SUBJECT CHOICE FOR SECOND YEAR INFORMATION NIGHT TUESDAY FEB 7th 2017 DEIRDRE GRIFFIN GUIDANCE COUNSELLOR

PURPOSE OF TALK GIVE A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF EXAMS AT SECOND LEVEL TO GIVE A BRIEF OUTLINE OF EACH OPTIONAL SUBJECT FOR JUNIOR CYCLE. TO EXPLORE THE IMPACT OF JUNIOR CYCLE SUBJECT CHOICE UPON FUTURE CHOICES AT SENIOR CYCLE. TO EXPLORE THE IMPACT OF SUBJECT LEVEL ON FUTURE ATTAINMENT. TO EXPLAIN THE PROCESS OF SUBJECT CHOICE FOR JUNIOR CYCLE IN KCS 4/14/2018

OVERVIEW OF SECOND LEVEL JUNIOR CERT (TRANSITIONAL PERIOD) THE FOUNDATION ON WHICH SENIOR CYCLE IS BUILT 11 SUBJECTS EXAMINED – BROAD STUDY SCIENCE, BUSINESS,(REVISED COURSE) ARE TAUGHT AND EXAMINED AT ‘COMMON LEVEL’ ENGLISH (REVISED COURSE) TAUGHT AT COMMON LEVEL (CHOSE H/O PAPER) IRISH – HIGHER/ORDINARY/FOUNDATION MATHS AT HIGHER/ORDINARY LEVEL ALL OTHER SUBJECTS AT HIGHER OR ORDINARY LEVEL 4/14/2018

MARKING SYSTEM FOR JUNIOR CERT EXAMINATION GRADES Percentage Range Grade 85 or over A 70 but less than 85 B 55 but less than 70 C 40 but less than 55 D 25 but less than 40 E 10 but less than 25 F Less than 10 No Grade 4/14/2018

ROUTES TO LEAVING CERTIFICATE Applied LCA1 LCA2 1 Yr 2 Yr 3 Yr 4 Yr LC1 LC2 Established 4/14/2018

SENIOR CYCLE (LCA, LCE) LEAVING CERT EST. 7 SUBJECTS STUDIED/EXAMINED MORE INDEPTH STUDY IRISH AND MATHS AT HIGHER, ORDINARY, FOUNDATION LEVEL ALL OTHER SUBJECTS HIGHER OR ORDINARY LEVEL 6 BEST RESULTS ADDED FOR POINTS FOR ENTRY TO THIRD LEVEL SPECIFIC COURSE ENTRY REQUIREMENTS PLUS POINTS = ENTRY IN TO COURSE 4/14/2018

CHANGES TO THE LC GRADING SYSTEM Higher Level % Grade Ordinary Level % Grade H1 (90-100) O1 (90-100) H2 (80 < 90) O2 (80 < 90) H3 (70 < 80) O3 (70 < 80) H4 (60 < 70) O4 (60 < 70) H5 (50 < 60) O5 (50 < 60) H6 (40 < 50) O6 (40 < 50) H7 (30 < 40) O7 (30 < 40) H8 (0 < 30) O8 (0 < 30)

NEW COMMON POINTS SCALE Higher Level Grade Points Ordinary Level Grade H1 100 H2 88 H3 77 H4 66 H5 56 O1 H6 46 O2 H7 37 O3 H8 O4 28 O5 20 O6 12 O7 O8 IMPORTANT CHANGE GRADE H7 (HONS 30%- 40%) WILL EARN POINTS IN NEW SYSTEM HONOURS MATHS 25 BONUS POINTS WILL CONTINUE BE AWARDED IN 2017 FOR HIGHER LEVEL MATHEMATICS, AT GRADES H6 AND ABOVE ________________

IS THE JUNIOR CERT IMPORTANT? YES! BECAUSE…. OFFERS STUDENTS BROAD PLATFORM FROM WHICH TO CHOOSE FOR SENIOR CYCLE INLUENCES CHOICE OF PROGRAMME (LCA OR LEAVING CERT ESTABLISHED ) INFLUENCES SUBJECT CHOICES FOR LEAVING CERT INFLUENCES SUBJECT LEVELS FOR LEAVING CERT 4/14/2018

