School Community
Our school relies on the strong community of students, parents and teachers to bring our culture to life and to run the school efficiently and effectively.
Relationships are at the core of everything we do. By fostering positive, open and honest relationships, we believe that there will rarely be any problem that we can not solve together.
The Board of Management is a dynamic and unifying force which manages the school on behalf of the patron. The Board must uphold the characteristic ethos of the school and is accountable to the patron for so doing, under the Education Act 1998.
Principal
Pádraig Conaty (Secretary to the Board of Management) Please click here for further details
Deputy Principal
Mick Heffernan (in attendance) Please click here for further details
Sarah Hogan (Chairperson, appointed 2020)
Sarah Hogan is from Kenilworth Park, Harold's Cross. She is a mum of three boys and holds the position of Chair on the Board of Management for Harold's Cross Educate Together Secondary School. Sarah worked for 15 years as a HR Manager for several multinationals and also worked as a Business Executive and Life Coach. Currently, Sarah is studying a higher diploma in Counselling and Psychotherapy.
Noel Kelly
Noel Kelly is a BSc Applied Chemistry graduate and completed his Master is Education - School Leadership in 2010. For five years Noel was the Director of CAST, a youth mental health initiative. Noel has 21 years of teaching experience and has served on a number of Boards of Management. Noel has 5 years of Senior Management experience through his positions of Deputy Principal (Greenhills College and then Colaiate Pobail Setanta) and now Principal in Griffeen Community College.
Miriam Delaney
Miriam has three young children and is a member of our local community. Miriam is an architect and lecturer at the Dublin School of Architecture, TU Dublin, where she lectures in architectural design, history of architecture and building technology.
Cian Gleeson
Cian is the principal of Harold's Cross Educate Together National School and holds a B.Ed., a PGDip in Counselling and Psychotherapy and a M.Sc. in Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy. Cian is a member of the Board of Directors of Rainbows Ireland, supporting children through separation and loss. The Educate Together ethos is central to Cian's values and he has a wealth of experience in global and development education.
Lorraine Galvin
Please click here for further information
Ciara Mealy
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Ronan Burke
Ronan is an Engineering Manager working in the Data Centre sector and has 20+ years of experience in the technology industry. He has held a directorship of a consulting company and is currently a director of a social inclusion enterprise. He has three children across primary and secondary education. Ronan has a passion for technology, equality, music and functional learning.
Niamh Shine
Niamh is a mother of four children, the eldest of whom is currently a second year in HCETSS. She is also a secondary school teacher, teaching in Collinstown Park Community College in Neilstown, Clondalkin. In addition to her teaching qualifications, Niamh has a Master of Studies in Special Education from Trinity College Dublin and while originally a Music and English teacher, now mainly works with students with special educational needs. She is very interested in and committed to the Educate Together ethos, and was part of the start up group for Canal Way Educate Together National School, where her younger children attend. Niamh served as the Chair of the Board of Management for Canal Way ETNS and is currently co-chair of the Parents Association for that school . Niamh has always been interested in the running and development of schools in general and looks forward to being part of the development of Harolds Cross ETSS at a very exciting time for the school
Ofri Caspi
Lucas Attard
A Student Council is a representative structure for students only, through which they can become involved in the affairs of the school, working in partnership with school management, staff and parents for the benefit of the school and the students.
At HCETSS, we recognise the importance of student involvement in our decision-making and the value of their input in our ongoing school development. To this end, the Student Council plays an integral role in student leadership in the school, and it gives students a forum to have their suggestions and opinions heard.
It is the role of the Student Council to ascertain students’ opinions on a range of issues and ensure that all students are represented equally. Through their involvement in the Student Council, representatives contribute to and inform decision-making at a whole school level, they develop a greater understanding of the complexities of school management and actively contribute to creating a positive school culture.
Two student council members are associate members of the Board of Management. Other members of the Student Council also become associate members on our Digital Strategy Team, Assessment Team and Transition Team. By working alongside management and staff, it provides students with an authentic and genuine voice in matters that affect them.
