Coláiste Fionnchua Re-Opening Updates
The countdown to the 2021 – 2022 academic year has begun and we look forward to welcoming all staff and students back on campus.
Please see below the return to school dates for each of the year groups.
- 26/8/21 First Years Only
- 27/8/21 First Years Only
- 30/8/21 First, Third & Sixth Years
- 31/9/21 First, Second, Third, Fifth & Sixth Years
- 01/9/21 All students return to school
Please find below our school calendar for the 2021/2022 academic year.
SCHOOL CALENDAR 2021/22
| First Term | |
| School re-opens | Thursday 26th & Friday 27th August (First Years Only) |
| School re-opens | Monday 30th Third and Sixth Years |
| School re-opens | Tuesday 31st Second and Fifth Years |
| School re-opens | Wednesday 1st September TY, LCA and Rang Barra |
| School Closed | Monday 27th September |
| 6th year & LCA2 Parent/Pupil/ Teacher Meeting | Tuesday 28th September |
| 2nd & 3rd year Parent/Pupil/ Teacher Meeting | Monday 11th October |
| Mid-Term Break | 25th October– 29th October (Inclusive) |
| Christmas House Exams | Week beginning 13th December |
| Christmas Holidays | Wednesday 22nd December |
| Second Term | |
| School re-opens (All Students) | Thursday 6th January |
| 1st Year Parent/Pupil/ Teacher Meeting | Thursday 13th January |
| JCT Staff Cluster Day (School closed to students) | Tuesday 18th January |
| Pre Examinations | Week Beginning 7th February |
| Mid-term Break | 21st – 25th February (Inclusive) |
| 5th Year & LCA 1 Parent/Pupil/ Teacher Meeting | Tuesday 1st March |
| School Closed | Friday 18th Match |
| 6th year, LCA2 & 3rd year Parent/Pupil/ Teacher Meeting | Thursday 24th March |
| Easter Holidays | Monday 11th March –22nd April (Inclusive) |
| Third Term | |
| School re-opens (All Students) | Monday 25th April |
| Day Off (no classes) | Tuesday 3rd May |
| Leaving Certificate Graduation Mass | Tuesday 24th May |
| Transition Year Graduation | Wednesday 25th May |
| Summer House Exams | Week Beginning Monday 30th May |
| Summer Holidays | Friday 3rd June |
| State Exams | Wednesday 8th June |
Please also note below information regarding the costings for each year grouping for the upcoming year.
| Year | Book Rental | Locker | Photocopying | Journal | Insurance | TOTAL DUE |
| First | €60 | €20 | €12 | €10 | €18 | €120 |
| Second | €50 | €20 | €12 | €10 | €18 | €110 |
| Third | €50 | €20 | €12 | €10 | €18 | €110 |
| Transition Year | €100 | €20 | €12 | €10 | €18 | €550* |
| Fifth | €140 | €20 | €12 | €10 | €18 | €200 |
| Sixth | €60 | €20 | €12 | €10 | €18 | €120 |
| LCA 1 & 2 | €40 | €20 | €12 | €10 | €18 | €100 |
* The cost of additional activities during Transition year has been built into the student services charge. A detailed list of these activities will be made available to parents and students by the TY coordinator on our return to school.
Furthermore, there may be extra costs to all students for school related activities such as attending plays or recitals, visiting art galleries, specialist speakers and more. We will endeavour to limit these costs.
Please note that all school related payments must be made via Way2Pay. Way2Pay accounts will update next week.
Below you will find information pertaining to reopening of our school.
1. Student Health & Safety with Covid-19 Requirements (Masks)
It will be up to each student to provide their own PPE as required. Face masks should be plain in design with no inappropriate imagery on them. It will be compulsory that all students wear a face mask while on school grounds.
2. School Transport
NB: Please note that school buses will not run on Thursday 26th, Friday 27th, Monday 30th and Tuesday 31st of August. Parents will need to organise transport for their son/daughter on these days.
