SCS are delighted to launch our new Preventing and Addressing Bullying Bí Cineálta policy.
Pictured are Ms. Mary Belton (Deputy Principal), Mr. Diarmuid O’Donnabháin (Deputy Principal), Mr. Peter Lynch (Wellbeing Co-Ordinator) & Mr. Tom Foley (Deputy Principal).
The State Examinations Commission (SEC) as part of its digital strategy, introduced a facility to allow Leaving Certificate candidates to confirm their subject and level entry details online (including adding or withdrawing from subjects). The use of the online system, the Candidate Self Service Portal (CSSP) will continue for the 2026 Leaving Certificate.
The portal will open on Tuesday 21st of October 2025 for candidates to register and activate their account and confirm their subject entries and levels. It will remain open for this purpose until 5pm Friday 07th November 2025. Candidates will be given a further opportunity to amend subjects/levels in January/February 2026.
It is essential that all candidates register through the Portal as this Portal will provide candidates with the opportunity to confirm their subject choice and levels, to also allow future access to their results and for the later stages of the process such as the appeals application process.
A copy of the Before You Start Guide 2026 is also attached (click button below).
There is helpdesk support available at 1800-111135 or 1800-111136 between 9am to 5pm until Friday 07 November 2025. Outside of these hours you can email candidateportal@examinations.ie
Click on the button below for the November Exams Timetable.
Please click on the button below for the Guidance Newsletter for Parents of LC Students, Oct 2025
Dear Parents/Guardians,
On Wednesday 8th October, your daughter/son will be presented with their Junior Cycle Profile of Achievement (JCPA).
During your daughter/son’s journey through Junior Cycle, you will be aware of their achievements in their Classroom Based Assessments (CBAs), and Other Areas of Learning (OALs). They will also be receiving their Junior Cycle state examination results. The JCPA will contain a record of each of these areas of achievement.
We are delighted to invite you to a school celebration of this wonderful achievement commencing at 12.40pm. We kindly request that you take your seats by 12.30pm. Light refreshments will be served after the presentation. We anticipate the event will take approximately an hour or so.
We are very much looking forward to this special occasion and to celebrate your daughter/son’s success with you. Thank you for your continued support.
Every good wish,
Patrick Hayes
Junior Cycle Co-Ordinator
Return Dates:
Monday 25th August – 1st Years 9am – 12pm
Tuesday 26th August – 2nd & 5th 9am – 12pm
Wednesday 27th – 1st & 4th Year 9 -1:10pm
Thursday – Full School Return - 9am – 3:50pm.
Closures:
October 2025 Mid-term Break 27th October to 31st October 2025 (inclusive)
Christmas 2025 Holidays School closes on 19th Dec and re-opens on 5th Jan 2026
February 2026 Mid- Term Break 16th February – 20th February
Easter 2026 Holidays School closes on 27th March and re-opens on 13th April, 2026
Staff Training
· 6th October - Staff Cluster Day
· 11th December Child Protection
· 7th May Planning for Senior Cycle
Other Closures · Friday 26th September · 2nd February 2026 – St Brigid’s Day · 17th March 2026 – St Patrick’s Day · 4th May 2026 – May Bank Holiday
PARENT TEACHERS MEETINGS
6th Year - 16th October 2025
5th Year - 8th Jan 2026
4th Year - 26th February 2026
3rd Year - 25th November 2025
2nd Year - 20th Jan 2026
1st Year - 10th March 2026
Minister McEntee confirms that from September students will benefit from free school books:
This Free Book Scheme scheme means that:
schoolbooks/ebooks, workbooks and copybooks will be provided directly to all pupils by schools
there is no need parents or guardians to buy or rent these items
schoolbooks are the property of the school and must be returned at the end of the school year.
What to do the night before an exam
Check the times of exams the next day - don’t assume or guess!
Pack your bag and pencil case carefully; gather your pens, pencils, eraser, maths sets, calculator, coloured pencils, and markers.
Don’t forget you can’t ask for these during the exam.
Make sure to write in blue and black pens only: make sure you have these and spare pens packed.
Go back over what your teachers told you with regards to layout of the paper and timing. When you go in the next day, you should know how many questions you must do on each paper and allow time for each one.
What to do on the day of the exam
Be organised: get up on time, give yourself plenty of time to eat breakfast, and get to school before 9am
Wear your uniform, clothing should not be a distraction!
Calm yourself before you begin - breathe!
Focus: try to see the exam as a chance for you to prove what you know.
Be smart: remember your exam paper has thousands of words on it which can give you clues, such as the right spellings to use for answers throughout the exam: use it to your advantage!
What to do during the exam
At the start of the exam:
Read the questions with your pen in your hand and underline key things you must answer
Present information well to maximise your grades - presentation is key.
When answering questions:
Read and check back over the question again to make sure you are answering exactly what is asked
Remember to use diagrams in subjects where they are either required (such as on the Geography paper) or to add context to your answer
Read back over your answers when you finish a section
Stay the distance: each exam is timed for a reason, so don’t leave early.
If you have spare time:
Do an extra question; remember, all material must be corrected by the examiner
Keep writing; you are permitted to extend and develop your answers by indicating on the paper what the extra information relates to (such as by writing “extra information for question 2”).
If you are running out of time:
Make a list of the remainder points you would include in an answer if you don’t have time to finish it in full
List the points you would make if you are short an answer to a question: a few points are better than nothing.