Students are democratically elected by their peers to the Student Council each year at the beginning of October.
The Student Council meets weekly at lunchtime to discuss issues brought to them by fellow students. These meetings are chaired by the students and student representatives then bring these concerns to the attention of the school leadership team via meetings or in writing to the members of the school community concerned.
Training in meeting facilitation, consensus decision making, minute taking, team building, and leadership is provided to support members of the Student Council in their duties.
1A - Zoe Brennan, Ofri Caspi, Alex Keating McMahon & Alex McGowan
1B - Lucas Attard, Laoise Dennehy, Senan Flannery & Alfie O’Clery
The Parent Staff Association (PSA) is the structure through which all parents/guardians/carers of students in our school can work in cooperation with the Board, Senior Leadership Team and staff to achieve the best possible learning outcomes for their children.
Co-chairs: Anna Carroll and Melissa Hargrave
Secretary: Oscar Carolan
Treasury: Sarah McQuaid
Board of Management: Ronan Burke and Niamh Shine
Events Co-ordinators: all members
Staff Representatives: Gerard Vickey and Amy Kerins
Provides a platform to represent the views of parents to the Principal and Board of Management.
Acts in an advisory and consultative capacity in relation to school policies.
Provides a forum for discussion on general issues of interest or concern.
Promotes and fosters highly effective cooperation between staff and parents.
Aids in the organisation of school events, information evenings and fundraisers.
Upholds the ethos and vision of Harold’s Cross Educate Together Secondary School.
Perhaps you have a skill/area of expertise that the school might benefit from, or you may have some free time and could help with one of our many school activities. If you would like to offer help, please contact us at psa@hcetss.ie
The PSA’s fundraising efforts are aimed to target ways to improve the student experience on the campus and long term that includes the installation of a multi-use all weather games surface for the new campus.
The PSA are excited to announce a new fundraising initiative, Christmas Trees @ HCETSS
This year we plan to sell trees on the following dates:
Saturday 30th November and Sunday 1st December from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th December from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Our ask to you would be to source your Christmas Tree from HCETSS and bring some festive joy to both your home and the school’s fundraising initiative
PARENT VOLUNTEERS NEEDED:
The plan is to coordinate 2.5-hour volunteer shifts across the above days with some crossover between shifts to facilitate a smooth handover.
· Shift times: 10:300 – 13:00, 12:30 – 15:00, 14:30 to 16:30 close
It is best to have at least 2 people for each time slot so if you can volunteer, please seek out a partner in crime too.
If interested, please contact Oscar.Carolan67@gmail.com or +353879162461
Some additional information:
The trees will be delivered to the school and be ready in advance of each starting shift
A portion of every tree sale will go towards the schools fundraising efforts
The trees will be sold from the school via the Grosvenor Lane entrance
The trees are Noble Fir variety – only the best for our customers
A price list for tree (by height), wreaths and festive planters will be made available for all volunteers
Tracking how many trees are sold and of what height is important
We are not providing a delivery service,
There will be an option for customers to pay with and without cash
There will be a drill for drilling holes for stands
Recommend wearing several layers and perhaps some older clothes since moving trees about may be slightly messy
Occasionally your child may be asked to bring in a small contribution to school to help support a fundraiser, or you as parents may be asked to lend your expertise. We hope you will support these endeavours.
We are always searching for innovative ways to raise vital funds for our school. If you have any ideas for a school fundraiser or would like to get involved in managing a fundraising event, please make contact with the Parent Staff Association.
Here in Harold’s Cross ETSS, we passionately believe in helping to raise awareness about local, national and global issues. We hope that throughout the year our staff and students will be involved in many initiatives and the organising of fundraisers to support various causes.
Every quarter, students and staff produce a school newsletter. It’s our way of sharing all of the wonderful learning happening in our school. Take a look at the most recent newsletter by clicking the link below. We hope you like it.
