An ABC of the School

Absences: all absences must be notified to the school by phone and in writing on the pupil’s return.

APE: Association des Parents d’Elèves – The Parent Association.

ATSEM: a classroom assistant in Petite Section and Moyenne Section.

BCD: the school library where children can borrow books, do research and workshops with the librarian.

CANTEEN:
Primary School: there is no canteen in the primary school.  Lunches may be re-heated (not cooked) in microwaves by the lunch ladies on duty (Cold lunch only on Wednesdays).  Please think of the nutritional value of the lunchbox and provide a balanced meal for your child(ren).  Water is the drink of choice.  Please supply cutlery.
Secondary School: there is a canteen open to all students in the secondary school.  Pupils have the option to buy a hot/cold meal in the canteen or bring a cold lunch which can be eaten in the canteen.

Conseil de classe:
Secondary School:  A meeting of teachers, two parent and student representatives and the Headmaster takes place three times per year to discuss the education and school life of the child(ren).

DROPPING YOUR CHILD(REN) IN THE MORNING:
Primary School
A drop-off point is available in the morning in the school yard.  This is a roundabout system and should be respected as such.

ELECTION OF PARENT REPRESENTATIVES:

EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: Activities (payable) proposed by the school (see website « Extracurricular Activities »).

GARDERIE: After-school care from the end of class to 5.30pm.  Inscription may be by the year, by the term or on an occasional basis (see web site for pricing structure).

GAZETTE: The school’s newspaper (Kindergarten, Primary & Secondary) written by the parents and pupils.

HEALTH: The school may not administer any medication to your child(ren).  In case of accident first aid will be administered on site and the parents contacted for more serious injury as required.

HYGIENE: An important part of daily education at school (the same as at home!).

ILLNESS: A sick child should not be brought to school (see website “Code of Behaviour”).

INFORMATION FOR PARENTS: Notes are sent to parents in two ways: a paper copy in your child(ren)’s school bag; or by email (helps save paper!).

KERMESSE: the school fair at the end of the school year.  A fun day for the pupils (their show and the various games) and a chance for the parents to get together.

LOST PROPERTY: All items of lost property are regularly placed on display.  It is important that parents ensured that all property is clearly marked with the child(ren)’s name.

PARENT TEACHER MEETINGS:
Primary School: At the beginning of the school year, the year’s programme is presented to parents by the class teacher – at the end of the school day; details will be supplied the administration.  The first and third terms’ reports are (one Wednesday in December and in June respectively) given to parents during a parent teacher meeting. (See also “School Reports” below).  Parents are free to meet their child(ren)’s teacher by appointment during the year.
Secondary School: The year’s programme is presented to parents at the beginning of the school year.  One on one meetings are organised for mid-way through the first term.  Parents are also free to meet their child(ren)’s teacher by appointment during the year.  For those pupils in the bi-lingual programme (1st to 3rd year) a parent teacher meeting is also organised during the school year with teachers from both St Kilian’s and LFI.  All meeting dates/times are given to parents in advance.

PARKING: is strictly forbidden within the primary school grounds.  Parents are asked to respect the school’s neighbours and the rules of the road when parking outside of school grounds.

PRONOTE:
Primary School: Each family has secured access to their child(ren)’s attendance record and all school events.
Secondary School:  Parents have secured access to all aspects of their chil(ren)’s life including school reports.

SCHOOL REPORTS:
Primary School: These are issued three times per year.  In the Kindergarten & Primary school the first and third terms’ reports include a one on one meeting with your child(ren)’s teacher.  Dates for these meetings are set at the beginning of the year and are marked in the school’s calendar.  There are no classes scheduled for these meeting days.
Secondary School: These are issued three times per year and are posted directly to the pupil’s home after the “Conseil de Classe” at the end of each term.  Information is available throughout the school year on the school’s Pronote system.

SCHOOL SUPPLIES:
Primary School: In Kindergarten, parents are asked to supply tissues, place mats, painting aprons, etc. A list is provided to parents in the end of year mailing.   In the primary section, all books are supplied by the school as well as copybooks, pencils, glue, etc.  Any specific materials required (eg. Compass, maths set) will be notified to parents at the beginning of the school year.
Secondary School: Parents must provide all school books and other materials.  Lists are given to parents and are available on the web site.

VACINATIONS/MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS:  From Moyenne Section (4 years) children are tested as part of the Irish primary school’s programme and receive eye, hearing and dental check ups as well as childhood vaccinations.  Details are forwarded to parents by the school’s administration.

WEBSITE: www.lfi.ie: for all information and documentation (applications, calendar, holidays, code of behaviour……).

 

FAQ’s

1.      What are Cycle 1, 2 and 3 in the primary school? 

Cycle 1: Petite Section, Moyenne Section, Grande Section (i.e. Kindergarten, Junior Infants & Senior Infants).
Cycle 2: Cours Préparatoire (CP), Cours Elémentaire 1 (CE1) (i.e. First Class, Second Class).
Cycle 3: Cours Elémentaire 2e année (CE2), Cours Moyen 1 & 2 (CM1 & CM2) (i.e. Third, Fourth & Fifth Class).
This organisation by cycle allows for a more flexible approach to education which is adapted to the pupil’s rhythm and helps to avoid having to repeat a year.

