Welcome to the Parents' Council Webpage of CBS Kilkenny
CBS Kilkenny Parents’ Council meets on the first Thursday of every month. The meetings are generally very informative and easy going, and usually last for about an hour. Meetings are attended by the Principal as well as a teacher representative.
The Council plays a very important role in the promotion of co-operation between home and school. Being a member on the Council makes us more aware of what is happening in the school and hence we become more involved in our sons’ education and school life. There is a mutual respect between the school and the Council. As a Council we do not interfere in the day to day running of the school where such responsibility rests with the school Principal. Also, we do not use the Council as a forum for complaints or problems relating to individual students.
Some of the activities that we undertake include: organising a speaker for the AGM and occasional speakers during the year, presenting the best Junior and Leaving Certificate students with a prize at the end of the year and providing much needed refreshments at the Parent Teacher Meetings. We also acknowledge the retirement of staff members. We also are involved in a collaborative project between the school and prospective employers in the Kilkenny area to draw up a Transition Year experience database. In 2016 - 2017 we also hope to organise some fundraising initiatives in aid of school resources to benefit as many students as possible.
We ask that each family please pay a subscription of €5 towards the Parents Council each year. This money is normally paid at either the AGM or at the Parent/Teacher meetings throughout the year. The Parents Council uses this money to fund its activities throughout the year.
If you have any queries or suggestions to make, or wish to join the Parents Council please contact either Lucy Heary @087 2281621 or Claire Brennan @086-8203534.
Go to archives for news from other academic years.
The Council plays a very important role in the promotion of co-operation between home and school. Being a member on the Council makes us more aware of what is happening in the school and hence we become more involved in our sons’ education and school life. There is a mutual respect between the school and the Council. As a Council we do not interfere in the day to day running of the school where such responsibility rests with the school Principal. Also, we do not use the Council as a forum for complaints or problems relating to individual students.
Some of the activities that we undertake include: organising a speaker for the AGM and occasional speakers during the year, presenting the best Junior and Leaving Certificate students with a prize at the end of the year and providing much needed refreshments at the Parent Teacher Meetings. We also acknowledge the retirement of staff members. We also are involved in a collaborative project between the school and prospective employers in the Kilkenny area to draw up a Transition Year experience database. In 2016 - 2017 we also hope to organise some fundraising initiatives in aid of school resources to benefit as many students as possible.
We ask that each family please pay a subscription of €5 towards the Parents Council each year. This money is normally paid at either the AGM or at the Parent/Teacher meetings throughout the year. The Parents Council uses this money to fund its activities throughout the year.
If you have any queries or suggestions to make, or wish to join the Parents Council please contact either Lucy Heary @087 2281621 or Claire Brennan @086-8203534.
Go to archives for news from other academic years.
Parents' Council members (2016-17)
Committee Members:
Lucy Heary – Chairperson Claire Brennan - Secretary John Bourke – Treasurer |
Emer Behan
Donna Brennan Jo Brennan Margie Buckley Susan Doherty Donal Higgins |
Mary Guildea
Josephine Malone Mary McCarthy Mairead McMorrow Margaret Sheehan Catherine Wilson |
PARENTS' COUNCIL News 2016 - 2017
APRIL 2017 News
CBS Kilkenny Parents Council Meeting 25 April 2017
Teachers/Principal's Report
Mr O' Brien gave feedback on behalf of the Principal and provided the Council with the teachers’ report covering recent and upcoming acitivites:
Extra Curricular Events and Successes
Locker Allocation
Mr Canton kindly agreed to attend this month's meeting and presented a report on lockers with the goal of ensuring students have lockers on the day they return to school in the new school year. There was much discussion about same. The main issues that frustrate the current locker allocation process are missing keys and late payment by students for lockers.
A new system for allocating lockers has been agreed and Mr Canton will send out notifications to all students next week.
May 4th First Year Parents Evening – Parents Council will attend this evening to promote the activities of the Council and to encourage new members to join the council.
Work Experience Database – Work is continuing on updating the database with information from the current TY students.
Proposed Careers Evening - It was proposed to have a Careers Evening next year for senior cycle students to guide students in life choices and also give students the chance to talk one on one to a wide variety of parents about parental careers.
Final PC Meeting of this year is on Tue May 23 at 7.30pm
CBS Kilkenny Parents Council Meeting 25 April 2017
Teachers/Principal's Report
Mr O' Brien gave feedback on behalf of the Principal and provided the Council with the teachers’ report covering recent and upcoming acitivites:
- May 3rd to May 12th – Leaving Cert/Junior Cert Practical Exams
- May 4th - First Year Parents Evening
- May 9th – Sports Day
- May 11th - TY Awards
- May 17th – Awards Night
- May 19th – Golf Classic
- May 25th – Leaving Cert Graduation Mass 4pm
Extra Curricular Events and Successes
- Apr 7th The School Fun Run was a resounding success
- Apr 26th - First years leave for French trip
- Apr 28th SE Leinster Schools Athletic Championships
- From May 2nd TY students begin e portfolio assessment
- May 3rd – Under 14 Juvenile Hurling Leinster semi-final
- Art – junior and leaving cert students are busy with projects
- Congratulations to Patrick Darcy who won second prize in a National Art Competition of the Edmund Rice Schools Trust.
