1. OUR LADY’S SECONDARY SCHOOL FIRST YEAR PARENTS & GUARDIANSTO
OUR LADY’S SECONDARY SCHOOL
FIRST YEAR PARENTS & GUARDIANS
Adolescence
and the Transition from
Primary to Secondary School

2. RELATIONSHIPS
SCHOOL BAG
FACEBOOK
X-BOX
PHONE
TEXT MESSAGES
HISTORY
SCIENCE
FRENCH
WHY?
WHY ?
NO-ONE UNDERSTANDS ME
MY VOICE IS BREAKING
FAMILY

3. THE CHANGE SCHOOL AND EDUCATION RELATIONSHIPS AND FRIENDSHIPS
CHILDHOOD TO ADOLESCENCE

4. SCHOOL AND EDUCATION
The school building can be much bigger than their prmary school
They can have up to 9 different teachers in one day
Different teachers means different teaching styles
New subjects
New timetable
Changing classroom for each subject
Homework management. Some homework may not be due in for a few days

5. RELATIONSHIPS & FRIENDSHIPS
They are no longer the Senior Students
They are now the Junior Students
They may have left friends behind in primary school
They may know very few people when they start secondary school
Secondary school can be a noisy, busy place.
They may feel like a stranger in a strange place

6. Childhood to Adolescence
Adolescence is about learning new ways of relating to people
It is about becoming emotionally independent
It is about change

7. The 5 main areas of change
Physical:
Your child is growing and developing into a young adult. This can be a difficult time for them
Social:
The family may be no longer their social centre. Friends and peers become important
Sexual:
Adolescence can be a difficult time as your child becomes aware of their sexuality

8. Contd.... Vocational: Moral:
Adolescence is a time for searching for and identifying possible careers
Moral:
Teenagers question the things they are taught. They are not always doing this just to be a rebel. This questioning helps them find their own identity and independence. Their questions are often genuine questions they have for themselves

9. Something to think about !
THIS IS NEW TO THEM

10. DO HELP YOUR CHILD TO FEEL LOVED, CAPABLE AND RESPONSIBLE
DO TREAT YOUR CHILD AS AN INDIVIDUAL. DON’T COMPARE THEM TO OTHER CHILDREN
DO HELP YOUR CHILD TO FEEL LOVED, CAPABLE AND RESPONSIBLE
ADOLESCENT SELF ESTEEM IS SENSITIVE. THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH THEIR PARENTS AND GUARDIANS IS VERY IMPORTANT AND CAN AFFECT THEIR SELF-ESTEEM

11. DO PLACE BOUNDARIES FOR YOUR CHILD
DO ENCOURAGE YOUR CHILD TO GET INVOLVED IN SCHOOL LIFE
DO ENCOURAGE A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP. SLEEP AND REST ARE IMPORTANT

12. SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT...
“What I need most is to feel loved and valued, no matter how foolish I may seem. I need someone who believes in me because I do not always believe in myself ”
By Virginia Satir

13. SUBJECT CHOICE FOR JUNIOR CYCLE AT OUR LADY’S

14. What subjects does my child study?
ALL STUDENTS STUDY:
What subjects does my child study?

15. All Students Study: TWO OPTION SUBJECTS (BUT WHICH TWO?) MATHS ENGLISH
IRISH
HISTORY
GEOGRAPHY
SCIENCE
A LANGUAGE - FRENCH OR GERMAN
PHYSICAL EDUCATION- P.E.
COMPUTER STUDIES
WELLBEING
CSPE- CIVIC, SOCIAL &POLITICAL EDUCATION
RELIGION
TWO OPTION SUBJECTS (BUT WHICH TWO?)

16. STUDENTS PICK 2 SUBJECTS FROM THE LIST BELOW .
MUSIC
HOME ECONOMICS
TECHNICAL GRAPHICS
BUSINESS
MATERIALS TECHNOLOGY
ART

17. Business Studies In Our Lady’s students must take Business Studies
for Junior Cert if they wish to take Accounting in their
Leaving Cert.
Careers / Courses:
Accounting is very useful if a student intends to take a on Accounting & Finance or a Business Studies Degree in college.
Business Careers-General Business Degree
Accountancy Taxation
Financial Services Banking
Marketing Actuary

18. It is recommended that students take Home Economics at Junior Cert if they wish to take Home Economics for Leaving Certificate
Careers / Courses:
Essential for Home Economics Teaching
Useful for careers in Hotel, Catering , Food Science & Nutrition.

