This document outlines planning and administrative tasks for a school principal for the start of the new school year. It includes communicating with staff, students, parents, and the community. It discusses organizing teacher materials, staff meetings, induction procedures, health and safety training. It also addresses student orientation, parent involvement, fees, and using school facilities. The principal must also plan open houses, board of management elections, and the start of year ceremony. Sample schedules and a staff meeting agenda are provided to help facilitate these organizational tasks at the beginning of August before students return.

1. August
and
the Principal
Paperwork & Planning

2. Communications
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•
Staff
Students
Parents
DES
Community

3. Staff
• Letter to Staff prior to return to school
– Letter
– Timetable
– Schedule for return to school
• Teacher Pack
– Teacher Journal, Class Lists, H&S, Child
Protection, Section 24, Induction of new staff
• Staff Meeting
– agenda

4. Staff
• Induction procedures for each year group
– Clarify roles of Class teacher, Year Head, DP
& P at induction
– What teachers are needed?
• S&S
• Croke Park hours
– teachers on reduced hours
– Check these if you weren’t part of the design

5. Staff
• Check issues raised at previous staff
meetings – what’s hot?
• Issues at BOM?
• Need to incorporate these into planning?
• H&S Training – defibs etc (You are the
Safety Officer). Read the policy on Critical
Incidents, Emergency Response etc

6. Staff
• Learning Support and allocation of
Resource Hours – how/when?
• Information on students with special needs
– disemmination of this info to staff
• Subject levels – who takes HL? System?
• System for compiling accurate class lists
for database

7. Students
• How will students know where to go on the
first morning?
• Lockers, books, journals, jackets/uniform –
systems
• School Meals Programme?
• Introducing yourself to classes if new to
school – how, when?
• Student Council – election procedures

8. Parents
• First letter to parents – introduction,
opportunity to make a good impression,
ensure it’s not just about the money!
• Encourage involvement
• Parent Council
– The first meeting,parameters
– Agenda for the year, guest speaker?
– Role in school self-evaluation

9. Parents
• Reinforce policies on
uniform/hair/jewellery (the messy things)
• Systems for contacting the school
• Page on school website for Parents to
manage? PC slot in Newsletters?
• Eportal, Moodle, Texting Service
• Information on fees/charges for the year
for different year groups

10. Community
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Schools page in local paper? System?
Groups that may use school facilities
Night Classes
TY Computer classes for retired people
Parent/student classes or classes for
parents in Maths etc
• Requests by clubs to promote their
activities?

11. General Administration
• Confirmation of attendance on day 1 – to
salaries section
• Planning
– Policy review and development
– School self-evaluation
• System for feedback from students, parents, staff
to identify areas to be addressed
• Emphasis on Literacy & Numeracy and improving
teaching and learning

12. General Administration
• Open Night
• New BOM? Election of staff and parent
reps and nomination of candidates for
trustees
• Start of year mass/ceremony
• Meeting with parents of new 1st Years?

13. Sample Return to School Schedule
Day/Time
Topic
Day 1
9.00 – 11.00am
Staff Meeting
11.30 – 1.00pm
Analysis of LC Results and preparation of reports to BOM
2.00 – 3.00pm
Meetings – Year Heads & Class Teachers
3.00 – 4.00pm
Meeting of TY Coordinator and TY Team
Meeting Pastoral Care Team
Day 2
9.00 – 10.00am
Conclusion of Staff Meeting, if necessary
LS/ Resource Team meeting
11.00 – 1.00pm
SSE – finalising areas for improvement for BOM
2.00 – 4.00pm
Subject Department Planning

14. Sample Staff Meeting Agenda
• Sample

15. Sample Agenda for Staff Meeting
1. Prayer/Reflection
2. Welcome new staff, congrats on births,
engagements, marriages etc