Good evening. This is not a topic I wish to raise, however it is necessary. I am aware that everyone in the country is feeling the rising cost of fuel, energy, insurance, mortgages etc. And so are schools. 

We have always had a very reasonable way of charging students going on a bus - it has been €5 euros per trip whether they went to Newbridge or Longford. We have maintained this price up to now, while we are aware that other schools have asked their students/parents for larger payment. Some primary schools even divide the full cost of the bus between everyone going and add it to the cost of the trip. Others ask for a flat rate of €12 or more. We have looked at it from every angle, should it be class trips which are curricular, or should it be sports - or should it be both? To be fair, we are charging everyone the same amount. The price of most buses which leave here on any morning are €600. You can do the maths and see how much the school is adding to that to cover the full cost - approximately €300- €350 per bus. This is not sustainable.  

From next week, all students who go on a bus trip for a match or a school trip or an extra-curricular activity will be asked for 10 euros in the morning before they go. We are finalising the set up of a SumUp card machine which will allow Revolut and other cards to be tapped.

This pains me to ask families for this, especially from those students who are representing the school and may be on more than one team. However, the extra 'cost of living grant' which the Department of Education sent to us before and after Christmas has only covered our bus fees since September. Nothing else, no heating, gas, electricity, etc. 

All I can say is thank you all for the good will and the support which we receive from our school community, it makes our job a very positive one. 

St. Mary’s CBS 8-16 Heywood CS 3-11

Our Junior footballers got their South Leinster campaign off to a good start against Heywood CS on Friday last. With CBS captain Darren Brennen wining the toss and choosing to play with the wind, we took a commanding lead in the first 15 minutes of the game, notching up 2-4 without reply. With the strong wind, the game was effectively over at half time, with CBS having a great spread of scorers from Darren Brennan, Oran Darcy, Conor O’Callaghan, Joe Larkin, Josh Finn and Sean Tuohy to name a few.

The 2nd half was much more challenging against the wind but midfielders Dan Downey and Cormac Deegan defended heroically, led by centre back Sean Powders.

Our next game is at home against Naas CC on Monday, December 11th at 12.30pm.

Any parent who wishes their 1st year son to receive his vaccination in school tomorrow, Wed 7th February, must complete and send into school the Form given out some weeks ago. The HSE are finished here in school tomorrow. It will be far more awkward to receive vaccinations once they move to a clinic or GPs office. Thank you. 

In 2021, the State Examinations Commission (SEC) as part of its digital strategy, introduced a facility to allow Leaving Certificate candidates to confirm their subject and level entry details online (including adding or withdrawing from subjects), replacing the previous system of using individual Leaving Certificate candidate (E7) entry forms.  The use of the online system, the Candidate Self Service Portal (CSSP) will continue for the 2024 Leaving Certificate.

The portal will open tomorrow Wednesday 17th of January 2024 for candidates to register and activate their account and confirm their subject entries and levels. It will remain open for this purpose until 5pm Friday 02 February 2024.

Can you please advise all candidates in your school that it is essential that they register through the Portal as this Portal will provide candidates with the opportunity to confirm their subject choice and levels, to also allow future access to their results and for the later stages of the process such as the appeals application process.

 The candidate portal can be accessed on www.examinations.ie  from 1pm on Wednesday 17th of January 2024

 There is helpdesk support available at 1800-111135 or 1800-111136 between 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday until Tuesday 02 February 2024. Outside of these hours you can email candidateportal@examinations.ie 

 Yours sincerely

Grace Fitzgerald

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