19. Materials Technology MATERIALS TECHNOLOGY
Students must take Materials Technology at Junior Cert in order to take Construction Studies at Leaving Cert.
Careers / Courses:
Essential for Construction Studies Teaching
Useful for:
Civil Engineering,
Building Surveying,
Construction related courses & careers
Useful for Building trades

20. Technical Graphics TECHNICAL GRAPHICS
Students must take Technical Graphics at Junior Cert in order to study Design and Communication Graphics at Leaving Cert.
Careers / Courses:
Essential for Design and Communication Graphics or Construction Studies Teaching
Useful For :
Civil Engineering,
Building Surveying,
Construction related courses & careers
Architecture
Architectural Technology
Civil Engineering
Quantity Surveying
Building Trades

21. Music It is recommended that students take Music in the
Junior Cert in order to take Music in the Leaving Cert.
Careers / Courses:
Music Teacher
Music performer
Music Technology
Sound Engineering
Music Therapy

22. Art Art It is recommended that students take Art in the Junior
Cert in order to take Art in the Leaving Cert.
Careers / Courses:
Art Teacher
Animation
Photographer
Interior Design
Architecture
Artist
Graphic Design
Fashion Design

23. How do you know which subjects to pick?
6 Weeks Sampling has given our students a ‘’taste’’
of all the Options Subjects
Students should like the subject
Students should feel they are able for the subject
Think about your Future ambitions

24. DO NOT CHOOSE A SUBJECT BECAUSE:
X Your friend is picking the subject X You just like the teacher X It’s considered a ‘’Boy’’ subject or a ‘’Girl’’ subject.

25. WWW.QUALIFAX.IE HELPFUL WEBSITE IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT YOU AS
PARENTS & GUARDIANS
ARE INVOLVED
IN THEIR DECISION

26. THE PROCESS OF CHOOSING SUBJECTS FOR JUNIOR CYCLE IS THE START OF LOOKING AT THE LEAVING CERT AND BEYOND

27. HAVEN’T EVEN SAT THE JUNIOR YET!!!!!!
…THE LEAVING CERT!!!!!
HAVEN’T EVEN SAT THE JUNIOR YET!!!!!!

28. THIS IS A GOOD THING NOT A SCARY THING

29. IT IS GOOD TO START TALKING ABOUT STUDY

30. IT IS POSITIVE TO START TALKING ABOUT THE FUTURE

31. IT IS HELPFUL TO BECOME AWARE NOW OF THE LEAVING CERTIFICATE

32. IT IS IMPORTANT TO BE AWARE THAT I AM WORKING TOWARDS A POSITIVE HAPPY LIFE THROUGH LEARNING AND EDUCATION

33. HELPFUL TIPS TAKE AS MANY HIGHER LEVEL SUBJECTS AS YOU ARE ABLE
LOOK AT THE LEAVING CERT POINTS SYSTEM
THE MORE HIGHER LEVEL SUBJECTS, THE HIGHER YOUR POINTS

34. NEW LEAVING CERTIFICATE GRADING SYSTEM

35. NEW CAO POINTS SYSTEM

36. HELPFUL TIPS GET TO KNOW YOUR LEARNING STYLE
LEARN HOW TO STUDY FOR EXAMS
START PRACTICING YOUR STUDY SKILLS NOW
DON’T WAIT FOR EXAMS TO COME UP TO START STUDYING

37. Good study habits should be established in 1st Year

38. Studying Where?  - A warm ventilated room
A quiet place. Music is distracting
How long? (Everyone is different)
- Start immediately
- Start off slow and short
- One topic for 15 MINUTES each evening to start with
Build up time and topics each week
-CREATE GOOD HABITS

39. LEARNING STYLES
LEARNING STYLES

41. VISUAL

42. AUDITORY

43. READING & WRITING LEARNING TECHNIQUES
WHEN YOU READ SOMETHING, WRITE ABOUT IT
TAKE NOTES AS YOU READ ALONG
ANSWER QUESTIONS ON WHAT YOU HAVE READ
USE EXAM PAPERS TO CHECK WHAT YOU REMEMBER, CHECK YOUR BOOKS TO SEE IF YOU WERE RIGHT

44. KINESTHETIC

45. THANK YOU & MIND YOURSELVES AND EACH OTHER KEEP IN TOUCH