Your Son’s Transition into Secondary School. Parents Information Night August 2019

1. Your Son’s Transition into Secondary School. Parents Information Night August 2019

2. Haven’t they done all this before?

3. Some Common Worries

4. Friendships – This may be the 1st time you don’t know their friends OR their parents either! • It can take time- don’t jump in too quickly • The onus should not be left to other students, your son must work at this too. • Extra-curricular/ lunch time activities – are meant to support new friendships • Changing circles since 6th class often occurs – don’t be surprised if their friends change completely.

5. Bullying Bullying is the repeated experience of negative behaviour: Verbal, Psychological, Physical or Cyber A once off “fight” is not bullying. However…. Placing a once–off offensive /hurtful public message, image or statement on a social network site or other forum where it can be viewed and / or repeated by others IS regarded as bullying behaviour” We can do nothing unless you tell us.

6. ENCOURAGEREADING

7. Homework Issues for 1st year • 10 subjects • Catching up if absent • Recording homework • Planning for the week’s homework • Homework at weekend • All forms of homework are important • Time management at home

8. What the experts - the students – say… Students who seem to achieve their best stated: • “My Mum checks my homework and sometimes gives extra questions” • “My Dad tests me after I have done my homework” • “I am let watch TV only after all my work is done” • “I am not allowed use the computer until I have done all my homework” • I always do my homework immediately when I come home….I never leave it until Sunday night”

9. What students say… Students who struggle to achieve their potential stated: • “I leave my homework until around 8.00 pm after I have relaxed, watched TV and checked my phone. I leave my weekend homework until Sunday night.” • “I am allowed one hour on my computer before I do my homework” • “When I go to bed , before I go to sleep, I spend an hour or so online.” • “My parents don’t check my homework”

10. Learning at Home Be organised & have a routine • Plan it … • Do it … • Revise it…

11. HOMEWORK Contrary to what your son says, READING IS HOMEWORK!! • WRITTEN • ORAL • LEARNING – TO REMEMBER • REVISION-going back to learn again for a test-“OVER LEARN”

12. THE SCHOOL JOURNAL • Must have it with them EVERYDAY • Key to success • It is not private • Subjects written in advance • Record every class • Students encouraged to use code (W) (L) (R) (O) (P) • Have ‘Homework Pals’ – to text/phone • Indicate time taken to complete • Parents monitor & check EACH NIGHT – FOR BEST RESULTS ALL AROUND

13. CREATE A LEARNING -FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT

14. Homework Routine • Create a routine • Do on the night it is given • Do difficult subject early, keep easy /enjoy subject to end • Mix type of subjects • Mix activities –don’t do all written first • Packing bag for next day is part of homework

15. I REMEMBER… P 10%OF WHAT I READ 20%OF WHAT I HEAR PASSIVE LEARNING 30%0F WHAT I SEE 50%OF WHAT I HEAR &SEE 70%OF WHAT I WRITE & SAY ACTIVE LEARNING 90%OF WHAT I DO 95%OF WHAT I TEACH TO OTHERS W. Glasser

16. Learning to Learn Be Active- reading is homework but it is not learning 1. Pre-test (what do I know?) 2. Read-scan (what is this about) 3. Key words- make notes/mind maps = be active! 4. Close the book 5. Self test-write /hear/ draw 6. Check/circle mistakes

17. Coping with Tests involves • Coping with anxiety • Setting realistic targets –both parents and students • Avoiding ‘cramming’ • Training the memory • Practicing recall by self- testing • Encouraging ways to relax

18. Parents Role • Stay involved: monitor, negotiate, advise • Check and monitor: • their eating patterns & habits • the school journal • their learning environment at home • how they manage their time • the presentation of their work • Always encourage doing their best • Being organised for school • Don’t be so quick to run up to school with forgotten items – they WILL remember that bag/book the next time!! • Help & encourage self testing of learning

19. What can you as parents do? • Attend Parent /Teacher meetings • Track Progress in school- test results • Subject Level –to do their best • Monitor school work at home • Focus on the positive- effort, developing skills, move from dependence to independence • Ask them! Boys usually won’t/don’t tell you. • Gradual move to personal responsibility & their own homework space.

20. How will we support your son? • Induction Day – earlier today • Meitheal leaders for each class group • Second Years will have Treoiri Leaders • Class Tutor – the SPHE teacher for each class • Year Head – Mr Oliver Byrne • Weekly Care Team Meeting to inform ourselves • SEN Team – Ms A Kenny is Coordinator • Career Guidance and Counselling – Ms C Brennan, Ms McEntee and Ms C Phelan • Myself and two Deputy Principals always available • We encourage student voice and leadership roles within the school.

21. Starting this morning, our objective is to give your son a well rounded holistic education for LIFE. Social Confidence Personal Development

22. Wellbeing • Each 1st year class has a 1 hour class of Wellbeing each week • Five teachers have worked reviewed and deliver this course which consists of 4 modules: • Transitioning • Digital Citizenship • Resilience • Cooperative Learning • Healthy Eating & Active Lifestyle

23. What is Wellbeing? Another subject? No, WB is a lot more than 1 class per week. It is not a subject, it is a whole area which must have 400 hours dedicated to it over a student’s first 3 years. It is a conscious recognition of all the other aspects of school life which impact on a young person – emotions/ learning how to relax / relating to others / learning about oneself/ how to spend down time, etc. It includes CSPE, SPHE, Induction Day, Sports Days, Retreats, and other school activities which enhance their lives within school time.

24. The Wellbeing Journal • Your son’s Wellbeing Journal will be used in his WB classes. It will used for his own reflections on how he is settling in to school and with his peers and teachers/how he is learning to deal with life’s challenges. • It is not for marking – it is a tool to help him learn to reflect on his thoughts/his life – in a world of constant social media/other people’s opinions/status’s etc.

25. What do they do/bring on Thursday? • Wear their full uniform • Bring 30 euros in an envelope with their name written on the envelope • He will receive his day to day journal tomorrow • The WB Journal will be given out in his WB class • His locker will be assigned to him • The Meitheal leader will take his group and work with them all to learn how to work a combination lock etc. • Bring a drink/snack for the 11 am break • The canteen will be open for snacks if you want to give him some money for this • He will spend about half of the morning in the GPA (General Purpose Area) • Bring a pen, no textbooks.

26. If your son needs to leave school… • If he has a dentist/doctor appointment – he MUST have a note for the teacher allow him to leave within class time. The teacher can not let him out on his own word. • If a student has no note – the office staff have to run around the school looking for him. This could take place many times in any day wasting everyone’s time. • Please do not arrive at the office expecting the office staff to search for him. • If he feels sick – he goes to his Year Head and speaks to them and if the YH deems it real then he is sent to the office to ring home. • Under no circumstances is he to text you to collect him.

27. Please do one more thing… • Put your son’s NAME on EVERYTHING he owns if you ever want to see it again!!! • Books, pencil cases, copies, runners, sports bags, calculators, school bags, shirts, track suit bottoms, hoodies, Tech Graph boxes, Art folders, school jumpers, coats etc. • We have a Lost and Found which they don’t even look at when it’s put out in the GPA – we end up throwing out heaps of clothes every year. • Even a pencil case holds great value when you add it up. Possibly €50?

28. Our School App- you need it - because we use it

29. Now, you move from holding his hand to looking over his shoulder!

30. Thank you for sending your son to St Mary’s CBS Q & A