School Policies

Mercy Philosophy of Education

• Mercy education is committed to holistic development and to the achievement of the full potential of each student, particularly those who are disadvantaged or marginalised.
• Mercy education is committed to on-going whole school development in collaboration and partnership with the Board of Management, staff, parents and the wider community.
• The central purpose of the School Community is the religious, moral, intellectual, physical and social education of the student.
• The school Community seeks to create an atmosphere of Christian care and concern in which each student can grow to maturity.
• It is our goal to create a school where we care for each other and where all can be confident that each individual feels safe and valued.
• The rules and regulations contained in the Code of Behaviour/Conduct are to help us achieve our goal. Please remember that it is not possible to write down rules that cover every possible situation and as a general principle students are required to show respect for others and for property. All sanctions are subject to the discretion of the Principal/Deputy Principal.

Refund and Cancellation Policy

St Mary's Secondary School, New Ross, accepts no obligation to refund any fee (or part fee) paid by a student to the school or to a student who withdraws from the school or a school event. A full refund will only be given for events which do not proceed. If the school has paid a non-refundable deposit for an event then the deposit refund will not be given in this case.

If you disagree with any of the terms and conditions and/or with any other of the applicable provisions of the school's regulations you are not permitted to use this facility.

Policy Downloads

If you wish to download PDFs of our various policies you can do so here. (Note: these files require Adobe Reader, which is available free of charge.)

The aim of this Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) is to ensure that pupils will benefit from learning opportunities offered by the school's Internet resources in a safe and effective manner. Internet use and access is considered a school resource and privilege. Therefore, if the school AUP is not adhered to this privilege will be withdrawn and appropriate sanctions as outlined in the AUP will be imposed. It is envisaged that school and parent representatives will revise the AUP annually.Internet Acceptable Use Policy
   

School's Strategy  

The school will employ a number of strategies in order to maximise learning opportunities and reduce risks associated with the Internet. These strategies are as follows:

General

Students are only allowed access to the computer room when they are accompanied by the relevant class teacher.

Filtering software, ie. programs that will block access to certain undesirable web sites, will be used in order to minimise the risk of exposure to inappropriate material.

The school will regularly monitor pupils' Internet usage.

Students will be provided with advice and guidance in the area of Internet safety.

Uploading and downloading of non-approved software will not be permitted.

Virus protection software will be used and updated on a regular basis.

Personal floppy disks or CD-ROMs should not be brought to school and likewise floppy discs used at school should not be brought home.  This will help to avoid the spread of viruses.

Students should only use the computer assigned to them and should not interfere with screen savers, desktop icons or any other computer settings or connections.

Students will observe good "netiquette" (i.e. etiquette on the Internet) at all times and will not undertake any actions that may bring the school into disrepute.

World Wide Web

Students will not visit Internet sites that contain obscene, illegal, hateful or otherwise objectionable materials.

Students will use the Internet for educational purposes only.

Students will be familiar with copyright issues relating to online learning.

Students will never disclose or publicise personal information about themselves or other students.

Students will be aware that any usage, including distributing or receiving information, school-related or personal, may be monitored for unusual activity, security and/or network management reasons. 

Email

Students will use approved class email accounts under supervision by or permission from  a teacher.

Students will not send or receive any material that is illegal, obscene, defamatory or that is  intended  to annoy or intimidate another person.

Students will not reveal their own or other people's personal details, such as addresses or telephone numbers or pictures.

Students should never arrange a face-to-face meeting with someone.

Students will note that sending and receiving email attachments is subject to permission from their teacher.

School Website

Pupils will be given the opportunity to publish projects, artwork or school work on the World Wide Web.

The publication of student work will be co-ordinated by a teacher.

Pupils’ work will appear in an educational context on Web pages with a copyright notice prohibiting the copying of such work without express written permission.

Digital photographs, audio or video clips of individual students will not be published on the school website. Instead, photographs, audio and video clips will focus on group activities. Video clips may be password protected.

Personal pupil information including home address and contact details will be omitted from school web pages.

Pupils will continue to own the copyright on any work published.

Support Structures

The school will inform parents and students on request, on legislation relating to use of the internet and  on key support structures and organisations that deal with illegal material or harmful use of the internet.

Sanctions

Misuse of the internet may result in disciplinary action, including written warnings, withdrawal of access privileges and in extreme cases, suspension or expulsion. The school also reserves the right to report any illegal activities to the appropriate authorities.