A chara,
Occasionally the Parent Council of Gaelcholáiste Chiarraí may wish to share information which might be of interest to the wider parent body.
This information will be posted here and will be updated occcasionall throughout the year.
Primary School Survey
Help shape the future of your child’s primary schoollink
Take part in the Primary School Survey today.
It’s quick, easy, and confidential.
This survey is for parents and guardians of children in primary school or who will enter primary school in the coming years. There is a separate survey below for primary school staff and board of management members.
Parents and guardians – you will need your Eircode to do the survey. We will only use your Eircode for this survey.
https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-education/campaigns/primary-school-survey/
Help Your Child Thrive: Free Training Series on Building Healthy Friendships!
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As parents, we all want our children to form lasting, healthy relationships. It's a skill that not only benefits them during childhood but throughout their lives. However, navigating friendships can sometimes be challenging for them, and knowing how to support them effectively isn't always clear.
Join our free virtual training series, "Supporting Your Child to Build Healthy Friendships and Relationships," an informative session designed to equip you with the tools and insights necessary to guide your child through the complexities of friendships and social interactions.
Event Details:
- Dates: Monday, 17th November to Friday, 21st November 2025
- Location: Online via Zoom
- Cost: Free
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Session Highlights:
- Understand what makes a healthy friendship and why it's important.
- Learn to identify signs of unhealthy relationships to better guide your child.
- Gain practical communication strategies that your child can use.
- Discover ways to foster positive social skills in your child from an early age.
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How to Register: Spots are limited, and we encourage you to register early to secure your place. Simply click on the link below and choose the session that best fits your schedule.
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Session Schedule:
- Monday 17th: 10am/ 7:30pm
- Tuesday 18th: 10am / 7:30pm
- Thursday 20th: 10am / 7:30pm
- Friday 21st: 10am
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Looking Ahead: This training series is just the beginning! Stay tuned for Parts 2 and 3 of our series, where we will delve deeper into active listening skills and integrating meaningful conversations into your daily interactions with your child.
- Part 2: Enhancing Communication through Active Listening (Week starting 24th November 2025)
- Part 3: Making 'The Big Talk' Many Small Talks (Week starting 1st December 2025)
These follow-up sessions are designed to build on what you learn here, providing a comprehensive toolkit for supporting your childs relational development.
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Help Your Young Person Thrive: Free Training Series on Building Healthy Friendships!
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As parents, we all want our young people to form lasting, healthy relationships. It's a skill that not only benefits them during childhood but throughout their lives. However, navigating friendships can sometimes be challenging for them, and knowing how to support them effectively isn't always clear.
Join our free virtual training series, "Supporting Your Child to Build Healthy Friendships and Relationships," an informative session designed to equip you with the tools and insights necessary to guide your young person through the complexities of friendships and social interactions.
Event Details:
Dates:
- Monday, 17th November: 10am and 7.30pm
- Thursday, 20th November: 10am and 7.30pm
- Friday, 21st November: 10am
Location: Online via Zoom
Cost: Free
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Session Highlights:
- Understand what makes a healthy friendship and why it's important.
- Learn to identify signs of unhealthy relationships to better guide your young person.
- Gain practical communication strategies that your young person can use.
- Discover ways to foster positive social skills in your young person.
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How to Register: Spots are limited, and we encourage you to register early to secure your place. Simply click on the link below and choose the session that best fits your schedule.
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Looking Ahead: This training series is just the beginning! Stay tuned for Parts 2 and 3 of our series, where we will delve deeper into active listening skills and integrating meaningful conversations into your daily interactions with your young person.
- Part 2: Enhancing Communication through Active Listening (Week starting 24th November 2025)
- Part 3: Making 'The Big Talk' Many Small Talks (Week starting 1st December 2025)
These follow-up sessions are designed to build on what you learn here, providing a comprehensive toolkit for supporting your young persons relational development.