- Green Schools Committee is looking at new recycling facilities for the Bialann
- TY Drama – 3 drama pieces are being prepared by the TY drama group for the TY Awards
Locker Allocation
Mr Canton kindly agreed to attend this month's meeting and presented a report on lockers with the goal of ensuring students have lockers on the day they return to school in the new school year. There was much discussion about same. The main issues that frustrate the current locker allocation process are missing keys and late payment by students for lockers.
A new system for allocating lockers has been agreed and Mr Canton will send out notifications to all students next week.
May 4th First Year Parents Evening – Parents Council will attend this evening to promote the activities of the Council and to encourage new members to join the council.
Work Experience Database – Work is continuing on updating the database with information from the current TY students.
Proposed Careers Evening - It was proposed to have a Careers Evening next year for senior cycle students to guide students in life choices and also give students the chance to talk one on one to a wide variety of parents about parental careers.
Final PC Meeting of this year is on Tue May 23 at 7.30pm
March 2017 News
Principal’s Report.
Mr Gerry O' Brien updated the Council on the many and varied activities currently going on in school, such as:
The Parents Council thanked all teachers involved in the multiple extra-curricular activities currently taking place in school, and especially Ms Mandy Dowling for the great success enjoyed by the CBS Choirs at the recent Kilkenny Music Festival.
AOB
Arrangements to be made for the Parents Council involvement in the New 1st Year Parents night on 4 May. We would encourage new parents to the school to join the Parents Council as it's a great way to stay up to date with what is going on in the school.
Next Parents Council meeting Tues 25 April 2017
Principal’s Report.
- Oral Irish exams taking place w/c 27 March, French, German & Music practical the following week
- School creating an email database of all past pupils back to 1980
- School also wish to create a database of existing parents emails
Mr Gerry O' Brien updated the Council on the many and varied activities currently going on in school, such as:
- Seachtain na Gaeilge, multiple activities to promote the Irish language
- Gaisce trip for TY boys
- Music Festival, choirs and musicians successes
- Mental Health Week, Mindfulness Walk for 5th & 6th yrs
- 1st and 2nd Yrs basketball matches: silver medalists in South East playoffs in Waterford
- TY German trip
- TY Student Enterprise
- Cycle Against Suicide Spin
The Parents Council thanked all teachers involved in the multiple extra-curricular activities currently taking place in school, and especially Ms Mandy Dowling for the great success enjoyed by the CBS Choirs at the recent Kilkenny Music Festival.
AOB
Arrangements to be made for the Parents Council involvement in the New 1st Year Parents night on 4 May. We would encourage new parents to the school to join the Parents Council as it's a great way to stay up to date with what is going on in the school.
Next Parents Council meeting Tues 25 April 2017
February 2017 News
Principal's Report
Mock Leaving and Junior Certificate Exams underway in School at the moment.
Updates on various student activities, including: the annual German TY trip; Schools Senior Hurling Leinster Semifinal v Good Counsel; incoming 1st years Assessment Day on 11 March; upcoming meeting after mid-term break for 3rd years to discuss TY options.
Teacher's Report
TY drama group taking part in St Andews College One-Act Drama Festival in Dublin this week; 2 school athletes qualified for South Leinster Cross Country Finals; Student Council participated in Motivation Week with 1st years taking part in motivation classes in Ossory Youth; Progress being made on the Green Project and thanks to all TY students for their support with this initiative; School musicians and Choirs preparing for the Kilkenny Music Festival which takes place from 7-12 March.
AOB
The next meeting will take place on Tuesday 14 March.
If you can spare about 1 hour each month,we would love you to consider joining.
Principal's Report
Mock Leaving and Junior Certificate Exams underway in School at the moment.
Updates on various student activities, including: the annual German TY trip; Schools Senior Hurling Leinster Semifinal v Good Counsel; incoming 1st years Assessment Day on 11 March; upcoming meeting after mid-term break for 3rd years to discuss TY options.
Teacher's Report
TY drama group taking part in St Andews College One-Act Drama Festival in Dublin this week; 2 school athletes qualified for South Leinster Cross Country Finals; Student Council participated in Motivation Week with 1st years taking part in motivation classes in Ossory Youth; Progress being made on the Green Project and thanks to all TY students for their support with this initiative; School musicians and Choirs preparing for the Kilkenny Music Festival which takes place from 7-12 March.
AOB
- The Parents Council fundraising sub committee had their first meeting at which various forms of fundraising activities were explored and discussed. We hope to announce a fundraising event shortly, so watch this space!
- Parents of new incoming 1st years August 2017 - A sociable "meet and greet" is being organised for parents of all next years new 1st Years. This will be held on the morning of their first day of school and will a perfect opportunity for all new parents to socialise. have a cuppa and meet new fellow parents- more details to follow!
- The Parents Council would like to wish our Senior hurlers, the TY drama group and cross country athletes all the very best in their upcoming competitions!
