Transition Year is a one-year school based
programme, designed to act as a bridge between
Junior and Senior Cycle. Our Transition Year
programme is designed to facilitate the smooth
transition from the dependent learning of the
Junior Cycle to the more independent
self-directed learning of the Senior Cycle.
Transition Year offers our student the space to
mature and promotes increased social awareness
and social competence. The Transition Year
programme at St. Louis provides a broad variety
of learning experiences both inside and outside
the classroom.
Advancement of technical and academic skills,
with the emphasis placed on inter-disciplinary
and self-directed learning, are the cornerstones
of the Transition Year programme run by St.
Louis Secondary School.
The comprehensive Transition Year programme
offered at St. Louis aims to improve skills and
encourage maturity by providing a variety of
opportunities to allow for:
-
The discovery of personal
strengths
-
Learning about leadership,
co-operation and dealing with
conflict
-
Working as part of a team
-
Develop enterprising skills
-
Sample and discovery of new
subjects
-
Making informed choices on
Leaving Certificate subjects
-
Building a solid foundation for
the Leaving Certificate
-
Knowledge of the working world
-
Discovery of career
opportunities
As a result students explore their own talents
and abilities beyond the classroom and can be
expected to take on responsibility for
themselves and their futures.
In St. Louis Transition Year is no longer
compulsory but most of our students opt for it
and this is testimony to the excellent
curriculum on offer.
There are a huge number of extra-curricular
activities on offer, contributing to the
holistic development of out students. These
activities include Debating and Public Speaking.
Many Transition Year students also play on the
school Gaelic Football and basketball teams.
During Module time our Transition Year students
learn about fascinating topics including Chinese, Foreign
Cookery, Aerobics, Mini-Company, Photography,
Pony Club and Sculpture. They also produce the
School Magazine in Module Time. Our Transition
Year students also operate a very successful
School Bank.
Occasionally Guest Speakers speak to the
students on interesting subjects such Stress
Management, Coping Skills, Indian Head Massage,
Aromatherapy, Reflexology, Depression, Domestic
Violence and Homelessness.
Work Experience is also an integral component of
our Transition Year programme. In St. Louis all
our Fourth Year students spend a week on work
placement of their choosing. This week is always
an invaluable and worthwhile experience.
Many of our Transition Year students also
participate in the Gaisce, the Pope John Paul 11 Awards and the Glencree
Programmes. They are also work in support of
many charitable organizations including Concern,
the St. Vincent De Paul and Operation Christmas
Child.
Fourth Years are also elected to the Coiste. The
Coiste (or School Prefects) is an important link
between students and teachers. Other Fourth
Years are on the Cairde. The aim of Cairde is to
support our First Year students in the
transition to Secondary School.
Our girls also improve their dancing and social
skills with the boys from St. Macartan’s College
when they do Ceile and Ballroom Dancing!
Information Technology has become an integral
part of the learning experience of students in
this school and many students in Transition Year
have the opportunity to study for, and complete,
the European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL)
programme.
Every year all our Transition Year students
participate in the school musical. This year’s
musical was 'HOT MIKADO', directed by Lynn Jackson, was
a resounding success. In St. Louis we are very
proud of the fact that every Transition Year
student played a significant role in this
production.
In St. Louis, Monaghan, Transition Year provides
our students with the opportunity to discover
and develop their own strengths and abilities as
young adults in the world.
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