Author: Bryan Corden

School Caretaker

St Mary’s Knockbeg College, Carlow

The Board of Management of St. Mary’s Knockbeg College invites applications from suitably qualified persons for the post of School Caretaker to take effect from Monday 14^th October 2019

Please click this link for a full job description 

https://www.knockbegcollege.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Caretaker-Job-Description.docx

Please click this link for the application form

https://www.knockbegcollege.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Caretaker-Application-Form_-July-2019.doc

Alternatively an application form and job-description may be obtained by applying in writing to:

The Secretary, Board of Management,

St. Mary’s Knockbeg College,

Knockbeg,

Carlow.

Application forms may also be obtained by email from principal@knockbegcollege.ie

Completed application forms to be returned no later than

5.00 pm on Thursday 22^nd August 2019

Applications will only be processed which have been submitted on the school’s application form with a letter of application (CV an optional extra).

Short listing may apply

The school is an equal opportunities employer.

Please click the link below to open the presentation for parents of incoming 1st students from the Principal 

https://www.knockbegcollege.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Incoming-1st-years-2019.pptx 

Young Scientist

We are delighted to be able to advise that a project from our school will be exhibited at the Young Scientist Exhibition this year. Oisin Chelmiah and Luke Conroy have been working extremely hard on this project for the past 12 months under the guidance of Ms. Hott and Mr. Attride. We are very proud of them and delighted that their hard work is being rewarded. We wish them every success at the exhibition later this week. Our 2^nd Year and Transition Year students will attend to offer support and to view all the other exhibitions. Perhaps some of them will be inspired to prepare a project like Oisin and Luke have for future years.

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.

Parent Teacher Meetings

The remainder of our Parent/Teacher meetings will take place between now and the mid-term break. All will all take place in the new school gym as follows

2^nd year – Monday January 14^th.          Transition Year – Thursday January 24^th.

Leaving 1 – Tuesday January 29^th.       1^st Year – Thursday February 14^th.

All meetings commence at 4-10pm and finish at 6-40pm. Leaving 1students 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 than normal.

Subject Option Seminar

A meeting will take place on Monday January 14^th at 6-45pm in the Student dining area. The purpose of this meeting is to provide important information on the subject choices available for students entering Leaving 1 in September 2019. Parents of all our current Transition Year students and those in Third Year who will not be taking the Transition Year option should attend to get as much information as possible. This will allow you support your son to make the best possible subject choices as he prepares to enter his Leaving Certificate cycle and the challenges that lay ahead. Students are welcome to attend with parents.

Mock Examinations

The mock examinations for all Leaving 11 and Third Year Students begin early in February and will be completed before the mid-term break. Unfortunately, there are charges associated with these exams to cover the cost of purchasing scripts, answer booklets and corrections. They offer the students a trial run in preparation for the real exams in June and help focus the minds of all for the trials which lay ahead. We would ask all parents to provide as much support and encouragement to your son in the coming weeks and months as he completes project work, oral examinations and prepares for the exams in June.

New School Buildings

Mythen Construction continue to make progress on the Building Project. They have been carefully taking down the old pipes, cables, damaged plaster and other materials in the old buildings as they undertake the labour of love to restore them to their former glory. They have to occupy some of the areas of the grounds that we are using to remove waste material and bring in all the equipment and materials required to complete the project. This has complicated the process from a Health and Safety perspective. We would therefore ask that you advise your son to be mindful of his surroundings. It is essential that no pupils enter the site for any reason as this would put their own safety at risk as well as the workers onsite.

School Gymnasium

Our school Gymnasium will be completed in the coming weeks with the floor being sanded, line markings installed and a number of layers of lacquer put on the floor to protect it. When this process is completed, it will be essential to ensure that we protect this wonderful facility. With that in mind shoes or trainers with dark soles cannot be worn in the sports hall for PE class or training for sports teams once all works are completed which we hope will happen before the end of this month

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 which is based in Baltinglass. Contact details are available from the school office or online, with purchases also available online with School Uniforms Direct. Students are not allowed to wear hoodies to school. Students may not be allowed to attend class if the present without the correct uniform.

