St. Peter’s College Transition Year Programme

Parent information evening

March 29th 2017

Welcome! • What is Transition Year (TY)?

• TY is a year between the junior and senior cycle in secondary schools. It, unlike, the junior and senior cycle is not focused on a terminal examination.

• TY allows students to mature, develop socially, gain responsibility and experience the world of work first hand.

TY in St. Peter’s Why students choose TY: • They may need a year to mature before entering the senior

cycle. • They are young and entering LC1 would result in them

sitting the Leaving Certificate at a particularly young age. • They may need a year to develop socially. • TY would help them with careful subject selection upon

entering LC1. • They would benefit from exposure to work experience. • They would benefit from volunteering work. • They would benefit from participation in a wide range of

subjects. • They can work on their group work and presentation skills. • Explore their Entrepreneurship skills......

1. What subjects will be studied in TY?

The academic year is broken up into five terms.

Students are given a fresh timetable each term.

Every student will have engaged with all subjects over the course of the year.

Sciences Linguistics/ Business

Practical/Humanities

New modules

Physics French Woodwork School History

Chemistry German DCG Meditation

Biology English Enterprise Media studies

Ag. Science Gaeilge History TY cycling

App. Maths Business European Studies Typing

Sci. Maths Economics Mindfulness Psychology

Geography Accountancy Nutrition Sport Psychology

Road Safety

Computers

Programming/Coding

Media studies

Health and safety

2. Enterprise

• All students will participate in an enterprise group.

• We would ask that before your son enters TY he investigates some “mini company” ideas.

• We have had massive success over the years at the Enterprise Awards, in fact overall winners in 2017!

• If they so wish they can even form their group before they enter TY in September.

3. Gaisce

• Gaisce is now an option, it by nature, is a “give back” to the community and therefore should only be engaged with by students who are serious about: learning a new skill, doing community involvement and participating in the school’s sport and games programme.

The Award • To be awarded the Bronze medal students need to

complete: • A physical activity 25km Walk • Learn a new skill (Microsoft office) (26 hours) • Complete 13 hours volunteering work • Complete 13 hours sport and games in school • Stay overnight as a group in Carne • €15 refundable deposit is taken in September and

upon completion of your son’s Gaisce Award it will be refunded.

4. Outings/events • Each term the entire TY group can participate in a group outing.

Activity Activity Planned for 2017-2018

The ploughing match Shielbaggan (3 activity days)

Gravity, bonding trip in September

Visit another school show

“Just one life” road safety

Maynooth University open day

Leisure Max Parents council interview skills evening due in 2018

National Museum of Ireland

Dublin Zoo Carne overnight and 25km walk

Collins Barracks Geography field Trip

GPO Carlow IT open day

Croke Park History Tour Kilmainham Gaol

How will I know when these trips are on?

• Visit the school website www.stpeterscollege.ie

• A full TY plan (PDF) format is available to download directly from the site.

• You can save it to your phone but please keep an eye on it as it is subject to change and update.

5. Charity work

• Each term we work with a different charity to raise much needed funds.

• We work with the following Charities to help raise much needed funds:

• Down Syndrome Ireland • Samaritans • SVP • Special Olympics Ireland • Currently in TY we have raised over €6000 in

funds

6. PE in TY

• More options now available with courses and certification in:

• IRFU coaching level 1

• GAA coaching level 1

• Proposed: GAA and the psychology of coaching

• Games and activities (outside the normal PE curriculum)

7. Committees/group projects/courses

• Library committee • School Journalism • Rotary action group • SVP action group • Basketball assistant coaching group • GAA assistants… • AIB build a bank programme • CPR course • Engineering week in WIT • Scifest • Wexworlds science fiction and gaming

8. Work Experience

• Each student will engage in 3 phases of work experience • Two phases of Tuesday work experience • 1 week long block at the end of term 5 in May-June • You CANNOT exchange a week block for the Tuesday work

experiences, they are part of an individual’s timetable for that particular term.

• Feedback from employers and students has been excellent. • The benefits to students are immense and will continue to be so. • Try make lists of suitable work experiences that may work before

your son enters TY and approach employers to see if it may be an option

The First Phase

• TY1 and TY4 will be notified in June that they will be on Work Experience this coming September. All forms are issued with this correspondence.

Remaining Work Experience Phases

• When your son enters TY in September, they will find out which class they have been assigned to.

• A full breakdown of their work experience schedule will be in their journal and on the school website (as per calendars)

• All work experience forms are available for download from the website so you can forward plan.

What about Extra Work Experience?

• No problem….but!

• An “Extra work Experience form” must be completed by your son

• Signed by a Parent/Guardian and your son.

• This is then given to the Coordinator and sanctioned.

• As a guide a week is deemed acceptable, longer periods of time will take away from the programme.

9. Assessment

• Attendance. • Responsibility. • Project work. • Presentations (P). • Multiple choice

examinations (MCE) • Written feedback • End of term examinations • Group work • Class interaction

Subject Attendance Assessment

Sci. Maths 40% 60% (MCE)

Physics 40% 60% (P)

Reflective practice

• Journal work regarding:

• It is up to your son to keep his Journal updated.

• End Certification depends upon the above.

Work Experience

Enterprise Gaisce Term reviews

My son wishes to go abroad and attend another school for a term?

• This is not a problem, all you need to do is:

• Write to the school with your son’s name, TY class and the exact dates he will be absent from the College.

• These dates can then be added to the school role system.

• We would ask as part of their experience your son write an article for Spectrum Magazine about their experience.

TY Awards

• Present each student with their Certificate of completion of Transition Year, as well as any other Certificates/Awards earned throughout the year.

Awards include:

• Work experience/Gaisce/Sports/TY endeavour award/Best Folder/Best Journal/Most improved student/some subject awards....

TY in SPC

• What to consider before applying: • Your son’s age and more importantly his age

when sitting the leaving certificate, would this be an issue should he need to repeat.

• If your son would truly benefit overall from the year, this should be discussed openly with him.

• His reasons why he wants to do TY, look beyond the normal such as not sitting a terminal examination or because his friends are doing it!

Before entering TY

• We are trying to improve the attendance of every student in TY. • Unnecessary absences should be totally avoided and all students

participate fully in the course. • Therefore: • The minimum expected attendance must be greater than 80%. • If a student is absent without justifiable reasons they will miss TY outings

and events. • They are therefore expected to come to school on the day of the outing. • The above will also apply to project work and commitments held in TY.

All prescribed work is expected to be completed in time and on time. • The above is worth noting before your son enters TY and needs to be

clearly explained to him. • Attendance is your son’s responsibility and this is part of the TY

experience.

Application process

• A written application to be filled out by your son and returned by the date assigned on the form.

• Written applications will be issued next Monday. • If necessary applicants will be interviewed about

their reasons why TY is suitable for them. • Factors of consideration in selection process. • Students age/reasons why they wish to enter the

programme/behaviour to date/attendance/teacher and/or year head recommendations….

The cost involved

• The Transition Year fee is €450. • Deposit of €250 payable by June 3rd and the Balance of

€200 payable by September 4th. • Further costings: • TY Journal €10, School insurance €8, Road Safety booklet €2 • Where does the money go? • In order to facilitate all the outings/speakers and

educational activities run in TY this fee is absolutely essential.

• There is no problem making a payment plan with the office.

At the end of TY

• The aim is that your son will have developed:

• Socially

• Emotionally

• Matured

• Better appreciation of volunteering and the world of work.

• Responsible for his own work and presenting it to the best of his ability.