Dear GCC Parents/Guardians & Students,
GCC Culture Day 2025
We would like to thank everyone for supporting our GCC Culture Day on Thursday 20 November and helping to make it such a great occasion for our school community. The morning was a wonderful celebration of diversity, learning and pride which could not have happened without the enthusiasm and participation of staff and students alike. A special word of thanks goes to Ms Hollie Herlihy & Ms Meghan Murphy and all in the Misneach committee for the work they put into organising this event. Their commitment to the event ensured that students had the chance to showcase their culture and teach their peers in a way that truly reflects the spirit of our school where respect and inclusion are continually promoted.
GCC Christmas Exams 2025
Last week we shared the finalised timetables with parents and students for our GCC Christmas Exams in December. The schedule included Oral Exams for 6th Year students on Wednesday 17 December for French and Thursday 18 December for Irish.
We are now providing additional information to parents and students which includes Guidelines for the Christmas Exams and Revision Guides to help for 1st Year and 2nd Year students prepare for their Christmas tests. Subject teachers have been asked to refer to the revision guide with their classes in preparation for their Christmas Exams. Students have received this information on Google Classroom as well as the exam guidelines. 1st and 2nd Years also received a hard copy of their study guide.
GCC 1st Year Christmas Exams 2025
GCC 2nd Year Christmas Exams 2025
GCC 5th Year Christmas Exams 2025
GCC International Day for Persons with Disabilities
GCC is looking forward to celebrating International Day for Persons with Disabilities on the week beginning Monday 1 December. Our thanks to Ms Fiona Crowley and the team for all their work. Below are the activities taking place during the week;
- First Years Purple Classroom Doors Competition
- Bake Sale organised by LCA 2 to raise funds for Crann Centre, Wednesday 3 December. All 2nd year students will be given the opportunity to attend
- Talk by GCC 6th Year student Hannah O’Reilly to all 1st years Thursday 4 December
- Our GCC PE department are incorporating games that raise awareness around disabilities in their classes
Staff and students are encouraged to wear purple, bring in baked goods for the bake sale, and raise awareness in their classes where possible.
GCC School Car Park
While we recognise the challenge for all road users during this extended period of road works, we kindly ask parents not to drive into and/or park in the GCC car park when dropping and collecting students from school. We also ask parents and students to be respectful of the housing estates and businesses near the school, particularly around drop off & collection times. Please do not park vehicles inappropriately, for example, on footpaths. Our school car park is always very busy and with road works on Hazelwood Road continuing into the New Year, it is important that we minimise the throughput of cars on the school grounds.
We would like to remind parents about with our entry/exit system to the school car park. Please note that:
- From 8.30am to 9.10am Monday to Friday the school car park is entry only
- From 3.30pm to 4.10pm Monday to Thursday and 12.30pm to 1.10 pm on Friday the school car park is exit only.
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 thank you for your cooperation.
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 Activities of the Week Monday 24 to Friday 28 November 2025
Please click on the link to view the Activities of the Week beginning Monday 24 to Friday 28 November 2025:
GCC Activities of the Week Monday 24 to Friday 28 November 2025
GCC Upcoming Calendar Events – November/December 2025
| Thursday 27 November | GCC Staff Meeting | 4.00pm – 5.50pm |
| Wednesday 3 December | GCC PPT Meeting for 5th Years | 4.15pm – 6.45pm |
| Monday 8 December | 1st Years 2026-2027 Subject Choice Seminar | @ 7pm |
| Tuesday 9 December | Seminar on Subject Choice in 5th Year for parents of TY & 3rd Years | @ 7pm |
| Week of Monday 8 to Friday 19 December |
GCC Christmas Exams | Results issued to parents on Tuesday 23 December |
| Monday 15 December | GCC Board of Management Meeting | @ 4.30pm |
| Monday 15 December | GCC Parent’s Council Meeting | @ 7pm |
| Monday 22 December – Friday 2 January | Christmas Holidays |
GCC Parent Absence Requests on VSWare
Parents are kindly asked when entering details for student absence requests on VSware, to ensure the correct information is inputted including the time and duration of the absence. Parents are also asked not to over share information on the portal with comments such as sick or medical appointment being sufficient to explain the absence. Should you wish to provide additional information to the school, please email glanmirecc@corketb.ie for the attention of the relevant Class Teacher and Year Head.
Reminders
GCC CBA Assessment Calendar 2025-2026 [GCC Parents Update Friday 14 November 2025]
Please click on the link below to view our GCC CBA Assessment Calendar for the 2025/2026 school year.
