Dear GCC Parents/Guardians & Students,

Please see below our latest GCC Parents Update which includes information on the following:

• GCC Student Success at the National PE EXPO
• Cork International Choral Festival Friendship Concert
• GCC SEN Review
• GCC TY CAT 4 Testing
• GCC Díograis Finalists 2026
• GCC Student Council Activities – April 2026
• GCC Student Council Concert
• Agreed Report – GCC BOM Meeting Monday 27 April
• GCC Activities of the Week Monday 1 to Friday 8 May 2026
• GCC Upcoming Calendar Events – May 2026
• Post-primary Schoolbook Grant Guidance 2026/27
• Reminder to Parents – School Transport Scheme Deadline, Friday 8 May
• Department of Education Survey about AI in Education
• Reminders from previous updates

GCC Student Success at the National PE EXPO

Huge congratulations to TY students Cathal Galvin, Donagh Healy, Conor Reddy, Tom Hurley & Darragh Forbes who were National Category Winners in the PE Expo which took place in the Sport Ireland National Indoor Arena yesterday. Their fantastic piece of work was titled “How the Physical Demands of Performance has changed in recent years in the GAA with reference to injury prevention”. As part of their work, they completed research in this area before surveying minor aged GAA players from Cork whose results were analysed and the statistics included in their discussion and final presentation. From day 1, they gave 100% dedication and commitment to their work. They earned every bit of this award, and we are very proud of them. A very special thanks to Ms Lisa Hegarty for her invaluable guidance and support of the students. 

GCC Friendship Concert

We had the most wonderful morning of song (and dance) in the school as we were delighted to welcome the Vancouver Youth Choir to GCC.  [Please click on the link to view their bio  https://www.corkchoral.ie/festival_choirs/vancouver-youth-choir/] 

The choir are visiting from Canada to perform and compete as part of the Cork International Choral Festival 2025. They gave a wonderful performance for all our Music students in the school led by Artistic Director Ms Carrie Tennant.  

After the concert some of our GCC Music students performed for our visitors in the multi-purpose room followed by an impromptu performance by both the Canadian choir and our GCC students together.  Please click on the link below to view some of this unplanned performance which highlights the power of music and dance to bring young people and communities together. Our thanks as always to Ms. Ann Mannix for her tireless promotion of musical talent in the school.  

GCC Friendship Concert 

GCC SEN Review 2026

GCC TY CAT4 Testing

GCC Díograis Finalists 2026 

Congratulations to all students who were nominated by their teachers for a 2026 Díograis Award. Please click on the link below to view the list of Finalists in each category:

Díograis 2026 Finalists

We look forward to celebrating our students’ endeavours at Díograis on Thursday next, 7 May at 7.00pm. Students will be presented with their certificates on Wednesday at 11.50. We are delighted to welcome back to the school as guest speaker, former GCC principal and current Cork ETB Director of Schools Mr Pat McKelvey.

GCC Student Council Activities – April 2026

Please click on the link below to view a summary of the recent activities of our GCC Student Council. Of particular note is the ‘suggestion box’ to help communication within the school. The suggestion box will be located beside the Student Council noticeboard in B block social area. Our thanks to Ms. Fitzgerald for her support of the Student Council. 

GCC Student Council Activities – April 2026 

GCC Student Council Concert 

The GCC Student Council concert will take place next  Tuesday 5 May. All 1st and 2nd year students will attend the concert and Leaving Cert students Eve Flynn and Eimear Hurley will MC the event. 

All proceeds will go to Cork Simon as our Student Council members have worked with Comhairle na nOg during the year. Homelessness in Cork has been their main focus.

Class teachers are asked to remind students to donate, if they so wish, through a link sent to parents through Way2Pay. 

