Displaying 1531-1540 of 2777 results.
Happy St Francis Day
Created : 02 Oct 2020, 1:23 PM
Archived : 04 Dec 2020, 12:00 AM
Happy St Francis Day to everyone from Caroline. St Francis is the patron saint of animals and the environment. Be kind to all God’s creatures.
Minister For Education and Skills statement re Calculated Grades error
Created : 30 Sep 2020, 5:39 PM
Archived : 30 Nov 2020, 12:00 AM
30 September, 2020 – Statement from the Minister for Education Norma Foley TD and the Department of Education and Skills regarding Leaving Certificate 2020 Calculated Grades Process The Department of Education and Skills has found two errors in the Leaving Certificate 2020 Calculated Grades process which mean that incorrect grades were issued to some students when they received their results on 7 September. The errors are being rectified and the process is being re-checked with a series of independent checks now underway. The Department’s checks have indicated that this will impact on some of the Calculated Grades results that have already issued and some students will be receiving a higher Calculated Grade in one or more subjects than the grades they received on 7 September. The precise number of students who will receive higher grades will not be available until the process is completed, but it is likely to be in the region of 6,500. No student will receive a reduced grade in any subject as a result of this process. The checks also indicate that the majority of the students who will be receiving an improved grade will receive an upgrade in one subject only, with a smaller number of students receiving an upgrade in more than one subject. The Department of Education and Skills will contact students who will be receiving the improved grades as soon as all the checks are completed. When the revised grades are issued the CAO and the Higher Education Institutions will establish which students receiving corrected results would have been eligible for a higher preference offer in previous rounds of the CAO process. The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research Innovation and Skills will work with the CAO and the Higher Education Institutions to determine how those students who receive upgraded results can be facilitated to commence the course that they would, otherwise have been offered in an earlier CAO round. Minister Foley said: “I want to say how sorry I am that this has happened. “My immediate priority is to fix the errors and their consequences so that students get their correct grades. “That is happening right now and the next steps will follow quickly. “On my instruction, the Department of Education and Skills has commissioned independent international experts to examine aspects of the Calculated Grades System to provide further reassurances to me and to students. “I will provide full detail on the errors, how they are being addressed and the grade upgrades as soon as I can.” Information on what has happened: Two errors have been discovered in the same part of the coding used to implement the standardisation process. The first error was in a single line of code programmed by the Department’s external contractor Polymetrika International Inc. The error affected the way in which candidates’ Junior Cycle results were included in the standardisation process. It was intended that the students’ aggregate class level Junior Cycle results in Irish, English and Maths would be included in the data used by the national standardisation process, together with their best two other subjects. The error had the effect that the students’ results in Irish, English and Maths were put together with their weakest two other subjects in the standardisation process. The effect of this error has been that, in some subjects, some candidates received Calculated Grades that were lower than they should have been and some received grades that were higher. Polymetrika discovered the error and informed the Department about it immediately. They have since corrected the piece of code. The Department of Education and Skills found the second error while performing checks related to rectifying the first error. This error was contained in the same section of the code programmed by the Department’s external contractor Polymetrika. The second error, which also related to the way in which candidates’ Junior Cycle results were included in the national standardisation process, was that the results of the Junior Cycle subject Civic, Social and Political Education (CSPE) were included in the data being used by the model. The Department of Education and Skills’ checks found that the subject’s results had been included in error. It was incorrect, as in line with the design of the Calculated Grades process, this subject should not have been included in the data used by the model. How these are being addressed: The coding errors have been corrected. The Department has carried out a series of further checks and has identified no further errors in the coding. It has checked that the coding correctly implements all decisions of the National Standardisation Group about how data were to be combined and used in the standardisation process. As a further reassurance, the Department has contracted ETS Educational Testing Service, the world-leading US-based non-profit organisation which specialises in educational measurement, to review essential aspects of the coding. The results data have now been re-run through the corrected model. The review of relevant aspects of the code by ETS is expected to take a number of days. Once this is completed, the Department will have full information on which students will benefit from the improved grades and the specific subjects involved for each student. The Department will then contact all students, advising whether they will receive a higher grade or grades, or that they are not impacted. The Department will send a corrected file of student results to the CAO so that the CAO can work with higher education institutions to determine if a student is due a new offer and to do everything possible to facilitate their admission. Any student who would have been entitled to a different offer in previous CAO rounds if they received the correct grade on 7 September will receive this offer or a deferred offer as soon as practicable after the updating of results. This is in line with the practice that occurs in the appeals process every year. When the results are published on the portal detailed information on this process will be available for students on gov.ie/LeavingCertificate. The Department of Education and Skills has put in place a dedicated helpline and email address to answer queries from students. The helpline number is 01 8892199 and the email address is LC2020@education.gov.ie . The helpline will be open today from 4-7pm and tomorrow from 10am-5pm. ENDS
Calculated Grades error — letter from DES
Created : 30 Sep 2020, 5:36 PM
Archived : 30 Nov 2020, 12:00 AM
Dear Principal, This is to advise you that the Minister for Education and Skills today issued a statement relating to the Leaving Certificate 2020 Calculated Grades Process. A copy of this statement can be found here. The statement relates to two errors that the Department has found in the Calculated Grades process. These errors led to incorrect grades having been issued to some students when they received their results on 7 September. The errors are being rectified and the process is being re-checked, including a series of independent checks, by US-based organisation Educational Testing Service (ETS), which specialises in educational measurement, which is also now in train. It is expected that this process will be completed over the coming days, at which time contact will be made by the Department with students. It will not be possible to identify the affected students unless this process has been completed. The Department’s checks have indicated that this will mean that some students will be receiving a higher Calculated Grade in one or more subjects than the grades they received on 7 September. The precise number of students who will receive higher grades will not be available until the process is completed, but it is likely to be in the region of 6,500, or just over 10 per cent of the 61,000 who received their results. The number of grades involved will equate to approximately two per cent of the grades issued. The majority of students affected will receive an upgrade in one subject only. No student will receive a reduced grade in any subject as a result of this process. This matter is deeply regretted by the Minister and the Department and they apologise sincerely to each student impacted for these errors, and the upset and distress they have caused. The Department has put in place a helpline for students which is now open and will be operated up to Sunday 04 October. The helpline number is 01 8892199. Updated information has also being posted at www.gov.ie/leavingcertificate. An email address for queries is also available at LC2020@education.gov.ie Yours sincerely, Curriculum and Assessment Policy Unit, Department of Education and Skills.
