St Angela s College First Year 2018 -2019 —

St. Angela’s College First Year 2018 -2019 - Our Journey To get through the hardest journey we need take only one step at a time, but we must keep on stepping.

St. Angela’s College

Have we made the right choice? Will our daughter fit in? Will she meet new friends? How many teachers will she have? Will she get lost in the school? § Your daughter is coming to St Angela’s College because she can bring something new and exciting to our diverse learning community

F. A. QS • What time does school begin and end? • How many First Year classes will there be? How many in each class? • What about student lockers? • Is there a canteen, Library, Computer room, Home Economics room, Science Labs, Music & Art rooms • How long is lunch-break and what do the girls do at lunch-time? • Are the girls allowed out during the day? • May she remain in school after 3. 50 p. m. ? • Are mobile phones allowed? How do I communicate with her? She with me?

St Angela’s College is a voluntary Catholic College which upholds the Ethos and traditions of the Ursuline Order within the Le Chéile Schools' Trust

Overview/Pastoral Care Structure

Overview/Pastoral Care Structure l 3 class groups this year (3 x 31 approx. ) l All classes are of mixed ability (no streaming) l Subject teachers l Class teacher (one for each of the 3 groups) l Learning monitor (Ms Mc. Donald) l Deputy Principal (Ms O Donovan) l Principal (Mr Curran)

UNIFORM AND GENERAL APPEARANCE Some important points: l Shoes - Black , low- heeled shoes l School jumper, jacket and blouse l Green knee-length school skirt or school trousers l No runners except in P. E. class l Discreet make-up l Students may not wear facial studs

Important Documents We need GUIDANCE AND COUNSELLING 2018_2019 SUPPLEMENTARY HEALTH FORM CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION SHEET SUBJECT CHOICE FORM Time for Transition

Important Information We need Learning Support details: will allow us to focus on the provision of supplementary support to students Access to an SNA in Primary School Access to reports etc. Time for Transition

Important Information We need If your daughter is accessing supports outside school from organisations like Pieta House, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, the Dean Clinic, or Eist Linn, to name but a few, we would encourage you to inform management of the school so that we can also support her while she is in our care. We would also ask parents to continue to furnish us with any medical, psychological or therapeutic reports so that our dealings with your daughter are fully informed, and where appropriate, parallel supports can be put in place. At present we are looking at our school profile for next year’s resource allocation. Therefore in order to avail of all possible supports it is important that we are fully informed on these matters. Time for Transition

New Junior Cycle Subjects: Students will study a maximum of ten subjects for assessment by the State Examinations Commission (SEC). ü English, Irish and Mathematics will be a central part of the Junior cycle programme for all students. These subjects will be offered at two levels, higher and ordinary. ü Wellbeing: Wellbeing will provide learning opportunities to enhance the physical, mental, emotional and social wellbeing and resilience of students, and to enable students to build life-skills and to develop a strong sense of connectedness to the school and to their community. ü ü Implementation of Junior Cycle: The new curriculum and assessment specifications for subjects (formerly referred to as syllabuses) are being introduced on a phased basis www. juniorcycle. ie Time for Transition

New Junior Cycle https: //www. jct. ie/publications Time for Transition

Core Subjects Irish English Maths French History Geography Religion Science Wellbeing (P. E, CSPE &SPHE) Time for Transition

Subject Choice § http: //www. ncca. ie/en/Curriculum_and_Assessment/Post. Primary_Education/Jun ior_Cycle/Fact_sheets/ Art Music Business German Home Economics Time for Transition

(b) Optional subjects Two subjects selected by the pupil bearing in mind their aptitudes and interests Art Music Art Business German Business Studies Home Economics Music Time for Transition

New Junior Cycle

www. ncca. ie www. education. ie www. qualifax. ie Time for Transition

Moving on up! Longer school day Tiredness Larger building New teachers Different teachers for every subject Separate class timetables New subjects Class and room change Larger group Names Larger class sizes Increase in homework New extra-curricular New friends Missing Primary School friends New rules New routines Mixed emotions Time for Transition

Transition Challenges Geography of the school Names Lockers Timetable Time for Transition

The Experience of First Years 1. What has been the hardest thing about the change from Primary to Secondary School? “Leaving my old friends and going from a small school to a bigger school” “The weight of the school bag” “Lo. Ng. Er Da. Ys” “The homework, the new school, the new friends (and the people you don't really click with) and the lockers. ” “the hardest thing was the first day I was so nervous but after and hour I felt so comfortable there hasn't been anything to hard : ) I love this school” “the tests are a lot harder and more frequent” “The teachers expect too much from you : ( We're only in first year and we get well too much homework : (“ Time for Transition

The Experience of First Years 2. What has been the best experience for you so far in the school? “The best experience is meeting new friends and the Meitheal group is nice too and gets the class closer. ” “I really liked when we went to see Romeo and Juliet in the Triskel. ” “Making my new best friends, trying out all the different subjects we never had in primary school e. g. business, art and home economics” Meitheal: for the greater means 'a collective effort good of the community'. “Meeting new friends and people, the science exhibition, basketball, the study talk in the Metropole” “Just being in the school and being accepted here” “I have enjoyed every minute and I hope it stays that way!” Time for Transition

Preparation is Key! Travel Introduce Timetable Signposts Help Organise Responsible Plan Getting up! Pen! Time for Transition

How can you help? Encourage extra-curricular activities Conversational skills Personal anxiety Smiles! Work on self-esteem & confidence – activities Personal organisation Encourage routine Keep a close eye Time for Transition

Social Media …

Communication with Parents • Web text service • Letters home to parents • Way 2 pay. ie • Website http: //www. stangelascollege. ie/

Keep an Eye on school events • Website: http: //www. stangelascollege. ie • Twitter: @iheartstangelas • Facebook • School Calendar • Sport/Games

First Year Assessment Day Assessment Test on the 10 th March

F. A. QS • What time does school begin and end? • How many First Year classes will there be? How many in each class? • What about student lockers? • Is there a canteen, Library, Computer room, Home Economics, Science, Music & Art rooms • How long lunch-break is and what do the girls do at lunch-time? • Are the girls allowed out during the day? • May she remain in school after 3. 50 p. m. ? • Are mobile phones allowed? How do I communicate with her? She with me?

Our New School … • • • School P. E Hall Enhanced Science facilities Social spaces Computer Rooms Enhanced General classrooms Canteen and Kitchen facilities Library/study areas New energy in the building. But we are still an Ursuline Secondary school!!!

Transition from Primary School l Work with us! l Talk to us! l Trust us! “ I’m not telling you it is going to be easy, I’m telling you it’s going to be worth it”

Finally …