January 2010

I would like to welcome all our students and teachers back after the Christmas holidays and hope that everyone had a happy and safe holiday.  The purpose of the Newsletter is to highlight some upcoming dates and events.

Examination Fees 2010

All Junior Certificate and Leaving Certificate pupils have to pay an examination fee.  The Department of Education will send an examination entry form to each student in late January/early February.  The fees are as follows:

Junior Cert     –     €103.00
Leaving Cert  –     €109.00

If a parent or student has a medical card they will not have to pay the above fee.  Please make sure your medical card is valid on 1st February 2010, otherwise it will not be accepted.

Supervised Study

Supervised study takes place in the college every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday after school for two hours.  These sessions are supervised by a member of the teaching staff and are intended for 3rd and 6th year students.  The sessions are free, but to date the attendance has been poor.  We hope the attendance will improve for the remainder of the year.

Parent-Teacher Meetings

Parent Teacher meeting to discuss the Christmas reports and general progress will be held on Thursday 21st January from 1.00 pm – 4.00 pm.  Tutors will give a specific time to each pupil in the school.  It is important that you adhere to that time as the Parent-Teacher meeting is arranged for the whole school.  It is an important day as it affords you the opportunity to speak with your sons/daughters subject teacher.  We expect a large turnout on the day.  Classes will cease at 12.05 pm to prepare for the parent/teacher meeting.

Career Guidance

There will be a meeting of 6th year parents on Thursday 21st January  at 12.50 pm – Room 34 – to discuss the filling out of the CAO Application Forms and options at Third Level University, Institutes of Technologies, PLC’s and other career choices.

Mock Examinations

Mock Examinations for 3rd and 6th year pupils will take place from Monday 22nd February to Wednesday 3rd March 2010. These examinations are very important as the examinations are full length and the papers are set by external examiners.  The exams are conducted in the same atmosphere as the state examinations, which begin Wednesday 9th June 2010.  They will give a good indication of what the student can expect to achieve in the Leaving Certificate, Leaving Certificate Applied and Junior Certificate Examinations.

Easter Revision Course

An Easter revision course for Leaving Cert (6B and 6L) will again be organised jointly by Blakestown Community School and Riversdale Community College.  A full range of subjects at both honour and pass level will be offered.  This is a great opportunity and all students will be encouraged to attend.  The classes will be intensive lecture type classes and notes will be handed out.

Music Festival

The Annual Festival of Music will take place on Monday 8th March 2010.

Uniforms, Mobile Phones, IPODs  etc

  • It is expected that all students will be in full uniform at all times.  Students who are not in full uniform may be sent home.
  • Mobile Phones etc cause a lot of disruption on a daily basis – ringing in class, students playing with them etc.  If a student is caught with a mobile phone, etc (examples above), the phone will be confiscated, put in the safe and a parent/guardian will have to collect it.

 

Important dates 2010

Parent/Teacher Meeting:     –     Thursday 21st  January  1.00 pm  –  4.00 pm

Mid-Term Break:                   –     Monday 15th  February  –  Friday 19th  February inclusive.

Mock Examinations                –     Monday 22nd  February – Wednesday 3rd  March

Easter Holidays:                      –     Monday 29th March – Friday 9th April

School re-opens after Easter on Monday 12th  April 2010.