School attendance

Full school attendance is very important if your son is to make the most of his time in school and be afforded the best possible opportunity of reaching his potential. We therefore ask all parents to make every effort to ensure that your son is on time for school and attends for the full day. A signed note to explain all absences must be presented upon returning to school. If it is necessary for a student to leave early, it is essential that the correct procedures are followed as these are an integral part of the “Child Protection Guidelines“. This means that a note signed by a parent/guardian must be presented to the Principal/Deputy Principal before departure. If a pressing matter arises during the school day, please contact the school office to make arrangements.

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 15^th. 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 27^th with the 3^rd Year meeting taking place on Wednesday December 5^th. 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 5^th in the Ref from 7pm to 8pm.

New Junior Cycle In-Service for all teacher will take place on Tuesday December 11^th. There will be no school for any students that day.

Our annual Christmas Liturgy and Carol Service will take place on Wednesday December 19^th in school.

School will shut at 12-30pm for Christmas Holidays on Friday December 21^st.

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.

New School Buildings

The Board of Management is delighted to be able to announce that Mythen Construction handed back to us the newly renovated 1960’s Block and the remaining new buildings on Friday. This is a little later than expected and we apologise for any inconvenience that this may have caused. It was however better to ensure that works are completed to a satisfactory standard, before taking ownership of the buildings. This will ensure that there will only be a limited amount of times that building workers will have to return to areas occupied by our staff and students. We will move into the new buildings in the coming days. Lockers will also be distributed by Fr. Shem to all students who wish to have access to one.

First Year 2018

Our First Years and other new students have settled in well and all appear to be happy so far. This is helped by the excellent work done by our Meitheal team, who have organised a number of events for the cohort with a number of other events being planned for the coming months. A big group are very excited by the prospect of a trip to see a premier league football match before Christmas which is a great way for the lads to make new friends in a fun environment. A big Thank you to Mr. McNeill and Mr. Cody for their time in organising this trip.

Open Evening 2018

Our annual open evening takes place next Friday, October 19^th from 4 to 7pm. This is a fantastic opportunity for prospective students to see our new facilities and meet with our teachers as they make up their mind on which school to attend when they leave their primary school. Mr. Carew, our Principal will give a talk in the new Gym at 5-30pm. Teachers will be in classrooms throughout the evening to meet students and parents to advise on the fantastic opportunities available to them in Knockbeg College. Refreshments will be served in the school canteen, by staff from `The School Food Company` who provide food to our students on a daily basis. Noeleen, our school secretary will be in the office to provide enrolment details and forms to anyone seeking information. We are currently enrolling for September 2019. The closing date for enrolment is October 26^th. We have a limited number of spaces available. If we are over-subscribed, places will then be allocated in accordance with the terms of our Board of Management enrolment policy. School will shut at 1-15 to facilitate preparation for our visitors.

Career Choices

Mr. Hoyne, our Guidance Counsellor meets with all Transition Year, Leaving 1 & Leaving 11 students 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. Open days for all Colleges are taking place at present, with details advertised online by the relevant Colleges. Please begin to have discussions at home in relation to this with your son to ensure the best possible choices are made in the months ahead.

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.

House Exams

Exams will take place in school for all students after the mid-term break. It is very important for all students to establish a regular pattern of study and revision in preparation for these exams. This is helped by having a timetable prepared which will provide structure to your efforts. Please ask Mr. Hoyne if help and advice in preparing a sample timetable is required. A lot of our students are availing of our after school study facilities, which does contribute to the fantastic results achieved by them in State Examinations each year. There are a small number of places still available. If anyone is interested, please contact Mr. Conway.

School attendance

Full school attendance is very important if your son is to make the most of his time in school and be afforded the best possible opportunity of reaching his potential. We therefore ask all parents to make every effort to ensure that your son is on time for school and attends for the full day. A signed note to explain all absences must be presented upon returning to school. If it is necessary for a student to leave early, it is essential that the correct procedures are followed as these are an integral part of the “Child Protection Guidelines“. This means that a note signed by a parent/guardian must be presented to the Principal/Deputy Principal before departure. If a pressing matter arises during the school day, please contact the school office to make arrangements.

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.