Dear GCC Parents/Guardians & Students,
GCC Open Evening Wednesday 24 September 2025
Our GCC Open Evening takes place next Wednesday 24 September at 6.00pm with the Principal’s Address at 7.30pm in the GCC PE Hall. We look forward to welcoming prospective students and their families to GCC to meet our wonderful students and staff and to explore the broad range of subjects we offer in our modern, inviting school campus.
GCC Teaching and Learning Programme – Parents Update
As part of our teaching and learning staff programme this year, teachers are exploring concepts from D.T. Willingham’s book “Why don’t students like school?” This popular book delves into how the mind works and what it means for our teachers in the classroom. In the coming weeks we will share details of the staff workshops with parents and students. Staff workshop 1 was entitled Teaching is a Cognitively Demanding Skill. Teachers explored the idea that teaching is an incredibly complex process that needs to be practiced and refined continuously to get better at it. Teachers explored the difference between subject content knowledge and subject pedagogical knowledge. Please click on the link below to view details of the staff presentation:
Workshop 1_ Teaching is a Cognitively Demanding Skill
GCC Leaving Cert Student Led Learning Clinics
As part of our drive to support our Leaving Cert students in their study this year, the GCC Staff Teaching and Learning group have developed a pilot program to explore the effectiveness of student led learning clinics. The initiative began with a series of study skills workshops which students were invited to attend before school on Monday 15 and Wednesday 17 September. Following this a programme of student led clinics was developed in consultation with our 6th Year students.
Term 1: September to Halloween [6 weeks]
Venue: C15
Time: 8.15 – 8.45am
Topics for student led clinics this term
- English: MacBeth Quotes
- Irish: Oral
- French: Oral
- Maths: Algebra
Student Led Learning Clinics will be held on a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday morning in C15. In these clinics, students will work together to learn and teach each other English, Irish, French and Maths. A schedule of learning has been made by subject teachers to align with the content that needs to be learned for exams. Everyone is welcome on any day they would like to participate.
| Week | Monday
English |
Tuesday
French |
Wednesday
Maths |
Thursday
Irish |
| 22 Sept | MacBeth Quotes 1-5 | French Oral Work | Exam papers- Algebra- basic | Me Fein and Mo Chlann
Sraith pictiur 1 |
| 29 Sept | MacBeth Quotes 6-10 | French Oral Work | Exam papers- Algebra- Linear and Quadratics | Mo Cheantar
Sraith pictiur 2 |
| 6 Oct | MacBeth Quotes 11-15 | French Oral Work | Exam Papers – Algebra – Polynomials | Mo Soil agus Saol na Scoile
Sraith pictiur 3 |
| 13 Oct | MacBeth Quotes 16-20 | French Oral Work | Exam Papers – Algebra – Logs and Indices | Mo Caitheamh Aimsire, sport, scannain, an teilifis, an leitheoireacht
Sraith pictiur 4 |
| 20 Oct | MacBeth Quotes 21-25 | French Oral Work | Exam Papers – Algebra – Logs and Indices | Mo caitheamh Aimsire; ceol, damhsa, dramaiocht, cluichi riomhaire, suiomhanna soisialta
Sraith pictiur 5 |
GCC School Office
We wish to inform parents that starting next Monday 22 September, our GCC school office opening hours will be adjusted. The new hours will be 9:00am to 2:45pm, Monday to Thursday and 9.00am to 12.30pm on Friday. This change is being made 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.
To support this transition, we kindly ask that parents email the school rather than phone where possible. Email communication allows us to manage queries more efficiently and ensures that your concerns are directed to the appropriate staff member.
Please also note that, with over 1,150 students in our care, we may not be able to respond to all queries immediately. 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.
UCC Dare Information Clinics
National Council for Curriculum & Assessment [NCCA] – Flexible Pathways in Senior Cycle
Further to our update last week regarding GCC’s participation in the NCCA Senior Cycle Pathways project, please click on the link to view an information bulletin for stakeholders.
Senior Cycle Pathways Project Information Bulletin 1 September 2025
As previously advised, we are looking for the input and cooperation of staff, parents and students in the various surveys and focus groups that will be undertaken during the process. Please click on the link below to view a short initial survey which we kindly ask all parents to complete.
GCC Marymount Fundraiser Report
Please click on the link to view a report written by 3rd year student Cerys McCarthy on a fundraiser she organised for Marymount:
My Marymount Fundraiser by Cerys McCarthy
Well done to Cerys and her class on this wonderful achievement. Thank you also to Ms Reeves for supporting Cerys throughout the process.
GCC Mobile Phone Policy
In our GCC Parents Update last Friday 12 September we shared the recently issued Department of Education Circular 0045/2025 – Restricting the use of and access to personal mobile phones by students during the school day. Under the circular schools are required to implement a policy to restrict mobile phone use during the school day.
As advised we are sharing a Draft GCC Mobile Phone Policy and inviting feedback through our dedicated policyreview@glanmirecollege.com with any proposed additions or amendments by Monday 29 September. The updated policy will be signed off by our Board of Management at its next meeting on Wednesday 22 October.
Please click on the link below to view the draft policy and the circular.
