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
Principal
Mr B Hensey
Deputy Principal
Ms P White, Ms T Cusack ,
Guidance Counsellors
ROLE OF THE GUIDANCE COUNSELLOR
•Promotes:
Decision-making
Interpersonal communication skills
Personal and social skills
Problem solving
Self-Awareness
The ability to plan
Personal
Decisionmaking in
relation to:
Course, Subject
&Level in 2nd
level
Study Skills
Exam Technique
Assists students with
decision-making in:
Student
Educational
Educational and
Training choices
Job search skills
Careers
Employment
opportunities
Interview skills
Work and life
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 SUBJECTS
Art
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 Studies
Some 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 healthy
food- how it nourishes your body, how to choose it, store it, and how
to 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
We offer 2 Modern European Languages
French & German
However only ONE may be chosen
In studying a language you learn to:
• how to speak in the language 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 the
language
• the grammar of the language
• information about the countries where
people speak the language, and their way of life.
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
MUSIC
Some 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.
TECHNICAL GRAPHICS
•
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.
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 NOT
REQUIRE 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 POTENTIAL
We 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.
Leaving Certificate Points
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.
HOW DO YOU
CHOOSE?
Supports
Research
Reflect
Discuss
RESEARCH
Subject Websites:
• www.ncca.ie – Fact Sheets on each subject
• http://www.ncca.ie/en/Curriculum_and_Assessment/PostPrimary_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.ie
Junior Certificate Textbooks
RESEARCH
Interests – choose subjects you like
It 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/selfassessments/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
www.stbrendanscsbirr.ie
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.