Dear Parents and Students,

GCC Graduation-Class of 2025

We would like to thank everyone who contributed to the success of our 2025 Leaving Certificate Graduation Ceremony on Thursday night. The event was a meaningful and memorable celebration for our students and their families. Our thanks to Marie McInerney and the team for the smooth coordination of the programme on the night ensuring everything ran seamlessly. The teamwork and attention to detail was evident and our students and parents were grateful for the special send-off they were afforded from the school. Our GCC graduates reflect the very best of our school community and it was a proud moment for all of us involved.  Photographs from the event will be shared with parents, students and staff as part of next week’s update.

As advised on Tuesday, teachers will  be available to 6th Year students at their designated class times and this facility will be offered by the school to students until the end of May. Students are asked to communicate with their teachers via Google Classroom. A study classroom in C11 will be set aside for students starting next Monday. Details of the study centre, SEC updates and other relevant information will continue to be communicated to students via Google Classroom. We encourage students to continue engaging with their teachers and programmes of work in these final weeks of the school term.

GCC Diograis Awards Ceremony 2025 

Please click on the link below to view a selection of photographs taken at our GCC Díograis ceremony last week by the photographer John Roche.

GCC Diograis 2025 – Photographs

GCC Summer Exams

Please click on the links below to view details of the summer exams for each relevant year group:

GCC Summer Exams 2025

GCC Parents Council

The GCC Parents Council would like to share regular updates that are received from the National Parents Council. (NPC) We have created a dedicated tab on the parents section of the website.

Please click on the link to view the recent update from the NPC:

https://www.glanmirecc.ie/parents/

GCC Activities of the Week Monday 19 to Friday 23 May 2025.

Please click on the link below to view the activities for next week Monday 19 to Friday 23 May 2025.

GCC Activities of the Week Monday 19 – Friday 23 May 2025

GCC End of term dates for 3rd Year and TY Students

Parents are asked to note that TY students will finish on Tuesday 27 May at 3.50pm following their graduation ceremony. Third year students will finish on Wednesday 28 May at 1.10pm.

GCC Upcoming Calendar Events – May 2025

HSE Podcasts for Parents

The HSE Talking Health and Wellbeing Podcast series recently marked its 100th episode, and has a number of episodes which address the health needs of young people. Please click on the link below to view a letter that includes further information and links to episodes that provide support for young people and families. With helpful tips and advice from a range of healthcare professionals, partners and service users, the episodes offer practical and evidenced based advice, in a friendly manner. [HSE Stakeholder Engagement and Communications, HSE Health and Wellbeing]

HSE Podcasts for Parents

Inspectorate Update to Schools – May 2025

Please click on the link below to view an update from the Chief Inspector Yvonne Keating about the work of the Inspectorate in schools as it relates to this term.

Inspectorate Update

Education for Sustainable Development [ESD] Newsletter – May Issue

Please click on the link below to view the May 2025 issue of the Department of Education
and Youth’s ESD Newsletter.

ESD_Newsletter_May_2025_EV_Gov.ie

Information leaflet for Schools on national network of Drug and Alcohol Taskforces

Please click on the link below to view an updated information leaflet on the range of supports taskforces can provide to schools as well as contact details for all the taskforces throughout the country. It includes information on several programmes and online resources relating to drug and alcohol use that may be helpful for schools and parents.

The purpose of the leaflet is to raise awareness among schools on the supports and expertise task forces can share and to encourage schools to engage with, and avail of this expertise, as part of the overall effort to respond to and prevent drug and alcohol abuse by young people. Schools are encouraged by the Department of Education to share the resource widely with teachers, particularly SPHE teachers and coordinators, parents and the wider school community.

Information for schools on drug and alcohol use

General Special Needs Assistant (SNA) Panel – 2025/2026 Academic Year

Cork ETB has now advertised for the General Special Needs Assistant (SNA) Panel for the 2025/2026 academic year. The position is listed under Vacancy ID #050726, and the closing date for applications is 12:00 noon on Friday, 30 May 2025. Please click on the link below for more details.

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Reminders 

Assessment Adjustments

Please click on the link below to view a letter from the Minister for Education, Helen McEntee, confirming that the changes made to the Leaving Certificate exams in recent years will still apply to the 2026 exams. These changes include giving students more choice in the exam questions and reducing the amount of preparation work they need to do.

