A chara,

I hope this finds you well. Enclosed find some main points to assist you as we prepare for the next school year.

Coláiste Opens for 1^st Year Induction on TUESDAY 30^th  August (9:00am-1:15pm)

School Uniform

School uniform is available from the NATIONAL SCHOOLWEAR CENTRE -Liosbán 091-755515 or Chapel Lane, Tuam 093-52240 or online at www.theschoolwearcentre.ie .  Items marked with * are available only in the Schoolwear Centre.

The school uniform is as follows:-  *School Jumper; White Shirt/Polo shirt; Navy Pants/Skirt. *School crested jacket or *School crested Halfzip or Plain Black/Navy coat or jacket (strictly no markings, stripes, logos etc; available in many stores). Students may use their own sports gear for PE classes but are required to have a *Crested PE track pants.

Neat low heeled footware (no boots, uggs). Please note that the school navy pants/skirt; white shirt/blouse/polo shirt; Navy/Black coat/jacket may be purchased in any shop.

SCHOOL FEES (Táillí Scoile/School Fees)

At the beginning of each school year students pay €80 to the school resource fund (€70 second child, €60 for subsequent siblings).  This helps to defray photocopying costs, 24 hour compulsory insurance, homework journals, sports affiliation fees, class resources etc;

            School Fees                        €80

            Textbooks / E-Licences   €100

             Student Locker                  €25

            Petersburg                        €65 

             TOTAL                                 €270                  

            

WAY2PAY

The Coláiste operates a cashless policy. All school payments are invoiced Online using the WAY2PAY facility. Payments can be made, in full or by instalment.  Login details and instructions for WAY2PAY will issue, via SMS text in the coming weeks.  Parents Guide

TÉACS LEABHAIR / TEXT BOOKS/ DIGITAL LICENCES                                      

Text Books / E-Licences are purchased by the school and rented to the students. Therefore, there is no need to worry about sourcing textbooks.

Petersburg Outdoor Education Centre

An overnight trip to Petersburg Outdoor Education Centre has been booked for Thursday 22^th and Friday 23^th September 2022.  A fee of €65 will apply to this excursion.

DIGITAL DEVICES

There are 2 approaches to purchasing a device as set out below:- (A) Wriggle or (B) Bring your own device. Many students already have devices therefore; (B) might be the preferred option for those students.

• WRIGGLE { 3 models )
  Wriggle online store is open until 7th June
  School code is 03994719
  Go to wriggle.ie/parents,  click on the ‘ORDER’ tab on the top left-hand corner and follow the instructions from there.

or

(B) Bring your own device (BYOD) – in which case you do not deal with Wriggle at all, we, at the Coláiste, will load the books on the device at the beginning of term. The device will be restricted to educational apps only.  If you intend taking the BYOD option i.e. purchasing a device or using a device you already have at home (Netbook, Tablet or Laptop) ensure that the device meets the following specifications (ask in store)

 

Minimum Specifications (BYOD) 

• Microsoft Windows 10 or 11 (Windows 7 not supported after January 2020)
• 64GB Hard Drive
• 4GB RAM

•   Screen 10.1” or larger          ·         Anti-Virus updated          ·         Wi-Fi Enabled

 

 

Microsoft Office 365 is provided free to all students for the duration of their time in school

If you are buying a device, every device comes with a 1-year warranty, we recommend purchasing a 3-year extended warranty when purchasing devices.

NOTE: IPads do not have a Windows operating system and therefore are incompatible with our school system

Credit Unions offer attractive rates – Flexirent Purchase. We recommend insuring the device. The following links may be of some assistance

https://www.gadgetinsurance.com

It is important to note the differences between warranty and insurance. The differences are outlined at

http://www.consumerhelp.ie/guarantees-warranties  and

http://www.consumerhelp.ie/index.jsp?a=1455&n=492&p=225.

It is also important to note, if insuring a device under an existing insurance policy one should be familiar with the Terms & Conditions attached to same including, but not limited to, excess, level of cover and any limitations if the device is used outside of the home.

In the meantime, if you have any queries or need further clarification please contact the school office 091-874590 or email – bairbre.nichoisdealbha@gretb.ie

 

Subject Options

Students study 9 Subjects and 2 Short Courses (PE and SPHE) for their Junior Cycle programme. Of the 9 subjects all students must take 1. Gaeilge (Irish), 2. Béarla (English), 3. Mata (Mathematics), 4. Eolaíocht (Science) 5. Fraincís (French) and 6. Stair (History).

The remaining 3 subjects are chosen from 3 Option Blocks (each block has 3 or 4 subjects; Students choose one subject from each block). Therefore, in addition to the 6 subjects listed above, students will study 3 of the following: Business, Technical Graphics, Home Economics, Metalwork, Woodwork, German, Art, Music.

Here at the Coláiste we recognise that every cohort of students is different. In early June , we ask incoming students to indicate their initial subject preferences. Their input helps us to arrive at the best ‘Option Blocks’ for that cohort. Therefore, we will, in the next few weeks, ask your son/daughter to indicate their preferences. This will be done in VS Ware (by now you should have received VS Ware login details, if not, contact us immediately).

 

Reminder: If you do not plan to bring your own digital device, the WRIGGLE online store is closed after JUNE 7^th.

Queries: – Call 091-874590  Email: colaiste.aneachreidh@gretb.ie

Queries: – Digital Devices email: bairbre.nichoisdealbha@gretb.ie

Queries: – Special Educational Needs Email: gearoidin.deburca@gretb.ie

 

Le meas,

Brian Ó Maoilchiaráin

https://colaisteaneachreidh.com/