What to do after the exam:
Stay on track. Try to not to discuss the exam paper with your fellow students: you are all different and comparing could lead to upset and could distract you from your next paper.
Get something to eat and enjoy some fresh air.
Go into quiet room and relax for the afternoon exam.
Enjoy a good break in the evening. Try and refocus by getting some fresh air or exercise and then move your focus on the following day’s exams.
Dear Parents/Guardians,
I hope this letter finds you well. At Skibbereen Community School we are committed to providing the best possible learning environment for our students. In this regard, we are updating our mobile phone policy to further support student focus, wellbeing, and academic success.
At the start of this school year the then Minister for Education, Ms. Norma Foley instructed schools to implement a ban on the use of mobile phones during the school day as part of a push to ensure that schools become mobile phone free learning environments in the interest of student wellbeing.
Our existing mobile phone policy already limits the use of mobile phones during the school day with phone usage only permitted for learning purposes under the supervision of teachers. Students in breach of this policy currently have their phones confiscated and returned to them at the end of the school day.
However, in recent months it is becoming more and more apparent that the use of mobile phones outside of this policy is increasing as are all the associated negative effects on student wellbeing. Indeed in a recent survey on bullying behaviours undertaken by the school very large numbers of students and parents state that phone usage is a contributory factor in relation to bullying behaviour and that the school should do more to limit their use during the school day.
For these reasons, the following changes to the school's mobile phone policy will come into effect from the 24th of March 2025.
• Students should only bring a phone to school where it is absolutely necessary to contact parents after school.
• Mobile phones will now be collected at the start of each class by teachers and returned at the end of the lesson.
• Students who use their phone at any time during the school day outside of teacher directed use will have it confiscated.
• A parent/guardian will now be required to collect the phone from the school office.
• Failure to hand over a phone on request or the use of second or multiple phones will result in immediate sanction ranging from a red card and associated sanctions to suspension in accordance with the nature of the incident.
• The school canteen will no longer accept payment by phone. Cash or card will be the only methods of payment accepted.
• Students will continue to be able to contact home through the school office. Please refrain from texting or phoning your son/daughter during school hours. Urgent messages for students can be left at the school office.
We appreciate your support in reinforcing this policy at home and discussing the benefits of reduced phone use with your child.
These benefits include:
• Reduced distraction from learning: A report from the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) found that frequent mobile phone use and always on notifications negatively impacts student concentration and academic outcomes, often taking up to 20 minutes to refocus from a phone notification.
• Reduced impact on mental health: The Ombudsman for Children's Office has raised concerns about phone use contributing to anxiety, peer pressure, and sleep deprivation among teenagers.
• Improved social development: Limiting phone use encourages face-to-face interactions and cultivates conversation both of which are crucial for communication skills and emotional well-being.
• Reduced access to harmful content such as violence, inappropriate sexual content and gambling.
• Reduced risk of bullying and harassment.
Thank you for working with us to ensure that Skibbereen Community School continues to provide a focused and positive learning space for all students. If you have any questions,• please do not hesitate to contact us.
Regards,
Mr. Anton O Mahony,
Principal.
SEPTEMBER
September 23rd Senior A Ladies V Mercy Mounthawk in Ballyvourney (Munster Championship)
OCTOBER
October 8th Senior A Ladies V ISK (Munster Championship)
October 11th Senior A Boys v Clonakilty Community College (Simcox Round 1)
October 14th Senior A Ladies V St.Brigids of Killarney (Munster Championship)
October 23rd Senior A Boys V St.Pat’s Castleisland (Munster Championship)
NOVEMBER
Nov 13th Senior A Boys V Mercy Mounthawk Tralee(Munster Championship)
Nov 27th Senior A Boys V Abbey CBS (Munster Championship)
SCS is offering Supervised Study to Leaving and Junior Cert Students, every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 4pm to 6pm. Block 1 starts on Monday, Sept 9th in Room F01. Light refreshments will be provided. The cost is €20 per block, refundable if the student has 75%attendance. Application Forms can be got from the main office.
THE PROGRAMME FOR RE-OPENING IS AS FOLLOWS:
2024/2025 OPENING PROGRAMME
Tuesday 27th August, 2024
1st Years only
9.00 a.m. – 12 noon
Wednesday 28th August, 2024
1st & 4th Years only
9.00 a.m. – 1.10 p.m.
Thursday 29th August, 2024
3rd & 6th Years only
9.00 a.m. – 12 noon
Friday 30th August, 2024
All Students
9.00 a.m. – 3:50p.m.
PLEASE NOTE: School Buses will run in accordance with these times.
2024/2025 SCHOOL CALENDAR
October 2024 mid-term break:
28th October to 1st November, 2024. (inclusive)
Christmas 2024 holidays:
School closes on 20th December 2024 and re-opens on 6th January, 2024
February 2025 mid-term break:
17th February – 21st February 2025. (inclusive)
Easter 2025 holidays:
School closes on 14th April 2025 and re-opens on 28th April, 2025
Other Closures:
3rd February 2025 – St Brigid’s Day
17th March 2025 - St. Patrick’s Day
5th May 2025 - May Bank Holiday
Staff Training Days
23rd January 2025 – Cluster Day
8th May 2025 - Whole School Planning
Please click on the button below for the relevant Year Group Book List
Click on the relevant buttons below for the Summer Exam Timetables.
