TO OUR LADYS SECONDARY SCHOOL FIRST YEAR PARENTS

TO OUR LADY’S SECONDARY SCHOOL FIRST YEAR PARENTS & GUARDIANS Adolescence and the Transition from Primary to Secondary School

FACEBOOK RELATIONSHIPS SCHOOL BAG X-BOX PHONE TEXT MESSAGES HISTORY SCIENCE FRENCH. . . . WHY? WHY? NO-ONE UNDERSTANDS ME MY VOICE IS BREAKING FAMILY

THE CHANGE • SCHOOL AND EDUCATION • RELATIONSHIPS AND FRIENDSHIPS • CHILDHOOD TO ADOLESCENCE

SCHOOL AND EDUCATION • The school building can be much bigger than their prmary school • They can have up to 9 different teachers in one day • Different teachers means different teaching styles • New subjects • New timetable • Changing classroom for each subject • Homework management. Some homework may not be due in for a few days

RELATIONSHIPS & FRIENDSHIPS • They are no longer the Senior Students • They are now the Junior Students • They may have left friends behind in primary school • They may know very few people when they start secondary school • Secondary school can be a noisy, busy place. • They may feel like a stranger in a strange place

Childhood to Adolescence • Adolescence is about learning new ways of relating to people • It is about becoming emotionally independent • It is about change

The 5 main areas of change • Physical: Your child is growing and developing into a young adult. This can be a difficult time for them • Social: The family may be no longer their social centre. Friends and peers become important • Sexual: Adolescence can be a difficult time as your child becomes aware of their sexuality

Contd. . • Vocational: Adolescence is a time for searching for and identifying possible careers • Moral: Teenagers question the things they are taught. They are not always doing this just to be a rebel. This questioning helps them find their own identity and independence. Their questions are often genuine questions they have for themselves

Something to think about ! THIS IS NEW TO THEM

• DO TREAT YOUR • DO HELP CHILD AS AN YOUR CHILD INDIVIDUAL. TO FEEL DON’T LOVED, COMPARE THEM CAPABLE TO OTHER AND CHILDREN RESPONSIBLE • ADOLESCENT SELF ESTEEM IS SENSITIVE. THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH THEIR PARENTS AND GUARDIANS IS VERY IMPORTANT AND CAN AFFECT THEIR SELF-ESTEEM

• DO PLACE • DO BOUNDARIES ENCOURAGE FOR YOUR CHILD TO GET INVOLVED IN SCHOOL LIFE • DO ENCOURAGE A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP AND REST ARE IMPORTANT

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT. . . “What I need most is to feel loved and valued, no matter how foolish I may seem. I need someone who believes in me because I do not always believe in myself. . . . ” By Virginia Satir

SUBJECT CHOICE FOR JUNIOR CYCLE AT OUR LADY’S

ALL STUDENTS STUDY: What subjects does my child study?

All Students Study: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. MATHS ENGLISH IRISH HISTORY GEOGRAPHY SCIENCE A LANGUAGE - FRENCH OR GERMAN PHYSICAL EDUCATION- P. E. COMPUTER STUDIES WELLBEING RELIGION 12. TWO OPTION SUBJECTS (BUT WHICH TWO? )

STUDENTS PICK 2 SUBJECTS FROM THE LIST BELOW. ü MUSIC ü HOME ECONOMICS ü TECHNICAL GRAPHICS ü BUSINESS ü MATERIALS TECHNOLOGY ü ART

Business Studies In Our Lady’s students must take Business Studies for Junior Cert if they wish to take Accounting in their Leaving Cert. Careers / Courses: • Accounting is very useful if a student intends to take a on Accounting & Finance or a Business Studies Degree in college. • Business Careers-General Business Degree Accountancy Taxation Financial Services Banking Marketing Actuary

• It is recommended that students take Home Economics at Junior Cert if they wish to take Home Economics for Leaving Certificate Careers / Courses: Essential for Home Economics Teaching Useful for careers in Hotel, Catering , Food Science & Nutrition.