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Parent survey: Use of AI in education
Dear Parents,
If you haven't had a chance to complete our survey yet, there's still time
As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes more integrated into everyday life, it is also starting to shape how children learn and engage in school.
The National Parents Council (NPC) has been invited by the Oireachtas Committee on AI in Education to a meeting on the topic "Introduction to AI: Children and Young People." To prepare for this, we are conducting a short survey to gather parents’ views on the use of AI in education.
We want to hear your thoughts on how AI is being used in classrooms, your level of awareness, and any hopes or concerns you may have. The survey explores key areas such as personalised learning, AI tutors, automated grading, privacy, ethics, and the role of teachers in an AI-supported classroom.
Your responses will directly inform the NPC’s submission to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on AI in Education.
👉 Take the survey here: https://forms.office.com/e/SiFtw11nQN
🕒 The survey will remain open until the 8th of September 2025.
📧 For technical assistance or inquiries, contact: info@npc.ie
Thank you for taking the time to share your views.
Warm regards,
The National Parents Council
Stress, choices & alternatives — NPC has you covered this week
🚀 Results are in… now what?
Friday’s results brought excitement for some and anxiety for others. Now families are turning toward the next big date: CAO Round 1 offers on Wed, 27 Aug at 2pm.
To help you and your teen through this crucial week, we’ve released three brand-new NPC Podcast episodes packed with expert advice, parent voices, and student perspectives.
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✨ Episode 1 — Mind the Stress
Exam stress doesn’t disappear after results. This episode explores sleep, pressure, and self-care with input from Jigsaw, a parent, and a student who’s been there. Learn how small actions at home can make a big difference.
🎓 Episode 2 — From Exams to Campus
CAO points, offers, moving out, and those first weeks of college. A Trinity College admissions expert, a guidance counsellor, and a first-year student break down what parents need to know (and what myths to ignore).
🔧 Episode 3 — Beyond College
Apprenticeships, PLCs and direct-to-work routes are no longer “Plan B.” Hear from a young apprentice in tech, a PLC graduate, and a SOLAS expert about how these choices open real opportunities.
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🗓 Key Date to Know
📞 Support when you need it
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NPC Helpline (parents, year-round): 01 887 4477, Mon–Fri, 10am–4pm
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Leaving Cert Helpline (results week): 1800 265 165 — open daily for queries about results, CAO, and choices
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📲 Text service: Text GUIDANCE to 086 1800 685 to connect with an experienced guidance counsellor
🎧 Listen now — pick your platform
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🧭 Final Thought
This week isn’t just about points — it’s about possibilities. Whether your teen is heading to college, considering apprenticeships, or just needs reassurance, remember: there’s more than one way to build a future.
National Parents Council — Supporting parents to support their children
www.npc.ie
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Take part - Help test the new online single application form for secondary school admission1
Dear Parent/Guardian,
The Department of Education and Youth is piloting a new single application form for post-primary admissions, which will open in October 2025 for first year places in September 2026. This system will make it easier for families to apply to multiple schools using just one simple online form. You can read more about the pilot in the Department’s press release here.
Your help is needed
The Department is inviting parents and guardians to take part in usability testing of the new single application form.
What is usability testing?
Usability testing checks how easy something is to use by asking real people to try it. Parents will be given a draft version of the online form and asked to complete a few tasks while sharing what they find clear and what might be confusing. This feedback will help improve the form before it officially launches.
Who can take part?
We are looking for parents or guardians who have already applied or will be applying for a secondary school place in the next couple of years. No special skills are needed, just your honest feedback.
What will you be doing?
Sessions will last around 45 minutes and can take place online using Microsoft Teams, or in person. A team member will guide you through the form. No technical knowledge is required, and it will feel like a conversation rather than a test.
Interested?
If you’d like to take part, please complete this short response form: Here
The Department will then contact you to confirm your place and arrange a time that suits you.
Your feedback will play a key role in making sure the form is clear, simple, and works well for all families. Thank you for helping improve the admissions process for parents and guardians in your community.
Thank you
Kind regards