Letter to 6th Year Parents, May 2024

Dear Parent/Guardian,

As we enter the final month of your son/daughter's journey at Skibbereen Community School, it's remarkable to reflect on the experiences and growth they've encountered during their time here. 

The normal class timetable for Leaving Cert students will continue as scheduled up to May 22nd, with our final student assembly and graduation celebration. We're excited to announce that the 6th Year Graduation ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday, May 22nd, from 2 to 4pm in the school sports hall. We warmly invite all parents/guardians to attend and celebrate this significant milestone with the class of 2024. 

On Friday afternoon, May 17th, weather permitting, the School’s Pastoral Care Team have organised a “Beach Day” on the Warren Strand to mark the final school outing that this Year Group will have together. All students are encouraged to attend. 

Beyond May 22nd, some teachers may schedule additional revision classes, and Skibbereen Community School will remain open as a study facility for 6th years, providing resources for those who wish to utilize them. We strongly encourage all students to attend lessons diligently as we approach the final weeks leading up to the Leaving Cert start date of June 5th. 

After the exams have finished, the School has organised a “Book Sale” where Leaving Certs can sell their books, class notes, revision handbooks and materials to TY and 5th Year Students.  

We've emphasized to the students the importance of concluding their time at Skibbereen Community School on a high note and to the best possible standard. They have been an outstanding year group, always collaborating with the staff, and we expect this to be reflected in their conduct as they finish the year. 

Below you will find a PDF copy of the LC timetables and there's a link to an information video specifically designed for 6th Year students, providing guidance on the essential information to include on the front cover of their answer books and stationery, as well as the correct writing instruments to use during exams. 

The State Examinations Commission (SEC) intends to issue the results of the 2024 Leaving Certificate and Leaving Certificate Applied examinations to candidates on Friday, August 23rd. 

Lastly, the 2024 digital edition of the Citizens Information Board’s School Leavers guide is now available. This guide is accessible in both English and Irish on the Citizens Information Board website. 

Warm regards, 

Mr. Anton O Mahony, 
Principal, 
Skibbereen Community School. 

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School Calendar Dates 2023/2024

Reopening Dates AUG/SEPT 2023 -

  • MONDAY 28TH AUGUST -1ST YEARS ONLY 9AM-11.30AM.

  • TUESDAY 29TH AUGUST- 3RD AND 6TH YEARS ONLY 9AM -11.30AM.

  • WEDNESDAY 30TH AUGUST -4TH AND 1ST YEARS ONLY 9AM-1.10AM.

  • THURSDAY 31ST AUGUST -ALL CLASSES 9AM-3.50.

    PLEASE NOTE: School Buses will run in accordance with these times.

October 2023 mid-term break - Monday 30th October 2023 to Friday 3rd November 2023 inclusive.

Christmas 2023- All schools will close on Friday 22nd December 2023, All schools will re-open on Monday 8th January 2024.

February 2024 mid-term break - Monday 12th February 2024 to Friday 16th February 2024 inclusive.

Easter 2024 - All schools will close on Friday 22nd March and re-open on Monday 8th April 2024, unless changes are required as part of contingency arrangements to make up for time lost due to unforeseen school closures.

St.Brigid’s Day Bank Holiday - Monday Feb 5th 2024

St. Patricks’s Day Bank Holiday- Monday March 18th 2024

May Bank Holiday - Monday May 6th 2024

Other Closures

- September 29th 2023

PARENT TEACHER MEETINGS

6TH - 17th OCTOBER 2023

3RD - 26th OCTOBER 2023

5TH - 11 TH JANUARY 2024

4TH - 22nd FEBRUARY 2024

2ND - 23rd JANUARY 2024

1ST - 7th and 12th MARCH 2024

BOOK AND EBOOK LISTS 2023/2024

Click on the black buttons below for the relevant Year Group Book lists:

6th Years will be selling their used school books, class notes, revision handbooks, materials etc. to 4th, 5th and 6th years on Friday, June 23rd at 2pm in the canteen. The sale, prices agreed and negotiation is between the seller and buyer and the school has no involement.

Student Council Members 2023/2024

  1. AMY STEVENS, 1ST YEAR

  2. CATHÁL Ó TREASAIGH, 1ST YEAR

  3. JULIA TOKARCZYK, 2ND YEAR

  4. NOAH DENNEHY, 2ND YEAR

  5. CALUM BRODERICK, 3RD YEAR

  6. SAOIRSE DIETER, 3RD YEAR

  7. OLIVIA CAHALANE, TY

  8. CHRIS JIJI JOHN, TY

  9. PHILIPPA BEAVON, 5TH YEAR

  10. KAYLA HARRINGTON, 5TH YEAR

  11. EMILY O SULLIVAN, 6TH YEAR

  12. VLAD KRAVCENKO, 6TH YEAR

In Memory of Ricky Barrett, TY.

The School Community are deeply saddened by the passing of one of our TY students, Ricky Barrett of Lissane, Drimoleague. Ricky passed away peacefully at home yesterday after a brave battle with illness. All our staff and students wish to express our deepest sympathies to the Barrett family. Our thoughts and prayers are with them at this time. The School will open tomorrow Sunday, Oct 16th from 10am to 12noon for any students who wish to come in and reflect. Our Student Support Team will be on hand. There will also be a Guard of Honour at the funeral on Monday. Any students who wish to partake in this Guard of Honour are asked to meet in Drimoleague Church Yard at 12.45pm in full uniform. The school will remain closed on Monday, October 17th as a mark of respect. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

Leaving Certs 2022! Well done to you all!!!