Materials. MATERIALS TECHNOLOGY Technology Students must take Materials Technology at Junior Cert in order to take Construction Studies at Leaving Cert. Careers / Courses: Essential for Construction Studies Teaching Useful for: Civil Engineering, Building Surveying, Construction related courses & careers Useful for Building trades

TECHNICAL GRAPHICS Technical Graphics Students must take Technical Graphics at Junior Cert in order to study Design and Communication Graphics at Leaving Cert. Careers / Courses: • Essential for Design and Communication Graphics or Construction Studies Teaching • Useful For : • Civil Engineering, • Building Surveying, • Construction related courses & careers • Architecture • Architectural Technology • Civil Engineering • Quantity Surveying • Building Trades

Music It is recommended that students take Music in the Junior Cert in order to take Music in the Leaving Cert. Careers / Courses: ü Music Teacher ü Music performer ü Music Technology ü Sound Engineering ü Music Therapy

Art It is recommended that students take Art in the Junior Cert in order to take Art in the Leaving Cert. Careers / Courses: ü Art Teacher ü Animation ü Photographer ü Interior Design ü Architecture ü Artist ü Graphic Design ü Fashion Design

How do you know which subjects to pick? 6 Weeks Sampling has given our students a ‘’taste’’ of all the Options Subjects • Students should like the subject • Students should feel they are able for the subject • Think about your Future ambitions

DO NOT CHOOSE A SUBJECT BECAUSE: X Your friend is picking the subject X You just like the teacher X It’s considered a ‘’Boy’’ subject or a ‘’Girl’’ subject.

HELPFUL WEBSITE WWW. QUALIFAX. IE IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT YOU AS PARENTS & GUARDIANS ARE INVOLVED IN THEIR DECISION

THE PROCESS OF CHOOSING SUBJECTS FOR JUNIOR CYCLE IS THE START OF LOOKING AT THE LEAVING CERT AND BEYOND

…THE LEAVING CERT!!!!! HAVEN’T EVEN SAT THE JUNIOR YET!!!!!!

THIS IS A GOOD THING NOT A SCARY THING

IT IS GOOD TO START TALKING ABOUT STUDY

IT IS POSITIVE TO START TALKING ABOUT THE FUTURE

IT IS HELPFUL TO BECOME AWARE NOW OF THE LEAVING CERTIFICATE

IT IS IMPORTANT TO BE AWARE THAT I AM WORKING TOWARDS A POSITIVE HAPPY LIFE THROUGH LEARNING AND EDUCATION

HELPFUL TIPS • TAKE AS MANY HIGHER LEVEL SUBJECTS AS YOU ARE ABLE • LOOK AT THE LEAVING CERT POINTS SYSTEM • THE MORE HIGHER LEVEL SUBJECTS, THE HIGHER YOUR POINTS

NEW LEAVING CERTIFICATE GRADING SYSTEM

NEW CAO POINTS SYSTEM

HELPFUL TIPS • GET TO KNOW YOUR LEARNING STYLE • LEARN HOW TO STUDY FOR EXAMS • START PRACTICING YOUR STUDY SKILLS NOW • DON’T WAIT FOR EXAMS TO COME UP TO START STUDYING

Good study habits should be established in 1 st Year

Studying Where? - A warm ventilated room - A quiet place. Music is distracting How long? (Everyone is different) - Start immediately - Start off slow and short - One topic for 15 MINUTES each evening to start with -Build up time and topics each week --CREATE GOOD HABITS

LEARNING STYLES

VISUAL

AUDITORY

READING & WRITING LEARNING TECHNIQUES • WHEN YOU READ SOMETHING, WRITE ABOUT IT • TAKE NOTES AS YOU READ ALONG • ANSWER QUESTIONS ON WHAT YOU HAVE READ • USE EXAM PAPERS TO CHECK WHAT YOU REMEMBER, CHECK YOUR BOOKS TO SEE IF YOU WERE RIGHT

KINESTHETIC

THANK YOU & MIND YOURSELVES AND EACH OTHER & KEEP IN TOUCH