Author: DQuinn

Final 2 Weeks of Online Learning

Announcements, Class Work, Parent News, Student News

We hope that you and your families are keeping safe and well as we head into the last two weeks of this extremely unusual term.

During these final two weeks, we ask that our students would continue to make every effort to engage with online learning. As the school year draws to a close, teachers will be finishing up with online tuition and setting final assessment tasks. Engagement with online learning will form part of their overall assessment grade. The 3rd Year Timetable of assessment is available here, All other students will be notified directly by the class teacher of scheduled tests if applicable. Summer reports will issue on VSware for 1st, 2nd, and 5th years in early June and 3rd years will have a final DCS JC2020 Assessment Report posted out in June.

We are aware that students may be struggling working independently at home and if they are they should message the teachers concerned and look for help and guidance as to how to complete the tasks assigned. Parents may monitor outstanding work by checking the notifications in the behaviour tab in VSWare. Assignments can be handed in late, so if they have fallen behind then they might take this opportunity to catch up on some of the work that they have missed. Every effort will be recognised. Please note these assignments, classes and notes will remain in TEAMS, so a student may access them during the summer break.

We thank you for your support and engagement during these difficult times.

DCS JC 2020 Final Online Assessments for 3rd Years

Announcements, Parent News, Student News

The following is the timetable for the end of year final assessments for the Junior Cert Class of 2020.

Instructions for 3rd Years:

  • Quizzes will go live at 9 am on the morning stated and once you open the quiz to start, you should submit it within the stated time by the teacher.
  • Students must have the quiz submitted by 9 pm of the day the test goes live. This flexibility has been allowed to ensure all students have the opportunity to work on the quiz at a time that is convenient in your homes, either on a laptop or on a phone.
  • We ask all 3rd years to make a genuine attempt with these quizzes, as they are the final part of your JC 2020 Assessment.

Online classes for 3rd Years will finish up next Wednesday the 20th May to allow students to concentrate on their end of term assessments from 21st to the 26th May and to facilitate the collation and issuing of the DCS JC 2020 School Certification. We hope to issue these reports in early June.

Finally, I would like to acknowledge and express our appreciation for the effort students and our teachers have made in their engagement with online learning over the past two months.

LC 2020 Postponed & Calculated Grades

Announcements, Parent News, Student News

The Minister for Education and Skills Joe McHugh T.D. has today (Friday 8 May 2020) announced the postponement of the 2020 Leaving Certificate. Following a decision at Cabinet, all students are to be offered the option of receiving Calculated Grades for the subjects they are studying and the alternative of sitting the 2020 Leaving Certificate examinations at a date in the future when it is considered safe to hold the examinations. The decision has been taken following an assessment of public health advice and other information and the implications for holding the exams from the previously rescheduled date of Wednesday 29 July 2020.

https://www.education.ie/en/Press-Events/Press-Releases/2020-press-releases/PR20-05-08.html

https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/2f07eb-leaving-cert-2020-information/#information-for-leaving-cert-students

I have emailed the LC students this evening with further information.

Green Schools Flag 2020

Announcements, Green School, Student Awards, Student Work

In such times of uncertainty, one thing is for sure; Dunmore Community School is environmentally conscious. We have just heard the fantastic news that we have been successful in obtaining yet another green school flag under the theme of Global Citizenship: Energy.

We have been acknowledged for the positive impact our work has made and the Green Schools awarding body were very impressed with the activities we have been undergoing. Our hardworking committee of Caoimhe Herviaux, Shanell Ronayne, Ciara Keane, Cian McWalters, Eoin Conneally, Erica Ryan, Isabella Gheorge, Isabelle Murray with staff members Mr. Quinn, Ms. Griffiths, Mr. Fleming, Ms. Davin, Ms. McHugh and Ms. O’Reilly must be commended on being generous with their time, their hard work, their persistence and their creativity in coming up with plans to make us an energy-efficient school. No small thanks either to the tireless work of our auxiliary staff. Our caretaker John and our cleaners Mary and Patsy have been key to making our goals realities.

We would also like to thank the school population for their support and participation with the programme, it really is a team effort. The last two years, while we have been pursuing this flag, has seen some major developments in our school. The tireless work of Mr. Quinn and Mr. Fleming were instrumental to this with their carefully constructed research and application securing us funding for a pilot scheme of a major deep energy retrofit. This new insulation of the old building and a change in fuel from oil to gas, a cleaner fuel, external led lighting, new double glazed windows and doors have all had a major effect on our energy use and carbon emissions. They also secured a total of 19 solar panels to generate our own energy. Our reading of the meters highlights that all our work has resulted in a 14.3% reduction in our energy use and a 22.5% reduction in our carbon emissions. I think you will agree that these are colossal numbers and deserve to be celebrated.

There are so many other projects at play in a school-wide undertaking which are making us more aware of our actions and effectively more green. These include but are not limited to a pollinator zone, a bug hotel, a vegetable garden, gardening lessons, junk kouture participation which has resulted in a space secured in the All Irelands and the Binja’s success in the SEAI competition, One Good Idea, making them All Ireland winners. We are so proud of our school community for being so proactive. We look forward to the future when we can have the opportunity to celebrate with a flag-raising ceremony. Just remember this work continues so… Don’t be Fuelish! There is too much energy conversation, not enough energy conservation.

@GreenSchoolsIre @SEAI_Schools @SEAI_ie #OneGoodIdea

, ,

1st Year Home Economics Assignment

Class Work, Student Work

In line with the chapter they are working on – Breakfasts and Packed Lunches our 1st year Home Economics students had an assignment to research, prepare cook and serve a healthy family breakfast last week. They were also required to present their breakfast attractively. I think you will agree they have done a fantastic job, they look like something served at a 7* hotel in Abu Dhabi!!! Well done.

Jigsaw Support Line

Announcements, Student News

Just a reminder that the Jigsaw Support Line is now up and running on freefone 1800 JIGSAW (544 729). This new initiative developed as part of Jigsaw’s Covid – 19 response aims to provide free, relevant and accessible mental health support, education, advice and guidance to young people aged 12 to 25 years old, and/or their parents/concerned others who are resident in the Republic of Ireland.

Alongside the Support Line, we are also offering an inbound SMS and email service, both operated by a designated group of Jigsaw Clinicians. Both additional offerings aim to give all potential users various options to get in touch and initiate a request for a return call from a Jigsaw Clinician.

If outside of hours, please contact a friend, parent or one of us by email.

Contact details and opening hours:

1.      1800 JIGSAW (544729)    Opening hours: Monday to Friday 1pm- 5pm.

2.      SMS 086 180 3880.           Opening hours: Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.

3.     Email  help@jigsaw.ie.     Opening hours:Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.

If you have any questions about any of this or the Jigsaw Online offerings for young people, parents & guardians and people working with young people, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

JC 2020 Assessments

Announcements, Parent News, Student News

Following a 3rd year online assembly a letter has been emailed to all 3rd Years outlining our JC assessment process.

We appreciate this has been a very difficult time for our 3rd Year and we have considered their health and wellbeing when devising how they will be assessed. We do not want them to be stressed or anxious over these assessments, but we would ask that they do your best and fully engage with all the work being assigned for the remainder of the school year.

The work that they complete now along with the work previously completed in 2nd and 3rd year will make up their final marks for the Junior Cycle. We feel that this is a fair and balanced way of arriving at a grade that is reflective of all they have achieved over the past two years in school.

JC-2020-Official-UpdateDownload
1 2 3 4 5 … 78