Agreed Report – GCC Board of Management Meeting Monday 27 April

Please click on the link below to view the Agreed Report from our GCC Board of Management Meeting last Monday 27 April

Agreed Report GCC BOM Meeting Monday 27 April 2026

GCC Activities of the Week Monday 4 May to Friday 8 May 2026

Please click on the link to view the GCC Activities of the Week Monday 4 May to Friday 8 May 2026:

GCC Activities of the Week Monday 4 May to Friday 8 May 2026

GCC Upcoming Calendar Events – April/May 2026

Post-primary Schoolbook Grant Guidance 2026/27

The Post-primary Schoolbooks Scheme is a funding scheme where the Department of Education and Youth provides funding to post-primary schools in the Free Education Scheme to purchase schoolbooks and core classroom resources. Please click on the link to view an information leaflet for parents which explains how the scheme is run and provides answers to some frequently asked questions.

Information for Parents Post-primary Schoolbooks Scheme 2026_2027

Reminder to Parents – School Transport Scheme Deadline, Friday 8 May

School Transport Operations have asked us to remind parents and guardians of the deadline of Friday, 8 May 2026 for payment, registration and to enter medical card details for the School Transport Scheme for the 2026/2027 school year. Please click on the link below for details of who needs to apply:

School Transport Scheme – Who needs to apply?

Further information on how to apply and fees are available here.

Department of Education Survey about AI in Education

Reminders

GCC Summer Programme 2026

We are delighted to confirm that our school will once again run the Summer Programme this year.

The Summer Programme is a two-week, school-based initiative designed to support students through a range of fun, engaging and structured activities. The focus is on building confidence, life skills and friendships in a relaxed and supportive environment. Activities typically include a mix of practical, creative and social experiences, along with opportunities for learning in a more informal way.

The programme is particularly suited to students who may benefit from:

• Additional support with confidence and social interaction
• A structured but enjoyable school-based environment
• Opportunities to build friendships and life skills

This programme has been very positively received in previous years, with excellent feedback from both students and parents.

Please note that the home-based summer programme will not be available for students who attend a school that are running a school based summer programme.

Dates:
Monday 22nd June to Friday 3rd July

If you would like your child to be considered for the programme, please complete the form below. The Programme Manager will be in contact with further details.

Expression of Interest form

Tyro Onboarding 

Glanmire Community College transferred its first set of data to the Tyro Information Management System on 24 April. Earlier this week, parents and guardians received a text asking them to confirm or update their contact details. Thank you to those who have already done so. As we plan to go live on Tyro in early May, it is essential that all parent and guardian details are accurate.

Please note that unlike VS Ware, Tyro uses email addresses for login access. If you have not already done so, please complete the form at the link below to ensure continued access to your child’s school information and assessment results.

We appreciate your continued cooperation in supporting this changeover.

Parent Contact Details for Tyro

Information for Parents on Senior Cycle Additional Assessment Components

As advised last week, we are sharing information today with parents and students regarding the introduction of additional assessment components across various subjects at Senior Cycle. The information outlines what will be involved for learners and what will be expected of them going forward as well as how parents can support students. Please click on the link below to view:

Additional Assessment Components – Information for Parents & Students

GCC Autism Appreciation Week – Thank You 

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to our staff, parents and students for their enthusiastic support and engagement throughout our GCC Autism Appreciation Week. The week was a meaningful and positive celebration of diversity, inclusion and understanding across our school community. A wide range of carefully planned activities helped to promote empathy, raise awareness and celebrate the strengths of our autistic students.

Students engaged enthusiastically in a variety of events, including the Sensory Workshop for 2nd Years, supported by the GCC Meitheal Team; the Swimming and McDonald’s outing for Hub students; Hub’s Got Talent, which showcased creativity and confidence; and the Empower Youth Health and Wellness Workshop.

We were especially delighted to welcome Adam Harris from AsIAm to GCC on Thursday 23 April. His student and parent talks were one of the highlights of the week and we greatly appreciate the strong attendance and engagement from parents at the Parent Talk in the Multi‑Purpose Room.

