Stanhope Secondary School

Parent Representative Vacancy on the Board of Management

StanhopeSS — Thu, 17 Sep 2026 15:42:03 +0000

Dear Parent/Guardian,

We currently have a vacancy for a Parent Representative on the school’s Board of Management and would like to invite parents and guardians to consider putting themselves forward for this important role.

What is the Board of Management?

The Board of Management helps oversee the running of the school. It works with the Principal to support students, staff and the wider school community.

The Board:

Helps plan for the future of the school
Reviews and approves school policies
Oversees school finances and facilities
Supports the best possible education and care for students

The Board meets several times during the school year, usually in the evening.

Who can apply?

Any parent or legal guardian of a student currently attending Stanhope Secondary School can put themselves forward for nomination.

No previous experience is required. We welcome nominations from parents and guardians with a variety of backgrounds and experiences who are interested in supporting the school community.

We would love to hear from parents and guardians who are interested in helping shape the future of our school. Everyone has something valuable to contribute. We encourage all parents and guardians to consider this opportunity. A strong Board reflects the diversity of our school community, and every parent perspective is important.

How to nominate yourself

If you would like to be considered, please email:

Info@stanhopesecondary.ie

Please include:

Your name
Contact telephone number
The name(s) and year group(s) of your child(ren)
A short paragraph telling us why you would like to serve on the Board of Management

Important Dates

Nominations open: Friday, 18 September 2026

Nominations close: Friday, 2 October 2026 at 12.00 noon

If more nominations are received than there are vacancies, an election will take place and all parents/guardians will be given the opportunity to vote.

We encourage any parent or guardian who would like to contribute to the future development of the school to consider becoming involved.

We particularly welcome nominations from parents and guardians with a wide range of experiences and backgrounds. The Board of Management benefits from hearing different voices and perspectives from across our school community, and we would encourage anyone with an interest in supporting the school to consider putting themselves forward.

Thank you for your continued support of Stanhope Secondary School.

Kind regards,

Mr. O’Brien
Principal
On behalf of the Board of Management
Stanhope Secondary School

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need experience on a Board of Management?

No. Parents and guardians from all backgrounds are encouraged to put themselves forward. The most important thing is an interest in supporting the school and its students.

How often does the Board meet?

The Board typically meets 5 to 6 times during the school year. Meetings are usually held in the evening.

What does a Parent Representative do?

A Parent Representative brings a parent’s perspective to Board discussions and works with other Board members to support the school and its students.

Will I be representing my own child?

No. Parent Representatives are expected to act in the best interests of the whole school community rather than individual students or families.

Is training available?

Yes. Guidance and support are available for new Board members.

How long is the term of office?

The successful candidate will serve for the remainder of the current Board’s term of office.

Can any parent or guardian apply?

Yes. Any parent or legal guardian of a student currently attending Stanhope Secondary School may put themselves forward for nomination.

What happens if more than one parent applies?

If more nominations are received than there are vacancies, an election will take place and all parents/guardians will be given the opportunity to vote.

What happens if there is a tie in the election?

In accordance with Board procedures, if two candidates receive the same number of votes, the successful candidate will be determined by lot.

Who can I contact if I have questions?

Please contact the school office or email Info@stanhopesecondary.ie if you would like further information about the role.

Agreed BOM Reports – 2025/2026

StanhopeSS — Wed, 16 Sep 2026 18:02:03 +0000

Dear School Community,

Please find attached our agreed BOM reports for the school year 2025-2026.

Warm Regards,

Mr. O’Brien

Health and Safety – Student Drop-Off and Collection

StanhopeSS — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 16:32:04 +0000

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Re: Health and Safety – Student Drop-Off and Collection

The safety of all students, staff, parents and visitors is our highest priority. We are increasingly concerned about the risk of a serious accident occurring during drop-off and collection times due to vehicle movements on the school campus. To ensure the safety of students attending both Stanhope Secondary School and Stanhope Primary School, all student drop-offs and collections must take place on Manor Street only.

Parent/Guardian Drop-Off and Collection

Parents and guardians must not drive through the archway onto the school campus for the purpose of dropping off or collecting students. Our driveway and campus are not designed to accommodate two-way traffic safely. The movement of vehicles, particularly when reversing or turning, presents a significant risk to students who are walking to and from school. The safety of our students must take precedence over convenience. We therefore ask for the full cooperation of all families in using Manor Street exclusively for student drop-off and collection.

Pedestrian Safety

Students are asked to play their part by:

· Using the designated pedestrian walkways and crossings at all times.

· Remaining alert to vehicle movements when entering and leaving the campus.

· Avoiding walking on roadways intended for vehicle use.

For everyone’s safety, pedestrians should use the designated pathways provided and should not walk on areas used by vehicles.

Compliance with Safety Arrangements

These arrangements have been introduced solely to protect the safety and wellbeing of all members of our school community. We ask all parents and guardians to respect these procedures at all times.

Parents or guardians who disregard these safety arrangements may be prohibited from bringing vehicles onto school grounds in the future. We appreciate your cooperation and support in helping us maintain a safe environment for all members of our school community.