CORE SUBJECTS IN KCS FOR JC ENGLISH (REVISED COURSE) IRISH (unless DES exempt) MATHS EUROPEAN LANGUAGE: FRENCH/GERMAN (unless DES exempt) HISTORY GEOGRAPHY RELIGION SCIENCE C.S.P.E. P.E. S.P.H.E. 4/14/2018

SUBJECT LEVELS AND CLASSES AT KCS IRISH, AND MATHS ARE DIVIDED NEXT YEAR INTO HIGHER LEVEL (HL) AND ORDINARY LEVEL (OL) CLASSES ENGLISH NOT DIVIDED FRENCH/GERMAN ALSO DIVIDED INTO LEVELS ALL OTHER SUBJECTS ARE TAUGHT IN MIXED-ABILITY CLASSES STUDENTS TO STUDY SUBJECTS AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL THAT THEY CAN 4/14/2018

SCIENCE IN JUNIOR CERT (REVISED) CLASS BASED ASSESSMENTS (PROJECT IN Y2) WRITTEN EXAM (COMMON LEVEL) JUNIOR CERT SCIENCE SUBJECTS FOR LEAVING CERT BIOLOGY CHEMISTRY PHYSICS AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE 4/14/2018

SCIENCES AND UNIVERSITY/IOT COURSE ENTRY ONE LAB SCIENCE COURSE NEEDED FOR ENTRY INTO MOST SCIENCE AND HEALTH RELATED COURSES SCIENCE ESSENTIAL FOR THE FOLLOWING SCIENCE RELATED DEGREES ENGINEERING (UNI) MEDICINE OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY SPORTS SCIENCE SPEECH THERAPY GENETICS DIETETICS OPTOMETRY NURSING DENTISTRY VETERINARY PHARMACY PHYSIOTHERAPY RADIOGRAPHY BEAUTY THERAPY POST LEAVING CERT COLLEGE COURSES – BASIC SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE FOR COURSES LIKE, PHARMACY ASSISTANT, VETERINARY NURSING, ANIMAL CARE, MOTOR MECHANICS, FOOD SCIENCE, SPORTS COURSES,NUTRITION, HEALTH, SPORTS INJURY ETC 4/14/2018

OPTIONAL SUBJECTS AT KCS TWO SUBJECTS FROM LIST BELOW TO BE STUDIED BUSINESS STUDIES* IT (CODING/ DIGITAL MEDIA LITERACY)* TECHNICAL GRAPHICS WOODWORK METALWORK MUSIC ART HOME ECONOMICS WHEN FILLING OUT OPTIONS FORM, LIST THREE SUBJECTS IN ORDER OF PREFERENCE & WE WILL ENDEAVOUR TO ALLOW YOU TO STUDY 2 OF THE SUBJECTS YOU HAVE CHOSEN. 4/14/2018

BUSINESS STUDIES IN JUNIOR CERT (REVISED) COMMON PAPER EXAM 90%/CLASS BASED ASSESSMENTS 10% AT JUNIOR CERT THIS SUBJECT PERSONAL FINANCE – (BASIC ACCOUNTING, LEARN HOW TO COLLECT/ORGANISE/RECORD DATA ENTERPRISE – UNDERSTANDING OF THE FINANCIAL, MARKETING AND OPERATIONAL FUNCTIONS OF AN ORGANISATION, RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES IN THE WORKPLACE OUR ECONOMY – UNDERSTANDING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LOCAL, NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ECONOMICS, UNDERSTSANDING OF BASIC ECONOMIC CONCEPTS AS THEY RELATE TO PERSONAL FINANCE, ENTERPRISE AND THE IRISH ECONOMY 4/14/2018