Green Flag raised
Created : 27 Sep 2020, 7:09 PM
Archived : 27 Nov 2020, 12:00 AM
Congratulations to all on our Green School Committee who had the honour of raising our first Green Flag for BCS on Friday. Well done to all involved on their tremendous work throughout school which culminated with the awarding of the flag in April.
Transition Year
Created : 25 Sep 2020, 11:13 AM
Archived : 25 Nov 2020, 12:00 AM
Our group are out on the hike as part of their Gaisce Award
Blackwater Community School News
Created : 23 Sep 2020, 6:54 PM
Archived : 23 Nov 2020, 12:00 AM
Image is Fiona Kenny, Ballyduff celebrating her great achievement in this year’s Leaving Cert Welcome Back As our new school year continues at BCS we wish to thank you for your continued adherence to COVID 19 protocols and do continue to keep up the effort at all times throughout the school. As the national picture demonstrates now is not the time to become complacent so continue your co-operation and support by reinforcing your practices and adhere to the HSE guidelines. Success Well done to all staff and students who took part in county finals at adult and under age level in hurling, camogie and Ladies Football over the last few weeks. Congratulations to all the victors. Leaving Cert Success Congratulations to all Leaving Cert students who received their results recently and are now embarking on the next step of their career journey. Wishing you all success in what lies ahead for you. Congratulations to Fiona Kenny of Ballyduff on achieving 8 A1’s in her Leaving Certificate at Blackwater Community School, Lismore. Fiona also got full marks in Junior Certificate three years ago and intends to study Physiotherapy in U.L. from September. School App Reminder to all to keep up to date with practices and activities in BCS by using our School App and school Facebook.
DARE FAO: 6th year students and parents
Created : 23 Sep 2020, 12:11 PM
Archived : 23 Nov 2020, 12:00 AM
DARE: Disability Access Route to Education DARE is a third level alternative admissions scheme for LC students whose disabilities have had a negative impact on thier second level education. DARE offers reduced points places to school leavers who, as a result of having a disability, have experienced additional educational challenges in second level education. More information can be found on the following website: accesscollege.ie/dare/ Students applying with a specific learning difficulty must have a psychological assessment and must have two literacy or two numeracy attainment scores at or below the 10th percentile or Standard Score of 81 or below.  If you have a physical/mental health illness or disability, you will find a list of the types of disabilities that DARE covers on accesscollege.ie/dare/. For these you will be required to show evidence of disability either through a report or a form filled out by your relevant health professional.  If you think you may qualify to apply for DARE or would like more information regarding DARE, please let Ms. Landers know before 19th October 2020. 
Padlet information for 1st Year students and Parents
Created : 22 Sep 2020, 7:24 PM
Archived : 22 Nov 2020, 12:00 AM
Please find information on typing programmes , assistive technology etc at the following link. Any questions please contact Emma Barry in school or by emal at emma.barry@blackwatercs.com padlet.com/emmabarry/hj08cofn1uoua0x5
Vsware Access for Parents
Created : 29 Oct 2020, 12:42 PM
Archived : 20 Nov 2020, 12:00 AM
For any Parent/Guardian wishing to view Midterm reports through the School App you can get to our VSWAre site directly by clicking the following link: blackwatercs.app.vsware.ie/
6th Year Mentoring Scheme
Created : 14 Sep 2020, 9:40 AM
Archived : 14 Nov 2020, 12:00 AM
Could all sixth year students please fill out the first Mentoring page in their PR book. Students are asked to fill out their 5th year Christmas and Summer results and total up their best six. Students should also start carefully considering their career choice and course options which can be filled out on the bottom of the page. This section might be best completed using a pencil as it may change throughout the year.