Board of Management
The Board of Management is elected to serve a three-year term with the specific intention of managing and guiding the school in the direction supported by our patron, Bishop Denis Nulty. Our new Board took office on October 15th. Fr. John Dunphy (Chairperson), Fr. Michéal Murphy, Mrs Brid Saruwatari and Mr. Michael Regan are the Trustee nominees. Ms. Ailbhe Ní Chuilinn and Mr. Jarlath Bolger are the teacher nominees. Ms. Siobhan Kealy and Mr. George Murphy are the Parent nominees. The two immediate goals for the Board are to oversee the completion of our Building Project in association with the Design Team and Mythen Construction and ensuring the dressing room extension being undertaken in association with the Parents’ Association, comes to fruition.
New School Buildings
The Board of Management is delighted with how fresh, bright and in particular warm, the new buildings and the 1960’s block are. This is particularly important as we move into the colder winter weather. The days of sitting in cold damp classrooms are behind us, hopefully forever. Mythen Construction are currently working away steadily to renovate the remaining old buildings. It is hoped to have the project completed by next summer. That will mean that all prefabs will be removed for the beginning of the next academic school year.
Dressing Rooms.
Full Planning Permission and the necessary certificates have been granted by Laois County Council. We are nearing the completion of the tender stage and hope to be able to appoint a construction Company to carry out the works shortly.
Parents Association
The Parents association are sending a letter home to all families today seeking your help for the projects that they want to run. There will be a no-uniform day in the New Year with the monies raised going to the Clare’s Wish Foundation.
School Uniform
The Knockbeg College uniform is unique to our school. Wearing it is an essential part of our school philosophy. The Board of Management and the Parents’ Association are very clear in their view that they want all students to have equal status and this includes wearing the correct uniform, including shoes and jacket. These can be purchased from Shaws department store in Carlow or from School Uniforms Direct who are based in Baltinglass. Contact details are available from the school office or online, with purchases also available online with School Uniforms Direct.
Mobile Phones
Mobile phones have a lot of very positive uses in school and elsewhere. However, when used in appropriately, they can cause considerable distress for many young people. While most of our students are very responsible in their behaviour and their use of phones, they do present a considerable distraction in class and are often a barrier to good communication at break times. The rule on use of phones was changed with the approval of the Parents’ Association. It is no longer acceptable for mobile phones to be used from 8-55 in the morning until the end of the school day, unless under the supervision of the teacher for use in class. All teachers are asked to confiscate any mobile phones seen in use during the day and give to the Principal for safe keeping.
House Exams
All class groups recently sat exams in all their exam subjects except the Transition Year cohort. This was a great learning experience for our first year cohort. Leaving 11 reports are available on E-Portal with the remaining results becoming available in the coming days. It is important for all students to return to a planned study pattern. This is best done by following a prepared timetable. If help is needed in preparing a study timetable, please ask your son to discuss the matter with his SPHE teacher as a Junior Cycle student or Mr. Hoyne our Guidance Counsellor.
Parent Teacher Meetings
All our Parent Teacher meetings are pre-planned with the dates being available in the school journal. This year, they will all take place in the new school gym. Leaving 11 meeting takes place on Tuesday November 27th with the 3rd Year meeting taking place on Wednesday December 5th. All meetings commence at 4-10pm and finish at 6-40pm. Senior students should attend with your Parent/Guardian to get as much information as possible from your teachers. Please arrive in good time to ensure you get the maximum benefit from this opportunity to meet all teachers. Classes on these afternoons will finish 15 minute earlier to facilitate preparation. Study will also begin and finish 15 minutes earlier.
Important dates.
Transition Year Information Seminar Wednesday December 5th in the Ref from 7pm to 8pm.
New Junior Cycle In-Service for all teacher will take place on Tuesday December 11th. There will be no school for any students that day.
Our annual Christmas Liturgy and Carol Service will take place on Wednesday December 19th in school.
School will shut at 12-30pm for Christmas Holidays on Friday December 21st.
Career Choices
Mr. Hoyne, our Guidance Counsellor, meets with all Transition Year, Leaving 1 & Leaving 11 students in groups and individually to provide information in relation to career choice. He is providing important information on the significance of subject choices for Transition Year students and on all matters related to entry requirements for the different Colleges in Ireland and abroad for senior students. Please ensure that you have discussions at home in relation to this with your son to ensure the best possible choices are made in the months ahead. CAO application will have to be submitted early next term and it is helpful if your son has put some thought into the courses and Colleges that he might be interested in attending.