Congratulations Brad

Congratulations to Transition Year student Brad Cohen who has won a four day trip to Strasbourg in March as a result of entering The Graduate online civic awareness competition. He will spend a full day at the European Parliament in the company of students from other member states as well as enjoying other places of educational interest. The prize was kindly sponsored by the Financial Services Ombudsman.

Merry Christmas to all Bokerboys

TY Go A Skating

An Gaisce Silver Medal Winners

Congratulations to Chris Jevens and Peter Furlong who received their silver awards yesterday.

Budget 2011 - Some Implications For Secondary Schools

Pupil/ Teacher Ratio: 
With effect from the 2012/13 school year guidance provision will have to be allocated by schools from within their standard teacher allocation. At present a separate allocation is made for guidance on an ex-quota basis. Guidance provision will be now included in the general staffing allocation to a school.  This measure is in effect an increase in the Pupil Teacher Ratio. This will leave principals with no option but to cut guidance provision, cut minority subjects and have larger classes.  


Funding: 
Overall there will be a 2% reduction in the funding for capitation and related grants to pr second level schools in each of 2012 and 2013 and a further 1% reduction in each of 2014 and 2015. A 2% cut in capitation and other grants in 2012 coming on top of a 5% reduction in 2011 means that many schools will find it impossible to make ends meet. The financial well-being of schools is even more acute when one considers increases of up to 10% in the cost of essential items such as insurance, energy and transport charges for extra and co-curricular activities.

Christmas Newsletter Part 1

Bhur gcéad fáilte go dtí nuachtitir na Nollag 2011. I would like to take this opportunity to thank staff and students for all their hard work during the course of the past year and to wish staff, students and parent(s)/guardian(s) a happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year. I would also like to thank the members of the Board of Management and the Parents’ Council for all their hard work on behalf of the school community in the past year.

The Board of Management

Mr. Anthony Roche has replaced Mr. Tadhg O’Corcora as a parents’ representative on the Board. The Board would like to express its thanks to Mr. O’Corcora for his contribution to Board matters over the past three years. It would also like to wish Mr. Roche well in his new role. The Board consists of eight members. Four are Trustee representatives; Mr. Gerry Forde (Chairperson), Mr. Jim Hurley, Mr. Tom Mc Loughlin and Miss Ann Walsh.  Two are teacher representatives; Mr. Sean Ahearne and Mrs Colleen Hayes.  Two are parent representatives; Ms. Anita Moloney and Mr. Anthony Roche. The Board has recently adopted a new Child Protection Policy (see wexfordcbs.ie).

The Parents’ Council

A new Parents’ Council committee was elected at the A.G.M. in October. The elected officers are as follows; Mrs. Abina Moore (Chairperson), Mrs Adimbola Okegbile (Secretary), Mrs Dolores Ennis (Treasurer). The Council has kindly donated €2,000 towards the cost of First and Second Year Homework Clubs. The Council also hopes to sponsor a number of Gaeltacht scholarships for summer 2012. If any parent has a concern they would like discussed or an idea that they think could be of benefit to the school community, they are welcome to attend meetings or to bring the matter to the attention of a Council member.

  

Literacy and Numeracy

The Department of Education and Skills has identified literacy and numeracy levels in Ireland as key areas for improvement over the next three to five years. Every primary and secondary school is expected to devise a strategy to improve literacy and numeracy levels. Initiatives to promote literacy and numeracy areas have already begun in Coláiste Éamonn Rís. It is hoped to have weekly Maths and crossword competitions up and running in the New Year. A quiet room will be available at lunchtime on a designated day for students to retreat to for a quiet read.

Parents have a very important part to play in helping their sons improve their literacy and numeracy standards and thus will be an integral part of any plan going forward. The Parents’ Council were briefed on the matter on December 6^th. All parents are asked to foster reading in the home. I will revisit this topic in the New Year.

Revised Code of Behaviour

A draft copy of a revised Code of Behaviour has been produced up and will be distributed to the various partners in the school community for consideration and comment before being formally adopted by the Board of Management.

Rewards

Well done to all the Second Years who remained ‘booking free’ since the beginning of the school year. They were rewarded with a trip to the cinema on Friday last. Well done also to the students in Third Year Laurel for winning the reward trip to the cinema for being the best behaved class in Third Year. The competition for best behaved class in First Year was a extremely competitive affair cumulating in a three way tie so well done to U.C.C., U.C.D. and T.C.D. .Students in these classes were also rewarded with a trip to the cinema.

Child Protection

A new Child Protection Policy has been drafted and adopted by the Board of Management in keeping with the terms of Department of Education and Skills Circular 0065/2011. The Department’s Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post Primary Schools have been adopted as part of this child protection policy. A hard copy of the policy is available to any parent by request or can be viewed on the school’s website www.wexfordcbs.ie .  The person responsible for dealing with child protection concerns in the school is the Principal (DLP-Designated Liaison Person).  In the principal’s absence, this responsibility lies with the Deputy Principal (DDLP-Deputy Designate Liaison Person).

First Year 2012

The Board of Management offered 96 places in First Year 2012-13. The closing date for acceptance of offer letters was Friday 2^nd December 2011. The demand for places greatly outstripped 96 and hence there is a substantial waiting list. The school’s Admissions Policy has been reviewed and updated by the Board of Management and can be viewed on the school’s website (www.wexfordcbs.ie).