Minister for Education – Assessment Adjustments

Summer Coding & Technology Camps Organised by the School of Computer Science & Information Technology, UCC

Please click on the link below to view details of the ICT Summer Camps 2025 being organised by the School of Computer Science and Information Technology at University College Cork and which are now open for booking. The in person camp for secondary school students takes place in the UCC Western Gateway Building in Cork from Tuesday 3 to Saturday 7 June (5 days) from 10.00am to 2.30pm each day. The cost is €130.

Summer Camp Secondary Schools

Circular S05/25 Outlining the Deferred Examination Sitting 2025

Please click on the link below to view Circular S05/25 ‘Outlining the Deferred Examination Sitting 2025′. It provides important information in relation to 2025 RACE Scheme – Provision of a scheme of Deferred Examinations for Leaving Certificate and Leaving Certificate Applied candidates unable to sit one or more papers in the main sitting in June on grounds of;

1. Close family bereavement – funeral preparation and attendance
2. Serious medical conditions – accident, injury or illness

The document has been published on the SEC Website and is available here.

GCC Senior Choir – Cork International Choral Festival Post Primary Choir Competition Winners 

We would like to congratulate our GCC Senior Choir who won the Cork International Choral Festival post primary choir competition last Thursday. GCC came 1st in the Mixed Choirs category achieving an outstanding 93.5%. This was the highest mark achieved by any school across all the various categories, with schools from all over Ireland taking part. We were delighted that our choir were able to perform in the school on Friday morning for our 1st Year student. They also performed for the visiting Kammerkoret NOVA choir from Norway [please see below] who were visiting GCC for our annual Friendship Concert as part of the Choral Festival. 

We would like to express our gratitude to our colleague Ann Mannix for her leadership of the group and the elite level of support she provides to them. We are also grateful to Ms Gilbert, Ms McInerney and all who support Music in GCC and ensure it continues to underpin that which is best in our school. A special mention also for accompanying musician Galina Badmaev parent of Diana Badmaeva 3rd Year Rang Caoimhe. 

SPHE at Senior Cycle

Parents and students are asked to note that the new Senior Cycle SPHE curriculum is available for implementation in schools from next September. All schools will be obliged to introduce the specification for all students entering fifth year by September 2027 at the latest. It is our intention in GCC to introduce SPHE in 5th Year this coming September if possible. Please note also that the new specification will also replace Social Education modules I and II of the Leaving Certificate Applied for all LCA students entering 5th year in September.

It is important to highlight that the addition of SPHE into Senior Cycle will impact on the overall allocation of classes. For a class period to be added to one subject, it must be taken away from another. We are beginning a consultation process with parents, teachers and students to receive their input regarding this change. As a first step we are inviting stakeholders to feedback via our dedicated policyreview@glanmirecollege.com email on how this change to our curriculum allocation might be facilitated. Please email your comments by today Friday 9 May 2025.

Senior Cycle Redevelopment Information Note

Please click on the link to view the latest Senior Cycle Redevelopment Information Note from the Department of Education. This is the eleventh edition in a series of Department of Education Senior Cycle Redevelopment information notes. These notes provide updates to school communities on the roll-out of the Senior Cycle Redevelopment programme.

Senior Cycle Redevelopment Information Note 11

GCC Summer Programme 2025

GCC Ski Trip 2027

Please click on the link to view the application form for the GCC Ski Trip in 2027. Parents are asked to note the following please:

• Places are limited 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 GCC Ski Trip and the TY European City Tour.

GCC Ski Trip 2027 – Application Form

This will be the 4th GCC Ski trip since Covid and we are grateful to Mr Aidan Rees and the team of teachers for providing this wonderful opportunity for our students.

Schoolbooks Grant Guidance for Post-Primary Schools 2025/26

Buying schoolbooks and classroom resources can be a costly expense for parents/guardians. In 2024 schools were provided with funding to buy schoolbooks and core classroom resources for students in Junior Cycle. From 2025 the Post-primary Schoolbooks Scheme will provide funding to schools to buy items for all students up to Senior Cycle. Please click on the links below for an explanation of how the scheme is run and provides answers to some frequently asked questions.

Letter from Minister to parents of students in Post-Primary Schools 202526

Post-primary Schoolbooks Scheme 2025_26 A guide for Parents Guardians

GCC Senior Management [Ronan McCarthy (Principal), Patrick O’Mahony (Deputy Principal), Caroline Byrne (Deputy Principal), Seamus Kennefick (Deputy Principal)]