At the end of this page you will find information relating to our school Information Technology systems used for education, communication and administration. We would kindly ask that all Parents/Guardians download and install on their phones the Unique Schools St. Joseph’s Secondary School Castlebar App, and allow their phones to receive notifications from this app. Failure to do so may result in the nonreceipt of important communications from the school relating to your daughter, a failure for which the school will not be held responsible.

Pastoral care underlies all relationships within the school community. We aim to create a safe and happy environment which enriches the lives of the students. From the moment a student is enrolled, there are specific teachers on the staff whose roles are to ensure that students’ wellbeing is supported throughout their time in St. Joseph’s. 

Blended learning is the integration of digital tools, techniques and materials alongside the traditional physical classroom. In blended learning, students may view classes, access readings, ask questions, and complete assignments online in virtual learning environments (VLE). Other terms, such as mixed, hybrid, or integrative learning, all describe the same method of teaching. The Framework for Junior Cycle programme places significant emphasis on the acquisition of digital skills as a subset of the 8 key skills that are part of the core of the new programme.

The main digital tool that St. Joseph’s uses is Google Workspace (formerly G Suite) for Education – a suite of digital tools, including Google Classroom, tailored for schools. Each student on entering the school is given a Google Workspace school account via which she will communicate and participate in blended learning over the duration of her time in the school.