Home School Community Liaison
My name is Aoife Traynor and I am the Home School Community Liaison Teacher (HSCL) in New Cross College.
HSCL teachers are found in DEIS schools throughout the country and at present there are 19 HSCL teachers all based in either a primary or post priamary school in the Finglas/Cabra area.
My main role is to work with you, the parents/guardians, along with the teachers and the wider community to enhance your son/daughter’s learning opportunities and to promote attendance, participation and retention in school.
My job also involves visiting you in your home to work with you, help you and act as a support to you in whatever way I can around any issues that may impinge on your child’s attendance, participation and retention in school.
I also link in and work with other key players both in the school and the local community eg Principal, Deputy Principal, Pastoral Care Team, Guidance Teacher, Behaviour For Learning Teacher, Year Heads, Tutors, Class Teachers, other HSCL’s in the Finglas/Cabra cluster, Finglas/Cabra Drug Taskforce, Cross Care, Juvenile Liaison Officer, Education Welfare Officer, School Completion, CDETB, Symantec, Dublin North West Partnership, Local Management Committee, Focus Ireland, St Vincent De Paul, Wellmount Health Centre and Tusla to name but a few in relation to supporting further our students in attendance, participation and retention in New Cross College.
I organise personal, leisure and academic classes and courses for adult family members in the school thereby encouraging you to take an active role in your child’s education while empowering yourself and learning new skills. Parents/Guardians and family members are always encouraged to be part of the decision making in New Cross College and so I would encourage you to become involved in our Parents Association so your voice can be heard and to be part of the policy formation in the school.
A parents room is also available in the school and here you can pop in and enjoy the hospitality of other parents in a warm and welcoming environment.
Please feel free to contact me anytime Monday – Friday 9am – 4pm on 085 1672777.
Remember “ There is no problem too big that it can’t be solved with a little contemplation…..over a cup of tea and a chat”.
I look forward to meeting you.
Aoife Traynor, HSCL teacher
What’s happening in the HSCL Dept?
Classes & Courses
Pottery: These classes take place every Wednesday at 10am until 12pm in the Art Room in New Cross College. These classes are open to adults only and will run until end of May 2026.
Journalling: Every Tuesday, Maria Hanney takes a parent group for some mindful journalling. It is a great opportunity to refocus, reframe things in a positive light and set you up for the week! This takes place from 10.30-12.00 in the Art Room in New Cross.
If interested in any of these classes please contact me on 0851672777. It’s never too late to sign up and everyone is welcome.
Every September and again in January reminders are sent out on our social media detailing what classes and courses are on in the school and in other local schools around so remember to check our Facebook & Instagram.
Wellness Fair
For the last 2 years all the HSCL teachers in the Cabra/ Finglas area have organised a wellness fair for the adults in our community. Keep an eye on school social media for this years dates. On the day there will be over 20 stalls ranging from health checks to information stalls, nail and hand massage, Angel Card readings, hot breakfast stall, Indian head massage stalls, and a toddler area to name but a few.
Parents Association
Every term the Parents Association meet in the Parents Room in New Cross College. We are always looking for new parents to join up at any time during the year. These meetings are really important in highlighting the shared understanding of the important partnership role parents play in our school and also to form part of the policy making and decisions that take place in the school. The meetings are very informal and we try to do a school fundraiser every other year. If you are interested feel free to get in touch!
Business in the Community links
We engage in a partnership with Business in The Community. This program aims to tackle the retention rates in post primary schools while at the same time fostering a pipeline of talent and equipping our students in skills such as CV preparation and mock interview techniques so as to prepare them for their future in the work place. Our partner company are GEN Digital and we have really enjoyed our experience with them so far!
Transfer Showcase
In September all the post primary schools in the Finglas area come together to showcase their schools. This showcase takes place in Erins Isle and is attended by the 4th, 5th & 6th class parents of the children from all the local primary schools in the Finglas area. The idea behind this event is to empower parents in making choices about the secondary school they would like to send their child to. On the morning itself parents are invited to visit each of the post primary school stands and to ask questions about their schools, the different programmes on offer, the special needs provisions in each of the schools, breakfast & lunch clubs, after school study, fees, transport etc. Each of the post primary stands will have the HSCL teacher along with two students from their schools so there is lots of opportunity given to chat to the teachers and students.
Transfer Meeting for incoming 1st years
The parents/guardians of the new incoming first years are invited into New Cross College for an information evening (Time TBC). We all understand how daunting this experience can be especially if this is your first child starting secondary school and so the information evening will alleviate a lot of those fears. An information pack is also given out on that day which includes uniform details, books, school rules and times, subjects etc. It is also a chance to get to meet the Principal, Deputy Principal, Year head, HSCL and other staff members. Details of this date is sent out in a letter to each of the families.
