Definition

Out of school activities are educational events that involve teachers and students being outside the school premises during and sometimes outside of school hours. Such activities include: sports fixtures, field trips, visits to factories or businesses, educational visits to places of interest in the country, educational tours abroad.

Rationale

This policy outlines the regulations and practices that apply to the planning, and conduct of the out of school activities.

Aims

	To clarify for students, parents and teachers why this out of school activity is necessary
	To comply with Department guidelines and regulations
	To have written permission from parents for such activities
	To outline the regulations for the activities
	To take the necessary steps to safeguard the health and safety of those involved.

Activities

Sports Fixtures

Boys and girls football and basketball games usually take place during the school day. The coach draws up the panels at the start of each school year, his/her decision is final. The coach liases with the sport’s regional governing body about the venues and time of fixtures. The times and venues for sports fixtures are not always predictable. Athletic training takes place in the evenings in conjunction with the Ballinamore Athletics club.

All students who participate in sporting activities must have the pupil personal accident insurance policy. At the beginning of each year they must inform their coaches of any relevant illnesses or injuries and if they are taking medication.

Field trips

Geography, Agricultural Science, Science

Visits to factories or businesses

LCVP, Business subjects

Educational visits to places of interest in the country

CSPE teachers, Career Guidance, History, Geography

Retreats

RE teachers

Educational tours abroad

Occasional tours to places of historic or cultural interest. Participation in these outings will depend on a student’s behaviour and ability to follow teachers’ instructions. Students who have been suspended may be excluded.

Letter of Permission

In advance of any non-sporting out of school activity parents/guardians are contacted by letter.

The letter will contain the following information:

	What the activity involves, why it is taking place and what group is participating.
	The cost of the outing.
	Times for leaving off and picking up students.

The letter will seek the following from parents/guardians:

	Written permission for their child to participate in the activity.
	Necessary Information: contact telephone numbers, relevant illnesses, if the student is bringing medication.

The teachers will bring the following with them:

	Necessary Information: contact telephone numbers, information about medication.
	First Aid kit

The school rules apply on all school outings. Students will be expected to wear the full school uniform unless there is a specific exemption from doing so. In the case of Educational Tours abroad an additional set of regulations and guidelines will be issued.

School Sporting Fixtures

Football

Liaison Pádraig Leyden

Senior Boys Pádraig Leyden

2^nd/3^rd Year Boys Diarmuid McCaffrey

1st Year Boys

Girls (All levels) Seamus Mullen

Basketball

Liaison Marcella Colum

Senior

Cadettes Marcella Colum / Johanna Lee

Athletics

Liaison Pádraig Griffin

All Levels Pádraig Griffin

Aims

	To promote games to as wide a student populace as possible
	To promote enjoyment and gamesmanship within all activities
	To achieve this as safely as possible

Procedures

	Teachers/coaches of all sports will liase to avoid clashes of fixtures and avoid multi absences
	All students participating in school sporting activities must have personal insurance, as arranged through the school
	Accident forms must be filled out in all cases of injury.
	The coach will make decision on medical intervention.
	Where possible a parent will be contacted
	A senior girl may be required to travel to girls football and basketball matches
	All decisions on panel, teams and players are that of the coach and are final.

Behaviour

	Student behaviour is expected to be exemplary at school activities
	Teachers instructions must be carried out in full
	All students are expected to be in full uniform. Where this is not the case they will be excluded from travelling
	Mobile phones will be confiscated and handed back at the end of the day. Picture mobiles will be confiscated and will be returned only on meeting a parent. In the case of picture capable the student will be expected to show recently saved picture files to the coach and Principal in the presence of a parent
	Smoking, drinking, and drug taking are strictly prohibited

Safety

	A fully equipped First Aid kit will be brought to all matches
	The coach will decide on what medical attention is required
	Boards of Management will indemnify teachers travelling to sporting fixtures

Parents, students and Board of Management will be aware of these regulations. Where they are breached, a student may be excluded temporarily or permanently from that or all activities depending on their circumstances.