Glanmire Community College – Draft Mobile Phone Policy September 2025
GCC Activities of the Week (Monday 22 September – Friday 26 September 2025)
Please click on the link to view the Activities of the Week beginning Monday 22 September 2025:
GCC Activities of the Week Monday 22 September to Friday 26 September 2025
GCC Upcoming Calendar Events – September/October 2025
| Wednesday 24 September | GCC Open Evening* | 6.00pm – 8.30pm* |
| Monday 29 September | School Closed | |
| Wednesday 1 October | GCC Staff Meeting | 4.00pm – 5.50pm |
| Monday 6 October | Briefing Session for parents of First Years | 7.00pm – 8.00pm |
| Monday 6 – 10 October | Autumn Assessments – all year groups | |
| Monday 20 October | GCC Board of Management Meeting | @ 5.00pm |
| Monday 20 October | GCC Parent’s Council Meeting | @ 7.00pm |
| Tuesday 21 October | PPT Meeting for 3rd Years | 4.15pm – 6.45pm |
| Friday 24 October | October Mid-Term break | Fri 24/10 – Sun 2/11 |
*Classes for students finish at 12.30pm
The following features were shared with parents in previous updates:
GCC StudyClix – Licence Renewal [Parents Update Friday 12 September]
Parents and students are asked to note that we have renewed our school licence with StudyClix for the 2025/2026 school year. StudyClix Plus will be available to students across all year groups in GCC until the end of June 2026. Please click on the link below to view details of how to access the content.
GCC Box Breathing – Orla Sorenson [Parents Update Friday 12 September]
Orla Sorenson has been working with both students and staff in GCC since 2021, supporting wellbeing through gentle yoga, relaxation, and breathing techniques. This year, Orla will work with all Junior Cycle class groups as well as Senior Cycle
students through their Fit & Well mornings. These sessions offer valuable tools to help students manage stress, improve focus, and build lifelong habits that support their overall wellbeing.
Orla qualified as a Yoga Teacher in 2019 and more recently completed a postgraduate qualification in Workplace Wellness at Trinity College Dublin. Alongside teaching yoga, she also works as an accountant, giving her first-hand insight into the value of having tools that promote focus, clarity, and calm in today’s fast-paced world.
At our staff meeting last Tuesday, Orla demonstrated how simple yoga movements and breathing techniques can support students in everyday life, and particularly during challenging times. This is part of our wider commitment to providing support for all. The box breathing technique Orla will guide students through is printed in the back of the student journal, and a poster of the same technique will be displayed in every classroom. These practices calm the body, bring clarity to the mind, and help students stay present and engaged—not just in school, but in all areas of life. The technique is outlined in the graphic below:
GCC Fire Drill Friday 12 September 2025 [Parents Update Friday 12 September]
Thank you to all our staff and students for their support in running a successful fire drill on Friday morning. The school was fully evacuated and a check done in the basketball courts in well under 5 minutes and 30 seconds. After every fire drill in GCC we ask for feedback from staff in an effort to address any minor issues that may arise. Please click on the link below to view our GCC Fire Drill procedures.
GCC Fire Drill Procedures September 2025
Webinars for Parents [Parents Update Friday 12 September]
1. Please click on the link to view a ‘Back to School’ Webinar delivered by studyclix featuring , family psychotherapist and former teacher Dr Richard Hogan:
https://www.studyclix.ie/parent-webinar
2. Please click on the link to view details of webinars available on the AsIAm website supporting parent’s of Autistic young people:
September Issue of Education for Sustainable Development Newsletter [Parents Update Friday 12 September]
The September 2025 issue of the Department of Education and Youth’s ESD Newsletter has been published and can be accessed via the link below.
Mobile Phone-Free Learning Environment [Parents Update Friday 5 September]
After the successful implementation of a Mobile Phone-Free Learning Environment for first year students last year it was decided to extend the Mobile Phone-Free Learning Environment to all first year and second year students this year. First and second year students will NOT be required to have a mobile phone in school to access any part of the curriculum. Teachers wishing to incorporate technology in their lessons have the facility of booking a trolley of Chromebooks for students.
GCC Lunchtime Clubs [Parents Update Friday 5 September]
Lunchtime clubs for first year students began this week. Lunchtime clubs are a wonderful way for our younger members of the community to get together in a supervised environment where they can relax, make new friends and have some fun.
Monday: GCC Games Club in the Multipurpose Room
Wednesday: GCC Craft Club in B10 & GCC Games Club in the Multipurpose Room
Friday: GCC Art Club in B40 and GCC Dungeons and Dragons Club in B40
The GCC Library will also be opened at lunchtime in the coming weeks for students who would like a quiet space to read.
Labelling of School Items [Parents Update Friday 29 August]
As per our update in June, parents are kindly requested to ensure that all uniform items (and especially the school jacket and fleece) are labelled with your child’s name. This will assist us in the prompt return of misplaced items.
GCC School Car Park [Parents Update Friday 29 August]
Parents are asked not to drive into the school car park when dropping and collecting students from school. Our school car park is always very busy and with road works taking place on Hazelwood Road for the coming months it is important that we minimise the throughput of cars on the school grounds.
We would also be grateful if parents could remind students:
- to use the pedestrian footpaths and not walk along or between cars when entering/leaving the school
- use the pedestrian gates only and not enter or leave the school via the main gate
- students are to take care in general when walking or cycling to school particularly with so many different sets of roadworks happening currently in Glanmire.
We kindly ask parents who are collecting their children from our school not to park their vehicles inappropriately. For example, we ask parents not to park up on footpaths. We are aware of some cars taking up the whole footpath, leaving no space for either our students or members of the public to walk freely by and limiting the access of wheel chair users.
We also ask parents and students to be respectful of the housing estates near the school around drop off & collection times. Cars queuing in school traffic on the Hazelwood Road are blocking the entrances to Old Avenue & Oakfield housing estates. Please leave a gap for residence trying to leave their estates.
We thank you for cooperation in ensuring added safety for our students when accessing the school grounds.
We hope you have a nice weekend.