First Year 2013 Leaving Certificate 2019

1. First Year 2013Leaving Certificate 2019 Mount Sackville

2. FIRST YEAR CLASSES • Athena – Tutor Ms. Fiona Coleman • Helen – Tutor Ms. Sharon Murphy • Iris - Tutor Ms Andrea Finlay Kajic • Phoebe - Tutor Ms. Julieanne Somers

3. SUPPORT STRUCTURE • Class Tutor • Dean – Ms Sheahan • Class Prefects • Guidance Counsellor – Catherine Flanagan • Chaplain – Niamh O’Flaherty • Learning support Teacher – Trudy Loftus

4. Parents Association Ger Power - Chairperson

5. Transition from Primary to Secondary School • Triple transition: • From very familiar school environment to much larger school and new subjects; • From one set of peer group and friends to another peer group; • From childhood to adolescence.

6. From one school environment to another • Physical effort of carrying books • Mental exhaustion of new and varied subjects • Lockers can cause stress. • Different homework expectations. • Focus on exams (particularly from 2nd year on)

7. How to support your daughter • Organisation is key. Have timetable on display. Check homework notebook/ Journal/ Locker. • Check homework, using different copy for each subject. Write teachers names on cover of each/ colour code. • Parents get to know year head / class tutor – attend meetings, introduce yourself. Get involved in the school (PTA)

8. How to support contd. • Have a routine for homework. Recommended 1 ½ hours per night average for First Years. • Be strict about diet / bedtime if you can! • Normal to stumble a bit academically in first year, so don’t panic. Read reports and come to Parent Teacher Meeting and address any problems then.

9. Transition from one peer group to another • Move from biggest – smallest in school. • Most 1st years report some form of intimidation (often from 2nd and 3rd years). • Much bigger classes / year group. • Differences in subject choices / seating plans will mean different friendships. Losses and gains. • Exposure to older peer groups and possible exposure to smoking/ drinking and drugs.

10. How to support • Encourage them to stick together and sort difficulties out themselves if they can. Good for self esteem and development of independence. • Resist the urge to jump in.... Sort out minor and even major squabbles themselves. • Encourage wider friendships (remember junior infants!) Invite them over. Get them involved in extra curricular. • Get to know the new friends and their parents. • Talk to them about your own standards of smoking/drinking/ drugs. Be very aware of where they are and who they are with. • Use the teachers and school as support if you need to.

12. From childhood to adolesence • Pressures of society • Making her own decisions • Peer group becomes main source of influence • Exploring and setting values ... Can be very unforgiving about parents apparent lack of consistency! • Risk assessment very weak. Has effect on their participation in risky situations. (Not fully developed until about 21)

13. HOW STUDENTS REACT • Anxious, sleepless nights, perhaps tears. • Brash and opinionated, anxious to make their mark in this new peer group. • Become protective and sensitive to the needs of others. • Also a time of massive potential if channelled in right way! • Most will enjoy this exciting new experience.

14. How to support this transition • Parents walk a tightrope .... Have to allow independence and privacy while also keeping control and a watchful eye. • Be prepared for clashes, and it will be easier if you can calmly explain. • Be firm, but do allow new freedoms each year to be EARNED! • Be united .... Arguments and inconsistency can cause relationship stress between parents.

15. How to support this transition • Important to learn lessons about earning money / earning privileges. • Make sure that not all conversations are confrontational ... Find shared interests. • Be available and constantly let them know you are there to talk and discuss things. • Help them to recognise consequences ... Don’t always jump in to defend them if they do get into trouble. • Make friends with their friends and parents. • Remember, even the most stormy parent/teenage relationships won’t last forever!

16. ATTENDANCE • Pupils must have regular attendance. If you know that your daughter will not be coming into school, please telephone the school immediately and give explanation for her absence. • If a student misses 20 days in a school year the school is obliged to contact the Education Welfare Officer. • If your daughter is not marked present, and we have not be notified, an automatic phone call will be made, asking you to explain the absence.

17. Holidays should not be arranged during the school year. • Students should be punctual and if late a note of explanation should be written in the school journal. • Students may not leave the school during the day without a note from their parent/guardian and the permission of the Tutor.

18. UNIFORM • Students are expected to wear the appointed uniform to and from school and during school hours. • Neat and tidy appearance is expected at all times.One set of earring per lobe, no make-up, no nail varnish, no jewellery, no T-Shirts should be on show.

19. PROPERTY • All books, clothing and sportswear should be clearly marked. • When not in use articles should be locked in the locker. • Large sums of money and valuables should not be brought to school. Any exceptions to this should be locked in the locker or handed into the office.

20. SCHOOL WORK • Students are expected to participate fully in class and to submit completed homework on time. • The students main objective should be to reach the highest possible academic achievement. • Check the journal to see what homework has been given.

21. BEHAVIOUR • School is a community and all must act together to make it work successfully. • To further this all members of the school community should be treated with courtesy and respect. • Smoking is not permitted on the school premises or at any time while in school uniform. Any pupil under the influence of or in possession of alcohol or drugs will merit immediate suspension.

22. Persistent offences may be punished by detention. • Other offences may be dealt with by the tutor and dean.

23. MOBILE PHONES • These may only be used at lunch time and then only in the designated areas. • The phone should be used for essential calls and should be locked in the locker. • Failure to observe these guidelines will result in the confiscation of the phone for one week. • Mobile phones may not be used for taking photographs.

24. ILLNESS If the student is ill while in the school the following procedure is to be followed: • The student informs the class teacher • The student is then sent to the office and from there to sick-bay. • The supervisors will assess the condition of the student and if necessary will contact you to take your daughter home. • The student is not to contact you directly. This will be done by the supervisor.

25. PARTICIPATION • Orchestra • Science Club/Club na Gaelige • Charity work such as Respect etc. • Debating(after Christmas) • Sports activities • Student Forum • Speak aloud • Library Assistants

26. SPORTS ACTIVITIES FOR 1ST YEARS Rowing Gymnastics Badminton Cross Country running Basketball Athletics Hockey

27. FINAL HINTS • Use the school journal • If there are problems contact the Teacher, Tutor or Dean. • Information may be found on the School website where there is a parents section • Encourage your daughter to get involved in as many school activities as possible.