My thanks to both parents and teachers for working together over the past 10 days.  We are aware that some students can be overwhelmed by the amount of work and typing and are trying to arrive at a happy medium.  I am amazed at how well our online system is working and particular thanks to teachers for their ingenuity and commitment in delivering education in these difficult times.

The Guidance section of our website has been updated particularly to give advice to both parents and students as our confinement poses serious challenges to our wellbeing.  My thanks to Guidance Counsellor Joanne Parry for this invaluable information for all. Athy College Guidance Portal can be accessed through our websites, http://www.athycollege.ie/guidance.html  or directly through
https://careersportal.ie/careerguidance/office.php?school_id=423 

We hope that you find it useful.

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In the light of the extended closure of schools Athy College are making available Chromebooks for our Leaving Certificate students who require them for the duration.  The laptops can only be supplied to Leaving Certificate students followinga text message sent to their contact number today. The laptops can only be collected by a parent/guardian during the assigned time tomorrow (Wed) and the parent/guardian must sign to accept responsibility for any damage or loss.  The laptops have management software installed which allow us control over the devices.

Only one person may come to collect the device and only one person is allowed into the premises at a time.  Please follow our distancing policy while doing the collection.

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From news reports over the past 24 hours it seems we are approaching or have entered a very critical stage in the control of Covid 19.  For the next 7 days particularly it is critical that we limit social contact and keep hand washing. If our health service is to have any chance of dealing with the coming surge we need to absolutely minimise social contact.  Schools and businesses are only closing because it is a national emergency.

We are entering a weekend where there is a temptation for groups to meet up - please,please limit this in the interest of our community.  We need you to keep yourselves and us safe.

Please ensure that your son/daughter is engaging with the material being transmitted by teachers.  This is school and might be like this for a while, so we are obliged to treat attendance the same as normal school attendance.  If there are connection/device difficulties please let us know. In the coming week we will be contacting the homes of any “non -attenders”

Your school needs you to:

• Limit Social Contact
• Engage with School
• Wash Your Hands

Stay safe and together we can survive this difficult week ahead.

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Today Minister McHugh has cancelled the oral and practicals for the Junior Cycle and Leaving Cert.  Students are being given full marks in these so congratulations to you all. It's the first part of your exams done and dusted.

Students are really engaging with remote learning and my thanks to teachers who have a lot more work to do than normal.  They mightn't be supervising the students during the day but the preparation and typing out of each class is a time consuming job.

One week today since the schools closed their doors and we hope all are well among staff, student and their extended families.

Thank you to everyone who is so supportive.  Together we will achieve. 

From today Athy College teachers will engage with students through our online system.

Before your education our number one concern is one of health and safety.  It is important that while studying at home you continue with your hygiene procedures of regularly washing hands and avoiding unnecessary social group contact.

This emergency will pass but in the meantime we need to develop a daily timetable of continuing our education on line.

Each of your subject teachers will be in contact with you sending and receiving work through email, Google Classroom, etc.

Just like going to school it is important the you check in with your teachers each day and like in school I am responsible to ensure that you are "attending" each day.

There are a lot of areas that we will not be able to provide on line but over the next couple of weeks we will be making recommendations in these areas.

This website will offer general information while specific information will be provided directly to you through your teacher.