School Tours

The Transition Year tour to Iona College, New York, was a great success. We will be hosting our American friends in March in the New Year.

The First and Second Year Tour will be to the Delphi Adventure Centre in Galway from 22^nd -24^th February 2012.

Preparations are well underway for the TransitionYear Tour to China from 29^th March- 6^th April. Twenty students and three teachers will make the trip to Beijing for what should be a wonderful educational experience.

Third Years/Transition Years

All third year students and their parents are reminded to begin focusing their options for 2012-13. Important decisions have to be made re subject choice for Fifth Year or opting for T.Y. For those looking for more details re Admissions Policy/ T.Y., please consult the school’s Admissions Policy on the school website. Information Night on T.Y./Fifth Year will be held on Tuesday March 20^th 2012.The current Transition Year students should also begin considering subject options for the next academic year.

Mock Exams

While the Department of Education and Skills waive Leaving Certificate and Junior Certificate fees for medical card holders, the school will have to collect mock exam fees from all students to cover Mock Exams costs. The Leaving Certificate Mock Exams fee will be £100 this year and will be collected in early February 2012. The Junior Certificate Mock Exams fee will be £90 this year and will be collected in late January.

Footloose

Well done to all the students who took part in this year’s musical production ‘Footloose’. The show was a great success. I would particularly like to thank Ms. Spellman and Ms. Kavanagh for   the countless hours of hard work they spent in organising and rehearsing for the show. 

Christmas Newsletter Part 2

Christmas Fair

The Christmas Fair held on Friday 9^th December was a tremendous success. I would like to thank Mrs Barry and Mrs Codd for all their hard work in making the project happen. The event helped to spark a great deal of entrepreneurial spirit among the students. I would also like to thank the parents who supported the event on the day which helped to make it such a success.  

School Safety

I would like to remind all students to take great care while entering or exiting the school grounds or exiting the school into the school yard. Our site is limited in terms of parking facilities so it is important that we all are vigilant and aware of the risks of vehicular traffic. I would also like to remind parents dropping off students to park safely before allowing passengers to get out rather than stopping in traffic and allowing passengers out.

Subject Inspection

Inspections are carried out on an ongoing basis by the Department of Education and Skills in the country’s primary and secondary schools. Inspections usually take place on a whole school model or particular subject area(s) are chosen. We had a French Subject Inspection on the 13^th-14^th October The report was very positive about the standard of teaching and learning in the subject in the school and affirmed many of the good practices in evidence here. The full report will be available on the Department of Education and Skills website in due course.

Extra Supervised Study

Supervised study will be available for Leaving Certificate students during the February mid-term break in advance of the Mock Exams and during the Easter holidays. Supervised Study will be available for Junior Certificate students during the Easter holidays. Details in relation to cost/times/dates will be finalised in the New Year.

Congratulations!

I would like to congratulate Mrs Scallan and her husband on the birth of their twin sons, Luke and Alex. I would also like to extend best wishes to Ms. Paula Finn on the occasion of her marriage to Mr. Terry Ryan on December 31^st.

School re-opens Monday January 9th January 2012

Nollaig Shona agus Áthbhliain faoi sheán agus faoi mhaise daoibh go léir

Merry Christmas 2011

Positive Affirmations Dec.12th

Work Ethic:
Adam McGuire, Marty Mullally.
Good Deeds:
Conor Byrne, Kevin Corrigan, Dylan Lawlor, Graham Murphy, Keith Mernagh, Aaron Kehoe, Ethan Lahiff.

Christmas Fair A Huge Success

Lots of budding and seasoned entrepreneurs set out their stalls in the gym on Friday to offer their products for sale. There was a great turn-out and many Euros exchanged hands. Mrs. Barry and Mrs. Codd can be very proud and we all look forward to watching this festive event grow and grow in the years to come. Well done to all.

Junior Rugby Team Advance

Leinster Junior Development Shield
Wexford C.B.S....35   New Ross C.B.S.....10
Having lost a pre-season friendly to New Ross back in Sept. we were determined to come out on top today. It didn't take long before centre Chris Vickery had breached the defence to score the first try of the game. This was closely followed by Joe Coleman who was in great form, eventually scoring a hat-trick of tries , for which he claimed the match ball. Alex Perez also got on the scoreboard in the first half.
Further tries by new players Lar Stout and Shaun Donaghue added to our tally. The conversion attempts were off target, but this will be fixed for the next outing against Bridgtown V.S. after Christmas.
Team: Jason Guerrine, Alex Perez, Steve Cullen, Donal Moore, Ciaran Kirwin, Joe Redmond, Conor Fenlon (Capt.) Joe Coleman, Stephen Healy, David Tormey, Johnny Hamilton, Lar Stout, Chris Vickery, Dale Murphy-Butler, Eoin McDonald.
Subs: Lee Dryburg, Adan Culleton, James Takacs, Dan Curran, Graham Kelly, John Lacey, Sam Ogebile, Shaun Donaghue.

Face Painting

Getting ready for the Christmas Fair - Gavin, Collie, Ian and Jimmy.

Christmas Fair