The National Parents Council pp has been in contact (via Compass) offering our parents an opportunity to take part in a consultation as part of the discussions it is having with the Dept of Education and Skills regarding ‘Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE)’ and possible changes in the curriculum. NPCpp has has set up a link for a the survey it is carrying out as part of its submission to the DES. We are all encouraged to participate. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/82HP8KY
- Category: Parents Association News
Thanks to all the wonderful speakers who shared their insights with students at the very successful Careers Information evening on Tuesday 15 January. Over 90 people – many parents but also a number of people with no connection to the school – volunteered their valuable time which was much appreciated . With career advice across a broad spectrum of careers (ranging from the army, the Gardai, to art and design, dentistry and engineering to name a few) feedback from students and teachers was that they found the evening most valuable. Thanks to all Committee members who were involved in the organisation and the event.
“To have 90+ professionals meeting with 300+ students over the course of 2 1/2 hours is quite an achievement and, I suspect, unique.” – Simon Thompson, Principal
- Category: Parents Association News
Parents’ Association Careers Information Night for 4th, 5th and 6th Forms in the Swift building.
81 speakers – representing professions and trades – are lined up to share their insights and career advice with students next Tuesday, 15th January.
The event – which is structured like a Parent Teachers meeting (or speed dating) is held across three rooms in the Swift Building.
Please remind your son or daughter if they are in the 4th, 5th or 6th forms.
- Category: Parents Association News
Kilkenny College is changing to a new communications system called SchoolAlerts.ie and parents are advised to register quickly – as the College will soon no longer be using text messaging .
Until now, Kilkenny College has used traditional SMS text messaging as a means to communicate with parents. As SMS texting costs have increased dramatically over the past few years, the decision was taken to move to SchoolAlerts.ie . This is a new system that allows schools to contact parents through smartphone apps for free. Rather than using its own app, SchoolAlerts.ie sends messages to parents using free apps that you are already familiar with such as Viber, Messenger and Telegram. There are no parent costs at any stage.
To allow Kilkenny College contact you on your preferred app, you must quickly register on SchoolAlerts.ie. This is
a simple task that takes about 2-3 minutes to complete. There is no cost to register, the apps are free and all messages
sent to parents are free. Follow these steps to link up with your preferred app
- Category: Parents Association News
Mr Ger O’Neill recently chaired the first meeting of the newly elected Parents Association Committee.
Photographed here are members of the Committee accompanied by Principal, Simon Thompson, who addresses each monthly meeting.
For information here is a list of members
| COUNTY | NAME |
| Kilkenny | Ger O’Neill Chairperson |
| Wicklow | Sinead Hamilton – Secretary |
| Kilkenny | Kieran Pryal – Treasurer |
| Tipperary | Eileen Spens- DeputyChairperson |
| Kilkenny | Geraldine Kearney – PRO |
| Kilkenny | Sol Saez |
| Kilkenny | Amanada O’Flaherty |
| Kilkenny | Jenny Cahill |
| Kilkenny | Lorraine Braben |
| Kilkenny | Jackie Treacy |
| Kilkenny | Paul Hughes |
| Kilkenny | Brenda Murtagh |
| Kilkenny | Colin Phelan |
| Kilkenny | Sharon O’ Gorman |
| Kilkenny | Eleanor Duggan |
| Carlow | Surine Hillebrand |
| Carlow | Stephanie Codd |
| Carlow | Catriona Ashmore |
| Kildare | Siobhan Hanway |
| Laois/Offaly | Valerie Whitten |
| Laois/Offaly | Gillian Purser |
| Tipperary | Rebecca Moran |
| Wicklow/Dublin | Dawn Barrett |
| Wicklow/Dublin | Doro Callinan |
| Waterford | Henry Chamney |
| Wexford | Nicola Jacob |
| Ex-Officio | Brian Scobie |
| Ex-Officio | Dorcas Collier Hannon |
- Category: Parents Association News
Kilkenny College Prize Day took place on Friday 12th October in the Willoughby Hall. This year the guest speaker was a former student, ( class of 2002), Caroline Byrne. Since leaving Kilkenny, Caroline has forged a successful career of outstanding creative leadership as a Theatre Director, mainly in the West End of London. She is currently Education Associate at the Royal Shakespeare Company. Caroline spoke warmly and honestly about her time at Kilkenny College and the teachers who encouraged her. She inspired the audience, in particular the students whom she advised to be brave, not be embarrassed to be ambitious and to “find their own voices” .
Caroline presented the Class prizes, Junior Cert, Subject prizes and also prizes to the sixth year pupils who achieved over 500 points this year.
The Parents Association special prize was presented by our Chairman, Ger O’Neill, to Anna Dowley who achieved the highest points in the 2018 Leaving Certificate.
- Category: Parents Association News