in Presentation on a case by case basis, depending on the needs of the student. Prior to your daughter’s first day you will be invited to the school to discuss any particular needs your daughter may have. Please contact the school for further details.
Presentation Secondary School academically tracks all students from the time they start first year. This ensures that every student is appropriately supported to achieve in every subject area. Students who need any help are identified early and the benefit of this intervention is always noted by parents and students. High achievers are identified early and challenged by receiving encouragement and differentiated work. They are also urged to take part in programmes specifically designed to progress their learning such as the Centre for Talented Youth.
We use Microsoft 365 as a digital tool during the school day and to assist blended and remote learning. Each student is allocated an account which gives access to a suite of Microsoft products which can be used at home or at school. All students receive training on how to use the technology when they are in first year to ensure that they can complete any tasks they need to online.
The school uniform consists of a navy jumper, white shirt and a navy and white skirt. School skirts are available from Gemma’s Limerick through the school. Fittings for the school are facilitated in Presentation Secondary School. The jumper and school trousers are available in Costello’s of Castleisland.
A special uniform is not required for PE. Students can wear their own:
Each year group has a Year Head. This staff member will have special responsibility for the welfare and wellbeing of the year group. They will be a link person for you should you have any concerns. You can, of course, always speak to the Principal or Deputy Principal. The phone number of the school office is 066 7141178. You can email queries to info@presentationcastleisland.ie
Yes, each student receives a locker and is encouraged to use it to reduce the weight of the school bags. Online versions of most books are available, and students may bring devices to school to view online books if they so wish.
Presentation Secondary school has a ‘Bring your own device’ policy. This means that students can bring a device, laptop, tablet or phone to school if they wish. Devices, including phones must remain switched off for the duration of the school day except when they are in use during class time. This is to protect students from the distractions that phones can bring while also utilising the technology to progress learning. If you wish to contact your daughter or if she wishes to contact you during the school day she may use the dedicated student phone in the school office.
• 27 All-Ireland Basketball titles
• Award winning teachers
• We are one of just 5 schools in Ireland invited to develop a programme to increase student engagement in the Irish Language
• 4 National titles in a row in the Student Enterprise Programme
• Wide range of subjects on offer
° Music: our students have the option to study Music up to Leaving Certificate
° Religious Education: Students can take Religious Education as an examination subject up to Leaving Cert. This is a programme for all students of all religious traditions and none. Students taking this subject in Presentation achieve very high grades and often take this as an extra subject for their Leaving Cert.
° Computer Science: We have introduced Computer Science to Leaving Certificate as another optional extra subject for our students. This is a most enjoyable and engaging subject which certainly prepares our girls for exciting careers in the digital world.
° French and Spanish:
– We offer both languages to Leaving Certificate (students try both in first year and choose one)
– We have established links with a school in France & in Spain. Our students have travelled on an exchange to both schools to study for a week and we invite the students to Presentation for a week to experience school life in Ireland.
• Wellbeing
° A comprehensive and engaging Wellbeing programme for each year group
° Currently invited by the DES to pilot a relationship & sexuality programme which will then be rolled out to all schools
In a survey completed by parents the feedback was overwhelmingly positive. 100% of parents stated that they would recommend Presentation Secondary School to others. They identified small class size and the support of the Year head as their top two reasons why their daughter settled in so quickly to first year. 94% of parents classed the support their daughter is receiving in first year as either exceptional or very good.
The wellbeing of our students was uppermost in our minds and we put in place many different strategies to ensure that they were connected:
• Each year group received training on Microsoft365
• Year heads hosted weekly online assemblies to boost the feeling of connectedness to the school community
• All students received weekly wellbeing and exercise regimes through padlets
• Staff connected with their students through online live lessons every day to maintain the momentum of learning.
• Attendance was monitored and students and parents were contacted to resolve any issues that were preventing them from attending remotely.
• School management supported students and families who were experiencing challenges with technology
• Principal was in regular contact with students and their parents during the remote learning period
In March 2021 Presentation Castleisland participated in a Pilot Inspection of Remote Teaching and Learning. Key points from the feedback included:
• There is very good provision of Remote Teaching and Learning in this school.
• The school’s policy of following the school timetable during remote teaching and learning gave structure, certainty, clarity and routine to all.
• There was excellent SEN provision for all.
• The holding of weekly Year Group Assemblies was commended.
• The Inspectors said it was ‘very obvious that communication is a priority for this school’.
• Clear, decisive messages are communicated through a variety of mediums.
• The school makes very good use of Microsoft Teams, VSware and the School App.
• Student voice is central to decision making in this school
• Students feel listened to and are included in decision making, and that is commendable.
We are fully compliant with all relevant Covid 19 requirements for schools. We are fortunate to have several separate buildings to provide for base classrooms for each year group with separate toilets in each building and all buildings have a one-way system in place. All students have assigned socially distant seating. Classrooms are student based which means less interaction on the corridors. Breaktimes and lunchtimes are staggered to ensure everyone has enough space to enjoy mask breaks. Door handles and push plates are sanitised throughout the day. Deep cleaning regularly takes place.
We have a dedicated room for after school study where each student has an assigned desk for the duration of the year. First year students 20/21 made the following Covid safety video as part of their STEM programme.
App