Dear Parents/Guardians,
SUPPORTS FOR OUR LEAVING CERTIFICATE STUDENTS
The announcement by the Minister for Education and Skills that Leaving Certificate Examinations will take place from 29 July 2020 has presented many 6th Year students with a challenge. We greatly sympathise with the students who have been placed in a seemingly endless cycle of preparation for these final exams. I would like to acknowledge how stressful and challenging it is to think about the next few months. However, this is the situation in which we find ourselves and we at Coláiste Clavin want the best for each and every one of our 6th Year students.
Engagement
We need students to keep engaging with their teachers. We are very worried about some students who are not connecting with the school. Parents and Guardians, this is a tall order but we simply cannot do it without you! Please keep in contact with teachers and Mr O’Connell, 6th Year Head. We are here to help your daughter and son get through this exam.
Student Support Team
email us at [email protected] if you are worried or your son/daughter simply cannot manage the work on their own. We will work with you and their teachers to put in extra support if necessary. Remember we have guidance available weekly for students, and if they wish to arrange an appointment for that guidance, they should email [email protected] We are also arranging remote counselling for students who are feeling stress, sad or lonely during this time. Please let us know if you need us to organise an appointment for your son or daughter.
Laptops/iPads
We have sourced laptops/iPads for some students who were struggling to produce work on their phones etc. Please contact Mr O’Connell, or Ms Deegan, or Ms McBride at [email protected] if a device is required. We do not have one for everyone, but we will do our best to source a device if necessary.
RACE and Additional Needs
RACE accommodations will operate as normal in the rescheduled exams. From the outset of this crisis, Race has been a major concern of the Department of Education and Skills and students can rest assured that the rescheduled exams will include all the expected reasonable accommodations.
SUPPORTS FOR OUR STUDENTS
Leaving Cert & Junior Cycle Fee Update
The Department of Education have released the following update in relation to payments for both the Junior Cycle and the Leaving Certificate: Junior Cycle: Students will not be required to pay an examination fees to the SEC in relation to the 2020 Junior Cycle SUPPORTS FOR LEAVING CERTIFICATE STUDENTS examinations, the SEC will be issuing a refund to all students who have already paid. There is no need to contact the State Examinations Commission as refunds will be made automatically. Further details will be sent to all schools in the coming days. Leaving Certificate: The closing date for payment of the Leaving Cert examination fee is being extended until after the exams are complete and the results has issued. To read the DES statement in full, please log on to: https://www.education.ie/en/Press-Events/PressReleases/2020-pressreleases/PR20-04-29.html
End of Term
The official school term will end on 29th May 2020 and we will issue details of the July programme as soon as we have been advised further by the Dept of Education and Science.
Take a Bow
Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate you for all your work over the past few months. Parents and guardians have done a brilliant job of keeping everything going. Whether working from home, connecting with teachers, caring for younger children or vulnerable relatives, you have been fantastic partners and we pay tribute to you for everything you have coped with since we closed our doors on 12th March. If we pull together now as teachers, parents/guardians, young women and young men we can heave ourselves over this final hurdle. We will be there for you and for the 6th Year students of whom we are so proud.
Don’t forget to follow us on twitter @colaisteclavin and we will continue to contact our students each week to advise them as changes arise.
We send our best wishes to you and your families,
Kind regards Ms Deegan, Ms McBride and the entire staff team Coláiste Clavin