In tandem with the safe re-opening of our school, a key issue will be the provision of safe transport and the need to adhere to all Covid-19 guidelines relating to same. The following instructions were issued by Bus Eireann for school transport:
· A student is not to use school transport if they are displaying symptoms
· Students are to maintain physical distancing while waiting for transport
· Students are to always sit in pre-assigned seating and next to a sibling or child from their class group (this should be the same child at all times)
· Students to use hand sanitiser on boarding the bus
· Students observe respiratory etiquette at all times while waiting for and on-board transport services
· To disembark the bus one by one in an orderly fashion
· With the exception of those children who for medical or special educational needs reasons are not in a position to wear a face mask or face covering, all other students travelling on the post-primary scheme are required to wear face masks while waiting for and on-board transport services.
We are encouraging any students that can walk or cycle to school to do so. If you are dropping a student to school, please set down outside the school grounds and delay no longer than required.
When students arrive at school, they can use the school canteen which will be supervised, and social distancing will be implemented. If a student does not go to the canteen they will have to proceed directly to their base classroom. They will not be permitted to congregate in groups around the school building.
3. School Uniform
Students are expected to follow our uniform rules as outlined on the school website.
4. School Bags/Books and Lockers
Students are encouraged to pack smartly for school, they should only bring the required items for the classes they have on their timetable. Teachers will outline what is required in the first week. The need to bring workbooks, etc. to class will be kept to a minimum. Students will have access to individual lockers.
5. Student Movement (Year Group Pods, Base Classrooms, Practical Classes, Toilets, etc.)
Movement around the campus will be greatly reduced when we return to school. First, Second and Third, TY and LCA students will have base classes. Fifth- and Sixth-Year students will move as normal. Here are the preliminary details of the base classes.
Class groups will have base classrooms assigned to them and teachers will move between classrooms.
Students will also have assigned seating in each classroom to ensure they sit at the same table as much as possible.
Students will only move for options within their assigned group or for subjects that require access to specialist rooms.
A one-way system of movement will be in operation in the building.
Access to toilets will be as before and they will be cleaned regularly due to the enhanced cleaning schedules we will be implementing.
6. Breaks and Lunchtime
Lunchtimes will take place at the same times as normal and will not be staggered. However, year groups will be allocated a zone to keep contact between different groups to a minimum.
Students will be encouraged to be outside as much as the weather permits.
The school canteen will be in operation during break and lunchtime.
7. School Curriculum, Timetables, & Homework
Student timetables are now available on VSware.
Homework, assignments, projects will still be set but students will be submitting these online where possible to limit the exchange of books, copy books, etc. We will continue to evolve and develop our digital strategy and the use of i-Pads and Microsoft 365 accounts for all students will greatly support this.
8. Student Care and Wellbeing
The wellbeing of our students is of paramount importance to our school community. When students return to school, all students will be provided with a programme around wellbeing that was developed at national level and designed for all post primary schools. Students will also have support from the following:
· School Guidance Counsellor
· HSCL
· School Completion Co-ordinator
· Pastoral Care Team
· School Management
9. Restricted School Access
Public Health guidelines state that schools must restrict access to building outside of students and staff. Only in very exceptional circumstances should students be collected from school during the day. Appointments for students should be made outside of the school timetable if possible. If you wish to call to the school, please contact the school office for an appointment.
Access to the building will not be allowed on an ad hoc basis, if a parent/guardian is dropping items to the school during the school day they will have to be left outside the front door and can only be collected at break times.
10. Extra-Curricular Activities/Homework Club and Supervised Study
We are proud of the range of activities we offer, and we look forward to returning to these in the coming academic year..
Homework Club for all first and second years will continue as normal. Once the last bell of the day rings, all other students will have to vacate the building to allow for cleaning. It is important that arrangements are in place to collect your son/daughter after school.
