Home School Liaison

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The Home School Community Liaison (HSCL) Scheme has been running in Mercy College, Coolock since 1991.  The current HSCL Coordinator is Maedhbh Daltún.  Ms. Daltún can be contacted on 087 6550995.

Aims of the Scheme
The HSCL scheme aims to increase the link between home and school by encouraging parents to become more involved in their children's education.  It also aims to encourage self development, literacy skills and activities of parents so that they as the primary educators of their children will be positive role models, encouraging the educational and personal advancement of their children.
Goals

The five goals of the HSCL Scheme focus on
• supporting marginalised pupils
• promoting co-operation between home, school, and community
• empowering parents
• retaining young people in the education system
• disseminating best practice.

Activities
Locally based activities are organised by the HSCL coordinator which set out to encourage greater contact between parents, teachers and with local voluntary and statutory agencies.
Activities in Mercy College, Coolock include:

• A ‘drop-in hour’ from 9am to 10am every Tuesday morning in the Parents’ room.  Parents are invited to drop in to speak to the HSCL coordinator for a chat and a coffee or to raise any concerns they may have about their child. 

• Home Visits – The HSCL coordinator visits parents in their own homes to address concerns they may have about their children in school and to help first year students to settle in to their new school as part of our transfer programme.  Visits can be arranged by calling the HSCL coordinator on the mobile number above or by contacting the school directly on 01 8480888.

• Courses for parents are run throughout the year on a range of topics: these include art, cookery, computers, and ‘Gaeilge do thuismitheoirí’ among others.  Parents may enrol in these courses by filling out the application forms supplied to their children in school or by calling/texting the above number.

• Paired Reading – Parents of current and past-pupils are involved in the 1st year paired reading programme.  Parents team up with 1st year students to improve literacy levels in the school.  This is part of the Dept. Of Education and Skill’s Junior Certificate Schools Programme (JCSP).  Parents who would like to become involved in this programme are invited to contact the HSCL coordinator on the above number.

• Local Committee - Each year a local committee made up of parents, Home School Community Liaison Coordinators from each of the four schools in the area (Mercy College, Chanel College, Scoil Chaitríona and St. Brendan’s) and members of local agencies such as the School Completion Project, Sphere 17, Northside Partnership etc. focuses on a pertinent issue for the school year.  Following a highly successful talk on ‘beating the blues’ organised by the four schools held in Chanel College on the 22nd November, this years’ theme of ‘child and adult happiness’ was selected.  The committee will meet in the New Year to focus on ways to stay positive in these difficult times.  If you would like to take part in the committee, please contact 087 6550995.

If you would like to take part in any of the free courses available for parents in the school, help out in the first year paired reading programme or arrange for the HSCL coordinator to visit you in your home, please call or text 087 6550995