SUBJECTS FOR LEAVING CERT JUNIOR CERT BUSINESS SUBJECTS FOR LEAVING CERT ACCOUNTING BUSINESS ECONOMICS 4/14/2018

BUSINESS OPTIONS AT LEAVING CERT 1) ACCOUNTING JUNIOR CERT BUSINESS AN ADVANTAGE. NEEDS TO HAVE AN APTITUDE FOR MATHS. USEFUL FOR ALL BUSINESS CAREERS. 2) BUSINESS JUNIOR CERT AN ADVANTAGE. INVOLVES LEARNING ABOUT GENERAL BUSINESS /ECONOMICS PRINCIPLES. USEFUL FOR ALL GENERAL BUSINESS CAREERS. 4/14/2018

TECHNICAL GRAPHICS FOR JUNIOR CERT HL 3HR PAPER/OL 2.5 HR PAPER AT JC LEVEL THIS SUBJECT INVOLVES LEARNING HOW TO PRODUCE DRAWINGS USING COMPUTERS (CAD), CREATE 3D MODELS, LEARN HOW TO READ AND INTERPRET DRAWINGS AND DIAGRAMS, LEARN HOW GRAPHICS RELATE TO THE DESIGN AND MANUFACTURE OF PRODUCTS APTITUDE NEEDED FOR LC, TECH GRAPHICS BECOMES DESIGN & COMMUNICATION GRAPHICS WITH 60% FOR A 3 HR EXAM AND 40% FOR A CAD PROJECT COMPLETED BY FEB OF Y6. GOOD FOR CONSTRUCTION, GRAPHIC DESIGN, ARCHITECTURE, GENERAL DESIGN AND ENGINEERING CAREERS, ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN ETC 4/14/2018

WOODWORK FOR JC 60% FOR PROJECT & 40% FOR WRITTEN PAPER (H/O 2HR PAPER) IN WOODWORK STUDENTS LEARN THE SKILLS REQUIRED TO USE TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT TO DESIGN AND PRODUCE WOOD PRODUCTS. STUDENTS ALSO LEARN ABOUT WOOD AS A MATERIAL AND HOW IT IS PRODUCED. PRACTICAL APTITUDE IS NEEDED. FOR LC (CONSTRUCTION STUDIES) IT IS A BIG ADVANTAGE TO HAVE IT STUDIED TO JC LEVEL. AT LC 25% GIVEN FOR A PROJECT, 25% GIVEN FOR A 4 HR PRACTICAL, AND 50% GIVEN FOR AN EXAM COMPRISING OF WRITING AND DRAWING. USEFUL FOR CAREERS IN CARPENTRY, ENGINEERING, QUANTITY SURVEYING, CONSTRUCTION, AND TRADES. 4/14/2018

METALWORK FOR JC 25% GIVEN FOR WRITTEN EXAM (OL 1. 5 HR, HL 2HR) 37 METALWORK FOR JC 25% GIVEN FOR WRITTEN EXAM (OL 1.5 HR, HL 2HR) 37.5% FOR PROJECT, 37.5% FOR 3 HOUR PRACTICAL IN THIS SUBJECT AT JC LEVEL STUDENTS LEARN HOW TO USE A WIDE VARIETY OF TOOLS AND MACHINES TO SHAPE, CUT AND JOIN METAL MATERIALS. THEY LEARN HOW TO READ AND FOLLOW TECHNICAL DRAWINGS CORRECTLY WHILE ALSO LEARNING ABOUT THE PROPERTIES OF DIFFERENT METALS. APTITUDE IS NEEDED. AT LC METALWORK IS KNOWN AS ENGINEERING AND IT IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED TO HAVE COMPLETED JC METALWORK. AT LC 50% GIVEN FOR WRITTEN EXAM, 25 % FOR THE PROJECT, 25% FOR 6 HR PRACTICAL. USEFUL FOR CAREERS IN ENGINEERING, MECHANICS, APPRENTICESHIPS, INDUSTRIAL DESIGN AND ALL TECHNOLOGY RELATED CAREERS. 4/14/2018

