14th August 2023

Dear  Parents/Guardians, 

I hope you and your families have had a relaxing and refreshing summer. As  we  approach  the  start  of  another school  year,  please read the following information which I hope answers all your questions.

Firstly, I  would  like  to  draw  your  attention  to the following:    

·       The annual Re-Admission  Form  is  on our School App in the Consent Forms Section and if you have not already submitted  it, please do asap. We will continue to have it open for late submissions, in order for us to know what numbers are returning,  You will receive personal notifications on the app until it is submitted. (a red Attention Please on the lower right side of App window)

·       Even if your son is not returning to the CBS, we will need to be informed. If there has been a change of address or contact phone numbers, please use this form to update us.

·       Payment of Student Personal Accident Insurance – is compulsory for all students - €11 – to be paid through the App (Shop/School Payments) 

·       Payment of the Voluntary Contribution - € 92 for one student / €123 for two or more –  also online through the App. 

·       All students MUST pay the Student Insurance before they return to school in the last week of August. No student will be allowed to take part in PE, extracurricular activities, school trips, etc. unless this is paid. 

We depend on your Voluntary Contribution to fund all extra-curricular activities (sports and educational trips), the provision of buses, photocopying, postage, texting home when students  are absent, lunchtime activities, etc.  The provision of sport in the school alone costs us in the region of €45,000 each year.  The cost of buses for all types of activities, not alone sport, is one of our single largest expenses. The individual cost of €5 / student / trip has remained static for several years, so as not to incur increased costs on students/families on a weekly basis. But costs, as you know well, are increasing each year for us all.

In addition, the provision of online services such as VSware, Microsoft 365 for all students and the School App cost us approximately €25,000 per year. While these digital services are the only way to go in 2023, they appear to be invisible compared to postage and paper, yet they do come with a price tag which must be funded from our Voluntary Contributions. I think most of you will agree that our provision of these online and up to date services are what you expect from a school which has never been found wanting in the most modern methods of communication and payments. They keep you updated on a daily basis, allow you to pay online from the comfort of your home, and are available on your mobile phone. Without this contribution, many of the above facilities could not be provided.  I would be grateful if this contribution could be paid during the summer at your own convenience, if not at the time of submission of the Re-Admission Form.

The Main Office re-opens today, August 14th at 10 am. 

Anyone in either 1st or 5th years, who wishes to change a subject option, should email me with the details. Most changes are possible. If you purchase text books do not write on them if you are unsure about your son staying with the subject keep the receipt so you can switch it easily. 

The Booklists, iPad Information, Book Rental Information and more will continue to be updated and provided on the school website and on the App. Mr G Brennan is our iPad Coordinator, and if you have an issue, you can email him at gbrennan@portlaoisecbs.com. All information for the purchase of iPads is available on the school website. 

Additional monies, such as subject fees for Art, Woodwork, Metalwork, Graphics, DCG, Home Economics, and several more should be paid on the App. Due to the massive increase in the cost of steel and wood in particular, these subject fees were increased substantially last year. We regret this, but it is unavoidable. 

For your information, school will reopen for students on Wednesday, August 23rd and half days will continue until Thursday  August 31st.

·       Incoming 1st years will begin on Monday August 21st  with their Induction Day.  (Bring snack.)

·       The same 1st years will have an IT training day on Tuesday morning at 9am with everyone in to begin with and then any student who hasn’t bought an iPad can go home at 12 noon. Those with iPads will remain on until 3pm. Those staying till 3 should bring a lunch and a drink.

·       Wednesday 23rd  August – 1st Years come in – 9.00 to 1.15 Bring no books, just a snack for break.

·       Thursday 24th – 1st & 6th Years attend – 9.00 to 1.15 

·       Friday 25th  – 1st, 6th, 3rd Years attend – 9.00 to 1.15 

·       Monday  28th –  1st, 6th, 3rd 5th Years attend – 9.00 to 1.15 

·       Tuesday 29th  - 1st, 6th, 3rd 5th 2nd Years attend – 9.00 to 1.15 

·       Wednesday 30th – All classes including TY’s attend – 9.00 to 1.15 

·       Thursday 31st – all classes in 9-4.

