SUBJECT CHOICE INFORMATION

FOR PARENTS & GUARDIANS

OF FIRST YEAR STUDENTS

OCTOBER 2013

Dear Parent/Guardian,

We hope your son/daughter is settling well into the new routine of second level education. The early weeks are full of new experiences and opportunity as well as uncertainty at times. We look forward to working with you through your child’s time with us and do make contact if you have any concerns.

As we draw to the close of the subject sampling module it is decision- making time and in this information booklet we aim to outline the subjects on offer and to clarify the subject choice process that will follow in the coming weeks.

We ask that you read the following information and discuss in detail with your son/daughter so that they make a choice that is the “best fit” for them in terms of their interests, abilities, learning style and indeed future options.

The students will receive a presentation and question and answer session with the school guidance counsellors on Monday 14th October. We will distribute the subject choice form at this information session and the completed form is due back on Monday 21st October.Please note the guidelines on completing the form at the rear of this booklet.New subject timetable will begin on Monday 4th November.

If you have any questions or queries please contact us at the school.

Yours faithfully,

Mrs M Loughnane Mr B Hensey Ms P White, Ms T Cusack , Principal Deputy Principal Guidance Counsellors

•Promotes:

Decision-making Self-Awareness

Interpersonal communication skills The ability to plan

Personal and social skills

Problem solving

Assists students with decision-making in:

Educational and Training choices

Job search skills

Employment opportunities

Interview skills

Work and life

Decision-making in relation to:

Course, Subject &Level in 2nd level

Study Skills

Exam Technique

Student

EducationalCareers

Personal

ROLE OF THE GUIDANCE COUNSELLOR

TIME MANAGEMENT

Finding the right balance between:

Homework

and

Extra Curricular activities.

The importance of both of these cannot be over emphasised.

HOMEWORK

It is expected that first year students do a minimum of

1 ½ hours per night.It is important that Parents/Guardians check the journal regularly to ensure homework is completed.

The journal is also used as a means of communication. Teachers may put notes in here for you to read and you can do the same if you wish to send a note to a teacher.

The journal must be signed at the end of every week. Please have a look at our Homework Policy in your son/daughter’s journal.

EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

Getting involved in extra curricular activities is very important and there are a variety of opportunities open to students at St. Brendan’s.

Taking part builds friendships, social skills, team-work and

self- confidence therefore helping the student to reach their potential on many levels.

Encourage your child to try out new sports and activities outside class time.

CORE SUBJECTS:

Irish

English

Maths

History

Geography

Religious Education

Science

C.S.P.E ( Civic Social &Political Education)

S.P.H.E ( Social Personal & Health Education)

CHOICE SUBJECTSArt

Business Studies

French

German

Home Economics

Materials Technology (Wood)

Metalwork

Music

Technical Graphics

Study Skills**

ART, CRAFT, DESIGN.•Learn a variety of new crafts.

•Learn to work in 3-D e.g. sculpture or clay work.

•Learn about the design process and how to use it to create new design object and images.

In Art, Craft, Design, you will be examined in two ways:

1. Course-work -in third year, you will do a school-based project, chosen from a list of themes. You will research your theme, do preparatory work and complete a painting or graphic design, a craft piece, and a 3-D piece.

2. An examination in which you will draw an object and a person

There are many career opportunities in Art including:

Photography, Illustration, Interior/industrial/fashion design, Education, Architecture.

Business StudiesSome of the things you will learn:

• what your rights and responsibilities are as a consumer

• how to calculate your wages when you start working

• about why our membership of the European Union is so important to our economy.

Some activities you may carry out with your teacher and classmates:

Form a club in class to learn what it is like to be a club member Prepare advertisements for different events to learn more

about sales promotions Practise recording transactions Keep records of your pocket money •learn about the benefits of saving Take part in a mini-company enterprise as part of an out-of-class activity.

You will learn about the world of work which will introduce you to many possible careers such as; accountancy, finance, sales, marketing, and management. It also gives you a good foundation for the two Leaving Certificate business subjects Accounting and Business

HOME ECONOMICS

Your body –what is good to eat and how to keep healthyfood- how it nourishes your body, how to choose it, store it, and howto prepare and cook it

Using money – how to spend it wisely, how to save it and how you are protected as a consumer

Your home – about design in the home, about safety and hygiene Design and craftwork, child development, textiles- you will carry out a

project in one of these areas.

