Information Evening

1
Welcome
Information Evening
Parents / Guardians 3rd Years
2
AGENDA

• INTRODUCTION
• Option 1 Transition Year
• presented by Ms Phyl Hughes
• Option 2 Leaving Cert Established presented by
  Ms Anne Lillis
• Option Three Leaving Cert Applied presented by
  Ms Sara Watson
• Questions Answers

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Junior Cert Exam
June 2011
September 2011
??? - Options
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Options
Transition Year
Leaving Cert Established
Leaving Cert Applied
Leaving Cert
5
Option 1
Transition Year
Transition Year 2011 2012 Followed by
Leaving Cert Established Or Leaving Cert
Applied Final Exam June 2014
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Back Ground to Transition Year

• Introduced in 1973
• 163 Schools by 1993
• Mainstreamed in 1994545 Schools in 2009/2010
• Approximately 28,500 students
• Approximately 75 of all Post Primary School

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Option 1
Transition Year

• This is the path followed by most students in St.
  Louis.
• Designed to bridge the gap between Junior and
  Senior cycles in the school
• Every encouragement is given to students to
  become involved in a wide range of activities,
  which involve teamwork and personal initiative
• Opportunity to stand back from the exam-focused
  study and revision in third year and experience a
  new style of self-directed learning

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Option 1
Transition Year

• There are opportunities to sample subjects during
  Fourth Year.
• New skills are acquired in computers, key - board
  skills and a wide range of extra-curricular
  activities, like work experience.
• Transition Year students make their final choice
  of Leaving Cert subjects at the end of Fourth
  Year

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Transition Year
Option 1

• Attendance is checked and monitored in the usual
  way
• Annual Reports are sent home this assessment
  report reflects the type of learning undertaken
  in Transition Year and comments on academic
  progress, punctuality, attendance, conduct and
  application to work.
• Homework is assigned, with an emphasis on project
  and group work as well as individual aspirations.
• Students are encouraged to research, assess,
  process and present information skills that are
  undoubtedly needed to participate fully in the
  knowledge rich society that we live in now.

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Transition Year
Option 1
Transition Year students must attend class
between 9.06am and 3.42pm each day. The timetable
includes core subjects, additional subjects,
optional subject choices and module choices/guest
speakers.

• Optional Subjects (choose 4)
• Accounting
• Art
• Biology
• Business
• French
• Geography
• German
• History
• Music
• Spanish
• Physics Chemistry

• Core Subjects (all students)
• English
• Irish
• Maths
• Home Economics
• Religion
• Additional Subjects
• Computers
• Keyboard Skills
• P.E.

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Option 1
Transition Year
Modules and invited Guest Speakers play a
significant part of the Transition Year
Programme Monday 1.55pm 3.42pm Wednesday
9.40am 12.30pm
Example of 2010 2011 Modules
Guest Speakers

• Cookery
• ECDL
• Aerobics
• Photography
• Swimming
• Art
• Ceilí Dancing
• Modern Dancing
• Ballroom Dancing
• Log on, Learn
• Chinese
• Media
• BT Young Scientist
• European Studies

• Choir/CD Recording
• Baby Care
• Pre-School Care
• Self Defence
• Yoga/Pilates
• Good Grooming
• Costume Design
• Set Design
• School Web Site
• School Newsletter
• Debating/Public Speaking
• Textiles
• Social Awareness

Safe Socialising Stress Management Life Autism Spo
rts Disability Coping Skills Depression Domestic
Violence Homelessness Gaisce John Paul II
Awards Samaritans GROW (Mental Health)
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Option 1
Transition Year
Also on offer during Transition Year

• Work Experience
• Presently 1 week
• Students select Placement
• Supervised

• Musical
• annual performance
• Auditions Cast
• Auditions Chorus
• Auditions Dancers
• Stage Managers
• Props Managers
• Sets Crew
• Hall Committee
• Promotions Committee
• Tickets Committee

• Community Involvement
• Charity fundraising for
• Down Syndrome
• Holly Days
• Daisy Days
• Meningitis
• St. Vincent de Paul
• Monaghan Hospice
• Crumlin Childrens Hospital

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Option 1
Transition Year
Also on offer during Transition Year

• Activity Trips
• Multi-activity day adventure trips include
  activities like
• Orienteering,
• Map Reading,
• Hill Walking,
• Kayaking,
• Rock Climbing,
• Abseiling
• Banana Boating
• Brain Teasing Challenges
• Team Building