When students attend for their first morning in August, they should have paid the €21 online for their journal and locker beforehand. These will be distributed to them that day. This will streamline the morning activities considerably. Thank you.  

There is no Book Rental for 5th / 6th Years – but there is School Aid.  If you go to the school website, you will see School Aid. Please download that form, complete and submit to the office during June or August.

Book Rental is now closed to any 1st year who has not been registered before now. Full payment of the €200 will be required before any books are given out. Only late admissions to the school will be allowed to join the scheme from now on.  

Rafters will return to the school canteen in September and we look forward to the availability of hot in-house lunches once again. They introduced pre-ordering of food on the School App last year but the lads didn’t really take it up.  However, tapping cards did help to speed up the queues. The fresh smell of food definitely adds to the ambiance of the GPA each day.

The School Year Calendar has been updated on this App and also on VSware. Parent teacher meetings, house exams, days off, half days, and other events are all there. Please refer to it regularly or make note of those relevant to your own son's year group.

I put up a letter on this App during July re: School Transport for those who are eligible for same. Please refer to that notification which is still available on the App.

I want to take this opportunity to wish all of you a safe and healthy year ahead.  Family life and school life are interdependent on each other and both impact greatly on each student. If you feel during the year that you need to speak to any of us, to inform us of something relevant about your son, please email or ring the office to make an appointment to do so. 

I look forward to working with you all again this coming school year. 

Yours sincerely, 

Maura Murphy 

Having the School App is the best way to keep informed, as all information for parents is provided on it. Please check it daily in the next 2 weeks for notices about your son's return to school.  Thank you.

Please download and print to have for future reference during the next 9 months.

The School Aid Form for 5th years only, was meant to be found on our website Home Page but it's not. Apologies. The quickest way for me to make it available to those who wish to apply it to put the link on this message. There is a note along with the form which explains it further. 

It was brought to my attention last week by Shaws, that the knitwear company had sent forward the older crest which they had on file and not the new crest which they had been sent and also had on file. It is too late to change, re-crest or withdraw these jumpers and to be honest, it is not the greatest issue we have faced this past week. We will keep it in perspective. 

There are no jumpers with the new crest, so for another year, everyone has the same older crest. They'll get it right next year. 

Any students now in 2nd year Book Rental, who haven't returned the texts they were asked to return in June (such as the English text) should do so now. The 2nd year replacements cannot be provided until those specific books are returned. 

TY or 5th year now, who still have books from the Book Rental Scheme, should return them immediately to the school. Please leave in the GPA if nobody is in the office. 

Any students who have books which would still be on the booklists for either junior or senior years who wish to donate to the school, these would be greatly appreciated. 

Also, any parent who has a uniform which their sons have grown out of and they are still wearable, these would also be greatfully received. 

Thank you all.

Those searching for Booklists can find them on this App and on the website.

On this App, please click on the 3 lines at the top left of this window. A Menu appears. Click on SCHOOL, THEN SCHOOL CODE & POLICIES, scroll down to the very bottom of that list and you will see Booklists for 2023-24. In that you will see a link to each year group's Booklist.

On the school website, go to the Parents Tab along the top of Home Page, select Booklists from the drop down menu.

They have also been sent to AllBooks in Portlaoise. The Booklist is now available to purchase with one click from Allbooks.ie Look for your booklists on www.allbooks.ie  It's easy and hassle free.

Information for families regarding School Transport Payment

Process for 2023/24 School Year

Payments/Medical Card Details

Payment/child’s medical card details for all pupils who wish to be considered for the allocation of a ticket for the 2023/24 school year must be submitted before 9 June 2023 On buseireann.ie/schooltransport.  After this date, this will be a late payment and tickets are not guaranteed to eligible pupils. 

