Digital tools & support for every child at Scoil Chonglais

Dear parents,
At Scoil Chonglais, your child will benefit from the 1:1 device that they will use throughout their time here, in order to learn about new topics, to study, to revise, and to prepare projects.

We are aware that all teenagers are spending more and more time on their phones, receiving non-stop alerts from apps such as Tik Tok, Snapchat and BeReal, to name a few. The decision to use 1:1 devices in Scoil Chonglais was taken in order support learning while decreasing phone use. A student regularly needs to consult different apps including MS Teams for project work, class notes and exam assistance, as well as for day-to-day class tasks. Students no longer need to use a phone in order to complete project work, and this means that they are spending more time away from social media with its distractions and pressures.

The laptop gives the students access to a long list of supports and resources, in order to aid their learning. This list includes audio visual materials, revision tasks, quizzes, ready-made notes on PowerPoint, as well as mock and past exam materials, and sample exam answers. Your son or daughter will work through 22 different CBAs (Classroom Based Assessments) at Junior Cert level. The 1:1 device serves to help your child, and it will give your child every advantage in preparing for exams at all levels.

Free of charge, your child avails of the full Office 365 suite (valued at €100), and every child at Scoil Chonglais avails of access to exam support at Studyclix.com (valued at €50).

Please note that the laptop must be purchased from the Wriggle.ie online store, using a code specific to Scoil Chonglais. The laptop is fully managed by Wriggle, for three years, as part of the terms of purchase. This means that your child can only download apps that are approved for education, and your child also avails of customer service for the laptop for the duration of their time up until they sit their Junior Cert exam.

Once your child receives their device, they will be informed about Device Care. This includes everyday best practice such as powering down the device & charging the device fully each night; checking weekly for updates, and remembering to keep the device plugged in while it is updating.

In terms of developing your child’s skillset from the very first stages, every child in 1st and 2nd year participates in a one-hour Wellbeing module per week. Within this module, digital literacy & digital skills are given dedicated time. The Digital Wellbeing module will cover MS Teams; Powerpoint; Excel; poster-making & design programmes such as Canva; use of MS Word, as well as best use of screenshots and how to use the device stylus in order to label images for projects and assignments.

Family support is important to us. We are devising an Adult Digital Literacy & Learning module with Baltinglass Adult Education Centre, and we regularly schedule study skills sessions for both students and parents.

We will continue to work with your child and with you, in order to secure the best outcomes for your child. Please keep in touch.

Yours faithfully,
Emer Liston