Dear Parent / Guardian,
Morning to you all. Hope everyone is doing well as we all move quickly through the month of January!
Some updates for you:
Trial examinations for all 3rd year and 6th year students commence from Tuesday 4th February 2025. Timetable is available to all exam candidates and on the school website. For all exam students (3rd year and 6th year) attendance at school is only required when they have timetabled exams. This applies only to the period of the trial examinations. Please note the finishing dates for JC and LC students are different. 3rd year students have class as normal from Tuesday 11th February to Friday 14th February, inclusive.
Thank you to parents / guardians who have already completed the recent questionnaire on Bi Cinealta – the proposed new procedures for all schools to prevent and address bullying behaviour in schools. As explained previously, all schools must have a school policy in place for the school year 2025 / 2026 adopting these new procedures. The Department of Education facilitate all schools to have a half day’s training for staff to support planning for the above.
We have identified Friday 14th February as the most convenient day to undertake this training as well as the least impactful on students and on the curriculum. It is the mid term break, 6th years are finished their trial exam period, all of which means less classes are affected.
Classes for all students will conclude at 12.20pm on Friday 14th February 2025.
Date for the diaries of all 3rd year and Transition year parents and students: Thursday 6th February 2025 from 6pm. Venue will be the Teanglann. This is the Senior Options Evening for students in 3rd year and in Transition Year currently.
The information evening and accompanying booklet and documentation aims to inform parents / guardians as well as students about the programme options and subject choices on offer for senior cycle in Gormanston College from the commencement of the new school year 2025 / 2026. We will be supporting students in making informed decisions that best suit individual abilities and future ambitions. It is very important for relevant parents and students to attend this information evening.
The tender process for our new school has commenced. Site visits have already taken place. Three building contractors are tendering for this very large-scale building project. They are BAM, Rhatigan / ABM and Ganson. They have until April 2025 to submit their tender submissions, and the DES then have to decide who is awarded the contract. For us, with a fair wind it is hoped we will see construction start October / November 2025. All good news and hopefully, no further delays!
Reminder: Monday 3rd February 2025 is a bank holiday.
Friday 31st January is our school’s “Cosy Day” as previously communicated. All proceeds (£3 euro per student) to charity.
Kind regards,
Dermot Lavin
Principal