What activities are being organised for the 2024/25 school year?
ECA Timetable
(See below for class descriptions)
What time will the classes be held?
- Junior and Senior Infants will run from 1:10-2:05 PM.
- Classes will run from 2:10-3:10 PM for the 1st-6th Classes.
- Adventure Club runs from 2:10-4:10 PM.
How will children get to and from ECA classes?
- The ECA supervisor and provider will collect the students from their class teacher, and ensure they are delivered to their ECA.
- The ECA provider will bring the children outside for collection at the end of their ECA.
- The ECA supervisor will take children attending Explorers to their classroom.
Where will children be collected after the activities?
- Junior and Senior Infants will be collected from the small yard near the bike racks.
- 1st-6th Class: For outside activities, the children can be collected from the yard where the activity takes place.
- For all indoor classes, children will be brought into the small yard for pick-up.
- On rainy days, all classes may be collected directly outside the door closest to the bike rack.
What is the Term Duration?:
Term 1: 7th October-14th February, 16 weeks.
Term 2: 24th February- 20th June, 15 weeks
What is the cost?
Final prices are listed in the above schedule.
Most classes are €9. Those classes requiring materials may be €10 per class.
**An additional Processing Fee of €1 is added to each completed transaction, helping to cover the cost of payment fees.
Apart from reading this section, how can I get ready in advance?
Please read through our Terms and Conditions and the school’s code of behaviour, as you will be asked to confirm you have read and agreed with them before a booking can be completed.
How long will places be available?
We will send out an informative email each term with all the details regarding the ECA schedule, how to enrol, and when the registration process ends. In most cases, registration will close one week before the start of each ECA term.
What if a class is cancelled?
We make every effort to keep the amount of cancellations to a minimum. However, if a class needs to be cancelled, the ECA Provider will contact the parents and inform you at least 2 hours before school collection time.
Our ECA Supervisor will usually provide an alternative class for the children. This class may include art, drama, and/or an outdoor activity. If there is no one to supervise the children, parents will need to pick up their children at their regular school pickup time.
How can I ensure I’m contacted for cancellations?
We will only make a phone call if the class is canceled 2 hours prior to the end of the school day.
Cancellations over 2 hours prior to the end of school, we will notify parents/guardians by email and via our ECA WhatsApp Group.
Upon registration, we ask for a contact email address. Please ensure you give an address that is monitored daily. Don’t forget to save eca@stepasideetns.ie as a safe address to avoid messages entering your spam/junk folder.
At the start of each term, you will receive a link to join our information-only WhatsApp group. This group is for quickly sending broadcast messages to our parents. There is no ability to reply to messages, which keeps the thread from unnecessary clutter.
Do you offer refunds?
We want to make ECA enjoyable for everyone involved and like to give children the opportunity
to try new things. We understand that children may change their minds or not enjoy a class as
much as they had hoped. ECA is a fundraiser for the school, and all monies collected are
allocated to the school for upkeep and the purchase of much-needed equipment and supplies.
Below is our refund policy.
- If, within the first two weeks, your child is unhappy. They may drop the class, and upon request, a refund for the remaining courses will be issued.
- If the child is unhappy after two weeks, we may offer a spot in another ECA class if
space is available.
- If no spaces are available, you may request we apply a credit for the remaining classes
in the next term.
Is there an ECA Supervisor on Duty?
Yes, the school employs an ECA Supervisor who is available to help for the duration of ECA.
The supervisor will help collect children for their ECA classes, make sure they are picked up after class, and help the Providers with anything they may need, such as calling a parent for a sick child, taking children to and from the toilets, or sitting with a child who is misbehaving.
Our supervisor for the 2024/25 school year is Sarah Hallak, a parent of two of our students.
My child has an SNA in school, can they join the activities?
For pupils who have been assigned an SNA during the school day, it is acknowledged that they may need an increased level of support in extra-curricular classes also. SNA’s are employed by the school, and we may only have limited access to an SNA during ECA hours. Each parent may need to provide their own SNA or be present for lessons if the child needs extra assistance. Each provider will be accommodating and inclusive of all pupils; however, if issues arise, the Provider will speak to the parents and discuss the best course of action.
My child got a place in Term 1, will preference be given to us next term?
No. Upon review of our ECA Policy and in line with our school's ethos, if your child is given a place in Term 1, there is no guarantee they will get a place in the same class in Term 2. Each term will be a fresh start to give all students a fair opportunity to take part in the ECA programme.
I’ve already informed the school about my child’s specific circumstances, do I need to inform the ECA provider also?
Extracurricular activities happen outside of school hours and operate under their own policies and practices. Due to GDPR rules and regulations, the school cannot, under any circumstances, share contact information, medical information, or information on the children's personal circumstances with the PAC or an ECA provider. It is the parent's responsibility to inform the ECA Provider, supervisor, or coordinator of any special circumstances.
Class descriptions:
1:10 CLUB
The “1.10 Club” is held daily and facilitated by “Explorers Afterschool.” The children will spend most of their time outdoors, playing in the yard. On days with inclement weather, the club will move indoors where your child will be given a variety of activities including building blocks, colouring, and games. Class Note: A minimum of two days required.
