Transition Year Parents’ Council Meeting
Monday, November 28, 2011 7.30pm School Library
A meeting was organised by the Parents’ Council to enable parents to meet with the Transition Year team. The meeting was attended by over 50 parents, and the TY team; Cathal O’Conchuir, TY Coordinator, Liam Parkinson, TY Year Head, Catherine Hickey, Deputy Principal and Mary Joyce, Principal. The meeting was chaired by Mary McKeown, TY Parents’ Council Rep.
The meeting was presented with a Powerpoint Presentation, prepared by TY students showing their activities and approach to Transition Year. This was well produced, and very well received. It was presented by two TY students, Padraic Folan and Ruth Mc Morrow. Two 5th year students, Seosamh Fallon and Andrew Forde gave their perspectives of Transition Year, looking back from their current place in the school. This, too, was well received by parents.
A question and answer session brought up issues around work experience, encouraging the involvement of students in the activities available to them, the Gaisce award and the requirements of same. The dates that the school have suggested for Work Experience are as follows:
First Week of October……...4R
First Week of December…..4B
First Week of February……..4C
First week of May……………..4G
In preparation for work experience the job application and C.V. writing process are taught in careers classes prior to commencement of the placements. Work experience is monitored and evaluated via the Reach books that the guidance department have in operation since September and students have to maintain a work experience diary throughout the placement.
French Language Trips
There was discussion around the possibility of students travelling to France on a language trip for a few weeks. Mary McKeown had researched several possibilities. Given the constraint that the school is unable at the moment to accept exchange students, for health and safety reasons, there are some limits to the options available during term time. One option is available through the French Institute at the Bridge Mills. Students can travel to France for three weeks (€1,950) or two weeks (€1,300) and live with a family. During their time in France the students will attend French lessons in a small school in the mornings, learning in small groups with a French teacher. The afternoons are taken up with activities such as sport (possibly canoeing, swimming etc) and visits to local places of interest. Outings are organised relevant to the weather and time of year etc. Interested parents should contact Brigitte at the French Institute directly. The trips should take place in April or early May, 2012. In order to minimize erosion of teaching time the school suggests the utilization of some of the Easter holidays.
German Language Trips
The German teacher, Elaine Coffey, is arranging trips for students of German to Germany.
Every year students participate in the EU exchange organised very successfully by Christine Caan. This exchange allows our pupils to choose from a three week or a six week exchange while attending a local school in the Baden-Wurttemberg region of South West Germany. Detailed information, brochures and application forms can be viewed on the EU Exchange website: www.euexchange.org or tel: 086- 2467468.
Kolleg St. Blasien
This year it is envisaged that a number of our TY students will travel to the Black Forest region of Southern Germany and spend some time attending the Jesuit school Kolleg St. Blasien, to improve their German language skills.
We are also trying to recruit 12 or 16 TY students who will represent our school at JESET the Jesuit Schools European Sports Tournament between 2nd and 8th of July 2012. The list of sports concerned includes soccer, beach volleyball, basketball, long jump, sprint, swimming and cross country. Mr Leonard and Ms Coffey are co-ordinating this project.
On grounds of Health and Safety the school is not in a position to host exchange students for the forthcoming academic year as the school is now at maximum capacity.
This has been imposed by the Board of Management.
The meeting ended at 9.15 pm.
