Parents Update Wednesday 21 December 2022

Dear Parents,

Christmas Wishes from all in Glanmire Community College

As 2022 draws to a close and we prepare for Christmas, we would like to thank all our parents for your support throughout the year. In particular we would like to mention our GCC Parents Council under the leadership of Ger Moloney Sheehan for its positive engagement with the school and their work in supporting essential school activities such as the Book Rental scheme, Uniform Bank sale and the upcoming School Musical. Our GCC Board of Management also deserve mention working behind the scenes to provide the best environment and resources for the school and our students, led by Chairperson Linda Skillington. A very special word of thanks to our great team of SNAs, office, cleaning and caretaking staff who strive continuously to make the school the very best it can be. A final thank you to our wonderful teachers who have worked tirelessly, inside and outside the classroom, to provide so many high quality learning opportunities for our students. So often our teachers go the extra mile to ensure they are fully supported in all aspects of their education here in GCC. We wish all in our school community a very safe, happy and enjoyable Christmas break. We look forward to welcoming everyone back when school re-opens at 8.30am on Thursday 5 January 2023.

2023 Leaving Certificate, Leaving Certificate Applied and Junior Cycle Examinations

The State Exams Commission (SEC) wish to advise that the timetables for the 2023 Leaving Certificate, Leaving Certificate Applied and Junior Cycle examinations have been published on www.examinations.ie. The suite of timetables can be accessed under the Examinations 2023 Banner on the home page. Further Information in relation to the arrangements for the 2023 examinations will issue in early January.

“Beauty and the Beast”, Bord Gais Theatre, Dublin

On 7 December 2022, 5th & 6th year music students travelled to the Bord Gais Theatre, Dublin to see the musical Beauty and the Beast. Great fun was had by all. The show was spectacular with the audience transported to a magical world. Beauty fell in love and the Beast transformed into a prince and GCC students enjoyed every minute. A big thank you to Ms. Mannix, Ms. O’Sullivan, Mr. O’Leary & Ms. Eileen Armstrong.

Newtown School and GCC Senior Choir in a choral celebration.

On Friday 9 December Newtown School travelled all the way from Waterford city to join our GCC Senior Choir in a choral celebration. Newtown School performed Lullaby of Broadway & The Peace Prayer. GCC performed Mack the Knife & Goodnight, Sweetheart. Soloists from both schools sang & played. Ms. Mannix brought in treats for both choirs and a great day was had by all. Ms. Mannix said it was great to be singing once again.

HPV Vaccination Programme for 1st Year Students

Please click on the following link to view an update from the National Immunization Office regarding the HPV Vaccination Programme for 1st Year Students.

HSE Vaccinations

Calendar Events

Date	Event	Time
Thu 22nd Dec – Wed 4 Jan	Christmas Holidays
Thursday 5 January 2023	School opens for Second Term	@8.50pm
Monday 9 January 2023	GCC Board of Management meeting	@4.30pm
Monday 9 January 2023	GCC Parents Council Meeting	@7.30pm
Tuesday 10 January	Staff Meeting	4pm – 5pm
Thursday 19 January	4th Year PPT Meeting	4.15pm – 6.45pm

Review of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs (EPSEN) Act 2004

The Department of Education has commenced a review of the legislation that provides for education for children and young persons with special educational needs. The Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004, is often known as the EPSEN act and provides for the education of children aged under 18 years with special educational needs. The purpose of the review is to ensure that legislation on education for students with additional needs is up-to-date, fully operational, and reflective of the lived experiences of students, families and school communities. The review will help us to understand what aspects of the law is working well and whether aspects of it should be amended. As part of the review process, a public consultation is taking place. This consultation will seek the views of a wide range of organizations and individuals that have experience with the law and with the services provided under it. It is an important part of the review that the lived experiences of students and families are recorded. To achieve this, the Department has asked us to share the information about the public consultation and the link to the survey with our school community (www.gov.ie/epsenreview). The Department especially wants to hear from students and their parents, and from young people who left school in recent years.

It is vital that the public consultation reaches a large number of people, so that a wide variety of views and experiences of different individuals can be captured. The Department is committed to ensuring that the views of persons with disabilities are fully considered in policy making. It will also hold focus groups with parents and students over the coming months. When the survey process is completed, the Department will produce a consultation paper, and will run further consultation events. If you would like to be invited to a consultation event, please contact the Department on epsen@education.gov.ie.

School Policies

We have one new policy and 2 existing policies for ratification/review in advance of our Board of Management meeting on Monday 9 January 2023.

Review of Critical Incident Plan
Review of Attendance/Participation Policy
New Policy on School Outings*

As always, the mechanism for providing feedback is via our dedicated policyreview@glanmirecollege.com email. Please feedback with any comments by Friday 6 January 2023. Please click on the links below to access the policies:

Dec 22 Review of Critical Incident Management Plan

Dec 22 Review of Attendance-Participation-Policy

Dec 22 Draft School Outings Policy

1st Year Subject Options Information

Please click on the following link to view our presentation to parents at our 1st Year Subject Options Information evening on Monday 5 December.

JC Information for Incoming 1st Year 2023_2024_Subject Choice_5Dec2022

Changes required to Schools’ Admissions policies

The Department of Education wishes to bring to the attention of school authorities changes that are required to the schools Admissions Statement following the commencement of the Education (Provision in Respect of Children with Special Educational Needs) Act 2022. All schools must include the below text in the schools admissions statement. The admissions statement is part of the school’s admissions policy.

“Glanmire Community College will cooperate with the National Council for Special Education in the performance by the Council of its functions under the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004 relating to the provision of education to children with special educational needs, including in particular by the provision and operation of a special class or classes when requested to do so by the Council. Glanmire Community College will comply with any direction served on the patron or the board, as the case may be, under section 37A and any direction served on the board under section 67(4B) of the Education Act.”

The Department’s template schools admission policy has been updated to include this text. Section 62 (2) (b) of the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018 requires schools to consult with the patron, parents of students attending the school and staff of the school where amendments are made to the school’s admission policy. We have been asked to bring this legislative change outlined above to the attention of the above members of the school community for their information and comment. Please feedback via our policyreview@glanmirecollege.com email by next Friday 16 December 2022.