Skibbereen Community School is NOT using this sanitizer.
23-10-2020
Dear Parent/Guardian,
As we enter mid-term I wish to take this opportunity to commend and say a heartfelt thank you to all of our students, staff and you the parent/guardians for the tremendous efforts that have been made since the end of August to ensure the safety of our school community as we strive to maintain learning and teaching in these difficult and enduring times.
These are indeed challenging times for all in the school and wider community which require ongoing and continuously changing measures to be put in place. The sustained co-operation, commitment and flexibility of everybody to these many changes deserves great recognition and as Principal I wish to express my deep appreciation for these efforts.
Now that mid-term has arrived, I urge each of you to take the opportunity to relax, reenergise and return renewed and ready for the next term ahead. This term too will bring its own challenges as the numbers of Covid-19 continue to grow both locally and nationally. All of us will be required to intensify our efforts as we seek to combat this virus and reduce its impact on learning and teaching and more particularly, the health of our school community.
When we return on November 2nd we are asking that everybody focuses their efforts, particularly on the fundamentals of handwashing/sanitising, mask wearing and distancing. As parent/guardians we are asking for your support in ensuring that all students bring their own sanitiser and wipes and in encouraging them to maintain their distance from other students especially during the break periods where eating prevents mask wearing.
We also ask that you once again visit our Covid-19 school protocols on the school website and familiarise yourself with the details of the measures contained within, which are designed to keep all in the school community safe at this time.
We regret that all of our communications with you at present are largely via the school website and other online channels. We are very much looking forward to a time when face to face meetings will once again be possible. Unfortunately, we are not in a position at present to hold such meetings including the annual parent/teacher meetings. In this regard, parent/teacher meetings will be replaced by comprehensive reports to be issued at the same time that these meetings would normally be held. However, should you have any concerns in the meantime regarding your child’s progress, please feel free to contact the school office who in turn will put you in touch with the appropriate school personnel.
I wish each of you and your families an enjoyable and restive break.
Mr. Anton O Mahony,
Principal - Skibbereen Community School.
Monday, 19th of October 2020.
For the Information of Parents/Guardians Re: Confirmed case of COVID-19 at Skibbereen Community School, Gortnaclohy, Cork .
A confirmed case of COVID-19 in your child’s school has been notified to the Department of Public Health HSE-South. A public health risk assessment has been undertaken. The parents of any children who have been identified to be close contacts of the confirmed case are being contacted and advised accordingly.
If your child has not been identified as a close contact at this time, your child does not need a test for Covid-19, they can continue to attend school, and no further actions are required at this time. If your child develops any symptoms suggestive of Covid-19 infection (such as a cough, a fever, loss or change in sense of taste or smell), please do not send your child to school. Contact your GP and begin restricting your child’s movements. Restricted movement means avoiding contact with other people and social situations as much as possible.
It means that your child stays at home and:
Does not go to school
Does not use public transport
Does not have visitors in your home
Does not go to the shops or pharmacy, unless absolutely necessary.
Keeps away from older people, anyone with an underlying medical condition and pregnant women.
The Department of Public Health HSE-South is monitoring the school situation closely. Further information on COVID-19 is available at: www.hpsc.ie and www.gov.ie.
Yours sincerely,
Dr Mary T. O’Mahony MCRN 000299 Specialist in Public Health Medicine.
Dr Philippa White MCRN 415011 Specialist Registrar in Public Health Medicine.
To collect data to provide a snapshot of our coasts, Coast Watch Ireland are completing a survey which requires volunteers to check a 500m stretch of coast, one time, around low tide, before the 15th October and record observations on a survey questionnaire while on-shore. To sign up for a stretch of coastline and take part in this survey, go to the Coast Watch Ireland website at www.coastwatch.org
Helping parents/guardians, students, staff and our school community to stay up to date with the latest school news and upcoming events.
Wednesday Sept 30th First and Second Year Boys Football- 1.45 to 2.45 pm on the Marsh Pitch Skibbereen.
Mon, Tues, Thurs and Friday- Lunchtime 1.10pm to 1.50pm G64 Computer Club for all students who want help with Microsoft 365.
Thursdays 4pm to 5pm Boys Soccer on the School pitch for all year groups
Social Justice Club - Thursdays Room F03 For all year groups.
Ladies Football and Ladies Soccer starting shortly.
Film Club starting shortly.
The School Community would like to acknowledge and congratulate Ms. Emer McCarthy and Mr. Klaudiusz Lakocy on achieving over 600 points in their Leaving Cert. They have done themselves, their families, their school and their community proud.
As part of our Covid-19 response plan, we are pleased to announce the launch of our new online lunch order system for our canteen. Please use the link below to order lunches for the next school day only at this point.
The school successfully sourced and erected two Marquees to help with social distancing. One will be used for a covered PE area and the other will be used at breaktimes.