ADVENTURE CLUB (4th- 6th Class)
The Adventure Club is a hiking/outdoor activity class taught by Adrian Nolan. For two hours, Adrian will work closely with the students to teach them survival skills and wilderness techniques. They will spend their time in Fern Hill building shelters, constructing bows, arrows, and slingshots, learning to safely build fires, and learn basic survival skills, all while practising a “leave no trace” attitude.
This has a pay-as-you-go option. Children can choose which days to attend, or attend every session during the term. Each class is €15 and paid directly to Adrian. There is a €25 registration fee each term.
Class Note: The class will be held outdoors, rain or shine, and only cancelled in the event of high winds. Please ensure your child has proper footwear, warm clothing, jackets, hats, and gloves. They may want to bring an extra pair of shoes to school to change into and a smaller bag for the class. Children are welcome to leave their school bags and shoes in the lobby for the duration of the class.
ARTS & CRAFTS Jr/SR Infants
Arts and Crafts for our Jr/Sr Infants is taught by parents and PAC members Emma McKenna and Laura Peters, each of whom runs their own craft businesses. Each week, the children will be encouraged to have fun with art and develop their motor and creative skills via various tasks. They will be crafting and creating in this active make-and-do class.
ART 1st-6th
Art for the 1st-6th classes is led by teacher Kate Canavan (Stepping Stones). Kate will teach new techniques each week, helping children tap into their creativity. Through painting and drawing, the children will create a new piece of artwork each week.
CHESS CLUB
Chess Club is led by teachers Eve (5th class) and Leona (6th class). The children will learn basic rules and strategies while practising their skills each week.
CODING
Coding is taught by teacher Leona (6th class) and parent Kevin Miller. With the use of in-school iPads, the children learn concepts and methods of coding by utilising block-based development tools.
GAA
GAA is taught by Jr. Infants teacher, Sabrina. Over the term the students practice their GAA skills with drills and matches geared to improve their technique.
Class Note: Please ensure your child has proper footwear (runners) and plenty of water, as this is a very active class.
HOCKEY
This class is run by Jr. Infant teachers Ailish and Jess. Children will learn the basics and improve their fitness in a fun environment.
Class Note: All students must come prepared with a mouth guard, shin guards, proper footwear (runners), and plenty of water, as this is a very active class.
IRISH CLUB
The Irish club is led by teacher Sabrina (Jr. Infants). In this class, your child will further develop their Irish language skills through games, play, and practice.
IRISH DANCE
Faye Marshall of Marshall Academy of Dance teaches Irish Dance to our school. The children will learn the basics from warm-up to the steps, leaps, and forms seen in the traditional “Riverdance” style.
Class Note: Please ensure your child has the Irish dancing pomps. These pomps can be bought in O’Farrells Sports Shop Stillorgan or Danceworld Ranelagh. They are the basic Irish dance pomp with the laces. Faye swaps the laces to elastic on the first day so it’s easier for the children to put them on and off each week and the laces don’t open.
KUNG FU
Master Yang Dong brings Kung Fu to our school. Master Dong has developed a range of exercises aimed at primary children based on Kung Fu and Tai Chi animal movements. These are non-contact forms that introduce children to the physical benefits of Chinese sports in a safe, highly enjoyable way.
Class Note: Students may be asked to purchase Nunchaku for the class. You may do this ahead of time, or Master Yang will sell them for 15 euro near the start of class.
MIXED SPORTS
Mixed Sports is run by teachers Paudie (3rd class) and Niamh (2nd class). The class will focus on specific sports in 3-4 weeks increments which may include, rounders, handball, basketball, rugby, etc.
Class Note: Please ensure your child has proper footwear (runners) and plenty of water, as this is a very active class.
MUSICAL THEATRE
New this year is Musical Theatre taught by teacher Kate Canavan. She will teach skills based on musical theatre, which will include a mix of singing, dancing, and drama.
SOCCER:
Soccer is led by teachers Paudie (3rd class) and Ciarán (1st class). The children will practice the basics of soccer, including warm-ups, drills, and a match at the end of each class.
Class Note: Please ensure your child has proper footwear (runners) and plenty of water, as this is a very active class.
TENNIS
Tennis is brought to us by LC Tennis. Our coach is Liam, and he is looking forward to another successful year of teaching at our school. Children will learn basic skills and terms while playing friendly matches against one another.
Class Note: Equipment is provided, but children are encouraged to bring their own tennis rackets when possible.
UKULELE LESSONS
This beginner course is brought to us by parents, Mathieu Cote and Peter Szlovak, both of whom have a history of teaching and playing various instruments. The course will focus on helping students become comfortable holding and strumming the ukulele, tuning, chords, reading music, and learning to play a song or two.
Class Note: A €15 rental deposit will be added to the invoice for the Ukulele class. Children will be issued an instrument to take home and practice for the term. The deposit will be refunded at the end of each term, once the instrument is returned and in usable condition. If you have an instrument at home, you may waive this fee.
YOGA
Anne-Marie’s Yoga Bears is returning again this year. Yoga is a fun way for kids to calm their racing minds and bodies through Yoga and Mindfulness activities.
Class Note: Children are encouraged to bring their own yoga mat and wear shoes they can fasten themselves. Yoga mats are provided for those who forget.
For all other questions or queries, please email: eca@stepasideetns.ie