Displaying 1521-1530 of 2243 results.

Clarification on the use of face coverings in Post Primary schools - important

Created : 20 Sep 2020, 9:09 PM
Archived : 20 Nov 2020, 12:00 AM

Dear parents/guardians and students, as you are well aware the situation regarding Covid-19 continues to be a concern. To date the school community has worked hard to minimise the risk of spreading Covid-19. This includes the wearing of face coverings. I have to say that the cooperation of students in this regard has been tremendous and I want to thank you for this. The Department of Education has issued the following clarification on the use of face coverings in post primary schools: Wearing a face covering or mask does not negate the need to stay at home if symptomatic. Wearing of face coverings – a requirement Staff and students, at post-primary level, are required to wear a face covering. The exemptions to this are set out below. Cloth face coverings Cloth face coverings are recommended for staff and students. Cloth face coverings act as a barrier to help prevent respiratory droplets from travelling into the air and onto other people when the person wearing the face covering coughs, sneezes, talks or raises their voice. Cloth face coverings are therefore intended to prevent transmission of the virus from the wearer (who may not know that they are infected) to those with whom they come into close contact. Face coverings must not contain any slogans/logos/images that may cause upset or be deemed offensive to any member of the school community. Visors Cloth face coverings are more effective than visors. In the limited circumstances where a cloth face covering cannot be worn clear visors must be considered. The alternate use of a clear visor can also be considered when a staff member is interacting with students with hearing difficulties or learning difficulties. Exemptions A medical certificate to certify that a person falls into a category listed below must be provided to the school by, or on behalf of, any person (staff or student) who claims that they are covered by the exemptions below: • any person with difficulty breathing who cannot wear a cloth face covering or a visor • any person who is unable to remove the cloth face-covering or visor without assistance • any person who has special needs and who may feel upset or very uncomfortable wearing the cloth face covering or visor, for example persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities, mental health conditions, sensory concerns or tactile sensitivity. In circumstances where a medical certificate is not provided that person (staff or student) will be refused entry to the school. The Department has also issued the following clarification regarding the physical distancing requirement when a face covering, supported by a medical certificate, cannot be worn: The view is that there will be a very small number who are covered by the limited exceptions who cannot wear a cloth face covering or visor and that in these limited circumstances the arrangements in place for physical distancing (1m), hand hygiene, cough etiquette and cleaning would apply and should be strictly observed. Directions for effective use of face coverings • Information should be provided by schools on the proper use, removal, and washing of face coverings. Advice on how to use face coverings properly can be found here: www.gov.ie/en/publication/aac74c-guidance-on-safe-use-of-face-coverings/ • All staff and students should be reminded not to touch the face covering and to wash or sanitise their hands (using hand sanitiser) before putting on and after taking off the face covering. • All staff (and students, where applicable), should be aware that they should wash or sanitise hands (using a hand sanitiser) before and after helping a student put on or adjust a face covering. • Face coverings should be stored in a designated space, for example, in an individually labelled container or bag. • Cloth face coverings should be washed after every day of use and/or before being used again, or if visibly soiled. • Face coverings should not be worn if they are wet. A wet cloth face covering may make it difficult to breathe. Students using school transport All students on the post primary transport scheme are required to wear face coverings subject to the exemptions above.

2nd Year Parent Teacher Meeting

Created : 04 Nov 2020, 1:24 PM
Archived : 16 Nov 2020, 12:00 AM

Dear Parents/Guardians. As you may be aware the 2nd year parent-teacher meeting is scheduled for Thursday 12th November. However, in light of the current situation we are unable to hold the meeting in the usual fashion due to public health restrictions. As a result, a written report will be completed by your child's teachers and will be available for you on VsWare. It is planned that this report will be written on Thursday of next week and will then be made available for you to view shortly afterwards. Kind regards, A.Fennell

A special visit and presentation from the Year Book Commiitee.

Created : 16 Sep 2020, 9:14 PM
Archived : 16 Nov 2020, 12:00 AM

We were delight to welcome this week past pupils James McLaughlin and Megan Mullally who recently graduated from us this summer. They visited the school to make a special presentation of the Year Book they had designed to Mr Leonard, Ms Harney and Ms Lennon. The Year Book is a fantastic creation with treasured memories. The committee did an amazing job in difficult circumstances to create this wonderful book. Well done to the Yearbook Committee. We wish you and all of our recently graduated sixth year students all the best in you future endeavours. Ms Mills

Junior Cycle - Revised arrangements for the completion of Classroom Based Assessments (CBAs) for the cohort of students 2018 – 2021 (students in 3rd Year in 2020/2021) and Key dates for Classroom-Based Assessments 2020/2021.