GCC CBA Assessment Calendar 2025 – 2026
GCC Senior Cycle Programme Preferences for 2026-27 [GCC Parents Update Friday 14 November 2025]
Further to our information seminar on Wednesday evening for parents on Transition Year and Leaving Cert Applied, parents of 3rd Year students are asked to fill out the following form [link below] to indicate your 3rd Year son/daughter’s Senior Cycle Programme preference for 2026-27. A link to the presentations from Wednesday is also included:
Senior Cycle Programme Preference
GCC Information Seminar on LCA & TY – Glanmire Community College
Text Messages from GCC & VSware [GCC Parents Update Friday 14 November 2025]
Parents are asked to note that some SMS text messages are now filtered by Google and may be placed in a spam folder. If your phone is set up this way, you may need to check the spam folder for messages from GCC or VS Ware. Please click on the link below to view.
GCC School Musical Stage Mural [GCC Parents Update Friday 7 November 2025]
Since GCC first opened its doors in 1997, our annual school musical has been a cherished tradition and a highlight of the school year. More than just a performance, it is a celebration of creativity, collaboration, and school spirit. Each year, students from across all year groups come together to showcase their talents in acting, singing, music, and production, contributing to an unforgettable experience for the entire school community.
We are very excited to share with you our proposed mural for the stage panels in the B Block Social area which captures the long history of musicals in GCC and emphasises its vital role in enriching school life, building confidence, friendships, and a deep sense of pride and belonging. It will continue to be a source of joy and inspiration for all involved.
Congratulations to GCC 2025 Graduate Toby Tangney [GCC Parents Update Friday 7 November 2025]
We would like to congratulate 2025 GCC graduate Toby Tangney who received a Quercus Innovation/Entrepreneurship Scholarship at the Quercus Talented Students’ Awards Night on Tuesday 28 October in the Aula Maxima, UCC.
The new scholars were presented with a silver acorn pin as a symbol of their Quercus Scholarship and the school received a Quercus plaque to display. Toby is pictured below at the awards ceremony with GCC Principal Ronan McCarthy and Professor Stephen Byrne, UCC Deputy President and Registrar.
Congratulations to EJ Paras 5th Year [Rang Eabha] [GCC Parents Update Friday 7 November 2025]
We are delighted to share that EJ Paras has been invited to the Annual National Awards Ceremony in recognition of his outstanding achievement in his Junior Certificate Graphics. EJ has been ranked among the Top 10 Graphics students in the country, a remarkable accomplishment that reflects his dedication and talent. He will be honoured with a Medal and Certificate of Achievement at the prestigious event hosted by the Engineering Technology Teachers’ Association (ETTA) in Galway on Saturday, 22 November 2025.
GCC Annual Mass of Remembrance [GCC Parents Update Friday 7 November 2025]
Our annual Mass of Remembrance was held after school today, bringing together staff, students, parents, and members of our wider school community. We are deeply grateful to everyone who joined us for this special occasion.
A heartfelt thank you to our Chaplain, Marie McInerney, for organising such a thoughtful and moving service. Our talented students contributed beautifully through readings, music, and prayers of the faithful, creating a truly meaningful atmosphere. Special thanks also to Ann Mannix for her continued dedication in guiding our musicians and singers. This event holds a special place in the life of our school, offering comfort and hope to all who are remembering loved ones, particularly during the month of November.
GCC Safe Routes to School [GCC Parents Update Friday 7 November 2025]
Parents and students may recall that back in 2021, the school made an application to the Safe Routes to School Funding Scheme, supported by the National Transport Authority (NTA). This programme aims to enhance safety, convenience, and public amenity for all road users through the improvement of front-of-school areas and routes to schools.
The school has been informed that the works, which will be carried out by McGinty & O’Shea Ltd, will commence next Monday 10 November and will continue for approximately 3 months. Please note that Traffic Management measures will be in place throughout the duration of the works to ensure the safety of all road users and workers. These improvements aim to create a safer, more efficient and accessible transport network for the community. Please click on the links below to view an information letter from McGintys as well as the screening report and scheme drawings for the project.
McGinty & O Shea – Safe Routes to School
Screening Report & Scheme Drawings
GCC WSE-MLL Report [GCC Parents Update Friday 10 October 2025]
Please click on the link to view the WSE-MLL report following our inspection back in March. While much of the information in the report was shared during the feedback sessions with the lead inspectors in April, it is important to acknowledge the strong performance of the school across all areas of the inspection. GCC continues to perform at a consistently high level, driven by our exceptional staff, our wonderful students and the commitment of our parents to the school.
Glanmire Community College [ 76064F] WSE-MLL Report
The Board of Management, on behalf of the school, now has the opportunity to respond formally to the report, comment on the content, and highlight the follow-up actions which we propose to take following the visit.