The next meeting will take place on Tuesday 14 March.
If you can spare about 1 hour each month,we would love you to consider joining.

February 2017 Announcement
Federation of Catholic Secondary Schools Parents Associations
Invitation to the Annual Conference and AGM
Sat 25 February 2017 in the Maldron Hotel, Portlaoise
9.15am - 1.30pm (lunch included)
FREE to all interested parents
Federation of Catholic Secondary Schools Parents Associations
Invitation to the Annual Conference and AGM
Sat 25 February 2017 in the Maldron Hotel, Portlaoise
9.15am - 1.30pm (lunch included)
FREE to all interested parents

Jan 2017 News
We wish all parents and students a very Happy New Year.
Principal's report
Teacher's Report
Mr O' Brien updated the Council on various student activities undertaken so far in January:
Health Promoting Schools Programme
Ms Mercer and Ms Ormond gave a very interesting presentation on the Health Promoting Schools (HPS) Programme, which is being rolled out in CBS. In a HPS, health is viewed in its broadest sense and includes the physical, social, emotional, mental and spiritual aspects of health. It is a long term initiative aimed at involving the school community in a whole-school approach to health and wellbeing. The PC committed to help out in any way that they can. Watch this space for more information!
AOB
A fund raising sub-committee has been set up to look at ways of raising funds for resources for the school.
The next meeting will be held on 9 February 2017.
If you can spare about 1 hour each month, we would love you to consider joining our council!
We wish all parents and students a very Happy New Year.
Principal's report
- Saturday study now available - Mr Clarke encouraged students to attend to get into the habit of revision.
- Mock Junior and Leaving Certificates exams taking place on 6-15th February. Timetables now available online.
- Update on various student activities and upcoming College Open days. Forty TY students travelled to UL as part of the Cycle Against Suicide initiative; UL gave a talk to students in the school; UCD are visiting the school this week.
- Mr Clarke encouraged 1st year parents in particular to consider joining the Parents Council. Ways in which we can encourage more parents to join the Council were discussed. The Parents Council are organising a "Meet and Greet" for all new incoming 1st year parents in late August 2017.
Teacher's Report
Mr O' Brien updated the Council on various student activities undertaken so far in January:
- Students are preparing for the Kilkenny Music Festival in February
- Six CBS students are taking part in the Diocesan visit to Lourdes in May
- Ebrahim Ndure, the local Iman, gave a very interesting and inspiring presentation to 3rd year classes.
- A group of students visited the BT Young Scientist Exhibition at the RDS Dublin.
Health Promoting Schools Programme
Ms Mercer and Ms Ormond gave a very interesting presentation on the Health Promoting Schools (HPS) Programme, which is being rolled out in CBS. In a HPS, health is viewed in its broadest sense and includes the physical, social, emotional, mental and spiritual aspects of health. It is a long term initiative aimed at involving the school community in a whole-school approach to health and wellbeing. The PC committed to help out in any way that they can. Watch this space for more information!
AOB
A fund raising sub-committee has been set up to look at ways of raising funds for resources for the school.
The next meeting will be held on 9 February 2017.
If you can spare about 1 hour each month, we would love you to consider joining our council!
SEPTEMBER 2016 NEWS
The AGM of the Parents Council will take place on Thursday 6 October at 7pm. The meeting will be followed by a presentation by Guest Speaker Jason O' Mahoney from the company "Children of the Digital Age". Jason will speak on the very relevant topic of internet security for our children, and ways in which we as parents can become more educated in internet safety.
Every home these days is full of devices, from mobile phones to tablets to gaming consoles. Jason's presentation will seek to educate parents on how to navigate the internet in a safe and secure manner. If you are concerned about the dangers your child may face online, such as cyber bullying, sexting, child exploitation, and more, then you will find this presentation very interesting. The presentation will cover such topics as passwords, personal information, digital footprint, social media and inappropriate content.
Further information on www.childrenofthedigitalage.com
We look forward to welcoming as many parents as possible to the talk, and we particularly welcome all new parents of 1st year students. If you are interested in becoming involved in school activities, please consider joining our Parents Council. We are also always keen in welcoming new members!
The AGM of the Parents Council will take place on Thursday 6 October at 7pm. The meeting will be followed by a presentation by Guest Speaker Jason O' Mahoney from the company "Children of the Digital Age". Jason will speak on the very relevant topic of internet security for our children, and ways in which we as parents can become more educated in internet safety.
Every home these days is full of devices, from mobile phones to tablets to gaming consoles. Jason's presentation will seek to educate parents on how to navigate the internet in a safe and secure manner. If you are concerned about the dangers your child may face online, such as cyber bullying, sexting, child exploitation, and more, then you will find this presentation very interesting. The presentation will cover such topics as passwords, personal information, digital footprint, social media and inappropriate content.
Further information on www.childrenofthedigitalage.com
We look forward to welcoming as many parents as possible to the talk, and we particularly welcome all new parents of 1st year students. If you are interested in becoming involved in school activities, please consider joining our Parents Council. We are also always keen in welcoming new members!