Avondale Community College

As of the 1 September 2009, I was appointed the new Home School Community Liaisons Co-ordinator (H.S.C.L Co-ordinator), replacing Ms. Ronat Lillis – who after seven years as the H.S.C.L.O has returned to her original post as the schools Guidance Counsellor.

The aim of the Home School Community Liaison Scheme is to promote partnership and cooperation between home, school and the community to make sure that every child participates fully in the school system.

The H.S.C.L. scheme recognises parents as the primary educators of their children. In my role as Liaison Co-ordinator, I am employed by Avondale Community College to support you the parent / guardian in assisting you in your role as parents and educators.
The way in which I can offer you support is by informing you of educational and financial supports that are in place in the school.

Some of the supports in place for the students include:

• A breakfast club,
• a subsidised lunch scheme,
• a lower payment towards the book rental scheme,
• a home - work club,
• a supervised evening study programme,
• information on additional top up grants for students progressing to further study,
• information on eligibility towards the ‘HEAR Scheme’ (Higher Education Access Route).

Supports in place for parents include:

• Direct access to the H.S.C.L.O.,
• a parents room where you can meet other parents,
• access to a parent and toddler group,
• attend talks and courses for parents which will be held in the school.

All talks and classes focused on the parents and guardians, are based on the requests and needs of parents. (Note: The talks and courses are free of charge).

The manner in which I plan to identify those in need of specific services / resources is through the form of a questionnaire. The information contained in the questionnaire will remain confidential, between you the parent / guardian and me the H.S.C.L.O. The only other person who will be notified of the survey results will be the Schools Principal Ms. R. O’ Neill, and again the information will remain confidential. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES will information pertaining to your individual circumstances be given to any outside agencies.

If for personal reasons you feel that you do not want to complete and return the questionnaire, I respect your decision, and you will not be contacted by me, requesting for it to be returned. However, I must state clearly that the main objective of the questionnaire is to identify those families who may be eligible for additional financial or educational supports that are offered in Avondale Community College.
Based on the information you give in the questionnaire, I will then contact individual parents / guardians via telephone, whose details indicate their eligibility for additional supports whether it be educational or financial.

I am directly available to you either in person every Friday in the Schools Parents Room, from 11am to 12 noon, (please feel free to drop in), or alternative you can contact me on my direct line @ 0404 – 29072.
The H.S.C.L. scheme is there for the benefit of you and your child / children. I welcome your ideas, opinions and requests, so please feel free to contact me.

Irene Doyle
H.S.C.L.Co-ordinator
Avondale Community College