Bus Éireann Family Portal Closure

Please note the Bus Éireann family portal will close for all applications and payments for a period of 3 weeks from 9 June 2023 to 30 June 2023 and it will not be possible to make a late application, or make a delayed payment or delayed entry of medical card details until the family portal reopens.

This is necessary so that Bus Éireann can process applications, arrange transport and to assess all applications and determine whether they are eligible or concessionary and to include Temporary Alleviation Measures (TAMS) as soon as possible for the 2023/24 school year. Bus Éireann plans to issue all eligible tickets from July.

Tickets will be issued to eligible students who have applied and paid/entered medical card details on time. After this allocation is complete, where seats are available, concessionary tickets will be issued.

Any application made after 28 April 2023, or any payment/medical card details submitted after 9 June 2023 will be late. Where this happens, eligible students are not guaranteed a ticket.

Bus Éireann has put in place a dedicated customer care call centre and a Contact Form on buseireann.ie/schooltransport to assist families specifically with School Transport queries during the busy summer period. Families that have queries can contact the call centre on: LoCall 0818 919 910. Operating hours are 09.00 – 17.00 Monday to Friday

If families have queries relating to transport for children with special educational needs) please contact School Transport Section, Department of Education at:

Email: school_transport@education.gov.ie

Phone: 057 9325469 or 057 9325466

Payments/Medical Cards

It is important to ensure that payments/child’s medical card details are submitted for new applicants and also for pupils who have previously applied/availed of school transport and require a seat on a service for the 23/24 school year.

Children (who are eligible for school transport) with valid medical cards (GMS Scheme) are exempt from paying the annual charge, however their medical card details must be submitted before 9 June 2023.

Families are strongly urged to make sure that they pay/enter child’s medical card details on time. Late applications made after 28th April 2023, or late payment after 9 June 2023 may mean that a ticket is not available.

To make your payment or enter your child's medical card details, go to buseireann.ie/schooltransport by Friday 9 June.

The Annual Charge for School Transport Services for the 2023/24 school year is set out below:

Category of pupil

Annual Charge

Primary Eligible/ Concessionary pupil

€50

Post primary Eligible/ Concessionary pupil

€75

Maximum annual charge for families

€125

Eligibility

Children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest national school, and at post-primary level where they reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest post-primary school/education centre as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.

• Children who are eligible for school transport and who have completed the application and payment process on time will be accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation.

• Children who are not eligible for school transport, but who complete the application and payment process on time, will be considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats.

• Because of the nature of concessionary transport for non-eligible children and the priority of providing places for eligible children, there may be an excess of demand over supply for concessionary places, in these cases Bus Éireann will allocate tickets for spare seats using an agreed selection process.

• In addition, temporary alleviation measures will continue for the 2023/24 school year, pending completion of the school transport scheme review and this means that transport will be provided, where such services are in operation, for post-primary pupils who are eligible for transport to their nearest school and are attending their second nearest school/ post-primary centre and who apply and pay on time.

Pupils from Ukraine

Pupils from Ukraine who require school transport should not apply on the Bus Éireann family portal but should visit gov.ie/ukraine for details on how to apply. Please note that any pupils from Ukraine who are currently on school transport do not need to re-apply for the 2023/24 school year unless they have changed address or school.

School Transport Section

Department of Education

School_transport@education.gov.ie

Gov.ie/schooltransport

It is with shock and sadness that our school community learned of the death of Ronan McNamara TY yesterday afternoon. 

We are heartbroken to have lost such a bright and pleasant young man, as described by his teachers and peers. ️

Ronan had a wide array of interests, playing football for Stradbally GAA, rugby for Portlaoise RFC and was a talented guitar player. 

To Ronan’s family and friends, our deepest sympathies, thoughts and prayers go out to you. 

We must now support each other in the difficult days ahead. We must be there for one another ️

We will be opening the school today from 2-4 for friends to gather. Please join us if you are available. May Ronan rest in peace.

CBS-The AGM of the Parents' Council will be held tomorrow evening at 7.30pm in the CBS. All are welcome.