Author: John Hurley

The Minister for Education has released the following letter for parents.

Please click below to download the letter from the minister in English or in Irish. 

Letter to parents from the Minister / Litir chuig tuismitheoirí ón Aire

STEM South West’s Industry & Career Expo is back for its 2nd year next Wednesday 13th January from 5-9pm. This free virtual event will showcase careers in tech, pharma and engineering and highlight achievable pathways for students to fulfil their career goals. There will be expert speakers, virtual stands, opportunities to interact with people who work in STEM on a daily basis, subject choice discussions, interactive Q&A sessions, tech and science demos, career videos and prizes to be won.  

Over 60 leading STEM organisations in Cork and Kerry will be showcasing their work with interactive displays and activities. The STEM South West executive committee are working closely with virtual event organisers Davis Events and platform-providers VFairs to ensure a fun and educational STEM experience for all attendees.  

Exhibition Hall 

Enjoy visiting the virtual booths in the Exhibition Hall where attendees can connect with people who work in STEM, watch demonstrations and career videos, and avail of the advice of experts in a variety of STEM areas including virtual reality, robotics and astronomy construction, mechanical engineering, software engineering, information technology, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, biomedical engineering and science, electronics, weather-forecasting, agri-technology, environmental engineering, cybersecurity and much more.  

Speakers Corner 

Visit the Auditorium and enjoy talks and presentations by STEM experts including European Space Agency engineer, Laurence O’Rourke; inspiring global sustainability expert and co-founder of Change by Degrees, Madeline Murray; and the innovative creator of Izak9 Maths, Franz Schlindwein; and many more. 

Scavenger Hunt 

Take part in the STEM South West 2021 Scavenger Hunt, follow the STEM clues and be in with the chance to win great prizes. 

Students and parents can register for free tickets at www.stemsouthwest.ie. 

REGISTER HERE FOR FREE TICKETS TO STEM SOUTH WEST INDUSTRY & CAREER EXPO 2021 

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We hope you had a Happy Safe and Healthy Christmas and we wish you the very best for 2021.

For the next three weeks we know we will be teaching your son/daughter remotely.

Remote Learning will never be able to fully replace the traditional face to face teaching but we will work together to make sure that the experience for both teacher and pupil is as productive as possible in the coming weeks. The teachers will be following the normal timetable.

To ensure a positive online experience for all, we are asking you to read and discuss the following guidelines carefully with your son/daughter to ensure that his/her participation in the online classes are always respectful and productive.

The Code of Discipline applies to remote learning and any misbehaviour by a student online may result in suspension from online classes. Teaching and learning online is challenging for everyone so we expect excellent behaviour and attention.

Procedures for Students Online Classes

• Be on time for every class.
• Wear your School Jumper for all classes
• Classes will follow your normal timetable
• Teachers will take a roll call at the start of each classes
• All student microphones should be muted during class
• The teacher will unmute students when communication is needed.
• Students should use the hand-up feature to get the attention of the teacher and wait until they are asked to speak.
• If the case arises that students need to leave a class early they should make the teacher aware before that classes
• Students should not leave an online class without the permission of the teacher
• Classes will finish after 30 minutes to allow pupils to prepare for the next class to allow pupils to prepare for the next class.

Online teaching is our new reality for the next number of weeks, and we expect every student to be present for class. If your son /daughter is unable to attend online classes for any reason, please email the school office admin@mayfieldcs.ie

Teachers will be moving forward with their subject curriculum and the material will not be revisited after lock-down.

Your son/daughter’s engagement is vital and any issues/difficulties he/she has in participating fully with remote learning should be brought to the attention of the school as soon as possible.

Assemblies for each year group will begin at 11:30am outlining how online classes are to be run and familiarise students with the online platform that we are using which is google classroom and we will offer parents the opportunity to join parent link in google classroom to monitor your son/daughters participation in class and homework.

We will send the link for these assemblies by text on Monday morning.

On Monday 11th January we will familiarise students with our learning platform and full classes as per your son/daughters timetable will commence at 9am Tuesday morning 12th of January.

Students assemblies accompanied by parents will run on Monday 11th of January as follows:

• 1st year assembly 11:30am-12pm
• 2nd year assembly 12:15pm-12:45pm
• 3rd year assembly 1pm-1:30pm
• 4th year assembly 2pm-2:30pm
• 5th year assembly 2:45pm-3:15pm
• 6th year assembly 7pm-7:30pm

Kathleen Daly James Mc Murtry

Acting Principal Acting Deputy Principal

Wishing you all Happy Safe and Healthy New Year.

I’m sure you are now all familiar with this evening’s announcement and the government recommendations for the reopening of schools on January 11th 2021.

To facilitate online learning we have scheduled all year groups with the exception of 6th years to collect their books from school on this Thursday and Friday.The times are as follows:

• 1st Years on Thursday morning 10 am  to 12-30
• 2nd Years on Thursday afternoon 1pm  to 3pm
• 4th Years on  Thursday afternoon 1pm to 3pm
• 3rd Years on Friday morning 10am to 12-30pm
• 5th Years on Friday morning 10am to 12-30pm

The plans announced by the Government provide for 3 days in school attendance for 6th year students only and those days are at each school’s discretion.We will update all 6th Year students and parents on Monday evening.

