Dear Parents/Guardians,
Covid-19
We have now completed 4 full weeks of school since the October mid-term and we would like to thank our staff, parents and students for your continued cooperation with our Covid protocols. Thanks to this cooperation the school has experienced a high level of success with regard to Covid -19. Given the size of our school population, the fact that the few confirmed cases of members of the school community in late October had no close contacts, is a strong indicator that the steps we have taken together are helping to protect all in our school. You will be aware of new recent outbreaks in the Glanmire area. With just over 3 weeks left in the school term we are asking all in the school community to redouble our efforts to follow the agreed protocols and to minimise the opportunity for transmission in our setting. This morning at tutorial and during classes we asked all teachers to highlight again the following key messages to students:
- Continued wearing of face masks
- Regular hand sanitizing
- Ventilation of classrooms through keeping windows and doors open
- Sanitizing of desks etc. when entering a classroom
Christmas Exams
All Cork ETB schools received written instruction from the Cork ETB Director of Schools Mr. Pat McKelvey recommending that Christmas Exams be held in classrooms, where possible. It had been our intention to hold some of our Christmas Exams in the PE Hall so this decision has impacted on the traditional organisation, supervision and scheduling of our Christmas Exams. After carefully considering a number of options the school has opted for a combination of classroom based assessments for 1st, 2nd & 4th Years and traditional formal exams for 5th Years following a designated timetable. The start date for 5th Year exams will most likely be Tuesday 15 December while classroom based assessments will take place between Tuesday 8 December and Tuesday 22 December. Further information will follow next week.
Annual Mass of Remembrance
Due to Covid 19 restrictions, we were unable to celebrate our annual Mass of Remembrance for deceased members of our school community as is the tradition in GCC. Staff and the wider school community are invited to attend Glanmire Parish virtual mass on Saturday 28 November at 6pm where deceased family and friends of our school community will be remembered.
http://www.glanmireparish.ie/temp/mass-streaming/
GCC Green Schools Committee
Transition Year Students are taking ownership of the green schools committee this year. Leading the committee as Green Schools Head is Eoin Murphy, with two Deputy Heads; Amy Gettings and Niamh Sugrue. There is a committee of 30 students, proving a big interest in such an important topic in current society. The students are organising litter picks around the school, monitoring and improving recycling, generating awareness about litter and waste, phasing out single use plastic, and developing a school culture that is more sustainable for a better future. The structure of the student committee is made up of recycling officers, digital & social media officers, energy and water Officers, green code officers, and notice board communication officers. While working towards an improved school campus, the students will work with the local Glanmire community also, namely Supervalu and the local tidy towns to tackle local litter black-spots, and raise awareness around environmental sustainability in the locality. The students have set up their own twitter page so please follow them to keep up to date with progress: @GCCgreenschools
Members of the GCC Green Schools Committee 2020/21
Health and Safety Statement
Please click on the link below to view our draft Health & Safety statement which will be presented to the Board of Management for ratification on Monday 11 January 2021. We would welcome input to the final document from all members of our school community. Please email any comments or feedback you might have to policyreview@glanmirecollege.com before Friday 11 December 2020.
Our thanks to the members of the working group, Ms. Clare Sweetnam, Ms. Kelly and Ms. Coy for their diligent work in developing this key policy/statement which required considerable work to bring it up to date.
Final Draft Copy Safety Statement
Student Council
Congratulations to 6th Year student Eugene Zhinzhin who has been elected as Head Boy and President of the Student Council 2020-2021. Sixth Year student Parsa Tahir has been elected as Head Girl and Vice-President. We look forward to working with our student representatives and to addressing their concerns and supporting their initiatives in the months ahead.
Christmas Hamper Appeal
The Christmas hamper collection is underway. This year the food hamper is going to Penny Dinners and Street Angels (homeless charity). Our Meitheal team are coordinating the collection. Please click on the following link which provides further information.
Christmas Hamper Appeal Poster
GCC Christmas Lights
Thank you to all those who have contacted us to comment on our GCC Christmas lights display. We are delighted that the lights have lifted the spirits of so many in our community. A sincere thank you once again to our wonderful GCC Parents Council who supported and funded the display.
GCC Senior Management