In Junior Certificate Home Economics you will be examined in 3 ways:

• coursework -with help of your teacher, you will choose a project from one of the following areas: Child Development, Design and Craftwork or Textiles Skills

• a practical cookery exam – you will have a one and a half hour practical cookery exam which involves preparing and cooking food

• a written examination

LANGUAGES

• how to speak in the language about yourself, yourfamily and friends, your hobbies, your school, etc. Thiswill help you to talk to people who speak the language• the skills of listening to, reading and writing in thelanguage• the grammar of the language• information about the countries wherepeople speak the language, and their way of life.

We offer 2 Modern European Languages

French & GermanHowever only ONE may be chosen

In studying a language you learn to:

Languages are key skills and can open opportunities across all career areas:

Business/ Management

Education

Tourism

Journalism

International Marketing

European Studies

Translation

Cultural Studies

and many more!

MATERIALS TECHNOLOGY: WOOD(MTW)

In MTW students will learn:

•To design small projects; and the skills required to use tools and equipment to make their designs.

•Students will work mainly with wood but also with other materials.

•Students will learn about wood as a material and how it is produced.

•This leads on to Construction Studies at Leaving Cert level.

•There are two parts to the exam:

Coursework – you will design a project based on a given design brief (instructions). You will then make the project and prepare a project folder to accompany it (66%).

Written examination– there will be a two hour written paper which examines the woodwork theory you have learned over the three years(33%).

METAL WORK• Work with metals and other materials such as wood and plastic.

• Assemble these materials into useful and interesting items.

• Learn how to apply a finish to your project.

• There are two (or three) parts to the exam:

• Course work project- there is a project worth 37.5% at Higher level or 75% at Ordinary level. You will have approximately four months to make it.

• Written examination-the written paper is based on metalwork theory and makes up

25% for both levels

• Practical exam (Higher level only)-this is worth 37.5% of the total marks

for Higher level. This involves making and assembling parts from a

given drawing and you will have three hours to do this.

• Careers: Construction, Engineering, Electronics, Design, Trades and many more

MUSICSome of the things you may do with your teacher and classmates are:

•sing and play different instruments

•listen to music and discusswhat you hear

•use technology and watch music-related DVDs

•use a textbook and workbook

•read music,write tunes

•do music-related projects.

In Music you will be examined in 2 ways:

•A practical exam - you can sing or play an instrument for

this exam - on your own or as part of a group

•A combined aural and written exam in

composing and listening to music.

• Can be studied on its own or to complement another Technical Subject such

as MTW.

• In Technical Graphics students will learn how to represent 3-D objects on

paper and on computer.

• Students will develop problem solving and creative thinking skills through

the solution of graphical problems

• Technical Graphics builds on skills learned in mathematics for example: 2-D

and 3-D shapes, lines and angles.

• This leads on to Design and Communication Graphics DCG at Leaving Cert

level.

TECHNICAL GRAPHICS

NOTE ON Cross-curricular links:

Some topics in Metalwork overlap with Materials Technology Wood.

Many of the practical skills learned in Metalwork are similar to those learned in MT Wood.

Technical Graphics will help you to understand drawings and diagrams that you will be using in Metalwork.

You will also find some of the same topics coming up in Science and Geography.

**STUDY SKILLS:

•Is an option for students who may find it difficult in taking on 3 choice subjects.

•During Study Skills class the focus is on support for Maths and English and other core subjects .

•It is on the same band as the Languages and so it is not possible to take a Language and Study Skills.

THE THIRD LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT:

The National University of Ireland (NUI) require that students have a third language (English & Irish being the first two) to gain entry into that college.

There are exceptions to this rule in relation to Science, Engineering and Agricultural Science courses.

Other colleges do not go by this rule, however, if a language is part of your chosen degree then that language will be a requirement to gain entry to that course.

It is best to explain using an example such as the following:

Trinity College Dublin does not require a third language, however, if you choose to study French and Law you must have taken French for your Leaving Cert.

COLLEGES THAT REQUIRE A THIRD LANGUAGE

(MODERN EUROPEAN LANGUAGE)

• NUI Maynooth (NUIM)

• NUI Galway (NUIG)

• University College Cork (UCC)

• University College Dublin (UCD)

• Royal College of Surgeons, Ireland (RCSI)

• St. Angela’s College, Sligo

• National College of Art & Design (NCAD)

• Shannon College of Hotel & Catering

• Cadets & Defence Forces

EXCEPTIONS TO THE THIRD LANGUAGE RULE:

• Engineering, Science & Agricultural courses at UCD.

• Engineering and Science courses at NUI Maynooth. NUI Galway

and UCC.

• University of Limerick (UL): English & another language.

• Dublin City University (DCU) ; English & another language.