On behalf of all in our school community, we would like to express our sincere to Louise Purdy and all the team who planned, organised and facilitated events. Together, these events reflect GCC’s ongoing commitment to fostering an inclusive school environment where every student feels valued, supported and understood. Thank you all for making GCC Autism Appreciation Week 2026 such a success.

Languages Connect : Supporting Leaving Cert students in less commonly taught languages

Languages Connect run classes in more recently introduced languages to support students around Ireland to prepare for the Leaving Certificate exams.

• These classes are funded by the Department of Education and Youth.
• There is no tuition fee for students.
• The classes are for Leaving Certificate students who cannot access lesser-taught languages as a Leaving Certificate subject in their school.
• The classes are designed to be explored independently by students outside the school timetable
• Students should register the spring/summer before they begin fifth year.

https://languagesconnect.ie/language-classes/

GCC Deputy Principal Appointment

We would like to congratulate our colleague John Baldwin on his appointment as GCC Deputy Principal. John has worked in GCC since 2001 as a History and English teacher and has held a number of different post holder roles. John has also extensive experience as an advising examiner with the SEC. We wish John well in his new role which will begin in September.

GCC Summer Exams 2026 – Final Timetable and Student Guidelines

Please click on the link below to view the finalised timetables and student guidelines for our GCC Summer Exams in May. Students received this information on Google Classroom this morning as well as exam guidelines. 1st and 2nd years will receive a hard copy of their study guide next week. Subject teachers have been asked to refer to the revision guide with their classes in preparation for their Summer Exams.

GCC Summer Exams 2026 – Final Timetable and Student Guidelines

National Parents Council-Survey for Parents and Students

The National Parents Council (NPC) wants to hear from you and your child about their experience of learning Irish in Junior Cycle.

We are asking parents and students to share their views as part of research being carried out for the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA). This research is looking at how Irish is taught at the Junior Cycle, how students learn and how they are assessed.

The feedback gathered will help inform the ongoing review of Junior Cycle Irish and contribute to recommendations that will shape future developments in Irish at post-primary level. By sharing your views, you are helping to ensure that parents’ and students’ voices are heard and reflected in decisions about their education.

We have two short surveys—one for parents and one for students. We would really appreciate it if you and your child could take a few minutes to complete them:

Junior Cycle Irish – Survey for Parents

https://forms.office.com/e/7X2mWjnzkJ

Junior Cycle Irish – Survey for Students

https://forms.office.com/e/gCghZnj9vd

Thank you for helping us ensure that every child receives the support they need. Your feedback will allow us to advocate effectively for families.

Best wishes,
The NPC team

Updated HSE School Guidance for Schools on Vaping 

Parents are asked to note that the HSE has updated the information and guidance on e-cigarettes and other nicotine containing products for schools. This 2nd revision of the guidance and information book for schools on e-cigarettes and other nicotine containing products reflects the wider variety of new nicotine products being marketed to children and young people and new and emerging legislation which is progressing in this space. If you have queries on same, please contact the Schools Team in the Health Promotion and Improvement. Please click on the link below for further details. 

HSE-Information_and_Guidance_on_E-Cigarettes for Schools 2026 

SUSI Grants

The SUSI grant is an Irish government-funded financial support scheme that helps eligible students cover the cost of higher and further education, including fees and living expenses. SUSI is now open to receive applications for the 2026/27 academic year. We would like to advise the following:

Changes to the Student Grant Scheme announced in Budget 2026

As part of Budget 2026, the following changes to the Student Grant Scheme for the 2026/27 academic year were announced:

