Welcome to Carrick-on-Shannon Community School
Welcome to the Carrick-on-Shannon Community School website. We invite you to browse the various pages to discover about the various programmes and events in our school.
WHAT'S HAPPENING
Midterm Break
Carrick-on-Shannon Community School will close to students on Friday, 23rd October 2020 for the midterm break.
School will resume on Monday, 2nd November 2020 at 9am.
Hand Sanitiser
Carrick-on-Shannon Community School is not affected by the Department of Agriculture's recall of certain hand sanitiser products in schools.
Improved Facilities
We continue to improve the facilities for our staff and students as we learn more about life in the Community School during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Last week a new shelter was installed to the side of the building to provide cover for students on wet days during the coming months. This temporary structure can cover 34 students at 1m physical distancing with masks on. If students wish to take off their masks a maximum of 17 students can eat their lunch in this space while socially distancing at 2m.
We have also installed 20 picnic benches for the students and they are located on the outside basketball courts. Up to 3 students can sit at each table. A big 'Thank you' to the Transition Years, LCAs and their teachers for assmebling the new benches and their help in preparng the new spaces for student use.
We are requesting that all parents/ guardians take some time this weekend to reinforce the importance of the following steps in fighting the spread of COVID-19:
- Keep a physical distance of 2m from others
- Wear a face covering when out and about
- Wash/ sanitize your hands regularly (for 20 seconds) throughout the day
- Always have a tissue to hand and use it when coughing or sneezing
Please do not send your child to school if they display any symptoms of the COVID-19 virus. (For more information, see below.)
School Calendar
Term 1
School in Session Friday, 28th August 2020 to Friday, 23rd October 2020 inclusive
School Closed Monday, 5th October 2020
Mid Term Monday, 26th October 2020 to Friday, 30th October 2020 inclusive
School in Session Monday, 2nd November 2020 to Tuesday, 22nd December 2020 inclusive
Term 2
School in session Wednesday, 6th January 2021 to Friday, 12th February 2021 inclusive
Mid Term Monday, 15th February 2021 to Friday 19th February 2021
School in session Monday, 22nd February 2021 to Friday, 26th March 2021 Inclusive
School closed Wednesday, 17th March2021 (St. Patrick's Day)
Easter Holdays Monday, 29th March 2021 to Friday, 9th April 2021 inclusive
Term 3
School in Session Monday, 12th April 2020 to Friday, 4th June 2021 inclusive
School Closed Monday, 3rd May 2021 & Tuesday, 4th May 2021 (Bank holiday and school closure)
**The school will close for one further day for staff Junior Cycle training. We wil notify you of this date as soon as we receive it.
Remember
Students should not bring their textbooks to school. Instead, bring a copy and a biro. Also, bring at least 3 masks so that you can change your mask at break time (11am) and at lunch time (1.15pm). While we have lots and lots of sanitiser, we recommend that students bring a small bottle of their own just in case they need it unexpectedly. Finally, we think it would be a good idea to bring a small packet of tissues.
All students are required to wear a mask and wipe their desk with sanitiser at the end of each class. By doing this, we will ensure that we have the best possible chance of keeping COVID-19 out of the school.
If you have any of the symptoms of COVID-19, do not come to school. Call your GP and they will advise you on what to do next. The symptoms of COVID-19 are:
- High temperature (38 degrees celsius or above)
- Cough - any kind of cough
- Shortness of breath
- Loss or change to your sense of taste or smell
For more information, click here.
If in doubt, call your GP.
We enjoy meeting parents/ guardians but we regret that only essential meetings can now take place in the school. Most of our contact with parents/ guardians will be conducted by telephone. Please do not call to the front office unless you have an appointment which has been cleared by the Principal as we do not wish to cause offence by refusing entry.
In the event that a student is confirmed as having COVID-19, the HSE (or their representative) will liaise with the school to aquire all necessary information. The HSE is responsible for contacting students it believes to be 'close contacts' of the confirmed case. These students will be given advice as to what to do next. All other students will attend school as normal.
Things to Note
TY, 5th and 6th Year Students should enter the grounds using the gate towards the top of the hill. All other students should use the main student gate.
As the tuck shop and the canteen are not open at this time, students should bring a snack with them for 11 o'clock break. Students should also bring some copies and their own pen as sharing stationary items will not be allowed. The school timetable returns to normal this week. School finishes at 4pm, Monday to Thursday and 1.15pm on Friday.
There were a few things we learned on our reopening:
- Students should not be dropped to the school before 8.40am as we cannot supervise classes before that time. Students will not be granted permission to enter the building until 8.40am.
- Parents/ guardians should collect and drop-off their children further away from the school to prevent too many children entering the school at once.
- Where possible, encourage your child to walk or cycle to school.
- Please remind your children to maintain a physical distance of 2m from each other once outside the school building.
- Cleaning of all classrooms will start once the school has emptied. For this reason, no student is permitted to remain on the school premises for more than 15 minutes after school finishes.
- Students have a tendancy to gather closely together at break time etc. As we will remind them to remain socially distant at all times, we request that parents/ guardians reinformce this message at home.
Changes to Our School
Those of you who are familar with the school will notice some new additions as we have been busy making some changes to make things safer for our school community.
