Leaving and Junior Cert oral and practical exams cancelled, March19th

The Junior and Leaving Cert oral and practical exams for tens of thousands of students are to be cancelled, Minister for Education Joe McHugh has announced.

All students who were due to take these tests will be awarded full marks for this portion of the exam.

Minister McHugh also confirmed changes to deadlines for students to complete project and coursework in a number of subjects from Friday March 20th to Friday April 24th.

The deadline for submission of practical and coursework for the leaving cert has been extended to 15 May.

He said his department will continue to work with the State Examinations Commission to monitor the health situation in terms of its potential impact on the summer written exams.

Fantastic First Year Girls Basketball Team into County Final

Hard work, commitment to training, constructive teamwork and passion go a long way in performing at the highest level in any sport. The first year girls have demonstrated they have these qualities in spades. Before the virus crises that has struck our country unfolded, they coasted through to the county finals in devastating fashion, beating the formidable A.G by a scoreline of 53 to 17 points.

What is impressive about the girls is that they are performing in the A league and have beaten every school they played by more than 30 points. To date, they have recorded comprehensive victories against Ballincollig C.S, Bantry C.S., Midleton C.S. and St. Angela’s. They now join the first and second year boys in the finals making 2020 a year to be proud of for the basketball players of Skibbereen Community School. Perhaps the dedication shown by our under 16 boys is inspiring all our teams. In the words of John Wooden, 'hard work is the difference. Very hard work’.

Due to the fact I coach five teams in the school and the under 16 boys had unprecedented success this year, training times have had to be juggled. Yet these girls entered into the spirit of training with enthusiasm and positive spirit often at 7.30 on Monday morning, lunch times and evenings.

We may never get to play these finals now due to circumstances beyond our control but we in Skibbereen Community School are so proud of these wonderful girls. 

I would like to acknowledge my two transition year helpers Maria O'Mahony and Mollaiidh O'Neill who have given so generously of their time for the lunch time sessions and the work done by Colette and her team in the Skibbereen Eagles Club.

My hope is that the leadership, confidence and character shown by these students on the basketball court will stay with them forever. 

 Ms O'Mahony

Skibbereen Community School is closed until March 29th.

An announcement was made this morning by the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar TD of the closure of schools, pre-schools and further and higher education settings, for a period until 29 March 2020, to support efforts to contain the spread of Covid-19. This will take effect from 6pm this evening, Thursday 12 March. This is in line with the advice of the National Public Health Emergency Team.

In order to minimise the impact on teaching and learning our teachers will continue to plan lessons and, where possible, provide online resources for students or online lessons. Preparations were made in school over the last number of days and your son/daughter should be able to access and use their Microsoft365 system from home. This system can also be accessed using a smartphone and we would ask students with connectivity issues to share school work with their classmates using social media.

We thankyou for your ongoing support and we will continue to update you with further developments should they arise.

Yours Sincerely,

Mr. A. O Mahony,

Principal.

HEAR & DARE Applications to CAO - 15th March Deadline

Don’t forget that the deadline to submit #HEAR and/or #DARE supporting documentation is this Sunday 15th March at 17.15. All supporting documentation for HEAR and DARE applications must be submitted to the CAO by the 15th March.

Remember to keep a copy of all documentation that you send to the CAO .

Address is CAO, Tower House, Eglinton Street, Galway.

Also, make sure you register your letter at the post office so that you have proof of postage before the 15th. 

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SCS Response to the Evolving Covid 19 Situation.

Dear Parent/ Guardian, 

Please be advised that for the immediate future our school will be prioritizing all class and educational activities ahead of all other events including extra-curricular activities. (matches etc.) 

Preparations are also well in advance in the school to continue to provide educational support and content in the event of school closure. The main avenue for the provision of educational content will be through online and email correspondence with students. 

In this regard we would ask that you ensure that your son/daughter have their school 365 Microsoft Account fully operational and that they take all necessary books and materials home with them each day. 

We thank you for your ongoing support in ensuring the health, safety and educational provision for our school community during this unprecedented crisis.  

Yours Sincerely, 

Mr. O Mahony. 

Principal. 

Mini Company - West Cork Medal Plaques

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"Aladdin" the Musical. March 5th,6th and 7th.

Pictures are courtesy of Ms. Anne Minihane, Photography.

World Book Day, March 5th.

To mark the event, the School Library ran a competition to design the best Book Mark. Emily O Sullivan, 2nd Year was the winner of a very handy notebook tidy pack for her reading desk. The English Department handed out Book Tokens. Many thanks to Ms. Evelyn Collins for organizing the day and she wishes to remind everyone that the library is open every Monday and Friday at lunchtime with help form the TY volunteers.

