Role of the Chaplain

Moving Up THE EXPERIENCES OF FIRST-YEAR

STUDENTS IN POST-PRIMARY EDUCATION

(NCCA Doc)

• Most First Years have settled in by the end of the first week, but for a quarter of students it takes about a month. One student in six takes longer than a month to settle in.

• Girls take longer to settle in than boys.

• Parents are to encourage their child to participate in extra-curricular activities. This can help them to build new friendships and prevent them becoming isolated.

Some Top Tips• Label items of importance – schoolbag,

pencil case, PE gear, school uniform, jacket and shoes.

• Morning break doesn’t begin until 11:20and so it’s important to know how hungry your child will be by then!! Lunch is at 1:20

• Go through the timetable with your child. Ask them about the different subjects. Have a copy of their timetable at home, to keep a check on books and copies they might need for the next day. (Double check that their name; subject and class is written on all their copies and folders)

• Homework & study should take about 2 hours to complete on average per night.

• Schoolbags should not be heavy for the duration of the day, encourage your child to use their locker at school.

• Young people need lots of sleep!! Average night’s sleep should be between 8-10 hours.

Staff• Class Tutor; Year Head; Deputy Principal;

Principal• Special Needs Co-Ordinator• Guidance Counsellor & Chaplain• Office staff• Caretakers• All members of staff• Pastoral Care Team

Students • BBBS• Prefects and Head Boy & Head Girl• Student Council• Social Hub Leaders• Leadership Team• Green Schools Committee• Chaplaincy team• Many other extra-curricular opportunities

Support in School

Pass It On!Designated adult for your child. A confidant that both you and your child can trust.

• A relative• A neighbour• A sport’s coach• An (adult) older

brother or sister

Get to know your child's teachers. There is a general assumption that parental involvement slacks off in secondary school.If anything, though, I've found it helps to maintain contact. Teachers often know more about your child's state of mind than you do.This is particularly helpful if your child is going through a rough patch, because you might find they withdraw a little and stop talking to you.A chat with a wise teacher can dissolve a lot of emotional knots.

Your child will be exhausted.This is because a) they have to move between classes, so

they're just running around a lot more and b) because they have to get to know so many

teachers.

Students to Parents• Try not to make a “big deal” of the beginning of

First Year.• Emphasis on study skills. First Year is the

beginning of the Junior Cert exam, not Third Year. Encourage your child to keep all their notes, sheets and copies and to file them away.

• Go through homework with your child to ensure it has been all done and done correctly (in so far as you can see)Don’t allow your child to procrastinate e.g. homework in a subject may not be due for a couple of days (because that is when the next class has been timetabled). The tendency is that if it is left it can be rushed or forgotten.

• Positive encouragement is invaluable “Do your best and try your best” Praise what is realistically their best.

• Social Media: Seen by young people as a necessary way of communicating. The better the relationship you have with your child around the use of social media and the more you trust them to act responsibly the less worries there will be around its use.

Keep an eye on the website:

www.stlouiscs.com

“That All May Be One”

“God Wills It”