Some of these changes include:
- Social distance floor stickers
- Teacher screens
- 5 Additional classrooms in the complex
- Hand sanitiser and tissue stations in each classroom
- Isolation room
We would like to thank all our school and extended community for all their help, support and expertise over the last few weeks in making these changes possible.
Remember
Students should not bring their textbooks to school. Instead, bring a copy and a biro. That will do to get started. Also, bring at least 3 masks so that you can change your mask at break time (11am) and at lunch time (1.15pm). While we have lots and lots of sanitiser, we recommend that students bring a small bottle of their own just in case they need it unexpectedly. Finally, we think it would be a good idea to bring a small packet of tissues.
We will spend a little bit of time instructing students on the best way to stay safe while in school. All students will be expected to wear a mask and wipe their desk with sanitiser at the end of each class. By doing this, we will ensure that we have the best possible chance of keeping COVID-19 out of the school.
If you have any of the symptoms of COVID-19, do not come to school. Call your GP and they will advise you on what to do next. The symptoms of COVID-19 are:
- High temperature (38 degrees celsius or above)
- Cough - any kind of cough
- Shortness of breath
- Loss or change to your sense of taste or smell
For more information, click here.
We enjoy meeting parents/ guardians but we regret that only essential meetings can now take place in the school. Most of our contact with parents/ guardians will be conducted by telephone. Please do not call to the front office unless you have an appointment which has been cleared by the Principal as we do not wish to cause offence by refusing entry.
As our canteen will not open for another few weeks, please remember to bring a small snack with you tomorrow. Break will be at 11am and school will finish tomorrow at 1.15pm.
To help with their settling in we have created this virtual tour of our school which we hope will help settle some of those first day nerves and answer some questions you may have. We look forward to meeting you all soon
Reopening of Carrick-on-Shannon Community School
Please click here to read about the various steps we are taking to ensure a full and safe return to school for our students.
In addition to the above,students should consider purchasing the following items:
- Washable, reusable face coverings
- Personal bottle of hand sanitiser
- Small packets of tissue (cough etiquette)
- Reusable water bottle (water fonts in the school will be turned off.)
- Ear protectors (for students in woodwork and other such practical classes)
Student Awards 2020 -
Please imagine a drum roll!
Congratulations to all those who have received the following awards:
6th Year - Student of the Year Áine Lyons
6th Year - Sports Awards Oisín Bohan
Caoimhe McGarry
Aisling Leahy
6th Year - Farrell McElgunn (Irish) Award Roisín Reynolds
6th Year - Music Award Roisín Noone
1st Year - Student of the Year Daire Shannon
2nd Year - Student of the Year Niamh O'Connor
3rd Year - Student of the Year Roisín Kelleher
5th Year - Student of the Year Faith Peter-Olabiyi
Transition Year - Student of the Year Milo Blake
Hannah Stenson
Student Wellbeing
This is an unusual time for all students and teachers as we work together to continue to access the school curriculum and to stay safe and well.
Our Guidance Counsellors, with suport from the Student Support Team, have prepared a very uselful document to provide some helpful tips and advice on what to do if students feel that they would like some extra support while the school is closed.
COVID-19: How to prevent spread (HSE Advice)
The Department of Health has asked schools to publish a letter for parents/ guardians. The letter references the closing of a school in Dublin and offers advice to parents/ guardians around the Coroavirus. TO access this letter, please click here.
The Department of Health has also asked all schools to inform parents/ guardians and students about the simple steps that can be taken to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
The HSE has a website for the general public to access information on COVID-19. You can access this website here.
The risk of contracting coronavirus is quite low. The HSE requests that we all do the following:
- Wash your hands properly and regularly.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you sneeze. (Use your sleeve if you do not have a tissue.)
- Place used tissues in a bin and wash your hands properly.
- CLean and disinfect frequenly touched objects and surfaces.
- Follow the travel advice from the Department of Foreign Affairs.
We are asked not to touch our eyes, nose or mouth if our hands are not clean.
A decision relating to our School Tours and other events will be taken closer to the date of the event in consultation with relevent agnecies (travel agents, sports organisations etc.) bearing in mind advice given to the school from the various government departments.
Happy Birthday To Us!!
On the, 7th January 1995, the students and staff of Carrick-on-Shannon Community School began teaching and learning in our new school building.
Over the past twenty-five years, Carrick-on-Shannon Community School has become an integral part of the community and has gone from strength to strength.
While celebrating our birthday, we remember those who have shared parts of this journey with us but are no longer here to share this day with us.
Thank you for all your support over our first 25 years.
'Use Your Brain Not Your Fists' Film Launch
We were privileged to attend the launch of the Use Your Brain Not Your Fists film in The Bush Hotel on the 27th April 2018.
The short film, by Leitrim Comhairle na nÓg, highlights the devastating consequences that can occur when a person uses their fists instead of their brains in a conflict situation. The film is dedicated to Shane Grogan and to the memory of Andrew Dolan. Both Andrew and Shane were victims of seperate unprovoked assaults while enjoying time out with their friends. Andrew died as a result of the assault while Shane was left with brain injuries. Both Shane's and Andrew's parents attended the launch and shared their personal stories with us.
Please click on the link to watch the video and remind everyone to Use Your Brain Not Your Fists.
Carrick-on-Shannon C.S. - Learning at the heart of our community.