Created : 16 Sep 2020, 5:37 PM
Archived : 16 Nov 2020, 12:00 AM

Please see the message below received from The Curriculum and Assessment Policy Unit for the attention of students/parents in 3rd year: Dear Principal, This is to let you know that the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) has posted details on its website of revised arrangements for the completion of Classroom Based Assessments (CBAs) for the cohort of students 2018 – 2021 (students in 3rd Year in 2020/2021) and Key dates for Classroom-Based Assessments 2020/2021. Students experienced a disrupted period of learning in 2019/20 because of school closures introduced to curtail the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the best efforts of teachers and schools to mitigate the effects of disrupted schooling, the learning experience of students varied. In this context, schools and this year’s third year students could experience an unfair and disproportionate challenge in having Classroom-Based Assessments (CBAs) from the academic year 2019/20 along with the CBAs from the academic year 2020/21 to complete in this school year. The following assessment arrangements for CBAs will now apply: · the requirement related to CBA completion for this cohort of students (third years) has been changed. In the exceptional circumstances arising from school closures, each student must complete only one CBA in each subject rather than the usual two in each subject and one CBA in each short course. This cohort of students will not be required to complete Assessment Tasks. · the school management and its teachers, in discussion where feasible with students, will choose which CBA to complete for each subject. However, there will be some exceptions to this choice: - to ensure assessment of oral communications skills, students must complete CBA 2: Communicative Task in Irish and CBA 1: Oral Communication in Modern Foreign Languages - as they are linked in each case with the final examination in the subject, students studying Visual Art, Home Economics, and Music must complete CBA 2 The design of the Junior Cycle Profile of Achievement (JCPA) for 2021 will be adjusted to take account of the revised arrangements for CBAs. These arrangements will also be set out in the Junior Cycle circular for 2020/21. It would be appreciated if this information could be brought to the attention of the cohort of your students in question using the school’s usual communications channels.

PE Letter to Parents/Guardians

Created : 15 Sep 2020, 9:20 AM
Archived : 15 Nov 2020, 12:00 AM

Dear Parent/Guardian, Please find attached a letter explaining the PE procedures that will be in place in CPC this year. It would be much appreciated if these could be discussed to ensure and maintain a safe return to PE for everyone.

Targeted Support - a message from Ms Kelly and Ms Scully

Created : 14 Sep 2020, 5:18 PM
Archived : 14 Nov 2020, 12:00 AM

Dear Parents/Guardians, In previous years, a lot of students would have received additional support in literacy, numeracy and other curricular areas through team-teaching/co-teaching. An additional support teacher would have taught a lesson with the lead subject teacher. Under the current guidelines support offered in this manner is not feasible. In an effort to ensure that the needs of all students are catered for, the SEN department have introduced a ‘targeted support’ system. If a student is finding a particular topic of a subject difficult or has a specific difficulty in word reading, reading comprehension, spelling and/or numeracy and are not receiving withdrawal support in any of these areas already, the lead teacher will notify the support teacher. Following pre-intervention testing/observation, the support teacher will withdraw the student from class and offer targeted support in the student’s area of need. When the target has been achieved, the student will be reassessed in this area and will no longer be withdrawn for support. Parents will not be contacted unless further assessment is required/recommended post-intervention. Thank you.

Grounding / Breath work

Created : 14 Sep 2020, 11:55 AM
Archived : 14 Nov 2020, 12:00 AM

My thanks to Ms Carty for her work with the different year groups throughout induction detailed in the attached Pdf. The methods detailed in the document assist with mindfulness and wellbeing. Why not give it a try?

Pdf-1

Continuity of schooling: Supporting post-primary students who are at very high risk to COVID-19

Created : 13 Sep 2020, 9:04 PM
Archived : 14 Nov 2020, 12:00 AM

Dear Parents/Guardians, I hope you are keeping well. You will remember previously that I advised that we were awaiting guidance from the DES on the arrangements for continuity of schooling for students who cannot return to school. This guidance was finally published this week and is attached in the Pdf below. This guidance is provided to support schools in making adapted education provision for students who cannot return to school because they are medically certified as being at very high risk from contracting COVID-19. The purpose of this adapted education provision is to ensure that students who are medically certified as being at very high risk to COVID-19 can maintain a meaningful connection with their class group and school in order to successfully continue their learning from home. Students in this category who engage with learning from home should be marked present on attendance records. It is important to note that a very high risk student is one with an underlying medical condition that makes him/her extremely vulnerable from contracting COVID-19. Schools must be provided with a letter from a medical professional stating that the student falls into that category. The arrangements in this guidance apply to those students only. All other students are expected to return to school. The adapted education provisions set out in this document to support students at very high risk to COVID-19 do not apply to students who are at risk of early school leaving, students who are experiencing COVID-related anxiety about the return to school or students who have been requested to self-isolate by a medical doctor or the Health Service Executive (HSE). Further information in relation to those students is provided in section 4. While this guidance applies to all post-primary schools and centres for education from the start of the first term of the new school year, it is intended that it will be reviewed by mid-October and updated to reflect any necessary changes. Kind regards J Leonard

Pdf-1

Important information for all parents/guardians

Created : 10 Sep 2020, 11:06 AM
Archived : 10 Nov 2020, 12:00 AM

Dear parents/guardians, I hope that your sons and daughters have enjoyed being back in school since we successfully reopened last week. It has been fantastic to see the blue jumpers and to have the buzz of the students around the building once again. As expected we are constantly looking at areas that require attention and I would like to draw your attention to the following and ask for your cooperation and support in these matters: 1. It has been brought to my attention that some students are congregating around the entrances to some of the local shops. Please speak with your son/daughter and remind them of the need to disperse and maintain distancing at all times. It can be quite difficult for the wider community if footpaths and/or entrances/exits are blocked. 2. There has been a worrying increase in the number of cars entering onto the school grounds to drop children and/or collect. Please consider the health and safety of all members of the school community. It is not necessary to drop a student to the door of the school. In this regard non-staff cars should not be in the school grounds either before or after school. 3. No student has permission to leave the school grounds at small break. I would be grateful if you would talk with your son/daughter about the above today. We all need to work together to make sure the success we have enjoyed over the past couple of weeks continues. Kind regards J Leonard

First Year Subject Rotations

Created : 08 Sep 2020, 10:22 PM
Archived : 10 Nov 2020, 12:00 AM

Please see information on subject choice rotations for first years. Students will rotate every two weeks until they have tried all subjects. Please make note of the dates so that students are prepared. Thank you Ms Mills Please see the attached PDF to access the information.

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