TY Daffodil Pickers, March 6th.

Many thanks to Connie, Dylan, Jamie, Jack, Isaac, Eoin, Fiachra and Felim for volunteering to pick daffodils today in Castlehaven to support the upcoming Irsh Cancer Society’s “Daffodil Day”. Many thanks to Mr.Chris O Brien for accompanying the lads.

Winning TY Mini Company invited to Local Enterprise Week Event, Celtic Ross, Mar 6th

Our winning TY Company “Boat- Light” and their Business Teacher, Ms. Mary O Donovan were invited to “The Women in Business Event” organised by the West Cork Enterprise Board today. The school are very grateful to the Board for their support and the chance to showcase our Mini Company’s Business Plan.

Another win for the Junior Ladies Soccer Team, March 5th.

The Junior Ladies Soccer Team and their coaches, Ms. Orla Higgins, Ms. Anne Murphy and Mr. Ger Carey beat Edmund Rice Secondary School, Carrigaline by 6 goals to 2 today in Carrigaline. They have booked their place in the semi-final of the FAI Junior League. Well done to everyone involved!

Coláiste Éamain Rís Carrigaline v Skibb Result 2-6

Match Report

The Skibbereen girls Junior Soccer team are now through to the semi-final of the league after a comprehensive victory away to Carrigaline. The final score was a 2-6 victory for Skibb in a game where Skibb could have scored more but Carrigaline were always dangerous on the break. Overall this was a well-deserved victory and the girls are now unbeaten in the league. The semi-final should be played at home in Skibb before the end of March.

Skibb started well with the majority of the play and shortly before 10 minutes were gone Ellie McCarthy put a through ball into the box for Abbey Caverley to run onto and Abbey duly tucked the ball away from just inside the box despite the attentions of her marker. The next Skibb goal came about 5 minutes later when Muireann O’Donnell scored with a good volley from a rebounded Kathlyn McCarthy shot. Abbey Caverley then added her second goal with a strong shot from near the edge of the box.

Skibb did not have it all their own way however. Shortly after the kickoff for the third goal a speedy Carrigaline forward received the ball on the wing just inside the Skibb half and managed to hold off her marker and run all the way into the box, tucking the ball away at the near post. Skibb very quickly replied with an unstoppable volley into the top corner from Hannah Sheehy a few minutes later. This was Hannah’s first touch, having just come on, but a few minutes later she was on the score sheet again when an attempted clearance fell to her on the left-hand side of the box and she unerringly put the ball away. Both teams had chances before half-time but no more goals ensued in this half. Half-time score was 5-1.

The second half was a lower scoring affair. Despite besieging the goal for most of this half it took nearly 20 minutes for Skibb to get their next goal. A shot from very near the endline by Maureen Keating was mishandled by the goalie into the net. Despite having had little of the play Carrigaline then managed a goal from the same winger as in the first half almost from the tip-off after Maureen’s goal. This was the only lapse in concentration from the Skibb girls however and though Carrigaline had a bit more of the play for the latter part of the second half they only ever looked dangerous on the break. Well done to all!

Skibbereen Team list Thursday March 5th

Ciara Dennehy (GK), Ashleigh Handy, Louise Keohane, Emer Caverley, Emma Mc Carthy , Becca Sheehy, Murieann O’Donnell, Kathlyn Mc Carthy, Maureen Keating (capt.), Ellie McCarthy, Abbey Caverley, Grainne O’Donnell, Abby Cronin, Izzy O’Sullivan, Lilly Cotter, Leah Carey, Hannah Sheehy

First Performance of Aladdin, March 4th.

Well done to everyone involved in today’s first performance. It went really well. Over 300 primary school students and invited guests got to see the very first run through and they really enjoyed it. There are just a few tweaks to be made before tomorrow’s opening night. We are asking everyone to encourage their family and friends to come and see the show over one of the three nights. Tickets are available from the school office or Cathal O Donovans Bookshop. It’s going to be a whole new world!!

6th Year Geography Coastal Study of Owenahincha, March 2nd.

Pictured are Mr.Fitzgerlad’s 6th year Geography Class doing a Coastal Field Study of Qwenahincha yesterday. Note the sun is shining!

TY Musical "Aladdin"

This year’s TY musical is the classic tale of ‘Aladdin’. 

The magical, Middle-Eastern setting has given our Art Department an opportunity to go all out in creating colourful and exotic back drops and costumes. 