• Trinity College Dublin (TCD) accepts a “language other than

English” e.g. Irish.

• Institutes of Technology accept English or Irish for entry purposes.

COLLEGES THAT DO NOTREQUIRE A THIRD LANGUAGE

You do not have to have a third language to gain entry to the following colleges:

University of Limerick (UL)

Dublin City University (DCU)

Trinity College Dublin (TCD)

Any of the Institutes of Technology (e.g. Athlone IT, Dublin IT, Limerick IT, etc.)

FOCUS ON POTENTIALWe encourage students to work to achieve their full potential from the beginning as this work lays a solid foundation for Junior Certificate and on to Senior Cycle and the Leaving Certificate examination.

Teachers and parents encourage students to work towards achieving their full potential and to aim towards the highest level possible in each subject.

The current bonus of 25 extra points for students who take Higher Level Mathematics at Leaving Cert reinforces the importance of staying focused from 1st year.

Leaving Certificate Points

HOW DO YOU CHOOSE?

Research

Discuss

Reflect

Supports

RESEARCH

Subject Websites:

• www.ncca.ie – Fact Sheets on each subject

• http://www.ncca.ie/en/Curriculum_and_Assessment/Post-Primary_Education/Junior_Cycle/Fact_sheets/

• www.curriculumonline.ie• www.examinations.ie• www.scoilnet.ie• www.education.ie •

Career Websites: • www.qualifax.ie• www.careersportal.ie • www.careersdirections.i

e

Junior Certificate Textbooks

RESEARCH

Interests – choose subjects you likeIt is very difficult to learn without having a genuine interest in the topics.

Learning Style – Ask “what type of learner am I?”

Take a test online:

http://www.educationplanner.org/students/self-assessments/learning-styles-quiz.shtml

DISCUSS

Discuss your thoughts with:

•Subject Teachers

•Parents/Guardians, Older Brothers & Sisters

•Guidance Counsellors – Ms White Ms Cusack

•Older Students

REFLECT

Think about your interests and how you learn.

Ask yourself the following questions:

•Do I like this subject?

•Am I good at it?

•How have I performed up to now?

•Is there a chance I might need it for further study/career?

•Am I keeping my options open?

SUPPORTS• Partnership between home and school is vital

• An open honest dialogue with the school is essential

• If there are any difficulties let us know:

• Senior Management• Year Heads

• Guidance Counsellor• Tutor

COMPLETING THE SUBJECT CHOICE FORM: ORDER OF PREFERENCE

• Your son/daughter must list their subject choices in order of preference.

• The one they would like to do the most must be put down as

Number 1.

• 4 subjects are chosen from the list and each student will be assigned to 3 of those subjects.

• Students have the option to tick a box to indicate wether or not they are flexible around their 3rd/4th preference. If students are flexible it is important that they tick this box to ensure that we can accommodate all students to the best of our ability.

• Please Note: Only one Language French or German may be chosen

JUNIOR CYCLE OPTIONAL SUBJECTS

ART, CRAFT AND DESIGN METALWORK

BUSINESS STUDIES MUSIC

FRENCH STUDY SKILLS

GERMAN TECHNICAL GRAPHICS

HOME ECONOMICS MATERIALS TECHNOLOGY (WOOD)

PLEASE SELECT, IN ORDER OF YOUR PREFERENCE, THE OPTIONAL SUBJECTS WHICH YOU WISH TO STUDY FOR THE JUNIOR CERT. EACH STUDENT SHOULD INDICATE 4 SUBJECTS, FROM WHICH THEY WILL BE ALLOCATED 3. EVERY EFFORT WILL BE MADE TO ACCOMODATE STUDENTS, THOUGH NO PARTICULAR COMBINATION OF SUBJECTS CAN BE GUARANTEED.

 

STUDENT’S NAME: _______________________________________

CLASS: _______ TUTOR: ________________________________

 

1ST CHOICE: ____________________________________________

2ND CHOICE: ____________________________________________

3RD CHOICE: ____________________________________________

4TH CHOICE: ____________________________________________

 

IF YOUR 3RD AND 4TH CHOICES ARE EQUALLY ACCEPTABLE TO YOU, PLEASE INDICATE BY TICKING HERE ________ 

STUDENT SIGNATURE: ____________________________________

PARENT/GUARDIAN SIGNATURE: _______________________________

 

OUR SCHOOL WEBSITE

While every care has been taken to ensure all details in this booklet are correct, at time of print, please refer to the relevant websites for updated information.

Ms. P White. Ms. T Cusack, Guidance Counsellors.

www.stbrendanscsbirr.ie