MUSIC FOR JC 75% FOR WRITTEN PAPER (OL & HL 2HR) 25% FOR THE PRACTICAL (SING/PLAY 4 PIECES) APTITUDE IS NEEDED INCLUDING THE ABILITY TO LEARN TO READ MUSIC. NEED TO BE INTERESTED. FOR LC IT IS NECESSARY TO HAVE JC MUSIC STANDARD. FOR LC 50% GIVEN FOR PRACTICAL (PLAY 4 PLUS 4 TWO DIFFERENT INSTRUMENTS (MUSIC TECHNOLOGY/MUSIC) OR 6 PIECES ON ONE INSTRUMENT) AND 50% FOR WRITTEN. USEFUL FOR CAREERS IN ENTERTAINMENT, PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHING, MULTIMEDIA, ORCHESTRA ETC. 4/14/2018

ART FOR JC NO WRITTEN EXAM BUT A DRAWING EXAM IN EARLY MAY GETS 25% AND PRACTICAL PROJECT (8 PIECES) GETS 75% AT JC LEVEL STUDENTS WILL LEARN A VARIETY OF NEW CRAFTS INCLUDING LEARNING TO WORK IN 3- D E.G. SCULPTURE OR CLAY WORK. ALSO SOME ART HISTORY. AN APTITUDE IS NEEDED – IMPORTANT NOT TAKEN AS AN ‘EASY’ SUBJECT. AT LC LEVEL IT IS ADVANTAGEOUS TO HAVE ART TO JC AND IS A DEMANDING LC SUBJECT. AT LC LEVEL 38% GIVEN FOR WRITTEN PAPER (ART HISTORY) AND 62% GIVEN FOR 3 PRACTICAL EXAMS ON STILL LIFE, CRAFTWORK AND LIFE DRAWING. USEFUL FOR FASHION, ADVERTISING, MEDIA, ARCHITECTURE, AND DESIGN CAREERS. 4/14/2018

HOME ECONOMICS FOR JC 15% GIVEN FOR A CRAFT PROJECT, 35% FOR PRACTICAL COOKERY AND 50% FOR WRITTEN EXAM AT JC LEVEL STUDENTS LEARN ABOUT BIOLOGY, HEALTH AND NUTRITION, FOOD PREPERATION AND COOKERY, MANAGING MONEY AND HOME AND CONSUMER RIGHTS. THEY WILL CARRY OUT A PROJECT IN ONE OF THE FOLLOWING -DESIGN AND CRAFTWORK, CHILD DEVELOPMENT, TEXTILES BE AWARE OF GENDER BIAS AS HOME ECONOMICS IS A USEFUL AND PRACTICAL SUBJECT. FOR LC IT IS AN ADVANTAGE TO HAVE JC HOME ECONOMICS COMPLETED. AT LC 20% GIVEN FOR PRACTICAL COOKERY AND 80% FOR WRITTEN EXAM. SHOULD BE INTERESTED IN HOME MANAGEMENT, COOKING AND CRAFTS, BIOLOGY, SOCIOLOGY USEFUL FOR CAREERS IN CULINARY ARTS, TOURIST INDUSTRY, CHILDCARE, SOCIAL SCIENCES. FASHION AND SOCIAL CARE/WORK CAREERS. 4/14/2018

IT- CODING/ DIGITAL MEDIA LITERACY 2 ‘SHORT COURSES’ IS THE EQUIVALENT TO 1 ‘SUBJECT’ 2 DOUBLES PER WEEK (SAME TIME AS OTHER OPTIONS) SAME TEACHER TEACHES BOTH DOUBLES ROUTE TO COMPUTER SCIENCE AS A LC SUBJECT MUST HAVE AN INTEREST IN/ APTITUDE FOR IT 1 CLASS ONLY- MAX 30 PUPILS (RANDOM SELECTION IF OVERSUBSCRIBED) NO TERMINAL ASSESSMENT, CONTINUOUS ONLY RESULT WILL APPEAR ON THE JC ‘PROFILE OF ACHIEVEMENT’ 4/14/2018

