Newport, Co. Mayo

Phone 098-41442

E-Mail newportmayo.ias@eircom.net

Pastoral Care

A Pastoral Framework
School Pastoral Care is an approach to education which endeavours to value and develop each member of the school community.  The approach incorporates the characteristic spirit of the school and the context of the ethos of the school.

Pastoral Goals for our school

• to respect and nurture the quality of all relationships.
• to value and develop every student
• to acknowledge and support each person’s role in the school community
• to provide a caring environment where each child can trust the school community to support them.

Holy Family N.S. Newport
Crisis:  In the event of an emergency, a folder containing all relevant contact details is available in the Office. 
Bereavement:  In the event of a child losing a parent or brother or sister, the school organises a school mass where the relevant classes participate in Prayers of the Faithful and the Procession of Gifts.  The issue of loss is addressed openly in the school.  Where counselling is required, we can offer a family more professional help.  The Family Life Centre in Castlebar is a great resource in providing experienced staff to deal with difficult or sensitive situations.
Home/School Liaison:  Mrs. Maureen Smith, our DEIS co-ordinator, is our Home/School Liaison Officer.  She works in conjunction with a wide variety of other organisations and helps to bring many courses to our school which help parents to cope with the varying demands of child rearing.  The DEIS programme for our school recognises that many of our pupils are disadvantaged and do not have access to every educational opportunity (e.g. access to music lessons, trips to the theatre, receiving books from the Book Fair etc.). Mrs. Smith organises support for these pupils.
Whole Staff:  It has always been part of staff routine to bring to the attention of all the staff where a child might be going through a difficult time at home (e.g. separation etc.).   This is to ensure that each class teacher is aware of the situation, and is therefore able to deal with behaviour in an appropriate fashion and within the proper context.