Statement from the State Examinations Commission on the State exams

Since the Government announcement last week of the closure of schools until the 29th March, the State Examinations Commission has been working closely with the Department of Education and Skills on considering alternative arrangements for candidates approaching the state examinations. The planned closure period directly impacts on the scheduled dates for this years’ oral and practical performance tests. Following a review of all possible options the Minister has just now announced at a press conference that it has been decided to cancel these tests and to award candidates the full marks for the components in question.

For your attention and information, see below the SEC’s press release on this decision. We have also announced an extension of the completion date for project work and coursework which was due for completion on various dates between the 20th March and the 24th April. Candidates will now have until the 15th May to complete this work. The SEC will provide further details on the revised arrangements in the coming days to school authorities and will publish details on our website for the information of students, parents and guardians.

Awarding full marks for the oral and practical performance tests was considered to be the most fair to candidates as it guarantees that no candidate can be awarded a mark lower than they would have achieved in the test. No other approach to generating a result for these components would have given this guarantee. These decisions have at all time been guided by consideration of the best interests of candidates.

Our advice to candidates is that they should continue to prepare for the remaining elements of their examinations as scheduled.

We are continuing to actively monitor the evolving health emergency and are working very closely with the DES in assessing the impact on the examinations system.


Basic Life Support Training – Gaisce, Personal Skill

Basic Life Support Training – Gaisce, Personal Skill.

Course examined by a certified Water Safety Ireland Examiner. Two levels will be covered – Basic Life Support (BLS) 1 & Basic Life Support (BLS) 2.

Content covered:

• Cardiac Pulmonary Resuscitation on adult, child and baby.

• Log Roll & Recovery Position on adult, child and baby.

• Foreign Body Airway Obstruction (Choking)

• Respiratory & Pulmonary System

• Use of the defibrillator (AED) on adult, child and baby.

• Oxygen Therapy, use of the bag valve mask (BVM) and use of resuscitation mask.

Dates:

• Tuesday 24th February,

• Tuesday 3rd March,

• Tuesday 10th March,

• Tuesday 24th March,

• Tuesday 31st March,

• Tuesday 28th April,

• Tuesday 5th May,

• Tuesday 12th May.

**Classes will be from 4 – 5.15pm in R35. This will be counted towards Gaisce Personal Skill element.

Course will be provided by Ms. Aoife Heeran

Schedule may be subject to change.


SCHOOL TRANSPORT 2020/2021 School Year

Bus Éireann are currently accepting applications for transport, under the School Transport Scheme, for the 2020/2021 school year. PLEASE DOWNLOAD FAQ RE. SCHOOL TRANSPORT HERE.

It is imperative that Bus Éireann receive as many applications as possible early to ensure they can examine each route and give the best possible service to pupils, under the scheme.

Applications are made online by the parents at www.buseireann.ie/schooltransport.

If you have any difficulty in applying, you can contact the School Transport Office, Athlone directly by email to schools.athlone@buseireann.ie and/or phone on 09064-73277 where staff will endeavour to assist in any way possible.

iPads, eBooks, Books and School Book Grant scheme 2019/2020

22nd May 2019,

Dear Parent(s)/Guardian(s),

I am writing to you regarding arrangements for iPads, eBooks, Books and information about our School Book Grant scheme.

As was mentioned at our information night, we work with a company called Wriggle Learning. Details can be found at www.wriggle.ie. This company supplies, configures and manages the devices within our school to ensure it is a safe, effective and engaging learning environment. Devices for incoming first years not managed by Wriggle Learning are not allowed to be used in our school. The Wriggle online store (Login store code 36159216) opened on Friday May 3rd and was due to close on Monday June 10th. After consultation with Wriggle the closing date has now been extended to Friday July 5th. This will allow you buy the iPad, services and eBooks your child will require. There will be an option there for you to purchase insurance for the device also. It is important to note that orders placed after the closing date will incur a €50 late fee and your son’s/daughter’s iPad and books may be delivered late.

Note** By purchasing your books from Wriggle, a hard copy of each book will be supplied along with the eBook on the iPad. This decision was taken after consultation with parents. Also, this year Wriggle are delivering iPad’s and textbooks to the address given on your order.

If your child will not be using an iPad, books may be purchased from book shops while some may be purchased second hand. (See booklist).

Finally, if you receive an eBook voucher under the Book Voucher Scheme, Please use the code on the voucher during your ordering process on the Wriggle website.

Yours sincerely,

Gary Kenny

Deputy Principal

3rd Years Letter

May 17th, 2019.

 Dear Parent(s)/Guardians(s),

 As the 3rd Year students approach their Junior Certificate exams, I would like to bring the following points to your attention:

·        Third Year students will finish school on Wednesday May 29th. They must wear their uniform on that day. It is also expected that they will finish school in a disciplined manner.

 ·        Please view the Junior Certificate Exam Timetable. I would ask that you take note of the dates and times of your son’s/daughter’s exams. If students are not doing exams for a full day I would strongly encourage you to leave them to, or to collect them from the School, if possible.  I would strongly advise that students do not go down to the park by the river at lunchtime or at times when they are not doing exams.

 ·        Students must present themselves in a fit state for exams. Any serious misbehaviour or disruption caused will be treated very seriously and students may not be allowed to continue to sit their exams in the school.

 ·        Students must wear their full uniform during exams.

 ·        Rules of the State Examinations Commission state that students must be at their exam centre 30 mins   before the beginning of the exam on first day and 10 mins before the beginning of the remainder of exams. Also students are not permitted to bring mobile phones into the exam centre.

 ·        Students are strongly advised to stay for the duration of the exam. If they leave early they must sign the   Exam Attendance Book outside the exam centre. These records will be available to parents/guardians.

 I would like to take this opportunity to wish each student success in the exams.  I realise that exam time is stressful for both parents and students.  With God’s help we trust that they all will perform to their full potential and achieve their desired goals.

 Yours sincerely,

Josephine Donohue

6th Yrs Letter to Parents/Guardians

April 29th, 2019.

 Dear Parent(s)/Guardian(s),

 As our 6th Year students approach their final weeks of school, we would like to ensure that this final term will be a happy and helpful time as they prepare for their Leaving Certificate.  I encourage students to listen to the advice given to them by their teachers especially in relation to Subject Levels.

 The formal classes for Leaving Cert Students will finish on Wednesday 22nd May. A barbecue and other activities will be arranged for the students on that day. Students are expected to attend school at 9.00am on that Wednesday and they do not need to wear their uniform. All the Leaving Cert students must remain on school grounds for the duration of the school day, this includes lunchtime. We look forward to celebrating their final day at school with them and that it will be one full of happy memories for students, teachers and parents.

 During the exams, students are expected to wear the full uniform. We would like to take this opportunity of wishing each student success in the exams.  We realise that exam time is stressful for both parents and students.  With God’s help we trust that they all will perform to their full potential and achieve their desired goal and that each will be blessed with good health and happiness for the future.

 Please view the Leaving Cert exam timetable. I would recommend that you highlight the exams that your son/daughter is doing and familiarise yourself with their timetable so that they do not unwittingly miss an exam, thinking it was on at another day or time.

Leaving Cert timetable.jpg

 The Graduation Mass will be celebrated at 7.30pm on Thursday 23rd May in the School Gym.

We invite parents/guardians to join us for this celebration.  Light refreshments will be served afterwards in the Study Hall. We look forward to celebrating this night with our students and their families as we mark their official School Graduation.

 Yours sincerely,

 Josephine Donohue,              

Principal