CODING AT THE NEXT LEVEL – MORE COMPLEX CODING DIGITAL MEDIA LITERCY COMPUTER SCIENCE INTRO – UNDERSTANDING OF HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE… LEARNING TO WRITE, TEST AND EVALUATE CODE GETTING CONNECTED – STORAGE AND MANIPULATION OF DATA,, IDENTIFY, RESEARCH AND PRESENT PROJECT CODING AT THE NEXT LEVEL – MORE COMPLEX CODING DIGITAL MEDIA LITERCY MY DIGITAL WORLD – ETHICAL, LEGAL ISSUES AROUND USING DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES FOLLOWING MY INTERESTS ONLINE – HOW DIGITAL TEXTS ARE PUBLISHED, DIGITAL IMAGERY CHECKING THE FACTS – HOW THE CHOICE OF DIGITAL MEDIA USED INFLUENCES CONSUMERS PUBLISHING MYSELF – ONLINE RISKS AND RIGHTS, LEARNING STANDARDS AND PROTOCOLS OF ONLINE SHARING OF MATERIAL 4/14/2018

FACTORS INFLUENCING SUBJECT CHOICE CHOOSE SUBJECTS FOR WHICH THEY HAVE A NATURAL APTITUDE CHOOSE SUBJECTS THEY CAN STUDY BEST CHOOSE SUBJECTS THEY ENJOY MOST KEEP OPTIONS OPEN – AN AWARENESS OF FUTURE OPTIONS AVOID GENDER BIAS OR STEREOTYPES. BE AWARE OF OTHER / PEER INFLUENCES. ULTIMATE AIM IS TO ENSURE STUDENTS ARE HAPPY, SUCCEED AND REACH THEIR ACADEMIC POTENTIAL 4/14/2018

SOME MORE HELP WITH SUBJECT CHOICE LOOK AT SUBJECT DESCRIPTIONS ON NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR CURRICULUM AND ASSESSMENT WEBSITE www.ncca.ie MAY BE USEFUL TO LOOK AT CHOICE SUBJECTS EXAM PAPERS - CAN BE ACCESSED AT www.examinations.ie FOR MORE IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTIONS OF SUBJECTS AT BOTH JC AND LC LOOK AT www.curriculumonline.ie VERY USEFUL WEBSITE CONTAINING INFORMATION ON SUBJECT CHOICE, CAO COURSES ETC. www.careerportal.ie SPEAK TO SUBJECT TEACHERS 4/14/2018

WHAT HAPPENS NOW STUDENTS AND PARENTS INDICATE THEIR PREFERENCES BY Mon 13th FEB – FORM HANDED TO OFFICE OF DEPUTY PRINCIPAL - MS. K O’ BRIEN BLOCKS OF SUBJECTS ARE ORGANISED INTO GROUPS. THE SCHOOL TRIES TO ENSURE AS MANY STUDENTS GET THEIR TOP TWO PREFERENCES. ONCE FINALISED SUBJECTS PRESENTED TO STUDENTS IN MARCH/APRIL 4/14/2018

CHOICE AND CHANGES IF CAREFUL CONSIDERATION GIVEN NOW THEN CHANGE IS LESS LIKELY. IF A STUDENT OR PARENT HAS QUESTIONS PLEASE ASK THE RELEVANT SUBJECT TEACHERS. (MR. JOHN CORCORAN FOR IT SHORT COURSE AT info@kinsalecommunityschool.ie CONTACT GUIDANCE COUNSELLORS AT info@kinsalecommunityschool.ie OR deirdreguidance@gmail.com mrosullivanf@gmail.com CHANGE IS ALLOWED (END OF SEPT) PROVIDED THERE IS SPACE IN CLASSES (NUMBERS ARE LIMITED IN PRACTICAL CLASSES OWING TO HEALTH & SAFETY) AND THE TEACHER IS SATISFIED OF STUDENT SUITABILITY 4/14/2018