Kind regards,

Mr. J. O’Brien
Principal
Stanhope Secondary School

Important Information for Parents – Mobile Phone Policy

StanhopeSS — Fri, 28 Aug 2026 14:32:05 +0000

Dear Parents/Guardians,

As we begin the new school year, I would like to draw your attention to our Mobile Phone Policy, which is attached to this message. We ask that all parents/guardians and students take a few minutes to read the policy carefully and familiarise themselves with the procedures that apply during the school day.

Why we are introducing this policy

The policy is designed to:

Improve student focus, engagement and learning in class.
Reduce distractions during the school day.
Support student wellbeing and face-to-face social interaction.
Minimise issues associated with social media and online activity during school hours.
Create a calmer, safer and more positive learning environment for all students.

Key Features of the Policy

Phone Usage on School Premises

Students are not permitted to use their phones while on school grounds.
Upon arrival at school, phones must be securely placed in the student’s assigned PhoneLocker pouch.
The pouch must remain locked for the duration of the school day.
Students may unlock and retrieve their phones only when leaving the school premises using a designated unlocking station.

If a Student is Found with an Unsecured Phone

If a student is found in possession of a phone that is not secured in their Phone Locker pouch:

A text message will be sent to the student’s parent/guardian informing them of the breach of the policy.
The phone will be confiscated and securely stored in the school office.
A parent/guardian will be required to collect the phone from the school office between 4:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. on the day of the offence.
If a parent/guardian is unable to collect the phone that day, it may be collected from the school office between 8:40 a.m. and 3:40 p.m. on the following school day.
If the phone is not collected by a parent/guardian, it will be automatically returned to the student at the end of the following school day.

Working Together

We believe that this policy will have a significant positive impact on students’ learning, wellbeing and overall school experience. We appreciate your support in helping us implement it successfully and ensuring that all students understand and follow the procedures from the first day of school.

Kind regards,

Mr. O’Brien

LC & LCA Results – Friday 21st August

StanhopeSS — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 12:32:05 +0000

Dear 6th year Students & Parents,

This Friday 21st August at 10am, our Leaving Certificate and Leaving Cert Applied students will receive their results which are available from the school office or the Candidate Self Service Portal.

On behalf of the entire school community, I would like to wish our students every success as they take this important next step in their lives. We are incredibly proud of everything they have achieved and of the resilience they have shown throughout their time with us.

We hope Friday is a day of celebration for our students, their families and all the staff who have supported them along the way.

Best of luck to the Class of 2026! We are all very proud of you.

Kind regards,

Mr. J. O’Brien

Policy Update – Admissions

StanhopeSS — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 10:02:06 +0000

Dear School Community,

Please find attached our schools admission notice and policy.

If you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact our school office.

Warm Regards,

Stanhope Secondary

Policy Update – Child Protection and Vetting

StanhopeSS — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 09:02:05 +0000

Dear School Community,

Please find attached our schools Vetting Policy and Child Safeguarding Statement and Risk Assessment

If you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact our school office.

Warm Regards,

Stanhope Secondary

Summer Letters

StanhopeSS — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 14:42:09 +0000

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Please find attached our Summer Letter and a letter regarding introduction of phone pouches.

Summer reports are now available on VSware.

If you experience any difficulty accessing your account, please contact the school office at info@stanhopesecondary.ie.

Best wishes for the Summer!

Kind regards,

Stanhope Secondary

Information Sheet & School Calendar 2026/2027

StanhopeSS — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 12:00:15 +0000

Dear Parents, Guardians, and Students,

I hope this message finds you well and that you have enjoyed a restful, enjoyable, and well-deserved summer break.

As we look forward to the beginning of the new school year, I would like to extend a warm welcome back to all members of our school community. We are excited to reconnect with our returning students and families and to welcome those who are joining our school for the first time. We look forward to another year of learning, growth, achievement, and opportunity.

To assist with preparations for the year ahead, I am resending the Information Sheet and School Calendar for the 2026/2027 academic year. These documents contain important information regarding key dates, school procedures, and other matters that may be helpful as families prepare for the commencement of the new term.

Please take a few moments to review the attached documents and keep them for future reference throughout the year.

On behalf of all the staff at Stanhope Secondary School, I wish you and your family every good wish for the year ahead. We look forward to working together to ensure a positive, successful, and rewarding school experience for all our students.

Kind regards,

Mr. O’Brien
Principal

Examination LCA, Leaving and Junior Certificate

StanhopeSS — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 14:32:05 +0000

Dear Candidates,

Please find attached your examination timetable.

On the eve of the State Examinations, we would like to wish you every success in your exams. We are very proud of all the hard work and commitment you have shown throughout the year, and we encourage you to approach each examination with confidence.

Please note the following arrangements for tomorrow:

The school will open at 8:00 a.m.
All students should be in full school uniform and present in the school canteen by 8:30 a.m.
Registration will take place shortly afterwards.

For all subsequent examinations, students should report to the school canteen 30 minutes before the scheduled start time of their examination.

We wish you the very best of luck and every success over the coming weeks.

Kind regards,

Mr. J. O’Brien