Colaiste Dun IascaighColaiste Dun IascaighColaiste Dun IascaighColaiste Dun IascaighIncoming First YearIncoming First Year

Information for Information for Parents/GuardiansParents/Guardians

Where you can get information.

• Qualifax - qualifax.ie• National Council for Curriculum and

Assessment. - ncca.ie• Careersportal - careersportal.ie• Central Applications Office (CAO) -

cao.ie• State Examinations Commission - sec.ie

• Our School!

What do you want your child to be when they

grow up?• SUCCESSFUL• HAPPY• GOOD• ACHIEVE THEIR FULLEST POTENTIAL

• EDUCATION OFFERS CHOICES

You can and do make a difference.

• A home that nurtures a learning culture teaches children that education is important and to be valued.

The Home Matters• “Research shows that support

from parents/guardians is the single most important driver for pupils’ success at school.” (S.Parsons)

• If children are motivated and know how to learn, they will be well equipped to deal with whatever life holds for them.

OUR EXPERIENCE AFFECTS OUR UNDERSTANDING

• TEACHING AND LEARNING METHODS HAVE CHANGED OVER THE YEARS.

• YOU DO NOT HAVE TO KNOW EVERYTHING - BUT BE INTERESTED IN FINDING OUT.

ALWAYS RESPOND TO ALWAYS RESPOND TO QUESTIONS FROM QUESTIONS FROM

CHILDREN OR THEY MAY CHILDREN OR THEY MAY LEARN NOT TO ASK LEARN NOT TO ASK

ANYMOREANYMORE

ALWAYS RESPOND TO ALWAYS RESPOND TO QUESTIONS FROM QUESTIONS FROM

CHILDREN OR THEY MAY CHILDREN OR THEY MAY LEARN NOT TO ASK LEARN NOT TO ASK

ANYMOREANYMORE

REMEMBER• HOW YOU

REACTED AND FELT WHEN…

• WALKED• READ• RODE A BIKE• SANG A SONG• KICKED A BALL

TRY TO DEVELOP PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS

• Associate the word ‘Difficult’ with ‘Challenge’ and try a different way rather than with ‘Failure’ or ‘Don’t bother trying.’

• You can’t be good at everything = failed.• Smiles, praise, understanding, love and

affection all affect the way the child feels and can help produce better-motivated and more confident learners.

BRAIN FOOD• Water/ Fish oil/ • Regular exercise• Cut out sugary drinks,

tea, coffee• Get plenty of sleep• Plan relaxation time• Lots of different

stimuli and information

SECOND LEVEL EDUCATION

• Bigger Year Group• Bigger Building• More subjects• More than one

teacher• Homework in each

subject• Junior Certificate

CHANGES• Teenagers• Babies again!• Co-educational• Small fish, Big

pond.• Place in family• INTEREST of

Parents/Guardians

How We Help• 1st Year Area• Year Head• Cara Group• Monitor• (Pastoral) Care

Team• Parents

PASTORAL CARE SYSTEM

• Induction Day• Year Head• Counsellors• Chaplain• Religion Teacher• Any Teacher• Leaders/Cara

Anti-Bullying Policy• ‘No Blame’ procedure on first offence.• Students asked to write what happened

and investigated• Students spoken with and given

opportunity to change• 2nd occurrence far more serious.• See Handbook for full details• Social Media / Tech Smart but not

always person smart! – Talk to them.

SHARING IS CARING• Information• Vigilance• Knowledge

• Trouble• Difficult

Decisions

STUDY HINTS• Same Place• Heating• Ventilation• Background music• Same atmosphere

as in Exam hall.

HOW LONG?• Homework soon

after arriving home.• Difference between

Study / Homework.• Time varies from 1st

to 6th year.• Time - management

HELP FOR THOSE AT HOME

• Listen• Share your

thoughts and feelings

• Help teach self-discipline.

• Hugs• Get Help

EnglishIrish

MathematicsHistory

GeographyScienceCSPESPHE

ArtMusic

LanguagesHome Economics

Technical GraphicsMaterials Tech. Wood

Materials Tech. MetalworkTechnology

Business Studies

MATERIALS TECH. METAL

• SKILLS, filing/lathe/drill/joining/electronics/design and making.

• PRACTICAL, (H)= 150/400 (O)=300/400• 4periods per week• Take pieces home• Theory?

TECHNOLOGY• Materials - wood, plastic,metal.• Mechanisms,gears,motors etc.• Graphics,(drawing) electronics• Project = 50%. • Written/Theory = 50%.• 5 class periods

HOME ECONOMICS• 5 sections• Food Studies• Consumer Studies• Social & Health

Studies• Resource

Management & Home Studies

• Textile Studies

LANGUAGES• FRENCH

• GERMAN

• SPANISH

LANGUAGES• One European

language required for NUI universities.(except science, engineering,IT, nursing).

• UCC• UCD• NUI MAYNOOTH• NUI GALWAY

CSPE• The Individual and

Citizenship.• The Community.• The State – Ireland.• Ireland and the

World• Assessment

40%Exam

How to Choose?• Interests• Likes• Curiosity• Strengths• Willing to work

at.• Future

BEST ADVICE• BALANCE

• work• sports• clubs

• friends

Our Student’s destinations.

• 72% - CAO/UCAS/EUNICAS• 10% - Training/Trades/Employment• 12% - PLC• 5% - Repeating LC• 1% - unavailable • (more than 20% taking a year out!

Gap Year).

Colaiste Dun IascaighColaiste Dun Iascaigh11stst year progress year progress

meetingmeeting

Colaiste Dun IascaighColaiste Dun Iascaigh11stst year progress year progress

meetingmeeting

Have they settled in yet!Have they settled in yet!

Worries Their worries• Have I friends• Do I belong to a group• Where do I go to for…

Parent worries• Weight of bag• Amount of work• How tired they are• Are they making

friends• Are they eating a

lunch

Teacher/School worries• Can they understand what I am doing• Can they concentrate for a class

period• Are they trying their best in class and

at home• Are they happy• Have they made friends

So what is normal in term 1?

It is ok to..• Be exhausted• Fall in and out of

friendships• Be a little anxious

about tests/exams• To say you don’t

understand anything about……

It is not ok to…• Become withdrawn• Have no

friends/contacts• Spend a lot of time on

Facebook/Games• Not sleep well• Not eat well• Be over anxious.

Advice for nowStudents• Do homework• Stay focused• Prepare for Christmas

Test now• Talk to

teachers/parents about difficulties

Parents• Check the homework• Encourage them to do

homework well • Tell them to prepare

for Xmas test by starting now

• Check txt/email/facebook

• Contact us at school for help and suggestions.