Form III Parents’ Evening

1. Form III Parents’ Evening Welcome

2. Neville Atkinson - Year Head, PAL & Outdoor Pursuits natkinson@villiers-school.com Shane Hanna - Tutor, PAL & Overseas Students Anita Mahon - Tutor & PAL John McCrohan - Programme Co-ordinator (TY & LCVP), jmccrohan@villiers-school.com Emily Nolan - Tutor, PAL & Guidance Counsellor Mary Quinn - Deputy Headmistress Anna Redfern - SEN Liaison Mike Storey - Tutor & PAL Transition Year Core Team

3. Pastoral Care Pastoral Care is led by the Year Headwho: • Liaises with Form Tutors to address pastoral issues of concern. • Reports to and liaises with the pastoral team regarding the year group. • Has a watching brief over students’ academic progress and takes appropriate action if students are displaying academic problems. • Communicates with parents, in particular those experiencing difficulties, in relation to progress in TY. • Has a significant role in implementing the Code of Behaviour and supporting the PBIS initiative. • Schedules Year group assemblies. • Monitors punctuality and absenteeism.

4. Transition Year Programme Special Features Specific Modules Subject Sampling Core Subjects

5. Core Subjects • English • Maths • Irish • French • WSC • PE • Social & Health

6. Subject Sampling • See Challenges Facing Young People on the DES presentation • Subject Sampling in TY guides students towards making informed decisions on what subject they should do for the Leaving Cert. • Villiers School offers 20 Leaving Cert. choice subjects • During subject sampling TY students attend classes for 8 of the choice subjects, they get to try out the subject, see is it for them, see if they are suited to it; consider if it is suitable per their career/college aspirations • In the Spring of TY, students vote, ranking their top 6; this voting is computerised and from this comes the 5th year • Students who do TY prove to be more mature, more educationally adventurous and better prepared for the challenges that lie ahead.

7. Subject Sampling • Applied Maths • Physics • Chemistry • Biology • Ag. Science • Chinese • German • Spanish • Japanese • Art • Construction • Design & Communication Graphics • Home Economics • Music • RE • Technology • Accounting • Business • Economics • History • Geography

8. Subject Sampling - Blocks

9. Subject Sampling Example taken from the academic year ‘13 / ‘14

10. Art and Craft Chinese Craft/Metalwork Driving Theory Test Enterprise Environment European Studies Food Safety Film Studies & Visual Literacy First Aid ICT – ECDL ICT – Wizzkids Specific Modules • Journalism / Red Sokz • Music Workshop • Motor Mechanics • Origami • Photography • Social Awareness – YSI • Website content development

11. Career Aptitude Test Debating Excursions / Field Trips Fashion Show First Aid - Irish Red Cross Gáisce - President’s Award Mock Interviews Musical Showcase Outdoors Pursuits Special Features • One Substantial Project • Enterprise • Social Awareness-YSI • Environment • European Studies • PowerPoint presentations • Visiting Speakers • Youth Leadership • Work Experience

12. www.youngsocialinnovators.ie/ www.greenschoolsireland.org http://www.ecounesco.ie/programmes/young-environmentalist-award.html Enterprise www.limceb.ie/enterpriseEducation.php www.european-studies.org www.forumoneurope.ie/ www.btyoungscientist.ie/ Awards & Competitions www.gaisce.ie

13. Gáisce - President’s Award is an award programme designed to encourage: • initiative, • self-discipline, • leadership and • caring skills in young people between 15 and 25.

14. Gáisce - President’s Award • National Challenge Award from the President of Ireland to young people aged 15 to 25 • Awards are presented to young people who agree and complete a challenge in four activities: • Community 1 hour per week for 13 weeks • Skill 1 hour per week for 13 weeks • Physical 1 hour per week for 13 weeks • Additional Activity 1 hour per week for 13 weeks • Adventure 25km hike; 2 days; camp out overnight

15. TY students do an Aptitude Tests (DAT) and an Interest Test (CII) in school at the end of Term I. In the Spring, TY students are scheduled to meet individually with the school Guidance Counsellor where results of the above tests will be discussed; parents are welcome to attend this meeting. Careers

16. Career Websites • www.cao.ie – Central Applications Office • www.careerdirections.ie – careers database • www.fas.ie – National Training and Employment Authority • www.qualifax.ie – National Courses Database • www.careersportal.ie – Careers Portal • www.ucas.com – UK version of the CAO • Links from the above into universities, colleges etc..

17. Work Experience • Two weeks beforethe February mid-term tbc. • Covered by the a school insurance policy • A photocopy of the insurance letter will be available in November and given to students when they have secured their work experience • Development of job seeking skills • students learn how to job-hunt and actively look for their own work experience; start thinking/looking asap • Extra weeks are an option but preferably at mid-term breaks, Easter and Christmas holidays • Even a negative experience can be a very good learning experience

18. TY Dates – 2014-15 Some provisionaldates of to look forward to: • Induction: first two weeks of term (presentation of our TYP, selection of subjects/options, team building in Lough Derg Yacht Club, Hike) • Lough Derg Way: Villiers to Dromineer circa. 70kms on foot in three to four stages, spread out through the year, aiming to encourage students to work on becoming physically fitter during their TY; buy the boots now, start breaking them in  • Sailing, Pony Trekking / Laser Shooting - October • The Burren (Caving, rock climbing & Burren walk) - October • Fashion Show – October 23rd • Orienteering – December • Drama – performance end of January tbc. • Work Experience – tbc. • Outdoor Pursuits Week in Achill April 27th • Young Social Innovators Showcase in the RDS – May • Europe Day - May • Musical Showcase - May