• Presidents Award
• The Gaisce Presidents Award involves individual
  initiative and self-directed learning ably
  assisting students gain self-confidence, overcome
  shyness while enhancing their personal CV!
• Students follow Bronze and Silver Challenges
  during their time in St. Louis

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Mission Statement of Transition Year To promote
the personal, social, vocational and educational
development of students and to prepare them for
their role as autonomous and participative
members of society Department of Education and
Skills
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Option 2
Leaving Cert Established
2 year Course Leaving Cert Established Final
Exam June 2013
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Option 2
Leaving Cert Established

• In St. Louis, Transition Year is optional so
  after Junior Certificate students may opt to go
  directly into Fifth Year where they join the
  students who have already completed Transition
  Year
• If you are considering this option, it is worth
  remembering the following points.

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Option 2
Leaving Cert Established

• All students make their final choice of Leaving
  Certificate subjects before Fifth Year
• You will be asked to make these choices in the
  next few weeks.
• Exam preparation for the L.C. starts immediately
  at the start of Fifth Year
• You will be joining a class which is a mixture of
  students coming from Third and Fourth Year
• .
• It is not possible to take up a new language in
  Fifth Year.

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ST LOUIS SECONDARY SCHOOL

• SUBJECT CHOICE 2011

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Subject Optionsand Implications

• Mrs. Anne Lillis
• Career Guidance Counsellor

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Subject Choice

• When choosing a subject it should be one you
  like.
• It should be one you will be willing to work at.
• All subjects require work at Leaving Cert level.
• Then you should check is it useful for something
  you might like to do as a career.
• Always try to talk to someone who is doing the
  subject. What do they like about it?

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Optional subjects

• 5th Year Choose 4
• French, German, Spanish,
• Business, Accounting,
• History, Geography,
• Art, Music, H.E.
• Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Agricultural Science

• 4th Year Choose 4
• French ,German, Spanish,
• Business, Accounting,
• History, Geography,
• Art, Music,
• Chemistry-Physics (combined),
• Biology

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Foreign Language

• A language is needed to study at some
  institutions. The NUI Colleges and their
  constituents
• UCD, UCC, NUI Galway, NUI Maynooth
• National College of Art and Design
• St Angelas Sligo
• Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
• Shannon College of Hotel Management.
• Also for Cadetship in The Defence Forces.

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Exceptions

• If born outside ROI you are eligible for an
  exemption from Irish. In this case Irish or
  Lithuanian or Polish etc. satisfies the second
  language requirement.
• In NCAD art satisfies as a 3rd language
• UCD, UCC and NUI Galway do not require a 3rd
  language for Nursing
• UCD, NUI Maynooth, NUIG and UCC do not require a
  3rd language for Engineering or some Science
  programmes.

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Foreign Language

• Can only take French or German now if studied to
  Junior Cert.
• Spanish if studied in Transition Year may be
  continued to Ordinary Leaving Cert.

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Business Accounting

• These subjects are not usually required for entry
  to do a course in them. It may be difficult for
  anyone who does not have a Leaving Cert in them.
  Often an Ordinary level B3 is required in maths.
• Business Studies must have been studied for
  Junior Cert to be allowed to take Accounting
• It is possible to take Business without having
  Business Studies in Junior Cert.

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Art

• It is possible to take up Art if it has not been
  studied for Junior Certificate.
• It includes the study of Art History and
  Appreciation as well as practical work.
• It is useful for many design courses and a
  portfolio is often required.
• It is a requirement for Architecture in Ulster
  University

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History

• History is useful for careers in
• Politics, Journalism, Law, Civil Service,
  Tourism, Genealogy, Museum work and Research.
• It involves reading and essay work and
  requires a project.

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Geography

• Geography is
• accepted in Trinity as one of the two required
  science subjects for Medicinal Chemistry, Science
  (Ag science not accepted with Biology) and
  Pharmacy.
• It covers many areas locational geography, map
  reading, the EU and many topics relating to the
  world we live in i.e. global warming etc.

