About Home School Community Liaison

What is the Home School Community Liaison Scheme?

Our Home School Community Liaison scheme has been in operation here at Scoil Mhuire for the past 8 years and has been a very positive and valuable addition to our school. 

HSCL aims to increase the link between home and school by encouraging parents to become more involved in their children’s education. It fosters a sense of trust between the pupils, parents and the school with the hope of maximising the participation of students in the learning process as a whole.

We aim to encourage the self development, literacy skills and activities of parents so that they as the primary educators of their children will be positive role models, encouraging the educational and personal advancement of their children.

We also aim to maximize active participation of the children in the learning process. HSCL promotes active co-operation between home, school and relevant community agencies in order to advance the educational interests of the children.

Who looks after the Home School Community Liaison Scheme in Scoil Mhuire?

The scheme coordinator is Mrs Adrienne Geraghty. Adrienne is available to discuss on a personal level matters of concern with parents. Her office is in the Senior School beside the Parents room. Please see the contact section for Adrienne’s contact details. If preferred she can make visits to the home. The scheme is also supported by the principal and all of the school community.

How does the Home School Community Liaison Scheme work?

• The scheme recognises the parents as the primary educators of their children and is constantly looking at ways to support parents in this important role.
• Home visits are an excellent way of “checking in” with parents and listening to their views and concerns.
• Many parents participate in a wide range of courses, which are run during the school day. These are free of charge and cover many subjects including First-Aid, computers, Irish, Sewing, Parenting, Zumba and Art & Crafts. These are mostly held in the Parents Room in the Senior School. Such courses not only help parents learn new skills but also recognize the importance of parents having time to chat amongst themselves. It also gives them the opportunity to share in the life and work of the school alongside their children.

Where does the Home School Community Liaison Scheme take place?

The scheme is not confined to within the school walls. As mentioned the scheme coordinator makes home visits. In addition the scheme builds bridges between the school and the many groups, organisations and agencies within the wider community, which impinge on the lives of our students. Navan School Completion Project, NYPD Project, Springboard Project, Meath Youth Federation, The NorthEastern Health Board, Co Meath LMETB Adult and Community Education Services are examples of some agencies.

Scoil Mhuire’s Parents Room

We are very fortunate this year that we now have a room specifically for our parents use. It can be a place where people have privacy within the school to discuss concerns that may have arisen for them. Toys, books and colouring books are on hand to occupy pre-schoolers who may be with a parent visiting the school. Various groups of parents can use the room as a meeting place and classes for parents are also held there. The Parents Room is situated in the Senior School beside the HSCL Coordinator’s office.