Joe McCann - maintaining connection
St. Patrick's Grammar School, was founded by the De La Salle Brothers in 1934, and is a selective grammar school for boys (Years 8-12) situated on the Saul Road in Downpatrick. It has an enrolment of 720 students with a co-educational Sixth Form of over 200 students.
Joe McCann has been principal of the school since 2017.
Key Learning
During school closure, while there are challenges to share learning materials, the pupils and their families need to retain a sense of relationship, connectedness and community
Recognising the role of different people in the life of the school in whatever you can is important to help them feel they are valued members of a community
Using tools people are familiar with makes taking part easier
Having fun together is an important part of school life
Questions to consider when planning for community when being together isn't possible:
Think about the things that you normally do and try to replicate their spirit remotely.
Build on the skills and talents of your school community to maximise the impact of your efforts.
Work in partnership with your school community - parents want to support your efforts to make their children feel that they are a part of a community.
Plan for community the same way you plan for curriculum.