Questions & Suggestions

Welcome to the HSD Parents' Association "Questions & Suggestions" page. Our intention here is to use this page to share questions (and answers) as well as suggestions/ideas raised by you as parents which we believe will be of interest to other parents of pupils at the school. 

To send a question or suggestion to the Parents' Association which you believe may be of general interest to other parents, please click here.

For specific queries relating to individual pupils, please continue to contact the school directly via mail or call the office at (01) 4922611 requesting the attention of the form teacher, year head, deputy principals and/or the principal. 

For the listing of 2015/16 form teachers and year heads, click here  and for more general information, the information section of the school portal is a useful resource.

You may also like to refer to the "information for Parents and Pupils school booklet" which includes the ethos of the School, how the School is governed and the School policies.


Please find below the responses to the questions raised at the Parents' Association AGM held on Monday 28th September 2015. 

Question: Was there a communication to parents regarding changes in teachers before term started?
Response: The changes to the teachers for this academic year were communicated through the new electronic newsletter distributed to all parents on 8th September.  Communication from the school was not possible before this date as the Principal is required to report changes in staffing to the Board in the first instance which met following the summer break in September.

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Question: Is it possible to create a better system for contacting teachers?
Response: The existing “call the office” approach is recognised as being problematic for both parents and School. The Principal will discuss options for a more effective communication channel for parents to reach teachers during the course of the academic year 2015/16.

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Question: Is there a government bias against fee paying schools in terms of capital grants?
Response: The Government has withdrawn the vast majority of capital grants from fee-charging schools.

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Question: General queries were raised with respect to the Capital Expenditure within the school and the prioritisation of works including the upgrade carried out to the front of the school, toilet facilities and disabled access provisions
Response: Representations in relation to minor Grounds & Property Development from Parents, Staff and School Management are currently referred to the School’s G & P Committee for consideration. Approved Proposals put forward by the G & P Committee are considered by the School’s Finance Committee and Management Committee for approval subject to the availability of finance.
The overriding consideration from the School's perspective is the lack of funding for capital works from central Government for private schools with all works having to be financed out of existing resources.  To this end, there is no funding available for what may be considered as important upgrades with only critical works being implemented. Indeed the works carried out to improve the reception and front area of the school were directly funded by the Trust and is step one of a larger programme of works to be undertaken as and when additional funding becomes available.  
These would include improved disabled access provisions which are particularly expensive and difficult in light of the existing multi-level design of the school, subject to the availability of funding. Upgrades are being considered for a number of the toilets which when finalised would be implemented outside of school term and are subject to the approval of the Trust’s Finance Committee’

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Question: Does High School publish the School finances?
Response: The School Management Committee has advised the Parents' Association that they do not publish the financial accounts of the School. However, the accounts are audited by Deloitte and a summary of the audited accounts are sent to the Financial Support Services Unit (FSSU) which was set up by the Department of Education in 2004 - now managed under the Joint Managerial Body (JMB). In addition, if there are any specific questions related to the finances of the School, the Parents’ Association has representation on both the Schools Finance Committee, Management Committee and the Board where questions can be raised. All that said, the School is in good financial health with no debt on the balance sheet and cash with bank that equates to just over one terms working capital requirement.

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Question: School Mascot: Who decided on a black panther as the mascot? Should the pupils be consulted?
Response: Yes, the Student Council are being consulted and the purchase of the School Mascot is being jointly funded by the Parents' Association and the Past Pupils Union.

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Question: Is the skiing trip cancelled this year given that Mr Keegan has left? 
Response: No. Trips are run by Mr. McBride & Mr. Flynn and expect them to continue as normal depending on interest levels

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Question: Is there a change in the way Maths and English are being streamed this year?" Several additional questions and comments from floor in or around this theme at the AGM ranging from "some kids are bored in Maths class as not being challenged enough" to other parents who said "they prefer a mixed ability approach"
Response:  There has not been any change in policy at the School relating to "streaming". However, we are seeking clarity on how streaming takes effect in practical terms through the department heads and deputy principal for education and will revert in due course. 

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Question: Is there a School meeting to help 3rd year parents prepare for state exams?
Response:  Based on this suggestion at the AGM, the Principal undertook to organise a new meeting for 3rd year parents in November to cover preparations for the Junior Cert and what parents (and children) should be doing through the year to best prepare.

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Question: Classical studies past papers seem to be difficult to source. Can/Should the school be sourcing past papers for parents?
Response:  The Principal took an action to investigate.

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Question: A number of questions arose relating to the core curriculum.
-  Can 1st years have option to "try out" subjects before making hard choices?"
-  Could the School offer 8 Leaving Cert subjects instead of 7 (compulsory English Irish and Maths implies only 4 choices really) which would give brighter students an option to take the extra subject?" A comment was made by a parent that the School facilitated a student sitting the "Agricultural Science" paper in the Leaving Certificate even though the school does not have this subject in the curriculum.
Response:  Both the Junior and Senior cycle core curriculum is as stated on page 11 and 12 of the "information for Parents and Pupils school booklet". However, the Principal advised that in an effort to suit as many pupils as possible, the curriculum is reviewed annually and as such is subject to change where practical to do so. 
While the School will accommodate pupils sitting additional subjects in the Leaving Certificate examination, the School does not recommend it as this may result in the pupil not being able to cover the normal range of subjects properly and may result in lower grades than might otherwise be expected. Only the best six subjects may be counted towards the points total for entry into third level colleges,


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