Start-of-Year Newsletter, August 30th 2024

Fri, Aug 30th, 2024

St. Kilian’s Community School      

Start-of-Year Newsletter August 2024

Dear Parents/Guardians,

At the end of the first very enjoyable week of the new school year, we would like to update you on some school-related matters.

 1.     Year Head Team 2024-2025

• 1^st Year:        Ms. C. Fitzpatrick
• 2^nd Year:       Ms. T. Brophy
• 3^rd Year:       Mr. S. Walsh
• 4^th Year:       Ms F. Ní Mhurchú
• 5^th Year:       Mr. T. Lawless
• 6^th Year:       Mr. B. Fitzpatrick

Year Heads can be contacted through the School Office (01-2828126).

 2.      Coordinator Team 2024-2025

• HSCL Coordinator:                         Ms C Fitzpatrick
• SEN Coordinator:                           Ms. R. Ryan
• LCA Coordinator:                            Ms. L. Kells
• Transition Year Coordinator:      Mr. J. Kelly
• Wellbeing Coordinator:                Ms. J. O’Regan

The above Coordinators may also be contacted through the School Office.

3.     New Teaching Staff

• Mr. K. Condren (Engineering, Graphics)
• Ms F. McGuirk (Biology, Science)
• Ms. C. Kehoe (Geography, Politics & Society)
• Mr. A. Tobin (English, History)
• Ms. J. McNamara (English)
• Mr. K. Molan (DCG, Graphics, Wood Technology, Applied Technology)
• Ms. C. Rice (Religious Education, SEN)
• Ms. A. Canavan (Chemistry, Science, Maths)
• Ms. R. Lennon (Religious Education)

• We are delighted to have been able to recruit so successfully, at a time of  very serious teacher shortages nationally.
• We are also very pleased at the fact that Mr Condren, Ms Kehoe and Mr Tobin are all past-pupils of the school.

4.     Head Girls & Boys 2024-2025

• Head Girl:                             Lucy Doyle
• Head Boy:                             Adam Windsor
• Deputy Head Girl:              Emma Nolan
• Deputy Head Boy:              Eduard Carausu

 5.     Books

• Most students have now received all of their books.
• A small number of Senior students have not paid their Book Rental fees. Books will only be issued when these fees are paid.
• Junior students do not have a books-related fee.
• Mrs Browne, who manages the books for the school, has not been available for the past two weeks. We are greatly indebted to Savannah and Jeffry, two 5^th Year students, for the amazing work they have done in keeping the distribution of books  running so smoothly.
• There are supply issues with some books, and these will be issued to students when deliveries are received. Most other issues should be fully resolved by midweek, next week.

 6.     Junior Cycle Stationery

• Junior Cycle students were issued with stationery items today.
• JCSP students received 5 X A4 Hardback copies, 5 X A4 Softback copies, a Graph copy, a Maths set, an Art pack, pens, pencils and a ruler.
• All other students received 10 X A4 Hardback copies, 10 X A4 Softback copies, a Graph copy, a Science copy (if required), a Music Manuscript copy (if required), an Art pack (if required), pens, pencils and a ruler.
• All students who did not receive a Maths set today will receive one when the remainder of the order is delivered.
• 3^rd Year students were issued with Maths tables. Other students will be given them by the Maths teachers at a later date.
• 1^st Year students will be issued with a calculator (awaiting delivery).
• All of these extra materials have put pressure on students’ schoolbags and lockers. It would be a good idea to store some of the materials at home, until required.

 7.     School Lunches

• All 1^st Year students were registered for school lunches today and were shown how to change their choices on the Carambola website.
• Other new students were also registered, and the process will be completed for everyone else next week.
• Students already registered for school lunches, from last year, were given the option of cancelling their registration and many did so.
• We are looking at introducing hot lunches later in the school year and we will advise you of this, should it be happening.

 8.     Breakfast Club

• The space used for the Breakfast Club is currently being used for the distribution of books.
• It is hope that the Breakfast Club will resume from Monday, September 9^th.

 9.     Supervised Study

• Supervised Study will resume from next Monday, September 2^nd
• It is open to 3^rd, 5^th and 6^th Years. Registration Forms will be given to students on Monday.
• Study takes place on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 4.00pm to 6.00pm.
• Students will be served tea and biscuits before study starts.
• This year, there will be a €50 Fee from September until Christmas, and a second €50 Fee from Christmas until the summer.
• Study Fees will be set up for payment on Compass, when Study Registration Forms are returned.
• There will be separate arrangements for Easter Study, and information about this will be available closer to the time.

10. Attendance, Punctuality and Late Detentions

• Good attendance and punctuality are the cornerstones of a successful journey through secondary school.
• Please ensure that your son/daughter is  at school and on time every morning and afternoon.
• Late Detentions will begin again from Monday, September 2^nd. Students who arrive to school after Assembly has begun must attend a detention at lunchtime on the same day.

Persistent latecomers will be sent home.

11. School Office

• As previously advised, the school’s admin team is much reduced, with Jenny O’Sullivan currently being our only staff member in this area. Jenny is dealing with an extraordinary workload.
• While it is hoped that the Department of Education will soon sanction some extra clerical support for the school, for the moment this is not forthcoming.
• Please bear this in mind in your communication with the School Office. Try to use the Compass App for communication as much as possible.

12. 1^st Years and New Students

• The new 1^st Years have had an excellent first week and, for the most part, have settled in much better than anyone could have expected.
• They are a group with great attitude, personality and energy and are already making a very positive impression on everyone. Well done to them all!!
• Reminder: 1^st Year students are not allowed off-site at any point during the school day.
• If parents/guardians of any 1^st Year student, or any of our new students, requires any further information, or would like to speak to any member of the school team, please do not hesitate to reach out to us through the School Office (01-2828126).

1. 13.     Killarney Road Entrance, Tuesday September 2^nd        

• The Killarney Road Entrance will be closed on Tuesday, September 2^nd as essential hedge-cutting will be taking place in this area.

Best wishes to everyone for an enjoyable and successful 2024-2025 school year!

John Murphy, Principal.