It is hard to believe that we are at the end of another school year. It seems like no time at all since we were preparing to reopen after the first Covid lockdown in 2020.
This has been a challenging year on many fronts but I would like to highlight what we got done this year and to look forward. We managed to run key exams despite the lockdown. The Sek-I exams and Sprachdiplom II exams successfully took place and congratulations to our students on their excellent results. Unfortunately, the Sprachdiplom I exams had to be postponed but students did get the opportunity to sit school based exams of the same standard and received their school certificates. They will have the chance to sit the centralised exams next year.
As I write, we are in the preparation phase for the written Leaving Certificate examinations. The majority of our students have very wisely decided to sit the written exams as well as opting for Accredited Grades. We wish the class of 2021 the very best of luck in the Leaving Certificate. I am delighted to report that we were able to have a very paired down Graduation ceremony for the 12th class this year. It is an important event and a rite of passage at the end of one’s school life and although somewhat modified it was a lovely occasion to wish our students well and set them on their way in the next phase of their lives.
Our 12th class students, however, are not the only members of the school community embarking on a new journey. Mary Mahon and Catherine McCarthy will retire at the end of the school year. After many years of dedicated and excellent service to the students of St Kilian’s I would like to wish them well for the future. I know I speak for all in our community when I say thank you for your outstanding contribution to teaching and learning in our school.
We also bid farewell to Ralph Magnus and Regina Reitermayer. Both are returning to Germany after three years in St. Kilian’s. They have been excellent colleagues, in their respective roles as teachers and Head of German and the Sek-I section of the school. Our best wishes go to them on their return to teaching in Germany.
We will have new colleagues joining our teaching team for next year. The new ADLK teachers are Herr Thorsten Henke (Coordinator of Sek-I) and Frau Frauke Josch (Head of German). We have advertised for a replacement teacher for Sport and will be interviewing for that post over the next few weeks.
The school calendar will be published shortly outlining the arrangements for return to school at the end of August. Although there were no state Junior Certificate exams this year, the end of year exams and the completed CBAs will inform the grades and information Junior Cycle Certificate of Completion which will issue from the school in September.
Please note that this year’s “Welcome Letter” will be sent to you by e-mail at the start of June in light of our Green School aspirations. As always, you will receive the invoice for the coming school year by post.
I would like to thank the parent body and the Board of Management for your support throughout the last school year. I am aware that it was a challenging year for all, not least for our students. However, in such times I really appreciate the kindness and understanding of parents when we have to navigate our way through difficult circumstances.
I hope you have a wonderful summer and look forward to a more normal school year for 2021-2022.
Alice Lynch
Principal/Schulleiterin