Virtual information meetings will be held for all Year Groups and parents next week.

Kind regards,

K. Daly, Acting Principal

J. Mc Murtry, Acting Deputy Principal

New extension to Mayfield Community School

In recognition of the expanding pupil numbers in Mayfield Community School, where a GaelCholaiste was established in September 2020, the Department of Education & Skills has approved funding under the Additional Accommodation Scheme 2021. This funding is for a new extension to the school, including the construction of two new classrooms and supporting facilities, commencing in 2021.

Mayfield Community School is delighted with this announcement which is of substantial benefit to the school and its local community.

K.Daly 

Acting Principal

Please click on the link below to view/download the timetable for the Leaving Cert Christmas Exams.

The UCC Sanctuary Scholarships scheme for entry to a degree course in 2021 is opening soon.  At the following link is an information video about how to apply as well as an expression of interest form for interested parties: 

https://www.ucc.ie/en/edi/universityofsanctuary/education/sanctuaryscholarships/

Sanctuary Scholarships | University College Cork
Learn, Study and Research in UCC, Ireland’s first 5 star university. The UCC tradition of independent thinking will prepare you for the world and the workplace in a vibrant, modern, green campus.
http://www.ucc.ie/

UCC will be holding a live online Q&A on Wednesday December 9th from 3-4 p.m. to answer any questions about the scheme and how to apply, or how to apply to UCC itself. 

Click here for a link to the Q&A session on Wednesday, 9th December from 3-4 PM

Here is important information for Third Year parents, guardians and students.

Exams

• Junior Certificate Examinations are scheduled to take place in June 2021. The advice from the Exams Commission is to continue as normal.
• All schools are preparing their students for this outcome.

What happens if the exams are cancelled?

• In the unlikely event that exams are cancelled the Junior Cert grades will be awarded by teacher based assessments.
• This will be drawn from evidence including tests throughout the year. 
• Evidence can also be gathered from CBAs, classroom engagement, attendance and homework.

Exam Entries

• Junior Certificate Examinations will be Common level except for English, Maths & Irish which will continue to be Higher & Ordinary.
• For this year only Woodwork, Metalwork and Technical Graphics will also be Higher & Ordinary.
• Exam level entries will be based on performance in the Christmas Tests and the Pres in February.
• Most teachers, where possible, will enter students for the Higher level at first, and then by consultation with students and parents, decide on a final level after the Pre-Certificate exam.
• Sitting Higher level in Junior Cert means you can sit Higher in Leaving Cert. If you do Ordinary level at Junior Cert it is unlikely you can do Higher at Leaving Cert.

CBAs

• There have been changes to Classroom Based Assessments (CBAs).
• In most subjects, one is required. This is different across the subjects. A CBA could be oral, practical or written.
• Some CBAs have already been completed.
• For those CBAs that have not been completed, the teachers are planning to do so before the deadlines. Deadlines are as follows:
  • 20th Nov 2020 – Visual Art. 
  • 4th Dec 2020 – Modern Foreign Languages.
  • 12th March 2021 – English, Science, Business Studies, Mathematics, History, Geography, Irish, Home Economics, Music.
• CBAs must be completed in order for the Junior Certificate to be complete.

Attendance

• Attendance and punctuality is crucial to success.
• Research tells us that every 10% of days missed, the students grade falls by one level.
• Being in school and in lessons is most important but engagement in lessons must happen. This is ‘active learning’.
• Attendance and focus in class and doing all the work set is crucial to avoid gaps in learning.

Homework

• Homework and revision are also central to success. 
• Homework cannot be corrected in the conventional way but can be viewed and commented on online.
• Many teachers are using Google Classroom to set and review homework.
• Revision requires a timetable. The school will provide a revision schedule for students.
• Past papers will also be provided. The cost will be subsidized by the school.
• There will be a 20 euro charge.
• There are revision sites for the students to use. Studyclix and Revisewise. Some are free. We will be posting a list of recommended sites on our social media platforms.
• We cannot offer Homework Club or Study Support this year due to Covid restrictions. However, we will ask for parental interest before Christmas and depending on the response see what we can provide.

COVID

• It is great news about a vaccine, but it is unlikely to change the protocols in school this year so we will have to continue to work under difficult conditions.
• Most students have been excellent in adhering to the Covid regulations – sanitizing, mask wearing and social distancing.
• However, teachers report that recently masks have been slipping. Please ensure masks fit properly and cover the mouth and nose.
• Also, to avoid contact at lockers students should have their books for 3 lessons ready.

The Future

• This year has been very difficult for the current TY classes as they have missed out on the range of activities usually offered to Transition Year.
• Hopefully, there will be some normality back next year.
• But students need to look beyond TY and think about what happens at Leaving Cert and beyond. Will it be an apprenticeship, college or employment. Whatever the avenue you choose, study now makes a difference.
• Have conversations with your son or daughter about the future.
• Success in Junior Cert reflects in success at Leaving Cert. Good habits need to continue and bad habits need to be changed.
• Remember, there are many bursaries and funding for further education, for those students who demonstrate hard work and endeavour. 

We are now accepting application forms for the school year 2021/2022

Please click here to download our application form.

Please click here to download the application for Gaelcholaiste Ghoirt Alainn