On behalf of the school’s Parent Association, Mr. John O Driscoll, Chairperson would like to congratulate the Leaving Cert Class of 2020 on their excellent results. He wishes to thank all their teachers and parents for their encouragement and support through what was a very challenging year.
The School Community wish to congratulate the Leaving Cert Class of 2020 on their fantastic results. We are so proud of every single one of them. It was an incredibly difficult year and we wish to acknowledge their perseverance and resilence throughout. We wish them all every success and happiness in their future endeavours.
Many thanks to all students and staff for their support with last week’s Return to School Induction Programme based on the School’s Covid 19 Plan. All students return to school on Monday, Sept 7th at 8.50 am.
First and Second Year Students must enter the building through the Sports Hall entrances. First Years go straight to their base classrooms and Second Years should social distance in the Sports Hall.
Third Year Students should enter around the side of the sports hall and through the pitch side rear entrance of the canteen. They should social distance in the Canteen area.
TY Students should enter the building through the Practical Corridor Entrance at the rear of the school. They then make their way to the TY Social Area down the Science/ Art/ Home Ec Corridors.
Fifth Year Students should enter through the rear of the LRC section at the back of the school.They should then proceed up the stairs to their social area along the Business/ Staffroom Corridor.
Sixth Year Students should enter around the back of the building through the rear entrance of the Canteen. They should then proceed to their Social Area along the 6th Year Balcony and down along the Music/Irish/ English Corridor.
All students must wear a face mask on entry, sanitize their hands at the sanitizing stations and follow all instructions of the Door Supervisors.
Students are asked to bring a packed lunch and drinks each day until the Canteen re-opens on September 14th with a cashless, pre-order system. More details to follow. It is not possible for Senior Students to go down town for lunch at the moment due to infection controls.
We thank everyone for their support, patience and understanding as we endeavour to keep our school community safe.
Please click on the button below for the Wellbeing Powerpoint Presentation that was given to all students.
Please click on the button below for the Return to School Systems Protocols Powerpoint that was given to all students.
Please note that the canteen facilities will be operational again from Monday, 14th of September. Please remember to bring your own lunch until then whilst we transform the ordering, payment and fulfilment process to eliminate paper and cash contact points.
We will update you as soon as possible on the process for online ordering and payment for lunches.
Thank you for your patience.
Dear 2020 Leaving Certificate Student
With your long awaited and much discussed results due on Monday next, we in Skibbereen Community School would like to wish you all the very best in receiving these results and in the weeks and years ahead.
We understand that this is always an anxious time for leaving cert students. It is a great disappointment to all of us in the school community that we cannot share this momentous day with you in the manner that we normally could.
However, we wish to reassure you that the support services of the school will be available to you on the day of the results and in the days leading up to CAO offers and beyond.
One to one meetings with a member of the school’s guidance team will be available to each student if they would like to avail of this. Unfortunately, in the current pandemic all such consultations will have to be by appointment only. It is of the utmost importance that students do not visit the school without an appointment or complying with public health advice.
Such appointments and consultations should be arranged with your designated Guidance Counsellor through TEAMS or e-mail in the first instance.
Detailed information on the process is available on the Department of Education website at the following link and in the document prepared by the school’s Guidance Team accompanying this letter. https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/ad9de-leaving-certificate-2020-your-questions-answered-september-2020/
Once again, we sincerely wish you all the very best in the years ahead and look forward to hearing about your future achievements and accomplishments.
Anton O Mahony
Principal
On behalf of the entire school community
Please click on the button below for Important Information for students and parents of the Leaving Certificate class of 2020.
Instructions for first day of school
1. Things to Bring
· Notebook or copy to write on
· Pen to write with
· Lunch and drinks
2. Things Not to Bring
· School books or bags full of materials
3. Arrival
· Please wear mask
· Respect social distancing
· Enter the building through the PE Hall entrance
4. Parent Drop-offs
· Unfortunately and regrettably in the present circumstances parents have to remain in their cars and leave as soon as your child has left the car.
5. Travel Abroad Reminder
· Parents are reminded that students returning from a holiday abroad in a non-green list country should isolate for 14 days before returning to school.
Re-opening Schedule
Tuesday September 1st – 1st Year students – 9 – 11:30
Wednesday September 2nd – 5th & 6th year students - 9 – 12:00
Thursday September 3rd – 2nd & 3rd year students - 9 – 12:00
Friday September 4th – 1st & 4th year students - 9 – 12:00
Monday September 7th – all students - 9 – 3:50
Well done to everyone who took part in our Maths Quiz question on Friday. Jack Crowley was the winner drawn out from the pile. Jack wins a Canteen Voucher. Today is our final quiz day so the very best of luck. Looking forward to seeing you all tomorrow.
Hi folks, Sorry for delay in posting this up. Try this. You only have two hours. Well done to Conn Buckley who is yesterday’s quiz winner. Conn wins a Hourihane Sports Voucher.