March 19 2020
Information Bulletin
Dear Guardian/Parent/Student/Teacher,
I hope this letter finds you well during these unprecedented times.
The following guidance is to support students as they prepare for their summer/state examinations.
- The State Examinations Commission (SEC) will circulate guidance on contingency arrangements if they are required.
- The school will communicate any such arrangements through normal channels such as SMS, website, and social media.
- If contingencies are put in place for our students, it is essential to note they will be delayed for all students across the country. Please check for accurate updates on the SEC website.
- Please read today’s SEC update:
- In the interim, Leaving Cert (LCVP & LCA) and Junior Cycle students must prepare for the Project and Course work as well as the written paper as if they are going to proceed as planned.
- Examination Years
- Our teachers will endeavour to support you as a matter of priority through blended learning (online support & work assigned to you before closure).
- Generally speaking, online classes will be delivered via whichever platform you are currently using on existing class structures within the school. If parents could encourage their daughter(s)/son(s) to submit assigned work, we would be most grateful. Please urge them to do so within agreed timeframes.
- Other online supports available:
- www.khanacademy.org
- https://irevise.com/ie (Additional notes and tutorials)
- www.studyclix.ie (Exam builders)
- www.examinations.ie (Past exam papers and marking schemes)
- www.careersportal.ie
- https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/coronavirus/coronavirus.html
- www.education.ie – (Education related news)
- Non-Examination Years
- Over time as teachers build their capacity for online engagement, they will issue guidance to students in non-exam years to support their ongoing engagement with the curriculum in due course.
- Parents are encouraged to get their son(s) or daughter(s) to organise and create a bank of flashcards, mind maps and other suitable study aids.
- Wellbeing
- We would encourage you to stay in contact with your friends. Peer learning is one of the most effective methods to support curriculum engagement. Use technology sensibly to connect and learn together.
- Breaks, exercise and healthy diets are crucial to staying healthy.
- ICT Support
- Please contact info@ccbs.ie if you are experiencing any problems
- Subject Choice for 2020-2021
- Our Guidance Department will develop alternative methods to support subject choice if necessary and this will be communicated.
- In the interim, students and parents have access to Careers Portal to support the students’ career inquiries.
- All years – General study guidance
Timetable subject | Learning Activity | Preparing for assessment | Assessment at the end of the week |
History – Pick a topic in your textbook | Make notes/mindmaps/flashcards on the topic under review | Use irevise/studyclix to identify questions from past papers and prepare answers and notes | Use studyclix to create exam questions to test themselves. |
Other online supports are available here:
This is an unprecedented situation, and the school community is conscious that in these difficult times, we will come together to find solutions. We always work in the best interest of our students. It is an unusual time for us all, and we need to work together to delay and limit the transmission of the COVID-19 virus. We encourage parents to emphasise the importance of social distancing to all in their care, so we as a nation can protect the most vulnerable in our communities.
I also want to acknowledge that many of our students might find the uncertainty of the forthcoming weeks quite unsettling. I want to take this opportunity to reassure parents and students alike that the SEC and DES have always made decisions which are student-centred and mindful of the immediate environment. We have no control over what decisions the state agencies make; we do, however, have control over what actions we can take. So please remain focused on your study schedules and your preparations for the state examinations.
Finally, again I would like to thank our staff for their assistance and proactive actions to support your daughter(s) and son(s). The staff and your daughter(s)/son(s) are a credit to our school community.
If you wish to contact me, I am available at info@ccbs.ie. We will make every effort to respond to your query promptly and support you in any way we can.
Yours sincerely,
Cora Fagan
Principal
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