There are also many familiar, toe-tapping songs and this year’s talented bunch of TY actors bring out all the comedy and energy of the classic tale whilst adding their own fresh take on it as well.

This is a ‘Must-see’ show for all the family and will be taking place on the 5th, 6th and 7th of March at 7:30PM. Try to catch it if you can.  The matinee for primary schools is on Wednesday the 4th of March at 11:00 AM. The cost of tickets is as follows:

Thursday Two tickets for €15.

Friday, Saturday Tickets €10, Family ticket €30. 

We have a lot of spot prizes for the raffle each night kindly sponsored by local businesses in Skibbereen.

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Rugby Jersey Sponsorship,Feb 28th.

Many thanks to Mr. Paul Crosse for sponsoring a number of school Rugby Jerseys ahead of next week’s U15 Boys Munster Blitz.

Charity Bake Sale

Well done to 2nd Year C.S.P.E students, Muireann O'Donnell and Michaela Collins for organizing a wonderful bake sale yesterday in aid of West Cork Underwater Search and Rescue Club.

They did an amazing job! They raised €300 which will go towards supporting the provision of emergency services along the West Cork coastline.

The girls would like to sincerely thank their teacher Ms. Crotty, their classmates who helped them on the day, parents and students who donated cakes, the student body, the office staff, their teachers, and the BAM staff who provided tables.  

If you would like to learn more about the West Cork Underwater Search and Rescue club, or make a donation, please visit: https://westcorkunderwatersearchandrescue.com/

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Advice to Parents on Covid 19.

CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER ADVICE TO PARENTS ON COVID 19

An Roinn Sl:iinte
Department of Health
Office of the Chief Medical Officer

Advice from the Chief Medical Officer to Parents of School Children travelling from affected regions

27 February 2020

COVID-19 (Coronavirus) is the infectious disease caused by a new virus identified in Wuhan, China, in
December 2019.

Ireland has comprehensive Public Health and Emergency Plans in place for responding to public health ,issues, like the emergence of COVID-19. These Frameworks have been used in the past to
manage emergencies such as the Swine Flu pandemic, Storms Emma and Ophelia, SARS and Ebola.

In line with WHO (World Health Organization) guidelines, Ireland is currently operating &
containment strategy, where our focus is on identifying all cases and their contacts early, to prevent
further spread of the disease.

 If you child has been to an affected region in the last 14 days and has symptoms of cough, shortness
of breath, breathing difficulties or fever) they should stay at home and you should phone your GP
immediately. Your GP is equipped to assess your child and you should follow the advice they give.

 If you child has been to an affected region in the last 14 days and has no symptoms, you should visit
 www.hse.ie for information. There is no need for them to stay off school or to remain separate from
other people.

 The list of affected regions is available at www.hse.ie.

 COVID-19 is spread through contact with an infected person's body fluids e.g. droplets from coughing or sneezing), or by touching surfaces that an infected person has coughed or sneezed on.

 Regular handwashing and covering your mouth and nose when you sneeze, or cough, is the most
important way to protect from Covid-19. Current information suggests that simple household
disinfectants can kill the virus. Further information is available at gov.ie/health-covid-19.

 Updated travel advice by country, on COVID-19 (Coronavirus), is available at www.dfa.ie.

Dr Tony Holohan

Chief Medic Officer
Departmentf Health.

Win 2 tickets to our musical "Aladdin", March 5th, 6th and 7th at 7.30pm

Win 2 tickets to our musical “Aladdin” by liking and sharing this post on Facebook/Instagram. Please get the word out to everyone about this fantastic upcoming production. The TY Production team and their teachers have put in trojan work. You won’t be disappointed!

West Cork Enterprise Board's TY Mini Company Competition Regional Winners, Feb 27th.

Congratulations to our TY Mini Company “Be-Bright” and their teacher Ms. Mary O Donovan who have just won the West Cork Enterprise Board’s TY Mini Company Regional Competition in the FernHill Hotel today. They fought off stiff competition from 22 other West Cork Teams to qualify for the County Finals in County Hall on March 24th. This merged company is made up DIWines which produced a lights in a wine bottle display and “Boat Bright” which produced a safety light for rowing boats. The common factor was a “light” product which the judges acknowledged. This is a fantastic achievement and well done to all involved.

Our U16 Boys Basketball Team have just won the All-Ireland League Final, Feb 27th.

Congratulations to our U16 Boys Basketball Team and their coach Ms. Marie O Mahony who have just beaten De La Salle, Churchtown Dublin by 60 points to 33 to be crowned All-Ireland League Champions. They have now achieved the double, League and Cup Champions!