Skibbereen Community school was delighted with its Leaving Cert Results. The 137 students did themselves, their families and their teachers proud. They have gone on to third level, taken up apprenticeships or gone working. We wish them every success in their new endeavours.

Pictured are Mr. Anton O Mahony, Principal and Mr. Diarmuid O Donnabháin, Deputy Principal and some of those 35 students who achieved over 495 points. 6 of them achieved over 600 points and 29 achieved over 495points. Missing from photo are Oisín Boyle, Ofek Dahan, Laura Kearney, Ryan Shannon, Caoimhe Quinn, Alan O Donovan, Bláithín Roberts, Eliza Sylko and Aislinn O Donovan.

School Calendar Dates 2022/2023

October 2022 mid-term break - Monday 31st October 2022 to Friday 4th November 2022 inclusive.

Christmas 2022 - All schools will close on Wednesday 21st December 2022, All schools will re-open on Thursday 5th January 2023.

February 2023 mid-term break - Monday 13th February 2023 to Friday 17th February 2023.

Easter 2023 - All schools will close on Friday 31st March and re-opens on Monday 17th April 2023, unless changes are required as part of contingency arrangements to make up for time lost due to unforeseen school closures.

St.Brigid’s Day Bank Holiday - Monday Feb 6th 2023

St. Patricks’s Day - Thursday March 17th 2023

May Bank Holiday - Monday May 2nd 2023

Other Closures

- September 30th 2022

- November 10th, Staff Training Day for the new Junior Cycle.

Farewell to the Leaving Cert Class of 2022!

The School Community bid farewell to the Leaving Cert Class of 2022! They are the very first Year Group to complete their 6 Years in SCS. Their second level journey is completed as symbolised in our crest. We wish them every success in their future endeavours!

SCS Trophy Haul 2021/ 2022

BASKETBALL

  • U19 Boys “B” County Champions

  • Second Year Boys “B” County Champions

  • First Year Boys “B” County Champions

FOOTBALL

  • LGFA Junior “A” Ladies County Champions

  • LGFA Junior “C” Ladies County Champions

  • Senior Boys “A” Simcox Cup County Champions

  • First Year Boys O Herlihy Cup West Cork Champions

SKIBBEREEN COMMUNITY SCHOOL SUBJECT CHOICE 2022-2023 Transition Year

Dear Parent/Guardian,

It is the time of year when students in Third Year are being asked to make subject choices for the next step in their education programme.

These are important decisions that need careful thought and discussion with your son/daughter. The information below is designed to assist you with these discussions and ensure that your son/daughter is making the best choices for him/her.

The information is divided into two sections,

1 -helpful guidance designed to aid the discussion regarding the best choice of subjects and

2 – guidance on how to input these choices to the school portal. Deadlines Current Third Year students entering Transition year – May 9th. 

It is of the utmost importance that all choices are made prior to this date in order to ensure that each student gets a free choice and therefore, the best opportunity to study subjects of their choosing.  After this deadline, the school will use the student’s preferences to create subject bands.

 Any student who misses the deadline or wishes to change their choice after the deadline will only be able to choose from the subject preference bands created and will therefore, have a more restricted choice.

Helpful guidance on how to choose subjects In order to assist you and your son/daughter to make the choices that best suit them the school’s Guidance Department have created the following short video clips and presentations.

We would encourage you to engage with this material with your son/daughter and discuss their preferences with them prior to submitting choices on the schools portal.

Click on the button below for an important powerpoint presentation on Subject Choice.

Click on the clip below for a Subject Choice Information Video


  • Further detailed information on third level courses and subject requirements is available on the Guidance section of the school website:

  • Click on the button below for a link to the Careers Section of the School website.

Online inputting procedures

  • Once your son/daughter has decided on their subject choices, these must be inputted on the school’s VSWare portal ahead of the deadline of May 9th.

Please complete the steps as outlined below. Steps to Follow

Step 1  You will receive a text from the school with a username and password

Step 2  Access the school website at skibbereencommunityschool.ie

Step 3  Click on VS Ware on the top right-hand corner. Log-in using the details received in the text. The system will then ask you to create your own password so that only you can access the site.

Step 4  Click on Student Options on the top left of your screen.  Complete each subject set by following the instructions given at the top of the screen. 

Please note: click into each preference box to access the relevant subject listing.  Proceed to input choices in order of preference.

Step 5  Log-out. You can log-in and change the choices as often as you like up to the deadline date. If you have students in more than one year group, please use the left and right arrows at the top left of the screen to change between them.

Anton O Mahony,

Principal Skibbereen Community School,

May 2022.

Skibbereen Community School Plans to send a Van with Vital Medical Aid to the Ukraine

Last week our School Community raised €3000 for the people of Ukraine.

This week we have decided as a community to set our sights even higher.

One of our teachers (Mr O'Brien, Guidance Counsellor) is in a position to drive a van load of urgently needed Paediatric Medical Supplies out to the Ukraine border over the Easter holidays. As a school community and with the support of our parents and partners in the wider community we are convinced that we can make this happen.

Please have a look at the GoFundMe link below for the bigger plan and details of how the funds are to be used.

Please support our Drive to help these vulnerable Child Refugees in whatever way you can (even if it just to share the GoFundMe link further and further.

Many thanks form the entire School Community at Skibbereen CS.