Dear GCC Parents/Guardians & Students,
GCC Feis Maitiu Winners 2026
We would like to extend our congratulations to the GCC school choirs who competed in Feis Maitiú on Wednesday. The Junior Choir and Group Choir both came in first place in their categories, and the Senior Choir came in second place in a competition that had outstanding choirs from schools all over the country. As always, our thanks to Ann Mannix for her incredible contribution to Music in GCC and the leadership and guidance she has given to the students not only this year but down through the years. Our thanks also to Emma Gibbons, Caitriona Kennedy and Marie McInerney for accompanying the students on the day.
GCC Solar Panels
In our January update, we informed parents that the school intended to spend up to €50k on the installation of solar panels in our B Block building. We are delighted to update parents that the installation work was completed this week and the panels are now fully operational [Please see drone picture below]. The final cost of the project inclusive of VAT was just over €61k but the school will receive a grant from the SEAI in the region of €15k bringing the cost to the school back to about €45k.
We hope this investment in our school infrastructure will be self financing in the long term and will help alleviate some of the cost of our electricity bills which are more than €5k per month on average. This project also ensures that GCC continues to provide a sustainable and high quality learning environment. This would not be possible without the voluntary contributions of parents to the school for which we are very grateful. The annual parent contribution to our GCC Student Development Fund is €300 [€350 for TY students] with a €100 reduction per sibling. This amount is agreed with our GCC Parents Council and our GCC Board of Management.
Cork ETB Erasmus Plus & European Engagement
Throughout the year Cork ETB facilitates visits from teachers and staff from abroad who come on job shadowing mobilities and to attend training courses in their subject specialisms. On Tuesday morning GCC was delighted to welcome Marta Carrasco de la Cruz and Nuria Moreno Cavero from IES Alfonso VIII High school in Cuenca, Spain. CETB hopes to develop foundations for future partnerships and mobilities and the opportunity to work on a collaborative basis with our European counterparts. We would like to thank all our teachers and students who facilitated the visit and gave our visitors the opportunity to see the many strengths of our school.
GCC Ski Trip 2028 – Application Form
Glanmire Community College is planning to organize a Transition Year Ski Trip to Italy or Austria in late January/early February 2028. The estimated cost of the ski trip will be in the region of €1600 to €1700 per student. Details of what this includes are outlined in the application link below. Parents and students are asked to note that:
- Places are limited to 54 students maximum and if your application is successful two non-refundable deposits are required to confirm your place
- We are not able to book a place on the ski trips we organise for any student who has not paid two deposits in full
- Only students who have paid the GCC student activity fee in full will be allowed to travel.
- Students are not permitted to participate in both the Ski Trip and the TY European City Tour.
- Please click on the link below to view the application form for our annual GCC Ski Trip in 2028. Our thanks to Ski Tour organiser Mr Aidan Rees for leading this key event in our GCC school calendar.
GCC Ski Trip 2028 Application Form
ESRI Report – School Absence leads to poorer Education, Wellbeing as Adult
Please click on the link below to view an article on the RTE website this week outlining the findings of an ESRI report which has found that school absence leads to lower educational qualifications and poorer wellbeing in early adulthood.
https://www.rte.ie/news/education/2026/0226/1560475-school-esri-study/
Mental Health Resources – Togetherall
The school is sharing information with parents and students about Togetherall, a free, online, anonymous peer-to-peer mental health support platform for young people aged 16 to 30. Please click on the links below for further details:
Ireland_Health_Signpost to Togetherall_Overview
Partner Pack – Togetherall peer-to-peer mental health support platform for ages 16 to 30[58]
While this may be a helpful additional support we ask parents and student to note the following:
• Togetherall is not a crisis service and does not replace professional mental health care, school supports, or emergency services
• Users interact anonymously with a wide age range (16–30)
• Some discussions may involve sensitive or distressing topics, despite moderation
• Due to anonymity, parental oversight is limited
We encourage families to discuss online supports together and to use this as part of a broader network of support.
GCC Activities of the Week Monday 2 to Friday 6 March 2026
Please click on the link to view the Activities of the Week beginning Monday 2 to Friday 6 March 2026:
GCC Activities of the Week Monday 2 to Friday 6 March 2026
GCC Upcoming Calendar Events – March 2026
| Date | Event | Note |
| Monday 2 March | GCC Board of Management Meeting | @ 4.30pm |
| Monday 2 March | GCC Parents’ Council Meeting | @ 7.00pm |
| Monday 2 March | GCC Spring Assessments Years 1, 2, 4 & 5 | 2/3 to 6/3 |
| Wednesday 4 March | GCC Staff Meeting | 4.00pm – 5.50pm |
| Monday 9 March | GCC PPT Meeting for 1st Year students | 4.15pm – 6.45pm |
| Monday 16 March | GCC Staff Development Day | School Closed |
| Tuesday 17 March | St Patricks Day | School Closed |
| Thursday 26 March | GCC Staff Meeting | 4.00pm – 5.50pm |
| Friday 27 March | Easter Holidays | |
| Saturday 28 March | Leaving Certificate Oral Exams | 28/3 – 2/4 |
Safe Routes to School Scheme
McGinty & O’Shea Ltd. Have advised the school that line marking works are scheduled for next Monday 2 March. These works will involve the use of heavy machinery and the removal of existing markings by burning, which may result in increased noise and temporary fumes in the area. McGinty & O’Shea Ltd. apologise in advance for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate our understanding.
Shaping the Future – an Invitation to the Apprenticeship Expo 2026
Please see below and invitation to the Apprenticeship Expo 2026, a premier event hosted by Cork ETB. The world of work is changing rapidly, and apprenticeships are now more diverse and prestigious than ever. This expo is a unique opportunity for our students to explore the “Earn as You Learn” model across a massive range of industries, from Engineering and Biopharma to ICT, Finance, and the traditional trades. This is more than just a careers fair; it is a gateway to the next generation of professional talent.
- Date: Wednesday, 11 March 2026
- Time: 1:30 PM – 6:30 PM
Registration: Please click on the link below:
https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/apprenticeship-expo-2026-tickets-1982348451582?aff=oddtdtcreator
- Why Students Should Attend
We have designed this event to be as interactive and informative as possible. Attendees will have the chance to:
- Engage Directly with Employers: Meet representatives from leading local and national companies who are actively recruiting.
- Discover Diverse Pathways: Learn about 70+ different apprenticeship programs that suit every interest and skill set.
- Receive Expert Guidance: Our advisors will be on hand to answer questions about applications, career progression, and qualification levels.
- Experience Live Demos: See the practical skills behind the careers through live demonstrations in the workshops.
Apprenticeship Services Team Cork College of FET – Bishopstown Campus
Standardised School Year – CC2018/2026
Please click on the link to view the Circular 18/2026 which provides information to stakeholders on the standardisation of the school year in respect of primary and post-primary schools for the years 2026/27, 2027/28 and 2028/29.
Standardised School Year Circular 0018_2026
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.