2.      If my child is in the primary school, do I have an “automatic” place in the secondary school? 
Children in the primary school may automatically transfer to the secondary school but must confirm their acceptance of the place offered by the school in early March.  Failure to do so will result in their place being allocated to another student and they will be obliged to join the waiting list.

3.      Can I enrol my child in the Lycée Français d’Irlande if he/she doesn’t speak French?
A non-French speaking child needs to join the school in Petite Section or Junior Infants in order to have a sufficient level of French to succeed at primary level.

4.      How can I communicate with my child’s teacher if I don’t speak French?
All of our staff speak English.

5.      What is the APE?
The Association des Parents d’Elèves is the school’s Parent Association. The role of the APE is to facilitate as much as possible your participation in school life, to promote dialogue and communication between the teaching staff and the parents, and to help them when the opportunity arises - in short, to make school life as agreeable and interesting and possible for everyone.

6.      Is there a waiting list?
In the event of over-subscription to a particular class there will be a waiting list.  (see “Admissions” for further information.)

7.      What are the school hours?
The Kindergarten/Primary School operates from 8.30 am to 2.40 pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays & Fridays and from 8.30 am to 12.30 pm on Wednesdays.
Classes in the secondary school start at 8.30 am and finish depending on the pupils timetable.  The last class of the day finishes at 5.00 pm.

8.      What curriculum do you follow?  Is the programme the same as in France?
In general, the school follows the French National Curriculum.  However, great emphasis is placed on English and a bi-lingual programme is in place from 4th Class. (See “Eurocampus” for further information.)

9.      Do the children learn everything through French?
As mentioned above, the majority of classes are taught through French apart from those included in the bi-lingual programme.

10.    Do the children learn Irish?
All Irish national children are obliged by law to study Irish and are taught by teachers from the Irish educational system.

11.    Does my child have to be potty-trained?
No child will be accepted in Kindergarten unless they are potty-trained.

12.    Is there a canteen?
In the kindergarten/primary school there is no canteen.  The children may bring a lunch to school which can be re-heated by the lunch-ladies.  The children eat in their classrooms.
In the secondary school there is a canteen.  Pupils may opt, however, to bring their own lunch and not avail of the canteen services.

13.    What are the optional religion classes?  What religions are covered?
In the Primary school religion classes as taught under the Irish Department of Education curriculum (Roman Catholic) and are made available as an extra-curricular activity.  Pupils prepare for their First Holy Communion (CE2) and their Confirmation (CM2) with the children of Hollypark National School which is on the same campus as LFI.

14.    Can you guarantee a place in after-school care if I enrol my child?
Places are limited in the after-school care.  However, the school does try to accommodate as many parents as possible.

15.    When should I put my child’s name down?  ((S)he has just been conceived/is two-and-a-half/will  be arriving in Ireland next week).
In order to enrol at LFI, you must fill out the enrolment document on our web-site.  This must be accompanied by the child’s birth certificate.  You will be informed of availability of a place only in the year in which your child would start school, i.e. when they are three years of age.

16.   Are English and Irish taught in the school?  Do the children get the same level of English/Irish as in an Irish school?
Both English and Irish are taught in the school.  The level of Irish is one year below the pupil’s counterparts in an Irish primary school.

17.    What is the enrolment procedure to follow?
Please see our “enrolment” section.

18.    What are the average numbers of pupils per class?
The average class size is 25.  There is a maximum of 25 pupils allowed in Kindergarten (PS), Junior Infants (MS) and Senior Infants (GS).

19.    How long do the children have for lunch each day?
In the Kindergarten/Primary school the children have 45 minutes for lunch which includes some play time.
In the secondary school pupils have 40 minutes for lunch.

20.    What are the fees?
Information on the school fees is available in our “Business Terms & Conditions” which can be found in the Admissions section of this web-site.

21.    Is there a scholarship available?  How much assistance do you get?  How do you apply?
The French government does have a scholarship available to French nationals only.  An application form will be made available to those eligible at the beginning of the school year.

22.    In PS, are there one or two teachers in the classroom during the day?
In Petite Section (Kindergarten) the teacher has a full-time teaching assistant

23.    In PS, can the pupils do half days during the first couple of weeks?
It is not recommended.

24.    Is there a school bus?
There is currently no school bus in operation but we are looking into the feasibility of putting this service in place and you will be notified if this changes at any time.

25.    Is there a school bus between the primary and secondary school?
There is currently no school bus connecting the two sites but we are looking into the feasibility of putting this service in place and you will be notified if this changes at any time.

26.    Where are the two schools located?
The kindergarten and primary school is located on Foxrock Avenue, Dublin 18 and the secondary school is located on Roebuck Road, Clonskeagh, Dublin 14.

27.    What is the distance between the two schools?
The distance between the two schools is approximately 3 miles or 5 km.