St Joseph's College,Summerhill

Guidance and Counselling

Chaplaincy Service / Pastoral Care
The Pastoral Care Committee provides a very worthwhile service for the school. Members provide a listening ear to any who needs it. They provide support and encouragement to both staff and students and they regard their work as a privilege with which they have been entrusted. They also liase with the Religious Education Dept regarding preparation of liturgy within the school. The Pastoral Care Committee is made up of our two Guidance Counsellors, Youth Counsellor, Remedial Teacher, Home School Liaison person, Chaplain, Mentor facilitator and Principal.

Home School Community Liaison
The role of the HSCL Officer is to establish links between home, school and community which facilitate the development of a learning environment for the student which promote the development of the whole person. The HSCL Officer works closely with members of the Pastoral Care Team, meets with Senior Management and Class Tutors. The HSCL Officer will establish a local network of colleagues and an internal parent support group to support the role.

Mentoring
This programme is designed to help new First Year students to integrate happily into school life at St. Josephs. It involves sixth year students who are asked to make a commitment to a specific number of first years, to be available to help and support them throughout the year. This support is especially important during the first days and weeks of starting secondary school.

Year Heads
Each Year Group has a Year Head. Year Heads liase with Students, Teachers, Tutors & Management. They create a positive atmosphere within the year group thus promoting welfare and development of students.

Tutors
The tutor works to create a positive atmosphere of trust and cooperation taking into account the needs, emotional development, progress and academic achievement of each pupil in his/her Tutor Group. The tutor is the first point of contact when the student is in need or difficulty.

S.R.C.
The Students Representative Council known, as S.R.C. is the student body, which represents the students in the school. It is charged with important duties such as representing the school at functions, fundraising, getting involved in charities and organising events like non-uniform days. They are a valued group within the school and they liase closely with staff, students and management to work for the good of the school in general.