Mount Saint Michael
1stYr Parents
Information Session
re Subject Choice
Mr Kerrisk
Deputy Principal:
Ms Keohane
1st Yr Year Head:
Ms. Jennings
Guidance Counsellor: Ms. O’ Regan
Principal:
BACKGROUND:
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Education Cutbacks – DIFFICULT TIMES.
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Major decision before Junior Certificate

Not every one will be totally happy with
Subject Options

Cannot give any guarantees re subject
choices.
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PURPOSE of Today: ‘Informed Choice’
Subject
Information
Helping you choose
Junior Cycle Subjects
Overview
We will look at;
 Compulsory subjects that must be studied
 Optional subjects that are available to
study
 Briefly look at each subject
 Help available when choosing optional
subjects and levels.
Compulsory Subjects
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English
Irish
Maths
History
Geography
Science
Physical Education
Religion
Computers
CSPE
SPHE
Junior Cert
Leaving Cert
H Economics
H Economics (S&S)
Materials Wood
Construction Studies
T. Graphics
Design, Comm. Graphics
Metalwork
Engineering
Art, Craft & Design
Art, with Art History
Music
Music
Business Studies
Business
Science
Biology
Physics
Chemistry
Picking the Options
Ability
Like
Strengths
Senior Level
KEEP YOUR OPTIONS OPEN !!
Optional Subjects
A. Business/Art/Metalwork
Then choose 1 from
Each line
B. French/German/Woodwork
C. Technical Graphics/ Home
Economics/ French
Home Economics:
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Why do Home Economics?
Provides students with knowledge and skills necessary for
managing their own lives, further education and work.
Fosters independence, confidence and self-esteem.
Prepares learners for a consumer orientated society.
Nurtures and develops a spirit of enterprise, aesthetic awareness,
creativity and problem-solving skills.
Syllabus: 5 Core Areas and 1 Option
1. Food Studies
2. Social and Health Studies
3. Consumer Studies
4. Resource Management and Home Studies
5. Textiles
Option: Craftwork and Design Project.
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Home Economics:
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Junior Cert Assessment at Higher Level:
50% Practical and 50% Written Exam
Craft
Project
15%
Food Studies
Practical Exam
35%
Written Exam
50%
ART
Why?
•Encourages creative thinking (INNOVATION) and critical analysis (PROBLEM SOLVING)
•Connects pupils to their environment and to their culture
•Working from concept through design to realisation of an art piece builds confidence and self-esteem
an essential channel for personal expression
SYLLABUS:
The Curriculum is as broadly based as the Junior cycle incorporating Art, Craft and Design
4th year allows for new learners to access the subject
Art Appreciation and Art History are introduced and developed over the 3 year curriculum
ASSESSMENT - No more big projects!!!!!
4th & 5th Year school exams based on the following LC criteria.
Imaginative Composition and Still Life
100 Marks
Design and Craft Work
100 Marks
Life Sketching
50 Marks
Art History and Art Appreciation(37.5%)
150 Marks
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
Advertising, Animation, Architecture, Archaeology, Art Worker, Art Therapy, Fashion and Textile
Design, Film Making, Graphic Design, Interior Design, Photography, Theatre Design, Product
Design, Web Design…….Endless list of careers that reward creativity and innovative thinking.
Only
3 courses definitely require you to have Art in your Leaving Cert – 2 @ WIT and 1 @ Letterkenny IT
HOWEVER
Almost all art and art related courses such as architecture require you to submit a portfolio.
METALWORK
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Subject Overview
Metalwork provides an introduction to materials and process engineering and
an insight into associated technology. It is founded in practical activity that
seeks to link observation and action with ingenuity and creativity within a
problem-solving context.
Techniques and Design:
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Health and safety
Benchwork
Drilling
Hot and cold forming of
materials
Fitting and assembly
Heat treatment
Decorative finishing of
materials
Lathework
Design
Materials and Technology:
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Health and safety
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Communications and planning
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Materials technology
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Tools technology
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Machine tool technology
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Assemblies and mechanisms
Metalwork
Assessment
For both Higher and Ordinary level Metalwork
50% of the marks go for the practical project
50% of the marks go for the terminal written exam
Uses
Skills in shaping, cutting and joining materials how to use a wide variety of
tools and machines correctly and safely the properties of different metals and
how they are made the importance of metal in our everyday lives
Technical Graphics
Subject Overview
Technical Graphics involves students in the development of the range of skills
associated with the management of spatial problems and the graphical
communication of spatial ideas and solutions.
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Plane Geometry:
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Constructions
Descriptive Geometry:
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Orthographic Projection
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Plane figures
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Loci
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Communication Graphics
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Freehand drawing and
sketching
Pictorial drawing and
projection
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Graphics in designing
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Scaled drawing
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Computer graphics
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Surface development
Transformation geometry
Areas and figures
Assessment
Technical Graphics is assessed at both Ordinary level and Higher level by means of a
terminal examination paper.
Business
Why choose business?
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Practical day to day information which helps students make informed decisions in everyday
business living.
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Develop a greater understanding of the wider business community and the government and
economy.
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Develops students presentation and organisational skills through basic keeping.
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Encourages initiatives and a positive attitude to the creation of wealth and its attributes.
Curriculum / Syllabus
A.
Business of Living
B.
Business Environment
C.