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Home Economics

• Home Economics is useful for careers in Catering,
  Childcare, Consumer Advice, Food science,
  Nursing, Social Studies, Hairdressing and Beauty
  Therapy etc.
• It can be taken up now if it has not been studied
  for Junior Cert.
• It involves practical work (cookery), science
  (physiology), business (consumer studies), and
  construction studies (home design and heating)

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Music

• The course in music allows scope for those who
  are good performers, good composers and good
  listeners.
• It is useful for careers as music editor, sound
  engineer, sound mixer, producer, etc.

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Science

• A science is a requirement for many courses.
• It is needed for medicine and other medical
  courses like nursing, physiotherapy, radiography,
  etc
• It is needed for many Beauty Therapy Courses and
  for Hairdressing.
• It is needed for engineering, architecture,
  computing,
• Primary Teaching in the UK requires a science.
• Some courses in Trinity require two.
• For Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary three
  sciences are needed in some UK Universities.

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Which Science?Physics

• Physics is very useful for technology, computers
  and electronics. Some paramedical courses involve
  study of it i.e. radiography, physiotherapy,
  optometry.
• The Architectural Technology and Radiography
  courses in Ulster University require it.

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Which Science? Chemistry

• Chemistry is essential for Human Nutrition,
  Dietetics, Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary and
  Pharmacy.
• It is useful for chemical engineering, biomedical
  science, brewing technology, nursing etc.

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Which Science?Biology

• Biology is involved in hundreds of careers. It is
  often required for medical courses particularly
  in Trinity and the UK where two or three sciences
  are needed.
• It is required for many Beauty Therapy and
  Hairdressing courses.
• It is useful for all the paramedical courses,
  Agriculture courses, food science etc.

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Which Science?Agricultural Science

• Agricultural Science involves the study of soils,
  plants and their function including farm crops
  and trees. Farm animals and buildings are also
  studied. A project is part of the exam
• It is accepted in Rep of Ireland as a lab science
  but not where a specific science is required. In
  some instances it is not accepted with Biology.

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What Happens Now?

• Students will be asked to make choices for (a)
  programmes and (b) subjects.
• Any student may make an appointment if they have
  any queries.
• Parents are also welcome to make an appointment.

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Leaving Cert Applied
Option 3
2 year Course Leaving Cert Applied Final Exam
June 2013
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Option 3
Leaving Cert Applied

• LCA is a 2 Year Programme.
• Students go directly from Third Year to Fifth
  Year.
• Students are mainly prepared for entry into the
  World of Work.
• LCA does allow you to enter 3rd Level Education,
  but not directly from secondary school.

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Introduction
Ms. Sara Watson
Leaving Certificate Applied Co-ordinator
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What is Leaving Certificate Applied?

• It is a distinct, self-contained two-year Leaving
  Certificate programme aimed at preparing students
  for adult and working life
• It emphasises forms of achievement and excellence
  which the established Leaving Certificate has not
  recognised in the past

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Who would benefit most?

• Students who are not adequately catered for by
  other Leaving Certificate programmes
• Students who choose not to opt for those
  programmes

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Rationale

• Prepares students for adult and working life
• Recognise talents of all pupils
• Promotes communication and decision making
• Applies knowledge and skills to the solution of
  real problems

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Curriculum

• Vocational Preparation Guidance
• English Communication
• Mathematical Applications
• Information technology
• Art Craft Design
• Hotel catering Tourism
• Drama
• Gaeilge
• Spanish
• Leisure Recreation
• Social Education
• Science
• ICT Skills
• Religion

Homework is BOTH Written And Practical
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Key Course Content

• Student Centred Curriculum
• Continuous Assessment (Interview/Oral/Written
  exams)
• Personal and Social Development
• Integration Across the Curriculum
• Team Work
• Basic Skills (literacy)
• Active Teaching/Learning
• Reflection
• Links with the Community

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Key Assessment Principles

• System levels to Achievable Goals
• Good Self Esteem
• Gaining Self Confidence

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Work Experience Key Feature

• Once a week
• Four different placements over the two years
• Credits are awarded for work experience

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Key Benefits

• Offered a chance to achieve
• Offers opportunity to get a place in a PLC
  college

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Destination of Students

• Most of our students go to further education (PLC
  Colleges and colleges of Further Education in
  Northern Ireland
• National statistics show 25 of LCA Students go
  to further education but we have a much higher
  percentage
• Possibility to apply through the CAO to Third
  Level Universities after PLC courses

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gives educationally challenged students an
opportunity to achieve
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This could be the best option for your daughter