• The Special Rate of maintenance grant threshold will increase from €27,400 to €28,600.
• The income threshold for the €500 Student Contribution Grant will increase from €115,000 to €120,000.
• The Postgraduate Fee Contribution grant will increase by €500 to €4,500.
• Income from Disablement benefit (when paid to the applicant) and Constant Attendance Allowance will not be included when calculating a household’s total reckonable income.
• The annual rates for non-adjacent maintenance grant holders studying PLC, undergraduate and postgraduate courses will increase as follows:
  • Non-Adjacent Special Rate increase of €350
  • Band 1 Non-Adjacent Rate increase of €430
  • Bands 2 to 4 Non-Adjacent Rates increase of €200

Key dates for SUSI applicants in 2026

• Priority closing date for renewal applications  – 11 June 2026
• Priority closing date for new applications  – 9 July 2026

Access UCC July Workshops for Secondary School Students who have Vision, Hearing or Physical Disabilities

Assistive Technology Outreach Coordinator

Access UCC | Disability Support | The Hub | UCC
Tel: 086 7922072  |  Email: deirdre.madden@ucc.ie  |  Web: Access UCC

Glanmire Athletics Club Juvenile Section 

Glanmire AC juvenile section is now up and running with training commencing next week. Please click on the link below for details of the cost, training times, locations and how to join up.

2026 After Schools Athletics Training Sessions

GCC Draft Calendar 2026/2027

Please click on the link below to view the draft calendar for the 2026/2027 school year.

GCC Draft Calendar 2026/2027

Please note this remains a draft calendar at present as we are awaiting Oide staff training dates and confirmation of European school tours etc. We will share the finalised calendar with parents at the end of the term in late May.

Public Consultation on the Reasonable Accommodations at Certificate Examinations (RACE) Scheme 

The State Examinations Commission (SEC) on Thursday 26 February launched a public consultation as part of its comprehensive review of the Reasonable Accommodations at Certificate Examinations (RACE) Scheme.  This is an opportunity for stakeholders to shape the future of examination supports in Ireland. 

The purpose of the review is to examine the current provisions of the RACE Scheme, reviewing existing policy and practice in the area of reasonable accommodations in high-stakes examinations and to consider how best to develop the Scheme so that it ensures access and participation for those who need it, while also promoting high standards of fairness and equity for all students. 

We have been asked to bring this notice to the attention of staff, students, parents and guardians. Please click on the link below for further information.  

Public Consultation on the Reasonable Accommodations at Certificate Examinations (RACE) Scheme 

GCC School Attendance

We recently shared an ESRI report with parents through our weekly update, highlighting the significant impact of school absence and how it leads to lower educational qualifications and poorer wellbeing in early adulthood. Attendance was also discussed at our recent GCC Parents Council meeting on Monday 2 March.

Please click on the link to view an important letter we wish to share in relation to attendance and the responsibility of parents to ensure their child/children are consistently attending and updating the school through the agreed procedures:

GCC Attendance Letter to Parents and Guardians

GCC Studyclix Licence

As parents are aware, GCC purchased a studyclix subscription for all students and teachers at the beginning of the year. Engagement remains extremely strong, with students accessing over 19,000 sessions since August.

Studyclix are upgrading their platform by introducing a new suite of resources, including pre-exams for all subjects, enhanced support for AACs, and additional Boost content across many subjects. These resources will be added to our teacher account on a trial basis until the end of the year.

GCC School Office

A reminder to parents that our GCC school office opening hours are 9:00am to 2:45pm, Monday to Thursday and 9.00am to 12.30pm on Friday. This is to allow our clerical staff sufficient time to complete essential administrative duties and to help reduce the volume of queries at the office hatch during peak times.

We encourage parents to email the school where possible rather than phone. Email communication allows us to manage queries more efficiently and ensures that your concerns are directed to the appropriate staff member.

With over 1,140 students in our care, it may take a number of days before we are able to respond to queries.  We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to support all students and families as effectively as possible. We thank all our GCC parents for your continued cooperation and support.

GCC Senior Management

Ronan McCarthy (Principal)

Seamus Kennefick (Deputy Principal)

Caroline Byrne (Deputy Principal)

Patrick O’Mahony (Deputy Principal)