Record Keeping
ASSESSMENT
Two Papers
Paper 1: 20 Short questions and 6 long questions and do 4 questions 2.5 hours
Paper 2: Do 6 long questions and do 4 questions 2 hours
CAREERS
Accountant, Finance – Banking, insurance, corporate , Management – Human Resources
Enterprise, Marketing, Retail , Lecturer / Teacher
And many more.....
Woodwork
Why?
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Interested in making and building projects
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Interested in working with tools and machines
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Interested in DIY at home
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60% of the course is practical
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Develop practical skills and knowledge
SYLLABUS:
1st YR: Project orientated and developing hand skills
2nd YR: Project and design orientated, further hand skills, introduction to machine skills and book work
related to trees, tools and machines
3rd YR: Design and manufacture project and complete theory course
ASSESSMENT
1st YR: Assessment of Projects.
2nd YR: Assessment of projects and term exams
3rd YR: Exam 40%, Project 60% of Junior Certificate
CAREERS
University career., Teaching career., Apprenticeships in trades., Architecture and design.
Civil, Structural Engineering., Renewable energies, furniture design and manufacture
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1.
Le Français
French is the 2nd most frequently taught language in the
world after English and is the native tongue of 200 million
people.
Syllabus
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Common syllabus taught to mixed ability groups
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Communication using the target language in the classroom
Language awareness through speaking, writing, listening and reading target language
to promote fluency
Cultural Awareness examining Irish and French ways of life
Grammatical understanding and accuracy are relevant in order to exce
Assessment
Reading
Writing
Listening
31%
25%
44%
Classroom assessment of Four skills: oral, aural, reading, writing
Summer and Christmas Exams
Junior Cert
Career Opportunities
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As Ireland is home to large multinationals
Google/Microsoft...need for French graduates at home
French is a key language in the E.U., with 27 nations and
a population of 650 million and a gross national product
larger than the U.S., the E.U. is an economic super power
French is the language of Business e.g.
Hewlett-Packard, Xerox, Apple, Michelin, Renault, Bic and
many more
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French is the language of technology, of food, of tourism
to name but a few
Why German?
1: I like it and I enjoy the class
2:English and German come from
the same family of languages
and so have many words in
common!!
eg. House-Haus
3: If you choose German at Mt.
St. Michael you will have the
opportunity to take part in a
German school exchange with
our partner school in Stuttgart.
4: German is the most widely
spoken language in Europe. It
is spoken by 110 million
people throughout Germany,
Austria, Switzerland,
Liechtenstein and Tirol in
northern Italy as their native
language.
5: Germany is the biggest
exporter in the EU.
Germany is the third biggest
exporter in the world.
Speaking German will give
you the edge in the job
market!
Some of the things you will learn
include:
 • how to speak in German
about yourself, your family and
friends, your hobbies, your
school, etc. This will help you
to talk to people who speak
the language
 the skills of listening to,
reading and writing in German
 German grammar
 information about the
countries where people speak
German and their way of life.
How will I learn German?
Some of the things you may do
are:
• work on your own, in pairs
and in groups
• learn through activities and
games
• use a textbook, but other
materials as well
 watch films, listen to songs and
look at pictures and posters.
• By speaking German as much as
you can, in and out of class.
You will learn German in
small blocks which you will
build
upon as you go along.
Assessment
Reading
Writing
Listening
31%
25%
44%
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Classroom assessment of 4 skills: oral, aural, reading, writing
Summer and Christmas Exams
Junior Cert
There is an optional oral exam at Junior Cert which is worth 20%.
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Career opportunities:
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You may choose to combine German with other subjects at third Level such as
Engineering, History, Media and Journalism, International and European Law,
Accountancy, Business Studies, Travel and Hospitality Management, or European
Studies and many others.
There is a new course at UCC for Nursing with German. Students will take part in
work placements in Germany, and are guaranteed a job in Germany at the end of the
course.
Languages spoken in the EU:
Français
Deutsch
Italiano
Español
English
Nederlands
All others
Español
All others
Nederlands
11% 11%
6%
Italiano
24%
16%
16%
Français
Deutsch
16%
English
Which optional Subjects???
Good reasons to choose a subject
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You enjoy it
You’re interested in
it
Useful for possible
career
You’re good at it
Who can help Students decide?
Parents – they play a major role when it comes to
Subject Choice. (ESRI 2011)
 Teachers - they will discuss what their subject is
like at Leaving Certificate Level.
 Guidance Counsellor – make sure to ask
questions you might have about subjects and future
goals.
 Past Pupils - ask pupils who are already studying
subjects at senior cycle what they think of them.
N.B. remember everyone has different opinions on
subjects – if they say they like or dislike a subject, ask
them why!
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On-Line Research
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www.qualifax.ie
(Official IGC website – very up-to-date info)
It gives information on which subjects are needed for what
courses, as well as information on all college courses
www.careersportal.ie
(Subject information + personal assessments. Also gives
information on jobs such as qualifications needed.)
www.careerdirections.ie
(Gives information on jobs such as qualifications needed.
Also has a careers matching section – you answer questions
and it matches you with jobs that may be suitable)
All Colleges/Universities/etc. have their own web sites
e.g. UCC.ie, CIT.ie, UL.ie, FAS.ie, etc.
SUBJECT OPTIONS
BLOCK OPTION :
CHOOSE 1 SUBJECT IN EACH GROUP
Group A
Business
Art
Metalwork
Group B
French
German
Woodwork
Group C
Technical
Graphics
Home
Economics
French
Note: Depending on numbers, the full range of subjects outlined above
may not be on offer.
QUESTIONS