News

We are looking forward to welcoming our students and staff back very soon. There has been extensive changes made to the facilities to ensure the safety of our school community. Some of the changes can be seen in the pictures below - hand sanitzers have been installed at all entry/ exit posts as well as all classrooms.

The purpose of this communication is to outline the measures taken in Coláiste Mhuire to ensure the safe reopening and operation of our school. Whilst we have put numerous measures in place to minimise the risk of COVID-19 for students, staff, families and the wider community it is important to point out that no interpersonal activity is without some risk of transmission of infection at any time.

Over the past 3 to 4 years the number of students and families who wish to avail of the school bus service to Coláiste Mhuire, Buttevant has increased significantly. The increase in applications to Bus Eireann means that many families who would like to avail of a bus service are refused places due to the limited number of places available through the Bus Eireann Service.

Plans and preparations are well under way for the full reopening of the Coláiste and we are looking forward to seeing all of our students and staff returning from Tuesday 1st September. This year more than ever the quality of our staff and student induction will play a vital role in ensuring the school community is familiar with the protocols and behaviours necessary to keep everyone safe.

Have a listen to one of our TY students, Cormac Butler. He composed and recorded this song during lockdown. Sounds great, well done Cormac!

Guides to LC grading for parents and for students.

Dear student/parent, please click here for links and guidance to register on the Leaving Certificate Student Portal. It is essential that all LC students confirm their final level for each subject in which they are entered before this Thursday 26th May.

Yesterday, the Department of Education and Skills announced some additional details regarding the remainder of the school year for Leaving Certificate students and the process of assigning calculated grades.

As I am sure you are aware, the Minister for Education and Skills Joe McHugh has announced the postponement of the Leaving Certificate Examinations 2020.

Following the decision, students are to be offered the option of receiving calculated grades for the subjects that they are studying and the alternative of sitting the 2020 Leaving Certificate examination at a date in the future when it is considered safe to hold the examinations.

Please click on the link below to read the guide document to calculated grades for leaving Certificate Students 2020.

Dear Parent/Guardian, As you are aware we are very lucky in the school to be able to provide a service whereby your son/daughter has the option of a free breakfast and a subsidised hot lunch in school each day. During this difficult time we would like to ensure that families continue to get the benefit of the scheme where necessary. The Government and the Department of Education have confirmed that the School Meals scheme is an essential service and therefore the following arrangements are being put in place to continue it. If you already expressed an interest last month, we will assume you wish to receive delivery this month also and there is no further action required. If you did not express an interest last month but now wish to do so please follow the instructions outlined below.

Students in Irish schools completing their third year of Junior Cycle in 2020 have experienced a very disrupted period of learning in 2019/20 because of the unprecedented nature of the Covid-19 crisis.

The SEC would be grateful if you would bring the following information to the attention of your examination candidates/parents/guardians:

Dear parent, I hope this update finds you and your families well. As you will be aware, under normal circumstances, post primary schools would now be planning for their end of year summer assessments which very often involve students taking written examinations during the last week of the school year. This year, due to the restrictions put in place to protect our society during these unprecedented times, schools will not be in a position to facilitate such exams and therefore, end of year assessment for each student will take place online.

You will by now be aware that the Minister for Education and Skills has announced that the Leaving Certificate examinations will commence on July 29th. We are very cognizant of how challenging this time has been for our Leaving Certificate students and families, and trust that this news provides them with some, albeit small, level of clarity.

You will be aware that the State Exams Commission, in conjunction with the Department of Education and Skills, notified all schools that the Junior Certificate /Junior Cycle examinations will not now take place in June. Instead they have proposed that the State Exams Commission will send exams paper to schools and students will sit the exams in September. The proposal was that these exams would not be state certified.

On Friday 24th April at 12pm there is a national ‘Drop Everything and Read’ challenge which we are encouraging all students, staff and family members to take part in. 

HSE is offering a free Stress Control programme online, which started last Monday, 13th April, which young people facing the Leaving Cert and their parents could find very helpful.

Key information regarding the School Meals Programme during this difficult time is provided in the link below.

The Coláiste Wellbeing Team have come up with the following ideas to aid parents & students come up with positive activities to keep you going while you are home. There is a wide variety of excellent ideas and links to useful sites and its designed to ensure there is something for everyone.