Important timelines and signposts for the year

1. Important timelines during the school year for Principals/Deputy Principals
Month Task Comment/Follow up
August • Issuing of Leaving Certificate results
• Scripts examined/recheck process
• Timetable finalised. Letters to staff/informed of
‘provisional’ nature of timetable.
• Draft Special Needs timetable
• Class lists and options finalised (1st
/2nd
/5th
) and
posted on notice boards
• Appointments of replacement staff finalised- if
applicable
• The yearly calendar issued with parent – teacher
meetings and staff days included
• Appointment of outside supervisors
• Appointment of additional staff for School
Completion Programme
• Compile own list of substitutes
• Review last year’s mailing lists to ensure that
information is updated and accurate
• Check transfer of information from Primary Schools
under new arrangements
• Compile list of students in the following categories
and arrange for dissemination to staff –
sensitivities, medical problems/assessed Special
Needs/resource/exemptions from
Irish/International/new transfers etc.
• Commence preparation of September Returns
(Timetable/Staff)
• Commence Preparation of October Returns
commences (Students)
• Preparation for Staff Meeting – finalise staff
handbook/ information/good practice
• Allocate Year Head offices / staff lockers
• Student induction/Return to school programme
• Teacher meetings
o Subject Planning Meetings
o Year Group meetings
o JCSP/LCA/TY etc.
o Care team meetings
• New staff orientation/ induction
• Summer Works Scheme; Prepare application for
submission by end of September. Liaise with Chair
of BOM and Architect (if applicable)
• Draw up calendar /holiday roster for non-teaching
staff
Adapted from PDST Misneach Programme – NAPD 2013.

2. September • Ground Rules- Staff Handbook
• Code of Behaviour/session with all classes –
accentuate the Positive
• Learning support and resource structures
implemented
• Meetings with specific teams initiated [Year Heads/
Special Needs /Assistant Principals etc.]
• List of Repeat Leaving Certificate students
• Rotas for break/lunch and morning supervision
• Fire Drill
• Submit online claims
• September Returns ongoing
• October Returns ongoing
• Special Needs timetable on-going
• Induction for First Years on-going
• Mass preparation
• Monthly and Yearly Planner
• Induction and Mentoring Programme for student
teachers
• Extra- curricular activities plan/schedule
• Initiating Gaisce – President’s Award Scheme
• Planning for Open Night and Awards Night
• First Year Parents’ Information Evening
• Collect school levies
• Assign student lockers
• Appoint bus prefects
• Finalise Students’ Voluntary Insurance Scheme
• Election of Student Council
• Ensure that all employment contracts are in place.
If in doubt check with JMB/ACS/VEC
• Check that arrangements for Staff Development
Day have been finalised. [Venue, speakers, etc.]
• Staff meeting to address challenges emerging in the
first month
• Final meeting of current Board
• Arrangements for election of Teacher Reps to new
Board
• Arrangements for election of Parent Reps to new
Board
• Liaise with Parent’s Council re AGM
• Start promotion of school for new intake
• Liaise with Primary Schools/6th
Class Teachers
• Check Critical Incident Policy and remind staff
October • Parent’s Council AGM
• Special Needs timetable finalised
• October Returns finalised
Adapted from PDST Misneach Programme – NAPD 2013.

3. • Arrange staff/student photographs
• Begin the identification of teachers for
redeployment (if over quota)
• Check monthly planner is in place
• First meeting of new Board
• Finalise arrangements for the School Tour
November • Preparation for House Exams – agree deadlines and
finalise arrangements
• Christmas Liturgical Events
• Christmas Charity Event
• School Show
• Check November planner
• Check on need for more NEPS assessments
• Board of Management
• Alert the DES re over quota scenario and teachers
for redeployment based on a subject audit
December • CAO Parents’ Information Evening
• Staff Night out
• Christmas Exams
• Update Prospectus
• Board of Management
• Finalise cleaning/security arrangements for
Christmas break
January • CAO Applications finalised
• Parent Teacher meetings following from Christmas
Exams
• 1st
years change options
• Options Information Evening for 1st
and 3rd
year
parents
• Option presentations for 1st
/3rd
year students
• Plan Pre Exams, feedback and deadlines
• Exam bank giro/medical card info
• Enrolment , organise letters for offers of places
• Fire Drill
• Board of Management
February • Finalise Enrolment procedure
• Plan Enrolment Registration Evening
• Mock Exams
• Check deadlines for applications for Curricular
Concessions, etc
• Start to plan curriculum and teacher allocations for
upcoming year – identify need for Curricular
Concessions etc.
Adapted from PDST Misneach Programme – NAPD 2013.

4. • Check with SENO for deadlines re submission of
SN/O1 and SN/02]
• Leaving Certificate Levels [forms finalised]
• Look at applications for non- national allocation
and traveller allocation
• Special Class Grant
• Identification of new students needing assistive
technology
• Identify the type of contracts to be issued to RPT
teachers for new year
• Board of Management
March • Enrolment process continues – Registration
Evening/Prepare address and organisation of venue
• Finalise 1st
/ 3rd
year options
• Gather additional transition information
• Collate information on enrolment form
• State Examination: Orals/ Practical [Music/HE]
Check lists and venues are in place and that
necessary equipment is working. Compile a
timetable of these and post in staffroom
• Return of Junior Certificate level entries
• Appoint Personnel for State Exams[Exam Aide /
Special Centres etc]
• Ongoing work on Curriculum Plan
• Board of Management
April • Assessments for new entrants – may no longer be
necessary in light of transfer of data from primary
• Ongoing work on Curriculum Plan
• Finalise Reports from Primary School
• Prepare for Graduation Ceremony/ Check
arrangements are in place and Certificates/
Pendants etc are ready
• Organise First Year exams
• Board of Management
May • Art Practical/LCVP.../finalise arrangements
• Calendar for next academic year
• Identify curriculum needs and advertise for new
staff subject to BOM approval and DES allocations.
• Booklists
• Summer exams/reports etc.
• Leaving Certificate Graduation
• TY Graduation
• Do school facilities walk through- address areas
that need repair /refurbishments over the summer;
complete hazard audit
Adapted from PDST Misneach Programme – NAPD 2013.

5. • Board of Management
June • Finalise and do a first run of the timetable
• Inform staff of classes for next year
• Plan next year’s Staff Development Programme
• Finalise Calendar and arrangements for the start of
term next year
• Prepare preliminary list for awards
• Finalise Teachers Contracts and Written Statements
• Arrange for summer cleaning
• Necessary equipment serviced; order needed
furniture
• Arrange for clear out and archiving of office files.
End of year reflections/thoughts!!!!
July
Adapted from PDST Misneach Programme – NAPD 2013.

6. • Board of Management
June • Finalise and do a first run of the timetable
• Inform staff of classes for next year
• Plan next year’s Staff Development Programme
• Finalise Calendar and arrangements for the start of
term next year
• Prepare preliminary list for awards
• Finalise Teachers Contracts and Written Statements
• Arrange for summer cleaning
• Necessary equipment serviced; order needed
furniture
• Arrange for clear out and archiving of office files.
End of year reflections/thoughts!!!!
July
Adapted from PDST Misneach Programme – NAPD 2013.